The Pour Over Today - Wednesday, March 16, 2022

Episode Date: March 16, 2022

European support for Ukraine, the much anticipated hike in interest rates, a gunman targeting the homeless, and other top news for Wednesday, March 16th. Stay informed, while remaining focused on Christ, with The Pour Over. Sponsored by Regent:http://rgnt.net/summer-2022

Today we're talking about European support for Ukraine, the much-anticipated hike in interest rates, a gunman targeting the homeless, and other top news for Wednesday, March 16th. Stay informed while remaining focused on Christ with The Pour Over. Here's the quote of the day. I am imperfect in many things. Nevertheless, I want my brethren and kinsfolk to know my nature so that they may be able to perceive my soul's desire. St. Patrick.

Let's get started with some espresso shots. Today is day 20 of Ukraine, reminding us that running out of Oreos is not a real problem. Russia is ramping up their assault on Kyiv, including some strikes on residential buildings, but still has not captured any major cities. 20,000 people were able to leave the southern port city of Mariupol after a week of failed evacuation attempts. Zelensky called recent peace talks with Russia, quote, pretty good, which is a hefty upgrade from previous reports. A few European nations are becoming more bold in their support for the blue and yellow flag.

Yesterday, the prime ministers of Poland, Czech Republic, and Slovenia arrived in war-torn Kiev to meet with President Zelensky in person. And Estonia, a member of NATO, called for a no-fly zone over Ukraine. President Biden will travel to Europe next week to meet with NATO leaders. We have a correction. In Monday's podcast, we said that Russian troops had taken the city of Mariupol and abducted the mayor, but these details were actually regarding the neighboring city of Melitopol. God is not surprised by this crisis, nor are his ultimate plans threatened. Even in the face of evil, we should remain people of hope

and look forward to the day when war is no more. Isaiah 2.4 says, In the last days they will beat their swords into plows and their spears into pruning knives. Nation will not take up the sword against nation, and they will never again train for war. After months of talk, today is the day. It's interest rate hike day. The Federal Reserve is expected to raise interest rates by a quarter of a percentage point today.

Here's their reasoning. First, raising rates makes borrowing money for mortgages, car loans, and credit card debt more expensive. Also, people and businesses will spend less. And finally, less spending will drive down inflation. With inflation at 7.9%, which is a 40-year high, there's little opposition to raising rates, but the Fed is still being cautious. Raising rates too quickly could trigger a recession,

something the conflict in Ukraine is also threatening to do. In other Federal Reserve news, Sarah Bloom Raskin, who is President Biden's nominee for a powerful regulatory position, actually withdrew her candidacy. Her views on climate policy didn't sit well with Republicans or Senator Manchin, the Democrat from West Virginia, making her confirmation unlikely. Here's a verse to consider if your daydreams include a Scrooge McDuck-style dive into piles of money. Instruct those who are rich in the present age not to be arrogant or to set their hope on the uncertainty of wealth, but on God, who richly provides us with all things to enjoy. 1 Timothy 6, 17-19. The mayors of New York City and Washington, D.C. issued a joint statement this weekend urging anyone sleeping on the streets to seek shelter. The warning came after a string of

attacks on homeless people in the two cities, which left two dead and three others recovering from being shot in their sleep. Police stated that a gunman shot three homeless people between March 3rd and 9th in D.C. and two homeless people in New York City on March 12th. Evidence from the crime scenes and tips indicated the attacks were connected. Police announced that a suspect in connection with the attacks was arrested in D.C. early on Tuesday, and they said that anonymous tips led them to the 30-year-old suspected killer, who now faces charges of first-degree murder. Authorities have not made public any suspected motive. We live in a sinful, broken, and unfair world that is marred by sin. Even as we work and pray for peace, we can take comfort knowing that this is not our home, and through Christ,

all things will ultimately be made right. Psalm 23, 4 says, Even when I go through the darkest valley, I fear no danger, for you are with me. Your rod and your staff, they comfort me. This podcast is brought to you by Regent. There's no place like Regent's summer programs. Regent students come from a range of vocations, cultures, ages, and perspectives with one thing in common, a desire to study theology for life. From May through August, lifelong learners join summer programs to wrestle with contemporary

issues, be energized by scripture, and renew their minds. You can choose from over 40 week-long courses on scripture, art, history, culture, and more. If you love Jesus and love learning, there's something for you. All classes are available on campus in beautiful Vancouver, BC, and online for those unable to travel. Get a taste of summer at Regent. You can sign up to get exclusive access to four lectures from summer faculty like Doug Mu and Lynn Kohig at the link in the show notes. In other brews, here's a rapid round of updates. U.S. stocks had a strong Tuesday, closing up 2%. Meanwhile, Chinese stocks had a really bad Monday, closing down 7.2%, which is its biggest drop since November 2008. This was over concerns of Beijing being a little too chummy with Moscow and COVID cases and deaths soaring in Hong Kong.

What's next for Pete Davidson, SNL star, boyfriend to Kim Kardashian, and astronaut? Pete will be aboard Blue Origin's next space tourism flight later this month. It's not the only odd space-related news. Elon Musk challenged Vladimir Putin to a, quote, single combat duel in a tweet, prompting a quick and angry reply from the head of Russia's space program. Migrant encounters at the southern border in February were 63% higher than last year, according to new Customs and Border Protection data, with more than 160,000 encounters by border authorities. In addition, February marks a 7% increase over January, which, in turn, saw a 96% increase from last January. Lyft is following Uber.

The ride-sharing company announced it is adding a temporary surcharge in response to record-high gas prices that will be passed through to drivers. Hopefully it won't last long. The price of oil has dropped to $96 a barrel after hitting $130 a barrel last week. This means relief could be coming to the gas pump. Dolly Parton bowed out of Rock and Roll Hall of Fame consideration. Parton was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1999, but she said she doesn't feel she's, quote, earned that right for rock and roll. Yet, the 76-year-old promised to release a, quote,

hopefully great rock and roll album in the future. That's all we have for today. Thanks so much for listening. If you're thinking, I want to help more Christians stay informed while remaining focused on Christ, here's a breakdown on how you can best support us. If you're listening on the Apple Podcast app, you can give us a five-star rating and drop us a review. If you're listening on Spotify, give us a follow and hit the notification bell to never miss a new episode. There is also an option to leave a five-star rating, but it's a newer feature and it's only doable on your phone. And finally, the simplest way to help us grow is to send the episode to a friend. We hope you have a great rest of your day

and we'll see you back here on Friday, March 18th.