The Pour Over Today - The Iran War’s 19th Day, Weather, Weather, Weather, & Sports Tournaments Starting and Ending

Episode Date: March 18, 2026

Today, we’re talking about the war in Iran’s 19th day, weather craziness putting half the country under extreme conditions, the results of the World Baseball Classic and the start of March Madness; and other top news for Wednesday, March 18th. 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 Safe House Project QAVA CCCU Upside Mosh LMNT Bible Gateway Plus Life Application Study Bible Unto Compelled Podcast I Choose Love TPO Corrections Page

Hey, this is Joe at the Porover. And this is Peter at the Porover. Today, we're talking about the war in Iran's 19th day, wild weather putting half the country under extreme conditions, the results of the World Baseball Classic plus the start of March Madness, and other top news for Wednesday, March 18th, stay informed while remaining focused on Christ with the Porover. Here's your quote of the day.

When I look at the solar system, I see the Earth at the right distance from the sun to receive the proper amounts of heat and light. This did not happen by chance. Sir Isaac Newton. Let's get started with some espresso shots. The Iran War has reached day 19. Yesterday, Israel announced it killed Ali Larajani, Iran's top security officer and one of the regime's most powerful surviving figures after Ayatollah Ali Khomey's death, and a major Iranian militia leader in separate overnight strikes. The war continues to dominate talk coming out of Washington.

Later, top Trump admin counterterrorism official Joe Kent resigned, claiming on X that Iran had posed, quote, no imminent threat to the U.S., and that the administration, quote, started this war due to pressure from Israel and its powerful American lobby. The White House dismissed the post, saying President Trump had, quote, compelling evidence Iran would strike first, and as commander-in-chief, it was his call to make.

Meanwhile, President Trump criticized NATO for not helping secure the strait of Hermuz, calling the decision, quote, very foolish. When our newsfeed fills with violence and chaos, were often swept into a spiral of anxieties, but believers have an anchor in Jesus. Jesus, whose peace pierces the darkness now and will one day shatter it completely. Come to Him in faith. Pray with us. Mighty God, you are never caught by surprise or overpowered.

By your overwhelming strength, work peace across the Middle East. Overcome evildoers. Comfort those for a mourning. Protect the vulnerable. Strengthen those who will rebuild, and bring order from chaos so that a Iran and its neighbors will taste and see the goodness of the one true king. Amen. Tornado, blizzard, or heat wave?

The weather shows all of the above this week, putting roughly half the U.S. under extreme conditions. On the east coast, April showers, I mean, March thunderstorms, struck from Florida to New Jersey, putting over 94 million residents under severe weather alerts. Around 34 million were under tornado watches. including in the D.C. metro area, which led Capitol Hill to close shop early on Monday. In the Midwest, St. Paddy's Day parades were more white than green. Over 11 million residents in Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Northern Michigan have been buried in up to three feet of snow, leaving around 360,000 people without power.

As of yesterday, over 4,700 flights have been canceled due to wild weather. Meanwhile, the southwest is sweating. A heat wave is blasting through parts of California and Arizona this week, potentially raising temps into record-breaking triple digits. Here's a verse to consider when you're feeling weather whiplash. For the creation was subjected to futility. Not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in the hope that the creation itself will also be set free from the bondage to decay

into the glorious freedom of God's children. Romans 8.20 through 21. Farewell. International Baseball, Hello College Basketball. St. Patrick's Day in Miami was painted in yellow, blue, and red, as Venezuela claimed its first world baseball classic title, handing Team USA its second consecutive second place finish. After U.S. first basement Bryce Harper's game-tying bomb bursting in air in the eighth inning, Venezuelan infielder Eugenio Suarez's double brought home the deciding run in the top of the

Meanwhile, March Madness tipped off yesterday with Texas and Howard earning their spots in the field of 64. Teams 63 and 64 will join the party tonight. On the bracket beat, a quarter of people think Duke will win it all. An 11-seed South Florida is the people's bracket-buster. One-third of brackets pick the bulls to upset Louisville in round one. Sports can be a field where spiritual fruit grows. Through sport, we experience the thrill of victory, resilience from defeat, the beauty of teamwork, and the delight of play. As you watch, cheer, and discuss sports, keep an eternal perspective by focusing on growing Christ-like character, not just the scoreboard.

As Romans 5, 3 through 5 says, and not only that, but we also boast in our afflictions, because we know that affliction produces endurance. Endurance produces proven character, and proven character produces hope. This hope will not disappoint us, because God's love has been poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us. Hey, it's Zan from the Pourover. I've been making a purposeful effort to eat more seafood because I know it's packed with nutrients and I feel better when I do. But finding quality seafood where I live is a feat. That's why I started ordering from Wild Alaskin. They deliver 100% wild caught, never-firmed seafood like coho salmon and Pacific halibut, straight to my door.

It comes perfectly portioned and frozen right off the boat, locking in taste, texture, and nutrients like omega-3s. So it's both delicious and super easy to prep a quick, nutritious dinner for my family. My first box from Wild Alaskan Company definitely made me realize, not all fish is the same. Get seafood you can trust. Go to wildalaskin.com slash TPO for $35. off your first box of premium wild caught seafood. That's wildalaskan.com slash TPO for $35 off your first order. In other brews, here's a rapid round of updates.

Colorado meatpacking workers have beef with their employer, JBS. Around 3,800 employees walked out of a processing plant Monday in the industry's first slaughterhouse strike in 40 years. Workers cite unfair labor practices, including below-inflation wages, increases and up to $1,100 in charges for job-required safety equipment. JBS denies wrongdoing. A prolonged strike could move up already high beef prices. White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles has been diagnosed with early stage breast cancer.

Number 47 made the announcement Monday, calling Wiles, quote, one of his closest and most important advisors. President Trump said Wiles will take on treatment immediately, and that her prognosis is, quote, excellent, and Wiles said she will continue working full-time during treatment. A federal judge put a pin in RFK Jr.'s vaccine agenda on Monday. The bench sided with medical groups, suspending key vaccine panel appointments and temporarily blocking HHS's revised childhood vaccine schedule

after finding both likely violated federal law. the panel for failing to uphold, quote, a method scientific in nature, and the schedule for bypassing panel approval. The administration plans to appeal. Cuba's entire electric grid collapsed Monday, leaving around 11 million residents in the dark. The island-wide blackout comes as a U.S. imposed oil blockade

has short-circuited Cuba's already outdated power systems and is the latest in a series of outages which have sparked violent protests. The electrical failure's cause is under investigation, and Cuban officials say they're working to get the light back on. Records made a ton of scratch in 2025. On Monday, the Recording Industry Association of America reported U.S. vinyl revenue surpassed $1 billion last year,

its highest since 1983. The Sonic Boom was led by Taylor Swift's The Life of a Showgirl, which sold 1.6 million copies. Overall, vinyl represented less than 10% of 2025 music sales, with streaming earning around $9.5 billion. That's all we have for today. Thanks so much for listening, TPOFam. If you're listening on the Apple Podcast 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. Reading the Bible is life-changing and sometimes confusing.

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