12.4.24 Washington Wednesday, World Tour, and a story of overcoming adversity and embracing freedom

Summary

Podcast Summary: The World and Everything In It Episode: December 4, 2024 – "Washington Wednesday, World Tour, and a Story of Overcoming Adversity and Embracing Freedom"

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Introduction

In this episode of The World and Everything In It, WORLD Radio’s top 100 News program, hosts Lindsay Mast and Nick Eicher navigate a comprehensive array of global and national stories. From landmark Supreme Court cases and international conflicts to inspiring personal journeys, the episode delivers in-depth analysis and exclusive insights, enriched with listener-supported, biblically grounded journalism.

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Main News Highlights

Supreme Court's Landmark Case on Transgender Minors

The episode opens with a critical Supreme Court case, United States v. Skirmetti, challenging Tennessee’s law restricting gender-affirming medical procedures for minors.

• Lindsay Mast introduces the case:
  “Today, a landmark case at the Supreme Court. The question is whether states have the right to protect children from medical attempts at sex change.” [00:05]

• Daniel Sur, World Opinions contributor and attorney, explains the legal battleground:
  “The case is about the due process and equal protection clauses in the Constitution. But experts expect the parental rights issue to come up quickly during oral arguments.” [13:08]

• Kent Covington highlights the broader implications:
  “It potentially opens up a Pandora's box on nearly any law that mentions biological realities of sex, male and female.” [16:56]

With a conservative majority on the bench, the outcome could set a national precedent affecting 26 states considering similar legislation.

Protests in South Korea Over Martial Law

Chaos erupted in South Korea as President Yoon Suk Yeol declared emergency martial law to counter alleged pro-communist activities, leading to massive protests.

• Kent Covington reports the turmoil:
  “Chaos in South Korea Tuesday as demonstrators took to the streets protesting a decision by South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol to declare emergency martial law.” [01:02]

However, facing significant backlash, including from the US government, Yoon lifted the martial law declaration six hours later.

President Biden's Strategic Visit to Angola

President Biden made history as the first US President to visit Angola, emphasizing America’s substantial investment in the region to counter China’s influence.

• Ming Wang quotes Biden’s commitment:
  “The United States is all in all in Angola. We've already my administration alone has invested over $3 billion in Angola thus far.” [02:05]

• Kent Covington adds:
  “Biden touted what he called the largest ever US Rail investment overseas.” [02:22]

Biden’s actions signify a strategic pivot to strengthen US presence in Africa amid rising Chinese investments.

Legal Challenges Against Donald Trump

The episode covers Donald Trump’s legal battles, including his lawyers' attempt to dismiss Hunter Trump's fraud conviction amid his presidential aspirations.

• Lindsay Mast details the legal maneuvers:
  “Trump's lawyers told Manhattan Judge Juan M. Merchand in court papers that dismissal is warranted because of the extraordinary circumstances of his impending return to the White House.” [03:10]

Prosecutors remain steadfast, hinting at delaying sentencing until after Trump's potential second term.

Weapon Shipment to North Korea by Chinese Immigrant

A Chinese national, Sheung Hua Won, faces charges for illegally shipping weapons to North Korea, intending them for a surprise attack against South Korea.

• Kent Covington reports the seizure:
  “A Chinese illegal immigrant has been charged with shipping weapons and ammunition to North Korea, allegedly in exchange for a $2 million payment.” [03:50]

This case underscores ongoing regional tensions and illicit activities undermining international security.

Severe Snowstorms in the Great Lakes Region

Lake effect snowstorms have significantly impacted the Great Lakes area, with forecasts predicting continued heavy snowfall.

• Nick Eicher describes the weather challenges:
  “We'll see another round of snow as another reinforcement of arctic air mass comes in.” [05:11]

Retail experts, however, remain optimistic about the Christmas shopping season despite the weather disruptions.

Record-Breaking Christmas Shopping Season

The National Retail Federation forecasts a robust holiday shopping season, with sales expected to surge by 2.5% to 3.5% above 2023 levels.

• Nick Eicher highlights consumer trends:
  “Cyber Monday earlier this week smashed records with Americans spending more than $13 billion on their online shopping.” [05:28]

UK Moves Closer to Legalizing Assisted Suicide

The UK Parliament is inching towards legalizing assisted suicide, joining countries like Belgium and Canada, amidst growing debates on euthanasia.

• Nick Eicher previews the segment:
  “Last Friday, the UK Parliament moved a step closer to joining countries like Belgium and Canada in legalizing assisted suicide.” [30:59]

World Opinions contributor Brad Littlejohn discusses the cultural shifts driving this change and the ethical dilemmas it presents.

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Washington Wednesday: US Tariff Policies and Trump's Stance

Donald Trump’s administration is revisiting tariffs as a central economic strategy to protect American industries and counter foreign competition, particularly from China.

• Leo Braceno details Trump’s tariff enthusiasm:
  “No secret that President elect Donald Trump really likes tariffs.” [07:02]

• Ming Wang echoes the sentiment:
  “The word tariff is the most beautiful in the dictionary.” [07:06]

Economists like Erica York from the Tax Foundation caution against the economic disruptions tariffs can cause:
“Tariffs always create disruption as the markets they affect look for ways to get around those steeper costs.” [08:16]

The discussion delves into the political calculus behind tariffs, their impact on domestic and international markets, and the potential legislative hurdles Trump may face in implementing his tariff agenda.

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World Tour: International Protests and Conflicts

Protests in Georgia's Capital, Tbilisi

Persistent demonstrations in Tbilisi have erupted over the government’s suspension of EU accession talks, with clashes resulting in numerous hospitalizations and detentions.

• Onizi Adua reports:
  “Protests have continued for days in the capital city of Tbilisi since the government decided last week to suspend talks of joining the European Union for four years.” [17:49]

Venezuelan Demonstrations Demand Justice

In Venezuela, activists protest against the controversial election results that saw Nicolas Maduro declared the winner without transparent vote counts, calling for the release of detained protesters.

• Onizi Adua states:
  “During the opposition-led march on Sunday, protesters released white balloons and shouted freedom for the nearly 2,000 people who are still imprisoned after post-election demonstrations.” [18:14]

Syrian Rebels Regain Aleppo

A significant offensive by Syrian rebels has led to the recapture of key areas in Aleppo, marking a pivotal moment in the long-standing civil conflict.

• Onizi Adua highlights:
  “Syrian rebels are cheering after regaining control of most of the city of Aleppo after a surprise offensive.” [20:01]

Holiday Festivities in Cape Town

Despite global conflicts, Cape Town celebrates "People of Hope" with vibrant festivities, showcasing resilience and communal spirit.

• Onizi Adua concludes:
  “At the end of the countdown, a colorful blend of light illuminated the city's Adele Street. Here's Cape Town Mayor Jordan Hill.” [21:34]

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Word of the Year

Oxford's 2024 Words of the Year reflect contrasting societal trends:

• Oxford Dictionary chose “brain rot,” symbolizing the mental decline from trivial online content.
• Collins Dictionary selected “brat,” redefined by a dance artist to represent confidence and independence.

Nick Eicher muses:
"Perhaps they're both right. It is a bratty, brain-rotting world and we just live here." [22:26]

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Inspiring Story: Dr. Ming Wang’s Journey of Overcoming Adversity

A standout segment features Dr. Ming Wang, a renowned ophthalmologist who transformed his early struggles under China's Cultural Revolution into a life dedicated to healing and philanthropy.

• Dr. Ming Wang shares his conversion to Christianity:
  “So right there, he opened the door in my life, making me realize that human eye is so complicated, but yet can form so nearly perfectly. Most of the time it's because it did not form out of randomness, as atheists believe. It formed with a purpose, and that purpose is vision.” [24:38]

• Lindsay Mast inquires about his philanthropic efforts:
  “The people who appreciate sight the most are those who used to be blind. People who appreciate freedom the most are those who used to not have freedom.” [26:09]

Dr. Wang emphasizes the importance of perseverance and gratitude, advocating for unity and appreciation of America’s foundational principles amidst growing societal divisions.

• Dr. Wang reflects on his mission:
  “We need to remind all the young people the cornerstone of our country, the Constitution.” [26:09]

His journey from adversity to success underscores themes of resilience, faith, and the pursuit of common ground.

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Conclusion and Preview

As the episode wraps up, listeners are reminded of the ongoing legal battles, global unrest, and transformative personal stories shaping the world. The hosts hint at upcoming segments, including deeper dives into the Supreme Court case and interviews with affected families and frontline professionals.

• Nick Eicher previews the next episode:
  “Tomorrow, more on today's arguments before the Supreme Court over so-called gender-affirming care. We'll talk with a few families who wish Tennessee's ban had been in effect earlier and we will meet an American doctor serving in Gaza.” [35:16]

Lindsay Mast concludes with a biblical reflection:
"Think over what I say, for the Lord will give you understanding in everything." [35:33]

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Final Thoughts

This episode of The World and Everything In It masterfully intertwines urgent news stories with profound personal narratives, offering listeners both information and inspiration. Through meticulous reporting and heartfelt interviews, WORLD Radio continues its mission to inform, educate, and inspire grounded in biblical principles.

Transcript

[Lindsay Mast]

Good morning. Today, a landmark case at the Supreme Court. The question is whether states have the right to protect children from medical attempts at sex change.

[Kent Covington]

It potentially opens up a Pandora's box on nearly any law that mentions biological realities of sex, male and female.

[Nick Eicher]

That's ahead on Washington Wednesday. Also today, world tour and a renowned eye surgeon on overcoming adversity and embracing friends.

[Ming Wang]

People who appreciate freedom the most are those who used to not have freedom.

[Nick Eicher]

And how doctor assisted suicide became mainstream.

[Lindsay Mast]

It's Wednesday, December 4th. This is the world and everything in it from listener supported World Radio. I'm Lindsay Mast.

[Nick Eicher]

And I'm Nick Eicher. Good morning.

[Lindsay Mast]

Now, time for the news with Kent Covington.

[Kent Covington]

Chaos in South Korea Tuesday as demonstrators took to the streets protesting a decision by South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol to declare emergency martial law. Yoon insisted the declaration was necessary, saying that pro communist forces had infiltrated parliament and were conducting seditious anti state activities on behalf of North Korea. In Washington, Pentagon spokesman Pat Ryder told.

[Elizabeth Prelogar]

Reporters Secretary Austin and the Department of.

[Kent Covington]

Defense continued to monitor the developing situation.

[Elizabeth Prelogar]

In the Republic of South Korea.

[Kent Covington]

He said the US Government was keeping a close eye on the Korean peninsula, but said it saw no change in North Korean activities. Shortly after Yoon's announcement, South Korea's parliament voted to halt the martial law declaration. The president ultimately relented, lifting his order just six hours after he issued it. President Biden made some history on Tuesday, becoming the first US President to visit Angola. His stop at the sub Saharan African country was aimed at highlighting billions of dollars in commitments there.

[Ming Wang]

The United States is all in all in Angola. We've already my administration alone has invested over $3 billion in Angola thus far.

[Kent Covington]

The future of the world is here.

[Ming Wang]

In Africa and Angola.

[Kent Covington]

Biden touted what he called the largest ever US Rail investment overseas. His administration has been trying to counter China, which has a strong and growing influence in Africa. And National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said Tuesday, we hope very much that the incoming team will take a hard.

[Nick Eicher]

Look at this and see for themselves.

[Kent Covington]

The value in it and the benefits again, not just to the people of Africa, sub Saharan Africa, but the whole.

[Leo Braceno]

Continent as well as the American people.

[Kent Covington]

President Biden addressed reporters about those investments in Africa, but he dodged questions about his presidential pardon of his son Hunter. After vowing he would not pardon him, President elect Donald Trump's lawyers have formally asked a judge to throw out his business fraud conviction in New York. World's Kristin Flavin has more.

[Lindsay Mast]

Trump's lawyers told Manhattan Judge Juan M. Merchand in court papers that dismissal is warranted because of the extraordinary circumstances of his impending return to the White House. They argue continuing the case would present unconstitutional disruptions to the institution of the presidency, and they say it would undermine the, quote, overwhelming national mandate granted to Trump by voters last month. Prosecutors have said they will fight any efforts to dismiss the case, but they have indicated openness to delaying sentencing until after Trump's second term ends in 2029. They have until Monday to formally respond to Trump's filing for World I'm Kristin Flavin.

[Kent Covington]

A Chinese illegal immigrant has been charged with shipping weapons and ammunition to North Korea, allegedly in exchange for a 2 million doll payment. Federal authorities in Los Angeles say 41 year old Sheung Hua Won told investigators that the weapons were to be used for a surprise attack against South Korea. U.S. attorney for the Central District of California Martin Estrada we allege that he conspired with government officials in North Korea to obtain military supplies, including firearms and ammunition, to obtain technology and then conceal that technology and those materials in shipping containers that departed from the port of Long beach and then ship those materials on to North Korea. The suspect reportedly came to the US More than a decade ago on a student visa from China and stayed in the country illegally. Federal authorities say Hwon admitted to exporting weapons and ammunition to North Korea at the request of its government. He could face decades behind bars. Snowblowers hard at work in the Great Lakes region Lake effect snowstorms pounded the area over the weekend and into this week, dumping several feet of snow. Some areas east of Lake Ontario reported more than five feet. And Dave Hamrick with the Weather Prediction center warns that another storm system could add several more inches later this week, especially into Thursday.

[Nick Eicher]

We'll see another round of snow as another reinforcement of arctic air mass comes.

[Kent Covington]

In from the northwest parts of Western Pennsylvania could see another three to nine inches. Retail experts, though, say the forecast for the Christmas shopping season is looking pretty good. National Retail Federation CEO Matthew Shea told reporters our forecast for the winter holiday.

[Nick Eicher]

Spending season that's November 1st to December 31st is that sales will increase between 2 and a half percent and 3 and a half percent above 2023 levels.

[Kent Covington]

That would reflect a record high for holiday shopping already so called Cyber Monday earlier this week smashed records with Americans spending more than $13 billion on their online shopping. That came after shoppers spent almost $11 billion online on Black Friday, a 10% increase over last year. I'm Kent Covington and straight ahead threatened tariffs in Tennessee's day in court. Plus the United Kingdom moved a step closer to allowing doctor assisted suicide. This is the world and everything in it.

[Nick Eicher]

It is Wednesday, the 4th of December. You're listening to World Radio, and we are glad you've joined us today. Good morning, I'm Nick Eicher.

[Lindsay Mast]

And I'm Lindsay Mast. Time now for Washington Wednesday. Today we preview the landmark case at the Supreme Court on how far states can go to protect gender confused children.

[Nick Eicher]

But first, President elect Trump and his tough talk on tariffs. Here is Washington bureau reporter Leo it's.

[Leo Braceno]

No secret that President elect Donald Trump really likes tariffs.

[Ming Wang]

The word tariff is the most beautiful.

[Kent Covington]

Word in the dictionary.

[Lindsay Mast]

More beautiful than in love.

[Leo Braceno]

Throughout his campaign, Trump pitched tariffs as a key instrument to protecting American industries from competition abroad, as a way to keep companies inside US Borders and as a way to spur economic growth.

[Ming Wang]

Most beautiful word in the dictionary.

[Lindsay Mast]

Remember that it's going to make our.

[Kent Covington]

Company, it's going to make our country rich.

[Leo Braceno]

The idea behind tariffs is simple. By raising the tax costs for certain imports entering the U.S. they favor domestic markets and products. And politically, that messaging has paid off. So much so that whether or not they actually deliver those ends is beside the point.

[Lindsay Mast]

You know, just given the political success, I would say, of the tariffs he.

[Daniel Sur]

Imposed in his first term, there were some studies that found that even in.

[Lindsay Mast]

Counties and districts where tariffs led to.

[Daniel Sur]

Net losses in jobs, they led to political benefits for Trump and Republicans in the next election cycle.

[Leo Braceno]

Erica York is a senior economist and research director with the Tax Foundation. She says that tariffs always create disruption as the markets they affect look for ways to get around those steeper costs.

[Lindsay Mast]

The most tariffs can do is kind of reallocate activity.

[Daniel Sur]

It can reallocate some investment and some workers to protected sectors, but that's coming from someplace else.

[Leo Braceno]

Sometimes that encourages domestic growth, but it almost always means that prices go higher for someone and not just those paying the tax. York points to Trump's tariffs on steel and aluminum in his first administration.

[Daniel Sur]

So we produced more steel and aluminum in the United States and we got to sell it at a higher price.

[Lindsay Mast]

So profits in those industries grew, but.

[Daniel Sur]

That means those in downstream industries had to pay higher input costs.

[Leo Braceno]

This time around, York says Trump is doubling down on his use of tariffs, and it's evident from his Cabinet choices.

[Elizabeth Prelogar]

I just reject the idea that it's.

[Nick Eicher]

Going to be anything like a sales tax.

[Leo Braceno]

Kevin Hassett is Trump's choice to head the National Economic Council. He previously served as White House economic adviser during Trump's first term. Back in September, Hassett told PBS that China's response to US Tariffs will likely depend on who else is competing in the market.

[Elizabeth Prelogar]

Suppose there's a product that we only.

[Nick Eicher]

Buy from the Chinese.

[Elizabeth Prelogar]

Then if we put a tariff on.

[Nick Eicher]

It, then they'll pass it through in terms of a higher price to us.

[Elizabeth Prelogar]

And if there's a product that we.

[Nick Eicher]

Can buy from other people and we.

[Elizabeth Prelogar]

Put a tariff on the Chinese, then they won't.

[Leo Braceno]

York believes that another part of Trump's tariff game is to play for the reactions they elicit. By forcing countries to the negotiating table with a threat of tariffs, he might be able to accomplish other priorities as well, like border security or drug enforcement. It seems to be working. On Saturday, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau met with Donald Trump at Mar a Lag.

[Ming Wang]

It was an extra conversation.

[Leo Braceno]

Trudeau and Claudia Sheinbaum, the president of Mexico, have already started engaging with Trump on what tariffs mean for their relationship with the U.S. they've also forced political conversations inside those countries, too. In Canada, opposition leader Pierre Poliev is calling on Trudeau to pull back on raising the carbon tax on fuel.

[Lindsay Mast]

Combining this kind of crippling energy tax.

[Kent Covington]

Increase with potential tariffs from Donald Trump would push our economy into a nightmare and a tailspin.

[Leo Braceno]

But inside the US it's not yet clear how serious the threat of tariffs is or how Trump will go about implementing them. While the president has some power to impose tariffs on his own, it's not an absolute power. He's going to need Congress to pass legislation at some point. But with razor thin majorities, free market Republicans may push back on Trump's tariff proposals. So what happens if Trump asks them to tie tariffs to another high priority, like renewing the tax cuts from 2017? Here's York again.

[Lindsay Mast]

It's going to be a big point.

[Daniel Sur]

Of tension, especially if there's a push to try to include some of these tariffs in legislation.

[Lindsay Mast]

So I see it as a big.

[Daniel Sur]

Risk to the agenda that Congress has in dealing with the tax expirations.

[Leo Braceno]

But that's a question for January. Reporting for World, I'm Leo Braceno.

[Lindsay Mast]

Now, from tariffs to transgender procedures for minors, today the Supreme Court will hear oral arguments in the case United States v. Skirmetti.

[Nick Eicher]

Jonathan Skirmetti is Attorney General of Tennessee. That state passed a law back in 2023 that put restrictions on cross sex hormones and body altering procedures for minors. The American Civil Liberties Union and some families in Tennessee sued, saying that the law violates their rights. And today that case is before the supr.

[Lindsay Mast]

Now, there's a lot to cover here, so tomorrow you'll hear from families and individuals harmed by those procedures. Then we'll cover the legal arguments on Monday. But today, an overview of what's at stake in the case. Here's Washington bureau reporter Carolina Lumeta.

[Daniel Sur]

Diane Clements of Sacramento, California, has been sitting in front of the Supreme Court since 11am Tuesday morning waiting for today's oral arguments.

[Kent Covington]

I'm not good with cold, but I've.

[Ming Wang]

Got lots of layers and I've got.

[Kent Covington]

My hand warmers and my electric socks.

[Elizabeth Prelogar]

And so I'm doing good. And hot water.

[Lindsay Mast]

So I'm doing okay.

[Kent Covington]

Thank you.

[Daniel Sur]

Public seating for oral arguments is first come, first served. And for big cases, coming early means days in advance. About 20 people were holding spots along the sidewalk as of last night, including an attorney self identified as Russell Rhode.

[Lindsay Mast]

I am transgender and a lawyer and.

[Elizabeth Prelogar]

Interested in writing about transgender issues in the law. And this is a case that's going to decide potentially whether transgender people are protected under the equal protection clause of the 14th Amendment.

[Daniel Sur]

Other court watchers see this as a case pitting parental rights against the state's power to regulate. Here's World Opinions contributor and attorney Daniel Sur.

[Kent Covington]

And so we're actually in this very.

[Nick Eicher]

Unique posture in this case where conservatives who are usually championing parents rights in other settings like a public school, are in this instance skeptical of the parents rights claims and instead insisting on the power of the legislature to regulate. And conversely, we have liberals who often are trying to put parents rights in the context of broader social rights or.

[Kent Covington]

Broader community responsibilities for children, are here.

[Nick Eicher]

Insisting on the priority of the parents and their right to direct their child's medical care, including the right to have.

[Kent Covington]

A transgender surgery on their child.

[Daniel Sur]

The case is about the due process and equal protection clauses in the Constitution. But experts expect the parental rights issue to come up quickly during oral arguments. With a conservative majority of six justices, it is likely they will side with Tennessee on ideological grounds. But determining whose right trumps the other could be less clear.

[Nick Eicher]

At a fundamental level, it's what does.

[Leo Braceno]

It mean to be human?

[Ming Wang]

Because until we know what it means.

[Nick Eicher]

To be human, we don't really even.

[Ming Wang]

Know what healthcare is.

[Daniel Sur]

David Fowler is the president of the alliance for Law and Liberty, based in Tennessee. He said the law was originally passed after the state found out that Vanderbilt Hospital in Nashville made significant profits performing hormone treatments and reproductive organ altering surgeries on children. But the plaintiffs argue that stopping these procedures discriminates against people who do not identify with their biological sex. Here's Fowler again, and really what we're.

[Kent Covington]

Talking about here is redefining human beings.

[Nick Eicher]

Into the category of cisgendered and transgendered.

[Kent Covington]

We're no longer just human beings, but.

[Nick Eicher]

Our humanity is understood subjectively as to.

[Kent Covington]

How we relate to our bodies.

[Daniel Sur]

Tennessee and the families are not the only litigants before the court today. The Department of Justice is also arguing the case against the Tennessee law. U.S. solicitor General Elizabeth Prelogar has said the outcome is of particular interest to the Biden administration, but that administration only has a month left in office. Here's Daniel Sur again.

[Nick Eicher]

Were it argued three months from now.

[Elizabeth Prelogar]

I don't know that the United States.

[Nick Eicher]

Department of Justice would take the same position.

[Kent Covington]

It is unusual for the department to.

[Nick Eicher]

Take such an aggressive role in bringing.

[Kent Covington]

A case directly against the state law.

[Nick Eicher]

Which I think just shows you the political influence of the transgender activist lobby within the Biden administration to get them to take this unusually aggressive stand against the state law.

[Daniel Sur]

On the other side, dozens of organizations ranging from the Family Research Council to the governor of Texas filed friend of the court briefs in support of Tennessee's law that includes the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention. ERLC President Brent Leatherwood says the case before the justices is clear cut.

[Kent Covington]

It's really a straightforward instance of the government, the state government in this instance, stepping in for a vulnerable population and saying this is an inappropriate medical intervention here.

[Daniel Sur]

When a similar New Hampshire law takes effect on January 1, 26 states will have a law on the books that prohibits both hormonal treatments and surgical procedures for gender confused minors. If the Supreme Court rules against Tennessee, the new precedent could have a domino effect across the country. Here's Leatherwood again.

[Kent Covington]

It potentially opens up a Pandora's box on nearly any law that mentions biological realities of sex of male and female. So this case, based on how it is decided, it could have very far reaching effects.

[Daniel Sur]

Reporting for world, I'm Carolina Lumeta in Washington.

[Kent Covington]

Additional support comes from Dort University, whose flexible online graduate programs empower Christian professionals to better serve their communities. Until all is made new. And from Eyewitness, 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.

[Nick Eicher]

Coming up next on the World and everything in It World tour with our reporter in Africa, Onizi Adua.

[Onizi Adua]

We start today at protests in the Black Sea nation of Georgia. Protests have continued for days in the capital city of Tbilisi since the government decided last week to suspend talks of joining the European Union for four years. On Sunday, protesters gathered once again outside the parliament building and threw fireworks as riot police tried to use water cannons to disperse them. Georgia's Interior Ministry said at least 27 protesters and 16 police officers were hospitalized. More than 100 people have also been detained since the demonstrations began. Here's Georgian Prime Minister Iraqli Kobakidze. Critics accuse the ruling Georgian Dream Party of pushing the country towards closer ties with Russia. The party's victory in an October parliamentary election sparked accusations of Russian influence and voting irregularities. The pro Western and mostly ceremonial president Salomeh Zurabishvili, has also criticized the ruling party. She says that she stands with the protesters as they seek to return the country to its European path and hold new elections. Next we head over to Venezuela, where demonstrators there are demanding the release of people detained after a controversial July vote. Venezuela's National Electoral Council declared incumbent President Nicolas Maduro the winner without releasing the vote tallies. Both Maduro and opposition candidate Edmondo Gonzalez have said they will assume office on January 10. During the opposition led march on Sunday, protesters released white balloons and shouted freedom for the nearly 2,000 people who are still imprisoned after post election demonstrations. Sairam Rivas is an activist who joined the march. She says they are demanding justice for those who are detained and those who died during the protests. Over in the Middle East, Syrian rebels are cheering after regaining control of most of the city of Aleppo after a surprise offensive. Thousands of opposition fighters now guard key landmarks in Syria's second largest city, including the international airport and the old citadel. The insurgents also claimed control of dozens of nearby towns and villages. The latest fighting is the most significant in recent years. It's also the first time the rebels have returned to Aleppo since government troops regained control eight years ago. Syria's civil war began in 2011. Government troops regained control of much of the country with support from Iran and Russia years later, but the war never formally ended. The latest rebels are part of a new coalition called Military Operations Command. They say their offensive is a response to growing attacks from the Syrian government and Iranian militias. Karim Chahayeb is with the Associated Press.

[Ming Wang]

This comes at an interesting time as Syria's key allies, Russia and Iran, are preoccupied by conflicts of their own. And this recent flare up in the Middle east also comes as there's conflict in the Gaza Strip and Lebanon.

[Onizi Adua]

Russia and Syria have conducted joint air raids against the insurgents. We wrap up with a holiday festivity this time in the South African legislative capital of Cape Town. Children and adults wore colorful headgear to the Sunday event with the theme People of Hope.

[Leo Braceno]

3, 2, 1.

[Onizi Adua]

At the end of the countdown. A colorful blend of light illuminated the city's Adele Street. Here's Cape Town Mayor Jordan Hill.

[Elizabeth Prelogar]

Lewis Capetonians are the people of hope.

[Ming Wang]

They really give me hope.

[Lindsay Mast]

They find ways through difficult things.

[Elizabeth Prelogar]

They are showing the example to the.

[Nick Eicher]

Country of what is possible.

[Elizabeth Prelogar]

So Captonians are the people of hope.

[Nick Eicher]

And this is the city of hope.

[Onizi Adua]

Cape Town has organized the festivities for more than five decades. That's it for this week's world tour. Reporting for World Amuniz Adua in Abuja, Nigeria.

[Nick Eicher]

Oxford's 2024 Word of the year apparently could not be contained in a single word. So the editors picked two. Brain rot. It's the phrase that captures the mental decline brought on by overindulging in trivial online content. Meantime, another dictionary publisher went the other way. Collins Dictionary picked brat as its word of the year, not for an ill mannered child, but as redefined this summer by a dance album artist. According to Collins Bratz, that now means being characterized by a confident, independent and hedonistic attitude. So while one word laments online culture, the other doubles down on it. So perhaps they're both right. It is a bratty, brain rotted world and we just live here. It's the world and everything in it. Today is Wednesday, December 4th. Thank you for turning to World Radio to help start your day. Good morning, I'm Nick Eicher.

[Lindsay Mast]

And I'm Lindsay Mast. Coming next on the World and everything in it. Opening Eyes. Ming Wang is a renowned ophthalmologist now living in Nashville. His early life in China was deeply affected by the Cultural Revolution and the rule of Mao Zedong. Wang's education was halted for years, but he eventually came to America and studied at Harvard and mit.

[Nick Eicher]

He would go on to pioneer multiple laser eye technologies and founded the Wang foundation for site Restoration, which helps patients free of charge. Wang's conversion to Christianity inspired a character in the movie God's Not Dead. And he's executive director of the 2024 movie Sight that's based on his own life story.

[Lindsay Mast]

Dr. Wang, thank you for joining us.

[Ming Wang]

Thank you.

[Lindsay Mast]

Lindsay, could you start by briefly talking about how you came to know Christ in the first place?

[Ming Wang]

I came to America as a student from China to study and I was an atheist. Actually. I was going to be just like 20 million others sent away to some of the poorest part of the country for hard labor and poverty, for life. And so I fought against that, eventually made my way to America in 1982 at age 21. And I was not interested in anything other than science. But it was in the study of human eye because I wanted to be a laser eye surgeon. Then I found that my atheist worldview got into trouble. So I kept on asking professor question and he finally took me out for lunch. And he said, what's across the street? I said, there's a car. He said, what's the difference between car and human eye? I said, human eye is a little more complicated. He said, okay, can you imagine a pile of random pieces of metal formed itself into a car? I said, no way. And he said, how about human eye? So right there, he opened the door in my life, making me realize that human eye is so complicated, but yet can form so nearly perfectly. Most of the time it's because it did not form out of randomness, as atheists believe. It formed with a purpose, and that purpose is vision. So that was something opened my life, the realization, there's a creator, there's a designer.

[Lindsay Mast]

Well, you're not just an eye surgeon, you're also a philanthropist. One group you've supported is the 917 Society, which gives copies of the Constitution to young people. Why is that so important to you?

[Ming Wang]

The people who appreciate sight the most are those who used to be blind. People who appreciate freedom the most are those who used to not have freedom. And I appreciate so much what we have here in America, the freedom and the faith. You know, the human nature is that when we always have something, we do tend to take it for granted. And I think the behavior of many of Americans today, the polarization, the increasing, increasing unwillingness to work together, the increasing fixation on differences rather than appreciating what we all have in common as fellow Americans, the increasing inability to work across political aisles, racial divides and ethnic divisions. So lack of common ground seeking is the symptom that reflecting our deep lack of appreciation of America, I recognize America is about the two cornerstones. One is the Constitution, and second is the Bible, the faith. So in terms of freedom, the Constitution, you know, our young people, next generation, who are all born in a country here with freedom, some of them have taken for granted and have no idea what it's like living under, you know, socialism and communism. So we need to remind all the young people the cornerstone of our country, the Constitution. So that's why I've been involved in the society, 917 society. And our goal has been to put the Constitution in, in the hands of every 8th graders here in America. And we have essentially achieved in putting, successfully putting the constitution in schools. Eighth, eighth graders in all 50 states.

[Lindsay Mast]

Now, that divisiveness that you talked about, was that something you experienced much when you first came to the US how has it changed since you arrived back in the 80s?

[Ming Wang]

I think definitely America has changed in the last 42 years. Since I've been here, in the last 42 years, I've seen our country is going the wrong direction. We're becoming a country that is so increasingly fixated on differences rather than appreciating what we have in common. For us as Christians, we all have this common ground, doesn't matter. Nationality, ethnicity, political persuasion. Our common ground is Christ. So I see that a sense of unity, the sense of putting Christ above everything else, has been eroded here in America. And not taking for granted our freedom is not something we just say, oh, I love America. It's an action we have to do. And that action, proving that we truly love Christ, love America, is our willingness to work together despite our differences.

[Lindsay Mast]

You've accomplished so much since China's Cultural Revolution. I'm sure it's taken a lot of grit. Can you tell us what you've learned about the importance of equality, like perseverance from your experiences?

[Ming Wang]

Sometimes people ask me what is the best predictor for success. I realized that the most important predictor, what I have experienced in life to get anywhere is the grit, the tenaciousness one needs to have. And I've been fortunate to have built that tenaciousness. We were very poor as a family during Cultural Revolution in China. My parents had to live on the combined salaries of $15 a month. But despite the circumstance that they saw beyond the circumstance and they insisted me and my brother study, study, study. And later on in life. What I learned to develop the grit and the tenaciousness is to when we encounter the difficulty challenges, try to, even for small ones, try to fight it. And to learn to develop the ability to fight through small things. And when you are successful in small things, overcome the challenges one develop more confidence and one develop the ability to train how to fight adversities and challenges. Being a Christian, I learned the definition of happiness is not what you do is successful or not is have you tried your best?

[Lindsay Mast]

Dr. Ming Wang is an ophthalmologist, author and philanthropist in Nashville, Tennessee. His book From Darkness to Sight is the inspiration for the 2024 movie Sight. Thank you, Dr. Wang.

[Ming Wang]

Thank you, Lindsay. Appreciate.

[Lindsay Mast]

Today is Wednesday, December 4th. Good morning. This is the world and everything in it from Listener Supported World Radio. I'm Lindsey Mast.

[Nick Eicher]

And I'm Nick Eicher. Last Friday, the UK Parliament moved a step closer to joining countries like Belgium and Canada in legalizing assisted suicide. World Opinions contributor Brad Littlejohn says it's not hard to see why.

[Elizabeth Prelogar]

Since the British Parliament previously debated and decisively rejected assisted suicide in 2015, several other Western countries have embraced some form of it with grim results. In most cases, what was sold as a strictly controlled practice with very strict criteria has begun to broaden into a blank check. In Canada, the program is known as medical assistance in dying, or MAID. Assisted deaths there grew 13 fold in just six years after legalization, making up 4% of all deaths nationwide. Now, a practice once intended only for terminally ill and grievously suffering patients has become the go to option for anyone tired of living or deemed unworthy of life. Despite such cautionary tales, support for euthanasia continues to grow. Most frequently, the practice is justified as a compassionate antidote to the intolerable suffering that accompanies some deaths. And indeed, no one can be unmoved by such suffering. The timing is odd, however. Why is it that support for assisted dying has ballooned in exactly the same era and in the same places that medicine has succeeded most in mitigating end of life suffering? Two centuries ago, no one could expect to have their passing eased by morphine, and yet assisted suicide was almost unthinkable in the West. What has Changed? At least four trends have contributed to this cultural transformation. First, a series of changes in biotechnology and bioethics have encouraged us to blur the boundary between begetting and making human life. With the advent of easy contraception, we began to think of the creation of a new human child as fundamentally a matter of choice. And if a matter of choice, a matter of technique, human will, aided by scientific know how, could be employed either to make a baby or to stop one being made that which we have the power to make, however logically, we must have the power to unmake. Second, and relatedly, we have elevated choice to a self justifying idol. One British member of Parliament in support of the bill writes, life is precious, but so is choice, and goes on to argue that choice is more precious. This mindset follows from decades of rhetoric on autonomy that has become endemic in our culture. My body, my choice Third, technology has conditioned us to look for the easy way out. Even as medicine has helped to dramatically reduce the suffering of illness, it has also discouraged us from learning how to bear suffering well. Even as transportation and communications technologies have vastly reduced waiting times, they have deprived us of ever learning the virtue of patience, the suffering of bearing time as a culture, accustomed to instant gratification and painless escape, steadily ages. The pressure for an easy exit from life itself will only grow. Finally, most deaths now take place in hospitals or hospices, not at home, and often with only a doctor or nurse present. Today, more and more people die alone. Because more and more people live alone, family bonds have been attenuated and close friendships have become increasingly uncommon. As technology multiplies our connections with others, it weakens and dilutes each bond. A common theme in patients seeking medically assisted suicide is loneliness and isolation. Even as the body count of wrongful deaths piles up, popular pressure for euthanasia is only likely to increase in coming years. And it is not hard to see why all the assumptions and values of our society point in that direction. If Christians are to have a chance of holding the line in looming legislative battles, they will have to fundamentally challenge the culture of convenience, choice and self creation that has made the campaign for self destruction so plausible. Today. I'm Brad Littlejohn.

[Nick Eicher]

Tomorrow, more on today's arguments before the Supreme Court over so called gender affirming care. We'll talk with a few families who wish Tennessee's ban had been in effect earlier and we will meet an American doctor serving in Gaza. That and more tomorrow. I'm Nick Eicher.

[Lindsay Mast]

And I'm Lindsay Mast. 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 wrote to his protege Timothy share in suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. No soldier gets entangled in civilian pursuits since his aim is to please the one who enlisted him. An athlete is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules. It is the hardworking farmer who ought to have the first share of the crops. Think over what I say, for the Lord will give you understanding in everything. Verses 3 through 7 of 2 Timothy chapter 2 go now in grace and peace.