10.10.25 Celebrations in Israel, Culture Friday on the FDA approval of generic abortion pills, and a review of Tron: Ares

Summary

The World and Everything In It – Episode Summary

Date: October 10, 2025
Hosts: Myrna Brown & Nick Eicher
Guests/Feature Contributors: Kent Covington, Travis Kercher, Carolina Lumeta, John Stonestreet, Colin Garbarino, et al.

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Episode Overview

This episode delivers a comprehensive look at recent major news events—most notably a historic ceasefire in Israel and Gaza, the FDA’s controversial approval of a generic abortion pill, and cultural commentary on both. Additionally, the show reviews Disney’s new science fiction film, Tron: Ares, questioning its relevance and messaging in the age of AI.

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1. Ceasefire and Hostage Celebrations in Israel

[01:04] – [13:37]

Key Points

• Historic Israel-Gaza Ceasefire:

  • Palestinians in Gaza and Israelis in Tel Aviv take to the streets celebrating a much-anticipated phase one ceasefire and exchange agreement.
  • The deal involves Hamas releasing all remaining Israeli hostages and Israel freeing over 2,000 Palestinian prisoners. IDF forces will withdraw to a pre-agreed "yellow line" (about 53% control of the Gaza Strip).
  • The next phase will focus on a permanent end to conflict and post-war Gaza administration.

• Global Reaction:

  • President Trump, British PM Keir Starmer, French President Emmanuel Macron, and Turkish President Erdogan—all highlight the achievement and unity among previously antagonistic neighboring leaders.
  • UN is poised to deliver urgent humanitarian aid, pending Israeli approval.

Notable Quotes & Moments

• “Peace in the Middle East. We secured the relief of all of the remaining hostages and they should be released on Monday or Tuesday.” — President Trump ([01:29])

• “The whole world has come together for this. People that didn’t get along, people that didn’t like each other… But now, this is this moment in time.” — President Trump ([03:15])

• “ET Kolam akshav. Loosely translated... bring all of the hostages home now. Yesterday, for the first time, there was a glimmer of hope that Israel's cry may soon be a reality.” — Travis Kercher reporting from Hostages Square ([08:11])

On-the-Ground Voices from Tel Aviv

• Mora Rubenstein:
  “I’m so overwhelmed… We’ve been waiting for it for such a long time. I’m just so happy.” ([08:58])
• Elad Barber:
  “It feels like a sort of an independence day for us… for the first time in the two years, I think we are able to take a deep breath.” ([09:39])
• Helly Charvit:
  “The war will be over, no more soldiers will die, and we can be whole again and happy.” ([10:07])
• Ephrat Raton (Knesset Member):
  “The last time that we saw or heard about people going out to the streets and dancing and singing, I think it was on 1948, when the establishment of Israel.” ([11:44])
• Chuck Moorer (Manchester visitor):
  “We were just praying that Donald Trump would get a US out of this mess. And he has, God bless him. Yeah, he's the best man for the job.” ([12:23])
• Lingering Caution voiced by celebrants:
  “They're still not back. I feel like the tension is still up in the air. We know what we're dealing with. Hamas has let us down before...” ([12:51])

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2. Culture Friday: FDA Approval of Generic Abortion Pill

[14:29] – [21:43]

Key Points

• Senate Scrutiny:

  • Senator Josh Hawley raises concerns over FDA's decades-old data on mifepristone’s safety, alleging the real rate of adverse effects is underreported by a factor of 22 ([15:05]).
  • HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. previously promised a "top-to-bottom" safety review, but the FDA recently approved a generic version regardless.

• Republican Backlash:

  • 51 Republican senators have appealed to halt distribution and approval until more thorough reviews are completed.

• Analysis with John Stonestreet:

  • Trust and Political Commitment: Shows skepticism about the Trump administration’s true pro-life commitment, especially with controversial figures like RFK Jr. leading HHS.
  • Challenges for Pro-Life Activists:
    • Legal and mail-order loopholes make restricting chemical abortion extremely difficult.
    • Calls for non-legal, culturally driven pro-life strategies:

      “We’re going to have to come up with some of these alternative mitigating strategies. And that’s probably a calling for pro-lifers to tackle right now.” ([21:36])

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3. Media Shakeup: Bari Weiss at CBS News

[21:43] – [26:48]

Key Points

• Bari Weiss Appointed CBS News Editor-in-Chief:

  • Her mission: “return to fearless reporting and clear moral courage,” aiming to restore public trust by "telling the truth, even when it offends.”
  • Her approach already provokes strong internal reactions, perceived as both a rebuke to legacy culture and a potentially transformative move.

• John Stonestreet’s Commentary:

  • Sees potential for change amidst an industry oversaturated with sameness; points to similar public figures (e.g., Louise Perry, Chloe Cole) moving toward truth.
  • Skepticism remains about practical challenges within massive organizations:

    “It's one thing to set a standard. It's quite another story by story, to hold the standard.” — Nick Eicher ([24:48]) “If there’s anybody... that I would think has the kind of moral fortitude and just the orneriness to pull this off, she [Weiss] would be high on the list.” — John Stonestreet ([25:15])

• Why This Might Work:

  • Ownership backing and a changed power dynamic compared to her time at the New York Times; “she was kind of a dissident, a tiny minority. And I think that's the difference.” ([26:18])

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4. Supreme Court & "Conversion Therapy" Laws

[26:48] – [30:24]

Key Points

• Chiles v. Salazar: Challenge to Colorado’s law banning licensed counselors from helping minors with unwanted gender dysphoria in ways the state deems “conversion therapy.”
• Legal and Logical Concerns:
  • Law conflates speech-based counseling with discredited treatment, criminalizing compassionate talk.
  • John Stonestreet:

    “The state of Colorado has exposed that they don’t understand the difference between talk and therapy.” ([29:15]) “The First Amendment clearly protects speech. Legal precedent clearly protects even professional speech.” ([30:12])

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5. Review: Tron: Ares (Disney)

[31:31] – [36:54]

Key Points

• Film Overview:

  • Soft reboot/sequel to Tron Legacy; explores AI programs entering the real world, but is mostly derivative, with slick visuals and a heavy-handed industrial soundtrack.

• Cultural Resonance?:

  • Fails to offer substantive commentary on AI or tech’s influence.
  • Noteworthy for being the first in the franchise rated PG-13, lacking the original title character, and featuring callbacks mainly for nostalgia.
  • Jared Leto’s performance as Ares is criticized for being lifeless:

    “It’s terribly ironic that ChatGPT has more personality than Leto’s Ares.” — Colin Garbarino ([35:30])

• Broader Themes:

  • Original Tron had allegorical depth; this installment is vacant of new ideas and shies away from bold commentary on today's tech titans.

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6. Other Noteworthy News Briefs

[03:37] – [07:21]

• U.S. Court Rulings:
  • President Trump wins partial victory in Oregon National Guard federalization standoff; case headed for Supreme Court ([04:35]).
  • Texas death row inmate Robert Roberson granted a stay amid new medical evidence ([05:14]).
  • NY Attorney General Letitia James indicted for bank fraud—alleges political motivation; Democrats decry “weaponization” of DOJ ([06:00]).

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Engaging Moments & Tone

• Show balances hard international and legal news with personal perspectives and reflective, faith-based cultural analysis.
• Quotes from everyday Israelis, lawmakers, and policy critics give the episode emotional impact and immediacy.
• The podcast retains conversational warmth, with hosts and analysts gently challenging each other’s assumptions, especially on media reform and policy consistency.

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Timestamps for Key Segments

| Segment | Start | Notable Speakers/Notes | |---------------------------------------- |----------|---------------------------------------------| | Israel-Gaza ceasefire & global reactions| 01:04 | Kent Covington, world leaders | | Celebration on the ground in Tel Aviv | 07:59 | Travis Kercher, Israeli citizens | | FDA approval of abortion pill | 14:29 | Carolina Lumeta, Sen. Hawley, John Stonestreet | | Bari Weiss appointed to CBS | 21:43 | John Stonestreet commentary | | Supreme Court & conversion therapy law | 26:48 | John Stonestreet | | Tron: Ares film review | 31:31 | Colin Garbarino |

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Notable Quotes (with Timestamps)

• On the ceasefire:
  “The whole world has come together for this... But now, this is this moment in time.” — President Trump ([03:15])

• On cultural strategy:
  “We’re going to have to come up with some of these alternative mitigating strategies. And that’s probably a calling for pro-lifers to tackle right now.” — John Stonestreet ([21:36])

• On Bari Weiss at CBS:
  “If there’s anybody... that I would think has the kind of moral fortitude and the orneriness maybe to pull this off... she would be high on the list.” — John Stonestreet ([25:15]) “It's one thing to set a standard. It's quite another story by story, to hold the standard.” — Nick Eicher ([24:48])

• On therapy laws:
  “The state of Colorado has exposed that they don’t understand the difference between talk and therapy.” — John Stonestreet ([29:15])

• On Tron: Ares:
  “ChatGPT has more personality than Leto's Ares.” — Colin Garbarino ([35:30])

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Final Thoughts

This episode offers listeners sharp, faith-informed reporting on major world events, culture, and law, highlighting the intersection of policy, personal faith, and civil society. Diverse topics—from historic peace deals to pop culture critiques—are unified with a focus on truth, justice, and cultural engagement.

Transcript

[Myrna Brown]

Good morning. Journalist Bari Weiss rattles the CBS newsroom while the FDA faces backlash for approving a new abortion drug even while supposedly reviewing its safety.

[Nick Eicher]

Johnstonestreet is standing by for Culture Friday and rejoicing in Israel. A report from Tel Aviv where hundreds celebrate a ceasefire deal to bring the hostages home. Later, a Disney reboot for the age. AI Ares is the ultimate soldier.

[John Stonestreet]

If by some miracle he is struck.

[Nick Eicher]

Down on the battlefield, I will simply make you another.

[Myrna Brown]

It's Friday, October 10th. This is the world and everything in it. From listener supported World Radio. I'm Myrna Brown.

[Nick Eicher]

And I'm Nick Eicher. Good morning.

[Myrna Brown]

Up next, Kent Covington with today's news.

[Kent Covington]

Palestinians poured into the streets of Gaza City celebrating news of a historic deal to halt the war in Gaza between Israel and the Hamas terror group. Both sides signed the phase one agreement on Thursday and Israel's cabinet last night voted to ratify it. That means a ceasefire is expected to begin tonight. President Trump remarked at the White House.

[Nick Eicher]

And I think it's going to be a lasting peace, hopefully an everlasting peace.

[John Stonestreet]

Peace in the Middle East. We secured the relief of all of the remaining hostages and they should be released on Monday or Tuesday.

[Kent Covington]

And the president plans to be there when that happens. He's expected to depart for the Middle east on Sunday, stopping in Egypt and in Israel. The agreement calls for the release of all remaining Israeli hostages. Israel in return will release more than 2,000 Palestinian prisoners, including militants. Israeli forces will also begin pulling back. Spokeswoman for the Israeli Prime Minister Shoesh Bedrosian.

[Myrna Brown]

The IDF will then redeploy to that yellow line we mentioned, which will lead to the military controlling and holding about.

[John Stonestreet]

53% of the Gaza Strip.

[Kent Covington]

Once the hostages are returned home, phase two talks can begin focusing on a lasting end to the war and how a post war Gaza will take shape. World leaders are also celebrating news of the deal, including British Prime Minister Keir Starmer.

[Nick Eicher]

It is a relief to the world.

[John Stonestreet]

And I think particularly of the hostages who've been held a very long time and their families and to all the.

[Nick Eicher]

Civilians in Gaza who have been so.

[Myrna Brown]

Affected by this conflict.

[Kent Covington]

French President Emmanuel Macron also hailed what he called the historic Gaza accord. Both leaders thanked President Trump and his team for their leadership and as did Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Erdogan said he was deeply pleased by news of the peace agreement and added that Turkey, his words, will closely monitor the strict implementation of the agreement and continue to contribute to the process. President Trump, meantime, expressed his gratitude to world leaders in the Middle east and beyond who threw their support behind the agreement.

[John Stonestreet]

The whole world has come together for this. People that didn't get along, people that didn't like each other, neighboring countries that frankly didn't like each other. But now this is this moment in time.

[Kent Covington]

American diplomats for months worked with officials from numerous governments in and around the Middle east to craft the agreement and push it across the finish line. United nations chief Antonio Guterres also welcomed news of the agreement and said humanitarian aid was ready to surge into Gaza.

[John Stonestreet]

We and our partners are preparing to move now. We have the expertise, the distribution networks, the community relationships in place to act.

[Kent Covington]

The UN says 170,000 metric tons of food, medicine and other aid is on standby, and UN officials said they were negotiating with Israel for a green light to massively ramp up help for hungry Palestinians after two years of war. Humanitarian chief Tom Fletcher says In the first 60 days of the ceasefire, the United nations would aim to increase the number of trucks with aid entering Gaza to between 500 and 600 daily. A federal appeals court has given President Trump a limited victory in his standoff with Oregon over the National Guard. World's Benjamin Eicher has the latest.

[John Stonestreet]

The ninth Circuit Court of Appeals has.

[Travis Kercher]

Lifted part of a lower court order.

[John Stonestreet]

That blocked Trump from federalizing Oregon's National Guard. That means the Guard can be placed.

[Travis Kercher]

Under federal control over, but the president's ordered deployment of those troops to Portland.

[John Stonestreet]

Is still on hold. The case stems from a ruling by a federal judge who said Trump exceeded his authority by trying to deploy Guard units to the city during anti ice protests. Arguments over the scope of the president's power continued Thursday in San Francisco. The appeals court's temporary ruling sets up what could be another major test of presidential authority before the US Supreme Court.

[Kent Covington]

For World I'm Benjamin Eicher, Texas death row inmate Robert Roberson has received his third stay of execution. The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals paused the sentence Thursday, sending the case back to a lower court for further review. Roberson was convicted of killing his 2 year old daughter Nikki in 2002 after doctors reported that she showed signs of shaken baby syndrome, a form of child abuse caused by violently shaking an infant. But his attorneys point to new medical evidence that they say indicates the girl's injuries may have been caused by prescription drugs given days earlier to treat pneumonia. For his part, Roberson maintains he was wrongly convicted.

[John Stonestreet]

They just assumed that I was guilty.

[Nick Eicher]

Because I couldn't explain what happened to her.

[Kent Covington]

He has now spent more than 20 years on death row. A new trial is still a possibility. A federal grand jury in Virginia has indicted New York Attorney General Letitia James on a charge of bank fraud. Prosecutors allege that in 2023, James declared a Norfolk, Virginia, property as her primary residence, giving her access to favorable mortgage terms. While serving in New York. James strongly denied any wrongdoing, calling the charge politically motivated retribution tied to her previous civil cases against Donald Trump. Democrats claim it's the latest example of the Trump administration weaponizing the Justice Department against the president's political foes. But the Department of Justice says it is upholding the law, plain and simple. I'm Kent Covington. And straight ahead, voices from Hostage Square. Plus Culture Friday with John Stonestreet. This is the WORLD and everything in it.

[Myrna Brown]

It's Friday, the 10th of October. Glad to have you along for today's edition of the World and Everything In It. Good morning. I'm Myrna Brown.

[Nick Eicher]

And I'm Nick Iger. First up on the World and Everything In It, a celebration and hopes for for peace in the Middle East. President Trump announced yesterday both Israel and the terror group Hamas had signed off on phase one of a ceasefire agreement. As part of that plan, Israel would withdraw its military forces in Gaza to an agreed upon line, while Hamas would release all the hostages still being held after the attacks of October 7th.

[Myrna Brown]

News that the hostages may soon be coming home brought hundreds out in Tel Aviv yesterday to celebrate. World reporter Travis Kercher was there at Hostages Square.

[Travis Kercher]

It's a chant heard throughout all of Israel for the past two years, from demonstrations in the streets to the audience at an Oct. 7 memorial service in Tel Aviv on Tuesday. Together, they're chanting ET Kolam akshav. Loosely translated into English, it means everyone. Now what they're saying is bring all of the hostages home now. Yesterday, for the first time, there was a glimmer of hope that Israel's cry may soon be a reality and in a matter of mere days.

[Nick Eicher]

I'm so overwhelmed.

[Myrna Brown]

We've been waiting for it for such a long time. I'm just so happy.

[Travis Kercher]

That's more Rubenstein, one of several people who flocked to Hostages Square in Tel Aviv yesterday. On Wednesday night, President Donald Trump issued a statement saying Israel and Hamas reached a ceasefire agreement and that all of the hostages, those living and dead, would be returned to their loved ones in a few days, possibly as early as Monday. As soon as that news came, people flocked to Hostages Square, the unofficial meeting place for supporters of the hostages. There were no events planned, but by Thursday morning, the Square was packed anyway, as Israelis sang, danced and hugged. Elad Barber was one of them.

[John Stonestreet]

Well, I think. I think it feels like kind of a sort of an independence day for us. Of course, we got to see them back first, but for the first time in the two years, I think we are able to take a deep breath.

[Travis Kercher]

And have a sense of optimism. Helly Charvit called the Hostages Israel's brothers and sisters and said she was hopeful that the fighting in Gaza would stop.

[Myrna Brown]

The war will be over, no more soldiers will die, and we can be whole again and happy.

[Travis Kercher]

On Tuesday, the second anniversary of the October 7 attacks, the mood at Hostages Square was somber and oppressive. Tamara Kollitz says her children were there and felt it. So she brought them back on Thursday for what she says was a very different vibe, one of happiness and celebration.

[John Stonestreet]

Hoping that things can be better, that.

[Myrna Brown]

Things can go back on track, and that Israel can go to good places.

[John Stonestreet]

It's the first time good thing that.

[Myrna Brown]

Has happened here for so long.

[Travis Kercher]

Avi Nasrati was visiting from Los Angeles. He described himself as a friend of Israel with several family members who lived in the Jewish state.

[John Stonestreet]

We're seeing a celebration of mostly just freedom. Just after two years of people having to run to shelter, worried about those that are kidnapped in Gaza. You know, it's kind of a sigh of relief, people crying like tears of joy, like a weight has been lifted off the shoulders. And I think it's both from the political right and the left.

[Travis Kercher]

Everyone is celebrating, and there were politicians there as well.

[John Stonestreet]

You can hear it for yourself. The joy is something to remember. This is really an historic day.

[Travis Kercher]

Ephrat Raton is a member of the Knesset, Israel's Parliament, and a representative of Israel's Democrats Party. She says this kind of spontaneous celebration harkens back to decades ago in Israel's history.

[Myrna Brown]

I think the last time that I saw.

[Carolina Lumeta]

Well, the last time that we saw or heard about people going out to.

[John Stonestreet]

The streets and dancing and singing, I.

[Kent Covington]

Think it was on 1948, when the establishment of Israel.

[John Stonestreet]

That was the last time that people sang outside of the streets.

[Carolina Lumeta]

Because this is a real joy, a.

[Myrna Brown]

Real joy to have our family and.

[Kent Covington]

To have the whole hostages back home.

[Travis Kercher]

At one point during the celebration, someone began pouring free drinks and passing out glasses. Folks leaped, danced and cried. Many, like Chuck Moorer, who was visiting from Manchester, gave credit to Trump for helping to push the deal through.

[John Stonestreet]

We were just praying that Donald Trump.

[Kent Covington]

Would get a US out of this mess.

[John Stonestreet]

And he has, God bless him. Yeah, he's the best man for the job.

[Travis Kercher]

But even amid the cheers, the tears, the chanting and the prayers, people here admit there is one haunting question in the back of their minds. Can Hamas be trusted to live up to their end of the bargain, or are all of these celebrations premature?

[Myrna Brown]

They're still not back. I feel like the tension is still up in the air. We know what we're dealing with. Hamas has let us down before and we want to make sure everything is going smoothly and everything will be fine.

[Travis Kercher]

In all likelihood, we should know the answer to that question in the next few days. For now, the battle cry among these celebrants and throughout all of Israel will continue to be everyone now reporting for world, I'm Travis Kercher from Hostages Square in Tel Aviv.

[Kent Covington]

Additional support comes from Cedarville University, equipping students for professional excellence and Gospel Impact. Cedarville Eduardo from Covenant College, where Christian.

[John Stonestreet]

Faculty equip students for their callings through.

[Kent Covington]

Hard ideas, deep questions and meaningful work. Covenant. Edu World and from Ambassadors Impact Network.

[John Stonestreet]

Helping entrepreneurs who are looking for more.

[Kent Covington]

Than just funding discover a community of Christian faith.

[John Stonestreet]

Led investors [e-mail].

[Nick Eicher]

Next up on the WORLD and everything in it Culture Friday.

[Carolina Lumeta]

Secretary Kennedy, different subject. You and I have talked before when you've been before this committee, and you and I've talked in person a number of times about mifepresso. And I just want to follow up.

[Nick Eicher]

With you because this is from back in May, Senator Josh Hawley, the Missouri Republican raising concerns about the abortion drug mifepristone. Appearing before the Senate committee was Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. Hawley's bringing up a study by the Ethics and Public Policy center that points to safety issues for women using the abortion pill.

[Carolina Lumeta]

You will remember that this data shows the biggest study on mifeprestone done, I think, ever. And it showed that nearly 11% of women experience very serious adverse health effects. And by the way, that's 22 times higher. That rate is 22 times higher than the FDA's current label, which says it's just 0.5 the incidence of serious adverse health events. So my question to you is this. You previously testified at the committee that you would do a top to bottom review of mifepristone. Do you continue to stand by that? And don't you think that this new.

[John Stonestreet]

Data shows that that the need to.

[Carolina Lumeta]

Do a review is, in fact, very pressing?

[John Stonestreet]

I've asked Marty Makary, who's the director.

[Nick Eicher]

Of fda, to do a complete review.

[John Stonestreet]

And to report back.

[Carolina Lumeta]

Good. Do you have any sense of timeline, it will be a top priority, though, for you. Is that safe to say?

[Myrna Brown]

Again, that was more than four months ago. But by the end of September, the Food and Drug Administration, which is an agency under Kennedy's hhs, gave approval to a generic version of mifepristone. Last Friday at the White House, press secretary Caroline Levitt defended the approval process of the drug. If not, she insisted, the drug itself. Here's how she put it. HHS's decision, it's not an endorsement of this drug by any means.

[Nick Eicher]

They are just simply following the law.

[Myrna Brown]

And as they put out in their statement, by law, the Secretary of Health and Human Services must approve a generic.

[John Stonestreet]

Drug application if the application demonstrates the.

[Myrna Brown]

Generic drug is the quote, same as.

[Nick Eicher]

The brand name drug.

[Myrna Brown]

Making this point repeatedly that green lighting a cheaper generic medication for the most common abortion method in the country says nothing about the merits of the current safety program and that HHS is still reviewing adverse effects.

[Nick Eicher]

Nevertheless, Senator Hawley was stunned by the approval and said so on social media, going so far as to say he's lost confidence in the leadership of FDA, namely Dr. Marty McCary. World Washington reporter Carolina Lumeta caught up with Senator Hawley on Capitol Hill and asked him about it.

[Carolina Lumeta]

This application's been pending since I think it's October 3, 2021. So it's been pending for four solid years. And now they say, oh, we have a statutory deadline of 100 days. They blew through that years ago. I mean, and you're supposed to be doing a safety study to determine whether the drug needs to be in some way modified from the market. And yet you're gonna approve a new one under the old rules, the old safety protocols?

[Nick Eicher]

Well, joining us now is John Stonestreet. He's president of the Colson center and host of the Breakpoint podcast. John, good morning.

[John Stonestreet]

Good morning.

[Nick Eicher]

Well, great reporting by Carolina. And furthermore, John, she tells me that yesterday 51 Republican senators wrote to Dr. Makary and made a forceful appeal to urging HHS and the FDA to halt distribution and approval of abortion pills until a full safety review is complete. So we'll see how that goes. But clearly this is a serious breach on the pro life side. John, I know Dr. Makary is highly respected on the right because of his courage during the COVID years, but now he finds himself in the hot seat. And all of this is coming as abortion by mail and telehealth continues to grow, with some states going so so far as to shield providers who ship these pills. Where Abortion is banned. So it's a big moment here, John. What are pro lifers to do?

[John Stonestreet]

Well, listen, it is a big moment, and it is a big breach in one level. It should not surprise us. I mean, listen, in the run up to the election, there were real questions about President Trump's commitment to the pro life cause. He certainly made the case himself as a candidate that he had done all he intended to do in terms of overturning Roe v. Wade, and that was about it. Now there became a little bit more pressure when he was pushing through RFK to head hhs, mainly because the overturning of Roe v. Wade and pushing this back to the states to define was powerless against mail order abortion. And the case had long been made that mifepristone was not properly evaluated by the fda. And obviously, RFK had real things he wanted to get accomplished, having to do with processed foods and having to do with vaccines. And those were common causes for a lot of people on the right, including a lot of pro lifers. But there was never really any real indication. In fact, there was a lot of indications otherwise where RFK stood on the issue of abortion. And the only sunlight that we got in this whole issue as pro lifers was when he made this commitment to evaluate mifepristone based on how it had been rushed through the FDA and how it had not been properly evaluated, and how the kind of the mail order rules that seem to apply to everything but abortion had been skirted and basically leaving state's attorneys general, like in Texas, to try to come up with some sort of way to criminally prosecute those who were shipping abortion pills into the state. It's going to be a notoriously hard thing to do. The fact that they're claiming to do it, though, is a step forward. So I don't want to dismiss it. I think we've got to demand that he follow his word. Gosh. The answer to mifepristone being pushed through the FDA is not to have a cheaper form of mifepristone, you know, pushed through the fda. I mean, this is exactly the opposite. But it does reflect maybe what we should have known all along in terms of how deeply our shared commitment was on this with the Trump administration, particularly rfk. And it wasn't as committed as many people then turned around and thought. The other thing that I'll say is, look, when there were very few legal strategies in play for the pro life movement back in the days of the stronghold of Roe v. Wade, there were a lot of cultural moves. There was the person to person apologetic efforts. So in other words, there were extra political strategies that the pro life movement thought up, implemented. Some were successful, some were more successful than others. And we're gonna have to do the same thing when it comes to chemical abortion. I'm not claiming to know what that is, but this is something that we're not winning on, on chemical abortions. Even in states that are prohibiting it. We haven't figured out how to keep it out of the states through the mail. So we're gonna have to come up with some of these alternative mitigating strategies. And that's probably a calling for pro lifers to tackle right now.

[Myrna Brown]

Well, let's talk about Bari Weiss, the founder of the Free Press and a leading voice for what she calls honest journalism. Well, she is now the new editor in chief of CBS News. Paramount, which owns cbs, made the move after acquiring Weiss's startup, the Free Press. In a memo to staff, Weiss called for what she described as a return to fearless reporting and clear moral courage, saying CBS must earn back public trust by telling the truth, even when it offends. Well, the tone of the memo has already stirred strong reactions inside the network where some see it as a rebuke of legacy news culture. So, John, do you think she can succeed?

[John Stonestreet]

Oh, I think Bari Weiss is a force of nature in so many ways. So I think the quick answer to that is, yes, she can succeed. This could be just a purely financial decision of a major news network network unable to compete with the new media and looking at the state of the ocean, so to speak, and wanting to get out of the red ocean into the blue ocean. You know, when you have every major network saying the same thing, with one exception, if you put Fox News in that mix, you have all kinds of space for another voice like this. You have all kinds of space between where these networks land, which is on the far left on almost every story, every, every time to basically people who want to be able to trust it again. I think there is a brand opportunity here. Barry Weiss is clearly the right one to do that. But let me also add too, that Bari Weiss's story hit the same time as another story. Louise Perry, who is a feminist writer who has been critical of the sexual revolution and announced that she had fully come to Christ. And there's just stories of this where people have come to the truth about something. In Louise Perry's case, the truth about the sexual revolution being harmful, particularly to women. If you think about Chloe Cole, she came to the truth about who she really was in her body as a female. And it's that truth that then became the stepping stone for her to come to full faith in Jesus Christ. Can we hope that for Bari Weiss, I mean, you know, listen, going from left to center is, in this case, is the right direction. You know, being committed to journalism as truth telling is a good start. And I think we've seen examples of this. And by the way, it also puts to the lie, this kind of notion we've heard from so many, even Christian voices, that you can't talk about these controversial issues. You can't make a big deal about these kind of public truths because that'll get in the way of people coming to faith. It seems to be the exact opposite is happening right now. And again, it's a little dangerous to put the Bari Weiss story in into that whole category, but that is a growing category, and it's big enough of a category to include Bari Weiss if she wants to explore who Jesus Christ is, as so many others seem to be doing right now.

[Nick Eicher]

Oh, wouldn't that be something. And hey, I don't want to rain on the parade here, John, I love the story. I'm glad to hear you talk about that. But, you know, but it is one thing to set a standard. It's quite another story by story, to hold the standard. And I really hope that she has the ability to see this through all the way. CBS is a massive organization and it'll be really interesting to see how she does.

[John Stonestreet]

Well, we have seen attempts like this in the past. I think you would know more about the ins and outs of that than certainly I would, Nick. And I think that it's a good warning. If there's anybody on the planet right now that I would think this person has the kind of moral fortitude and the just the orneriness maybe to pull this off, she would be high on the list of people that could do it. But you're exactly right. Turning big institutions around in any sort of way is notoriously difficult. It happens really slow, which explains the effectiveness of new media in so many ways. So we will see what happens.

[Myrna Brown]

Can I just ask real quick, do you all remember when she resigned from the New York Times just five years ago, and she said that she basically was resigning? Part of the reason she wrote it in her resignation letter that she was the subject of constant bullying by colleagues who disagreed with her. So she just walking right back into the hostile environment. What's different this time?

[Nick Eicher]

Well, listen, I'm not the analyst here, but I think what's different is that Bari Weiss now has the support of ownership where, you know, at the New York Times, she was kind of a dissident, a tiny minority. And I think that's the difference.

[John Stonestreet]

Yeah. Yeah, I think that's exactly right. I think it's the right question that you're asking Myrna. And I think she's older now, she's grown. And I think that there's something else going on behind the scenes in the ownership. But obviously that's me just guessing based on how this whole story came down.

[Nick Eicher]

Well, hey, John, last question. Today with the Supreme Court back in session, we've talked quite a bit this week about Chiles v. Salazar. It's a challenge from your state of Colorado, a law that prohibits licensed counselors from helping minors who struggle with unwanted feelings of gender dysphoria. Now, our legal team is hard at work reporting this out for Monday's program, but it sure sounded like Colorado had a really bad day in court. And without our legal team, I'm really not going to wade into this. So what I'd rather discuss today is the broader issue of so called conversion therapy. Some of the older methods are obviously discredited, but the state lumps together any counseling that has the aim of helping a person get comfortable with the body that God made for them. And this is lumped together with those discredited practices. Isn't that kind of a misdirection in the law, John, using the worst examples to outlaw even compassionate talk based help?

[John Stonestreet]

Well, you're exactly right. And let me just say Colorado did have a bad day in court and they have again, another bad day in court. Court. And that's because Colorado officials are largely incompetent on matters of the law. They are pushing forward a particular way of life based on an ideology and it violates the law. And they should know better. But they repeatedly either don't know better or they pretend to not know better. And what you're describing here is exactly the case. First of all, you have the craziness that I think many people are beginning to realize of the abuse of language. The side that wants to affirm a person with their biological body are the ones that are called guilty of conversion therapy and those that actually want to fast track, particularly children into converting their male bodies into fake female bodies or vice versa. They're called affirmers. Like it's a whole language game and it's based. You can only believe that that language has validity if you are trapped within an ideological framework. And the entire state of Colorado seems to be this way, which is why this is just one of, I think seven lawsuits the ADF is filed right now against the state of Colorado. But it really comes down to something really simple, and that's what seemed to emerge during the oral arguments is for so called affirmation therapy that Colorado is actually promoting and actually restricting everything else to involves medication. It involves transitioning. It involves powerful state forces to enforce this over and above the will of the parents. It involves even surgical intervention. It involves every level of what's called therapy. But someone who is trying to help a young person come to grips with the fact that they were born male or female, you're not adding hormones, you're not drugging that kid up. What you're doing is sitting and talking to them. You know what that's called? That's called speech. So basically, the state of Colorado has exposed that they don't understand the difference between talk and therapy. And their inability to distinguish between talk and therapy reveals that they can't tell the difference between conversion and affirmation. Right. The Constitution of the United States, the First Amendment clearly protects speech. Legal precedent clearly protects even professional speech. It's as cut and dry as that for the justices. They don't even have to make a decision about the rightness or wrongness of the therapy itself.

[Myrna Brown]

John Stonestreet is president of the Colson center and host of the Breakpoint Podcast. Thank you, John.

[John Stonestreet]

Thank you.

[Nick Eicher]

Today is Friday, October 10th. Good. Good morning. This is the world and everything in it. From listener supported World Radio. I'm Nick Iker.

[Myrna Brown]

And I'm Myrna Brown. Up next, Disney tries to update an old science fiction franchise. Will the film Tron Ares have anything new to say about our relationship to technology in the age of AI? Here's World's arts and culture editor, Colin Garbarino.

[Carolina Lumeta]

The idea of a third Tron movie might make someone wonder whether Disney thought this series could offer something relevant to today's society. After all, the premise of the franchise rests on humans interacting with sentient computer programs. I think it's more likely that Disney is yet again hoping to cash in on one of its nostalgia laden properties since its Marvel and Star wars franchises have stalled.

[Nick Eicher]

Ladies and gentlemen, I would like you to meet Ares.

[Carolina Lumeta]

The first two movies primarily dealt with humans getting sucked into the virtual world of computer programs. But Tron Ares imagines what might happen if a computer program escaped the servers and entered the real world. The film takes place after the events of 2010's Tron Legacy, but it's not so Much a sequel as a soft reboot of the franchise. In the movie, two large computer companies are racing to change the world through the use of technology and artificial intelligence. ENCOM is the computer company at the heart of the Original Tron from 1982. It makes its money from flashy video games, but its executives are the good guys hoping to use their platform to change the world for the better. Their rivals at Dillinger Systems want to use AI and advanced 3D printing technology to build war machines and super soldiers.

[John Stonestreet]

Ares is the ultimate soldier. He needs no food, no water, sheds no blood. And if by some miracle he is struck down on the battlefield, I will.

[Carolina Lumeta]

Simply make you another Julian Dillinger, the head of Dillinger Systems, has big plans for military profit. But he needs a piece of code possessed by Eve, the CEO of encom.

[Kent Covington]

You're hacking encom?

[Nick Eicher]

It's just a peek over the garden wall.

[John Stonestreet]

No one will notice. What makes you think that ENCOM is any closer to finding it?

[Nick Eicher]

Because I know who else is looking.

[Carolina Lumeta]

For it, all right? When corporate espionage fails, Julian uses his 3D printing lasers to bring Ares into the real world. Ares, played by Jared Leto, is Julian's most advanced security program. And now that Ares has a body, Julian gives him the task of kidnapping Eve and stealing the code at all costs. However, the sentient computer program grows a conscience, which leads to a number of action packed chase scenes. The visual effects provide plenty of eye candy during scenes in which the audience's perspective swoops and shifts. And when the action moves to the virtual world, the graphics create an immersive computerized reality, especially when viewed in imax. The special effects are well executed, but don't expect a jaw dropping experience. There's nothing here that we haven't seen before. It's appropriate to pay homage to the stylings of the original, but too many scenes rely on derivative imagery from other digitally inspired franchises.

[Nick Eicher]

What happened back there?

[John Stonestreet]

I disobeyed my directive, which was to.

[Nick Eicher]

Retrieve the code from your desk and delete the carrier. Dillinger told you to delete me.

[Carolina Lumeta]

I also found the soundtrack by industrial rock band Nine Inch Nails a little overbearing. Oppressive synthesizers cause the film to drag, and some scenes contain music that doesn't suit the tone of the action. This musical miss is surprising considering band members Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross have ably scored more than a dozen films. Their work appears in 2010's The Social Network, 2020's Soul, and 2023's Teenage Mutant Ninja. Mutant Mayhem. It's hard to say how fans of the previous films will react to Tron Ares this is the first Tron film that doesn't include the title character Tron, and it's the first to be rated PG13 instead of PG. I'm not sure the sci fi violence is any worse than its predecessors, but the film contains some misuses of God's name. There are enough callbacks to the original to amuse children of the 80s, but this third installment for the most part pretends that the second movie never happened. I'm afraid moviegoers coming into this film without any affection for the prior films might not find enough to keep them interested.

[John Stonestreet]

Delete Ares and bring the user back.

[Carolina Lumeta]

To me a movie about AI's effect on the world should resonate with audiences right now, but the film contains numerous plot holes and directorial decisions that don't make sense. I know it's a minor detail, but I couldn't get over the fact that Ares has long, scraggly hair. Does Jared Leto have an I won't cut my hair clause in his contract? And speaking of Leto, it seems the overhyped method actor has finally found the perfect role by playing a soulless algorithm. It's terribly ironic that ChatGPT has more personality than Leto's Ares. Moreover, the film doesn't really have anything worthwhile to say about technology or the human condition. The original Tron was a Cold War metaphor for the dangers of totalitarianism. Laden with Christian imagery, Ares timidly trots out Silicon Valley cliches. Lately, tech billionaires have been buying up movie studios left and right. Perhaps that's left Disney, too scared to say anything interesting about the people who might one day be the boss. I'm Colin Garbarino.

[Nick Eicher]

Time now to name the crew who helped to put this week's programs together. Colin Garbarino, John Stonestreet, Travis Kercher, Cal Thomas, Mary Munsey, Lauren Canterbury, Carolina Lumeta, Ray Hacke, Kim Henderson, Onise Adua, Hunter Baker, Joe Rigney, Josh Schumacher, Lindsay Mast, David Bonson, Emma Eicher, Mary Reichert, Jenny Ruff and Steve West. Thanks also to our breaking news crew. Kent Covington, Christina Grube, Steve Klosterman and Daniel Devine. And thanks to the moonlight maestro, staying up in the dark of night. So the program is ready bright and early. Carl Peets and Ben Jeiker, Paul Butler. Butler is executive producer, Parison Waters is Washington producer, Kristin Flavin is features editor, and Les Sillers is editor in chief. I'm Nick Iger.

[Myrna Brown]

And I'm myrna Brown if you enjoy this podcast, help a friend find it too. Send a link to a favorite story or the whole podcast right from your app. It's a simple click that helps the program grow the world and everything in it comes. This comes to you from World Radio. World's mission is Biblically objective journalism that informs, educates and inspires the Bible records that Paul addressed the Areopagus, the times of ignorance God overlooked. But now he commands all people everywhere to repent because he has fixed a day on which he will judge the world in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed and of this he has given assurance to all by raising him from the dead. Verses 30 and 31 of Acts 17 a reminder to worship at a Bible believing church this weekend. Rejoice always, pray without ceasing. Give thanks in all circumstances and Lord willing will be right back here on Monday. Go now in grace and peace.