The Pour Over Today - Syria’s Civil War, Football Highlights, Undersea Cables, & More | 12.02.24

Episode Date: December 2, 2024

Today, we're talking about Syria’s Civil War heating up, football highlights from the Thanksgiving weekend, controversy over the severing of underwater data cables, and other top news for Monday, December 2nd. Stay informed while remaining focused on Christ with The Pour Over Today. Please support our TPO sponsors! TPO Gift Guide: https://thepourover.org/gift-guide-2/ Upside: https://links.thepourover.org/Upside CCCU: https://www.mycccu.com/tpo/ The Voice of the Martyrs: vom.org/TPO CSB Gift Guide: https://links.thepourover.org/CSBGiftGuide HelloFresh: hellofresh.com/freepourover

Tell you what, this year, let's skip the aimless shopping while wandering and parking lot road rage. The Poor Over is here to simplify thoughtful gift giving with our Christmas Gift Guide. Check out our roundup of ideas, like gifting a goat from world concern to transform families in poverty around the world, or chew-and-rip-proof scripture picture books for little ones, or decks of conversation starting cards. or Chewan Rit-Proof Scripture Picture Books for little ones, or Decks of Conversation Starting Cards. You can find the pour-overs gift guide through the link in today's show notes. Now for the news.

Today we're talking about Syria's civil war heating up, football highlights from the Thanksgiving weekend, controversy over the severing of underwater data cables, and other top news for Monday, December 2nd. Stay informed while remaining focused on Christ with the pour-over today. Here's the quote of the day, You are a steward of every moment, of every talent, of every gift, of every resource that God has given you.

Choose wisely what you do today. Paul Washer. Let's get started with some espresso shots. Syria's 13-year civil war roared back into prominence while we broke for turkey and stuffing. Beginning Wednesday, Syrian opposition fighters made their largest advance in years, overtaking one of Syria's largest cities, Aleppo. The offensive unites multiple rebel groups that control 30% of the country. The largest is Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, or HTS, a U.S. designated terrorist organization with

past ties to al-Qaeda and the Islamic State. They oppose Syria's President Assad, who was a close ally of Russia and Iran. Yesterday, Syrian opposition fighters pushed through Aleppo towards smaller towns to the south, while Syria's military attempted to take back control from the skies with support from Russia's air force. Both sides report that dozens have died in the recent attacks, which included multiple airstrikes on the city of Idlib, a long-time rebel stronghold. There may be good reasons to be worried, scared, or feel helpless about this day, month, or year. God does not promise good days. He promises a great eternity.

Stay focused on eternity. It changes everything. Psalm 121, 1 and 2 says, I lift my eyes toward the mountains. Where will my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the maker of heaven and earth. Thanksgiving weekend served up a feast of football drama. The Bears gave head coach Matt Eberfluss the boot after a Turkey Day loss to the Lions, their sixth straight defeat.

Meanwhile, the Chiefs clinched a playoff spot again with a messy but memorable 19-17 win over the Raiders thanks to a controversial recovered botched snap. Rivalry week in college football brought even more spice. Georgia outlasted Georgia Tech 44-42 through eight overtimes Friday night. Saturday, No. 14, SC silenced Memorial Stadium with a late game interception to beat No. 12, Clemson 17 to 14. Meanwhile, moments after unranked Michigan upset number 2 Ohio State, Wolverines players tried to plant their flag midfield in the horseshoe, sparking a chaotic brawl with shoving, swinging, kicking, and pepper

spray. The penultimate college football playoff rankings will be revealed tomorrow. Here's a verse to consider whether your team wins, loses, or you'd really rather curl up by a fire and read a good book. Rejoice always, pray constantly, give thanks in everything. For this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus. Geopolitical conflicts are getting hotter under the water.

The majority, 99% of intercontinental data traffic, travels across the ocean floor via massive fiber optic cables. They're the backbone of the global internet, and last week two were severed in the Baltic Sea. One of the cables connected Finland and Germany, the other linked Sweden and Lithuania. Criminal investigations have begun in Europe, and the lead suspect is a Chinese vessel thought to have dragged its anchor near both damaged sites. The U.S. Navy believes the brakes were accidental, but other countries suspect sabotage because the cables were cut within 24 hours of each other during a hotbed of geopolitical conflict. Meanwhile, Zuckerberg is tired of sharing.

Metta announced plans to lay a globe-span spanning 25,000 miles of private undersea cable. The project will take years and cost $10 billion. Here's a verse to consider when mind-blowing technology proves fallible. I've seen all the things that are done under the sun and have found everything to be futile, a pursuit of the wind. For with much wisdom is much sorrow. As knowledge increases, grief increases. Ecclesiastes 1 verses 14 and 18. Hey, it's Emily from the pour over. The holidays are upon us and that means extra expenses are piling up all the time.

Secret Santa's, kids class parties, end of year donations, then buying myself a coffee to get through all the gift wrapping and magic making. Thankfully, I can put a little jingle back in my wallet by getting cash back with Upside. Since I'm already filling up my tank and grabbing a bite to eat here and there, why not earn cash back while I do it? I even get cash back on our regular Friday pizza nights. Then I can quickly cash out and treat myself to a gift card for a post-school drop-off latte. It's super easy to use. Just download the app, check out the map to find gas or food offers nearby, claim one, and pay as usual. The cash back lands in your upside profile and you can cash out in seconds.

Download the free upside app and use promo code TPO to get an extra 25 cents back for every gallon on your first tank of gas. That's an extra 25 cents back for every gallon on your first tank of gas using promo code TPO. In other brews, here's a rapid round of updates. Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau met with President-elect Donald Trump at Mar-a-Lago on Saturday, just days after number 45 slash 47 threatened a 25% tariff on Canadian goods. Trump called the meeting very productive, highlighting discussions of the fentanyl and drug crisis, fair trade agreements, and the future of the neighbors' relations. Australia passed a law banning social media access for children under 16, requiring tech

giants like Meta and TikTok to block minors or face fines up to $49.5 million AUC or $32 million USD. A trial enforcement phase begins in January, with the ban taking full effect next year. Despite opposition from privacy advocates, 77% of Australians support the ban. Five years after a devastating fire, Notre Dame et Manifique. French President Macron toured the painstakingly restored 12th century Gothic cathedral on Friday ahead of its December 8th reopening

of hand-hewn ceiling beams and decontaminated stonework. Macron praised Restorers for healing a wound for the nation and said its reopening will be a shock of hope for the world. British lawmakers voted to advance a bill that would allow terminally ill patients to end their lives. If it's passed after debate in committees, the bill would legalize assisted suicide for those with a terminal diagnosis and life expectancy of less than six months. Supporters say it promotes dignity in dying. Critics say sick people will be pressured into choosing assisted dying.

Vito the Pug made history as the first of his breed to win Best in Show at the 2024 National Dog Show. His handler, Michael Scott, unaffiliated with the Scranton Paper Company, credited a healthy diet, regular brushing, and exercise for Vito's top condition. "'A pug's face always brings a smile, he said. And that's all we have for today. Thanks so much for listening.

If you're listening on the Apple Podcast 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 day. We'll see you on Wednesday. If you love inspiring testimonies of courageous faith, look no further. The Voice of the Martyrs is offering TPO listeners free access to a film called Sabina, Tortured for Christ, the Nazi Years.

It tells the powerful, true story of a woman's journey to faith in Christ and the risks she took to share the gospel with soldiers from the army that killed her family. Visit vom.org slash TPO to claim your free copy today.