The Pour Over Today - Trump/Zelenskyy Clash; Federal Employee Layoffs; The Oscars & More I 3.3.25

Episode Date: March 3, 2025

Today, we’re talking about the clash between Presidents Trump & Zelenskyy, more federal employee layoffs, last night’s Oscars, and other top news for Monday, March 3rd. Stay informed while remaining focused on Christ with The Pour Over Today. Please support our TPO sponsors! Parenting with Ginger Hubbard: https://links.thepourover.org/ParentingwithGingerHubbard The Bulletin: MoreCT.com/BulletinPodcast Upside: https://links.thepourover.org/Upside Cru: give.cru.org/pour LMNT: https://links.thepourover.org/LMNT_Podcast HelloFresh: hellofresh.com/hellofreshpodcast One Year Bible: https://links.thepourover.org/OneYearBible_Pod World Relief: https://links.thepourover.org/WorldRelief_Pod The Chronological Life Application Study Bible: https://links.thepourover.org/LASB_0215 Student Life Application Study Bible: https://links.thepourover.org/SLASB_Pod

Today, we're talking about the clash between President Trump and Zelensky, more federal employee layoffs, last night's Oscars, and other top news for Monday, March 3rd. Stay informed while remaining focused on Christ with the pullover today. Here's the quote of the day, closer to God when we just live life. It takes deliberate pursuit and attentiveness. Francis Chan. Let's get started with some espresso shots. Tensions boiled over in the Oval Office Friday. The near final U.S. Ukraine minerals deal

unraveled live on camera as Ukraine's President Zelensky clashed with President Trump and VP Vance. Zelensky refused to sign without security guarantees against Russia, prompting Vance to push diplomacy over military assistance. When Zelensky dismissed past ceasefires as failures, Vance called him ungrateful. Trump said Zelensky was disrespecting the US and gambling with World War III. Trump then canceled their press conference, lunch, and deal signing, and showed Zelensky the White House door. Most Republicans have praised President Trump for standing up for America,

while Democrats have called Trump's actions an embarrassment that benefited Putin. European leaders quickly rallied behind Zelensky, who on Saturday thanked Trump for US support, but urged him to stand more firmly behind Ukraine. Here's a verse to consider when tensions are high. My dear brothers and sisters, understand this. Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to anger, for human anger does not accomplish God's righteousness.

James 1, 19 and 20. Doge is doubling down on its demands for productivity reports. Friday night, all federal employees received a second email requesting another list of five accomplishments from last week. The now weekly post check faces legal challenges from labor unions who say it violates rulemaking procedures, providing notice of impending new policies and allowing for a comment period. Meanwhile, the layoffs keep coming.

The Social Security Administration announced 7,000 layoffs Friday, and the Education Department offered employees a $25,000 buyout ahead of a very significant workforce reduction. As Doge works to streamline operations, President Trump is streamlining words. After nearly 250 years without one, Trump signed an executive order designating English as the US's official language to cultivate a shared American culture. Critics say it directly contradicts America's diversity.

It's easy to throw stones at a government's operations obstacles, but how are the chores and honeydew discussions going at your own home? In all your conversations, demonstrate faith in Christ through patience and compromises that outdo one another in showing honor and love. Galatians 5, 22-25 says, But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. The law is not against such things. Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.

If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit. by the spirit, let us also keep in step with the spirit. And the Oscar goes to… Award season came to a red carpeted close last night with the 97th Academy Awards. The Oscars went to… Anorah for Best Picture, Adrian Brody the Britalist for Best Actor, Mikey Madison, Anora for Best Actress, Kieran Colkin, A Real Pain for Best Supporting Actor, and Zoe Zaldana, Emilia Perez for Best Supporting Actress. Award show buzz started early when Harrison Ford had to step down as a

presenter after coming down with shingles. Alas, the star-studded show went on. Hosted by late night TV host Conan O'Brien, featuring a wicked performance from Cynthia Arrivo and Ariana Grande, a dress code breaking Adam Sandler, and tributes to James Bond, Quincy Jones, and Gene Hackman. Best winner, Anora, took home five statuettes, the most of any nominated film last night.

Whether we're actors, directors, newsletter writers, business people, teachers, plumbers, or stay at home moms, Christians have an opportunity every day to honor God in our work with the gifts He has given us and to show the love of Christ to those around us as we do. 1 Corinthians 1031 says, So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do everything for the glory of God. Hey, it's Zann from The Poor Over. I used to think cash back apps were more hassle than they were worth until I tried upside. Now I use it all the time because honestly who doesn't love getting paid for adulting? It's super easy. I just open the app,

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use promo code TPO to get an extra 25 cents back for every gallon on the 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 wrap-around of updates. No spending, no swiping, no shopping. That was the plan. On Friday, a grassroots movement critical of corporate greed and billionaire influence led an economic blackout, urging Americans to stop all non-essential spending for 24

hours in protest of a rigged economic system. Despite social media buzz and sub-celebrity support, retail analysts saw no immediate signs of consumer restraint. Friday Iowa became the first state to remove gender identity protections from its civil rights code. Governor Kim Reynolds said the bill, which also legally defined males and females based on their reproductive organs at birth, is necessary to secure genuine equal protection for women and girls.

Amy Wichendahl, Iowa's first transgender representative, said the bill aims to stigmatize and erase transgender individuals from public life. The race for New York City Mayor is getting crowded. On Saturday, former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo became the 8th and highest profile Democrat looking to unseat current Big Apple boss Eric Adams in June's primary election. One Republican and one Independent are also running. Cuomo left the Governor's mansion in 2021 amid sexual harassment allegations. He denies wrongdoing.

Kurdish militants have declared a ceasefire with Turkey after their jailed leader called for them to disarm and disband. Saturday's statement from the Kurdistan Workers' Party, PKK, a US-designated terrorist organization, aims to end 40 years of armed conflict, which has killed tens of thousands. The group wants Kurdish autonomy and their leaders' release. Turkey didn't immediately respond.

Skype is signing out for good. Microsoft, which acquired the video call Pioneer for $8.5 billion in 2011, announced it's shuttering Skype on May 5th and migrating users to Microsoft Teams. The few remaining Skypers weren't the only ones upset with Microsoft this weekend. A faulty software update caused a global outlook outage, leaving users' email lists for hours on Saturday. And that's all we have for today. Thanks so much for listening. outage, leaving users' email lists for hours on Saturday.

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 day. We'll see you on Wednesday. beyond outward behavior and point children to the transformational power of Christ. It's time to move past the frustrations of not knowing how to handle issues of defiance and step into a confident and heart-oriented approach to raising children. Subscribe to Parenting with Ginger Hubbard wherever you listen to podcasts for weekly encouragement.