The Pour Over Today - TSA Funding Impasse, Iran’s Missile Range, The Bachelorette Cancelled, & More | 03.23.2026

Episode Date: March 23, 2026

Today, we’re talking about congressional proposals for DHS funding amid TSA turbulence; President Trump vowing to “obliterate” Iran’s power plants; the cancellation of The Bachelorette’s 22nd season plus a gigantic K-pop reunion; and other top news for Monday, March 23rd. 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 from the pourover. And this is Peter from the pourover. Today, we're talking about congressional proposals for DHS funding amid TSA turbulence, President Trump vowing to obliterate Iran's power plants, the cancellation of the Bachelorette's 22nd season plus a gigantic K-pop reunion, and other top news for Monday, March 23rd. Stay informed while remaining focused on Christ with the poorover. Here's your quote of the day.

When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping. Fred Rogers. Let's get started with some espresso shots. The Department of Homeland Security remains unfunded. Senate Democrats voted down a House-passed proposal to fund DHS for the fifth time on Friday, sticking to their demand that any funding for ICE and customs and border protection

include reforms to immigration enforcement operations, such as banning ICE agents from wearing masks. Senate Republicans blocked Democrats' proposal to split off and fund non-immigration portions of DHS, including TSA, FEMA, and the Coast Guard, separately. Meanwhile, airport security is getting slow. Major airports, including Atlanta, Houston, New Orleans, and Philadelphia, have seen wait times topping three hours. Yesterday, the Trump administration confirmed ICE agents will be deployed to airports to, quote,

help TSA move those lines along, and Elon Musk offered to pay the about 50,000 TSA agent's salaries during the funding impasse. Here's a verse to consider whether you're stuck without a compromise or making conflict breakthroughs in your own home. Therefore, I, the prisoner in the Lord, urge you to walk worthy of the calling you have received with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, making every effort to keep the unity of the spirit through the bond of peace. Ephesians 4, verses 1 through 3. It's three weeks and counting for the war in Iran.

Saturday evening, President Trump vowed to, quote, obliterate Iran's power plants if it does not fully reopen the Strait of Hormuz within 48 hours, which is today at 7.44 p.m. Eastern time. Iran's president said the strait remains open to everyone who doesn't, quote, violate Iranian soil and said Trump's ultimatum shows desperation. The straits closure is linked to rising gas prices, which are up about $1 per gallon since the war began. Meanwhile, Iran fired two ballistic missiles

at a U.S. British base 2,500 miles away in the Indian Ocean on Friday. While ultimately unsuccessful, it suggests Iran's missile range exceeds its self-proclaimed 1,250-mile limit. On Saturday, Iranian missiles struck eight miles from Israel's suspected nuclear arsenal, injuring more than 100 people.

hours after Israel reportedly struck an Iranian nuclear facility. The strikes caused the UN nuclear watchdog to urge, quote, maximum military restraint near nuclear sites. Let's pray together. As conflict continues, we may be tempted to grow weary in prayer, but we are called to fervent prayer that depends not on the odds in the headlines, but on the character and promises of the triune God revealed in Scripture. gracious Father,

your image bearers and your creation are being hurt, killed, and destroyed. Come, Lord Jesus, and make right what is evil. Make just what is unjust. Make straight what is crooked. Holy Spirit, comfort those who are dying, give wisdom to those deciding, and bring hope to those despairing. Amen. ABC sent Taylor Frankie Paul's season of The Bachelorette,

Home without a rose. In an unprecedented decision that cost the Disney-owned network about $30 million, ABC canceled its already filmed 22nd season Thursday, three days before its premiere. The move follows the release of a 2023 video where Paul appears to be attacking her former partner in front of her daughter. Both The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives star and her ex are involved in an ongoing, domestic violence investigation. While Bachelor Nation fans grieved,

K-pop fans rejoiced. Saturday, K-pop supergroup BTS stormed Seoul with their first concert after a four-year hiatus to complete mandatory military service. The Bangtan Boys' hour-long homecoming performance drew about 100,000 people and 300 million more eyeballs on Netflix's live stream, promoting their new album, Arirang.

There is a time and place to enjoy things like TV shows, music, and celebrities, but Christians must be on guard against entertaining ourselves into complacency. Believers must live with the discernment in the tension of enjoying God's good gifts without allowing them to distract us and dull our love. As Romans 12, verse 11 through 12 says, Do not lack diligence in zeal. Be fervent in the spirit. serve the Lord, rejoice in hope, be patient in affliction, be persistent in prayer.

Have you ever opened your Bible and thought, man, I really wish I understood this better? We've all been there. The Bible can feel overwhelming when you don't have the right guidance or context around what you're reading. That's why we love Kavah, a Christian streaming platform designed to help you understand scripture and live out your faith with confidence. It's a It's like digital discipleship in your pocket. You'll find Bible studies, biblical documentaries, and conversations with trusted teachers who can help you see scripture in context, so it finally comes alive in your everyday life. And the cherry on top?

Kava is a non-profit subscriber-funded ministry. That means when you join, you're not just getting great content. You're helping create biblical resources that help people around the world grow in their faith. Move from confusion to confidence with Kava. Watch anytime, anywhere from any device, and use code the pourover 50 to get 50% off your first six months. Start streaming today at the link in the show notes. In other brews, here's a rapid round of updates.

Chuck Norris, martial arts legend and Walker, Texas Ranger star, died Thursday at 86. The man behind countless memes passed after a sudden medical emergency in Hawaii. His family said he was, quote, surrounded by family and was at peace, remembering him as someone who lived his life with faith, purpose, and an unwavering commitment to the people he loved. Hawaii is facing its worst flooding in 20 years. Back-to-back Kona Lowe's slow-moving seasonal rainstorms Soaked America's island escape with over 50 inches of rain over 10 days,

forcing thousands of evacuations, threatening to burst in Oahu Dam, and causing an estimated $1 billion in damage. The entire state was under a flood watch through yesterday. Authorities reported hundreds of rescues and no deaths. Robert Mueller III died on Friday at 81. The Vietnam veteran, 9-11-11-era FBI chief and special counsel in the controversial investigation into Russian interference with the 2016 election died after being diagnosed with Parkinson's disease. In other news, Mueller's Bureau has reportedly been investigating ex-counterterrorism head Joe Kent for leaking classified info. He resigned Tuesday over the Iran War.

The New York Times and dozens of others are getting their Pentagon press passes. On Friday, a federal judge struck down the Defense Department's 2025 policy that barred reporters who wouldn't pledge to only publish Pentagon-approved information from the press room to protect national security. The Times successfully argued that the policy violated free speech and due process protections. The Pentagon will appeal. A California jury decided that Elon Musk's tweets during Twitter sale negotiations, misled investors.

Friday's unanimous verdict found that Musk acted inappropriately by publicly questioning the platform's bot numbers and threatening to abandon 2022's $44 billion deal, artificially tanking Twitter's stock. Though absolved of intentionally scheming to defraud, Musk owes affected investors

up to $2.6 billion in damages. And that's all we have for today. And even in the face of hard headlines, believers in Jesus have a secure hope. Our sins are forgiven. God is with us through His spirit and Jesus is coming back to make everything new. Thanks 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 start to your week. See you on Wednesday.

Reading the Bible is life-changing and sometimes confusing. Instead of turning to Google for answers, get clarity you can count on with Bible Gateway Plus. You get ad-free Bible study with trusted commentary and study notes from real scholars, write alongside the verses you're reading on your phone, tablet, or desktop. Use tools you can trust. Try Bible Gateway Plus free for seven days at the link in the show notes. Plus, TPO listeners get 20% off annual plans with code.

pour over 20.