1.9.25 Response to China’s cyber attacks, a hostage brother's devotion, and survival of the American steel industry

Summary

The World and Everything In It

Episode: 1.9.25
Release Date: January 9, 2025
Host: Mary Reichard & Myrna Brown
Produced by: WORLD Radio

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Chinese Cyber Attacks on the United States

Segments: [00:05 – 14:26]

The episode opens with a pressing concern about China's escalating cyberattacks targeting American cyberspace. Reports have emerged indicating that Chinese hackers infiltrated the U.S. Treasury Department, potentially accessing sensitive information related to sanctions and economic data. Myrna Brown highlights the sophistication of these operations, noting that over the past year, China has planted malware and established infrastructure within major U.S. phone companies, remaining undetected for extended periods.

Expert Insights: Glenn Gerstel, from the Center for Strategic Studies and former general counsel of the NSA, explains the depth of these intrusions:

"This isn't a case of just a burglar going down a block trying every front door handle. This instead is very sophisticated." ([07:35])

Harold Furchgott Roth of the Hudson Institute emphasizes the complexity and persistence of the attacks:

"They just lay low and came back every few months to make sure that the door was still open." ([09:14])

Policy Debate: The discussion shifts to potential U.S. responses. While some advocate for imposing stricter sanctions or enabling retaliatory actions against China, others caution against escalation that could lead to cyber warfare. Ronald Furchgott Roth argues for holding perpetrators accountable through legal means, whereas Glenn Gerstel suggests that the U.S. might need to accept a "chronic disease" scenario, where cyber threats become a persistent issue akin to living with a chronic illness.

FBI Warnings: Mary Reichard reports on the FBI's advisory to the public to exercise caution with digital communications:

"Users are being warned to be careful when texting one another. These hackers could potentially intercept text messages or even listen to your conversations on your phone." ([11:58])

Cybersecurity expert Dr. Eric Cole adds:

"Cybersecurity for the average person is not about being the most secure. It's about being just a little more secure than everyone else." ([12:40])

He further elaborates on the relentless nature of cyber threats:

"It's inevitable that this will continue to happen short term because we don't have any international laws on cybersecurity." ([13:07])

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The Or Levy Hostage Story

Segments: [14:32 – 22:16]

Travis Kercher brings a moving account of Michael Levy's relentless efforts to secure the release of his brother, Or Levy, who remains a hostage of Hamas. The narrative details the harrowing experience of the Levy family, highlighting the personal toll and the broader geopolitical implications.

Personal Testimony: Michael Levy shares his deep sense of responsibility and emotional anguish:

"I always felt a sense of responsibility for my youngest brother... to protect him and watch out for his happiness." ([15:13])

The episode recounts the tragic events of October 7, 2023, when Or Levy was abducted during the Supernova Music Festival near Gaza. Terrorists attacked the bomb shelter where Or and others sought refuge, resulting in the deaths of 18 individuals, including Or's wife, Inav, and their son, Alma.

Michael Levy’s Plea: Addressing the United Nations Security Council, Michael Levy passionately advocates for action:

"Your silence is deafening. Your inaction is suffocating. For every day this council fails to act, the message to the world is clear that some lives are worth saving and others are not." ([19:22])

Trump’s Involvement: President-elect Donald Trump issues a stern warning to Hamas, vowing to take severe actions if hostages are not released before his inauguration:

"I'll do everything to bring him back. I will not rest. I will not stop until Or and the rest of the hostages are back." ([21:31])

The segment underscores a glimmer of hope as Hamas releases a list of hostages willing to be freed if a ceasefire is achieved, with Or’s name included. Michael Levy expresses cautious optimism following Trump’s threats:

"For the first time in 15 months, I have hope." ([20:49])

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Wildfires and Severe Weather in the United States

Segments: [01:02 – 06:51]

Kent Covington delivers urgent news from Los Angeles, where massive wildfires are ravaging the region under extreme Santa Ana winds. The Pacific Palisades fire has become the most destructive in the city's history, devastating over 10,000 acres and more than a thousand structures. Actor Steve Guttenberg describes the chaos:

"I've never seen the winds in my 25-year career." ([01:44])

As firefighters grapple with the blazes, southern states brace for an onslaught of freezing rain and snow, threatening millions with hazardous travel conditions. Officials urge residents to stay off the roads unless absolutely necessary:

"If you're one of the parts of the state that's going to have icy roads, stay home for the next day or so." ([03:02])

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Political Landscape: Trump’s Agenda and Legal Challenges

Segments: [03:09 – 06:51]

The political segment covers President-elect Donald Trump's meeting with GOP lawmakers, where he pushes for a comprehensive bill encompassing tax cuts, border security, and energy policy. Trump emphasizes unity within the party:

"We're going to make America great again." ([02:44])

However, internal debates arise over whether to pass a single omnibus bill or break it into multiple pieces to expedite legislative success. Senator Roger Marshall optimistically predicts swift progress:

"I think that the president is practicing the art of the deal." ([03:54])

The episode also touches on Trump's legal battles, including his request to the Supreme Court to halt his sentencing in a business fraud case. Legal experts like Ilya Soman suggest Trump's motives may be more about reputation than legal outcomes:

"This may be more about clearing his name than anything else." ([04:35])

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U.S. Military Aid to Ukraine and Recent Tragedies in Israel

Segments: [04:35 – 06:51]

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin announces an additional $500 million in military aid to Ukraine, aiming to bolster defenses before the Biden administration transitions. Secretary Tony Blinken remarks on ensuring that any negotiations to end the war are approached from a position of strength:

"We want to make sure that the incoming administration will be able to oversee such a negotiation from a position of strength." ([05:35])

Tragic news from Israel reports the death of Yosef Al Zaydeni and his son Hamza at the hands of Hamas in Gaza. The Israeli military continues efforts to identify additional remains, underscoring the ongoing regional tensions and humanitarian crises.

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Recycling Christmas Trees: A Cautionary Tale

Segments: [22:52 – 24:07]

In a lighter yet informative segment, the podcast explores a Belgian initiative promoting the recycling of Christmas trees into food. Cities like Ghent suggest methods such as stripping needles and blanching them for use in flavored butter. However, concerns from the Belgian Food Agency highlight potential risks from pesticides and flame retardants:

"Christmas trees are not destined to enter the food chain." ([23:13])

The segment humorously references Yule Gibbons’ nostalgic cereal promotions, juxtaposing public health advisories with festive recycling ideas.

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The American Steel Industry: Challenges and Prospects

Segments: [24:07 – 31:27]

The finale delves into the declining American steel industry, focusing on Pittsburgh-based Kasanek Manufacturing. Ken Kasanek, the owner, recounts the industry's hardships exacerbated by global trade agreements like NAFTA and recent political decisions. He criticizes NAFTA as the "worst trade deal" for the U.S., leading to outsourcing and reduced competitiveness:

"NAFTA was probably one of the worst... it kept the steel manufacturers of the United States from spending money improving their steel mills." ([26:31])

The Biden administration’s decision to block a $14 billion acquisition of U.S. Steel by Japan's Nippon Steel sparks controversy. While some argue it protects national security, others, including economist Clark Packard from the Cato Institute, caution against alienating key allies and hindering foreign investment:

"It's legal in China to hack a US company, and Cole says until there are incentives to stop, hacking will continue." ([10:59])

Ken Kasanek defends the blocked deal, believing it would have safeguarded jobs in Pittsburgh:

"It's gonna keep people working here in the Pittsburgh area." ([30:07])

The segment concludes with a reflection on the future of American manufacturing, underscored by a dwindling workforce and the enduring legacy of Pittsburgh's steel heritage.

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Education Standards Under Scrutiny

Segments: [31:27 – 35:19]

World commentator Cal Thomas critiques New Jersey's Act 1669, which eliminates the requirement for teachers to pass basic reading, writing, and math tests. Thomas argues that lowering educational standards undermines student performance, citing U.S. students' mediocre rankings in math and science on OECD assessments:

"If spending on students and teachers were directly related to enhanced performance, New Jersey and the rest of the country would be at or near the top in positive education outcomes." ([31:52])

He parallels this policy shift to the military's lowered physical fitness standards, suggesting a broader trend of diminishing expectations. Thomas advocates for a universal school choice program to attract qualified teachers without compromising standards:

"Would a universal school choice program help attract more qualified teachers so the bar could be raised to the previous level instead of lowered? It should be worth a try." ([35:07])

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Conclusion

Closing Remarks:
Mary Reichard and Myrna Brown wrap up the episode by reaffirming WORLD Radio’s commitment to delivering biblically grounded journalism. They encourage listeners to engage with the content thoughtfully and look forward to upcoming segments, ensuring a comprehensive and insightful experience for their audience.

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Notable Quotes:

• Steve Guttenberg on Wildfire Winds:
  "I've never seen the winds in my 25-year career." ([01:44])

• Michael Levy’s Appeal:
  "Your silence is deafening. Your inaction is suffocating." ([19:22])

• Ken Kasanek on NAFTA’s Impact:
  "NAFTA was probably one of the worst... it kept the steel manufacturers of the United States from spending money improving their steel mills." ([26:31])

• Cal Thomas on Education Standards:
  "Would a universal school choice program help attract more qualified teachers so the bar could be raised to the previous level instead of lowered? It should be worth a try." ([35:07])

---

This episode of "The World and Everything In It" offers a multifaceted exploration of current events, blending urgent national security issues with deeply personal human stories and critical industry analyses. Through expert interviews and firsthand accounts, WORLD Radio provides listeners with a nuanced understanding of the complexities shaping today's world.

Transcript

[Mary Reichard]

Good morning. China has been hacking into American cyberspace, possibly even to include your text messages. What can be done about it?

[Myrna Brown]

Also, a man named Or Levy is one of the hostages still held by Hamas. His brother tells of his efforts to get him back home. And a steel worker from Pittsburgh on the history and future of the American.

[Ken Kasanek]

Steel industry during the 90s, early 90s, I can tell you that the steel industry was starting to change.

[Myrna Brown]

And world commentary from Cal Thomas who says dumbing down standards for teachers isn't good for students.

[Mary Reichard]

It's Thursday, January 9th. This is the world and everything in it from listener supported World Radio. I'm Mary Reichert.

[Myrna Brown]

And I'm Myrna Brown. Good morning.

[Mary Reichard]

Time now for News with Kent Covington.

[Kent Covington]

In greater Los Angeles this morning, massive clouds of black smoke loom over the city against orange skies as wildfires continue to tear through the region. Los Angeles County Supervisor Catherine Barker.

[Catherine Barker]

It is surreal.

[Dr. Eric Cole]

It is without words that I can.

[Glenn Gerstel]

Even explain to you what is taking place, especially in my district in Altadena, but also in the bordering area of Pasadena. My heart is, is heavy.

[Kent Covington]

Thousands of firefighters were battling at least three separate blazes fueled by ferocious Santa Ana winds. Los Angeles County Fire Chief Kristen Crowley.

[Mary Reichard]

Remarked, high, high, high winds.

[Steve Guttenberg]

I've never seen the winds in my 25 year career.

[Kent Covington]

One of those blazes, the Pacific Palisades fire, is now the most destructive in the history of Los Angeles, destroying well over 10,000 acres and more than a thousand structures. The flames drove residents to make desperate escapes from burning homes. And actor Steve Guttenberg described chaos as many residents tried to evacuate.

[Dr. Eric Cole]

They started evacuating people. But what happened was there's no way.

[Mary Reichard]

To get out, no way to get downstage drive 2 miles of just gridlock.

[Dr. Eric Cole]

So what happened was the fire got.

[Steve Guttenberg]

So huge and so big on both.

[Dr. Eric Cole]

Sides that they told people to abandon their cars.

[Kent Covington]

The LA area wildfires are now blamed for at least five deaths. Meantime, southern states are bracing for the expected arrival of freezing rain and snow today and tomorrow. Peter Mulleneck with the National Weather Service.

[Glenn Gerstel]

There are over 23 million people that.

[Steve Guttenberg]

Are under winter storm watches that stretch.

[Dr. Eric Cole]

From North Texas all the way to the Southern Appalachians.

[Kent Covington]

That includes major cities like Dallas and Atlanta, which could both receive up to 4 inches of snow. Texas Governor Greg Abbott warned residents, be.

[Catherine Barker]

Careful, be cautious, make sure that you're protecting your own life.

[Dr. Eric Cole]

If you do get out on the road, drive safely.

[Catherine Barker]

If you don't need to be out on the road.

[Dr. Eric Cole]

If you're one of the parts of the state that's going to have icy roads. Stay home for the next day or so.

[Kent Covington]

The weather could wreak havoc on travel, and not just on the highways. Atlanta and Dallas Fort Worth are home to the two busiest airports in the nation. President elect Donald Trump met with GOP lawmakers on Capitol Hill Wednesday. He's pressing them to get his agenda moving in Congress. Trump has asked Republicans to craft one giant bill to include tax cuts as well as border security and energy policy. But some lawmakers have advised the president that they could get those measures passed sooner if broken into multiple bills.

[Donald Trump]

We're looking at the one bill versus.

[Dr. Eric Cole]

Two bills, and whatever it is, doesn't matter where you get the result. And we're going to make America great again.

[Kent Covington]

Senator Roger Marshall said he thinks Republicans will build momentum on Trump's agenda quickly.

[Catherine Barker]

I think that the president is practicing the art of the deal. He's listening to both sides. I think it will end up being one bill. I think that's the only thing that gets through the House. So we need to get this right.

[Kent Covington]

Trump, along with the former and future first lady Melania, also paid tribute to the late President Jimmy Carter. His flag draped casket lay in state at the Capitol Rotunda ahead of today's national funeral. Meanwhile, lawyers for Donald Trump are asking the Supreme Court to call off tomorrow's sentencing and his business fraud case in New York. That appeal comes after state courts refused to postpone the sentencing. George Mason University law professor Ilya Soman says for Trump, this may be more about clearing his name than anything else.

[Dr. Eric Cole]

I think probably it will not succeed, though. I can't be sure about that. But I also think whether it succeeds or not is not going to make much difference because the judge in the case has already signaled that he is. He's probably not actually going to inflict any actual penalty on Trump.

[Kent Covington]

A Manhattan jury convicted Trump in May on 34 felony counts of falsifying business records. It was an unusual case involving infractions usually prosecuted as misdemeanors, if at all. Trump maintains his innocence in the case. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin is in Germany today, where he's expected to announce another $500 million in US military aid to Ukraine. The weapons will be pulled from existing stockpiles as the Biden administration works to get as much military aid to Ukraine as possible before the president leaves office. Secretary of State Tony Blinken said that ahead of possible negotiations to end the war, we want to make sure, and I think we are making sure that.

[Dr. Eric Cole]

The incoming administration will be able if.

[Kent Covington]

It'S going to oversee such a negotiation, to make sure it's doing it from position of strength and that President Trump could get the strongest possible deal. Defense Secretary Austin is meeting at Ramstein Air Base with dozens of allies backing Ukraine against Russian invaders. Tragic news in Israel. Citizens gathered in the Israeli town of Rahat yesterday after news that one of its residents was found dead in Gaza and his son is likely also deceased. The Israeli military said soldiers found the body of 53 year old Yosef Al Zaydeni in an underground tunnel in the Gaza Strip. Authorities are working to identify additional remains that they believe to be Yosef's son, 22 year old Hamza. I'm Kent Covington. And straight ahead, China's hacking program targets US Companies and the government, plus the rise and fall of US Steel. This is the world and everything in it.

[Myrna Brown]

It's Thursday the 9th of January. Thanks for listening to World Radio. Good morning. I'm Myrna Brown.

[Mary Reichard]

And I'm Mary Reichard. First up on the WORLD and everything in it, Chinese cyber hacking. Last week, reports came out that Chinese hackers had infiltrated the US Treasury Department, possibly accessing information about sanction plans and data about the American economy.

[Myrna Brown]

But that's just the latest in a year of Chinese hacking operations. So far, they've planted malware and infrastructure and gathered data from the biggest phone companies for months without anyone noticing. And those are just the ones in public record. How should the US Respond? Here's World Mary Muncie.

[Harold Furchgott Roth]

This isn't a case of just a burglar going down a block trying every.

[Glenn Gerstel]

Front door handle to Glenn Gerstel works with the center for Strategic Studies and has served as the general counsel of the National Security Agency.

[Harold Furchgott Roth]

This instead is very sophisticated.

[Glenn Gerstel]

Over the past year, maybe year and a half, Gerstel says China has been upping its cyber maliciousness and three big.

[Harold Furchgott Roth]

Hacks stand out, the Salt Typhoon attack on the telecom systems and the so called Volt Typhoon, which was the attacks on infrastructure in Guam and by the way, I might add, also around the world.

[Glenn Gerstel]

And of course, the hack on the US Treasury Department. In the case of Salt Typhoon, the hackers got into US Telecom agencies stealing data from thousands of Americans. But two of their main targets were President Elect Donald Trump and his vice president. Gerstel says that to be 100% sure they removed the hackers, they'd have to remove the physical piece of equipment that they got in through. But if the hackers are smart, they'll cover their tracks and hide their code in a router or modem somewhere where no one will look.

[Harold Furchgott Roth]

If you think of a burglar breaking into your house and then sort of tracing his steps and dusting it back so you can't figure out the footprints or fingerprints, well, they did the cyber equivalent of that in a very, very sophisticated way.

[Glenn Gerstel]

It's a similar thing in Volt Typhoo, where hackers infiltrated American infrastructure and planted malware. But as far as we know, they haven't done anything with it. It's like breaking into a house only to unlock the back door and leave.

[Harold Furchgott Roth]

They just lay low and came back every few months to make sure that the door was still open.

[Glenn Gerstel]

And that creates the conditions for an even more sophisticated kind of operation.

[Harold Furchgott Roth]

Supply chain attacks.

[Glenn Gerstel]

That's how the hackers got into the Treasury Department. They infiltrated a third party vendor. And when they interacted with the treasury, the hackers got in with very few warning signs. The bad news is no one is sure whether the hackers are still in the system or not. Especially in the case of the telecom agencies.

[Harold Furchgott Roth]

Maybe you saw one or two things missing, maybe you heard one or two strange noises in the attic, but when you went up to check, there was no one there. But on the other hand, you didn't really see anyone leave the house.

[Glenn Gerstel]

The FBI's cyber unit has assured officials that no other federal agencies were hacked, at least as far as they know. And so far the Chinese government says they haven't sanctioned or helped any of these hacks.

[Harold Furchgott Roth]

And the question is, what is our counter response?

[Glenn Gerstel]

In the past, the US has imposed sanctions and maybe expelled a diplomat. After the recent treasury hack, the government did levy sanctions on a Beijing based cybersecurity company.

[Harold Furchgott Roth]

But we have to be really careful. We don't want to escalate, we don't want to provoke, we don't want to get into a full out cyber war.

[Glenn Gerstel]

Gerstel says hacking on some level is a tit for tat operation. Yes, the Chinese likely have access to our energy grid, but we also have access to theirs. Yes, there are a lot of spying operations going on, but we are doing the same thing and we may be more vulnerable than they are.

[Harold Furchgott Roth]

And the argument is if you live in a glass house, you shouldn't throw stones.

[Glenn Gerstel]

But some believe throwing stones may be the only way to fix the problem.

[Harold Furchgott Roth]

We have laws, and if we're a nation of laws, we ought to hold wrongdoers accountable.

[Glenn Gerstel]

Harold Furchgott Roth is a fellow with the Hudson Institute. He says that instead of punishing the wrongdoer, the US has been telling companies to create better security systems is what.

[Harold Furchgott Roth]

I would call blaming the victim.

[Glenn Gerstel]

He believes the government should impose more sanctions on China or allow reprisals from US Law enforcement. The Supreme Court has taken up a few cases this term over whether the US has jurisdiction over crimes committed against US Citizens abroad and whether US Citizens can sue bad actors abroad. Depending on how they rule, it could open the door to prosecuting crimes like hacking committed against the US from other countries.

[Harold Furchgott Roth]

Taking cybersecurity measures by themselves is not going to solve this problem. We are all vulnerable.

[Glenn Gerstel]

And to that end, the FBI is warning the public not to take any chances.

[Mary Reichard]

The FBI is warning Android and iPhone.

[Dr. Eric Cole]

Users to be careful when texting one another. These hackers could potentially intercept text messages. They could even listen to your conversations on your phone.

[Steve Guttenberg]

The head of Homeland Security calling the threat, in his words, very, very serious.

[Glenn Gerstel]

Basically, the FBI is saying not to text sensitive information without end to end encryption. Texting between iPhones or between Android phones has a few more hoops for hackers to jump through than basic SMS texting. Some apps also claim to be more secure, but is that enough?

[Steve Guttenberg]

I'm Dr. Eric Cole. I'm a cybersecurity professional and I am founder, a secure anchor.

[Glenn Gerstel]

Cole says cybersecurity for the average person is not about being the most secure. It's about being just a little more secure than everyone else.

[Dr. Eric Cole]

And what we call that insecurity is.

[Steve Guttenberg]

The faster than the bear syndrome.

[Glenn Gerstel]

If two people are trying to outrun a bear, you don't have to be faster than the bear, just faster than the other guy. Cole says for someone like President elect Donald Trump, it makes sense to have a cybersecurity team, but for lower profile people, the odds of being targeted directly are pretty low. So just taking some basic encryption precautions makes sense. Besides, trying to keep up is hard. Switching analogies.

[Dr. Eric Cole]

It's always what we call the game of leapfrog.

[Glenn Gerstel]

The bad guys are going to find a hole in the wall and exploit it. The good guys will patch it and tell others to do the same, and then the bad guys will go looking for a new hole.

[Dr. Eric Cole]

It's inevitable that this will continue to.

[Steve Guttenberg]

Happen short term because we don't have any international laws on cybersecurity.

[Glenn Gerstel]

It's legal in China to hack a US company, and Cole says until there are incentives to stop, whether from their own government or ours, hacking will continue. Cyber expert Glenn Gerstel agrees and says in the meantime, we need to figure out how to live with it. Kind of like a chronic disease, it's.

[Harold Furchgott Roth]

Never really perfect, but you can manage it and live with it and go about and have a successful life. And my guess is that we'll probably end up in some kind of, I'll sort of say equilibrium. It's not a happy solution. I wish we could wave a magic wand and fix it, but that's just not realistic.

[Glenn Gerstel]

Reporting for world, I'm Mary Muncie.

[Mary Reichard]

Well, coming up next on THE WORLD and everything in it, looking out for a younger brother. Now, this is a story with details that may not be appropriate for children. So you may want to skip ahead about six minutes.

[Myrna Brown]

Negotiators within the Biden administration are still trying to secure release of the remaining hostages held by Hamas. Earlier this week, the terror group published a list of 34 hostages it says it's willing to release if a deal can be reached. One of those names is OR Levy.

[Mary Reichard]

World reporter Travis Kercher spoke with Orr's older brother Michael about his abduction and about Michael's own efforts to bring his brother home.

[Dr. Eric Cole]

Michael Levy is the oldest of three brothers. As they grew up, Michael admits his parents had their hands full.

[Donald Trump]

As you can imagine, there was a lot of mess in my parents house. We always broke pretty much everything. We used to play any kind of ball game you can imagine in the living room when our parents weren't around.

[Dr. Eric Cole]

Michael says he's always felt a sense of responsibility for his youngest brother or.

[Donald Trump]

I knew I'm the big brother. I also felt I have a mission or I have a job to do, which is protecting him.

[Dr. Eric Cole]

A second mission has been to watch out for Or's happiness. That's why Michael says he's glad or met someone like Enough. The two became friends when or was 18 and enough was 17. Michael says both he and his mother knew immediately there was something special between the two. But Orr insisted that going out with Inev would be like dating his sister. But Michael was right. Audio here from or or in Inav's wedding in August of 2018, Michael says Inav, a dancer, was the perfect match for his brother. She was happy and always smiling.

[Donald Trump]

She was one of those just good people, people that you want to be around, people that you know that will help you if you need anything.

[Dr. Eric Cole]

Three years later, Oren Enov had a son. Owl mug video shot by Inov in their home shows the three of them singing. Well, Almug is trying to sing as they light the last menorah candle during Hanukkah.

[Donald Trump]

They were never about. They loved the same things. They loved traveling and music, music festival.

[Dr. Eric Cole]

Which is why on October 7, 2023, Oren Inov drove to the Supernova Music Festival outside of Gaza. They arrived just nine minutes before the Hamas attacks began.

[Donald Trump]

I texted my mother when the missile attack started at 06:29. He told her that they are heading back. And about 20 minutes after, we texted her again and told her that they are hiding in a bomb shelter.

[Dr. Eric Cole]

Michael has since been to that bomb shelter. It's above ground. He describes it as a concrete bus stop without a door that can fit three people in. A tight squeeze. But Michael says 29 people tried to seek shelter in and around it that day, including Oren Inov. Orr phoned his mother again.

[Donald Trump]

He was completely terrified. He just repeated the sentence, mom, you don't want to know what's going on here.

[Dr. Eric Cole]

Hamas terrorists attacked the shelter with grenades and gunfire. Michael says they threw nine grenades inside. A brave man was able to throw eight of them out, but it was to no avail. Terrorists quickly overran the shelter.

[Donald Trump]

They killed 18 out of the 29 that were inside, including enough. All had to watch enough ring killed in front of him.

[Dr. Eric Cole]

A graphic video taken by the terrorists shows or covered in his wife's blood, loaded onto the back of a pickup truck with fellow hostages Elia Cohen and Hirsch Goldberg. All of them are injured. Goldberg is missing part of his arm. The terrorists are seen shouting to each other and cheering as they drive the hostages into Gaza.

[Donald Trump]

I have another video of him begging them not to take him, but that's it.

[Dr. Eric Cole]

Michael hasn't seen his little brother since.

[Donald Trump]

The assumption of the army of the IDF is that he's still alive. So I choose to trust them because that's what keeps me going.

[Dr. Eric Cole]

Since his little brother's abduction, Michael says his life has been turned upside down. He doesn't work anymore. He doesn't go out or be with friends. His sole purpose is to bring his brother home. Just over two weeks ago, Michael remotely addressed the United Nations Security Council. He was the first hostage family member invited to speak to the council since just after the October 7th massacre occurred.

[Donald Trump]

Your silence is deafening. Your inaction is suffocating. For every day this council fails to act, the message to the world is clear that some lives are worth saving and others are not.

[Dr. Eric Cole]

Michael doesn't think he changed many minds, but he says it was worth it.

[Donald Trump]

I wanted them to look at me and to hear my voice and to hear the pain and to hear what it's like to have your brother held by those monsters. And I wanted to remind them that that's their job.

[Dr. Eric Cole]

But Amidst the anguish, Michael sees a ray of hope. Shortly after winning the election, President elect Donald Trump issued a threat to Hamas. Release the hostages before his inauguration day or face severe consequences. It's a threat Trump reiterated on Tuesday.

[Catherine Barker]

And it will not be good for.

[Donald Trump]

Hamas and it will not be good, frankly, for anyone.

[Dr. Eric Cole]

All hell will break out.

[Donald Trump]

I don't have to say anymore, but.

[Catherine Barker]

That'S what it is.

[Donald Trump]

He doesn't play around. He doesn't joke when he said those things. For the first time in 15 months, I have hope. I have hope that someone will make Hamas release the hostages.

[Dr. Eric Cole]

Hope the three year old Alma, who has already lost one parent, will be reunited with another. Shortly after we spoke with Michael earlier this week, Hamas released a list of 34 hostages it says it would be willing to release if a ceasefire deal is reached. Or's name is on that list.

[Donald Trump]

I'll do everything to bring him back. I will not rest. I will not stop until Orl and the rest of the hostages are back.

[Dr. Eric Cole]

Reporting for World I'm Travis Kercher.

[Mary Reichard]

And another name on that list is Keith Siegel. Listeners of the program may recall that we spoke with his wife Aviva Siegel, just a few weeks ago. We will be praying that both Orr and Keith and all of the hostages are soon released.

[Kent Covington]

Additional support comes from Commuter Bible, the Workweek audio Bible. In four annual plans available via podcast app and commuterbible.org.

[Donald Trump]

I spent years learning about natural foods. Ever eat a pine tree? Many parts are edible.

[Mary Reichard]

Well, those of a certain age may remember Yule Gibbons on TV promoting Grape nut cereal.

[Donald Trump]

Its naturally sweet taste reminds me of wild hickory nuts.

[Mary Reichard]

Well, some folks worried about food safety are warning people, do not eat your Christmas tree.

[Myrna Brown]

What?

[Mary Reichard]

Yeah, we're all about public service over here, Myrna. Here's the backstory. The city of Ghent in Belgium posted tips on its website how to recycle that tree right onto your dinner plate. It said you can strip the needles, blanch them and make flavored butter. It's just one example, but the Belgian Food Agency released a statement saying Christmas trees are not destined to enter the food chain. Evidently, they're worried about pesticides or flame retardants being sprayed on the trees.

[Myrna Brown]

Yeah. So just for Christmas, not for dinner, right?

[Mary Reichard]

Methinks Yule Gibbons would not be pleased. It's the world and everything in it.

[Myrna Brown]

Today is Thursday, January 9th. Thank you for turning to World Radio to help start your day. Good morning. I'm Myrna Brown.

[Mary Reichard]

And I'm Mary Reichert. Coming next on the World and Everything in It a steel deal gone wrong. The Biden administration recently blocked the sale of Pittsburgh based U.S. steel to Japanese owned Nip and steel. Economists and steelworkers are wondering what this will mean for the future of the industry.

[Myrna Brown]

The steel city is losing its identity as its steel mills go out of business. But some steelworkers in Pittsburgh saw the Nip and steel acquisition as a new hope. World's Benjamin Eicher brings us that story.

[Catherine Barker]

I smelled a lot of it off.

[Ken Kasanek]

Turn that up. Crank it up.

[Steve Guttenberg]

Ken Kasanek has worked with machines since the 60s. He started repairing equipment on the family farm and then got into welding when he was 19.

[Ken Kasanek]

I have a degree in metallurgy and welding technology from Ohio State University. And, and I used to teach welding for almost 10 years. I was head of the welding department at Dean Institute of Technology in Pittsburgh.

[Steve Guttenberg]

Now he owns Kasanek Manufacturing, a steel manufacturing company in Pittsburgh.

[Ken Kasanek]

I started this business in 1972.

[Steve Guttenberg]

For years, his company specialized in manufacturing steel equipment for the Heinz Food Company. And in its heyday, the company employed more than 50 people. Today, it only employs three. Kasnik, his son, and one other employee who's still learning the tricks of the trade.

[Ken Kasanek]

What I'm doing here is putting what we call the weld beam down.

[Steve Guttenberg]

Kasnik has seen firsthand the ups and downs of Pittsburgh's steel industry. He's had to diversify his business. Thirty years ago, he started working for the aviation industry.

[Ken Kasanek]

During the 90s, early 90s, I can tell you that the steel industry was starting to change.

[Steve Guttenberg]

So called mini mills sprung up around America and started producing more specialized steel products for less than the big mills were charging. And then on December 8, 1993.

[Dr. Eric Cole]

Thank you. Thank you very much.

[Steve Guttenberg]

Bill Clinton signed the North American Free Trade Agreement, or nafta, with the intended goal of eliminating trade barriers between Canada and Latin America.

[Ken Kasanek]

NAFTA was probably one of the worst. And I still to this day, still, it's the worst trade deal that the United States ever entered into. We weren't competitive anymore in manufacturing anything. And it was a globalist deal where most of our manufacturing was slowly being outsourced globally.

[Steve Guttenberg]

Kasanick is not a globalist. He wants to protect American workers and the steel industry from what he calls unfair trade agreements like nafta.

[Ken Kasanek]

It was cheaper to buy foreign steel than it was to buy domestic steel. It kept the steel manufacturers of the United States from spending money improving their steel mills. They just couldn't afford it. That was really the downfall of American manufacturing.

[Steve Guttenberg]

Pittsburgh is known as the Steel City. Even their football team, the Steelers, get their name from steel production. But in the early 2000s, the city started shutting their steel mills down. Mills like Homestead Steel.

[Ken Kasanek]

They shut that mill down. American Bridge, which is a big steel fabricator. They built bridges, they closed their factory down. The writing was on the wall after NAFTA was.

[Steve Guttenberg]

The last few presidential administrations have enacted policies aiming to protect American jobs, like President Donald Trump's 2018 tariffs on foreign steel. And less than a week ago, the Biden administration blocked a proposed deal, a $14 billion deal between Pittsburgh based U.S. steel and Japanese steel maker Nippon Steel. Biden claimed that his reason for blocking the sale was that Nippon Steel posed a threat to US national security and our domestic economy.

[Dr. Eric Cole]

I'm rather dubious that any kind of Japanese investment in the United States poses any kind of national security risk.

[Steve Guttenberg]

Clark Packard is a research fellow at the Cato Institute. He focuses on US international trade and investment policy, specifically in Asia.

[Dr. Eric Cole]

It might be a different calculus, right, if this were a Chinese based steel company that wanted to invest in the us, but that's not the case. Japan is clearly one of the US's strongest allies.

[Steve Guttenberg]

Much of Biden's efforts to protect American steelmaking has been aimed at China. And legitimate national security concerns justify Biden's caution.

[Dr. Eric Cole]

I come at this from a pretty pro trade bent, pro international trade, pro international investment. But I do think that there are very serious challenges posed by Chinese investment and Chinese trade that are worth addressing.

[Steve Guttenberg]

But there's a major difference between American investment from Japan versus China. Packard warns against the effect this political meddling may have on future business deals.

[Dr. Eric Cole]

It potentially chills foreign investment, particularly from Japan.

[Ken Kasanek]

Right.

[Dr. Eric Cole]

Like if Japanese investors are going to see how poorly they've been treated on this particular case, you know, they might not be willing to continue to invest. And to be clear, Japanese companies are the largest investors, foreign investors in the United States.

[Steve Guttenberg]

And Packard argues that not only is this not a security risk, it's counterproductive to Biden's other intended goal of being more competitive with China.

[Dr. Eric Cole]

Something like 50 to 60% of all imports into the United States are actually intermediate inputs, like products that a company in the US is going to buy from abroad to make their products in the US more competitive. And now by raising my costs, my production costs, I'm not as competitive to reach global markets.

[Steve Guttenberg]

The deal may still go through as both steel companies filed lawsuits against the US government. Steel manufacturer Ken Kasanek shares Packard's view.

[Ken Kasanek]

Probably not a bad deal, in my opinion. It's gonna keep people working here in the Pittsburgh area. If you renovate the steel mill to a state of the art mill, whether most of the companies right now are huge international conglomerates anyway, so it's not like they're a domestic company anymore anyways.

[Steve Guttenberg]

Kasanick is still watching the downturn of the American steel industry. He's retired, but has unretired three times to keep his business afloat and to train his son, who will soon take over. Kasanick says it's hard to find workers who can keep the fires going.

[Ken Kasanek]

But I just, I can't find any welders, I can't find any machinists that know this type of business. I don't know. We've been machine builders all our lives building machinery for people. And I'm not complaining. It's been very good to me, you know.

[Steve Guttenberg]

Reporting for World I'm Benjamin Eicher in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

[Mary Reichard]

Today is Thursday, January 9th. Good morning. This is the World and everything in it. From listener supported words. Welcome to World Radio. I'm Mary Reichardt.

[Myrna Brown]

And I'm Myrna Brown. World commentator Cal Thomas now on the folly of low standards in education. And he's not just talking about students.

[Catherine Barker]

Among the many laws that took effect at the beginning of this new year is one in New Jersey that will astound and should anger people with children in that state's public schools. It's called Act 1669, and it removes a requirement that teachers pass a basic reading, writing and math test to be eligible to teach. The law was signed by Democrat Governor Phil Murphy last June. The rationale, if one can call it rational, is that New Jersey is not attracting enough teachers to the profession, and so standards must be lowered so more will apply. This reminds me of what the army has done for physical fitness requirements. In 2022, the army lowered the standards for women and older troops in its annual physical fitness exam to attract more enlistees. The Pew Research center notes that U.S. students ranked 28th out of 37 OECD member countries in math. Science was a little better. We placed 12th in both subjects. Japanese students scored the highest. It isn't a matter of money, as some Democrats like to claim when they campaign for increased education spending for public schools. Japan spends two thirds what the US Does. If spending on students and teachers were directly related to enhanced performance, New Jersey and the rest of the country would be at or near the top in positive education outcomes. New Jersey is third in the nation in what it spends on public education, amounting to $25,099 per student, far exceeding the tuition cost for most private schools. Since the 1960s, the US appears to have been on a downward path, attacking wealth, success and people taking personal responsibility for their actions. We once promoted such things as examples of what one could be with the right attitude and practices that were thought to be universal and proven by history. We say we don't like the outcome of today's practices, but appear unwilling to change direction. In too many cases, the result is we get less of what we claim to want more of and more of what we claim to want less of. President elect Donald Trump says he wants to change this way of thinking, especially when it comes to education. He's announced plans to eliminate the Department of Education and return power to the states where it belongs. It's a worthy goal, one that Ronald Reagan sought to achieve but failed. Entrenched interests in Washington are difficult to remove. New Jersey has partial school choice options, but only for public schools that include charter and magnet schools. It also allows for parents who wish to instruct their children at home. But parents who want their children to have an education with the moral values that a religious foundation brings are out of luck. They must pay twice their high New Jersey taxes and private school tuition. Many can't afford it, and so especially poor and even middle class students are trapped in a system that will now include teachers who wouldn't qualify to teach under the previous standard. Would a universal school choice program help attract more qualified teachers so the bar could be raised to the previous level instead of lowered? It should be worth a try. I'm Cal Thomas.

[Myrna Brown]

Tomorrow John Stonestreet joins us for Culture Friday. And reviewer Max Bells returns to a classic spaghetti Western. That and more tomorrow. I'm Myrna Brown.

[Mary Reichard]

And I'm Mary Reichard. The world and everything in it comes to you from where World Radio World's mission is biblically objective journalism that informs, educates and inspires. Jesus said, come to me all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light. Verses 28:30 of Matthew, chapter 11 go now in grace and peace.