The Pour Over Today - Prisoner Swap, Hamas Leader Killed, & More | 08.02.24

Episode Date: August 2, 2024

Today we’re talking about high-profile assassinations in the Middle East, what Trump and Harris are up to on the campaign trail, a massive prisoner swap, and other top news for Friday, August 2nd. Stay informed while remaining focused on Christ with The Pour Over Today. Please support our TPO sponsors! LMNT: DrinkLMNT.com/PourOver CSB: links.thepourover.org/CSB_Podcast_0701 Cru: give.cru.org/tpo Compassion International: compassion.com/TPO Upside: https://links.thepourover.org/Upside Every Woman's Bible: everywomansbible.com Life Application Study Bible: https://links.thepourover.org/LASB_Podcast

Today, we're talking about high-profile assassinations in the Middle East, what Trump and Harris are up to on the campaign trail, a massive prisoner swap, and other top news for Friday, August 2nd. Stay informed while remaining focused on Christ at the pour-over today. Here's the quote of the day, prayer is a wine which makes glad the heart of man. Bernard of Clairvaux. Let's get started with some espresso shots. Three high-profile assassinations were announced in rapid succession this week. Isriot claimed responsibility for

killing Hamas military leaders in a Gaza airstrike last month. Later it said it killed Hezbollah's most senior military commander in an airstrike on Beirut, Lebanon on Tuesday in retaliation for the July 27 strike on the Golan Heights. Iran then announced that Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh was assassinated in Iran's capital Tehran on Wednesday. The New York Times reported that Haniyeh was killed by a remote-controlled bomb hidden months ago. Though Israel has not publicly claimed responsibility, Iran, who backs both Hezbollah in Lebanon and Hamas in Gaza, ordered a direct retaliatory strike on Israel.

Meanwhile, reacting to an imminent threat to U.S. forces, the U.S. conducted an airstrike on Iran-backed Qatayib Hezbollah in Iraq, killing four militants. Christians don't need to gloss over evil to maintain our joy and hope. Our Savior Jesus confronted darkness directly and overcame it through His death and resurrection. Pray for the Middle East with renewed thankfulness for eternal hope in our dark world. John 16, 22, 23, and 33 says, So you also have sorrow now, but I will see you again. Your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy from you. In that day, you will not ask me anything.

Truly I tell you, anything you ask the Father, in, the 2024 campaign is heating up. On Wednesday, former President Trump gave an interview before the National Association of Black Journalists in Chicago that started contentious and ended early. He criticized the host for asking questions in a hostile manner, and sparked controversy discussing her heritage, saying Vice President Harris now wants to be known as black. A spokesperson for Harris, who is the daughter of a Jamaican father and an Indian mother, responded that Trump cannot unite America so he attempts to divide us. Speaking of Harris, she's almost official. Democratic delegates began casting virtual votes to nominate Vice President Harris as their candidate.

She's running unopposed. Harris has said her veep stakes will end no later than Tuesday, promising to appear at a Philadelphia rally with her running mate. During any election season, it's easy to see the shortcomings of our opponents and cast ourselves to the right. When we find ourselves grumbling about others, we must remember to check our own hearts. Matthew 7, 3-5 says, Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, let me take that speck out

of your eye, when all the time there is a plank in your own eye You hypocrite first take the plank out of your own eye and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye Yesterday Turkey coordinated the most extensive multi-country prisoner swap in decades Turkish officials said 16 prisoners held in Russia and Belarus were swapped for 10 prisoners held in the U.S., Germany, Poland, Slovenia, and Norway. Included were three Russian-held Americans, Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gurshkovich, held since 2023, ex-Marine Paul Wellen, held since 2018, and radio journalist Al-Sukhar Masha'va, held since 2023, whom the United States considered wrongfully detained. They were reunited with their families on American soil last night.

Meanwhile, 13 freed prisoners were flown to Germany and 10 were flown to Russia. Most notable among those released to Russia was Vadim Krasikov, a high-ranking member of Russia's FSB intelligence service, who was serving a life sentence for murdering a critic in a German park in broad daylight. The promise of heaven does not remove the pains of this world, but it does give us hope, strength, and peace during life's most difficult seasons. Join us in praying for healing, peace, and strength for those released, as well as for the many who remain wrongly imprisoned worldwide. Psalm 18 2 says, The Lord is my rock, my fortress, and my deliverer, my God, my rock where I

seek refuge, my shield, and the horn of my god, my rock where I seek refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. Hey, Nate here with the four over. Ah, summer. Farmers markets, music festivals, barbecues and sweating. I love to run but I don't love the hammy cramps, heavy legs, and mental fog caused by an electrolyte deficiency. Enter Element. I drink half of an element before my run to fuel up and finish it right afterwards to replenish. Plus their drink mix flavors are approved by the world's most honest sip sneakers,

my toddlers. Whether you're running, pickleballing, or just summering, you need Element. When you purchase Element through our link, you'll receive an entire sample pack with any purchase. That means you'll get one packet of 8 flavors. Also try the new Element Sparkling. Bold 16oz can of sparkling electrolyte water. Check out the Element link in the show notes. In other brews, here's a rapid round of updates. The sun rose in Paris.

In similarly shocking news, Simone Biles and Katie Ledecky won gold medals. Biles won the women's all-around, repeating her 2016 feat and earning her sixth gold. Defending champ slash teammate Suni Lee took bronze. Ledecky became the most decorated US female Olympian ever, 13 medals, dominating the 1500 meter freestyle and grabbing silver in the 4x200. Double check your lunch meat. Following a deadly listeria outbreak, Boar's Head is immediately and voluntarily expanding its recall to seven million pounds of liverwurst, ham, beef salami, bologna,

and other ready-to-eat meats produced at a Virginia plant. The outbreak has claimed two lives and sickened nearly three dozen in 13 states. Delta Airlines is lawyering up, saying it has no choice but to sue after CrowdStrike's global IT outage cost the airline $500 million in loss revenue and customer compensation. In other airplane news, Boeing has appointed its new CEO, aerospace veteran Robert Orberg, tasked with turning around the storied company after years of scandals, financial losses, and regulator scrutiny. The Federal Reserve appears ready to cut interest rates soon.

Federal Chairman Jerome Powell said Wednesday that interest rates could be cut as soon as the next meeting in September, a change from his typical vegaun timing statements. Not to be outdone by some yankees, the Bank of England cut interest rates yesterday for the first time since 2020. The accused mastermind behind the 9-11 terror attacks, Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, has agreed to plead guilty alongside two accomplices in exchange for life sentences, avoiding the death penalty. Their trials were repeatedly delayed. Evidence linked to enhanced interrogation techniques, like waterboarding, is inadmissible. Families of 9-11 victims were notified of the deal before the public via letters.

And that's all we have for today. Thanks so much for listening. If you're listening on the Apple Podcasts app, give us a 5 star rating and drop a review. If you're listening on Spotify, give us a follow and hit the notification bell to never miss a new episode. We appreciate your support and hope you have a great weekend. We'll see you on Monday.