The Pour Over Today - Strait Blockade Updates, House Resignations, Basketball Postseason, & More

Episode Date: April 15, 2026

Today, we’re talking about responses to the U.S.-imposed blockade in the Strait of Hormuz; U.S. representatives resigning and being pressured to resign amid growing ethics investigations; the NBA postseason tipping off and WNBA tapping in new draft picks; and other top news for Wednesday, April 15th. Stay informed while remaining focused on Christ with The Pour Over. Looking to support us? You can choose to pay ⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠ Check out our sponsors! We actually use and enjoy every single one. Cru Wild Alaskan HelloFresh Christian Real Estate Network Quince Qualia Life QAVA CCCU Upside Mosh LMNT The Missing Messiah Compelled Podcast I Choose Love TPO Corrections Page

Hey there, this is Bailey at the Poorover. And this is Joe at the pour over. Before we get started, we owe Booker T. Washington an apology. On Monday, we misattributed his quote of the day to Billy Graham. It was Booker T. who said, character, not circumstances, makes the man. Though we do think Billy G. would likely agree. Now for the headlines. Today, we're talking about responses to the U.S. imposed blockade in the Strait of Hormuz.

U.S. representatives resigning and being pressured to resign amid growing ethics investigations. The NBA postseason tipping off and WNBA tapping in new draft picks and other top news for Wednesday, April 15. Stay informed while remaining focused on Christ with the boreover. Here's your quote of the day. If the devil cannot make us bad, he will make us busy. Corey Ten Boom. Let's get started with some espresso shots.

The blockade on the Strait of Hormuz has entered day three. The U.S. Navy began blocking Iranian ports Monday after weekend peace talks in Pakistan stalled, with VP J.D. Vance saying Iran refused to abandon its nuclear ambitions. The blockade specifically targets vessels entering or leaving Iranian ports. Ships transiting the straits to non-Iranian ports remain free. to pass. Iran called the move piracy, warning that no Gulf ports would be safe if Iranian ships were threatened. Oil prices surged nearly 8% Monday, topping $100 a barrel. U.S. allies are pulling back. Britain's PM Kier-Starmer said the U.K. won't be, quote, dragged in to the war and announced,

alongside France, a multinational conference aiming to reopen the strait. Pakistan would brokered the current ceasefire, is pushing to resume talks before it expires next week. Governments have different things on their agenda than God's kingdom does. As global powers maneuvered to have their way, God's agenda is clear and unchanging. Deuteronomy 10, 12 through 13, says, what does the Lord your God ask of you, except to fear the Lord your God by walking in all his ways, to love him, and to worship the Lord your God with all your heart and all your soul? Keep the Lord's commands and statutes I am giving you today for your own good. Seeds are emptying in the House of Representatives as misconduct allegations sparked bipartisan calls for resignations.

California Democrat Eric Swalwell and Texas Republican Tony Gonzalez both announced they were stepping down Monday amid separate allegations of sexual misconduct. Swalwell had suspended his California gubernatorial campaign. Sunday, following multiple allegations, including from a fifth woman who came forward yesterday, which he denies. Gonzalez was facing an expulsion vote after admitting to having an affair with an aid earlier this year. Some in Congress are calling for two other ethically embroiled Florida representatives to resign. Republican Cory Mills, who's being investigated over financial and sexual misconduct allegations,

and Democrat Sheila Sherfellus McCormick, who's facing trial later this month for fraud charges, both deny any wrongdoing. The new vacancies could complicate the future of the already razor-thin GOP House majority come November. We shouldn't allow political outcomes to consume our thoughts, direct our emotions, or dull our hope. Government may change, but our mission remains the same.

Love God and love others. In Mark 12, verses 29 through 31, Jesus says, The most important commandment is, Listen, Israel. The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength. The second is, love your neighbor as yourself. There is no other command greater than these.

The NBA postseason has tipped off, and the WNBA, got some new Ws. The quest for the Larry O'Brien Trophy began yesterday with the first two games of the SoFi play-in tournament. Round one of the playoffs starts Saturday with the number one-seat O'KC Thunder attempting to strike back-to-back titles. Third year, 7'4 French phenom Victor Wimbanyama will make his postseason debut as number two San Antonio returns to the playoffs after a six-year hiatus. Meanwhile, in the WNBA's post-post season, the Dallas Wings drafted Yukon Guard AZ Fudd first overall, reuniting her with 2025's number one pick and former college teammate Paige Bukers. After the WMBA's new collective bargaining agreement, Fudd will make $500,000, roughly six times Buker's rookie salary.

Here's a verse to consider whether life has you feeling like a number one seed, Or like you're struggling to even make the bracket. He alone is my rock and my salvation, my stronghold. I will not be shaken. My salvation and glory depend on God, my strong rock. My refuge is in God. Psalm 62, 6 through 7. Hey, it's Zan from the pourover.

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President Trump and Pope Leo XIV are in a Pon-Tiff. On Sunday, Trump responded to Leo's recent Iran-war critiques, calling him, quote, weak. The pontiff said he was, quote, not afraid, and promised to keep promoting peace. Meanwhile, Potus drew bipartisan criticism for a posted, then-deleted, AI image appearing to depict himself as a Christ-like healer. Trump said it was him as a doctor. President Trump's $10 billion defamation lawsuit against the Wall Street Journal was dismissed Monday. A federal judge ruled Trump came, quote, nowhere close to proving the journal acted with actual

malice when it published an article in July 2025, claiming he sent Jeffrey Epstein a, quote, body birthday letter. The ruling didn't address the article. article's accuracy. And number 47's lawyers say they'll refile by April 27th's deadline. Pablo Escobar left behind a lot of problems, including roughly 170 hippopotamuses. Columbia has approved a $2 million plan to call up to 80 descendants of the late drug lord's hippos imported for his private zoo in the 80s. Their population ballooned, threatening native wildlife and local villagers and was projected to top 1,000 by 2035 without intervention.

There's new beverage buzz. McDonald's and Starbucks have announced energizing additions to their drink menus. Starbucks launched extra-caffeinated and caffeine-free versions of its refreshers last week, while McDonald's is releasing dirty sodas and refreshers later this month and energy drinks this summer. The peppy potables aim to help Starbys and Mickey Dee, compete with chains like Dutch bros, Sonic, and Seven Brew. We can feel it coming in the air tonight. And it's the 2026 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees. The class of 2026 was announced during Monday's Hall of Fame-themed episode of American Idol

and includes Phil Collins, Billy Idol, Oasis, Woutang Clan, and others. The induction ceremony is set for November 14th in Los Angeles. Angeles. Anyway, here's Wonderwall. Just kidding. Here's some good news to send you on your way. God knows exactly what today holds for you, me, and everyone else. And he's working it all out for our good and his glory. As always, thanks so much for listening. If you're listening on the Apple Podcasts app, give us a five-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're grateful for your support and hope you have a great Wednesday.

Catch you on Friday. Is your view of Jesus shaped by culture or by scripture? The answer might surprise you. In today's world, it's easy to turn Jesus into a life coach, a therapist, or a political ally. We don't want a disruptive savior, just a convenient one. In their book, The Missing Messiah, Kyle Eidelman, and Mark Moore will help you understand how the culture we live in has taught us to reshape Jesus into our own image, and we'll teach you how to stop treating him as an accessory and start following him as king. If you believe there's a more

revolutionary, more majestic Messiah than the one you've always heard about, visit missingemessiah.com to learn more.