10.16.25 Strengthening Ukraine’s hand, restorative reproductive medicine, and training a service puppy

Summary

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"The World and Everything In It" – Episode Summary

Date: October 16, 2025
Podcast: The World and Everything In It
Host: WORLD Radio
Episode Title: Strengthening Ukraine’s hand, restorative reproductive medicine, and training a service puppy

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Overview

This episode covers three major topics: international developments in the war in Ukraine, ethical approaches to infertility and reproductive medicine, and the powerful role of service dogs in the lives of families facing medical challenges. It also touches on new Pentagon press policies and features commentary on the Middle East peace process. The episode balances in-depth news reporting with personal stories, driven by the podcast’s characteristically thoughtful, biblically informed analysis.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Strengthening Ukraine’s Hand: Ukraine, Russia, and Western Diplomacy

Segments: [00:05]-[13:55], [07:38]-[13:55]

• NATO and US Support for Ukraine

  • Western leaders meet in Brussels to discuss support for Ukraine, including supplying more drones and potentially long-range Tomahawk missiles ([07:38]).
  • Germany pledges over 2 billion euros in support, focusing on air defense and precision artillery ([01:37]).
  • President Trump to meet Ukrainian President Zelenskyy to discuss military aid ([08:26]).

• Expert Analysis: George Barros, Institute for the Study of War

  • Capabilities of Tomahawk Missiles: “It has a payload of 1,000kg, which really, really matters, especially when it comes to destroying hardened and specialized military facilities...” (George Barros, [08:58]).
  • Decision Factors for Supplying Missiles: Sending Tomahawks depends on US evaluation that negotiations with Russia have failed and Moscow is intensifying its war efforts, not genuinely engaging in peace talks ([09:44]).
  • Diplomatic Channels: While First Lady Melania Trump’s back-channel diplomacy led to the release of a small number of Ukrainian children, Barros underscores such efforts won’t alter Russia's overarching objectives. “Really these backchannel diplomacy [efforts] can only go so far, because … the Russians are still not willing to budge, it really does force your hand…” (George Barros, [11:02]).
  • Gaza Ceasefire’s Relevance: The Middle East ceasefire provides international momentum but, per Barros, “with the Russians' continued insistence on striking Ukrainian cities … they’ve made themselves very clear … that they’re not willing to negotiate” ([12:02]).
  • On Escalation: “The potential introduction of Tomahawks to this war is not going to be a major escalation ... the Russians have been using comparable cruise missiles since day one of this war.” (George Barros, [13:01]).

Memorable Quotes:

“We need to make sure that the costs for Putin go up.”
— Dutch Defense Minister Ruben Breckelmans ([07:56])

“Giving Ukraine Tomahawks would really be evening the playing field... Not an escalation.”
— George Barros ([13:01])

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2. Restorative Reproductive Medicine: Ethical Alternatives to IVF

Segments: [14:02]-[20:54]

• Prevalence and Limitations of IVF

  • IVF is the default solution for infertility in the US, making up nearly 3% of births; it’s costly ($30,000 per round), and public policy is increasingly focused on expanding access ([14:53], [15:31]).
  • President Trump's administration issued executive orders to make IVF more affordable ([15:31]).

• Critiques and Ethical Issues

  • Alabama Supreme Court declared frozen embryos as children under law, raising new moral questions ([16:00]).
  • Success rates remain around 40%; millions of embryos are discarded yearly ([16:07]).
  • IVF doesn't identify or address causes of infertility.

• Restorative Reproductive Medicine (RRM)

  • RRM looks to diagnose and address underlying causes, restoring natural fertility rather than bypassing it ([16:53]).
  • “RRM is really trying to restore normal anatomy and physiology and let the couple do what they want with that… conception happens within the privacy of their own home.” – Dr. Jean Golden Tevold ([16:53], [17:17])
  • RRM has a 37% live birth rate and higher chances for pregnancies going to full term versus IVF ([17:23]).
  • Critics, including the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, argue RRM is not medical; practitioners deny this assertion ([18:03]).

• Policy & Informed Consent

  • The RESTORE Act seeks funding and research for RRM ([18:44]).
  • Advocates emphasize the importance of patients understanding all options: “There should be proper informed consent before any medical procedure takes place. And part of informed consent is to know all your options.” – Joseph Meaney ([20:29])

Memorable Quotes:

“If you’ve never heard about an option, you will not choose it.”
— Tracey Parnell, International Institute for Restorative Reproductive Medicine ([20:03])

“The idea is that there should be proper informed consent... and so when it comes to infertility care, there’s kind of a glaring issue there…”
— Joseph Meaney ([20:29])

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3. Changes for Reporters at the Pentagon

Segments: [21:40]-[26:31]

• New Policy

  • Reporters required to sign a pledge not to publish unauthorized information, including unclassified content, prior to publication. Major news organizations refuse, citing threats to journalistic freedom ([22:04], [24:08]).
  • First time since the Eisenhower administration that the Pentagon lacks a permanent press corps ([22:04]).

• Discussion & Criticism

  • Previously, classified information was protected by officials, not journalistic agreements ([24:45]).
  • Critics, including ex-Pentagon spokespeople, call the new rules “draconian” and unnecessary ([25:15], [26:15]).

“Leaks have always been part of it. They always will be part of it. This is a huge overreach to address a problem that isn’t new, isn’t different…”
— David Lapan, former Pentagon Public Affairs ([26:15])

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4. Service Dogs: Hope After Loss

Segments: [27:58]-[34:23]

• Story of Grace and Diggity

  • Grace Littlejohn, diagnosed with moyamoya syndrome, gained independence through her service dog, Diggity, who provided critical support, companionship, and social connection ([29:22], [30:00]).
  • After Diggity passed, the family faces the challenge of raising Sandy, a golden retriever puppy, as a new service dog ([28:22], [30:08]).

• The Bond Between Service Dogs and Owners

  • The transition from one service animal to another is deeply emotional:

    “When they allow themselves to lower those walls and fall in love again, it works brilliantly.”
    — Jennifer Arnold, service dog instructor ([32:04])

  • Raising and training a puppy is intense; patience and gradual trust-building is essential ([32:15], [32:37]).

  • “She will never take Diggity’s place, but we’re hoping she’ll be able to be a service dog as good as he was.”
    — Rachel Coyle quoting the family ([33:45])

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5. Commentary: Cal Thomas on the Fragility of Middle East Peace

Segments: [34:31]-[39:02]

• Key Points
  • Recent Gaza ceasefire is progress, but lasting peace is unlikely. Thomas warns against naivety regarding the intentions of Hamas and the Palestinian Authority ([34:49]).
  • “Israel’s enemies have not repeated their charters calling for the destruction of the Jewish state. Nor have they heard from Allah that He has changed his mind and told Muslims to live at peace with Israel...”
    — Cal Thomas ([38:33])
  • The West must recognize historical patterns and remain vigilant rather than self-deluded by temporary peace.

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Notable Quotes & Moments (with Timestamps)

• George Barros on Diplomatic Leverage:
  “The Tomahawks are one of those tools that can increase the likelihood of forcing [Russia] to the table.” ([09:44])

• Rachel Littlejohn (family member) on Loss:
  “It’s a huge loss. When you lose your service dog, you lose so much of your independence.” ([31:00])

• Dr. Jean Golden Tevold on RRM:
  “RRM is really trying to restore normal anatomy and physiology and let the couple do what they want with that.” ([16:53])

• Reporter on Pentagon Policy:
  “This is a huge overreach to address a problem that isn’t new, isn’t different...”
  — David Lapan ([26:15])

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Important Timestamps by Segment

| Topic | Segment Start | Segment End | |------------------------|--------------|-------------| | Ukraine Diplomatic Update | 00:05 | 13:55 | | Restorative Reproductive Medicine | 14:02 | 20:54 | | Pentagon Press Policy | 21:40 | 26:31 | | Service Dog Story | 27:58 | 34:23 | | Gaza and Peace Commentary | 34:31 | 39:02 |

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Tone and Style

The podcast delivers news and analysis in a thorough, thoughtful, and biblically grounded manner, blending hard news with personal, relatable stories and expert commentary. The language is accessible but precise, respectful of both the weight of global crises and the emotional realities of family life.

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This episode offers a sweeping view of world affairs, social challenges, and the impact of personal courage and innovation, combining original reporting with meaningful analysis and uplifting stories. Suitable for listeners looking to understand not only what’s happening, but why it matters.

Transcript

[Myrna Brown]

Good morning. With a Gaza ceasefire in place, the big question is can that same pressure bring Russia and Ukraine to the table?

[George Barros]

And we need to make sure that the costs for Putin go up.

[Mary Reichard]

Also helping women get to the bottom of what is causing their infertility. And new rules for reporters at the Pentagon. And a family lost the service dog who changed their daughter's life, but they're finding hope in a new one.

[Rachel Coyle]

She will never take dig place but we're hoping that she will be able to be a service dog as good as he was.

[Mary Reichard]

And world commentator Cal Thomas on what happens now in Gaza.

[Myrna Brown]

It's Thursday, October 16th. This is the world and everything in it from Listener supported World Radio. I'm Myrna Brown.

[Mary Reichard]

And I'm Mary Reichard. Good morning.

[Myrna Brown]

Up next, Kent Covington with today's news.

[Kent Covington]

Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth is warning Moscow that if the war in Ukraine continues much longer, the United States and its allies are ready to impose costs on Russia.

[George Barros]

If we must take this step, the US War Department stands ready to do our part in ways that only the United States can do.

[Kent Covington]

He spoke from Brussels on Wednesday at a meeting of Western allies backing Ukraine. And German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius vowed his country would hold fast in its support of Ukraine.

[Pete Hegseth]

With new contracts, Germany will provide additional support amounting to over 2 billion euros. This will include a pearl package to totaling 500 million US dollars, he said.

[Kent Covington]

That will provide air defense systems, precision guided artillery, rockets and more. The gathering came just ahead of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's planned trip to Washington where he'll talk with President Trump about the possibility of the US Supplying long range Tomahawk missiles to Kyiv. More on this story later in the program. 20 former hostages released by Hamas under a ceasefire deal are now back home in Israel and now face a difficult road to recovery. Former hostage Eli Shahrabi, who was released back in February, described reuniting with a friend who was just set free this week.

[Pete Hegseth]

We hugged each other and we cried a little bit.

[George Barros]

It was very emotional meeting.

[Pete Hegseth]

I just wanted to let him know I'm very proud of him that he survived another eight months without me.

[Kent Covington]

They are being treated for malnutrition, lack of sunlight and the trauma of wearing leg chains for months. And some suffer from unexplained physical pain. Israeli officials have set up teams of physical and mental health professionals to help. Meantime, Israel says Hamas so far has only turned over seven of the 28 bodies of deceased Israeli hostages. Shosh Bhadrajan, spokeswoman for Israel's prime minister, told reporters.

[Mary Reichard]

Hamas, the terror organization, is required to uphold its commitments to the mediators and return all of our hostages as part of the implementation of this agreement. We will not compromise on this and we will spare no effort until our fallen hostages return every last one of them.

[Kent Covington]

The remains of four people were turned over on Tuesday, but forensic testing revealed that one of the bodies was not that of an Israeli hostage as Hamas had claimed. The other three bodies returned to Israel were identified as those of Tamir Namrati, Uriel Barouk and Eitan Levy. U.S. treasury Secretary Scott Besant says the latest spike in trade tensions with Beijing is not a matter of the US versus China.

[George Barros]

This is China versus the world. They have put these unacceptable export controls on the entire world.

[Kent Covington]

European officials also voiced concern after China announced new restrictions on exports of rare earth metals, which are vital for high tech manufacturing, both commercial and military. The head of Italy's auto parts industry group warned the new curbs could cripple production, saying reserves of rare earths are nearly depleted as China tightens its grip on the global mineral supply. US Trade Representative Jamison Greer said China has taken many retaliatory trade actions against the U.S. and other nations in recent.

[George Barros]

Years, but this move is not proportional retaliation. It is an exercise in economic coercion on every country in the world.

[Kent Covington]

Secretary Besant, though, said he remains hopeful for de escalation, citing President Trump's strong relationship with Chinese leader Xi Jinping. The U.S. supreme Court is weighing a redistricting case that could redefine how the Voting Rights act applies nationwide. At issue in the case, Louisiana v. Calais, is whether lawmakers relied too heavily on race when they drew a second majority black congressional district last year. A group of black voters sued after the legislature created only one such district, even though about one third of Louisiana's population is black. During oral arguments, the court's six conservative justices appeared ready to limit how the Voting Rights act can be used to require race based districts. NAACP attorney Jana Nelson claimed her opponents.

[Joseph Meaney]

Arguments seek a staggering reversal of precedent that would throw maps across the country into chaos.

[Kent Covington]

Justice Brett Kavanaugh, though, questioned whether race should remain a long term factor in.

[Pete Hegseth]

Redistricting, that they should not be indefinite.

[George Barros]

And should have an endpoint.

[Kent Covington]

The court's eventual ruling could reshape congressional maps across the south. Officials in Alaska are rushing to find housing for more than 1500 people from tiny coastal villages devastated by the remnants of Typhoon Ha Long. World's Benjamin Eicher has more.

[George Barros]

The remote location and severe damage are limiting their options as they race against other impending storms and the onset of win high winds and storm surge. Seawater battered low lying isolated Alaska native communities over the weekend. One resident of Kotlik, Alaska said she was thankful her family made it through safely. My daughter woke me up at 7.

[Rachel Coyle]

She goes, mom, look out your window.

[Myrna Brown]

There's a look at that house outside.

[Rachel Coyle]

So we got up and looked and.

[George Barros]

It was all flipped over. The Coast Guard plucked two dozen people from their homes. And after the structures floated off their foundations in high water, three people were reported missing or dead and hundreds of people were staying in school shelters. For WORLD I'm Benjamin Eicher.

[Kent Covington]

And I'm Kent Covington. Straight ahead, international attention returns to the war in Ukraine, plus ethical alternatives to ivf. This is the world and everything in it.

[Mary Reichard]

It's Thursday 16th October. This is World Radio and we thank you for joining us today. Good morning. I'm Mary Reichard.

[Myrna Brown]

And I'm Myrna Brown. First up on the world and everything in it, weapons and diplomacy. Yesterday, leaders of NATO met in Brussels to talk about supplying Ukraine with more drones to resist Russian attacks. Dutch Defense Minister Ruben Breckelmans.

[George Barros]

Because Putin now feels that he gains with every day of continuing the Russian aggression in Ukraine. And we need to make sure that the costs for Putin go up.

[Mary Reichard]

Some of that NATO money will buy weapons for Ukraine from the US and there's more than drones on the table. Here's President Trump on Air Force One on his way to the Middle east on Sunday talking about weapons for defense and offense.

[Pete Hegseth]

They need patriots very badly. They'd like to have Tomahawks.

[George Barros]

That's a step up.

[Myrna Brown]

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is scheduled to meet with Trump on Friday. How might long range weapons change the game for Ukraine? Joining us now to talk about it is George Barros, lead Russia analyst at the Institute for the Study of War. He's also a former advisor to the House Foreign Affairs Committee on Russia and Ukraine.

[Mary Reichard]

George, good morning.

[George Barros]

Hi, Mary, good morning. Thanks so much for having me.

[Mary Reichard]

George, can you tell us a bit about the Tomahawk missiles that President Trump is considering sending to Ukraine?

[George Barros]

Yeah, absolutely. So the Tomahawk missile is a very capable piece of kit. It's a cruise missile with a longer range, longer than anything that the US has given Ukraine so far. But crucially, and this is the crucial characteristic of this weapon system is that it has a large payload. It has a payload of 1,000kg, which really, really matters, especially when it comes to destroying hardened and Specialized military facilities the likes of which, you know, the Ukrainians can strike in terms of the range, but cannot deliver a very large payload.

[Mary Reichard]

You know, maybe the President is just floating the poss of sending Tomahawks in order to gauge Russia's response. George, what do you think will be the deciding factors to in fact send Tomahawk missiles to Kyiv?

[George Barros]

I think the deciding factors are going to be the extent to which the President assesses that negotiations with Russia has reached a dead end. Because fundamentally, what we've been looking at over the last nine months has been Moscow stringing the President along, stringing along administration members who have gone to Moscow and Turkey and all over to try to meet with the Russians. And the conclusion through discovery and brute force has been that actually the Russians say all these things about how they're willing to negotiate and sit down and end the war, but in reality, they actually have intensified their war efforts. They're not willing to make any kinds of concessions acceptable to U.S. interests, and therefore they're not going to sit down at the table. So they must be sat down at the table. And the Tomahawks are one of those tools that can increase the likelihood of forcing them to the table.

[Mary Reichard]

You know, sometimes back channel diplomacy can play a role in these things. I'm curious to hear your take on first. First lady Melania Trump's announcement last week about Ukrainian children taken to Russia.

[George Barros]

President Putin and I have had an open channel of communication regarding the welfare of these children.

[Mary Reichard]

Now, she announced that eight children were released back to their families, and that's just a fraction of the estimated tens of thousands that are still missing. But do you think this kind of diplomacy will affect the larger conflict?

[George Barros]

I mean, these sorts of things always happen in statecraft and in wars. And it's really tragic what the Russian state have done to these Ukrainian children. And I'm glad that the First Lady's efforts have managed to save some of them, and hopefully we'll do many more. But the Kremlin's objectives in Ukraine are so big, and the objectives to subordinate an entire another country is so grand, and the Kremlin has made no indication that it's actually willing to make any meaningful concessions on that agenda. It means that really these backchannel diplomacy can only go so far, because when you've had the direct diplomacy and the back channel diplomacy and the Russians are still not willing to budge, it really does force your hand to either walk away entirely and cede or double down and try to bring your adversary to a concession.

[Myrna Brown]

Right.

[Mary Reichard]

Well, before we go, I am curious how the Gaza ceasefire deal factors into all of this. President Zelensky says there is momentum from the Middle east now to do something similar in Ukraine. What's your assessment?

[George Barros]

So President Trump, since taking office back in January, has settled a number of actual, no kidding, wars. I mean, yes, there's the Hamas, Israel ceasefire. There was also the India, Pakistan and other conflicts. And President Trump has actually seen what it means to facilitate a negotiation, broker a deal and bring two parties, despite their opposing opinions and opposing objectives together to the table and what that actually looks like. And I think President Trump in that same time period has also conversely learned what it looks like when the are not willing to negotiate and want to keep fighting. And I think, look, with the Russians continued insistence on striking Ukrainian cities and the various other things that Moscow has done, they've made themselves very clear in their own actions that they're not willing to negotiate, which is why the administration is pivoting and leaning into alternative tools to try to bring them to the table, if not just through direct negotiations.

[Mary Reichard]

George, is there anything you think the public should know about all of this that they don't or that is underreported?

[George Barros]

Yeah, I think the one big thing here is to understand that the potential introduction of Tomahawks to this war is not going to be a major escalation of the war. It is a fact that the Russians have been using comparable cruise missiles since day one of this war. Back in 2022, almost every single day against Ukraine, they used the KH101 missile. They used Kalibr Sea launch missiles. They use Kinzhal hypersonic cruise missiles. And even last year and last November, they used a intermediate range ballistic miss so to give the Ukrainians the Tomahawk, this would really be evening the playing field and allowing the Ukrainians to fly and use similar weapons. Not an escalation. The Russians have already upped the ante in the escalation of the missile domain.

[Mary Reichard]

George Barras is Russia team and Geospatial Intelligence team lead for the Institute for the Study of War. George, thanks so much. Really appreciate it.

[George Barros]

Yeah, thank you so much for having me. It's always a pleasure.

[Myrna Brown]

Coming up next on THE WORLD and everything in it, holistic fertility treatments. About one in five women struggle to get pregnant. Many assume IVF is their only option. But advocates for natural infertility care say that's not true. World's Anna Johansen Brown brings us the report.

[George Barros]

My wife Marie and I were married in the year 2000 and we were expecting to have a large family, certainly very open to that idea.

[Joseph Meaney]

Joseph Meaney is a senior fellow at the National Catholic Bioethics Center.

[George Barros]

We were surprised when no children came within a year and then another year. And so then we started getting worried and we started looking at the different medical options available.

[Joseph Meaney]

He and his wife learned that many fertility specialists have just one solution in mind.

[George Barros]

When a couple suffers from infertility in the United States, pretty much the only medical option that is offered to them is in vitro fertilization. In most cases, many couples who struggle.

[Joseph Meaney]

Getting pregnant are encouraged to try IVF. The procedure makes up nearly 3% of US births. The federal government seems to be prioritizing, making IVF more affordable. The procedure can cost up to $30,000 per round of treatment. In February, President Donald Trump issued an executive order about ivf. White House Staff Secretary Will Scharf explained the directive at a news conference.

[Pete Hegseth]

These are treatments that have become unaffordable for many Americans. And the executive order is a directive.

[George Barros]

To the Domestic Policy Council to examine ways to make IVF and other fertility treatments more affordable for more Americans.

[Joseph Meaney]

This year, legislators have introduced at least five bills to offset the cost of IVF treatments. Fifteen states mandate some insurance coverage for the procedure, but the effort to subsidize IVF has hit some speed bumps. Audio from CBS News.

[George Barros]

The Alabama Supreme Court ruled last Friday.

[Kent Covington]

That frozen embryos are now considered children under state law.

[Joseph Meaney]

Since that 2024 ruling, Conservatives have become more outspoken with their criticisms of IVF. Only around 40% of embryo transfers result in live births, meaning that three out of five implanted embryos don't survive. On top of that, at least 1.5 million fertilized embryos are thrown away every year. Plus, IVF doesn't address why a couple couldn't get pregnant. Some physicians say restorative reproductive medicine does do just that. RRM specialists often look at menstrual cycles and hormone levels to pinpoint the causes of infertility. Dr. Jean Golden Tevold is an RRM specialist at Morningstar Family Health center in Flemington, New Jersey.

[George Barros]

Basically, IVF is a procedure. We take the parts of your body, we put them together, we put it back in and see if it goes, whereas RRM is really trying to restore normal anatomy and physiology and let the couple do what they want with that. And so conception happens within the privacy.

[Myrna Brown]

Of their own home and their own relationship, not in a laboratory or otherwise in a clinic.

[Joseph Meaney]

RRM leads to live births in about 37% of cases. Even though IVF and RRM have similar success rates. Many families are choosing restorative reproductive medicine to avoid the ethical dilemmas associated with ivf. Additionally, women who opt for RRM are also three times more likely than IVF patients to carry their babies to full term. Still, Golden Tevald believes RRM is widely misunderstood. Medical organizations like the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists describe RRM as a non medical approach. Golden Tevald says that's not accurate.

[George Barros]

We use all the tools and diagnostics.

[Joseph Meaney]

That are just part of general medicine. Some groups, like the American Society for Reproductive Medicine, also argue that IVF doctors already do the work of RRM specialists. But other experts say that's not true. Emma Waters is a policy analyst at the Heritage foundation and a contributor to World Opinions.

[George Barros]

The reality is they're just not they are doing basic semen tests, analysis tests, they're doing basic hormonal panels. But time and time again, if those basic tests or treatments don't result in a clear understanding of what's causing infertility, their outcome is always the same, which is you need to go to ivf.

[Joseph Meaney]

Waters helped craft the RESTORE act, which aims to fund RRM research. Legislators introduced the bill in the House and Senate in May. Arkansas passed a similar bill in April. The Trump administration is expected to release another executive order about infertility treatment. Waters can't predict whether the order will address RRM or not.

[George Barros]

What we certainly know is that restorative reproductive medicine aligns very closely with the Make America Healthy Again model, which is all about providing root cause care for patients that really empower the patient with a deeper understanding of their body.

[Joseph Meaney]

Waters believes IVF and RRM don't have to be seen as competitors. They can work in tandem. For example, a couple might struggle with frequent miscarriages. Using RRM could enable a woman to carry an IVF embryo to term. Still, many IVF advocates have tried to undermine rrm. The American Society for Reproductive Medicine hosted a congressional briefing on September 16 to champion IVF and warn lawmakers about RRM. Less than half a mile away, the International Institute for Restorative Reproductive Medicine held its own congressional briefing. Here's communications and development director Tracey Parnell.

[Rachel Coyle]

We just needed to make sure that.

[Mary Reichard]

There wasn't just one voice.

[George Barros]

Patients need to know they have options. If you've never heard about an option, you will not choose it.

[Joseph Meaney]

If RRM hadn't been an option for Joseph and Marie Meaney, they say they would have accepted infertility. But it didn't come to that in 2009, the meanies welcomed their daughter Therese as a parent and a bioethicist. Meaney finds it troubling that many couples don't even know RRM exists.

[George Barros]

The idea is that there should be proper informed consent before any medical procedure takes place. And part of informed consent is to know all of your options. And so when it comes to infertility care, there's kind of a glaring issue there because in vitro fertilization, IVF is pretty much the only thing that is widely known and the only thing that is widely practiced for world.

[Joseph Meaney]

I'm Anna Johansen Brown with Reporting by Becca McCallum.

[Kent Covington]

Additional support comes from Dort University, where pre med students gain knowledge through undergraduate research and hone skills through hands on simulations. Dort Edu from His Words Abiding in you, a Bible memorization podcast designed for truck drivers. His words Abiding in you on all podcast apps and from the Masters University equipping students for lives of faithfulness to the Master Jesus Christ Masters.

[Mary Reichard]

Edu up next, press access at the Pentagon on Tuesday, reporters from at least 30 news outlets turned in their Defense Department press credentials after refusing to sign on to a new press policy. Outlets from CNN to Fox News said the changes threaten journalism. The administration calls the rules common sense.

[Myrna Brown]

This is the first time since the Eisenhower administration that no major U.S. network or publication will have a permanent presence in the Pentagon. Washington bureau reporter Carolina Lumeta has the story.

[Carolina Lumeta]

In 2014, Associated Press correspondent Robert Burns broke a series of stories about cheating and drug scandals in the Air Force ballistic missile units.

[George Barros]

I was essentially tipped off to this by somebody, and additional people came forward and gave me information that showed that there had been problems that had arisen from a lack of resources given to the Air Force.

[Carolina Lumeta]

In response, then, Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel ordered a full review into the US Nuclear arsenal overseen by the Air Force. Burns retired in 2022, but if he published similar reporting today, the Pentagon could revoke his credentials for publishing unauthorized information. Here's Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth in a Cabinet meeting this week.

[George Barros]

If they sign onto the credentialing, they're not going to try to get soldiers.

[Pete Hegseth]

To break the law by giving them classified information. So it's common sense stuff, Mr. President. We're trying to make sure national security is respected and we're proud of the policy.

[Carolina Lumeta]

Hegseth says the new rules will bring the Pentagon's press access more in line with White House policy, where reporters are limited to restricted areas and must always wear a badge. This is already the standard Pentagon policy and has been for decades. The building has spaces ranging from public retail stores to secure communication rooms. Byrne says that private offices were already off limits without an invitation. And there are plenty of closed off.

[George Barros]

Hallways, the most well known of which was called the National Military Command center, which is a totally off limits set of offices inside the Pentagon in which senior officials can communicate with and direct military operations. For obvious reasons, reporters were never allowed there or even close to it.

[Carolina Lumeta]

The only new part of this policy is a requirement to sign a pledge that reporters will not publish unauthorized information without first clearing it with the Pentagon. That includes unclassified information. Since the start of the year, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has been hounded by negative press, from the leak of confidential assessments of limited damage to Iranian nuclear sites to reports of national security leaders using signal chats for discussing sensitive operations. But according to former Pentagon public affairs Officer David Lapan, how department officials engage the media is a problem for HR not the press office.

[George Barros]

It was my obligation to protect classified information and not to divulge it to people. It didn't stop reporters from asking, of course, because one, it's their job. Two, they don't know what's classified and what's not. It's up to me or others who held security clearances to not divulge things that were classified.

[Carolina Lumeta]

Now a retired Marine colonel, Lapan was a Pentagon spokesman and later became the acting Deputy Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs. Lapan served during the 911 attacks and US wars in Afghanistan and Iraq.

[George Barros]

During my tenure there, I worked under Democratic administrations, Republican administrations. We never had policies like this because it wasn't needed.

[Carolina Lumeta]

The new Pentagon policy says that journalists are misusing their badges if they solicit leaks, something Hagseth calls a criminal act. But what the government calls soliciting reporters like Robert Burns call journalism.

[George Barros]

Part of the whole idea of American democracy is that the government must be accountable to the public, and therefore there should be an independent media that can keep watch on government agencies, government officials, government actions, government budgets, and so forth.

[Carolina Lumeta]

Over the weekend, outlets including the Washington Post, the Atlantic, and the New York Times posted that their reporters would not sign the pledge. Hegseth reposted their statements with Nimoji waving goodbye. While there may be fewer reporters in the building, Lapan suspects that won't stop the negative press or military personnel who decide to leak information to the media.

[George Barros]

Leaks have always been part of it. They always will be a part of it. This is a huge overreach to address a problem that isn't new, isn't different. And it didn't require draconian measures in the past, so it shouldn't require them now.

[Carolina Lumeta]

Reporting for world, I'm Carolina Lumeta.

[Mary Reichard]

A rescue dog was just two days from being put down at a pound in Portugal to being pound for pound, the best pet detective around.

[George Barros]

Hi, my name's Rachel and I'm the owner of Rico.

[Mary Reichard]

Rachel Rogers paid $200 to save the little kokone crossbreed. His nose quickly became legendary. His very first mission, a family dog went missing in a car park. But Rico saved the day.

[Rachel Coyle]

And remarkably, Rico did find that dog. And from there he's just kind of.

[George Barros]

Carried on doing it.

[Rachel Coyle]

He's been out and deployed to find other missing dogs.

[Mary Reichard]

Not just dogs either. Rico's sniffed out an escape, Capybara and a tortoise. Rachel hopes her border terrier, Pebbles will carry on now that Rico is near a well deserved retirement. It's the world and everything in it.

[Myrna Brown]

Today is Thursday, October 16th. Thank you for turning to World Radio to help start your day. Good morning. I'm Myrna Brown.

[Mary Reichard]

And I'm Mary Reichard. Coming next on THE WORLD and Everything in it, service dogs. For some families, the help of a service dog is essential. Today we meet one of those families and the golden retriever puppy in training to fill a big need. World associate correspondent Rachel Coyle has the story.

[Kent Covington]

Let's wait for Grace to get you out.

[Rachel Coyle]

Grace Littlejohn waits in the family van for her wheelchair. She's at Costco today with her sister Faith, her mom Alison, and her golden retriever puppy, Sandy. Sandy's wearing a pink service dog and training vest. And today's mission is to work on her good manners. She doesn't quite have them yet, but she'll need them if she's going to serve Grace well someday. This is the family's first time raising a puppy, but not their first canine assistant. When Grace was 2, we noticed that her hand didn't work. One day we put her to bed like any normal night and she woke up screaming. And basically in the end we found out she was having strokes. Allison says that was the beginning of a nightmare for her and her husband, Larry. After weeks in the hospital, doctors diagnosed Grace with an extremely rare syndrome called moyamoya. They were told she might remain in a vegetative state. Larry recalls those early days.

[Kent Covington]

The Lord held us up. I mean, I remember walking around the.

[George Barros]

Hospital crying and literally it felt like.

[Kent Covington]

Somebody was holding me up by the back of my collar.

[Rachel Coyle]

Grace had surgery and beat the odds. But when the family returned home. Her life was nothing but therapy, learning how to do everything again. For 10 years, Grace exceeded expectations in many areas, but she spent most of her life in a wheelchair. Seizures came on without warning, so Allison began looking for a service dog. The family endured the extensive application process, and when Grace was 18, they finally got the call.

[Pete Hegseth]

Diggity just walked right up to her.

[Kent Covington]

Sat down and laid his head in her lap and, well, that was it.

[Pete Hegseth]

That's who he picked out.

[Rachel Coyle]

After completing a two year program, Diggity joined the family ready to work. It was life changing for everyone. Many people know what it's like to love and care for a pet. But Allison made it clear Diggity wasn't our pet. And until you need a service dog and you have one, you can't understand the difference they make in your life. They're an exception extension of that person because they can do the things for that person that they can't do. Through specialized training and a unique bond with Grace, Diggity could anticipate Grace's needs and alert the family. He could open the door for her or retrieve items out of her reach. He also provided something far more valuable. People started coming up because they wanted to see Diggity and talk to him. And then in turn they started talking to Grace. And so she came out of her shell and started being more social and talking to people and she felt seen. For five years, Diggity and Grace were inseparable until he suddenly died from cancer. The family was devastated. It's a huge loss. When you lose your service dog, you lose so much of your independence. So it's been a huge adjustment for us to know that he's not here to take care of her and to let us know to get her help when she needs it. That's why the little Johns have welcomed Sandy. And they're partnering with service dog instructor Jennifer Arnold to teach Sandy how to serve. Like Diggity, Jennifer knows how hard it is to bring home a second dog. They remember their first dog as being perfect from the very beginning. By the time they lose their dogs, they're so in sync with each other and so in love.

[George Barros]

But when they allow themselves to lower.

[Rachel Coyle]

Those walls and fall in love again, it works brilliantly.

[Kent Covington]

Look out, zoomies.

[Rachel Coyle]

Allison says raising a puppy to be a service dog is not for the faint of heart. The demands are a lot like having a toddler. They have to start small. They begin with helping Sandy learn to be in tune with Grace. They look for indications that the two are bonding for now they can't leave Grace alone with Sandy, but they're encouraged that Sandy doesn't want Grace out of her sight.

[George Barros]

She likes to follow me and lay.

[Rachel Coyle]

Down in the way.

[George Barros]

Like how Diggity used to. And she's really sweet.

[Rachel Coyle]

The little johns are trying to be patient and have realistic expectations. Everything has been very challenging. Going to the store because she doesn't know how to walk beside you and not get run over by the buggy. We are working on that.

[Mary Reichard]

Sandy at Costco.

[Rachel Coyle]

Sandy becomes distracted by interesting smells. Like any ordinary puppy. You want to say hello.

[Pete Hegseth]

You want to say hello?

[Rachel Coyle]

Hi. Near the end of the trip, Sandy catches the attention of an older gentleman who asks about her doing all right, how are you? And then asks about Grace. It'll take about two years of instruction before Sandy can do for Grace what Diggity. She will never take Diggity's place, but we're hoping that she will be able to be a service dog as good as he was.

[Mary Reichard]

You're doing good, except you're not supposed to eat off the floor.

[Rachel Coyle]

Reporting for World I'm Rachel Coyle in Boiling Springs, South Carolina. Yes, yes.

[Mary Reichard]

Today is Thursday, October 16th. Good morning, this is the World and everything in it. From listener supported World Radio, I'm Mary Reichard.

[Myrna Brown]

And I'm Myrna Brown. Up next, a fragile peace in the Middle East. Israel and Hamas are in phase two of their talks, but world commentator Count Thomas warns that true peace requires more than putting down weapons.

[Pete Hegseth]

In his address to Israel's Knesset following the release of 20 living hostages by Hamas, President Donald Trump said several things that reflect wishful thinking. The forces of chaos, terror and ruin that have plagued the region for decades now stand weakened, isolated and totally defeated. The enemies of all civilization are in retreat. The long and painful nightmare is finally over. The president and his team of negotiators are rightly being given full credit for achieving this moment, even by many Democrats. This battle may be over, but Israel's enemies don't share the same view. Palestinian Media Watch, or PMW keeps tabs on what terrorist groups and others are saying about a post Gaza future. It has compiled 20 examples that show the Palestinian Authority's real intentions. In the PA's October 2 publication, there was this it may be necessary to find a way to persuade Hamas to completely leave the area. For a year or two later, when things become clearer, we can look for ways to bring Hamas back to operation. After Trump won re election last November, PMW President Itamar Marcos told the Washington Free Beacon Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas and his people hate Trump. They think he's not up to their level of humanity. They mock the way he looks, they mock the way he talks. Now that Trump will be president again, they think they can play him, but he should recognize exactly who they are. They see themselves as in a camp with Russia and China and the Islamic world, and they are diametrically opposed to American policy around the world. In a September 29 speech to the UN General Assembly, Abbas claimed the PA had, quote, rejected violence and terrorism and adopted a culture of peace. And yet the day before, the PA's official daily continued to glorify the terrorist murders who killed six in an attack in Jerusalem three weeks earlier as Palestinian and Islamic heroes. This is another example of the duplicity in which Israel's enemies have engaged at least since 1948, when the modern state was restored in its ancient Jewish homeland. Need more examples for why this latest Peace is not what the west has been hoping for Palestinian schools aren't teaching children to lay down their rhetorical arms against Israel, but to ratchet them up. PMW found a young girl in a Hebron school who said that the October 7th massacre and hostage taking by Hamas was a beautiful dream. We woke up to the sounds of laughter. It was impossible to express the emotions in our hearts and we never imagined such pride in our people. On our faces. The sense of honor that we felt is indescribable. And don't count on so called journalists to tell the truth. They've been pressured and threatened by Hamas to carry out their story. Storyline as Marcus wrote for PMW on September 1, quote, Journalists in Gaza, whether working for Palestinian media or foreign newspapers, know that deviating from Hamas version of events places their freedom and even their lives in danger. Survival comes first, truth comes second. Celebrating the release of hostages and mourning the dead is a legitimate response to the end of the current Gaza conflict. But Israel, the US and the rest of the civilized world should not engage in self delusion, especially since Israel's enemies have not repeated their charters calling for the destruction of the Jewish state. Nor have they heard from Allah that He has changed his mind and told Muslims to live at peace with Israel. Given that indisputable truth based on history and common sense, this is not the time for Israel to beat its swords into plowshares. I'm Cal Thomas.

[Mary Reichard]

Tomorrow John Stonestreet is back for Culture Friday and a review of Truth and Treason, a movie about a teenage Nazi resistance fighter who paid the ultimate price, and wordplay with George Grant. That and more tomorrow. I'm Mary Reichert.

[Myrna Brown]

And I'm Myrna Brown. The world in every everything in it, comes to you from World Radio. World's mission is biblically objective journalism that informs, educates and inspires. The Bible says, seek the Lord while he may be found. Call upon him while he is near. Verse 6 of Isaiah 55. Go now in grace and peace.

[George Barros]

Sam.