The Pour Over Today - Monday, April 11, 2022

Episode Date: April 11, 2022

Today we’re talking about major elections abroad, an update on the war in Ukraine, whose getting a major pay raise, and other top news for Monday, April 11th. Stay informed, while remaining focused on Christ, with The Pour Over.Sponsored by LMNT:https://links.thepourover.org/lmnt_04_10

Today we're talking about major elections abroad, an update on the war in Ukraine, who's getting a major pay raise, and other top news for Monday, April 11th. Stay informed while remaining focused on Christ with The Pour Over. Here's the quote of the day. If I find in myself a desire which no experience in this world can satisfy, the most probable explanation is that I was made for another world. C.S. Lewis. Let's get started with some espresso shots.

France voted on a new president yesterday. Twelve candidates threw their berets in the ring, and the top two will move to a runoff election on April 24th. If the initial results hold, it appears the runoff will be a rematch from five years ago. Centrist incumbent President Emmanuel Macron versus conservative populist Marine Le Pen. Last election, Macron handily defeated Le Pen, and he's been beating her in the polls, but that margin has narrowed in recent weeks as inflation, gas prices, and the Russia-Ukraine war shake things up. Also deciding on a new leader is Pakistan. Their prime minister has been ousted from power following a no-confidence vote in parliament.

Parliament will vote on who will serve out the remainder of the term until next year's general elections. Voting is an important and powerful way to create change, but as Christians, our hope is never contingent on the outcome of an election or the success of a political party. Psalms 121, 1 and 2 says, I lift my eyes towards the mountains. Where will my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the maker of heaven and earth. Russia is looking for the refresh button in Ukraine, and President Putin has tapped General Alexander Dvornikov. He's an experienced general with a record of brutality towards civilians to lead the reboot. U.S. officials believe the next phase of battle, which could last for years, could begin this week with a full-scale attack on eastern Ukraine. Western leaders hope to stop that. Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehmer is meeting with Putin today in Moscow to advocate for a ceasefire. He's the first European leader to meet with Putin since

the war began. Separately, U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson made a surprise visit to Kyiv over the weekend, outlining a plan to deliver armored vehicles, anti-ship missile systems, and other loans to Ukraine. Here's a verse to consider when feeling restless and fearful about the war. May the Lord of Peace himself give you peace always in every way. The Lord be with all of you. 2 Thessalonians 3.16. Strong hiring plus record low layoffs equals a bulky Costco-sized pay raise for Walmart truckers. Last week, Walmart announced its truck drivers would be getting a raise that lifts the starting pay up to $110,000 and unveiled a training program to fast-track warehouse workers who want to get behind the wheel. The American Trucking Association estimates the nation

is short about 80,000 truck drivers. But it's not just truck driving. There are 1.8 job openings for every unemployed worker in America. Despite a sizzling labor market, the economy overall is still getting bland reviews. Prices rose 7.9% annually in February and are expected to have increases further in March. This is driven in part by food prices and the war in Ukraine causing wheat prices globally to jump 19.7% last month. Whether the economy booms or collapses, God is still God and he remains in control. Our eternity is secure even in the midst of uncertainty on earth. 1 Peter 1, 3-4 says,

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Because of his great mercy, he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead and into an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you. This podcast is brought to you by Element. When you sweat, it's not just water seeping through your skin, so when you replenish after sweating, you should drink more than just water. You should replenish everything you lost in the correct ratio without unnecessary fillers. It sounds simple, but it's not what most sports drinks do. Enter Element, that's spelled L-M-N-T, a tasty electrolyte mix with everything you need and nothing you don't. That means lots of salt with no sugar. Element is so sure you'll love their product,

they're giving the pour-over listeners eight single-serving packs for just the cost of shipping. That's $5, and they'll even refund that if you don't like it. It's truly risk free. So try it today. We've got a link for you in the show notes. In other brews, here's a rapid round of updates. Will Smith just had a few evenings open up. The Academy banned him from all events for the next decade and say they regret that they did not quote adequately address the situation in the room after the slap occurred. The Fresh Prince said, I accept and respect the Academy's decision. The International Space Station welcomed its first all-civilian crew of astronauts on Saturday. The crew reportedly paid $55 million a piece for the

experience and they'll participate in science experiments and philanthropic projects on their eight-day vacay. This is a major milestone for commercial spaceflight. Representative Liz Cheney, she's the vice chair of the January 6th committee, said they have enough evidence to make a criminal referral for former President Trump, and she refuted claims the committee is divided on next steps. The committee cannot bring charges themselves, and a referral would be largely symbolic as the Department of Justice is already conducting its own investigation. Scottie Scheffler shot 10 under par at the 2022 Masters, which was good enough for $2.7 million and a new jacket. However, it was a near 50th

place finisher who stole more headlines. That's Tiger Woods posting his worst ever master's score at 13 over par, but simply competing after his life-threatening car accident 14 months ago was a symbolic victory. That's all we have for today. Thanks so much for listening. If you're listening on the Apple Podcast app, give us a five-star rating and drop a review. If you're listening on Spotify, give us a follow and hit the notification bell to never miss a new episode. And finally, the simplest way to help us grow is to send this episode to a friend. We hope you have a great rest of your day and we'll see you back here on Wednesday, April 13th.