12.3.24 Presidential pardons, illegal immigration in Europe, and the skills developed in high school debating

Summary

The World and Everything In It

Episode: Presidential Pardons, Illegal Immigration in Europe, and the Skills Developed in High School Debating
Release Date: December 3, 2024
Host/Author: WORLD Radio

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Introduction

In this episode of "The World and Everything In It," WORLD Radio delves into three critical topics shaping today's socio-political landscape: the controversial presidential pardon of Hunter Biden, the evolving landscape of illegal immigration in Europe, and the profound impact of high school debating on youth development. Hosted by Mary Reichard and Nick Eicher, the program features expert interviews, insightful analysis, and thought-provoking discussions to inform and inspire listeners.

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1. Presidential Pardon of Hunter Biden

Key Discussion Points: The episode opens with a deep dive into President Joe Biden's unprecedented decision to pardon his son, Hunter Biden. This move has ignited debates about the use of presidential pardon power, its legal implications, and its impact on public trust in the judicial system.

Notable Quotes:

• Mary Reichard [00:35]: "Is there any possibility that the president would end up pardoning his son?"

• Tommy Tuberville [00:39]: "No."

• Mark Mellinger [11:12]: "Hunter Biden hasn't served one moment of time for any of these crimes so far."

• Andres Flores [12:22]: "This is not the first time that something that the timing is happening. Certainly the first time that there's a close member of the family involved."

• Mary Reichard [16:42]: "But it does lead the common people out here to think I'd be in jail for doing this very thing. Does it not foster a sense of disrespect for the judicial system?"

Analysis: Ilya Shapiro, Director of Constitutional Studies at the Manhattan Institute, explains the legal breadth of the pardon, noting that it covers federal prosecutions up to 2014. He underscores that while the pardon is legal, its timing and familial connection raise ethical concerns. The discussion juxtaposes this pardon with historical precedents, such as Gerald Ford's pardon of Richard Nixon, highlighting the unique nature of pardoning a close family member. The segment concludes with reflections on how such actions might erode public confidence in the judicial system and the rule of law.

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2. Illegal Immigration in Europe

Key Discussion Points: The episode transitions to the pressing issue of illegal immigration in Europe, examining how EU countries are balancing stringent immigration policies with the necessity for legal migrant workers. The report highlights recent legislative changes, political shifts, and the socio-economic factors influencing migration trends.

Notable Quotes:

• Mark Mellinger [17:59]: "The European Union has been implementing policies that are increasingly tight on illegal immigration and asylum seekers while working hard to open borders to legal migrant workers."

• Anastasia Karatsas [18:21]: "Gert Wilders' party won a record number of seats in 2023, giving it the majority."

• Tommy Tuberville [20:00]: "These seem to be two conflicting policy priorities."

• Anastasia Karatsas [21:45]: "Public sentiment against migration lawbreakers has been growing in the EU."

Analysis: Mary Muncie reports on the multifaceted approach European nations are adopting to manage migration. Countries like the Netherlands, under leaders like Gert Wilders, are enacting tougher measures against illegal immigration, while simultaneously addressing labor shortages by issuing more work permits. The report highlights the EU's migration reform aimed at reducing illegal crossings and streamlining asylum processes, as well as the contrasting policies within member states like Spain and Germany. Experts like Anastasia Karatsas and Andres Flores discuss the political and economic pressures driving these changes, emphasizing the delicate balance between security and economic necessity. The segment also touches on the social implications, including growing public opposition and the challenge of maintaining fair asylum processes amidst tightening controls.

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3. Skills Developed in High School Debating

Key Discussion Points: The final segment explores the role of debate clubs in shaping young minds, particularly within Christian homeschooling communities. It emphasizes how participating in debates fosters critical thinking, effective communication, and faith-based dialogue among teenagers.

Notable Quotes:

• Ilya Shapiro [01:02]: "If you're able to have an idea and then present it in a way that's kind and respectful, then I think that can go a long way."

• Andres Flores [28:07]: "My encouragement to the students this morning was to take that competitive spirit that they have to compete and to place and to win and to check these are all, you know, terms that mean a lot to them, but to funnel that into the way that they love and serve one another."

• Andres Flores [29:03]: "A big part of this that I think is very powerful that they learn is the refinement process of giving a speech or having a debate, getting the feedback and then going back and refining it over time."

• Ilya Shapiro [31:05]: "Because the acquisition of knowledge is both a process and is morally corruptible. I'd ask for a negative ballot. Thanks."

Analysis: Hosted by Mary Reichard and Nick Eicher, the discussion features Todd Vishen's report on the STOA (Speech and Debate Association), a Christian homeschool group dedicated to empowering students through debate. The program highlights how debate participation enhances not only academic skills but also personal and spiritual growth. Participants like Andres Flores share their experiences, illustrating how debate teaches them to articulate their faith respectfully and effectively. The segment underscores the significant increase in debate club memberships and its positive impact on students' abilities to analyze information, refine arguments, and engage in meaningful discourse. The discussion also touches on the broader societal benefits, such as preparing future leaders with strong communication skills and a solid ethical foundation.

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Conclusion

This episode of "The World and Everything In It" offers a comprehensive exploration of pivotal issues influencing today's world. From the intricate dynamics of presidential pardons and immigration policies to the transformative power of debate in youth education, WORLD Radio provides listeners with informed perspectives grounded in factual reporting and ethical considerations. Through engaging discussions and expert insights, the program fosters a deeper understanding of the challenges and opportunities shaping our global community.

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Upcoming Topics: Listeners are invited to tune in for future episodes, which will cover topics such as the confirmation of President Biden's judicial nominees, the contributions of a Chinese immigrant to American freedoms, and more insightful analyses on pressing global matters.

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Support WORLD Radio: As a listener-supported program, WORLD Radio relies on the generosity of its audience to continue delivering sound journalism grounded in God's Word. To support the mission, visitors are encouraged to make a secure online gift at wng.org/givingtuesday.

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This summary was crafted to provide a detailed overview of the episode's content, ensuring clarity and comprehensiveness for those who haven't listened to the full broadcast.

Transcript

[Nick Eicher]

Good morning and happy Giving Tuesday. To those who celebrate, today is a special day of generosity. Always the Tuesday after Thanksgiving. Today's our chance to invite those who benefit from world but haven't supported it yet to make their first ever gift. If that's you, please give online [e-mail].

[Mary Reichard]

GivingTuesday thanks for considering and enjoy the program. Good morning.

[Ilya Shapiro]

Is there any possibility that the president would end up pardoning his son?

[Tommy Tuberville]

No.

[Mary Reichard]

An election loss later for Democrats, the president said yes. We'll talk with a constitutional expert on the pardon of Hunter Biden.

[Nick Eicher]

Also today, clamping down on immigration.

[Mary Muncie]

Over the past decade, European countries have been trying to come up with more effective responses to migration. And that struggle continues.

[Nick Eicher]

And later, teens refine their debate skills and their faith.

[Ilya Shapiro]

If you're able to have an idea and then and present it in a way that's kind and respectful, then I think that can go a long way.

[Mary Reichard]

It's Tuesday, December 3rd. This is the world and everything in it. From listener supported World Radio, I'm Mary Reichard.

[Nick Eicher]

And I'm Nick Eicher. Good morning.

[Mary Reichard]

Up next, Mark Mellinger has today's news.

[Mark Mellinger]

Israel and Hezbollah are trading fire, threatening their fragile ceasefire in Lebanon. Hezbollah struck a disputed border zone held by Israel Monday and Israel retaliated a few hours later, carrying out a wave of strikes that Lebanon says killed close to a dozen people. Each side is accusing the other of violating the US Brokered ceasefire which just took effect Wednesday. US State Department spokesman Matthew Miller is downplaying the impact of the recent strikes.

[Ilya Shapiro]

Just as anywhere in the world when you see a ceasefire implemented, you see various violations at times. Ultimately, what we don't want to see is the ceasefire breakdown. And we've not seen the ceasefire breakdown.

[Mark Mellinger]

The ceasefire is meant to end close to 14 months of fighting. Hezbollah started attacking Israel to show solidarity with Hamas, which is battling Israel in Gaza. Winding down that war in Gaza tops Secretary of State Antony Blinken's agenda. He is meeting with Israel's minister of strategic affairs, pushing for a ceasefire with Hamas. Allies of Donald Trump say the president elect is hoping for a ceasefire in Gaza before he takes office, along with a deal to release the dozens of hostages Hamas is still holding captive, including Americans. Republican Alabama Senator Tommy Tuberville. I think a lot of us believe.

[Andres Flores]

That, hey, they've been over there too long.

[Nick Eicher]

There hadn't been enough done from this.

[Andres Flores]

Administration to get our hostages home.

[Mary Reichard]

It is a mess in the Middle East.

[Mark Mellinger]

Trump issued a threat over social media Monday, writing that if the hostages are not released before his inauguration, the hostage takers will be hit harder than anyone has ever been hit in US History. The threat of new tariffs from the incoming Trump administration if there aren't big changes at the border is forcing action from After a meeting with the president elect at Mar a Lago Friday, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau agreed to deploy more resources to the northern border. Canada's ambassador to the US Kirsten Hillman says the biggest deliverable Trudeau promised Trump was more infrastructure.

[Tommy Tuberville]

So more surveillance, more helicopters, potentially more infrastructure at the border.

[Nick Eicher]

Again, these are things that we were.

[Tommy Tuberville]

Thinking of doing on our own anyway, just because secure borders are essential.

[Mark Mellinger]

However, the tariffs on Canada still are not off the table. Canada's public safety minister says Trudeau warned the president elect Americans will suffer if he follows through with those tariffs. Several months of a heated debate over death are kicking off in the United Kingdom, which is now one step closer to legalizing assisted suicide.

[Nick Eicher]

The eyes to the right 330 the.

[Andres Flores]

Nose to the left 275 the eyes have it.

[Kim Ledbetter]

The eyes have it.

[Nick Eicher]

And look.

[Mark Mellinger]

British lawmakers have advanced a bill that would allow adults in England or Wales to end their lives with the help of doctors. The patient would be required to have less than six months to live. He or she would have to sign two declarations expressing their wish to die. And two doctors would have to conduct evaluations and verify the patient is eligible to end his or her life. Member of Parliament Kim Ledbetter spoke on behalf of the bill.

[Nick Eicher]

And let's be clear. We are not talking about a choice between life or death. We are talking about giving dying people a choice of how to die.

[Mark Mellinger]

But critics like Parliament Member Danny Kruger say the bill will pressure vulnerable patients to end their lives while creating a new industry of death.

[Andres Flores]

Like the medics I met in Canada.

[Mark Mellinger]

Specialists in assisted death who personally killed.

[Kim Ledbetter]

Hundreds of patients a year in their special clinics.

[Andres Flores]

And if honourable members have a difficulty with the language, then I wonder what they're doing here. This is what we are talking about.

[Mark Mellinger]

The House of Commons still has to review the bill, then vote on it again before sending it to the House of Lords. Assuming it survives similar votes there, it moves on to the king for final approval. That whole process is expected to take several months. Meanwhile, here in the United States, a push to weaken protections for the unborn.

[Kim Ledbetter]

We'll continue to work around the clock.

[Andres Flores]

As we move into a Trump administration.

[Mark Mellinger]

2.0 State lawmakers in California started an emergency session advocates describe as strengthening state protections for abortion against a second Trump term. Governor Gavin Newsom announced the special session. Last month, California Attorney General Rob Bonta unveiled two bills designed to protect so called reproductive health care. One empowers the state to seek financial penalties if any local government hinders the operations of an abortion facility, Banta says. The other protects chemical abortions.

[Andres Flores]

Our medication abortion access bill would ensure.

[Kim Ledbetter]

Medication abortion remains an accessible option for those seeking abortion care throughout the state.

[Mark Mellinger]

Newsom is also asking for $25 million to fund court challenges to any Trump administration actions he believes are unconstitutional. President Biden is in sub Saharan Africa working to temper Chinese and Russian influence on that continent. The president is spending three days in Angola where he's highlighting a new trans African rail line aimed at providing an economic boost and backed by U.S. financing. White House national security spokesman John Kirby.

[Kim Ledbetter]

It's going to reduce literally by days.

[Mark Mellinger]

The amount of time that it takes.

[Andres Flores]

To move crops and goods from one.

[Mark Mellinger]

Side of the continent to the other. It's going to create increasing incredible economic opportunities here on the continent. It's also a way of countering China's growing influence in a region rich with the minerals used to make electric batteries. The US Is considering putting US Military bases in Angola as well to neutralize Russia, which has provided military help to African countries in exchange for resources. I'm Mark Mellinger. Straight ahead, a presidential pardon for Hunter Biden. Plus students learning how to speak with confidence and clarity. This is the world and everything in it.

[Mary Reichard]

It's Tuesday 3rd December. You're listening to World Radio and we're glad you're along with us today. Good morning. I'm Mary Reichard.

[Nick Eicher]

And I'm Nick Eicher. Well, as we said at the top of the program, today is not just any Tuesday. Today is Giving Tuesday. And we're asking those who benefit from World but have never made a gift of support to make today the big day.

[Mary Reichard]

That's right. We're asking for first ever gifts of support to strengthen world's mission of sound journalism grounded in facts and biblical truth. You know, I really like this concept of giving. Tuesday comes right after Thanksgiving when we see offer after offer to spend money on merchandise. And hey, we do it too. And it's all directed to gift giving, which is great, but I also think it's right and good to have a day like this where the focus is on supporting those things we believe in.

[Nick Eicher]

Exactly. And next week we will be kicking off our year end giving drive as we always do. It is a critical time for us since most of our funding comes in these final weeks of the year. But before we kick that off, we do want to make a concerted effort aimed at those who've been benefiting from this journalism that we provide as a free public service. And I will stress, if you've never before given in response to these semiannual drives, we ask that you take that step today. Yeah.

[Mary Reichard]

And the place to go is wng.org givingtuesday Again, that's wng.org givingtuesday where you can make a secure online gift.

[Nick Eicher]

All right, so get this, Mary. This year I am going to be making a pledge to join with every new donor who makes a gift today, meaning that for each new donor, I will personally kick in a dollar. Okay. I'm not a wealthy person.

[Mary Muncie]

Yeah.

[Nick Eicher]

So, you know, I'm not able to do what some of our more capable donors have done in the past, very generously offering matching gifts. This is more in my ability, my lane, that I give $1 for every new donor today only.

[Mary Reichard]

I really like that. It's kind of like a dunking booth. So, everybody, let's soak.

[Nick Eicher]

Nick, There you go. Good image, you know, so if you like me, send a gift. If you don't like me, well, you know, give a gift anyway.

[Mary Reichard]

Give a gift anyway.

[Nick Eicher]

Yeah, right. Imagine that I'm in the dunking booth and curse. Splash. So, yeah, nice image. But seriously, I do feel like I have to put my money where my mouth is. Do I believe in this journalistic project or don't I? And of course I do. So I hope you'll join me. First up on the world and everything in it, a presidential pardon. It was Sunday evening. President Joe Biden issued a full and unconditional pardon for his son, Hunter Biden, covering all crimes that may go back to 2014. This comes after months of saying he would not issue a pardon. So why the change and what does it mean legally? Well, joining us now is Ilya Shapiro. He's director of Constitutional Studies for the Manhattan Institute.

[Mary Reichard]

Good morning, Ilya.

[Andres Flores]

Good morning. You know, you ask, what does it mean legally? There's nothing complicated about that. It means that Hunter Biden can't be prosecuted by federal prosecutors because the president only has authority over federal prosecutions going back 11 years. The length of time is remarkable, but the legal effect is no prosecution immunity for anything that he's done in that time.

[Mary Reichard]

Well, let's talk about the context a little bit in case people are forgetting, where did those federal cases against Hunter Biden stand before his dad pardoned him?

[Andres Flores]

Well, he's already been convicted both of gun Crimes, having guns while addicted to illegal substances against federal law and tax evasion, various tax crimes, two separate prosecutions. He was due to be sentenced in coming months. That's where it stood. And now those convictions are going to be wiped out.

[Mary Reichard]

Now, he hasn't served one moment of time for any of these crimes so far, is that correct?

[Andres Flores]

That's right. He hasn't been sentenced yet.

[Mary Reichard]

So most pardons are issued after the person has served at least some time. How does this pardon compare to other presidential pardons in terms of breadth and timing?

[Andres Flores]

It seems like every presidency has some pardons that are politically dubious or that, that don't seem quite right. I mean, there's nothing legally wrong with it, but whether pardoning supporters, whether. I mean, lots of things. Presidents get criticized for how they use or allegedly misuse the pardon power, including during lame ducks. So this is not the first time that something that the timing is happening. Certainly the first time that there's a close member of the family involved.

[Mary Reichard]

Now, this raises the question of what is the purpose of the power to pardon? And here it does seem to be to circumvent the justice system. What did the founders intend?

[Andres Flores]

Well, this was meant to be one final safety valve for abuses of the legal system. Say if there's some injustice that has taken place, then the executive can have that pardon power. And this is nothing new. There's a lot new to the way that the U.S. constitution set out a system of government, presidential authority dividing power, all of that. But the idea of an executive having a pardon power is not new. Kings had it, elected governors had it. It's just meant as a safety valve. And interestingly, unlike most other powers, it's completely unreviewable. So there's no appeal, there's no further reconsideration. That's it. Once the President signs it, that's it.

[Mary Reichard]

I think the pardon that most people at least of my generation remembers is the pardon of Richard Nixon by Gerald Ford. How does this compare to that pardon?

[Andres Flores]

That's the one that's the most sweeping. And so if there's a parallel, it's a high profile, very high name recognition, the President's son versus the former president, as opposed to Bill Clinton, got a lot of criticism for pardoning Mark Rich, for example, one of his donors. Nobody remembers who that is anymore. You know, there are these kind of pardons for cronies. But. But you're right, the Richard Nixon pardon, because of how profile it was and also because of the breadth of time. Ford pardoned him for any violations that he might have done over. I forget what the exact time period, whether it was his entire presidency or some longer period. But, but that's why people are drawing out that comparison.

[Mary Reichard]

I think it was just for his Nixon's term in office. Which brings to mind this pardon of Hunter Biden goes back to January 1, 2014. And I don't think that that is a coincidental date. Are you aware of what the significance of that is?

[Andres Flores]

Yeah, I think it was April of 2014 that Hunter Biden joined the board of Burisma, a Ukrainian company with reporting now that it was done to not because of his business acumen, but because of access to the big Guy, quote, unquote, Joe Biden, who was then vice president. Now, interestingly, with this pardon, that means that Hunter cannot invoke the fifth Amendment right against self incrimination. If, for example, there are prosecutions against Joe Biden for his activities as vice president, there's no official immunity for that. Now, the Joe Biden can thank the Supreme Court for saying that there is immunity for presidential official acts, but not when you're vice president or not a president during that, you know, the Trump's first term. So one curious wrinkle is that if there is any prosecution over Joe Biden's own activities before he became president, Hunter Biden could now be subject to testify.

[Mary Reichard]

Oh, interesting. Why do you think President Biden changed his mind and issued this pardon?

[Andres Flores]

I mean, you read the statement. He thinks there was a miscarriage of justice. Of course, it's his own Justice Department that was prosecuting his son. So perhaps it would have been easier just to lay off on those prosecutions. But ultimately, I think you don't have to think too hard. It's the father and a son. I think it's eminently understandable. Why, you know, when you have a close relative, if you have the power to not allow them to go to jail, you do. That doesn't mean that's not a misuse of presidential authority. But the human motivation is eminently understandable, going back to Shakespeare or even the ancient Greek playwrights.

[Mary Reichard]

But it does lead the common people out here to think I'd be in jail for doing this very thing. Does it not foster a sense of disrespect for the judicial system?

[Andres Flores]

Absolutely. Two different standards. Now, again, there's nothing illegal about this. It's a lawful use of the pardon power, but it politically stinks. And going forward, as Trump takes office, again, I think any criticisms of his use of the pardon power, whether for January 6, protesters pro life protesters that have been jailed or others, that kind of criticism is going to fall on deaf ears for the majority of the American people.

[Mary Reichard]

Ilya, is there any other aspect of the story that you think is being overlooked or that we need to pay more attention to?

[Andres Flores]

I mean, I'd look to see how media personalities are reacting, defenders of the rule of law and the supporters of Kamala Harris as having we need to elect the Democrats. They're the party of the rule of law to save democracy, et cetera. Politicians use their political power for all sorts of reasons and it doesn't matter whether you're red team, blue team. So the gaslighting about who is good and pure and has clean hands doesn't go very far.

[Mary Reichard]

Ilya Shapiro is a constitutional scholar and Manhattan Institute senior fellow. Ilya, thanks so much for your time.

[Andres Flores]

Thank you.

[Nick Eicher]

Up next, immigration policy in the EU over the past year, the European Union has been implementing policies that are increasingly tight on illegal immigration and asylum seekers while working hard to open borders to legal migrant workers. World's Mary Muncie reports there is a new wind blowing in Europe.

[Anastasia Karatsas]

Gert Wilders is the Dutch chairman of the Party of Freedom. It's a conservative party in the Netherlands.

[Andres Flores]

The people are fed up with the asylum and immigration policies that they have met so far.

[Anastasia Karatsas]

Wilder's party won a record number of seats in 2023, giving it the majority. And it's not the only country in Europe toughening its standards on migration.

[Tommy Tuberville]

Now Italy's prime minister has warned Europe.

[Mary Reichard]

Will be overwhelmed by migration unless the EU finds solutions.

[Anastasia Karatsas]

Italy has been leading the charge, saying its position at the border of the union puts it at a disadvantage. But inland countries are not far behind.

[Nick Eicher]

The German government has announced a package of tougher security and asylum measures after three people were fatally stabbed at a.

[Anastasia Karatsas]

Street festival last week.

[Nick Eicher]

The killings sparked an intense debate over.

[Andres Flores]

Asylum laws when it emerged that the.

[Nick Eicher]

Main suspect was a young Syrian man facing deportation.

[Anastasia Karatsas]

And last May, the European Union elected a swath of tough on immigration members and passed sweeping migration reform.

[Andres Flores]

The European Parliament approved what is being.

[Mark Mellinger]

Billed as a fairer system of settling new immigrants.

[Andres Flores]

The changes will bring in tougher border checks.

[Anastasia Karatsas]

But some countries in the EU are moving in the opposite direction. Last month, Spanish migration Minister Alma Sayes announced that the country will issue hundreds of thousands of work permits to migrants. Sayes says Spain needs to choose between being an open and prosperous country or being a closed and poor country. But are those the only two options?

[Tommy Tuberville]

These seem to be two conflicting policy priorities.

[Anastasia Karatsas]

Anastasia Karatsas is a policy analyst with the European Policy center in Brussels.

[Tommy Tuberville]

Countries pushing back asylum seekers or pushing back against people claiming asylum on the one hand, but also then offering more opportunities for people to come and work, work legally.

[Anastasia Karatsas]

Karatsas says tighter migration policies are likely fueling labor shortages. So policymakers are trying to create legal ways for people to work in their country.

[Tommy Tuberville]

The fact that we need migrant labor, the fact that we desperately need these workers actually is mentioned more and more at high level, so by the eu, for example.

[Anastasia Karatsas]

But labor markets aren't the only consideration.

[Tommy Tuberville]

It is very expensive for people to.

[Mary Muncie]

Claim asylum and for the state to.

[Tommy Tuberville]

Have to provide support throughout that process.

[Anastasia Karatsas]

The European Union's reforms could lower costs by removing migrants whose claims are denied faster. And the number of migrants illegally crossing borders has gone down. The European Union's border agency, Frontex, says crossings peaked at 400,000 last year and about half as many people have made the attempt this year.

[Tommy Tuberville]

But it's very difficult to attribute causality to these policies.

[Anastasia Karatsas]

Public sentiment against migration lawbreakers has been growing in the eu, and its citizens are showing it with their vote tough on migration. Parties all over the bloc gained power this year. Similar to the US The EU has seen a few high profile crimes committed by migrants recently, and citizens worry about supporting a high influx of migrants in a welfare state.

[Mary Muncie]

I think what a lot of people are concerned about is not so much the material effects, but more like fairness considerations.

[Anastasia Karatsas]

Martin Roos is a professor of migration studies at the European University Institute in Florence. He says a lot of countries are starting to make access to welfare benefits for migrants conditional, like a migrant might only get access to low income housing after they've paid taxes for a certain amount of time.

[Mary Muncie]

Basically, over the past decade, European countries have been trying to come up with more effective responses to migration, and that struggle continues, he says.

[Anastasia Karatsas]

In the overall picture, there is a lot of political pressure to become more restrictive on migration. But at the same time, some countries are already realizing they won't be able to keep their economy going without more workers.

[Mary Muncie]

When it comes to labor migration, for example, a number of countries realize that they have significant shortages in high and low skilled sectors, and they're issuing work permits and they're considering regularization programs, legalization programs.

[Anastasia Karatsas]

But countries have to walk a fine line. Roos says Europe can't let labor migration take the place of the asylum program. Some people need asylum and should have the rights and the timeframe that come along with it.

[Mary Muncie]

It's quite important from a policy perspective to think hard. How do you maintain the integrity of your different types of policies.

[Anastasia Karatsas]

Roos says one of the differences between the two systems is the perception of control. Labor migration involves people applying to come into the EU from outside of it. A certain number are admitted into various countries and different labor markets for specific purposes. But there's no way to apply for asylum outside an EU country. Asylum seekers must apply at a port of entry or from within, meaning countries must react to asylum seekers who show up at their borders asking for protection rather than plan for them. It's the same system in the US.

[Mary Muncie]

The more the impression is created that there's a lot of irregular migration and the system is out of control, the more difficult it becomes actually politically to maintain protection systems.

[Anastasia Karatsas]

Roos says many European countries are shifting right on illegal immigration, but at the same time many are opening up pathways to migrants where they can exercise greater control.

[Mary Muncie]

I think a lot of people would want to offer protection, but people also like control. They don't like this idea of the system being out of control.

[Anastasia Karatsas]

Reporting for World, I'm Mary Muncie.

[Andres Flores]

Additional support comes from Silent Night, Season two of the podcast based drama presented by Northwest Christian School Online on all podcast apps or at the letter I witnesspod.com and from Dort University. Dort's online Master of Social Work program equips students for faithful service in their local communities until all is made new.

[Nick Eicher]

Thieves, of course, know they're doing wrong and that's why one of the biggest parts of the plan is the getaway problem for some bad guys in Britain a few weeks ago though they didn't do quite enough research on the target, namely four time Olympic gold medalist Mo Farah. A runner. He was out for a morning run. He sat his phone down on the side of a private, planning to pick it back up later. You know he's a pro runner, he doesn't need any extras. So an unfamiliar van pulls up, a man jumps out, grabs the phone and speeds off. But then Mo Farah did too. He was able to catch up to that van carrying the would be crooks and give him a good what for. He ended up getting that phone back.

[Mary Reichard]

And he got in a good workout at the same time.

[Nick Eicher]

You know, it's funny, he's a distance runner and not a sprinter, but he did make quick work of these guys. It's the world and everything in it.

[Mary Reichard]

Today is Tuesday, December 3rd. Thank you for turning to World Radio to help start your day. Good morning, I'm Mary Reichard.

[Nick Eicher]

And I'm Nick Eicher. Next up on the world and everything in it. Learning to Speak Up Glossophobia is the most common phobia and has been for a long time. It's better known as the fear of public speaking. Researchers believe this fear begins when we're adolescents. But just like sports, preparation, practice and coaching can make all the difference.

[Mary Reichard]

Christians know that iron sharpens iron, and one national debate and speech group is helping homeschoolers conquer their fears and share their faith. World's Todd Vishen has our story right.

[Ilya Shapiro]

But in general, should we pursue something like justice, or should we pursue truth for something else? Or should we pursue it just because it's good?

[Kim Ledbetter]

I don't think the resolution under the bell tower of a nearly 2 century old church, 16 year old Andres Flores cross examines his opponent.

[Ilya Shapiro]

So you said that essentially in order for something to be intrinsically good, it has to lead to something good, correct?

[Andres Flores]

No, basically you just have to be.

[Kim Ledbetter]

If you want me to read Flores and 15 year old Walker Tucker verbally wrestle over a question Socrates posed more than two millennia Is the acquisition of knowledge an intrinsic good? The boys are participating in a tournament run by stoa. It's a Christian homeschool speech and debate group. Named after the classical Greek term for a gathering place, the nationwide organization trains homeschool students to speak boldly for Christ as winsome and God honoring orators.

[Andres Flores]

One of the many gifts that Jesus was endowed with was the gift of communication, parables, prose, you know, all of the above. And so STOA exists to help these young competitors grow in that very same way.

[Kim Ledbetter]

Josh Clayton is director of the three Day Fall Coyote Classic Speech and Debate Tournament.

[Andres Flores]

My encouragement to the students this morning was to take that competitive spirit that they have to compete and to place and to win and to check these are all, you know, terms that mean a lot to them, but to funnel that into the way that they love and serve one another.

[Kim Ledbetter]

There are no age brackets in STOA tournaments, so a green 12 year old can be pitted against a seasoned 18.

[Andres Flores]

Year old for those more experienced competitors to compete to win, but to do so in a way that really equips and enables the younger competitors. That doesn't squash them or discourage them, but instead shows them what can be done, you know, brings them along, you know, helps.

[Kim Ledbetter]

The appreciation for debate clubs is growing. STOA membership nationwide grew by 70% in the past three years. The national association for Urban Debate Leagues said more than 10,000 students from 20 cities participated in its tournaments last year. And a recent study of 3,500 low income students in Boston showed 70% of debate club participants improved their ability to read and analyze information.

[Andres Flores]

A big part of this that I think is very powerful that they learn is the refinement process of giving a speech or having a debate, getting the feedback and then going back and refining it over time.

[Kim Ledbetter]

Rick Flores is Andres dad. When they found Stoa 13 years ago, he thought his children would give a speech or two and then move on. Now he proudly says his five children use the skills learned through speech and debate almost every day.

[Andres Flores]

I'm in business and we do that, you know, as part of our business product refinement over time. And so it's just a very powerful thing that they learn. And it's amazing to see like a speech that started out in November how different it is in May.

[Kim Ledbetter]

And tournaments like the recent one put on by Stoa include a handful of competition categories. Sometimes students know the topics they'll be debating several months ahead of time. They can prepare and hone their arguments at home.

[Ilya Shapiro]

As the season progresses, you go deeper and deeper into refining some of your arguments, actually coming up with a case that you're going to use and then testing those ideas. And so that's why we have club for and we see which ideas are going to land, which ideas are going to, you know, completely bomb if we actually ran them. And so that's how you sort of refine your arguments.

[Kim Ledbetter]

But even when they know the topic ahead of time, students don't know if they will present for or against the proposal until just before the session begins. Then there are debate categories that are impromptu. In the recent parliamentary debate, Flores and the other participants had 20 minutes to prepare for a new topic, ranked voting at the national level. 17 year old Chloe Jones began the round presenting rationale for the change.

[Anastasia Karatsas]

If we as the government team can show that there are more benefits in passing this stv, then we warrant your ballot and what we'll see is that the single transferable vote actually allows for fewer wasted votes.

[Kim Ledbetter]

The opposition countered saying transferring votes from the last place candidate to the next highest vote getter would make current election problems even worse.

[Ilya Shapiro]

Yes, there would be, I guess, no wasted votes. The problem is that their votes wouldn't actually be going to the candidate that they most prefer.

[Kim Ledbetter]

Andres Flores says improving his communication skills isn't just an academic exercise. On a mission trip to Portland this summer, he shared the gospel in a hostile environment.

[Ilya Shapiro]

And so I was able to present some of, you know, Christian beliefs, Christian doctrine, but in a way that wasn't threatening, in a way that wasn't, you know, kind of attacking them. And so I do think that debate has helped with that because if you're able to have an idea and then present it in a way that's kind and respectful, then I think that can go a long way in terms of Christianity.

[Kim Ledbetter]

And Andres mom Michelle Flores has seen participants mature in their faith through debate.

[Tommy Tuberville]

There are so many of our former STOA graduates that are alumni now that have gone on on to take an active role within government. Some have started pro life groups. Some have gotten involved in their student government and made a stand for things that are explicitly Christian and have learned to take the heat when they were on their campus.

[Kim Ledbetter]

Back at the STOA tournament, Andres completed about half a dozen rounds before getting the judges scores and he did better than he expected, winning in both the categories he entered.

[Ilya Shapiro]

Because the acquisition of knowledge is both a process and is morally corruptible. I'd ask for a negative ballot. Thanks.

[Kim Ledbetter]

Reporting for world, I'm Todd Vishen in New Braunfels, Texas.

[Andres Flores]

Every year at Christmas, Santa sends his.

[Kim Ledbetter]

Elves to watch you.

[Andres Flores]

And they go, go back and tell him who's been bad and who's been.

[Nick Eicher]

Today is Tuesday, December 3rd. Good morning. This is the world and everything in it from listener supported World Radio. I'm Nick Eicher.

[Mary Reichard]

And I'm Mary Reichard. Well, a lot of families are getting out the Christmas decorations and playing the special music. World Opinions contributor Candace Waters says there's one family tradition we might want to leave behind each and every Christmas.

[Tommy Tuberville]

Now that Thanksgiving is over, children around the world are anticipating the return of Elf on the Shelf. They call it Scout Elf return week with 22 and a half million elf dolls resuming their work of watching the world's children by day and flying nightly to the North Pole to report their good deeds to Santa. It began in 2005 with a mother and her daughter self publishing 5,000 box sets of their family tradition. Now their company is estimated to be worth $100 million annually. As one of what the Chicago Tribune calls Santa's most important helpers, the Elf on the Shelf has become many parents go to for Christmas magic. It's no surprise the little guy is such a hit. His makers say he provides daily fun, inspires good behavior and sparks holiday joy. Each doll comes with a storybook that explains the elf lore and the rules that keep the magic working. Most important, no touching. Apparently, human touch ruins the elf's ability to fly. But no worries. A sprinkle of cinnamon or singing Christmas songs loudly can give him enough boost to get back to Santa, the toy makers say even better if the child writes a sincere apology letter. They encourage Being honest about your mistake creates a very powerful magic that will heal your elf in no time. But before you pull your Elf on the Shelf out of storage or buy one for the first time, consider the downsides of teaching your children that if they try hard enough, they can be good. In the book of Romans, the Apostle Paul tells us that no one does good, not even one. What children need most at Christmas and every day isn't man made magic, but God wrought mercy. Instead of Elf on the Shelf and other Santa Claus myths, consider Advent. Not the secular version of chocolate or Lego countdown calendars, but the sacred observance of remembering Christ's birth and anticipating his return. Daily readings from the Old Testament prophecies and New Testament fulfillments teach children about Mary and the angel who told her she would miraculously have a baby by the power of the Holy Spirit. Children marvel to learn how the angel appeared to Joseph in a dream and told him to name the baby Jesus because, as Matthew 1:21 says, he would save his people from their sins. This is what makes Jesus birth such good news. The Elf on the Shelf is a slightly creepy, though silly game, but what it obscures is deadly serious. Children have real fears, troubles and guilt for their sin against God. They need big truths to understand their world and why the most wonderful time of the year can still feel so disappointing. Advent means coming. It beckons parents to tell children about Jesus incarnation so they'll set their hope in him. It's rightly sobering to confront the darkness of sin, the brokenness of the world, and the centuries spent longing for a savior. It's awe inspiring to read how the Creator of the universe, in humility, took on flesh and was born a baby. And it's life changing to realize he willingly died on the cross in our place to fulfill what God planned before the world began. The creators of Elf on the Shelf advertise that their ever expanding products and digital experiences are, in their words, worthy of the most enduring magic of all time. But it's nothing compared to the majesty and mystery of Jesus taking on flesh so that he could take the punishment we deserve and one day return in glory. Parents don't obscure his glory or squander another December telling your children stories that steal their affections. Why play along with the deception, hoping for a few weeks of fun and good behavior? Instead, teach your children the true story of Christmas. Lead them to the manger, to the miracle of the Bethlehem baby born to be king and together love his appearing and long for his return. I'm Candice Waters.

[Nick Eicher]

Tomorrow, Senate Democrats scramble to confirm President Biden's judicial nominees before the end of the year will have a report. And a Chinese immigrant who helps Americans appreciate and protect the freedoms we have. That and more tomorrow. I'm Nick Eicher.

[Mary Reichard]

And I'm Mary Reichard. The world and everything in it comes to you from World Radio World's mission is biblically objective journalism that informs, educates and inspires. The apostle Paul. Paul wrote to his protege Timothy. The aim of our charge is love that issues from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith. Certain persons, by swerving from these, have wandered away into vain discussion, desiring to be teachers of the law without understanding either what they are saying or the things about which they make confident assertions. Verses 5 through 7 of 1 Timothy, chapter 1. Go now in grace and peace.