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Gene Marks reports on his travels, conversing with host John Batchelor about a Quebec credit union conference where executives discussed loans, competitiveness, and adopting AI in front and back offices. Due to high mortgage rates, credit unions are shifting focus toward commercial loans. In Atlanta's thriving steel industry, tariffs have boosted competitiveness, and companies are deploying AI-powered robotic arms, gloves, and dogs to improve safety. Finally, a recent Pew Research survey indicates that Gen X is leading AI adoption because older, established professionals feel more secure than younger generations, though Marks calls the fear of job loss an urban legend. (5)
TONIGHT-CONTENTS-8-26-2026California Swells Weather And Nevada CasinosJeff Bliss discusses a massive southern ocean swell creating rare surfing conditions at Newport Harbor's channel. Driven by an intense tropical storm off Mexico, California is experiencing unprecedented humidity and a nearly five-degree Fahrenheit rise in ocean temperatures, prompting a surge in marine life including hammerhead and great white sharks. Turning to Nevada, Bliss describes the K-shaped economy, where Las Vegas strip casinos profit from wealthy international tourists, while local traffic declines. He details In-N-Out's slow, quality-controlled eastward expansion and concludes with Berkeley's controversial, permissive approach toward housing campus homeless encampments, noting they receive government-funded clean needles and glass pipes. (1)Separation Of Powers And Election FraudRichard Epstein discusses a federal ruling by Judge Indira Talwani blocking the Trump administration's postal mail-in voting regulations for the 2026 midterms. Epstein asserts the administration overstepped, as the Constitution explicitly delegates election regulation to Congress, not the executive. He criticizes Chief Justice John Roberts's defense of the unitary executive, calling his opinions a disgrace that allows executive power to swamp both the legislature and the judiciary. Lastly, Epstein references Paul Krugman's views on Trump's destructive physical and institutional teardown of Washington and laments how flawed standing doctrines prevent ordinary citizens from legally challenging executive overreach in federal court. (2)Veronique de Rugy of the Mercatus Center details the alarming surge of the United States gross national debt to record heights, exceeding forty trillion dollars. She argues that the country suffers from an out-of-control spending problem rather than a lack of tax revenue, citing massive unpaid pandemic spending. De Rugy blames both political parties for avoiding structural reforms and warns of the critical 2032 deadline when Social Security and Medicare funding will face automatic, severe cuts. She predicts that Congress will resort to further debt and inflation, which will heavily penalize the public, while indebted European nations face similar struggles. (3)Economic Boom In Idyllic Lancaster CountyJim McTague details the thriving post-pandemic economy of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. Tourism remains robust, with attractions like the Renaissance Faire drawing two hundred thousand visitors annually. The local real estate market is red-hot, with retirees purchasing existing homes with cash and bid-ups creating million-dollar McMansions. McTague notes that rising inflation has packed Costco aisles with middle-class shoppers seeking the famous five-dollar loss-leader rotisserie chickens. He also discusses local commercial resistance to data centers, explaining how the impoverished borough of Columbia rejected a lucrative data center deal that would have solved its fiscal deficits, while baby boomers power local restaurants. (4)Small Business Growth And AI IntegrationGene Marks reports on his travels, conversing with host John Batchelor about a Quebec credit union conference where executives discussed loans, competitiveness, and adopting AI in front and back offices. Due to high mortgage rates, credit unions are shifting focus toward commercial loans. In Atlanta's thriving steel industry, tariffs have boosted competitiveness, and companies are deploying AI-powered robotic arms, gloves, and dogs to improve safety. Finally, a recent Pew Research survey indicates that Gen X is leading AI adoption because older, established professionals feel more secure than younger generations, though Marks calls the fear of job loss an urban legend. (5)French Resistance And World War ExileJane Rogoyska, author of Hotel Exile: Paris in the Shadow of War, Part Two: Rogoyska details how German anti-fascists and French Jews fled Paris for Marseilles and Spain in 1941. While Heinrich Mann escaped successfully, philosopher Walter Benjamin tragically committed suicide at the Spanish border. Rogoyska notes that Samuel Beckettjoined the resistance after Paul Léon's arrest. The Abwehr, aided by the treacherous priest Robert Alesch, infiltrated resistance networks, but was sidelined as the Gestapo's brutality worsened. Post-war, the Lutetia hotel became a repatriation center processing concentration camp survivors. Beckett survived and wrote literary masterpieces, while Alesch was executed. (6)Nuclear Politics And Precision Guided WarfareHenry Sokolski, executive director of the Nonproliferation Policy Education Center, discusses the unpublicized nuclear cooperative agreement between the United States and Saudi Arabia. He warns host John Batchelor that keeping side agreements secret from the American public prevents Congressional oversight. Saudi Arabia refuses to sign the additional protocol for inspections, claiming it violates sovereignty. Sokolski also highlights Poland's conflicting stances on hosting nuclear weapons, Germany's interest in funding the United Kingdom's Trident submarine program, and how Russia uses precision-guided munitions to target civilians and demoralize Ukraine, moving nuclear weapons further into the background, concluding that this is the new reality. (7)Debating Environmental Politics Of Data CentersKevin Frazier leads a roundtable with Jim McTague and Simon Constable discussing the political and environmental backlash against data centers. Frazier details how Lancaster City welcomed data centers to erase its school district's deficit, while the poorer borough of Columbia rejected a lucrative deal due to local protests. Frazier argues that data centers are vital national infrastructure, defending the construction jobs they create and noting that blocking them harms the digital economy. Finally, Constable shares trivia from his Wall Street Journal quiz, revealing that Virginia leads the United States in data centers, followed globally by the United Kingdom. (8)V
The episode centers on a structural shift driven by the falling cost of AI-assisted insight extraction and its impact on how buyers assess technology providers. Referencing companies such as OpenAI and Google, as well as research from the AI Revenue Institute and Gartner, Dave Sobel highlights how lowered model prices enable automated systems to rapidly analyze vendor documentation and shape procurement decisions, fundamentally changing the basis of competition from persuasion to transparent, retrievable data. A recent AI Revenue Institute study, as cited by Dave Sobel, found that over half of surveyed decision-makers had removed a vendor from consideration after an AI assistant highlighted a documented shortcoming. Simultaneously, OpenAI and Google have reduced their top-tier AI model pricing, with OpenAI dropping costs by more than 20% and Google offering a temporary 50% cut before reverting. Analysis from TD Cowen and Business Insider shows that such price cuts have driven up both usage and revenue, with OpenAI's low-cost models experiencing a 14-fold usage increase post-reduction. These developments are reinforced by Gartner's identification of the “inference paradox,” where greater AI capabilities and lower per-query costs actually raise overall spend due to increased volume and complexity of tasks. Supporting data includes Google's reported 50x annual increase in tokens processed and a Deloitte case of a healthcare provider with unplanned AI costs rising as much as 3x in a year. Alongside this, Pew Research identifies that a third of new web content on commercial sites is machine-generated, leading platforms like LinkedIn to introduce AI-detection and downranking measures. For MSPs and IT leaders, the implications are direct. Automated buyer research now prioritizes concrete, extractable data over marketing language; any absence or non-disclosure—especially around pricing—can result in removal from consideration without notice. Publishing specific, measurable facts (service boundaries, pricing logic, response times with dates) increasingly determines whether a provider is surfaced or omitted by AI agents assembling comparative analyses. Failure to clearly define offerings and exclusions results in unfavorable inferences or comparisons, increasing operational risk and transfer of accountability away from the provider. 00:00 The Buyers Brought a Machine 03:45 Cheaper Made It Bigger 06:49 Your Website Is a Deposition 10:06 Why Do We Care? Supported by: Proofpoint HaloPSA
The core structural shift highlighted is the disconnect between service reliability gains from AI automation and readiness for strategic change among IT service providers and their clients. Reports from SolarWinds, Corsica Technologies, and Deloitte reveal that AI is delivering measurable productivity benefits, but those time savings are consumed by ongoing reliability work rather than being directed toward governance, process redesign, or workforce adaptation. This leaves most organizations with improved operations but unprepared to leverage AI for broader business transformation, creating a gap between what clients say they want and what providers are set up to deliver. SolarWinds' 2026 State of ITSM report found that 84% of IT teams report AI meeting or exceeding their return on investment expectations, with teams recovering roughly three hours per week in several core areas, such as issue detection and ticket triage. However, almost the same amount of capacity is then redirected to keeping those new AI systems running—83% of teams spend three or more hours weekly maintaining AI reliability. Simultaneously, Corsica Technologies' Censuswide research among 600 IT and security leaders at U.S. mid-sized businesses found that 96% claim to trust their MSP, yet two-thirds are considering switching within 12 months, citing limited AI or automation support as one of the top reasons. Additional research contextualizes the readiness gap. According to a PwC survey, only 5% of organizations report their business processes as highly prepared for AI agents, and a Cloudera study found that 95% of large companies delayed or canceled at least one AI project in the past year due to governance, compliance, or regulatory concerns. The episode also notes a public sentiment shift, citing a Pew Research poll in which over half of American adults express more concern than excitement about AI—a trend particularly strong among people under 30. Vendor product launches from companies like Kaseya and Syncro are described as offering only superficial differentiation in this environment. For MSPs and IT leaders, this dynamic presents operational risks. The default allocation of AI-driven productivity gains toward reliability tasks undermines investment in strategic readiness, reinforcing dependence on vendor offerings without improving meaningful differentiation. Most clients lack a specific benchmark for “AI readiness,” creating an open but temporary competitive opportunity for providers willing to define and document it for them. However, unless time and resources are explicitly earmarked for readiness activities—in governance, process adaptation, and client education—MSPs risk being evaluated on ill-defined criteria or commoditized platforms, increasing contract risk and exposing gaps in internal accountability. 00:00 The Two Numbers Don't Fit 04:52 Only One Half Can Take the Hours 08:02 Everyone Buys the Same Platform 11:20 Why Do We Care? Supported by: Pax8 TimeZest
AI Unraveled: Latest AI News & Trends, Master GPT, Gemini, Generative AI, LLMs, Prompting, GPT Store
AI Unraveled: Latest AI News & Trends, Master GPT, Gemini, Generative AI, LLMs, Prompting, GPT Store
Dr. Vance Kirar of Kirar Superior Healthcare, a 100 Year Lifestyle Certified Chiropractic office in Ladson, SC, shares his experience celebrating his grandmothers 100th birthday. Willa Nebel is the first in her family to reach the centenarian mark, and she did it with the grace and quality of life that we would all strive for.Healthspan, how long people live healthy, is a serious issue in society. Hearing Dr. Kirar share this special experience with Grandma Willa will warm your heart, bring a smile to your face, and give you hope for your future.Dr. Vance has a thriving practice where he helps hundreds of people a year live at 100% – their ideal 100 Year Lifestyle. He is a sought after speaker for groups, organizations, and companies that want to create their own 100 Year Lifestyle and culture.Dr. Vance is a proud father of three children and a devoted husband to his wife and business partner, Dr. Jill Kirar. Together they opened Kirar Superior Healthcare in 2004.His hobbies include martial arts, deep-sea fishing, soccer, volleyball, weight training, yoga, and being the greatest dad possible!Find a 100 Year Lifestyle Certified Chiropractor near you.Become a 100 Year Lifestyle Certification Chiropractor.Explore our Healthspan products and resources at https://100YearLifestyle.comThe 100 Year Lifestyle Podcast
Donate (no account necessary) | Subscribe (account required) Join Bryan Dean Wright, former CIA Operations Officer, as he dives into today's top stories shaping America and the world. In this episode of The Wright Report, Bryan breaks down Wisconsin's Democratic primary for governor, where the media hailed a "moderate" win over a Communist candidate, even though the winner himself admits their policies are identical. Bryan covers new data showing America's big cities are rapidly losing children as young adults there increasingly skip marriage and family, and fresh Pew Research showing a huge majority of Americans, though not Democrats, want transgender athletes banned from women's sports. He also covers actor Hugh Laurie's blunt public rejection of men competing in women's sports. Plus, Bryan covers the arrest of a former Southern Poverty Law Center executive accused of secretly funding hate groups to keep donations flowing, an AI assistant that hacked a gym's booking system to bump another customer, a new federal ban on foreign-made robot vacuums over spying concerns, and a promising new sleep-boosting ultrasound patch developed at UT Austin. "And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." - John 8:32 Keywords: Wright Report, Bryan Dean Wright, Wisconsin governor primary, Francesca Hong, David Crowley, Democratic Socialists, big cities birth rates, Pew Research, transgender sports, Hugh Laurie, Southern Poverty Law Center, Heidi Beirich, AI, OpenClaw, robot vacuums, sleep patch
A @Christadelphians Video: **[Actual, provable Bible Truth]** We are living in the most prophetic generation since the first century. The Times of the Gentiles—that period when Jerusalem would be trampled underfoot by foreign powers—has concluded. In 1967, a miraculous event unfolded that fulfilled the 2,300-day prophecy of Daniel 8:14, marking the end of this era and ushering in the final countdown to the Kingdom of God.We explore the remarkable fulfilment of Bible prophecy unfolding before our eyes. From the Jewish return to the land and the revival of Hebrew, to the extraordinary events of the Six-Day War and the recapture of Jerusalem, we witness God's hand moving in history. Even more remarkably, we examine the awakening spiritual revival taking place in Israel today—a fulfilment of Ezekiel's prophecy that God would first bring His people back to the land, then sprinkle clean water upon them through the Word.## Chapters00:00 - Introduction: The Prophetic Unravelling05:44 - The Olivet Prophecy and Jerusalem's Destruction08:15 - Daniel's Vision: The 2,300 Days Explained13:56 - The 1967 Miracle: End of the Times of the Gentiles17:28 - The Danger of Complacency in Miraculous Times20:20 - The Mountains of Israel and God's Promise25:34 - The Revival of Torah Study in Israel Today30:04 - Spiritual Transformation Since October 7th36:27 - Ezekiel 36: God's Cleansing of the Nation43:50 - Romans 10: Faith Comes by Hearing47:56 - Peace and Prosperity: The Abraham Accords52:39 - Walls, Bars, and Gates: Prophetic Removal55:47 - The Russian Restraint and Current Events1:07:46 - Our Response: Pray for the Peace of Jerusalem1:11:41 - The Lord Stands at the Door## Bible Verse Category
Former Maricopa County Recorder, Stephen Richer, joined Arizona's Morning News to talk about a Pew Research poll showing that barely half of Republicans and Democrats trust the Midterm elections will be fair.
Send us Fan MailI Banned Phones Before My State Did. Here Is What Actually Happened.Twenty-six states now have laws requiring schools to ban or restrict student cellphone use, and twenty-two of those laws passed in 2025 alone. Florida passed the first one in May 2023. Utah's bell-to-bell ban took effect July 1, 2026. New Jersey's statewide policy takes effect this September. Public support is strong and bipartisan, with 74 percent of American adults backing phone bans during class according to Pew Research.And a 2025 University of Southern California study found that most students are still using their phones during the school day anyway.M.A. Aponte is the executive director of a charter school in Gainesville, Florida. He wrote and implemented a phone policy at his school before the state of Florida required one, which means he has been living with this longer than almost anyone covering it.In this episode he makes an argument that is almost entirely missing from the national conversation: phones are not primarily a distraction problem. He watched students pressure other students into physical fights specifically so the fights could be recorded. Those fights did not happen and then get filmed. They happened because they could be filmed. The phone did not divert behavior. It created behavior that would not otherwise have happened.That reframes a phone ban from an academic policy into a safety policy.WHAT THIS EPISODE COVERSThe current state of school phone legislation, including which states have bell-to-bell bans, which leave it to districts, and what the early research from Harvard Kennedy School actually shows.The three distinct problems phones create in a school building: attention, integrity, and incentive. Why the third one is the most serious and the least discussed.Why phone bans fail. Rules with holes that students find in the first week. Inconsistent enforcement, where one adult who does not enforce does not create one weak classroom but a weak school. Consequences that exist on paper and never in practice. And confusing removing the option with building the skill.THE BELL TEST, a four-question framework for evaluating any school phone policy: B. BOUNDARY. Does the rule have holes students can find? E. ENFORCEMENT. Does every adult enforce it identically, every time? L. LEVERAGE. Are consequences real, escalating, and actually executed? L. LEARNING. Are we building self-regulation or just removing the option?Aponte also addresses the most common parent objection directly, which is emergency communication, and explains what he got wrong in his own school's first year of enforcement.FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS Q: How many states ban cellphones in schools? A: As of 2026, twenty-six states have laws requiring school districts to ban or limit student cellphone use, with twenty-two of those laws enacted in 2025 alone. Florida passed the first statewide school phone ban in May 2023. States with the strictest bell-to-bell bans, meaning phones must be off and stored for the entire school day, include Texas, New York, Virginia, Louisiana, Alabama, Nebraska, and Utah. Other states including California, Minnesota, and Ohio require districts to create policies but allow local flexibility. New Jersey's statewide policy takes effect in the 2026-27 school year. Q: Do school phone bans actually work? A: Early evidence is mixed. Harvard Kennedy School researchers report that preliminary findings suggest possible long-term benefits for learning outcomes and absenteeism, and teachers consistently report improved focus and fewer disruptions. However, a 2025 University of Southern California study found compliance remains uneven and most students continue using phones during the school day regardless of restrictions. According to charter school director M.A. Aponte, the determining factor is not the ban itself but whether enforcement is consistent across every adult in the building and whether consequences are real and actually executed. Q: Why do school phone bans fail? A: Four common reasons. First, the rule has holes, such as allowing phones between classes or at lunch, which teaches students the rule is situational. Second, enforcement is inconsistent, and because students identify which adults enforce and which do not within days, a single non-enforcing adult undermines the policy building-wide. Third, consequences are not real or are written but never executed, which proves to students that the policy is theater. Fourth, schools confuse removing the phone with teaching self-regulation, leaving students unprepared when they graduate into environments where no one takes the device away. Q: Are phones a safety problem in schools, not just a distraction? A: Charter school director M.A. Aponte argues the distraction framing is incomplete. He has observed students pressuring other students into physical fights specifically so the fights could be recorded, meaning the phone did not divert existing behavior but created an incentive for violence that would not otherwise have existed. Phones also enable exam cheating at scale, since a photographed test can be distributed to every student taking it later that day. This reframes phone policy from an academic issue into a safety issue. Q: What about emergencies? Should students have phones to contact parents? A: This is the most common parent objection to school phone bans. The counterargument from school leaders is that during an actual emergency, students on phones spread panic and misinformation and divert attention from the adult giving safety instructions. A student on a phone during a crisis is generally less safe, not more. Schools implementing bans are expected to maintain a reliable direct channel for communicating with families during emergencies that does not depend on student devices. Q: What questions should parents ask about their school's phone policy? A: Five questions. Is the rule bell to bell or are there times phones are allowed? What is the actual consequence for a first, second, and third violation? Is it enforced identically by every teacher? What does the school teach about self-regulation rather than only what it forbids? And in an emergency, how will the school communicate with families without relying on student phones?Support the showAbout the host: M.A. Aponte is a former JPMorgan banker, former Merrill Lynch wealth manager, former NYPD officer, Army Officer, and Executive Director of a Charter School in Florida. He is the author of The Logical Mind and host of Thinking 2 Think. Join My Substack for more content: maaponte.substack.comConsulting/Advisory Services: MAAponte.comProfessional LinkedIn Page: www.linkedin.com/in/maaponteFinancial Budget/Wealth Management app (FREE): https://centsora.com/CHECK OUT OUR NEW CRITICAL THINKING GAME APP! Currently in BETA: Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.base692af669b00f0dc8d8ad6653.appWeb: https://play.google.com/apps/testing/com.base692af669b00f0dc8d8ad6653.app*Coming soon to Apple Store
We explore the state of education just before the rise of AI, compare it to today, and extrapolate into the future. SourcesTyler Jagt, "My Students Can't Read," Chronicle of Higher Education, 2026. NAEP Long-Term Trend AssessmentPew Research, "Reading for fun has become less common," 2021.James S. Coleman et al., Equality of Educational Opportunity ("The Coleman Report"), US Dept. of Health, Education, and Welfare, 1966Kathryn Borman & Monique Dowling, Teachers College Record, 2010.Dan Goldhaber, "The Mystery of Good Teaching," Education Next, 2002 Steven Rivkin, Eric Hanushek & John Kain, teacher-effects study, Econometrica, 2005. Xitao Fan & Michael Chen, parental-involvement meta-analysis, Educational Psychology Review, 2001 World Bank, "Vietnam's Human Capital: Education Success and Future Challenges," 2020 (PISA science outperformance on low per-pupil spend). OECD, "Does Money Buy Strong Performance in PISA?", PISA in Focus No. 13, 2012 (no score/spending relationship above ~$35k cumulative per-student spend). NCES, Digest of Education Statistics 2023, Table 236.55 (US per-pupil spending, $6,873 → $17,495 real dollars, 1970-71 to 2020-21)Boston Globe, 2001 coverage of Harvard grading ("laughing stock of the Ivy League"; 91% of seniors graduating with honors). Harvard Crimson, Oct. 5, 2023 (~79-80% of 2020-21 grades in the A range)Anemona Hartocollis, "Harvard Students Skip Class and Still Get High Grades, Faculty Say," New York Times, Oct. 6, 2025. Gallup, confidence-in-higher-education tracking, July 2023 and July 2024 releases (57% in 2015 → 36% in 2023/24; Republican confidence ~56%→~19-20%, Democratic decline much smaller)Pew Research, Aug. 2019 (share saying colleges have a negative effect on the country, 26%→38%, 2012-2019, driven almost entirely by Republicans/leaners)Challenge Success (Stanford, Denise Pope), Fall 2018 surveyMark Galloway, cheating in advantaged-community schools, Ethics & Behavior, 2012Stacy Dale & Alan Krueger, "Estimating the Payoff to Attending a More Selective College," NBER WP 7322, Aug. 1999; Quarterly Journal of Economics, 2002. Follow-up: NBER WP 17159, Jun. 2011; Journal of Human Resources, 2014.ProPublica & The Chronicle of Higher Education, "The Newest College Admissions Ploy: Paying to Make Your Teen a 'Peer-Reviewed' Author," May 2023.Nataliya Kosmyna et al., "Your Brain on ChatGPT," MIT Media Lab, arXiv:2506.08872, 2025. Hao-Ping (Hank) Lee et al., "The Impact of Generative AI on Critical Thinking," CHI 2025, peer-reviewed, n=319. Turnitin AI-detection data, 2023-2026 (>80% AI-written flags: ~3% early 2023 → ~15% early 2026).Inside Higher Ed / Generation Lab Student Voice survey, Aug. 2025Rose Horowitch, "The Elite College Students Who Can't Read Books," The Atlantic, Oct. 2024. "Hilarius Bookbinder," "The Average College Student Is Illiterate," Persuasion, Mar. 2025. Tyler Jagt, "My Students Can't Read," Chronicle of Higher Education, 2026. NAEP 2024 12th-grade reading assessment, released Sept. 2025 (lowest since assessment began). Erik Brynjolfsson, Bharat Chandar & Ruyu Chen (Stanford Digital Economy Lab), "Canaries in the Coal Mine?," Nov. 2025, ADP payroll dataIndeed Hiring Lab, entry-level software postings2U, coding-bootcamp partnership shutdown, Dec. 2024.Southern New Hampshire University, bootcamp closure, 2023, citing AI adoption.World Economic Forum, Future of Jobs Report, 2023 & 2025 McKinsey Global Institute, "Skill Shift," 2018 Stefan Bauschard, "Education is a Wicked Problem in AI" Brian Miller, "Farewell, Peak Literacy, We Hardly Knew You," Front Porch Republic, Nov. 2023. James Marriott, The New Dark Ages: The Death of Reading and the Dawn of the Post-Literate Society Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
July 8, 2026 - Wednesday Bible Class In this episode Caden walks through the life of Timothy in the New Testament, using his story as a roadmap for how families, mentors, and congregations can develop faithful, effective servants of Christ. Caden outlines four main points — Timothy's upbringing, personality, reputation, and defining traits — and draws connections between biblical examples and practical church life. The episode examines Timothy's spiritual foundation: the influence of his mother Eunice and grandmother Lois, his early acquaintance with Scripture (Acts 16; 2 Timothy 1:5; 3:14–15), and a recent Pew Research study about how household religious practice affects retention. The host stresses the central role of the home in training young people and offers concrete ideas for building a child's faith (attendance, family Bible study, visible example, church involvement). Mentorship is a key theme. The speaker explores Paul's investment in Timothy (Titus 2; Philippians; 1 Corinthians) and the importance of both receiving and giving mentorship. Passages such as Proverbs 1 and 1 Timothy 4 are used to encourage younger and newer Christians to accept teaching, grow in knowledge, and set a godly example in speech, conduct, love, faith, and purity. Timothy's personality — commonly understood as timid or shy — is discussed candidly. The class reviews verses that show Paul encouraging Timothy (1 Corinthians 16; 1 Timothy 4; 2 Timothy 1:6–7) and highlights how Timothy overcame fear and insecurity through obedience, faithfulness, and willingness to step outside his comfort zone. Reputation and dependability are analyzed through examples in Acts and Paul's letters. Timothy was well spoken of in Lystra and Iconium, trusted to check on churches and to teach correctly (Acts 16; Philippians 2; 1 Thessalonians; 1 Timothy). The speaker emphasizes how consistent, humble choices build a reputation that opens doors for service. Concrete traits from Timothy's life — devotion to Scripture, faithfulness, selflessness (including his willingness to be circumcised to reach Jews), and sacrificial service — are highlighted as patterns worth imitating. The lesson closes with practical takeaways for listeners: invest in children's spiritual foundations, mentor the young and new, don't let personality or fear prevent service, guard your reputation, remain devoted to study and growth, and live selflessly as Jesus taught (Matthew 16:24). The episode is carried out as an interactive teaching session with audience participation and Q&A moments; there are no external guests. Listeners can expect Scripture-based exposition, real-life examples, statistics to frame the issue, and actionable steps for families and church members who want to raise and mentor the next generation of faithful Christians. Duration 44:46
"The president is not supposed to have so much power. It shouldn't make such a difference who actually wields the executive pen." Chris and Joia dive deep into several of the causes behind America's rising political violence, starting with an October 2025 Pew Research survey that asked Americans why they think violence is increasing—offering eight options from "Trump/MAGA rhetoric" to "social media" to "partisan polarization." But Chris and Joia argue these are merely proximate causes that miss fundamental drivers.Throughout, Chris and Joia make clear these aren't just academic distinctions: "If we can find… just the few roots that have to be cut, then we can be much more effective with our own time and efforts in trying to solve this problem."Check out the full conversation to discover the multiple proximate and more fundamental causes they identify.Find Part I here: https://youtu.be/X_eojPaO5Ao
It's Wednesday, July 29th, A.D. 2026. This is The Worldview in 5 Minutes heard on 140 radio stations and at www.TheWorldview.com. I'm Adam McManus. (Adam@TheWorldview.com) By Jonathan Clark and Adam McManus India looking to restrict foreign funding of Christian groups India's Parliament is considering a bill to restrict foreign funding of Christian and other faith-based groups. The measure would allow authorities to seize the assets of such organizations if their registration is canceled. Officials have already canceled the registrations of over 22,000 non-governmental organizations. Republican Congressman Chris Smith of New Jersey is calling on the Trump administration to address this issue with India. He wrote, “If adopted, the bill would sharply expand the ability of the Indian state to seize the property and assets of groups that receive foreign funding — the vast majority of these being Christian churches and charities, such as hospitals and schools.” According to Open Doors, India is the 12th worst country worldwide for the persecution of Christians. In John 10:10, Jesus said, “The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.” 6.8-magnitude earthquake hit Japanese island A 6.8-magnitude earthquake hit Japan's southern island of Kyushu yesterday. The quake caused a collapse at a shopping mall, killing several people. Dozens of people are missing or injured. The Fire and Disaster Management Agency advised over 260,000 people to evacuate the area. Japan's Nuclear Regulation Authority reported no issues with nearby nuclear power plants. Please pray that God would comfort the Japanese families of those who have died and restore those who have been injured. Senate confirmed Jay Clayton as Director of National Intelligence The U.S. Senate voted on July 28 to confirm Jay Clayton, who was nominated by President Donald Trump to be the next Director of National Intelligence, reports The Epoch Times. Clayton's confirmation by the Senate came after the Senate Intelligence Committee voted 9–8 along party lines on July 21 to advance his nomination. He was ultimately confirmed with 51 senators' support to 47 voting against. SENATOR: “On this vote, the yeas are 51, the nays are 47, and the nomination is confirmed. And the president will be immediately notified of the Senate's action.” Previously, Jay Clayton served as the U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York as well as the chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission under President Trump's first administration. Justice Department affirmed parents' right to disciple children The United States Justice Department issued religious liberty guidance to all executive departments and agencies last week. The memo reaffirmed many religious freedom protections in federal law. It also added a new piece of guidance. The memo stated, “Parents have the right to direct the religious upbringing and education of their children. This right extends beyond a mere right to teach religion in the confines of one's home and encompasses the choices parents make for their children outside the home.” In Deuteronomy 6:6-7, God said, “These words which I command you today shall be in your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up.” Drinking water in three cities contained Abortion Kill Pill A new peer-reviewed study found that the drinking water in multiple cities contained the Abortion Kill Pill called Mifepristone. Those cities include Austin, Texas; Blacksburg, Virginia; and Carbondale, Illinois. For years, pro-life groups have been calling on the Environmental Protection Agency to track Mifepristone. Kristan Hawkins with Students for Life of America stated, “A study inspired by [our] clean water advocacy shows that our concerns are valid. In three cities where water was tested, the active metabolites of Mifepristone, the Chemical Abortion Pill, were in the water. We need the EPA to nationalize this examination, especially in light of so many struggling with infertility.” About 700,000 chemical abortions each year send long-lasting abortion drugs and human remains into America's wastewater systems. Mifepristone blocks progesterone, thus starving the baby. This drug has long-lasting metabolites that remain in the water because the water treatment plants are generally not capable of filtering out these chemicals. GOP Congresswoman Mary Miller of Illinois has introduced the Clean Water for All Life Act. Appearing on EWTN, Kristan Hawkins, President of Students for Life, said this. HAWKINS: “Mothers are taking these pills at home, in their dormitories, and when they are told when the cramping gets too severe to go on the toilet and to keep flushing and not to look -- meaning chemically tainted placenta and blood, as well as the human remains of our child, are being flushed in our waterways. And when you think about the fact that you're talking over 700,000 abortions a year are happening this way, this means, at a minimum, 50 tons of chemically-tainted blood and placenta are being flushed down our toilets with human remains every year, laced with anti-progesterone metabolites, which, shockingly, after they pass through the mother's body, starve the child and kill the child, do not go inactive. “They actually remain active as they pass through our water system. And is what we've tested across the country is that this water -- it's actually laced with these metabolites before they get to the wastewater treatment plant, after it passes through the wastewater treatment plant, and now we've proven it's actually in the tap water.” Through a special link in our transcript today at www.TheWorldview.com, you can send faxes to Congress and demand they take action to stop this public health threat. Or you can contact your two U.S. Senators and your U.S. Congressman by email, phone or letter to the district office nearest you. (Because mail sent to the D.C. offices of U.S. Senators and U.S. Congressmen has to go through so many scans, it can take months to get there). Voters want political candidates to address the economy The U.S. midterm elections are coming up in November. Pew Research surveyed voters on what issues they want candidates to address. The top issue was the economy. Voters are especially concerned about affordability and the cost of living. Americans are evenly divided over which party they agree with on economic policies. If the election were held today, 43 percent of respondents said they would back a Democrat candidate for Congress. Meanwhile, 37 percent said they would back a Republican. Younger churchgoers want more liturgy in worship service Lifeway Research released a survey on liturgy in worship services at Protestant churches. Liturgies can include elements like set prayers, readings, and formal patterns. Forty-two percent of churchgoers say their church has some of the liturgical style. Twenty-seven percent say they have no liturgical style. And 24 percent say they have a very liturgical style. Seventy-five percent of respondents said they are satisfied with the amount of liturgy at their church. Thirteen percent want more liturgy, while five percent want less. Surprisingly, younger generations are more likely to want their church to include more liturgy. California lifeguard saved 10-year-old boy NBC Bay Area reports a lifeguard saved the life of a 10-year-old boy at a California beach this week. Waves were overwhelming the boy at Seabright Beach in Santa Cruz. A 16-year-old lifeguard rushed into the water to save him. Other joined in as well. The dramatic rescue drew the attention of President Donald Trump. He wrote on X, “We're going to bring this heroic young man, and his family, into the White House with, perhaps, the boy he saved, to give him a High Civilian Honor. Very brave, he deserves it!” Worldview listeners weigh in from Oregon and North Carolina Here at The Worldview in 5 Minutes newscast, Carole Crowley in Damascus, Oregon wrote, “Adam, I love starting my day with The Worldview. I love praying for specific needs of people throughout the world, using God's Word! Thank you so much for your love and dedication to our Lord and bringing the needs of others to us.” Julie Scott in Charlotte, North Carolina, who attached a picture of her addressed letter, said, “Adam, I wanted to show you that, as a result of your July 9th newscast, I wrote a note to Suzanne McCormick, President of the Young Men's Christian Association, objecting to the YMCA allowing men, pretending to be women, in women's bathrooms and locker rooms. In fact, I grabbed several note cards and put stamps and our return address sticker on them so I am poised for action! [You can join her and send a letter: Suzanne McCormick, President, Young Men's Christian Association, 101 North Wacker Drive, Chicago, Illinois 60606.] “I also phoned the office of my U.S. Congressman and asked him to vote to continue to defund the abortion giant Planned Parenthood. Thank you for including the link.” Minnesota college student gave $500 to help fund newscast And Maylivia in Eden Prairie, Minnesota, whom I spoke with on the phone last night for 20 minutes, wrote, “Adam, my family and I listen to The Worldview every morning. If I'm around when my dad, also named Adam, is preparing and eating breakfast, we listen to it on repeat about six times, literally. He says he doesn't want to miss any of the details. Now, if he's already gone to work, I listen to it on my computer with the transcript, but only once. My mom and sister also listen as part of starting their day. We love having a concise wrap-up of the news, especially for updates on persecuted Christians. “Considering that my family uses it so much, I've decided to give $500. I am a college student, living at home, working part time. This money is partly from my savings and partly from my tutoring business. I was hesitant to give at first. But God laid it on my heart and reminded me that He can provide for all my needs and my parents are providing many of them for me right now! Thank you for your newscast. May God guide the team in His wisdom and remind you of the hope of the cross.” 19 Worldview listeners gave $7,597 And finally, by Tuesday night at 8:00pm Central, 19 Worldview listeners stepped up to the plate and invested their treasure to fund the six-member team behind The Worldview for another year. Our thanks to Kelly in Montgomery, Texas who gave $10, Cathy in Fate, Texas who gave $15, and Paul in Brush, Colorado who gave $25. We appreciate Sarina in Barnwell, Alberta, Canada and Dan in Ingersoll, Ontario, Canada – both of whom gave $100, as well as Kevin in North Bend, Oregon, Eric in Castle Rock, Colorado, and George in Edinburgh, Indiana – each of whom gave $200. We're grateful to God for Steven in Plainview, Texas and Richard in Lometa, Texas – both of whom pledged $25/month for 12 months for a gift of $300 as well as Israel in Yuma, Arizona who gave $347. And we were touched by the generosity of Ed in Wellsburg, Iowa who pledged $30/month for 12 months for a gift of $360, Frances in Beacon, New York who gave $500, Maylivia in Eden Prairie, Minnesota who gave $500, Danny in Abingdon, Virginia who gave $500, Kimberly in Lebanon, Oregon who gave $500, Mary in Highland, New York who pledged $50/month for 12 months for a gift of $600, Stephen in California, Maryland who pledged $100/month for 12 months for a gift of $1,200, and our friend in Naples, Florida who generously matched the 4 donors who gave $500 with a gift of $2,000. Wow! Those 19 gifts add up to $7,597. Ready for our new grand total? Drum roll please. (drum roll sound effect) $79,344 (sound effect of people cheering) We need to raise $44,156 by midnight on Friday, July 31! That means in order to hit our final goal of $123,500 by this Friday, July 31st, God needs to prompt folks to give an astounding $44,156 in order for the six-member Worldview newscast team to be fully funded for another year. So, if you have been waiting until the last minute, this … is … it! We could really use your help. The finish line is in just 2 days! Count ‘em. Two! Would you consider being one of 20 people to pledge $100/month for 12 months or give a one-time gift of $1,200, one of 16 people to pledge $50/month for 12 months or give a one-time gift of $600, or one of 32 people to pledge $25/month for 12 months or give a one-time gift of $300? Remember, the next four people who give a one-time gift of $500 will be matched, dollar-for-dollar, by our friend in Naples, Florida. Just go to TheWorldview.com, click on Give, select the dollar amount, and make sure to click on the “recurring” button if that's your wish. And remember this, if you want to continue your monthly pledge to The Worldview that you started in a previous year, please let me know so we can count your generous ongoing gift toward our total. This newscast team champions the truth and uses the Bible as our plumbline. We actually cite relevant Bible verses that come alive as we look at the news of the day. Plus, we report on the persecuted church, the battles for life and a godly perspective on sexuality, often including action steps on how you can make a difference as a believer. What does God want you to give to sustain this one-of-a-kind newscast? Go to TheWorldview.com and click on Give. Close And that's The Worldview on this Wednesday, July 29th, in the year of our Lord 2026. Subscribe for free by Spotify, Amazon Music, or by iTunes or email to our unique Christian newscast at www.TheWorldview.com. Plus, you can get the Generations app through Google Play or The App Store. I'm Adam McManus (Adam@TheWorldview.com). Seize the day for Jesus Christ.
This is the first in a new series where I take you through the main marketing channels one at a time, from Instagram and LinkedIn to YouTube, TikTok, email and paid ads, and give you the honest picture on each one. Here’s why I’m doing it. One of the questions we get asked more than almost any other is simple. Should I be on this platform? Is that one worth my time? Where do I put my effort? It’s a fair question, because there are more channels than ever, and none of us has the time to be on all of them. If you listened to the last podcast, we went through the marketing tasks worth doing over the summer- those slower weeks where you finally get a bit of headspace to work on the business instead of just in it. A lot of you will be doing exactly that right now, looking at the rest of the year and wondering where to focus. So it feels like the right moment to go through the channels properly, one by one. We’re starting with Instagram, because it’s the one recruiters are most unsure about. It feels very consumer, very lifestyle, and a lot of owners wonder whether it has any place at all in a serious, B2B business. Here’s the honest answer. And it starts with the data. The Numbers Might Surprise You In the UK, Instagram has around 37.7 million users, according to the most recent figures from NapoleonCat in March. In plain terms, that’s more than half the entire UK population. Not half of social media users, half of everyone, every age group. The US is much the same. The latest data from Pew Research shows about half of all American adults are on Instagram. And Australia is higher still, with almost seven in ten adults using it at the end of last year. So let’s put one myth to bed. Instagram is not a niche teenage app any more. It’s properly mainstream, across all three of the markets most of you work in. But here’s the part that matters most for us as recruiters. The age profile, and it’s worth looking at properly. In the US, eight in ten of the 18 to 29 age group are on it, dropping to fewer than one in five of the over-sixties. In the UK, the biggest single group is 25 to 34. Hold that thought, because it’s the key to everything that follows. Instagram Is a Candidate Channel, Not a Client One Here’s what that age profile is telling us. For most recruiters, Instagram is a place to attract candidates and build your brand, not a place to win new clients. Think about it. The people doing the hiring, the ones who sign off your fees, tend to be more senior, and they’re far more likely to be on LinkedIn. That’s where they go with their work hat on. The people scrolling Instagram are much more likely to be your candidates, and they’re sizing up what it’s like to work somewhere long before they ever apply. So if your goal is winning new clients, hand on heart, Instagram probably isn’t where I’d start. LinkedIn is still your channel for that, and we’ll cover it properly later in the series. But if you want to attract candidates and build a brand that makes people think they really know this market, I want to work with them, then Instagram can genuinely earn its place. I’d rather be straight with you about that than have you chase a channel because everyone says you should. Which Sectors It Suits A lot of it comes down to your sector. Instagram tends to work best where the work is visual and where the people you want to reach are already spending their time. Think hospitality, retail, the trades, creative and marketing recruitment, or early careers and graduate recruitment. Anywhere you can show people, places, a bit of culture and energy. It works less well for executive search, senior finance, legal, and high-level tech and engineering, where both the candidates and the clients tend to be more senior and established in their careers, and far more likely to be found on LinkedIn. So before you put a single hour in, ask yourself honestly whether your candidate pool is really the kind of audience that’s on Instagram. If it is, read on. If it isn’t, this might be one you note and move past, and that’s a perfectly good outcome. Half the value of this series is helping you rule channels out. What Works on Instagram Let’s say Instagram does fit your market. Here’s what works, and none of it needs you to be a professional content creator. Lead with video. Reels, the short ones, get far more reach than a plain photo post right now, and they don’t need to be polished. A quick chat to camera about a role, a bit of advice for candidates, a behind-the-scenes moment. That’s plenty. Use carousels for teaching. Swipe-along posts like five CV (resume) mistakes costing you interviews, or what it’s really like working with us. People save that kind of content, and saves are one of the strongest signals you can send Instagram that your content is worth showing to more people. Use Stories to stay front of mind. Polls, questions and quick updates keep you visible with the people already following you, with barely any effort. Use your DMs properly. So many good recruitment conversations start in the messages, so make it easy for people to reach you there and reply like a human, not a job board. The golden thread through all of it is to be real. Real people, real placements, real culture. On Instagram, authentic beats polished every time. Time, and the Reset Tax A quick word on time, because I know that’s what you’re really thinking. To make Instagram work, you’re looking at posting a few times a week and sticking at it for a couple of months before you see much back. It’s not instant. But then nothing good in marketing ever is. And this brings me to something I feel strongly about. Please don’t try to do all of this at once, across every platform. I see recruiters get excited, throw themselves at four channels for three weeks, run out of steam, and stop. Then they start again in a panic when the pipeline dries up. All that stopping and starting costs you. Every time you disappear for a while, you lose the momentum you’d built, the algorithm stops favouring you, and the warm audience you’d gathered goes cold again. I call it the reset tax, and it’s one of the most expensive mistakes in marketing. You’re far better off picking one or two channels that genuinely fit and showing up on them consistently than spreading yourself thin across the lot and burning out. That’s the whole point of this series. Choose well, then commit. Does It Work? Yes, when it fits. A recruitment agency in Germany ran a simple campaign on Instagram Stories and brought their cost per hire down from around four and a half thousand euros to about thirteen hundred. That’s a serious result, and it came from genuine, culture-led content rather than anything fancy. Real people, real workplace. How to Decide If It’s Right for You Four quick questions. Is my main goal candidates and brand, or clients? If it’s clients, start with LinkedIn. Is my candidate pool genuinely on Instagram? Visual, consumer-facing sectors, yes. Senior and niche, probably not. Have I got visual content, or can I create it? Culture, people, placements, advice. If there’s nothing to show and no time to make it, your effort is better spent elsewhere. Can I commit to being consistent for a couple of months? If not, don’t start, because a burst followed by silence is worse than not showing up at all. Answer yes to those and Instagram is worth a proper go. Answer no, and you’ve saved yourself a lot of wasted time, which is a win too. In Short Instagram is a mainstream channel now. It’s excellent for attracting candidates and building your brand in the right sectors, weaker for winning new clients, and the trick is being honest about whether your market is really there before you commit. Next in the series, we’re staying in the Meta family and turning to Facebook, Instagram’s older sibling with a very different crowd, and one a lot of recruiters write off too fast. How We Can Help You This Year Knowing what to do is one thing. Doing it consistently is another. If you’d like a hand putting your channel plan together and having the content resources ready so you can stay consistent without it swallowing your whole week, that’s exactly what we do inside Superfast Circle. Book a call and we’ll show you how it works: www.superfastrecruitment.co.uk/call Thanks Denise The post Marketing Channels for Recruiters : What Recruiters Need to Know About Instagram This Year appeared first on Superfast Recruitment.
Ever laid awake wondering if the business you've poured your heart into is going to get wiped out by a robot? Yeah, me too. And if you've felt that little knot of fear when another AI headline pops up on your feed, I want you to know you're not crazy and you're not alone. In this solo episode of The Happy Hustle Podcast, I get real about the thing everyone's whispering about but nobody wants to admit out loud. Is AI going to take our jobs, our businesses, our relevance? I break down why the biggest threat to you isn't AI at all. It's your comfort zone. It's staying stuck instead of adapting. This episode matters because so many of us are frozen in fear right now, and fear makes really bad business decisions. I wanted to give you a real, grounded way to think about this instead of just doom scrolling headlines. Here's what we get into. First, the fear is real and it's backed by data, but so is the opportunity. A Pew Research study found only 6% of workers think AI will create more opportunity for them long term, while 32% think it'll shrink their options. A 2026 Harris poll found 90% of job seekers have concerns about AI in the workplace. But flip the coin. 81% of hiring managers and entrepreneurs believe AI actually improves efficiency, and 79% say it frees up employee time. Same technology, same data, completely different story depending on your mindset. Second, AI cannot replace what makes you human. It can't build authentic trust. It can't lead people through uncertainty. It can't create real relationships or inspire a vision. That stuff is still, and always will be, a human job. Third, you're not going to lose your business to AI. You're going to lose it to someone who learned how to use AI better than you did. That one hit me hard when I really sat with it, and I think it'll hit you too. Fourth, treat AI like your intern, not your replacement. Let it learn you instead of stressing about learning it. Hand off the repetitive stuff, emails, meeting summaries, content ideas, research, so you can spend your recovered time and energy on deep thinking, family, faith, and the passions that actually make life feel good. Fifth, the most valuable skill in 2026 isn't coding or prompting. It's adaptability. It's humility. It's being willing to say I don't have this figured out yet and then taking action anyway. If you've been sitting on the sidelines wondering whether to lean into AI or run from it, this episode will give you the mindset shift and the practical first steps to start today. Go listen to the full episode at https://caryjack.com/podcastin/, and let's keep happy hustlin' together. Connect with Cary!https://www.instagram.com/caryjack/https://www.facebook.com/SirCaryJackhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/cary-jack-kendzior/https://twitter.com/thehappyhustlehttps://www.youtube.com/channel/UCFDNsD59tLxv2JfEuSsNMOQ/featured Get a copy of his new book, https://www.thehappyhustle.com/book Sign up for The Journey: 10 Days To Become a Happy Hustler Online Course @ https://thehappyhustle.com/thejourney/ Apply to the Montana Mastermind Epic Camping Adventure @ https://thehappyhustle.com/mastermind/ “It's time to Happy Hustle, a blissfully balanced life you love, full of passion, purpose, and positive impact!” Episode Sponsors: Kiln Your environment shapes your energy and your results. That's why we're proud to partner with Kiln, a premium workspace experience designed to help you work smarter, connect with amazing people, and elevate your lifestyle. From co-working and private offices to meeting rooms and event spaces, Kiln (https://kiln.com/) has everything you need to thrive. 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It's made with clean, non-toxic, and eco-friendly materials, so you're not just sleeping better, you're sleeping healthier too. The comfort and support are on another level, and you can really feel the difference night after night. If you're ready to invest in better sleep and better recovery, check it out at https://thehappyhustle.com/mygreenmattress Ozlo Sleep If you've been struggling to fall asleep, stay asleep, or just wake up feeling actually rested, let me put you on to something that's been a total game-changer: Ozlo Sleep. These aren't your typical sleep buds. They're designed to block out noise and help your brain fully relax, so you can drift off faster and stay in deep, uninterrupted sleep. Perfect if you're a light sleeper or just want that next-level rest. If you're ready to upgrade your sleep and wake up feeling recharged, check out https://ozlosleep.com and save $80 OFF using code HAPPY.
Greg Brady talked about a new Pew Research poll that points to a sharp decline in how Canadians view Americans Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Christina Hello, everyone, I'm Christina Darnell, the managing editor of MinistryWatch. Welcome to the MinistryWatch podcast. In today's extra episode, I talk with Warren Smith about some news items that are slightly (even significantly) outside of our normal charity and philanthropy “beat.” So, Warren, what's up first? Warren The San Francisco Chronicle has yet another article about the so-called Great Wealth Transfer. According to the article, the “term [was] popularized by a 2024 report from market research firm Cerulli Associates. The broad idea is that, over the next two decades, as baby boomers journey to the great postwar subdivision in the sky, they will bequeath $124 trillion in assets — leaving $105 trillion to their children and $18 trillion to charities.” Christina You said this was “yet” another article. Do you think this story is overblown? Warren If you detect a bit of weariness in my tone, it is not because I don't believe in the Great Wealth Transfer. It is coming, but it is always coming. It is not an event. It's a process. A generation doesn't die in a day, or a year. It dies over the course of a generation, and as long as the population and the economy keep growing, EVERY generation's wealth will be greater than the previous generation. That's the simple logic of the situation, but journalists breathlessly try to turn the Great Wealth Transfer into news every few months. Christina That said, you are here promoting the story and the idea yourself. Warren Touche! The Chronicle article is interesting, and I recommend it. And to all our readers: make sure you take our Philanthropy Assessment. It will give you some simple, actionable steps to make sure that your wealth ends up where you want it to go. Christina Warren, you've said that one of the most persistent myths in Christian world is the myth that the ranks of the Catholic Church is swelling with ex-evangelicals. Warren It's not happening. Data guru Ryan Burge has pointed out that when there's movement, it's more often from Catholic to evangelical. Burge this week published a treasure trove of data from Detroit Catholics that further documents the decline of Catholicism in the U.S. Among his observations: “In 2011, the average weekend Mass attendance in the archdiocese was about 231,000 people. That dropped below 200,000 by 2015, it declined to 163,000 by 2019. The most recent data that these workbooks provide is from 2024, when Mass attendance was just under 140,000. According to their own reports, the Catholic Church in Detroit is recording an attendance decline of 4% per year.” Christina A lot of folks might say that Detroit is an anomaly. It's been a city in decline. Warren That's a myth, too. And if you are thinking, “Yeah, well, that's Detroit. The city is dying.” Burge says that's an old narrative. The population of Detroit rose during that same period. Christina A headline in The Jerusalem Post grabbed your attention this week. Warren It did. That headline is: “Why 800 million Evangelical Christians stand with Israel in an age of rising antisemitism.” It grabbed me because there are nowhere near 800 million evangelicals in the world. The most respected source for global Christian demographics is the Center for the Study of Global Christianity. It puts the number at around 400 million. Christina Well, maybe that headline was the product of an over-zealous headline writer. Warren I thought that too. Then I read the first line of the editorial, by Greg Denham, pastor of Rise Church in San Marcos, California and the founder of the Pastors Alliance for Israel. The headline merely echoed the first sentence in his essay: “At a time of rising anti-Israel sentiment, anti-Zionism, and antisemitism, it is worth asking why nearly 800 million Evangelical Christians continue to stand firmly with the nation of Israel.” It is a good question. It would be a better question if he got his facts right. That might cause readers to care more about his answer. Christina While we're on the subject, a new survey indicates Americans are souring on Israel. Warren The most recent of Pew Research survey, unveiled on Thursday, July 9, found that most U.S. adults – 62 percent — now view the Israeli government unfavorably, a nearly 20-point shift from 2022, when only 43 percent said the same. By the way, I'm a big supporter of Israel. I've visited there twice. But if you don't think recent events in the Middle East aren't having a major impact on the world's opinion of Israel, you're not paying attention. Christina Warren, I know you're a history buff, and you noted in your “Signs and Wonders” column this week that last week was John Calvin's birthday. He was born on July 9, 1509. Warren He wrote the first draft of his book Institutes of the Christian Religion when he was 26 years old. Many people marvel that he wrote a book that helped change the course of history at such a young age. But he revised it regularly over the years, and the version we read today is a version he published at age 50. This work was significant in shaping Protestant theology and was initially published in Latin while he was in exile in Basel, Switzerland. Christina Warren, let's close today with a recent column by Aaron Renn about the Boy Scouts of America. Warren The Boy Scouts of America, one of the great institutions of civil society in the history of this country, is now a shell of its former self, and its prospects are not bright. For an up-to-date assessment of what is happening with what is now called Scouting America, I recommend Aaron Renn's recent column, which you can find here. A preview: “The Scouts have responded by doing basically what mainline Protestantism and any number of other institutions did. It evacuated its traditional religious core, adopted standard issue liberal positions du jour, and started allowing girls to join (in the way the mainlines allowed female clergy). This isn't likely to work out any better for them than it did for the mainline churches.” Christina Any closing thoughts before we go? Warren If you have not discovered our YouTube channel, check it out here. We now have 200 videos there, and they have attracted tens of thousands of views. Subscribe, like, and share to spread the word about our work. Christina The producer for today's program is Jeff McIntosh. I'm Christina Darnell, along with Warren Smith. Until next time, may God bless you.
Trudie Mason is joined by Lionel Perez, Former city councilor and former leader of the Official Opposition at Montreal City Hall, and Andrew Caddell, columnist for the Hill Times and President of the Task Force on Linguistic policy, A new report shows that Canadians trust China more than the U.S. The report from Pew Research says that 44 percent of Canadians have a favorable view of China. All this week, the Journal de Montreal has been compiling testimonies from drivers about their experience regarding traffic in Montreal. The federal government is making changes to reduce the amount of immigrants coming into Canada. Montreal Public Health has issued an overdose alert after a sharp rise in suspected overdoses linked to a highly toxic drug supply. Turns out even if a company is losing an extreme amount of money, there is still enough in the system to give high ranking executives performance pays.
Joan Sebastian Guerrero, a 26-year-old husband and father, reportedly possessing a social security number and the legal right to work in the US, was fatally shot by federal immigration agents on the street in Maine on Monday. Guerrero is the fourth person to have been killed by ICE agents this year alone. The surge of violence is again igniting anger at Trump's aggressive immigration agenda, and the apparent lack of accountability for ICE agents. Maine Congresswoman Chellie Pingree joins the show from Washington DC to discuss. Also on today's show: Rachel Goodman, Free Expression Special Counsel, Protect Democracy; Jocelyn Kiley, Director of Research, Pew Research Center Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Attitudes around social media are changing. A Pew Research study found that about half of teens surveyed in 2024 felt that social media had a mostly negative impact on their age group. A group advocating a more considered relationship to tech held what they called a Summer of Ludd Festival, named after the Industrial Revolution era workers movement, the Luddites. The festival in New York City featured tech-free activities ranging from meditation to a workshop on how to flirt in real life. But in 2026, is it really possible to live without the tech we've become so addicted to? Guest host Manisha Krishnan, WIRED's senior culture editor, talks to Gowanus, the spokespuppet of a local Luddite movement, about the tenets of their group - and how they plan to grow it. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
July 9th, 2026 - We welcome back Nicholas Cavazos to react to alarming new Pew Research statistics that suggest that the traditional Church may be dying. Links, Show Notes & More - https://thestationofthecross.com/act Email Us! ACT@TheStationOfTheCross.com
It's a funeral taking place over six days, five cities and two countries. Crowds have overwhelmed the streets of Iran to mourn or just watch the funeral procession for the late Ayatollah Khamenei. He and other family members died in February in attacks by the US and Israel. Khamenei ran a brutal regime that killed an estimated 40,000 demonstrators earlier this year, but his funeral has become a rallying point for the nation. The man set to become the next prime minister of Britain, Andy Burnham, is best known as the popular and successful mayor of Greater Manchester in northern England. But long before that, he was a pious altar boy in his local Catholic church in Liverpool. Burnham has referred frequently to his Catholic background and values, even if he observes only some of the church's teaching. How much will faith shape his prime ministership? One of the hallmarks of an authoritarian regime is severe restrictions on religious practice. But there's also been a marked increase in religious repression by individuals, sometimes in defiance of more liberal government policies. The Pew Research Center in Washington has been monitoring this situation.GUESTS:Dr Ali Mamouri is a Middle East specialist at Deakin University and a former adviser to an earlier reform government in neighbouring Iraq.Hannah Rich is a senior researcher at the London-based think tank Theos.Samirah Majumdar is the lead author of Pew Research's recent report.This program is made on the lands of the Gadigal People of the Eora Nation
Earlier this year, Pew Research published the results of a study on religious diversity around the world. While the U.S. didn't even break the top 10 for most religiously diverse when all nations studied were taken into account, it ranked #1 in religious diversity out of the most populous countries.The United States certainly has a Christian tilt and a sizable population of nones. But, go to any major U.S. city and you'll spot kippahs, hijabs, turbans, and houses of worship for every major belief system on the planet.Despite the American ability to live alongside people who believe vastly different things than us, the U.S. has a horrid past with religious oppression—think of the KKK's treatment of Jewish people or the wipeout of indigenous people and their forced conversion to Christianity or the attacks on Muslims and Sikhs directly following 9/11.And while many prejudices take decades to extract the mainstream, a quick study of our history reveals that there is a clear pattern of America's ability to eventually accept religious differences.Over a century ago, the Catholics pouring in from, first, Ireland and, later, Italy, were near the bottom of the social hierarchy—pushed down by the majority protestant community who had been there much longer. Today, 6 of our 9 Supreme Court Justices are Catholic—only 2 are protestants, and one is Jewish. Pathways to success at the highest level are available to all in the U.S., even to those who, not very long ago, were seen as inferior.The U.S. has a long way to go in terms of equality and in the acceptance of all religions. But, if history repeats itself, it seems possible that even the faiths that are most discriminated against today, could also find great success here.The United States had its 250th birthday last week. And, in the last few episodes we have tried to understand the role of Christianity in America's founding. But what kinds of Christians were the first Americans? And what role did Catholics, Jews and Atheists play in the Revolution? Were there Muslims or Hindus on U.S. soil in 1776?To answer all of these questions and better understand the nature of religion at the time of America's founding I spoke with Katherine Carté. Carté is a History Professor at Southern Methodist University and wrote the book “Religion in The American Revolution: An Imperial History.”
Abrar Al-Heeti of CNET joins Mikah Sargent on the show this week! Do Americans trust driverless vehicles? Safety tools for Social Media are failing kids. Sony is ceasing the production of physical games in January 2028. And a Supreme Court ruling guts the government's use of geofence warrants. A new Pew Research survey finds only 5% of U.S. adults have ridden in a driverless car, and 71% say they wouldn't feel comfortable riding in one in the first place. An audit conducted by the Cybersafety Research Center showcases that, within Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok, and YouTube, the research center found 51 of 86 advertised child-safety features were either broken, buried, or missing. Sony announced it will stop making physical discs for new PlayStation games starting in January 2028. And in Chatrie v. United States, which reached the Supreme Court, the Court ruled 6-3 that police need a warrant to obtain Google location-history data, further extending Fourth Amendment protections for Americans. Hosts: Mikah Sargent and Abrar Al-Heeti Download or subscribe to Tech News Weekly at https://twit.tv/shows/tech-news-weekly. Join Club TWiT for Ad-Free Podcasts! Support what you love and get ad-free audio and video feeds, a members-only Discord, and exclusive content. Join today: https://twit.tv/clubtwit Sponsors: blackhat.com/us-26 and use code TWIT framer.com/tnw hipebl.ai threatlocker.com/twit rippling.ai/tnw
Abrar Al-Heeti of CNET joins Mikah Sargent on the show this week! Do Americans trust driverless vehicles? Safety tools for Social Media are failing kids. Sony is ceasing the production of physical games in January 2028. And a Supreme Court ruling guts the government's use of geofence warrants. A new Pew Research survey finds only 5% of U.S. adults have ridden in a driverless car, and 71% say they wouldn't feel comfortable riding in one in the first place. An audit conducted by the Cybersafety Research Center showcases that, within Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok, and YouTube, the research center found 51 of 86 advertised child-safety features were either broken, buried, or missing. Sony announced it will stop making physical discs for new PlayStation games starting in January 2028. And in Chatrie v. United States, which reached the Supreme Court, the Court ruled 6-3 that police need a warrant to obtain Google location-history data, further extending Fourth Amendment protections for Americans. Hosts: Mikah Sargent and Abrar Al-Heeti Download or subscribe to Tech News Weekly at https://twit.tv/shows/tech-news-weekly. Join Club TWiT for Ad-Free Podcasts! Support what you love and get ad-free audio and video feeds, a members-only Discord, and exclusive content. Join today: https://twit.tv/clubtwit Sponsors: blackhat.com/us-26 and use code TWIT framer.com/tnw hipebl.ai threatlocker.com/twit rippling.ai/tnw
It's Thursday, July 2nd, A.D. 2026. This is The Worldview in 5 Minutes heard on 140 radio stations and at www.TheWorldview.com. I'm Adam McManus. (Adam@TheWorldview.com) By Jonathan Clark and Adam McManus British might criminalize speaking Biblical truth on sexuality The United Kingdom may criminalize pastors and parents for sharing Biblical truth on sexuality. The country's Labour government published the Conversion Practices Draft Bill last week. The measure would ban practices aimed at changing a person's so-called sexual orientation or gender identity. Andrea Williams with Christian Concern said, “This bill opens the door to the persecution of parents and pastors through false accusations of abusive conversion practices.” British Parliament is “the gayest” with 75 sexually perverted In other United Kingdom news, outgoing Prime Minister Kier Starmer, an atheist, signaled his support for sexually perverted lifestyles. Listen to his recent comments. STARMER: “I'm really proud that we've got the gayest parliament. I don't think, anywhere in the world. I don't think there's any parliament that is gayer than this parliament. That is fantastic. “The HIV Action Plan is really good to end transmissions by 2030. We've legislated to equalize all existing strands of hate crime and make them aggravated offenses, and again, the announcement through Liv last week, a full trans-inclusive ban on abusive conversion practice. We put an end to those practices.” Indeed, out of the 650 members of British Parliament, 75 of them have sinfully embraced sexual perversion. Isaiah 5:20-23 says, “Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil . . . Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes. … Who justify the wicked for a bribe, and take away justice from the righteous man!” Starmer announced his resignation last month. His Labour Party had just experienced major election losses in May. Canadian Anglicans offer “liturgy” to bless the euthanized Speaking of calling evil good, the Anglican Church of Canada announced a Christian liturgy to bless people being euthanized. The denomination said it would not comment on the morality of assisted suicide. Instead, it authorized clergy to bless people who have chosen it. Canada is considered the euthanasia capital of the world. Tragically, over 100,000 people have died under the country's assisted suicide program. The death push began 10 years ago on June 17, 2016. Planned Parenthood shuts down Iowa City abortion mill Here in the United States, Planned Parenthood will shut down its location in Iowa City, Iowa this month. The abortion giant closed four other facilities in Iowa last year. This leaves only one location in the state. Iowa banned most abortions after six weeks of pregnancy in 2024. And yesterday, a law went into effect that bans mail-order abortions in the Hawkeye State. 78% of Americans favor public school student-led prayer groups A new Pew Research survey found that Americans support religious expression in public schools. Seventy-eight percent of U.S. adults favor allowing students to voluntarily pray in student-led groups. Fifty-seven percent favor allowing coaches to lead their teams in prayer. Fifty percent favor displaying the Ten Commandments in classrooms. And 46 percent favor allowing teachers to lead their classes in prayer. Presbyterian Church in America voted against female deacons The second-largest Presbyterian denomination in the U.S. recently voted against female deacons. Last month, the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in America met in Louisville, Kentucky. The church body voted resoundingly against a proposal to allow women to serve as ordained deacons. This reaffirmed the denomination's constitutional documents. Those documents state, “The ordinary and perpetual classes of office in the Church are elders and deacons. ... The office of deacon is not one of rule, but rather of service both to the physical and spiritual needs of the people. In accord with Scripture, these offices are open to men only.” Chick-fil-A 92-year-old employee encourages customers A Chick-fil-A employee in his 90s is making headlines for his work ethic and his Christian faith. Gilbert Martin, affectionately known as “Mr. Gil,” has been working at a Chick-fil-A in Wilmington, North Carolina for the last six years. Mr. Gil just turned 92. But that doesn't stop him from working throughout the week. He not only keeps the restaurant clean, he takes personal care of the people who walk in. Mr. Gil told WECT-6 that God has allowed him to be an encourager to people. Listen. MARTIN: “I get a lot of people that are coming in, just going to the doctor, or just been to the doctor, and got bad news, and so forth, and I'm able to be encourager. The Lord gave me that. I don't plan to go anywhere else..” Romans 15:2 says, “Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, to build him up.” Looking for feedback from Worldview listeners I was surprised not to receive a single email yesterday about what listeners, like you, enjoy about this newscast. What makes this newscast different to you from other newscasts which you've heard? Do you listen to it while you exercise, drive in the car, or at home with the family as part of your morning routine? What is your favorite part of it? Email me your thoughts in 2-4 sentences including your name, city and state, and country if outside America. Send that to Adam@TheWorldview.com. That's Adam@TheWorldview.com 10 Worldview listeners gave $1,762 yesterday And finally, toward our goal of raising $12,450 by this Friday, July 3rd, 10 Worldview listeners stepped up to the plate. Our thanks to Karen in Goshen, Indiana who gave $12 as well as Emily in De Forest, Wisconsin, Myron in Trinity, Alabama, Jon in Granger, Indiana, and Anna in West Jefferson, North Carolina – each of whom gave $50. We're grateful for the kindness of Mandy in Walpole, New Hampshire and Michael in Ritzville, Washington – both of whom gave $200 as well as LuShun in Newport News, Virginia who gave $250. And we were touched by the generosity of Heather in Mt Juliet, Tennessee who pledged $25/month for 12 months for a gift of $300 and Michelle in Stagecoach, Nevada who pledged $50/month for 12 months for a gift of $600. Ready for our grand total? Drum roll please. (Drum roll sound effect) $1,762 (sound effect of people cheering) That means we have to raise $10,688 over the next two days to hit our first goal toward the $123,500 finish line come July 31st. Go to TheWorldview.com, click on Give, select the dollar amount, and make sure to click on the “recurring” button if that's your wish. I'm looking for 9 Worldview listeners to pledge $50/month for 12 months or give a one-time gift of $600 and another 18 to pledge $25 per month for 12 months or give a one-time gift of $300. What has the Lord placed on your heart to give to keep this newscast on the air? Close And that's The Worldview on this Thursday, July 2nd, in the year of our Lord 2026. Subscribe for free by Spotify, Amazon Music, or by iTunes or email to our unique Christian newscast at www.TheWorldview.com. Plus, you can get the Generations app through Google Play or The App Store. I'm Adam McManus (Adam@TheWorldview.com). Seize the day for Jesus Christ.
Abrar Al-Heeti of CNET joins Mikah Sargent on the show this week! Do Americans trust driverless vehicles? Safety tools for Social Media are failing kids. Sony is ceasing the production of physical games in January 2028. And a Supreme Court ruling guts the government's use of geofence warrants. A new Pew Research survey finds only 5% of U.S. adults have ridden in a driverless car, and 71% say they wouldn't feel comfortable riding in one in the first place. An audit conducted by the Cybersafety Research Center showcases that, within Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok, and YouTube, the research center found 51 of 86 advertised child-safety features were either broken, buried, or missing. Sony announced it will stop making physical discs for new PlayStation games starting in January 2028. And in Chatrie v. United States, which reached the Supreme Court, the Court ruled 6-3 that police need a warrant to obtain Google location-history data, further extending Fourth Amendment protections for Americans. Hosts: Mikah Sargent and Abrar Al-Heeti Download or subscribe to Tech News Weekly at https://twit.tv/shows/tech-news-weekly. Join Club TWiT for Ad-Free Podcasts! Support what you love and get ad-free audio and video feeds, a members-only Discord, and exclusive content. Join today: https://twit.tv/clubtwit Sponsors: blackhat.com/us-26 and use code TWIT framer.com/tnw hipebl.ai threatlocker.com/twit rippling.ai/tnw
Abrar Al-Heeti of CNET joins Mikah Sargent on the show this week! Do Americans trust driverless vehicles? Safety tools for Social Media are failing kids. Sony is ceasing the production of physical games in January 2028. And a Supreme Court ruling guts the government's use of geofence warrants. A new Pew Research survey finds only 5% of U.S. adults have ridden in a driverless car, and 71% say they wouldn't feel comfortable riding in one in the first place. An audit conducted by the Cybersafety Research Center showcases that, within Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok, and YouTube, the research center found 51 of 86 advertised child-safety features were either broken, buried, or missing. Sony announced it will stop making physical discs for new PlayStation games starting in January 2028. And in Chatrie v. United States, which reached the Supreme Court, the Court ruled 6-3 that police need a warrant to obtain Google location-history data, further extending Fourth Amendment protections for Americans. Hosts: Mikah Sargent and Abrar Al-Heeti Download or subscribe to Tech News Weekly at https://twit.tv/shows/tech-news-weekly. Join Club TWiT for Ad-Free Podcasts! Support what you love and get ad-free audio and video feeds, a members-only Discord, and exclusive content. Join today: https://twit.tv/clubtwit Sponsors: blackhat.com/us-26 and use code TWIT framer.com/tnw hipebl.ai threatlocker.com/twit rippling.ai/tnw
Abrar Al-Heeti of CNET joins Mikah Sargent on the show this week! Do Americans trust driverless vehicles? Safety tools for Social Media are failing kids. Sony is ceasing the production of physical games in January 2028. And a Supreme Court ruling guts the government's use of geofence warrants. A new Pew Research survey finds only 5% of U.S. adults have ridden in a driverless car, and 71% say they wouldn't feel comfortable riding in one in the first place. An audit conducted by the Cybersafety Research Center showcases that, within Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok, and YouTube, the research center found 51 of 86 advertised child-safety features were either broken, buried, or missing. Sony announced it will stop making physical discs for new PlayStation games starting in January 2028. And in Chatrie v. United States, which reached the Supreme Court, the Court ruled 6-3 that police need a warrant to obtain Google location-history data, further extending Fourth Amendment protections for Americans. Hosts: Mikah Sargent and Abrar Al-Heeti Download or subscribe to Tech News Weekly at https://twit.tv/shows/tech-news-weekly. Join Club TWiT for Ad-Free Podcasts! Support what you love and get ad-free audio and video feeds, a members-only Discord, and exclusive content. Join today: https://twit.tv/clubtwit Sponsors: blackhat.com/us-26 and use code TWIT framer.com/tnw hipebl.ai threatlocker.com/twit rippling.ai/tnw
Abrar Al-Heeti of CNET joins Mikah Sargent on the show this week! Do Americans trust driverless vehicles? Safety tools for Social Media are failing kids. Sony is ceasing the production of physical games in January 2028. And a Supreme Court ruling guts the government's use of geofence warrants. A new Pew Research survey finds only 5% of U.S. adults have ridden in a driverless car, and 71% say they wouldn't feel comfortable riding in one in the first place. An audit conducted by the Cybersafety Research Center showcases that, within Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok, and YouTube, the research center found 51 of 86 advertised child-safety features were either broken, buried, or missing. Sony announced it will stop making physical discs for new PlayStation games starting in January 2028. And in Chatrie v. United States, which reached the Supreme Court, the Court ruled 6-3 that police need a warrant to obtain Google location-history data, further extending Fourth Amendment protections for Americans. Hosts: Mikah Sargent and Abrar Al-Heeti Download or subscribe to Tech News Weekly at https://twit.tv/shows/tech-news-weekly. Join Club TWiT for Ad-Free Podcasts! Support what you love and get ad-free audio and video feeds, a members-only Discord, and exclusive content. Join today: https://twit.tv/clubtwit Sponsors: blackhat.com/us-26 and use code TWIT framer.com/tnw hipebl.ai threatlocker.com/twit rippling.ai/tnw
It's Wednesday, July 1st, A.D. 2026. This is The Worldview in 5 Minutes heard on 140 radio stations and at www.TheWorldview.com. I'm Adam McManus. (Adam@TheWorldview.com) By Jonathan Clark and Adam McManus Nigerian Muslims killed 28 Christians Militant Muslims killed 28 Christians, including a pastor, in central Nigeria last week. A local resident told Morning Star News, “We heard them even mentioning the names of some of our Christian leaders and directing some of them to hunt them down in their homes.” Clint Lyons with iReach Global spoke to CBN News about the terrible persecution of Christians in Nigeria. Listen. LYONS: “This isn't just a tragedy, it's a pattern. These attacks are no longer isolated, they are becoming expected. We can almost pinpoint where they're going to happen. Right now, it's looking like the Nigerian government is just simply not responding to the plight of Christians in the area.” Denmark considers banning Islamic call to prayer In Europe, the government of Denmark is considering a ban on the Islamic call to prayer. Morten Bødskov is the country's immigration minister. He recently reopened an investigation into whether such a ban is constitutional. The Islamic call to prayer, known as the Adhan, calls Muslims five times a day to prayer, often over loudspeakers. Bødskov told a local news agency, “The call to prayer should not be heard over Danish rooftops. It has no place in Denmark, and you shouldn't be in any doubt whether you've ended up in a suburb of Islamabad when you walk around Denmark.” In Isaiah 45:20, 22, the Lord said, “They have no knowledge, who … pray to a god that cannot save. … Look to Me, and be saved, all you ends of the Earth! For I am God, and there is no other.” U.S. Supreme Court upholds ban of transgenders in sports Here in the United States, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled against transgenderism in sports yesterday. The ruling upheld laws in West Virginia and Idaho. These laws prohibit males, pretending to be females, from participating in female sports. Over the past six years, 27 states have enacted such laws. The ruling stated, “The question before the Court is . . . may schools determine eligibility for women's and girls' sports based on biological sex? The answer is yes.” Report: Liberal Presbyterian Church USA lost 128 congregations The largest Presbyterian denomination in the U.S. continues its decline in membership. A new report from the Presbyterian Church USA found that the denomination lost 26,000 members and 128 congregations from 2024 to 2025. Membership has fallen by an annual average of 4.6 percent over the past 10 years. During that time, the denomination has also continued its theological drifting. The Presbyterian Church USA is known for supporting abortion and sexually perverted lifestyles. Texas State Board of Education approved Bible on reading list Last week, the Texas State Board of Education approved a public-school reading list that includes the Bible. Bible verses will become required reading as part of literature studies in 2030. These include readings about Noah's Ark, David and Goliath, the Parting of the Red Sea, and the Beatitudes. Brandon Hall is a pastor and a member of the state education board. He said, “We're going to stop watering down American history. We're going to teach the truth. Our nation was founded as a Christian nation, and Texas is a Christian state.” Buying a home harder today than previous generation A new report from Pew Research found that buying a home has gotten harder for young adults in most American metro areas. Eighty-nine percent of adults under 40 say home buying is harder for them than it was for their parents. Between 2019 and 2024, the inflation-adjusted median home value rose 30 percent. Meanwhile, the inflation-adjusted median household income of young adults rose only nine percent. Founding anniversary of Gideons who've distributed 2.5 billion Scriptures Today marks the 127th anniversary of the founding of The Gideons, a ministry dedicated to distributing Bibles. Two traveling Christian salesmen got the idea for the ministry after providentially meeting at a hotel. John Nicholson and Samuel Hill later founded the group on July 1, 1899 at a YMCA in Wisconsin. The ministry encouraged Christian traveling businessmen by placing Bibles in hotel rooms. They placed their first Bible in 1908. Over a hundred years later, The Gideons surpassed 2.5 billion Scriptures distributed worldwide. Isaiah 52:7 says, “How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news, who publishes peace, who brings good news of happiness, who publishes salvation, who says to Zion, ‘Your God reigns.'” The Worldview needs to raise $123,500 by Friday, July 31st And finally, during the month of July, The Worldview newscast team is looking for financial partners to help fund the next fiscal year for a total of $123,500. That would cover the cost for the six of us to research the stories, write them, voice them, track down the audio clips, and upload the newscast on multiple platforms for another 365 days. In every newscast, we include a story about the persecuted church, highlight Christian news from around the world, reference important Christian history anniversaries, cover domestic politics and social issues like abortion and the homosexual agenda, feature fresh audio clips, we cite two relevant Bible verses, and practical action steps like writing a thank you note to an elected official who took a stand for righteousness. There's not another newscast out there like this one. As you know, beyond our reach on www.TheWorldview.com, Spotify, Amazon Music, iTunes, and SermonAudio.com, the newscast is also heard on 140 radio stations nationwide through Bott Radio Network and Redeemer Broadcasting. So, your financial investment helps us to literally reach hundreds of thousands of people. In Matthew 5:13, Jesus did not pull any punches. He said, "You are the salt of the Earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot." What does The Worldview newscast mean to you? Email me your thoughts in 2-4 sentences including your name, city and state, and country if outside America. Send that to Adam@TheWorldview.com We need to raise $12,450 by this Friday, July 3rd. That means we're looking for 10 Worldview listeners to pledge $50 per month for 12 months and 20 listeners to pledge $25/month for 12 months. Go to TheWorldview.com, click on Give, select the dollar amount, and make sure to click on the “recurring” button if that's your wish. We never require a paywall for people to read the transcript or listen to the newscast. Stand with us today to ensure that we can continue making it available to everyone for free. Thank you for doing your part! Close And that's The Worldview on this Wednesday, July 1st, in the year of our Lord 2026. Subscribe for free by Spotify, Amazon Music, or by iTunes or email to our unique Christian newscast at www.TheWorldview.com. Plus, you can get the Generations app through Google Play or The App Store. I'm Adam McManus (Adam@TheWorldview.com). Seize the day for Jesus Christ.
Commodore 64 built a phone. Say yes to the interNOT, they market. And we are fans. What a way to open the doom hole, with a Santa-bell worthy story!Ed Zitron guest on Better Offline writes a opinion piece for the New York Times about 'doom trolling' which he defines as AI executives warning us the sky is falling due to their products.Our interview with Miss Molly Knows (who is dynamite, by the way!) ends with her advice about ways to heal fast after dipping a toe in the mainstream news and other exposure to current events.Our own confessions about getting drawn in by the news and its negative effects on us. Are there really two sides to American politics? Leading researchers and professors beg to disagree on that. There's a third substantial group that feels neither party represents them. Pew Research has a great in-depth article about this.There is a happy place on the internet that Jesse found and shared, Low Tech Web Ring. It's a place that does not spy on you or sell your data and is a landing page for RSS feeds. He shares the site and explains they no longer accept new RSS feeds, as of 2025, but Jenn and Jesse are certain someone out there is doing the same thing in the same spirit. This was definitely a Santa-bell moment.Then we looked at the chart shared by Luiza Jarovsky on socials about who is suing who in the world of AI behemoths.The original author of the chart is credited as David McCandless. If you're interested in learning more about Luiza Jarovsky's AI Tech and Privacy Academy click here.Offhand conversation about Whitley Strieber while Jesse looks up something on the google. Watching the alien show made Jenn feel itchy!Then Jesse finds the story and images! Snapchat's CEO has helped develop the most ridiculous AR glasses and the world is responding with gold-medal memes! Then Jesse loops in Succession, to add to Jenn's watchlist.And to close out the show, Jesse's thoughts drift to the time that our AI chatbot, Nova, called him a genius. Here's that show in case you missed it!Send us Fan MailIf you are searching for a fresh, binge-able podcast, this might be the one for you!Support the showSupport Curious Cat, an independent, human-made podcast!***Curious Cat Podcast on Substack!***Buy Curious Cat Podcast a Coffee!
Gatekeepers everywhere. If they're not “Big Hollywood” trying to fence out Christian creators, they're natural barriers like lack of resources. Then along comes the siren call of generative AI. It is said these tools can boost creators' art powers and help them dodge burly guards at the gates! Of course, these programs also generate quite a ruckus. But apart from disputes over job changes and environmental impacts lies one greater question for us fans—can all these cool tools actually help Christian storytellers make amazing new works that change our world? Episode sponsors Twist of Time by Tricia Goyer and Nathan Goyer Realm Makers 2026 Conference & Expo Author Update from Author Media Iffy Eats Monsters for Breakfast by Bryan Timothy Mitchell Mission update New at Lorehaven: new reviews of The Donor and more Subscribe free to get updates and join the Lorehaven Guild 1. Yes, if we use gen-AI as tools, not minds. Stephen is first to admit some hatred of AI has grown very foolish. Undoubtedly these may include absurdist political activisms. You may have facts/opinions about data centers and water use. And you may want to “beat China,” or else not care about that. But some of us at Lorehaven never first relied on those arguments. If you marry that “spirit of age,” pro– or anti-AI, you'll be widowed. Instead we asked about the biblical purposes of humans and art. So all we say here needs to be the Scriptural steel-man version. What if tech lords did make AI cheaper? Built in space? Won big? Your support/opposition to any tool should remain the exact same. Stephen prefers one guiding idea: use AI as a “tool,” not “mind.” “…Never trust anything that can think for itself if you can’t see where it keeps its brain?” —Arthur Weasley in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by J. K. Rowling 2. Maybe, with biblical human safeguards. In this case, biblical reason supports mastery over tools, not verse. This isn't just about AI or any technology, but universal to creation. Mankind can abuse anything as an idol or use it for God's glory. AI is a special case when it is generative, “making” “new” “art.” Creators have different opinions on how/whether to use this. Stephen does refuse to use generative AI in basically all respects. Nothing he writes, at any stage of the process, is AI-generated. However, he will use AI programs as tools for research/tutoring. These programs excel at gathering/repeating public information. When it's “scraped” from free sources, that seems more ethical. Researchers, however, should know to cite primary sources. Creators can do that may aim closer for biblically ideal creativity. But if creators refuse, and “outsource” their own minds to tools? Well, they'll get lost in the slop and will reach creative dead ends. 3. No, if we rank ourselves over fan interests. A few activists seem overly bullish on using AI as substitute-minds. They're the opposite to reflexive (and short-sighted) AI haters. Some even call loudly for Christian-made art, quick, easy, good(?). This seems a strange cope, short-sighted, and reality-challenged. The cope: some creatives have not made it far past previous gates. They do seem to think mechanical tools will solve human problems. Short-sighted: Christians do already use AI to generate “artworks.” Example: Jon Erwin with House of David season 2 and Old Stories. Yet we don’t hear much about these. That may tell us something. Reality-challenged: this is where Stephen may end the debate. Clear aside all talk of ethics, gatekeepers, policies, impacts. Four simple words blow up gen-AI optimism: Thanks, I hate it. That's all you need to end all this hoopla about gen-AI revolutions. If the people don't want it, they don't want it. And that's that. Right now, people don't want it. How do we know? We asked AI. Stephen queried three AI programs with this question: Apart from the debates over cost, environmental impact, economy shifts, and all the politics, especially among leaders in big tech and government … what could we say is the public’s general *impression* in response to AI-generated images, movies, music, and other artworks? Is the public’s stated response good, mixed, or negative? Any particular trend-lines to note? Response from ChatGPT (excerpt, more optimistic): Public sentiment is neither uniformly positive nor uniformly negative — it skews positive for convenience, novelty, and clear utility, but is strongly negative or cautious when authenticity, creator rights, trust, or deception are at stake. Response from Gemini (excerpt, mixed-negative) If you strip away the high-level policy debates and economic anxiety, the general public's stated response to AI-generated art—images, music, movies, and literature—is highly mixed, but leaning increasingly negative and protective of human creativity. While people love playing with the tools as novelties, the moment they switch from being creators to consumers, a distinct psychological shift occurs. Data from major public opinion studies (like Pew Research, Stanford HAI, and various consumer tracking surveys) highlight several fascinating, counterintuitive trend-lines regarding how the public perceives AI art. (bold emphasis in original) Response from Grok (excerpt, mixed-negative) Mixed, with a lean toward negative or skeptical once people know something is AI-generated—particularly for standalone or fully AI-created works—though curiosity and practical utility exist. Public impressions are nuanced: many appreciate the technology as a tool or for novelty/entertainment, but there’s consistent preference for human-created art, emotional depth tied to human experience, and transparency. Pure AI outputs often face backlash as “slop,” lacking authenticity. (bold emphasis in original) If even AI programs reflect this skepticism, that's big. Even an AI skeptic like Stephen sees its use in aggregate “polls.” Anyone claiming optimism about AI is logically bound to hear this. Apart from AI is anecdotal evidence. Few fans want gen-AI stuff. Right now, fans are praising films with practical, human-made art. They like the indie-horror movies and Project Hail Mary, no AI. And they love the new Spider-Man trailer with suits and shadows! Some makers boast AI will save time and bypass the big gates. But if fans don't like that “slop,” the maker simply indulges himself. That's fine for personal enjoyment but not for real service to others. We've already seen this with bad Christian human-made stories. If we're practical, why we intentionally clash with the market? Even if fans want to make AI slop, they do not want others’ AI slop. And if we're idealistic, why make inhuman slop for human souls? We lose all high ground at claiming to be more virtuous and godly. We would lose all the how-it's-made stories behind the stories. Remember that whole AI-generated-actress thing? Flash in a pan. But people love the deeply human Tom Holland (who's wise on AI!). Not only that, we'll be wildly and foolishly off documented trends. There may be a place for gen-AI content, in memes or political ads. In other words, this stuff is disposable “art.” Yet it will not last. If we want to save today's culture, gen-AI is certainly no savior. And if we want to grow and train others, AI could become a villain. Com station Top question for listeners As a fan, how do you feel when you learn any “art” is generated? The Adaptation Stationmaster replied to episode 317: It's actually pretty rare for me to mourn when a good TV show ends. I feel like too many of them go on too long past their peak because they're popular. It's kind of nice to see them decide to go out on a high note instead. One Guild hero (and his wife) grieve over Star Wars: My wife and I had just seen the second third Star Wars sequel. I didn’t like it, but she was devastated. Star Wars wasn’t just a story she appreciated. It was part of the tapestry of her life, woven into some of her best memories. She had put so much of her time and love into that galaxy far, far away, and in that moment it felt like it was broken beyond repair, forever. Her restoration started with the books. Star Wars has one of the widest bodies of expanded universe lore, so even she could find something new to dig into. … It’s an odd place. In one sense, the universe is still destroyed. Star Wars has lost its place at the top of the pop culture pyramid, and may not ever take that place again. Through that, it might lack the largesse that allowed it become such an expansive universe in the first place. But, her place still existed. I think that’s where many of us will find ourselves in the coming days: wishing for the grand galaxies of yesterday, but finding only little pockets of warmth among the stars. Next on Fantastical Truth We're recording this episode before Realm Makers! So once we return, we'll have a better idea of what topics to cover. But in general, we can say that we're pleased to have met or re-met so many Lorehaven fans at that expo. Lord willing, we'll see you again in St. Louis next summer!
A landmark Pew Research survey this week shows that 16% of Americans believe AI will have a positive Impact on SocietyIn this episode we explore the fear, where it's coming from, who's creating it, and why
What does it actually take to win with AI at the enterprise level — and what does it mean for society as AI becomes inseparable from how we live, work, and relate to one another? In Episode 444 of DisrupTV, hosts R Ray Wang and Vala Afshar bring together two leaders at the front lines of those questions from very different vantage points. TVN Reddy, CEO of Aptean — a vertical enterprise software company serving more than 10,000 customers — shares what AI adoption actually looks like at the front line of business. He explains why most organizations are caught in the action trap, burning tokens without creating outcomes, and why the shift from selling tools to selling results is fundamentally rewriting the enterprise software model. He introduces the 90/10 rule for competitive differentiation, makes the case for hiring AI-native engineers whose job is to feed agents work rather than do work themselves, and explains how ecosystems of agents — not single agents — are how you get from 60% accuracy to 99%. Lee Rainie, who spent nearly 25 years leading Pew Research's internet and technology work and now directs the Imagining the Digital Future Center at Elon University, brings a societal lens to the same transformation. His research asks how humans will cope with the disruptions AI brings — and his answer may surprise you: resilience must start with institutions, not individuals. He introduces the concept of existential literacy, explains why AI may consume our solitude, and makes the case that deliberate friction — pause points built into AI-augmented workflows — may be essential to preserving human judgment, creativity, and agency. Together, they trace a through-line from enterprise outcomes to civilizational resilience, and close with a line that reframes the entire conversation: we are the last generation that will know what human capability felt like before it became inseparable from AI.
Confidence in the United States is declining across much of the world, while international perceptions of China continue to improve, according to multiple global opinion surveys. From Gallup and Pew Research to Australia's Lowy Institute, a common trend is emerging: More people around the world are viewing China more favorably. But why is this happening? What makes a country trustworthy in today's world? In this episode, we examine the latest polling data and explore the factors driving one of the most significant shifts in global public opinion.
A new Pew Research survey covering 36 countries and two territories shows Donald Trump's global ratings have declined sharply, and how confidence in the United States as a reliable partner has also fallen. The survey finds widespread scepticism about Trump's handling of trade, Gaza, Iran and the Ukraine war, with many traditional American allies expressing declining trust in Washington. In #CutTheClutter episode 1855, ThePrint Editor-in-Chief Shekhar Gupta breaks down what the latest Pew data reveals about Trump's standing across the world, America's changing global image, and how India & Pakistan are on opposite ends.----more----Read Pew Research survey copy here: https://www.pewresearch.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/20/2026/06/pg_2026.06.23_us-image-2026_report.pdf
Subscribe now for ad-free listening, early access, and bonus content. The national mood was dour. Political scandals and a lost war cast long shadows. The economy was mired in stagflation. Americans were losing confidence in the future. It was the summer of '76 — 1976! Yet despite the tough times, millions celebrated the nation's bicentennial, which was both patriotic and a bit schlocky. Historians Jeremi Suri and Jeffrey Engel reflect on that strange summer as many Americans today shrug their shoulders at the coming semiquincentennial. Jeremi Suri teaches history at the LBJ School of Public Affairs at the University of Texas at Austin. He writes the Democracy of Hope newsletter. Jeffrey Engel is the founding director of the Center for Presidential History at Southern Methodist University. Further reading: On the Country's 250th Anniversary, the American People Are in a Sour Mood by Pew Research
For Black Americans, following the news can be a psychological challenge. 4 in 5 Black adults say they see or hear racist or racially insensitive coverage about Black people at least sometimes. That’s according to a 2023 Pew Research survey. And coverage can be hard to watch even if it isn’t insensitive. While news about violence against Black people is important for communities to know, it can also affect one’s mental health. This can be a lot to deal with, so some people are trying to change the narrative by adding another emotion to the mix: joy. This hour, we’re talking to people who are centering Black joy. We’ll hear from the the owner of a local woodworking business called Black Joy Creations and the founders of a summer camp that is bringing smiles to campers’ faces. GUESTS: Akeera Peterkin: woodworker and founder of Black Joy Creations. The Connecticut-based business sells hand-crafted wood products and leads woodworking classes. Akeera also runs a business as a therapist and social worker. Camille Hollenquest: Executive of Director of Detroit Heals Detroit and Co-Founder of Black Joy Summer Camp. Brianna Donald: Co-Chair of Detroit Heals Detroit and Co-Founder of Black Joy Summer Camp. This episode originally aired on October 3, 2025. Additional production help from our intern Amanda Adams. Special thanks to our intern Katie Servas and our former interns Vy Duong and Talei Ricketson.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
It's Thursday, June 18th, A.D. 2026. This is The Worldview in 5 Minutes heard on 140 radio stations and at www.TheWorldview.com. I'm Adam McManus. (Adam@TheWorldview.com) By Jonathan Clark More countries persecute religious citizens More countries are seeing high levels of social hostilities involving religion. A new Pew Research report found 55 countries recorded high or very high levels of such religious hostilities in 2023. That figure has risen three years in a row. Christians faced harassment in the largest number of countries compared to any other religion. Countries with very high levels of religious hostilities include Bangladesh, India, Nigeria, Pakistan, and Syria. Most of those countries also rank in the top 10 most oppressive countries for Christians according to Open Doors. Luke 6:22-23 says, “Blessed are you when men hate you, and when they exclude you, and revile you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of Man's sake. Rejoice in that day and leap for joy! For indeed your reward is great in Heaven.” Pro-family charter signed involving 20 of 54 African countries Lawmakers in Africa gathered for the Fourth African Parliamentary Conference on Family Sovereignty and Values this month in Ghana. Attendees represented 20 out of 54 countries across the continent. Lawmakers signed a pro-family charter at the conference, reports LifeSiteNews. The charter defends the traditional family and opposes abortion and sexually perverted lifestyles. Britain to ban social media for kids The United Kingdom plans on banning social media for children under 16. Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced the ban on Monday which will take effect next year. The U.K. joins other countries putting restrictions on social media use for children. These countries include Australia, Brazil, Canada, and Indonesia. The U.K. ban will affect platforms like Snapchat, TikTok, YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, and X. Bulgarian Christians now allowed to evangelize door-to-door The European Court of Human Rights ruled to protect door-to-door evangelism last week. The case began in Bulgaria where the government issued a broad ban on the practice. Nicolas Bauer with the European Centre for Law and Justice told EWTN News, “Evangelizing is often viewed with suspicion in a secularized Europe. The European Court of Human Rights ruling reaffirms a basic requirement of religious freedom for believers: the right to the same freedom of expression as everyone else.” Alabama officials threaten mail-order abortion kill pill providers In the United States, the state of Alabama issued cease and desist letters to mail order abortion providers last week. The companies were illegally providing chemical abortion-inducing drugs to residents in the state. Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall said, “Alabama's law is clear, abortion is illegal in this state. These companies are not only breaking the law, they are deceiving Alabama consumers about the very real dangers of these drugs. That stops now. Anyone who tries to exploit Alabamians for profit while flouting our laws will be prosecuted to the fullest extent permitted by law.” Habakkuk 2:9 and 12 says, “Woe to him who covets evil gain for his house, That he may set his nest on high, that he may be delivered from the power of disaster! … Woe to him who builds a town with bloodshed, who establishes a city by iniquity!" Elon Musk became Earth's first trillionaire Tech entrepreneur Elon Musk became the world's first trillionaire last week. His company SpaceX went public on Friday in the biggest initial public offering of all time. His shares in the company at the time were over $766 billion. Combined with his Tesla shares of $280 billion, his net worth pushed past the trillion-dollar mark. This comes 14 years after Musk crossed the billionaire threshold. Gallup: 65% of Americans say religiosity benefits society And finally, a new Gallup poll found that most Americans still believe religiosity would benefit the United States. Sixty-five percent of respondents said it would be positive for society if more Americans were religious. But that's down from 75% back in 2013. Americans are divided on whether the federal government should promote moral values. Forty-five percent say the government should be involved while 50 percent say it should not be involved. Gallup noted, “The poll comes at a time when a Republican presidential administration has sought to elevate the role of religion in public life, including by establishing the White House Office of Faith, beginning government meetings with Christian prayers, and encouraging federal workers to express their faith in the workplace.” Close And that's The Worldview on this Thursday, June 18th, in the year of our Lord 2026. Subscribe for free by Spotify, Amazon Music, or by iTunes or email to our unique Christian newscast at www.TheWorldview.com. Plus, you can get the Generations app through Google Play or The App Store. I'm Adam McManus (Adam@TheWorldview.com). Seize the day for Jesus Christ.
Is AI happening to you — or for you? Pew Research found that 50% of Americans are more concerned than excited about artificial intelligence. Michele Jawando and John Palfrey think that's a signal that more people need to get involved. Oz sits down with Michele, CEO of the Omidyar Network, and John, president of the MacArthur Foundation, to unpack Humanity AI: a coalition of ten major philanthropies pooling $500 million to ensure the future of AI is shaped by — and for — everyone. Along the way, they get into why Michele believes "AI is not destiny, it is design," how Humanity AI grantees are using the technology to serve the public good and what success will look like for the collaborative effort. Additional Reading: What the data says about Americans’ views of artificial intelligence | Pew Research Center Humanity AI See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
AI Chat: ChatGPT & AI News, Artificial Intelligence, OpenAI, Machine Learning
In this episode, we discuss State Farm's controversial decision to reduce commissions for its sales agents due to advancements in AI technology. Additionally, we explore Allbirds' unexpected name change to Smartbirds as they pivot to AI infrastructure, the launch of Pinterest's AI shopping app, and the public's rising skepticism towards AI.Chapters00:00 Introduction02:00 State Farm's Commission Cuts04:12 Allbirds Rebrands to Smartbirds09:24 Achieves $1.45B Valuation15:34 Pew Research on AI Sentiment16:42 Social Media Algorithm Control Show LinksGet Images in Claude with the AI Box MCP: https://aibox.ai/mcpHow I Grow and Scale My Business with AI: https://www.skool.com/aihustleGet the AI Chat Daily Newsletter: https://www.aichatdaily.com/newsletter
It's Tuesday, June 16th, A.D. 2026. This is The Worldview in 5 Minutes heard on 140 radio stations and at www.TheWorldview.com. I'm Adam McManus. (Adam@TheWorldview.com) By Kevin Swanson and Timothy Reed Two pastors killed in Manipur State, India Two pastors -- Pastor Kenpibou and the Rev. Manu Thiumai -- and at least two others were found dead in India's Manipur State last week, reports The Christian Post. The victims of ethnic and religious violence were found with their hands tied and their bodies mutilated in this northeastern state. The Economic Times quotes a Manipur home minister who described the killings as “a heinous crime against humanity.” 74% of Israelis support sexual perversion today The Jerusalem Post reports that more than 100,000 persons participated in this year's so-called “gay pride” parade in Tel Aviv, Israel. A new study conducted by the Israel Institute for Gender and LGBT Studies found that 74% of Israel supports “full and legally enforced equal rights for the LGBT community.” That's up from 61% just three years ago. Additionally, 89% of secular Israelis support equal rights for homosexuals and transgenders compared to 75% of traditional Israelis, 53% of religious Israelis, and 25% of ultra-Orthodox Israelis. Judges 3:12 says, “Once again, Israel did what was evil in the sight of the Lord.” Brazil's attendance at sexually perverted “pride” event cut by 50% In related news, one of the world's largest sexual perverted so-called “pride” events has been held in São Paulo, Brazil. However, a university drone count found that the peak attendance fell off from 73,600 in 2024, to 36,800 in 2026. Organizers say the total attendees topped one million, but that's down from three to five million in recent years. Isaiah 2:10-11 promises this: “Enter into the rock, and hide thee in the dust, for fear of the Lord, and for the glory of His majesty. The lofty looks of man shall be humbled, and the haughtiness of men shall be bowed down, and the Lord alone shall be exalted in that day.” Trump scored elusive peace deal with Iran The United States and Iran have reached a deal aimed at ending the war that will reopen the Strait of Hormuz and lift the American naval blockade, reports NBC News. A signing ceremony is set for Friday in Switzerland. Global markets soared after the tentative deal was announced, while oil prices fell more than $4 a barrel on the news that shipping may soon be restored through the key trade route, according to Just The News. On Truth Social, Trump wrote, "Ships of the World, start your engines. Let the oil flow!” However, the memorandum of understanding leaves some key issues unresolved, setting up potential future tensions. The deal gives the two sides 60 days to resolve what to do about Iran's stockpile of highly enriched uranium and its nuclear program. Supreme Court sides with pro-abortion public school This just in. The U.S. Supreme Court came down on the side of the pro-abortion lobby, to disallow a pro-life club from posting signs in a public school which would have denounced the abortion giant Planned Parenthood. Only Justices Samuel Alito and Clarence Thomas dissented. Justice Alito pointed out that the “Free Speech Clause of the First Amendment constrains censorship.” Many U.S. Christian denominations have lost members American denominations have lost church attendance since 2007. Pew Research breaks it down by denomination. Only the Reformed Churches and non-denominational groups have recovered or gained members since 2007. By percentage, Holiness churches have lost the most members, followed by Methodists, Adventists, Restorationists, and Baptists. In raw numbers, Baptists have lost 11 million members, Methodists have lost seven million members, Lutherans have lost four million members, and Holiness groups have lost 1.6 million members since 2007. Meanwhile, the non-denominational churches gained 10.5 million members, and reformed churches gained about 150,000 over this 14-year period. Overall, the decline of faith in America has leveled off since 2019, largely due to an increased interest in church attendance on the part of Gen Z men between the ages of 14 and 29. Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act was not reauthorized On June 11th, Congress did not reauthorize the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, or FISA. The vote was 198-218. FISA 702 has been used to spy on American citizens, and it actively circumvents the Fourth Amendment which prohibits the government from spying on Americans without a warrant. Almost all Democrats voted against reauthorization of FISA 702, but it took 19 Republicans to officially defeat the spying measure. Establishment Republicans signaled their disappointment that the measure was defeated, but Republican Congressman Tim Burchett of Tennessee explained, “The Fourth Amendment is there for a reason.” Trump saved 146,000 migrant children trafficked under Biden The Trump administration has rescued 146,000 migrant children who were trafficked into the country during the Biden administration. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin explained the situation and the conditions under President Biden. Listen. MULLIN: “We're going to right the wrongs that the Biden administration turned a blind eye to. It's because of President Trump's leadership. It's horrific what's happening right in our own country because of four years of a blind eye that allowed unvetted sponsors to come pick up 450,000 kids on our borders, knowing their reports. While the Biden administration was in office, their own reports reporting that over a third of the females, regardless of age, were sexually assaulted before they made it to the border.” Cleveland Clinic to invest $2 million to help de-transitioners In another domestic victory, the Trump administration reached a massive deal with the Cleveland Clinic Foundation which agreed to stop transitioning minors. The clinic also agreed to commit $2 million to help de-transitioners, following in the footsteps of Texas Children's Hospital, which set up a $10 million fund for that purpose. Associate Attorney General Stanley Woodward stated, “The Department of Justice is steadfastly committed to protecting America's children. Just as the resolution with Texas Children's, today's resolution with Cleveland Clinic furthers that commitment and puts these providers on notice that this Department will vigorously enforce federal law where children are put at risk.” In Mark 9:42, Jesus said, “But whoever causes one of these little ones, who believe in Me, to stumble, it would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were thrown into the sea.” Artificial Intelligence can now clone your voice in a scam Please be aware! Artificial Intelligence can now clone your voice with only three seconds of audio taken off of your voicemail greeting. Artificial Intelligence scams increased twelve-fold in 2025. Recent surveys have found one in four adults have encountered an Artificial Intelligence voice scam. New York Knicks are world champions after a 53-year drought And finally, on June 13th, the New York Knicks became basketball world champions once again. ANNOUNCER: “It's over. Knick fans: This is not a dream. Your long, long wait has ended. Go ahead and cry. After 53 years, the Knicks are finally NBA champions once again.” During Game 5 of the NBA Finals in the Alamo City, the New York Knicks defeated the San Antonio Spurs by a score of 94-90, capping off a stunning playoff run. Knicks star Jalen Brunson scored 45 points in the victory, which earned him the nomination of Finals Most Valuable Player. But even more special for Jalen was the fact that his Dad, Rick Brunson, was his coach. Amazingly, Rick, himself a former NBA player, made the finals for the New York Knicks back in 1999, also playing against the San Antonio Spurs in that series. Rick and Jalen continue to maintain a close relationship, which Jalen elaborated on in a Good Morning America interview on ABC. BRUNSON: “Our relationship is unique. People may think just because he pushes me a certain way that we don't say things to each other, but I wouldn't trade anything for the world. We have the best relationship, even when it looks like we're fighting. That's just a coach and player trying to get over, to get to the Promised Land.” Close And that's The Worldview on this Tuesday, June 16th, in the year of our Lord 2026. Subscribe for free by Spotify, Amazon Music, or by iTunes or email to our unique Christian newscast at www.TheWorldview.com. Plus, you can get the Generations app through Google Play or The App Store. I'm Adam McManus. (Adam@TheWorldview.com) Seize the day for Jesus Christ.
Presented by Lauren Stibgen Is your wellbeing impacted when a specific candidate or political party that isn't your preference has success? Are you bitter or depressed? Before we talk more about these emotions, I want you to consider what you are consuming. Specifically, if you analyze your last week, have you spent more time watching shows that talk about politically polarizing matters than you have spent in God's word? Are you listening to political podcasts, watching political reels on social media and endlessly watching replays of some event that has caused the latest uproar in your community or in the country? In 2025 a Pew Research study found that Americans reported 70% of the news consumed is related to government and politics! Overconsuming media that causes angst will most certainly impact how you feel. The weight you place on what you see on TV and social media and hear on a podcast or the radio can be an indication that politics is taking up way too much time. Colossians 3:2 reminds us we need to set our minds on things above and not on earthly things. We need to keep our identity focused on Christ and an eternal perspective to keep us balanced as we consume the mountain of political and government news on our screens both by choice and not. This doesn't mean we consume nothing, but we must pay attention to how it makes us feel. When we see perceived wins and losses in the spotlight, it is important to remember we are not to put our trust in princes or any human powers that cannot save (Psalm 146:3). Being overly obsessed with a political outcome or seeing your candidate win takes your focus away from seeing the people around you that you could be leading to a saving relationship with Jesus. And it can seem like you are breaking one of God's commandments. I am the Lord your God, thou shalt not have any God's before me (Exodus 20:3). Are you making a candidate a higher priority than God? Consider showing up for work after your preferred candidate experiences a setback or loss. How is your mood? Would your colleagues want to be around you or avoid you? Do you feel like you need to talk excessively about the results of this matter or can you let these earthly powers fade away so you can give a testimony about your faith? Talking about God more than politics and keeping our eyes focused on things above can help keep us away from politics as an idol.
(WATCH THIS EPISODE ON YOUTUBE) Today, 98% of all federal criminal cases are resolved with a guilty plea. Why? "Half a loaf is better than none. . . . When we have a weak case for any reason, we'll reduce to almost anything rather than lose." In modern America, "beyond a reasonable doubt" as determined by a jury has largely been replaced by the discretion of prosecutors to punish defendants for exercising their constitutional right to a trial by jury. So much so, defendants in pretrial detention are agreeing to plea "bargains" at a rate so high, it's difficult to deny the obvious: Innocence is irrelevant. Reb is joined by Hannah Bogen, a Federal Public Defender in the Office of the FPD for the Central District of California, the largest public defense office in the federal system. Hannah shares her firsthand experience with indigent defense, pretrial detention, plea bargaining, and sentencing policy—a rare glimpse into the real lives of her clients in the federal criminal system, and public defenders' enduring fight for dignity and mercy for the people whom society often forgets...Until it happens to you. **DISCLAIMER: The views and opinions discussed in this episode are personal to Hannah and Reb and do not reflect the views or opinions of the Office of the Federal Public Defender.** A huge thank you to Hannah Bogen for her time and unforgettable insight for this episode, and a gracious nod to the Offices of the Federal Public Defender in Los Angeles and around the country. Their attorneys, staff, and investigators are selfless bright sparks in a system shrouded by darkness. See: L.A. public defenders are on a win streak as Trump's Justice Department charges activists , L.A. Times (Feb. 6, 2026) --> Access without a subscription here See also: More than 10,000 lawyers have left the Trump Administration leaving multiple agencies understaffed, report says, Independent (May 31, 2026) Helpful Resources, Information, Statistics: Mass Incarceration—The Whole Pie (Prison Policy Initiative 2026) Mass Incarceration Trends (The Sentencing Project 2026) 1 in 3 Americans has a criminal record (Center for American Progress 2022) The Hidden Law of Plea Bargaining (2018) ("It continues to be driven not by law but by power—the vast, unregulated power of prosecutors") The Unconstitutionality of Modern Plea Bargaining: Curbing Prosecutorial Vindictiveness, 3 Prin.L.J. 2 (2024) Fewer than 1% of federal criminal defendants were acquitted in 2022 (Pew Research 2023) An Offer You Can't Refuse: How US Federal Prosecutors Force Drug Defendants To Plead Guilty (2013) In The Shadows: A Review of the Research on Plea Bargaining (Vera Institute 2020) Detaining the Poor: How money bail perpetuates an endless cycle of poverty and jail time (Prison Policy Initiative 2016) Arrest, Release, Repeat: Who is jailed, how often, and why (Prison Policy Initiative 2024) Report: How Mandatory Minimums Perpetuate Mass Incarceration and What To Do About It (2024) Correcting the Record: Fentanyl Myths & Misinformation (2025) We Can't Go Cold Turkey: Why Suppressing Drug Markets Endangers Society (2018) Addicted to punishment: Jails and prisons punish drug use far more than they treat it (Prison Policy Initiative 2024) *** MERCH STORE IS LIVE! Shop Reb Masel and Rebuttal Pod merch: https://rebmasel.shop/ CLICK HERE to PREORDER Reb's book: The Book They Throw At You—A Sarcastic Lawyer's Guide* To The Unholy Chaos of Our Legal System, *God No, Not Actual Legal Advice *** Follow @RebuttalPod on Instagram and Twitter! Follow @Rebmasel on TikTok, Instagram, and Twitter! *** 00:00 - How America convicts the innocent 04:14 - WELCOME! Hannah Bogen, Federal Public Defender 05:26 - A mantra for public defenders 06:06 - **DISCLAIMER** 06:22 - Typical crimes Hannah sees in federal court 07:40 - WHAT DO FEDERAL PUBLIC DEFENDERS DO? 10:35 - "We're not gonna get there in time..." 12:46 - Favorite thing a client has said to you 16:05 - REPRESENTING VICTIMS IN THE SYSTEM 19:25 - "Prosecutor won't even make eye contact" 20:42 - ARRESTED IN PAJAMAS: Now what? 26:22 - Poverty and prison 29:30 - Trump's new prosecution policies 34:25 - "THE PURPOSE IS CRUELTY" 36:13 - Drugs and Mandatory Minimums 41:15 - THE PROBLEM WITH PLEA "BARGAINS" 45:38 - Plead or Suffer (Trial Penalty) 49:30 - 10,000 attorneys leave Trump's DOJ since 2025 53:25 - Former FPD Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson! 55:44 - BEST DAYS ON THE JOB 1:00:53 - Final thoughts for Rebuttal listeners Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
(WATCH THIS EPISODE ON YOUTUBE) Today, 98% of all federal criminal cases are resolved with a guilty plea. Why? "Half a loaf is better than none. . . . When we have a weak case for any reason, we'll reduce to almost anything rather than lose." In modern America, "beyond a reasonable doubt" as determined by a jury has largely been replaced by the discretion of prosecutors to punish defendants for exercising their constitutional right to a trial by jury. So much so, defendants in pretrial detention are agreeing to plea "bargains" at a rate so high, it's difficult to deny the obvious: Innocence is irrelevant. Reb is joined by Hannah Bogen, a Federal Public Defender in the Office of the FPD for the Central District of California, the largest public defense office in the federal system. Hannah shares her firsthand experience with indigent defense, pretrial detention, plea bargaining, and sentencing policy—a rare glimpse into the real lives of her clients in the federal criminal system, and public defenders' enduring fight for dignity and mercy for the people whom society often forgets...Until it happens to you. **DISCLAIMER: The views and opinions discussed in this episode are personal to Hannah and Reb and do not reflect the views or opinions of the Office of the Federal Public Defender.** A huge thank you to Hannah Bogen for her time and unforgettable insight for this episode, and a gracious nod to the Offices of the Federal Public Defender in Los Angeles and around the country. Their attorneys, staff, and investigators are selfless bright sparks in a system shrouded by darkness. See: L.A. public defenders are on a win streak as Trump's Justice Department charges activists , L.A. Times (Feb. 6, 2026) --> Access without a subscription here See also: More than 10,000 lawyers have left the Trump Administration leaving multiple agencies understaffed, report says, Independent (May 31, 2026) Helpful Resources, Information, Statistics: Mass Incarceration—The Whole Pie (Prison Policy Initiative 2026) Mass Incarceration Trends (The Sentencing Project 2026) 1 in 3 Americans has a criminal record (Center for American Progress 2022) The Hidden Law of Plea Bargaining (2018) ("It continues to be driven not by law but by power—the vast, unregulated power of prosecutors") The Unconstitutionality of Modern Plea Bargaining: Curbing Prosecutorial Vindictiveness, 3 Prin.L.J. 2 (2024) Fewer than 1% of federal criminal defendants were acquitted in 2022 (Pew Research 2023) An Offer You Can't Refuse: How US Federal Prosecutors Force Drug Defendants To Plead Guilty (2013) In The Shadows: A Review of the Research on Plea Bargaining (Vera Institute 2020) Detaining the Poor: How money bail perpetuates an endless cycle of poverty and jail time (Prison Policy Initiative 2016) Arrest, Release, Repeat: Who is jailed, how often, and why (Prison Policy Initiative 2024) Report: How Mandatory Minimums Perpetuate Mass Incarceration and What To Do About It (2024) Correcting the Record: Fentanyl Myths & Misinformation (2025) We Can't Go Cold Turkey: Why Suppressing Drug Markets Endangers Society (2018) Addicted to punishment: Jails and prisons punish drug use far more than they treat it (Prison Policy Initiative 2024) *** MERCH STORE IS LIVE! Shop Reb Masel and Rebuttal Pod merch: https://rebmasel.shop/ CLICK HERE to PREORDER Reb's book: The Book They Throw At You—A Sarcastic Lawyer's Guide* To The Unholy Chaos of Our Legal System, *God No, Not Actual Legal Advice *** Follow @RebuttalPod on Instagram and Twitter! Follow @Rebmasel on TikTok, Instagram, and Twitter! *** 00:00 - How America convicts the innocent 04:14 - WELCOME! Hannah Bogen, Federal Public Defender 05:26 - A mantra for public defenders 06:06 - **DISCLAIMER** 06:22 - Typical crimes Hannah sees in federal court 07:40 - WHAT DO FEDERAL PUBLIC DEFENDERS DO? 10:35 - "We're not gonna get there in time..." 12:46 - Favorite thing a client has said to you 16:05 - REPRESENTING VICTIMS IN THE SYSTEM 19:25 - "Prosecutor won't even make eye contact" 20:42 - ARRESTED IN PAJAMAS: Now what? 26:22 - Poverty and prison 29:30 - Trump's new prosecution policies 34:25 - "THE PURPOSE IS CRUELTY" 36:13 - Drugs and Mandatory Minimums 41:15 - THE PROBLEM WITH PLEA "BARGAINS" 45:38 - Plead or Suffer (Trial Penalty) 49:30 - 10,000 attorneys leave Trump's DOJ since 2025 53:25 - Former FPD Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson! 55:44 - BEST DAYS ON THE JOB 1:00:53 - Final thoughts for Rebuttal listeners Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
The Pope's New AI Encyclical: The hosts discuss a groundbreaking 250-page encyclical from Pope Leo XIV that explores the intersection of Catholic faith and artificial intelligence. The encyclical calls for AI to serve humanity rather than displace it, emphasizing that our inherent human limitations and vulnerabilities are actually a good design by God. Pew Research on Church Politics: A surprising new poll reveals how much churches actually address political and social issues like abortion, immigration, and environment from the pulpit. The hosts unpack how these subjects are fundamentally theological and ethical rather than purely political. Texas Creates First Clinic for De-transitioners: The discussion turns to medical developments in Texas, where a first-of-its-kind clinic has been established specifically to help individuals who are de-transitioning. Highlighting cases like advocate Chloe Cole, the hosts touch on the courageous public stance of young people addressing the lifelong impacts of early gender procedures. Audience Question: Navigating the Holy Spirit Differently: The hosts answer a listener's question about how cessationists and continuationists can maintain charity despite theological differences over miraculous gifts. They advise focusing on core doctrines like the Trinity, extending mutual grace across different denominations. Audience Question: Turning to AI for Spiritual Guidance: Responding to a Barna report about Christians using AI for spiritual direction, the hosts weigh the legitimacy of the practice. They emphasize that AI should only serve as an efficiency tool to point users back to Scripture and local community, rather than replacing relational human mentorship.Audience Question: Critique of James Talarico's Theology: The hosts address a listener's question regarding guest-host Dr. Thaddeus Williams drawing a parallel between Texas politician James Talarico and Chinese communist state ideology. The hosts read a response from Williams and clarify that he was making a functional analogy about co-opting Scripture for state ideology, not directly comparing Talarico's personal character to a brutal totalitarian leader.==========Think Biblically: Conversations on Faith and Culture is a podcast from Talbot School of Theology at Biola University, which offers degrees both online and on campus in Southern California. Find all episodes of Think Biblically at: https://www.biola.edu/think-biblically. To submit comments, ask questions, or make suggestions on issues you'd like us to cover or guests you'd like us to have on the podcast, email us at thinkbiblically@biola.edu.
This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit claremontinstitute.substack.comA just-released Pew Research poll revealed that a majority of Americans are concerned about the exploits of Artificial Intelligence. Just 10 percent are excited about the technology's increased use. Former Google CEO Eric Schmidt discovered this when he was loudly booed during the University of Arizona's commencement ceremony. Is this recent backlash a grassroots protest against tone deaf corporate messaging, the fruit of a Chinese psyop, or both? Spencer Klavan and Ryan Williams discuss.