The Pour Over Today - Fed Cuts Rates, Explosions in Lebanon, Teamsters Non-Endorsement, & More | 09.20.24

Episode Date: September 20, 2024

Today we’re talking about the Federal Reserve cutting interest rates; Walkie Talkies exploding in Lebanon; the Teamsters Union declining to endorse either presidential candidate; and other top news for Friday, September 20th. Stay informed while remaining focused on Christ with The Pour Over Today. Please support our TPO sponsors! Cru: give.cru.org/tpo Upside: https://links.thepourover.org/Upside Every Woman's Bible: everywomansbible.com Life Application Study Bible: https://links.thepourover.org/LASB_Podcast The Bible Study: https://links.thepourover.org/TheBibleStudy Politics for People Who Hate Politics: https://links.thepourover.org/PoliticsForPeopleWhoHatePolitics Keola Fit: https://links.thepourover.org/KeolaFit_Pod Compelled Podcast: https://links.thepourover.org/Compelled Dwell Differently: https://links.thepourover.org/DwellDifferently Nothing Left Unsaid Podcast: https://linktr.ee/tgnlu CCCU: https://www.mycccu.com/tpobonus Courage for Life Study Bibles: links.thepourover.org/CFL_Podcast_0901

Hey TPO listeners, it's Jason Woodruff, founder of The Poor Over. Before we get into today's news, we wanted to celebrate. This podcast just passed 5 million downloads. Thank you so much for being a listener and taking part in our vision to help Christians have a spiritually healthy relationship with the news. To mark the milestone, we are giving away $505 Chick-fil-A gift cards. Simply leave a review, take a screenshot, and email it to news at theporeover.org. Honestly, you will probably win because $500 is a lot

of chicken gift cards. Thank you so much for being a supporter in this contentious election season. Today, we're talking about the Federal Reserve cutting interest rates, walkie talkies exploding in Lebanon, the Teamsters Union declining to endorse either presidential candidate, and other top news for Friday, September 20th. Stay informed while remaining focused on Christ with the poor over today. Here's the quote of the day, A Pharisee is hard on others and easy on himself, but a spiritual man is easy on others and

hard on himself. A.W. Tozer Let's get started with some espresso shots. The Fed finally did the thing, and they went big. On Wednesday, the nation's banker announced its first interest rate cut in four years, slashing rates by a larger than normal half percentage point to around 4.9% down from its decade high of around 5.3%. The cut indicates the Fed is turning the page on Uncle Sam's soaring inflation era, the reason for rate hikes in 2022 and 2023,

and is now more worried about keeping the job market strong and avoiding a recession. Lower borrowing costs should spur spending and economic growth. Mortgage rates have been falling in anticipation of Wednesday's cut, and credit card rates should soon follow. The big cut spurred a stock market rally, sending the S&P 500 and Dow to record highs. Rates are expected to be trimmed by another half point this year. Here's a verse to consider when you're re-evaluating your budget in light of interest rates going down. Don't neglect to do what is good and to share,

for God is pleased with such sacrifices. Hebrews 13, 16. More electronic devices exploded in Lebanon Wednesday, a day after detonated pagers killed 12 people. A wave of walkie talkie explosions killed 25 people and injured over 600, including civilians in what Hezbollah leader Nassan Nasrallah called a very big blow to the Iran-backed militant group. Nasrallah also squarely named Israel as the responsible party, saying it will face just

punishment. Israel hasn't publicly claimed responsibility for the attacks, although reports detail an elaborate two-year scheme of creating shell companies to manufacture electronics containing explosives to sell to Hezbollah. Addressing troops this week, Israel's defense minister said a new phase in the war is starting. Meanwhile, the IDF said dozens of Hezbollah rockets fired from Lebanon struck open areas in western Galilee Wednesday afternoon and confirmed airstrikes on Hezbollah targets in Lebanon Thursday.

It's easy to feel helpless when there is such intense suffering happening so far away, but the Bible promises that prayer is powerful and effective, that it causes things to happen that would not have happened otherwise. Pray for comfort for those grieving. Pray for wisdom for leaders. Pray for peace. Number 6, 24-26 says, May the Lord bless you and protect you. May the Lord make His face shine on you and be gracious to you.

May the Lord look with favor on you and give you peace. The Teamsters have decided not to decide. One of America's largest unions won't back an Oval Office contender after neither candidate was able to make serious commitments in meetings with union leaders. It ends a 24-year streak of endorsing Democratic presidential candidates. candidate was able to make serious commitments in meetings with union leaders. It ends a 24-year streak of endorsing Democratic presidential candidates. Local Teamsters councils in key battleground states have since endorsed Harris, though internal polling suggests 60% of members nationally back Trump. The former president called the double-candidate rejection a great honor.

The race is really tight. Polling throughout September suggests that Trump and Harris are essentially tied in Pennsylvania, the swing state widely predicted to decide the election. In national polling, Harris has a three-point edge. With 46 days until election Tuesday, voters in 10 states have already begun filling in bubbles. An early voting option is available to 97% of Americans. Whether we are thrilled or dismayed by the names on our ballots, we can be thankful we

have the opportunity to vote to elect people and effect change. Take a moment to pray for those in countries without such freedom. Pray that God would move in power to care for victims of oppression and injustice. 1 Thessalonians 5, 16-18 says, Rejoice always, pray constantly, give thanks in everything, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus. With the Life Application Study Bible, I can get that sort of depth of study right at home. It takes me beyond knowing the Bible to living it out. For readers from 9 to 90 and beyond, the Life Application Study Bible is designed to help you find true heart transformation. Explore the best-selling study Bible in the world.

Visit the link in our show notes to get your own life application study bible today. In other brews, here's a wrap-around of updates. Uncle Sam might be out of office again soon. The House rejected Speaker Johnson's stopgap funding plan with six working-in-capital days until a possible government shutdown. Fourteen Republicans and most Democrats opposed the bill, which included a Trump-backed measure requiring proof of citizenship for voting in federal elections. Nay saying Republicans wanted a tighter budget, while Democrats wanted one without add-ons.

Beast Mode Gone Wrong Top YouTuber MrBeast, Jimmy Donaldson, has been sued for fostering an unsafe working environment in his upcoming Amazon reality show, Beast Games. Five contestants alleged they were denied pay, forced to participate in unsafe conditions, and experienced sexual harassment. The 54-page lawsuit also alleges the show obtained an illegal contract and provided false information for tax credits. Uncle Rico might need to find a new side hustle. Tupperware, the iconic food storage company

that burst onto the scene in the 1950s with its in-home parties, filed for bankruptcy protection. The debt-laden company has struggled to transition from its independent sales representatives model to a world of online shopping. Americans can finally renew their passports online. This paperwork dodging option is available to adult passport holders whose passports expired within the past five years or is set to expire in the coming year. Children, first-time passporters, outside the U.S. renewals, or expedited applications have to stick with snail mail or waiting in government lines. You can't spell scandal without DNA.

The entire board of 23andMe resigned Tuesday, saying they disagree with CEO Anne Wojcicki's effort to take the company private. Wojcicki told employees she was surprised and disappointed but resolute in her decision. It's the latest in the double helix of struggles for the company whose stock is down 97% since peaking in 2021. And that's all we have for today. Thanks so much for listening. If you're listening on the Apple Podcasts app, give us a 5 star rating and drop a review.

If you're listening on Spotify, give us a follow and hit the notification bell to never miss a new episode. We appreciate your support and hope you have a great weekend. We'll see you on Monday. If you're looking for exceptional stories, you're looking for the nothing left on said podcast with former NFL player, TV personality, and a number one New York Times bestseller, Tim Green. Eight years ago, Tim was fatally diagnosed with ALS.

Despite losing the use of his vocal cords, Tim is harnessing the power of AI to interview intriguing guests like Roger Goodell, the commissioner of the NFL. While not all guests are explicitly Christian, Tim's strong Christian values guide every thoughtful and inspiring discussion. Tune into the Nothing Left Unsaid podcast every Wednesday.

Just search for Nothing Left Unsaid on your favorite podcast app.