The World and Everything In It

Fri » The AI Doc asks whether AI will save humanity or destroy it. Collin Garbarino says the film doesn't push back hard enough.Also: Culture Friday with Katie McCoy, who talks about the challenge of fitting feminism and critical theory into five-minute lessons for teens. Plus: Arsenio Orteza talks with Tree63 founder John Ellis about the hit fans waited for before heading for the exits, the industry's win-at-all-costs pressure, and the band's return after 11 years.EP 3500 · Fri Oct 2, 2026⏰ LAST CALL: We extended the deadline through today. Request your free 15-years, 100-million-downloads commemorative sticker here—or at theworldandeverythinginit.org/sticker. We have to make this deadline stick.☀️ Today's stories› Friday morning news› Culture Friday: Reality has a say› Review: The only thing to fear› Music: The hit that hurtThank you for supporting The World and Everything in It ❤️ wng.org/donate──────────────Additional support comes from Dordt University, providing student musicians with opportunities to discover, develop, and share the gift of music and bring glory to God.From Barnabas Aid, providing help for the suffering and persecuted church around the world. Projects aim to strengthen Christian individuals, churches and their communities by providing material and spiritual support in response to needs identified by local Christian leaders on the ground. We also host the International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church on November 1. More at www.barnabasaid.org/idop.And from Asbury University: where students are equipped to grow in Christ, prepare for meaningful careers, and build lifelong relationships. Whether you're looking for an on-campus experience, an online bachelor's degree, or graduate studies, you'll find a Christ-centered education rooted in academic excellence and authentic community. Learn more at asbury.edu and follow @asburyuniversity on social media.

Thu » AI can hack, cheat, and cover its tracks. Who answers when rogue agents cause harm?Also: A Michigan tea importer gets tariff money back only to face new tariff bills, while the Hyde Amendment turns 50 still surviving one spending bill at a time. Plus: who owns the rain, Brazil's borrowed-name candidates, and the fine print on four abortion measures.EP 3499 · Thu Oct 1, 2026⏱️ EXTRA TIME: We've added another day to request your free sticker celebrating 15 years and 100 million downloads. Order yours here—or visit theworldandeverythinginit.org/sticker.☀️ Today's stories› Thursday morning news› AI accountability: The machine did it› Tariffs: Steeped twice› Hyde Amendment: Always renewed, never permanent› Kicker: The borrowed brand› Cloud seeding: Rights to rain› David Closson: The fine-print voteThank you for supporting The World and Everything in It ❤️ wng.org/donate──────────────Additional support comes from Dordt University, providing student musicians with opportunities to discover, develop, and share the gift of music and bring glory to God.From Barnabas Aid, providing help for the suffering and persecuted church around the world. Projects aim to strengthen Christian individuals, churches and their communities by providing material and spiritual support in response to needs identified by local Christian leaders on the ground. We also host the International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church on November 1. More at www.barnabasaid.org/idop.And from Asbury University: where students are equipped to grow in Christ, prepare for meaningful careers, and build lifelong relationships. Whether you're looking for an on-campus experience, an online bachelor's degree, or graduate studies, you'll find a Christ-centered education rooted in academic excellence and authentic community. Learn more at asbury.edu and follow @asburyuniversity on social media.

Wed » Five races may show whether a wave is forming — and whether unhappy Trump backers even vote.Also: Iran's shrinking leverage, the power of the purse, Jack Smith, missile stocks, and voter rolls. On World Tour: renewed fighting in Ethiopia. Plus: 59 million American adults have literacy skills at the lowest level, a new account of how the FBI's anti-Catholic memo came to be, and Austrian yodelers find better acoustics in a parking garage.EP 3498 · Wed Sep 30, 2026⏳ TIME'S RUNNING OUT: Today's the deadline to order your free commemorative sticker celebrating 15 years and 100 million downloads. Request yours today—theworldandeverythinginit.org/sticker.☀️ Today's stories› Wednesday morning news› Washington Wednesday: A wave forming?› World Tour: The old war, rearranged› Kicker: Peak reception, underground› Adult literacy: Sight was only the start› Commentary: Then they investigated the priestThank you for supporting The World and Everything in It ❤️ wng.org/donate──────────────Additional support comes from Barnabas Aid, providing help for the suffering and persecuted church around the world. Projects aim to strengthen Christian individuals, churches and their communities by providing material and spiritual support in response to needs identified by local Christian leaders on the ground. We also host the International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church on November 1. More at www.barnabasaid.org/idop.From Asbury University: where students are equipped to grow in Christ, prepare for meaningful careers, and build lifelong relationships. Whether you're looking for an on-campus experience, an online bachelor's degree, or graduate studies, you'll find a Christ-centered education rooted in academic excellence and authentic community. Learn more at asbury.edu and follow @asburyuniversity on social media.And from Dordt University, providing student musicians with opportunities to discover, develop, and share the gift of music and bring glory to God.

Tue » Washington is pushing Iran's oil exports toward zero—but China may still keep Tehran afloat.Also: A mother lost access to her daughter's medical records on her 12th birthday—even though the girl was too young to create the email account needed to log in. Students bring Bibles to public school, while a roommate program builds independence on both sides. Plus: Lola the cat spends five days inside a wall, and WORLD's Cal Thomas on the Netanyahu argument dozens of delegates walked out before hearing.EP 3497 · Tue Sep 29, 2026★ YOUR STICKER IS HERE Get your free commemorative sticker celebrating 15 years and 100 million downloads. Request yours by tomorrow: theworldandeverythinginit.org/sticker☀️ Today's stories› Tuesday morning news› Iran sanctions: Not quite nothing› Medical records: Locked out, still exposed› Bring Your Bible: Out of the backpack› Kicker: Up a wall› Shepherd's Way: The house that teaches› Cal Thomas: The argument unheardThank you for supporting The World and Everything in It ❤️ wng.org/donate──────────────Additional support comes from Dordt University, providing student musicians with opportunities to discover, develop, and share the gift of music and bring glory to God.From Barnabas Aid, providing help for the suffering and persecuted church around the world. Projects aim to strengthen Christian individuals, churches and their communities by providing material and spiritual support in response to needs identified by local Christian leaders on the ground. We also host the International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church on November 1. More at www.barnabasaid.org/idop.And from Asbury University: where students are equipped to grow in Christ, prepare for meaningful careers, and build lifelong relationships. Whether you're looking for an on-campus experience, an online bachelor's degree, or graduate studies, you'll find a Christ-centered education rooted in academic excellence and authentic community. Learn more at asbury.edu and follow @asburyuniversity on social media.

Mon » The first U.S. social-media addiction verdict may give thousands of pending cases a path to victory by targeting the platforms themselves.Also: David Bahnsen explains why today's housing squeeze will have to ease through home prices rather than mortgage rates, why diesel-export limits could backfire, and how AI is driving new energy demand. Plus: the WORLD History Book on Ana Montes, one of the most damaging spies in American history.EP 3496 · Mon Sep 28, 2026⏳ ORDER BY WEDNESDAY! Get your commemorative sticker celebrating 15 years and 100 million downloads. theworldandeverythinginit.org/sticker☀️ Today's stories› Monday morning news› Legal Docket: #nofilter› Moneybeat: The price, not the rate› WORLD History Book: The spy who walked inThank you for supporting The World and Everything in It ❤️ wng.org/donate──────────────Additional support comes from Asbury University: where students are equipped to grow in Christ, prepare for meaningful careers, and build lifelong relationships. Whether you're looking for an on-campus experience, an online bachelor's degree, or graduate studies, you'll find a Christ-centered education rooted in academic excellence and authentic community. Learn more at asbury.edu and follow @asburyuniversity on social media.From Barnabas Aid, providing help for the suffering and persecuted church around the world. Projects aim to strengthen Christian individuals, churches and their communities by providing material and spiritual support in response to needs identified by local Christian leaders on the ground. We also host the International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church on November 1. More at www.barnabasaid.org/idop.And from Dordt University, providing student musicians with opportunities to discover, develop, and share the gift of music and bring glory to God. 

Fri » An elite journalist sent her daughter to a failing school for the “collective good.” John Stonestreet says the common good is not above those in it. Also: Stonestreet weighs the decision to cast Meryl Streep as the voice of Aslan—a clear Christ figure in C.S. Lewis's Narnia stories—and whether the choice distorts the world Lewis created. He also considers whether kids' smartwatches are really an escape from smartphones—or just another screen pulling them away from the real world. Plus: Collin Garbarino finds spiritual endurance and sacrificial love in Heart of the Beast, and listeners get the last word on September's programs. EP 3495 · Fri Sep 25, 2026☀️ Today's stories› Friday morning news› Culture Friday: The nearer duty› Movie review: Man's best comrade› Listener Feedback: The last word⏳ 5 DAYS LEFT: Order your commemorative sticker celebrating 15 years and 100 million downloads. theworldandeverythinginit.org/sticker (Order by Wed Sep 30)Thank you for supporting The World and Everything in It ❤️ wng.org/donate──────────────Additional support comes from St. Dunstan's Academy. Classical education, building arts, and Christian formation. Real Life, No Screens. stdunstansacademy.orgFrom The Voice of the Martyrs, serving persecuted Christians since 1967. More at VOM.org/theworldAnd from Cedarville University located in southwest Ohio, committed to biblical faithfulness and academic excellence, preparing students to serve Christ with conviction in every profession. Every one of its 175+ undergraduate and graduate programs are grounded in a biblical worldview, equipping graduates with the knowledge, skill, and conviction to serve wherever God leads. New online undergraduate degrees through Cedarville Online offer flexible, affordable education rooted in biblical truth and designed for today's learners. Learn more at cedarville.edu, and explore online programs at cedarville.edu/online.

Thu » President Trump's rare welcome for Xi Jinping is part of the diplomacy itself. China expert Bonny Lin explains why the reception matters.Also: Xi is pressing President Trump to reduce U.S. support for Taiwan. In Kyiv, civilians shelter through a deadly daylight barrage, then try to resume ordinary life between strikes. Congress confronts uneven rules in women's sports, and a father passes to his children the Christian rock that shaped his faith. Plus: Daniel Suhr argues for putting classroom technology back in its place, and Yellowstone turns up a very strange lost-and-found.EP 3494 · Thu Sep 24, 2026☀️Today's stories› Thursday morning news› U.S.–China summit: Reading the red carpet› Ukraine: Between blasts› Women's sports: No uniform rule› Yellowstone: Hot spring cleaning› Christian rock: Passed down loud› Commentary: Resetting the default⏳ 6 DAYS LEFT: Order your commemorative sticker celebrating 15 years and 100 million downloads. theworldandeverythinginit.org/sticker (Order by Wed Sep 30)Thank you for supporting The World and Everything in It ❤️ wng.org/donate──────────────Additional support comes from St. Dunstan's Academy. Classical education, building arts, and Christian formation. Real Life, No Screens. stdunstansacademy.orgFrom The Voice of the Martyrs, serving persecuted Christians since 1967. More at VOM.org/theworldAnd from Cedarville University located in southwest Ohio, committed to biblical faithfulness and academic excellence, preparing students to serve Christ with conviction in every profession. Every one of its 175+ undergraduate and graduate programs are grounded in a biblical worldview, equipping graduates with the knowledge, skill, and conviction to serve wherever God leads. New online undergraduate degrees through Cedarville Online offer flexible, affordable education rooted in biblical truth and designed for today's learners. Learn more at cedarville.edu, and explore online programs at cedarville.edu/online.

Wed » Hunter Baker considers what President Trump's U.N. speech reveals about his use of American power—and the principle behind it.Also: Baker turns to Xi Jinping's Washington visit, what Beijing wants on Taiwan, and whether campaign money still moves voters. In Nepal, flood survivors remain suspended between loss and rebuilding. Plus: an Illinois worm farmer finds value where he least expected it, Fat Bear Week rewards excess, and Janie B. Cheaney reflects on hymns that still carry hope through dark times.EP 3493 · Wed Sep 23, 2026Today's stories> Wednesday morning news> Washington Wednesday: What power is for> Nepal: Life in limbo> Fat Bear Week: Fit to be fat » Vote here> Worm farm: Where the value is> Janie B. Cheaney: Singing still⏳ ONE WEEK LEFT: Order your commemorative sticker celebrating 15 years and 100 million downloads. theworldandeverythinginit.org/sticker (Order by Wed Sep 30)Thank you for supporting The World and Everything in It ❤️ wng.org/donate──────────────Additional support comes from St. Dunstan's Academy. Classical education, building arts, and Christian formation. Real Life, No Screens. stdunstansacademy.orgFrom The Voice of the Martyrs, serving persecuted Christians since 1967. More at VOM.org/theworldAnd from Cedarville University located in southwest Ohio, committed to biblical faithfulness and academic excellence, preparing students to serve Christ with conviction in every profession. Every one of its 175+ undergraduate and graduate programs are grounded in a biblical worldview, equipping graduates with the knowledge, skill, and conviction to serve wherever God leads. New online undergraduate degrees through Cedarville Online offer flexible, affordable education rooted in biblical truth and designed for today's learners. Learn more at cedarville.edu, and explore online programs at cedarville.edu/online.

Tue » Affordability is becoming a midterm promise, but politicians can only shape the conditions behind prices — not simply command them lower. Also: President Trump's Greenland deal builds on decades of U.S. basing rights. Sen. Ron Johnson says an investigation into COVID-shot safety is running into records that may already be gone. A rebuilt cog railway climbs Pike's Peak toward the view that inspired “America the Beautiful.” Plus: orphaned raccoons train for the wild, and Cal Thomas argues that presidents should answer hostile reporting with better facts, not closed doors.EP 3492 · Tue Sep 22, 2026Today's stories> Tuesday morning news> Greenland: A newer old foothold> Sen. Ron Johnson: Missing from the record> Affordability: You can't elect cheap> Raccoons: Born to be mild> Pike's Peak: The way up> Cal Thomas: The friction of freedom★ LIMITED TIME: Order your commemorative sticker celebrating 15 years and 100 million downloads. theworldandeverythinginit.org/sticker (Please place order by Wed Sep 30)Thank you for supporting The World and Everything in It ❤️ wng.org/donate──────────────Additional support comes from St. Dunstan's Academy. Classical education, building arts, and Christian formation. Real Life, No Screens. stdunstansacademy.orgFrom The Voice of the Martyrs, serving persecuted Christians since 1967. More at VOM.org/theworldAnd from Cedarville University located in southwest Ohio, committed to biblical faithfulness and academic excellence, preparing students to serve Christ with conviction in every profession. Every one of its 175+ undergraduate and graduate programs are grounded in a biblical worldview, equipping graduates with the knowledge, skill, and conviction to serve wherever God leads. New online undergraduate degrees through Cedarville Online offer flexible, affordable education rooted in biblical truth and designed for today's learners. Learn more at cedarville.edu, and explore online programs at cedarville.edu/online.

Mon » A bush pilot's seized Cessna tests the Eighth Amendment's ban on excessive fines at the Supreme Court.Also: David Bahnsen explains why the Fed's rate hike mostly caught up with markets that had already tightened. Plus: the WORLD History Book traces how Congress turned Article III's sketch of a federal judiciary into a working court system.EP 3491 · Mon Sep 21, 2026Today's stories—> Monday morning news> Legal Docket: Seized livelihood> David Bahnsen: Fashionably late> WORLD History Book: From sketch to system★ LIMITED TIME: Order your commemorative sticker celebrating 15 years and 100 million downloads. theworldandeverythinginit.org/sticker (Please place order by Wed Sep 30)Thank you for supporting The World and Everything in It ❤️ wng.org/donate──────────────Additional support comes from Cedarville University, located in southwest Ohio, committed to biblical faithfulness and academic excellence, preparing students to serve Christ with conviction in every profession. Every one of its 175+ undergraduate and graduate programs are grounded in a biblical worldview, equipping graduates with the knowledge, skill, and conviction to serve wherever God leads. New online undergraduate degrees through Cedarville Online offer flexible, affordable education rooted in biblical truth and designed for today's learners. Learn more at cedarville.edu, and explore online programs at cedarville.edu/online.Additional support comes from St. Dunstan's Academy, a farm, trades, and classics boarding school in Virginia. Now enrolling 9th and 10th grade boys. stdunstansacademy.orgAnd from The Voice of the Martyrs, serving persecuted Christians since 1967. More at VOM.org/theworld

Some people are insisting that the Shroud of Turin is physical evidence of the resurrection–what if it is?WatersEdge securities are subject to certain risk factors as described in our Offering Circular and are not FDIC or SIPC insured. This is not an offer to sell or solicit securities. WatersEdge offers and sells securities only where authorized; this offering is made solely by our Offering Circular.

Fri » Kids caffeinate their way through exhaustion, while education tries to engineer the struggle out of learning.Also: John Stonestreet takes on cultural contradictions over the body and false equivalence over Islamism. Steve Limkeman returns to Middle-earth 25 years later to ask why its wonder still enlarges the real world. Plus: George Grant meets late-blooming reader Scotty Smith, who says books became “a radical gift in my life.”EP 3490 · Fri Sep 18, 2026Today's stories—> Friday morning news> Culture Friday: Overclocked childhood> LOTR: Wonder, recovered> Quest with George Grant: The late reader★ Order your commemorative sticker celebrating 15 years and 100 million downloads. theworldandeverythinginit.org/stickerThank you for supporting The World and Everything in It ❤️ wng.org/donate──────────────Additional support comes from Boyce College, which offers a Christ-centered education built on the truth of God's Word. Every student—no matter their major—takes 30 hours of Bible and theology, learning how to think biblically, live faithfully, and lead with conviction.Formed from the 160-year legacy of Southern Seminary, Boyce College prepares students for maximum faithfulness in the world, the workplace, the church, and the family. Learn more at boycecollege.comFrom WatersEdge Kingdom Capital. Asset management for churches, schools, and ministries — backed by 80 years of experience. watersedge.com/capitalAnd from Dordt University. Offering fast-track Ag degrees to help graduates make an impact in agriculture sooner. Dordt.edu

Thu » Some dying patients who could no longer speak or respond suddenly reconnect with loved ones. Terminal lucidity offers a glimpse of the mind at life's edge.Also: Secretary of State Rubio courts Latin America as China deepens its economic hold, while falling SNAP rolls test tougher work rules. Maria Baer finds history in movies, musicals, and handstands. Plus: a hood-riding snake, and David Closson on Britain's assisted-suicide reversal.Today's stories—> Thursday morning news> Rubio: The harder sell> SNAP: What drove the drop?> Terminal lucidity: The return before goodbye> Kicker: The hood hitchhiker> Feature: History at play> David Closson: Arguments still matter★ Order your commemorative sticker celebrating 15 years and 100 million downloads. theworldandeverythinginit.org/stickerThank you for supporting The World and Everything in It ❤️ wng.org/donate──────────────Additional support comes from Dordt University. Offering fast-track Ag degrees to help graduates make an impact in agriculture sooner. Dordt.eduFrom WatersEdge Kingdom Capital. Asset management for churches, schools, and ministries — backed by 80 years of experience. watersedge.com/capitalAnd from Boyce College, which offers a Christ-centered education built on the truth of God's Word. Every student—no matter their major—takes 30 hours of Bible and theology, learning how to think biblically, live faithfully, and lead with conviction.Formed from the 160-year legacy of Southern Seminary, Boyce College prepares students for maximum faithfulness in the world, the workplace, the church, and the family.Learn more at boycecollege.com

Wed » Hunter Baker on the limits of U.S. leverage—from Iran and AI regulation to Canada's turn toward Europe.Also: In Germany, the election winner may still remain outside government, while Maria Baer lets her children make America's story their own. Plus: an emu makes a break for freedom, and Cal Thomas considers how to keep powerful tools in their proper place.Today's stories—> Wednesday morning news> Washington Wednesday: The limits of leverage> WORLD Tour: The winner stays out> Kicker: Free-range fugitive> Feature: Making the story theirs> Cal Thomas: Tools, not masters★ Order your commemorative sticker celebrating 15 years and 100 million downloads. theworldandeverythinginit.org/stickerThank you for supporting The World and Everything in It ❤️ wng.org/donate──────────────Additional support comes from Dordt University. Offering fast-track Ag degrees to help graduates make an impact in agriculture sooner. Dordt.eduFrom WatersEdge Kingdom Capital. Asset management for churches, schools, and ministries — backed by 80 years of experience. watersedge.com/capitalAnd from Boyce College, which offers a Christ-centered education built on the truth of God's Word. Every student—no matter their major—takes 30 hours of Bible and theology, learning how to think biblically, live faithfully, and lead with conviction.Formed from the 160-year legacy of Southern Seminary, Boyce College prepares students for maximum faithfulness in the world, the workplace, the church, and the family.Learn more at boycecollege.com

Tue » Washington debates how to regulate AI dangers no one fully understands—without slowing the race and handing China an edge.Also: Iran-backed Houthis squeeze a second global shipping chokepoint. Meanwhile, students are reaching college without basic literacy. Plus: elementary schools rethink screens, Girl Scout cookie season goes to the dogs, and Bethel McGrew carries a 9/11 hero's story into a new generation.Today's stories—> Tuesday morning news> Interview: Regulating in the dark> Yemen: The second squeeze> Literacy: The pretend degree> Kicker: Good boys get cookies> Education: Lessons offscreen> Commentary: Carrying his name★ Order your commemorative sticker celebrating 15 years and 100 million downloads. theworldandeverythinginit.org/stickerThank you for supporting The World and Everything in It ❤️ wng.org/donate──────────────Additional support comes from Dordt University. Offering fast-track Ag degrees to help graduates make an impact in agriculture sooner. Dordt.eduFrom WatersEdge Kingdom Capital. Asset management for churches, schools, and ministries — backed by 80 years of experience. watersedge.com/capitalAnd from Boyce College, which offers a Christ-centered education built on the truth of God's Word. Every student—no matter their major—takes 30 hours of Bible and theology, learning how to think biblically, live faithfully, and lead with conviction. Formed from the 160-year legacy of Southern Seminary, Boyce College prepares students for maximum faithfulness in the world, the workplace, the church, and the family. Learn more at boycecollege.com

Mon » A professor parodies a school-endorsed land acknowledgment, is punished for it, and wins a First Amendment fight.Also: David Bahnsen says Vice President Vance's $9,000 family benefit would expand the welfare state amid a $2 trillion deficit, and calls President Trump's proposed $5,000 dividend even more reckless. Plus: Muhammad Ali climbs back to the heavyweight title one last time.Today's stories—> Monday morning news> Legal Docket: Reality acknowledgment> Monday Moneybeat: The family subsidy trap> WORLD History Book: One last impossible★ Order your commemorative sticker celebrating 15 years and 100 million downloads. theworldandeverythinginit.org/stickerThank you for supporting The World and Everything in It ❤️ wng.org/donate──────────────Additional support comes from Boyce College, which offers a Christ-centered education built on the truth of God's Word. Every student—no matter their major—takes 30 hours of Bible and theology, learning how to think biblically, live faithfully, and lead with conviction. Formed from the 160-year legacy of Southern Seminary, Boyce College prepares students for maximum faithfulness in the world, the workplace, the church, and the family. Learn more at boycecollege.comFrom WatersEdge Kingdom Capital. Asset management for churches, schools, and ministries — backed by 80 years of experience. watersedge.com/capitalAnd from Dordt University. Offering fast-track Ag degrees to help graduates make an impact in agriculture sooner. Dordt.edu

One Christian woman's life on eggshells, whose longing for love drove her into some destructive relationshipsThe Amplified Bible, from The Lockman Foundation, is designed to bring out the full depth of meaning in Scripture by expanding key words and phrases from the original languages. Its unique amplifications and definitions add clarity for reading and study.New TwoTone editions use soft gray typography to distinguish amplified words from the main text, creating a cleaner page and a smoother reading experience.Learn more at amplifiedbible.com.

Fri » Culture Friday looks back 25 years after 9/11—and considers what the day still reveals about truth, memory, and moral clarity.Also: John Stonestreet discusses the conspiracy theories that have persisted since Charlie Kirk's assassination and how abortion culture can push three murdered children to the margins of the Clancy case. Plus: Runner proves better than advertised, and a preview of Doubletake looks at signs misread before marriage.Today's stories—> Friday morning news> Culture Friday: The day that reveals us> Film review: Better than advertised> Doubletake preview: Signs misread★ Order your commemorative sticker celebrating 15 years and 100 million downloads. theworldandeverythinginit.org/stickerThank you for supporting The World and Everything in It ❤️────────────Additional support comes from Ambassadors Impact Network, which doesn't just connect entrepreneurs with capital. Members engage with funded companies through coordinated encouragement, prayer, and accountability. The network monitors both financial performance and spiritual impact over time. Know an investor who wants their private company investments to advance the gospel? Introduce them to AIN at ambassadorsimpact.comAnd from Ridge Haven Camp and Retreat Centers in North Carolina and Iowa. Fall Registration now open at ridgehaven.org

Thu » Photographer Krystyna Sanderson captured St. Paul's Chapel as a refuge for Ground Zero workers—and saw God's grace in the devastation.Also: Russia tests NATO's defenses without crossing into open war, while Canada's military keeps chaplains on the platform but bars prayer at public ceremonies. Mississippi's reading turnaround shows what can happen when struggling children aren't written off. Plus: Royals fans find a win inside a loss, and Daniel Suhr considers what Charlie Kirk taught freedom was for.Today's stories—Thursday morning newsRussia/NATO: Testing the tripwireCanada chaplains: The redacted chaplainMississippi reading: No child written offKicker: Baseball, hot dogs, and moral victories9/11 feature: Grace through the viewfinderDaniel Suhr: What freedom is forCelebrating 15 years of The World and Everything in It and 100 million downloads: Request your free commemorative sticker! » theworldandeverythinginit.org/stickerPlease support The World and Everything in It ❤️Additional support comes from Ridge Haven Camp and Retreat Centers in North Carolina and Iowa. Fall Registration now open at ridgehaven.orgAnd from Ambassadors Impact Network, which doesn't just connect entrepreneurs with capital. Members engage with funded companies through coordinated encouragement, prayer, and accountability. The network monitors both financial performance and spiritual impact over time. Know an investor who wants their private company investments to advance the gospel? Introduce them to AIN at ambassadorsimpact.com

Wed » Hunter Baker weighs Republicans' gamble to make the midterms feel like a Trump election.World Tour follows Britain's speech laws from a Facebook video to 17 days in custody and a 17-minute acquittal. At the 9/11 Memorial, Dana Tamuccio makes her brother Mike—and thousands of others—more than names on a wall. Cal Thomas asks what “never forget” requires teaching a new generation. Plus: a black bear walks into a fire station.Today's storiesWednesday morning news Washington Wednesday: Betting the midterms on TrumpWorld Tour: Seventeen days to 17 minutes Kicker: A bear walks in Feature: The people in the names Cal Thomas: What to remember Related readingA Time to Remember: One woman's mission to honor her brother 25 years after the 9/11 attacks » by Grace SnellCelebrating 15 years of The World and Everything in It and 100 million downloads: Request your free commemorative sticker! www.theworldandeverythinginit.org/stickerPlease support The World and Everything in ItAdditional support comes from Ambassadors Impact Network, offering growth-stage Christian entrepreneurs funding and support from mission-aligned investors. ambassadorsimpact.comAnd from Ridge Haven Camp and Retreat Centers in North Carolina and Iowa. Fall Registration now open at ridgehaven.org

Tue » Ukrainians build classrooms Russia may destroy, while a national struggle to fill paramedic jobs leaves one rural Michigan medic on duty for most of a 200-hour stretch. Frank Turek hears new questions since Charlie Kirk's assassination, and Janie B. Cheaney traces the troubling turn of the “poster child.” Plus: the Tuesday morning news, California may chill fraud-busting journalism, and the Ig Nobels keep science weird.WORLD Magazine interview with Frank TurekGet your commemorative The World and Everything in It sticker.Support The World and Everything in It today.Additional support comes from Ridge Haven Camp and Retreat Centers in North Carolina and Iowa. Fall Registration now open at ridgehaven.orgAnd from ... Ambassadors Impact Network, offering growth-stage Christian entrepreneurs funding and support from mission-aligned investors. ambassadorsimpact.com

Mon » Legal Docket follows an Ohio homeowner who stopped gathering for Sabbath prayer after a city order—and lower courts said he still had more process to finish before he could sue. David Bahnsen's Monday Moneybeat asks when AI's staggering investment begins to pay and, on Labor Day, why work is rooted in the image of God. Plus: the WORLD History Book on the night Ed Sullivan's “never” ran into Elvis and the Monday morning news.Celebrating 15 years of The World and Everything in It and 100 million downloads: Request your free commemorative sticker today!Support The World and Everything in It.Additional support comes from Ambassadors Impact Network, offering growth-stage Christian entrepreneurs funding and support from mission-aligned investors. ambassadorsimpact.comAnd from Ridge Haven Camp and Retreat Centers in North Carolina and Iowa. Fall Registration now open at ridgehaven.org

A new book argues that classical Islamic law conflicts fundamentally with the U.S. Constitution on apostasy, due process, and the rights of women and non-Muslims. Mary Reichard speaks with A.S. Ibrahim, professor of Islamic studies at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, who says Christians should love their Muslim neighbors while opposing political Islam.Additional support comes from the Voice of the Martyrs. Pastor Richard Wurmbrand was imprisoned a total of 14 years in Communist Romania for his faith in Christ. Upon his release, he and his wife, Sabina, founded The Voice of the Martyrs to help the families of imprisoned Christians in Communist nations and other countries where Christians are persecuted for their faith. Today, VOM works in more than 70 hostile areas and restricted nations. More information is available at vom.org/SaturdaySpecial

This week on Culture Friday, John Stonestreet moves from Gloria Steinem's legacy and the baby bust to commercialized weddings. Also: half a century later, All the President's Men keeps analog reporting gritty, George Grant unpacks the unexpected evolution of everyday English—on Wordplay, and the Friday morning news.Support The World and Everything in It today at wng.org/donate.Additional support comes from Boyce College—which offers a Christ-centered education built on the truth of God's Word. Every student—no matter their major—takes 30 hours of Bible and theology, learning how to think biblically, live faithfully, and lead with conviction.Formed from the 160-year legacy of Southern Seminary, Boyce College prepares students for maximum faithfulness in the world, the workplace, the church, and the family.Learn more at boycecollege.comFrom World Watch. A 10-minute daily news program that explores current events for students 5-12th grade. This high-energy show connects learners to the present, history and communities around the world. Join 40,000 Christian families that utilize World Watch as a tool to foster curiosity and have conversations about today's news as a discipleship rhythm within their families. “Whatever the news, the purpose of the Lord will stand!” First time? Take advantage of a 30-days free trial at worldwatch.news/podcast Not ready to sign up? Check out a free episode at https://get.worldwatch.news/free-episodeAnd from Cedarville University— a Christ-centered, academically rigorous university located in southwest Ohio, equipping students for Gospel impact across every career and calling. Cedarville integrates a biblical worldview into every course in the more than 175 undergraduate and graduate programs students choose from. New online undergraduate degrees through Cedarville Online offer flexible and affordable education grounded in a strong Christian community that fosters both faith and learning. Learn more at cedarville.edu, and explore online programs at cedarville.edu/online.

Collapsed roads strand thousands beyond easy reach in flood-ravaged Nepal, while a 25-year counterterrorism review asks whether America is ready for threats armed with drones and AI. A prenatal screen can raise life-and-death questions before diagnosis. Plus: an electrician spends six hours trapped inside a 130-foot truck-stop sign, musicians make joy from wind and steam, Daniel Suhr considers the leverage behind Seattle's narrowly averted teachers strike, and the Thursday morning news.Support The World and Everything in It today at wng.org/donate.Additional support comes from Cedarville University—a Christ-centered, academically rigorous university located in southwest Ohio, equipping students for Gospel impact across every career and calling. Cedarville integrates a biblical worldview into every course in the more than 175 undergraduate and graduate programs students choose from. New online undergraduate degrees through Cedarville Online offer flexible and affordable education grounded in a strong Christian community that fosters both faith and learning. Learn more at cedarville.edu, and explore online programs at cedarville.edu/online.From World Watch. A 10-minute daily news program that explores current events for students 5-12th grade. This high-energy show connects learners to the present, history and communities around the world. Join 40,000 Christian families that utilize World Watch as a tool to foster curiosity and have conversations about today's news as a discipleship rhythm within their families. “Whatever the news, the purpose of the Lord will stand!” First time? Take advantage of a 30-days free trial at worldwatch.news/podcast. Not ready to sign up? Check out a free episode at get.worldwatch.news/free-episode. And from Boyce College—a Christ-centered education built on the truth of God's Word. Every student—no matter their major—takes 30 hours of Bible and theology, learning how to think biblically, live faithfully, and lead with conviction. Formed from the 160-year legacy of Southern Seminary, Boyce College prepares students for maximum faithfulness in the world, the workplace, the church, and the family. Learn more at boycecollege.com

Hunter Baker has more Washington than Wednesday can hold: Pentagon upheaval, the politics of AI data centers, Social Security's looming reckoning—and a lightning round besides. In Venezuela, an earthquake exposes a crisis years in the making, while Mary Muncy looks past Dolly Parton's carefully built image to the faith and roots beneath it. Plus: cheaper raccoon permits, and Maria Baer on the friend who asks, and Wednesday morning news.Support The World and Everything in It today at wng.org/donate.Additional support comes from Boyce College—which offers a Christ-centered education built on the truth of God's Word. Every student—no matter their major—takes 30 hours of Bible and theology, learning how to think biblically, live faithfully, and lead with conviction.Formed from the 160-year legacy of Southern Seminary, Boyce College prepares students for maximum faithfulness in the world, the workplace, the church, and the family.Learn more at boycecollege.comFrom World Watch. A 10-minute daily news program that explores current events for students 5-12th grade. This high-energy show connects learners to the present, history and communities around the world. Join 40,000 Christian families that utilize World Watch as a tool to foster curiosity and have conversations about today's news as a discipleship rhythm within their families. “Whatever the news, the purpose of the Lord will stand!” First time? Take advantage of a 30-days free trial at worldwatch.news/podcast. Not ready to sign up? Check out a free episode at get.worldwatch.news/free-episode. And from Cedarville University—a Christ-centered, academically rigorous university located in southwest Ohio, equipping students for Gospel impact across every career and calling. Cedarville integrates a biblical worldview into every course in the more than 175 undergraduate and graduate programs students choose from. New online undergraduate degrees through Cedarville Online offer flexible and affordable education grounded in a strong Christian community that fosters both faith and learning. Learn more at cedarville.edu, and explore online programs at cedarville.edu/online.

Venezuela makes a once-unimaginable turn toward American oil investment, privacy advocates propose “collective bargaining” for personal data, and Trump's FDA nominee inherits a long-stalled review of the abortion pill. Plus: Where religion becomes rule, Cal Thomas on the test that caught his cancer, a Vermont woman growing a dress so slowly the fashion trend may come back around, and the Tuesday morning news.Support The World and Everything in It today at wng.org/donate.Additional support comes from Cedarville University—a Christ-centered, academically rigorous university located in southwest Ohio, equipping students for Gospel impact across every career and calling. Cedarville integrates a biblical worldview into every course in the more than 175 undergraduate and graduate programs students choose from. New online undergraduate degrees through Cedarville Online offer flexible and affordable education grounded in a strong Christian community that fosters both faith and learning. Learn more at cedarville.edu, and explore online programs at cedarville.edu/online.From World Watch. A 10-minute daily news program that explores current events for students 5-12th grade. This high-energy show connects learners to the present, history and communities around the world. Join 40,000 Christian families that utilize World Watch as a tool to foster curiosity and have conversations about today's news as a discipleship rhythm within their families. “Whatever the news, the purpose of the Lord will stand!” First time? Take advantage of a 30-days free trial at worldwatch.news/podcast. Not ready to sign up? Check out a free episode at get.worldwatch.news/free-episode. And from Boyce College—which offers a Christ-centered education built on the truth of God's Word. Every student—no matter their major—takes 30 hours of Bible and theology, learning how to think biblically, live faithfully, and lead with conviction.Formed from the 160-year legacy of Southern Seminary, Boyce College prepares students for maximum faithfulness in the world, the workplace, the church, and the family.Learn more at boycecollege.com

Legal Docket previews a Supreme Court clash over whether Colorado can require Catholic preschools to set aside religious standards for public funding even as secular providers tailor enrollment. New Fed Chairman Kevin Warsh on a quieter central bank on MoneyBeat. And Yazidi families are still searching for more than 2,000 missing since the ISIS genocide. Legal Docket, Moneybeat, WORLD History Book—and the morning news on this last Monday of August.Support The World and Everything in It today at wng.org/donate.Additional support comes from Boyce College—which offers a Christ-centered education built on the truth of God's Word. Every student—no matter their major—takes 30 hours of Bible and theology, learning how to think biblically, live faithfully, and lead with conviction. Formed from the 160-year legacy of Southern Seminary, Boyce College prepares students for maximum faithfulness in the world, the workplace, the church, and the family. Learn more at boycecollege.comFrom World Watch. A 10-minute daily news program that explores current events for students 5-12th grade. This high-energy show connects learners to the present, history and communities around the world. Join 40,000 Christian families that utilize World Watch as a tool to foster curiosity and have conversations about today's news as a discipleship rhythm within their families. “Whatever the news, the purpose of the Lord will stand!” First time? Take advantage of a 30-days free trial at worldwatch.news/podcast. Not ready to sign up? Check out a free episode at get.worldwatch.news/free-episode.And from Cedarville University—a Christ-centered, academically rigorous university located in southwest Ohio, equipping students for Gospel impact across every career and calling. Cedarville integrates a biblical worldview into every course in the more than 175 undergraduate and graduate programs students choose from. New online undergraduate degrees through Cedarville Online offer flexible and affordable education grounded in a strong Christian community that fosters both faith and learning. Learn more at cedarville.edu, and explore online programs at cedarville.edu/online.

Jews, Muslims, and Christians try to co-exist in the shadow of the Temple Mount–the most contested piece of real estate in the world

On Culture Friday, John Stonestreet considers what allowed Dolly Parton to rise above the political fray, why “no contact” is a poor substitute for honoring difficult parents, and the WNBA's sudden need to define woman. Then Wile E. Coyote finally gets his day in court in Coyote vs. Acme, and listeners tell us which WORLD stories and moments stayed with them. Plus, the Friday morning newsSupport The World and Everything in It today at wng.org/donate.Additional support comes from Covenant College in Georgia. Looking for a Christ-centered education with a deep commitment to academic excellence? Located on top of Lookout Mountain, Georgia, Covenant College students thrive in a Christ-centered community and are equipped to pursue their callings through a vibrant liberal arts education. Applications for Fall 2027 are open, and students who visit are eligible to receive a grant of $2,000. More at Covenant.edu/world.From Ascend by Unbound. A higher education program focused on practical skill development and career preparation.  beunbound.us/worldAnd from Dordt University's Master of Education program. Equipping educators with advanced classroom and leadership abilities. dordt.edu

Washington tightens the financial squeeze on Iran while keeping Gulf oil moving, and families devastated by crimes committed by illegal immigrants explain why enforcement feels personal. Congress tries to shrink Washington's role in education, while VA cost-cutting forces one Vietnam veteran to start over. Plus: sushi goes sightseeing in Tokyo, Daniel Suhr considers what Meta's new safeguards can—and cannot—do for teens, and the Thursday morning news.Support The World and Everything in It today at wng.org/donateAdditional support comes from Dordt University's Master of Education program. Equipping educators with advanced classroom and leadership abilities. dordt.eduFrom Ascend by Unbound. A higher education program focused on practical skill development and career preparation.  beunbound.us/worldAnd from Covenant College in Georgia. Looking for a Christ-centered education with a deep commitment to academic excellence? Located on top of Lookout Mountain, Georgia, Covenant College students thrive in a Christ-centered community and are equipped to pursue their callings through a vibrant liberal arts education. Applications for Fall 2027 are open, and students who visit are eligible to receive a grant of $2,000. More at Covenant.edu/world.

On Washington Wednesday a familiar name wins a divided Senate primary, and Hunter Baker weighs what carried Darline Graham across the finish line before turning to presidential power over voting and welfare reform at 30. On World Tour, in Afghanistan, women find one narrow economic opening under Taliban rule. Plus: an old railway comes back to life, a baby arrives riding shotgun, Janie B. Cheaney makes room for silence, and the Wednesday morning news.Support The World and Everything in It today at wng.org/donate.Additional support comes from Covenant College in Georgia. Looking for a Christ-centered education with a deep commitment to academic excellence? Located on top of Lookout Mountain, Georgia, Covenant College students thrive in a Christ-centered community and are equipped to pursue their callings through a vibrant liberal arts education. Applications for Fall 2027 are open, and students who visit are eligible to receive a grant of $2,000. More at Covenant.edu/world.From Ascend by Unbound. A higher education program focused on practical skill development and career preparation.  beunbound.us/worldAnd from Dordt University's Master of Education program. Equipping educators with advanced classroom and leadership abilities. dordt.edu

Canada's prime minister finds political upside in a trade war that may cost Canadians. License-plate cameras solve crimes while recording ordinary travel, and ranchers watch for a flesh-eating parasite America thought it had eradicated. Plus, Washington trades motorcades for IndyCars, and Daniel Suhr comments on Disney borrowing unlikely First Amendment precedents. In Oklahoma, freshmen pay a kiss toll before class to honor Mom and Dad, and the Tuesday morning news Support The World and Everything in It today at wng.org/donate.Additional support comes from Dordt University's Master of Education program. Equipping educators with advanced classroom and leadership abilities. dordt.eduFrom Ascend by Unbound. A higher education program focused on practical skill development and career preparation.  beunbound.us/worldAnd from Covenant College in Georgia. Looking for a Christ-centered education with a deep commitment to academic excellence? Located on top of Lookout Mountain, Georgia, Covenant College students thrive in a Christ-centered community and are equipped to pursue their callings through a vibrant liberal arts education. Applications for Fall 2027 are open, and students who visit are eligible to receive a grant of $2,000. More at Covenant.edu/world.

On Legal Docket, possible costs became actual losses for eight Washington firefighters seeking religious accommodation. With the national debt at $40 trillion, David Bahnsen explains why Washington talks, but the bond market refuses to listen on MoneyBeat. Plus, the WORLD History Book lets Pompeii's ruins speak again—and the Monday morning news.Support The World and Everything in It today at wng.org/donate.Additional support comes from Covenant College in Georgia. Looking for a Christ-centered education with a deep commitment to academic excellence? Located on top of Lookout Mountain, Georgia, Covenant College students thrive in a Christ-centered community and are equipped to pursue their callings through a vibrant liberal arts education. Applications for Fall 2027 are open, and students who visit are eligible to receive a grant of $2,000. More at Covenant.edu/world.From Ascend by Unbound. A higher education program focused on practical skill development and career preparation.  beunbound.us/worldAnd from Dordt University's Master of Education program. Equipping educators with advanced classroom and leadership abilities. dordt.edu

By late 2014 the Muellers knew their daughter was still alive, but things just kept going wrongAdditional support comes from The Voice of the Martyrs. Pastor Richard Wurmbrand was imprisoned a total of 14 years in Communist Romania for his faith in Christ. Upon his release, he and his wife, Sabina, founded The Voice of the Martyrs to help the families of imprisoned Christians in Communist nations and other countries where Christians are persecuted for their faith. Today, VOM works in more than 70 hostile areas and restricted nations. More information is available at vom.org/SaturdaySpecial.

In 2013 the ISIS Beatles were holding Carl and Marsha Mueller's daughter in Syria, and now the negotiations have begunAdditional support comes from The Voice of the Martyrs. Pastor Richard Wurmbrand was imprisoned a total of 14 years in Communist Romania for his faith in Christ. Upon his release, he and his wife, Sabina, founded The Voice of the Martyrs to help the families of imprisoned Christians in Communist nations and other countries where Christians are persecuted for their faith. Today, VOM works in more than 70 hostile areas and restricted nations. More information is available at vom.org/SaturdaySpecial.

On Culture Friday: John Stonestreet considers what the Lindsay Clancy trial is being made to say about motherhood. The Magic Faraway Tree invites families to rediscover wonder. Plus: theologian and artist Michael Milton shares three books that shaped his calling, and the Friday morning news.Support The World and Everything in It today at wng.org/donate.Additional support comes from Ascend by Unbound. A higher education program focused on practical skill development and career preparation.  beunbound.us/worldFrom World Watch, a 10-minute daily news program that explores current events for students 5-12th grade. This high-energy show connects learners to the present, history and communities around the world. Join 40,000 Christian families that utilize World Watch as a tool to foster curiosity and have conversations about today's news as a discipleship rhythm within their families. “Whatever the news, the purpose of the Lord will stand!” First time? Take advantage of a 30-days free trial at worldwatch.news/podcast Not ready to sign up? Check out a free episode at https://get.worldwatch.news/free-episodeAnd from St. Dunstan's Academy, a boarding school launching Fall 2027. Accepting ninth and tenth grade boys. stdunstansacademy.org

Ukraine's drone war reaches deeper into Russia as faster attacks leave Kyiv residents less time to find shelter. Federal officials investigate questionable billing for transgender procedures on minors, and a longtime music publicist Lance Cowan releases the songs he set aside for his family. Plus: police branch out against distracted driving, David Closson considers how algae acquired a constituency, and the Thursday morning news.Support The World and Everything in It today at wng.org/donate.Additional support comes from St. Dunstan's Academy, a boarding school launching Fall 2027. Accepting ninth and tenth grade boys. stdunstansacademy.org From Ascend by Unbound. A higher education program focused on practical skill development and career preparation.  beunbound.us/worldAnd from World Watch, a 10-minute daily news program that explores current events for students 5-12th grade. This high-energy show connects learners to the present, history and communities around the world. Join 40,000 Christian families that utilize World Watch as a tool to foster curiosity and have conversations about today's news as a discipleship rhythm within their families. “Whatever the news, the purpose of the Lord will stand!” First time? Take advantage of a 30-days free trial at worldwatch.news/podcast Not ready to sign up? Check out a free episode at https://get.worldwatch.news/free-episode

Washington Wednesday: Hunter Baker weighs a socialist wave meeting a wall in Florida. Also: Colombia's new president faces a deadly earthquake three days into office; and Christian actors navigate calling and conviction on Broadway. Plus: goats dodge a bus fare, Cal Thomas remembers Chuck Colson's prison legacy, and the Wednesday morning news.Support The World and Everything in It today at wng.org/donate.Additional support comes from World Watch, a 10-minute daily news program that explores current events for students 5-12th grade. This high-energy show connects learners to the present, history and communities around the world. Join 40,000 Christian families that utilize World Watch as a tool to foster curiosity and have conversations about today's news as a discipleship rhythm within their families. “Whatever the news, the purpose of the Lord will stand!” First time? Take advantage of a 30-days free trial at worldwatch.news/podcastNot ready to sign up? Check out a free episode at https://get.worldwatch.news/free-episodeFrom St. Dunstan's Academy. Classical education, building arts, and Christian formation. Real Life, No Screens. stdunstansacademy.org And from Ascend by Unbound. A higher education program focused on practical skill development and career preparation.  beunbound.us/world

A China expert explains Beijing's influence infrastructure; a surrogate mother defies intended parents who demanded abortion; and classroom phone bans may leave students still tethered to their devices. Plus: a bear honks for help before chewing up a car's interior, Tim Mulgrew on Scripture as a living record, Daniel Suhr on the malleable political center, and the Tuesday morning news.Support The World and Everything in It today at wng.org/donate.Additional support comes from Ascend by Unbound. A higher education program focused on practical skill development and career preparation.  beunbound.us/worldFrom World Watch, a 10-minute daily news program that explores current events for students 5-12th grade. This high-energy show connects learners to the present, history and communities around the world. Join 40,000 Christian families that utilize World Watch as a tool to foster curiosity and have conversations about today's news as a discipleship rhythm within their families. “Whatever the news, the purpose of the Lord will stand!” First time? Take advantage of a 30-days free trial at worldwatch.news/podcast Not ready to sign up? Check out a free episode at https://get.worldwatch.news/free-episode

Legal Docket considers whether the government is assembling the case file before the allegation; David Bahnsen warns the populist right against reaching for the socialist left's failed economic playbook on Moneybeat; and the WORLD History Book revisits the theft that made the Mona Lisa immortal—plus the Monday morning news. Support The World and Everything in It today at wng.org/donate.Additional support comes from St. Dunstan's Academy. Classical education, building arts, and Christian formation. Real Life, No Screens. stdunstansacademy.orgFrom Ascend by Unbound. A higher education program focused on practical skill development and career preparation.  beunbound.us/worldAnd from World Watch, a 10-minute daily news program that explores current events for students 5-12th grade. This high-energy show connects learners to the present, history and communities around the world. Join 40,000 Christian families that utilize World Watch as a tool to foster curiosity and have conversations about today's news as a discipleship rhythm within their families. “Whatever the news, the purpose of the Lord will stand!” First time? Take advantage of a 30-days free trial at worldwatch.news/podcast Not ready to sign up? Check out a free episode at https://get.worldwatch.news/free-episode

Today on Doubletake: the first episode in a three-part series: The kidnapping of Kayla Mueller.In August of 2013 Carl and Marsha Mueller received a 10-second video in their email. It was of their daughter Kayla, who had disappeared 24 days earlier in Syria. She was thin and dressed in Islamic garb. “I need your help,” she said. “I've been here too long, and I've been sick.”The Islamic terror group ISIS had grabbed her, beginning an ordeal for the Muellers that, in a way, still isn't over.So today we have a story about courage, and fear, and faith despite hopeless circumstances. It's also about finding yourself in a position where you're forced to negotiate. For the highest stakes imaginable: the life of your daughter. With terrorists. With your own government. With yourself. And, ultimately, with God.Support WORLD News Group at wng.org/donateAdditional support comes from The Voice of the Martyrs, serving persecuted Christians for almost sixty years. Pastor Richard Wurmbrand was imprisoned a total of 14 years in Communist Romania for his faith in Christ. Upon his release, he and his wife, Sabina, founded The Voice of the Martyrs to help the families of imprisoned Christians in Communist nations and other countries where Christians are persecuted for their faith. Today, VOM works in more than 70 hostile areas and restricted nations. More information is available at vom.org/SaturdaySpecial

Culture Friday: John Stonestreet on whether recent wins for whistleblowers and religious liberty add up to real cultural change, two former NBA players pushing the WNBA to define what a “woman” is, and the University of Michigan's move away from letter grades. Plus, a review of the new Reagan drama The Brink of War, a preview of WORLD's new Doubletake series on Kayla Mueller, and the Friday morning news.Support The World and Everything in It today at wng.org/donate.Additional support comes from Cedarville University. Located in southwest Ohio, Cedarville University is committed to biblical faithfulness and academic excellence, preparing students to serve Christ with conviction in every profession. Every one of its 175+ undergraduate and graduate programs are grounded in a biblical worldview, equipping graduates with the knowledge, skill, and conviction to serve wherever God leads. New online undergraduate degrees through Cedarville Online offer flexible, affordable education rooted in biblical truth and designed for today's learners. Learn more at cedarville.edu, and explore online programs at cedarville.edu/online.From Unbound's Ascend program. Leadership training, like-minded peer community, and career prep for young adults 16 and older. Beunbound.us/world.And from Covenant College in Georgia. Looking for a Christ-centered education with a deep commitment to academic excellence? Located on top of Lookout Mountain, Georgia, Covenant College students thrive in a Christ-centered community and are equipped to pursue their callings through a vibrant liberal arts education. Applications for Fall 2027 are open, and students who visit are eligible to receive a grant of $2,000. More at Covenant.edu/world