The Pour Over Today - Monday, January 23, 2023

Episode Date: January 23, 2023

Today, we’re talking about protests around the world, tragedy ringing in the Lunar New Year, developments for former and current presidents, and other top news for Monday, January 23rd. Stay informed while remaining focused on Christ with The Pour Over. Sponsored by World Concern - We’re matching the first $1,200 donated; just give through this link.

Today, we're talking about protests around the world, tragedy ringing in the Lunar New Year, developments for former and current presidents, and other top news for Monday, January 23rd. Stay informed while remaining focused on Christ with The Pour Over. Here's the verse of the week. For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities, all things were created through him and for him. Colossians chapter 1 verse 16. Let's get started with some espresso shots.

It was a protest-y weekend on at least three continents. Demonstrations in downtown Atlanta turned violent over the weekend after an environmental activist was killed by police last week. Protesters say the activist, known as Tortuguita, was murdered. Police say he was killed after shooting a state trooper. The weekend ended with broken windows, a burned police cruiser, confiscated explosive devices, and multiple arrests. Meanwhile, anti-government protests in Peru have also escalated. Authorities closed access to Machu Picchu and the Inca Trail indefinitely to protect tourists and the public. Protesters are demanding the resignation of President Boloarte, who recently replaced the impeached and imprisoned President Castile. Finally, over 1.1 million

people took to the streets in France to protest a proposed reform that would hike the retirement age from 62 to 64. Christians must balance both conviction and compassion, fighting for what is right while continuing to love and care for those we work against. Do not allow love for one group to justify hate for another. Psalm chapter 10, verses 17 and 18 say, Lord, you have heard the desire of the humble. You will strengthen their hearts. You will listen carefully, doing justice for the fatherless and the oppressed so that mere humans from the earth may terrify them no more. The Lunar New Year is the most important holiday in China, and after three years of muted celebrations due to strict COVID policies, this year's big festivities felt like a return to normal.

For some, the trip home to ring in the new year of the rabbit meant reuniting with family for the first time in years. However, celebrations turned tragic in California. Late Saturday, a shooting at a dance studio holding a Lunar New Year celebration in Monterey Park, Los Angeles' largest Asian American community, left at least 10 dead and 10 wounded. The shooter, described only as an adult Asian man, then fled, triggering a manhunt. Yesterday afternoon, police had a standoff with a white cargo van 30 miles north of Monterey Park. It's believed the shooter died by suicide during the standoff, but as of recording, authorities had not confirmed the identity or status of the van driver. Tragedies bring a feeling of helplessness, but God promises us that we can turn to him with our grief.

He alone can provide hope to the hopeless. Use the following verse to pray for those impacted by the tragedy. Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you believe so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Romans, chapter 15, verse 13. No, you didn't accidentally play last week's episode. More classified documents were found at President Biden's home in Delaware. During a voluntary 13-hour search of his private home, the FBI found additional classified documents dating back to Biden's time as senator and vice president, bringing the total number of misplaced documents found since November to between 25 and 30. This fourth discovery has the president facing bipartisan heat from Congress.

Former President Trump is also keeping his attorneys busy. 45 and his lawyer were sanctioned nearly $1 million by a federal judge for filing a completely frivolous lawsuit against a number of defendants, including Hillary Clinton. The next day, Trump and his team dropped a separate lawsuit against New York Attorney General Letitia James that was being overseen by the same judge. against New York Attorney General Letitia James that was being overseen by the same judge. The confidence that our eternity is secure regardless of what happens should color our every interaction. It allows us to be loving when others are hateful, feel peace when others are fearful, and be kind when others are rude. Galatians chapter 5 verses 22 and 23 say, But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. The law is not against such things.

Somalia has avoided entering a famine, for now. However, the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification, or IPC, predicts famine is only a matter of time. Extreme drought and soaring food prices escalated the already dire situation, pushing as many as 1.7 million Somali to seek shelter at refugee camps, some of which don't have food to offer, only water and facilities. Humanitarian aid has prevented the country from plunging into famine thus far, but the danger is far from over. The ICP, along with the United Nations, predicts that more than half the country, approximately 8 million Somalis, could face at least crisis-level food insecurity by April 2023. And some areas might finally reach famine levels.

Furthermore, the ICP estimates that by the summer of 2023, around 1.8 million children will be acutely malnourished. We're asking the TPO community to join us in partnering with The World Concern to help get emergency nutrition packs, a peanut paste fortified with nutrients, water, and hygiene products to those in most need. $12 fees a child for a month. We're matching the first $1,200. Discover how you can help through the link in the show notes. James, chapter 2, verses 15 and 16 say, If a brother or sister is without clothes and lacks daily food, and one of you says to them, Go in peace, stay warm, and be well fed, but you don't give them what the body needs, what good is it? and be well-fed, but you don't give them what the body needs, what good is it?

In other brews, here's a rapid round of updates. The Supreme Court announced they have nothing to announce. Last week, the high court said they'd interviewed 97 people, including all nine justices, and were not able to identify the source of the leak related to the historic Dobbs ruling, which overturned Roe v. Wade. Though many staff acknowledged they'd told their spouses or partners about the draft opinion. And then there were four. The NFL Conference Championship games are set for next Sunday. The top seeds both advanced, meaning the Philadelphia Eagles will host a playoff game and the Kansas City Chiefs will host last year's Super Bowl runners-up, the Cincinnati Bengals,

who upset the Buffalo Bills in the snow. There were over 250,000 illegal border crossings into the U.S. in December, the highest December on record and up 40% from last year. Earlier this month, President Biden announced measures to deter Cuban, Haitian, Nicaraguan, and Venezuelan migrants. Under humanitarian parole, the U.S. will admit 30,000 people from these collective countries per month. India has blocked a new BBC documentary on its prime minister from airing, even issuing a ban on sharing clips of it on social media. The series examines Prime Minister from airing, even issuing a ban on sharing clips of it on social media. The series examines Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership during the 2002 Gujarat riots, which it calls a propaganda piece. Big tech just keeps saying it's not you, it's us.

On Friday, Alphabet, or Google, announced it's letting 12,000 employees go, many of whom were working on experimental moonshot projects, as it faces a different economic reality. In total, the tech industry has laid off more than 200,000 people in the last year. 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 day.

We'll see you on Wednesday.