2.6.26 The Super Bowl halftime show, Jelly Roll’s testimony, a review of Solo Mio, and Word Play on lies in literature

Summary

The World and Everything In It – February 6, 2026

Episode Overview

This Friday's edition centers on major debates in American culture, faith, and media. The episode delves into backlash over the Super Bowl halftime show headliner, the emergence of an alternative "All-American" halftime event, testimony by music artist Jelly Roll at the Grammys, a review of the faith and charm-filled romantic comedy "Solo Mio," and a literary segment on the function of lies in classic stories. Throughout, hosts and guests examine the intersection of faith and public life, current events, and the shifting tides of American culture.

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Key Segments & Takeaways

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1. Culture Friday: Super Bowl Halftime Backlash & Alternative Programming

[07:16–11:21]

Backdrop: The NFL’s decision to feature Puerto Rican rapper Bad Bunny as the Super Bowl halftime headline drew swift criticism, with political and cultural debates around language, patriotism, and performer suitability.

• Main Criticisms:
  • Bad Bunny reportedly plans to perform entirely in Spanish, while most of the Super Bowl’s audience speaks English.
  • His openly political stances, especially criticisms of the Trump administration, have polarized fans.
  • The selection is seen as discordant with American football’s traditional, patriotic image—especially during the nation’s 250th anniversary (USA250 patches, commemorative coin toss, etc.).
  • Historian note: “Backlash against Super Bowl halftime headliners is nothing new,” referencing Janet Jackson/Justin Timberlake (2004) and J-Lo/Shakira (2020).

Quote – Greg Kelly (TV Host) [08:05]:

“This guy [Bad Bunny] does not seem like a unifying entertainer and a lot of folks don’t even know who he is.”

Emergent Response:
Turning Point USA launches the “All American Halftime Show”—a parallel, family-friendly event featuring country artists with public Christian faith and conservative ties (Kid Rock, Brantley Gilbert, Lee Brice, Gabby Barrett).

Quote – Andrew Colvett (TPUSA Spokesman) [09:54]:

“The American people have been underserved. This is going to be intimate and exciting, high octane, high energy, and it’s made for TV.”

TPUSA emphasizes the entertainment will avoid explicit religious content but may include faith-based elements.

Quote – Andrew Colvett [10:40]:

“If you’re watching the big game, you just want something that the family can enjoy but is excellent, this is where you can go.”

Analysis—John Stonestreet, Colson Center

[11:21–14:35]

• Stonestreet says alternative programming was “overdue.” He criticizes past halftime shows for “sexual exploitation” and lack of family-friendliness.
• He points to the deepening politicization of music and entertainment: “We’re not objective music critics...this event is a mirror to hold up in front of us...how politically driven we really are.”
• Notes the irony of Kid Rock, once shunned for offensive lyrics, now heralded as a “great American” in some conservative circles.

Quote – John Stonestreet [11:52]:

“It’s overdue. We’ve needed some replacement for some of these lousy halftime shows for a long time, particularly the ones that basically rely on sexual exploitation...and are not family friendly.”

Quote – John Stonestreet [14:32]:

“I’m more and more in the shut up and sing school than I’ve ever been.”

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2. Grammys: Jelly Roll’s Testimony of Faith

[15:13–16:01]

Jelly Roll (Jason Deford), winner and performing artist, uses his acceptance speech for a moving declaration of Christian faith:

Quote – Jelly Roll at the Grammys [15:13]:

“First of all, Jesus, I hear you and I’m listening, Lord... There was a moment in my life that all I had was a bible this big and a radio the same size and a 6 by 8 foot cell. And I believed that those two things could change my life...I want to tell y’all right now, Jesus is for everybody. Jesus is not owned by one political party. Jesus is not owned by no music label. Jesus is Jesus, and anybody can have a relationship with him. I love you, Lord.”

Analysis—John Stonestreet:

• Remarked on the authenticity and power of Jelly Roll’s transformation, noting his story as a “compelling” example of redemption.
• Points to the universal appeal of redemption narratives, suggesting they are central not just in faith, but to human storytelling itself.

Quote – John Stonestreet [16:01]:

“His [Jelly Roll’s] faith is getting more serious, not less...It’s an amazing thing when you see a story of redemption. Redemption is a compelling story to all of us. It’s more than just a one-off coincidence, it’s the story of the world.”

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3. Social Issues: Detransition Legal Momentum

[17:58–21:21]

• The show discusses a recent $2 million jury award to a detransitioned young woman, holding doctors liable for malpractice.
• The American Medical Association’s tentative moves to delay so-called gender-affirming surgeries until adulthood reflects shifting medical and cultural tides.
• John Stonestreet identifies key lessons from the jury’s finding:
  • Detransitioners exist and matter, counter to past narratives.
  • Many girls’ related mental health issues were ignored in favor of “affirming care.”
  • The “suicide myth” (that without transition, children will die by suicide) was wielded to pressure families.
• He calls for accountability for both medical professionals and educators involved in what he terms “evil foolishness.”

Quote – John Stonestreet [18:43]:

“A big part of it is what this story represents...not only do detransitioners exist, there’s an awful lot of them...There is lawsuit after lawsuit lining up.”

Quote – John Stonestreet [20:48]:

“A whole lot of people need to go to jail.”

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4. Colson Center’s Wilberforce Award: Oz Guinness

[21:21–24:19]

• Noted author and social critic Oz Guinness is honored for advancing “truth and freedom of conscience.”
• John Stonestreet highlights Guinness’s impact on modern Christian thought, particularly on public faith, religious freedom, and the dangers of reducing faith to mere private conviction.

Quote – John Stonestreet [21:46]:

“I don’t know another person whose ideas have been more relevant and more widely available in our lifetimes on the things that matter most than Oz Guinness... He’s helped us think about things like human dignity and the definition of freedom.”

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5. Film Review: "Solo Mio" – Old-fashioned Romance (with Faith)

[28:11–32:21]

Colin Garbarino reviews ‘Solo Mio,’ a new romantic comedy starring Kevin James:

• Plot: After being left at the altar, Matt Taylor (James) goes solo on a honeymoon to Italy, encountering other couples and a kind local woman (played by Nicole Grimaudo).
• Described as charming and reminiscent of classic 1930s-40s Hollywood romances, but for modern adult audiences.
• Praised for avoiding crude, edgy humor and instead focusing on heartfelt storytelling. Noted also for featuring middle-aged lead actors, offering “a romantic comedy for grown ups.”
• Rated PG, with only minor objectionable content (scenes of drunkenness).

Quote – Colin Garbarino [29:33]:

“Solo Mio is an utterly charming film, reminiscent of the screwball romantic comedies of the 1930s and 40s...there’s also something refreshing about both leads being middle aged.”

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6. Word Play: Lies in Literature and Life

[32:27–37:11]

George Grant reflects on the enduring power and function of lying in literature and the Bible:

• Traces examples from "Huckleberry Finn," "The Count of Monte Cristo," "The Great Gatsby," "Othello," "The Catcher in the Rye," "Odyssey," and the Bible itself (Peter’s denial, Ananias and Sapphira, Satan as the “father of lies”).
• Notes that lies often propel plots and reveal character, serving as a powerful narrative tool.
• Warns: "Lies are easier to tell than they are to undo, because they inevitably take on a life of their own."
• Cautions Christians to aim for speech and hearts “acceptable in the sight of the Lord, our rock and our Redeemer.”

Quote – George Grant [36:26]:

“The adage that a lie can travel halfway around the world while the truth is still putting its boots on...in truth and in fiction, lies are easier to tell than they are to undo...”

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Notable Quotes by Timestamp

• On Super Bowl Alternative Show:
  [11:52] John Stonestreet: “It’s overdue. We’ve needed some replacement for some of these lousy halftime shows for a long time...I think it's interesting we're getting it this year in a number of ways.”
• On Cultural Partisanship in Music:
  [13:36] John Stonestreet: “We're not objective music critics, I guess is what we should all admit... Maybe we can be a little more honest with ourselves about how politically driven we really are.”
• On Jelly Roll’s Testimony:
  [15:13] Jelly Roll: “Jesus is Jesus, and anybody can have a relationship with him. I love you, Lord.”
• On Legal Shift in Detransition:
  [18:43] John Stonestreet: “This case is a landmark...not only do detransitioners exist, there's an awful lot of them.”
• On Oz Guinness and Christian Public Witness:
  [21:46] John Stonestreet: “We not only need to be active, we need to think well. And we not only need to think well, we need to act. And I think Oz is a wonderful example of that.”
• On Charm of "Solo Mio":
  [29:33] Colin Garbarino: “Solo Mio is an utterly charming film, reminiscent of the screwball romantic comedies of the 1930s and 40s.”
• On Lies in Literature:
  [36:26] George Grant: “Lies are easier to tell than they are to undo, because they inevitably take on a life of their own.”

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Additional Segments

• World Watch student news promo (skip, per instructions)
• Usual show credits and Biblical exhortation to end the week

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Final Thoughts

This episode of "The World and Everything In It" offers rich engagement with themes of cultural identity, faith in public life, the evolving American entertainment landscape, and the power of personal and collective storytelling. Listeners are prompted to reflect on where faith, truth, culture, and conscience intersect—and how these dynamics play out in national conversations, laws, and even halftime shows.

Transcript

[Emma Eicher]

Good morning.

[Myrna Brown]

Today on Culture Friday, the Super bowl halftime backlash prompts an alternative and a gospel declaration at the Grammys.

[Jelly Roll (Jason Deford)]

Jesus is Jesus and anybody can have a relationship with him. I love you Lord.

[Nick Eicher]

We'll talk with John Stonestreet about that and more. Also today, an old fashioned love story set in Italy.

[Kent Covington]

Call it what you want, honeymoon, vacation.

[Nick Eicher]

It's paid for World Arts and Culture Culture editor Colin Garberino with a review of Solo Mio and later George Grant with wordplay for the month of February.

[Myrna Brown]

It's Friday, February 6th. This is the World and everything in it from listener supported World Radio. I'm Myrna Brown.

[Nick Eicher]

And I'm Nick Eicher. Good morning.

[Myrna Brown]

Up next, can Anne Covington with today's news.

[Kent Covington]

Congress is racing to fund the Department of Homeland Security before current funding expires at the end of next week. Lawmakers recently agreed to fund the rest of the government through September, but only funded DHS for a couple of weeks, just long enough to buy more time to negotiate changes to immigration enforcement. White House Press Secretary Caroline Levitt said Democratic leaders in the House and Senate are communicating.

[Emma Eicher]

I know Senator Schumer and Leader Jeffrey sent over a very long list of.

[John Stonestreet]

Demands, some of which which the administration.

[Myrna Brown]

Is willing to discuss.

[Emma Eicher]

Others don't seem like they are grounded in any common sense and they are non starters for this administration.

[Kent Covington]

Republicans have already agreed to certain measures such as body cameras for federal immigration agents, but they disagree with other demands such as barring agents from wearing masks. They say that change would open those officers to personal targeting and violent attacks. But Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said.

[John Stonestreet]

Thursday if Republicans don't like our proposals, pouting is not going to make the chaos in the streets go away. The Republicans need to explain why to the American people.

[Kent Covington]

But Senate Majority Leader John Thune said they can explain it very simply.

[John Stonestreet]

At the end of the day, we are not going to do things that.

[Kent Covington]

Are going to undermine law enforcement officials.

[Nick Eicher]

Job or ability to do their jobs.

[Kent Covington]

Thune said the onus is now on Democrats to negotiate a solution, adding that this is not a, quote, blank check situation where Republicans just agree to a list of Democratic demands. Some in Congress are also now discussing ways to possibly keep parts of DHS funded, such as TSA, airport security and the Coast Guard if the full package can't be finished in time. Elsewhere in Washington, Heavenly Father, we come.

[John Stonestreet]

Before you with humble and grateful hearts.

[Nick Eicher]

Mindful that every authority on earth is ultimately under your sovereign care.

[Kent Covington]

Lawmakers from both parties gathered for the 74th annual National Prayer Breakfast with World's Harrison Waters has more from the nation's capital.

[John Stonestreet]

President Trump headlined this year's event with a nearly 80 minute address. He took jabs at political opponents and celebrated wins ranging from peace agreements to economic milestones.

[George Grant]

All of these good things I'm doing, including for religion. You know, religion's back now, hotter than ever before.

[John Stonestreet]

I mean, I have to tell. Trump also introduced special guests, including Sudanese Christian Miriam Ibrahim and two youth camp counselors who rescued girls during last year's flood in Texas. He went on to highlight new guidelines for the right to pray in public schools and announced a day of prayer for rededicating the nation to God that will take place on the National Mall in May. Reporting for World, I'm Harrison waters in Washington.

[Kent Covington]

U.S. job openings slipped to about 6.5 million in December, according to the government's latest survey. That is the fewest since late 2020, and that was well below what economists had expected and follows a downward revision to November's figures. Hiring stayed weak even as overall economic growth has held up and layoffs ticked up only modestly. The number of workers quitting jobs went largely unchanged. Other early data show private employers added only a small number of jobs in recent weeks. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says there is more to come. His remarks came at the conclusion of two days of peace talks in Abu Dhabi between Ukraine and Russia brokered by the United States. Zelenskyy says more talks are planned, with the likely to take place in the United States. Representatives of both Russia and Ukraine praised the talks as both positive and constructive, but there was no word of any breakthrough in terms of territorial disputes or a ceasefire. There was one positive development, however. Russian and Ukrainian families were reunited with loved ones yesterday after the two countries completed an agreed upon prisoner swap. An Arizona Department of Public Safety helicopter crashed yesterday while responding to a shootout between police and a suspect, killing a pilot and a trooper on board. Director of the Arizona Department of Public Safety colonel Jeffrey Glover at the time of the incident, there were two DPS personnel on board, a pilot and a trooper paramedic. Unfortunately, both are tragically deceased. No one on the ground was hurt. Authorities are investigating the cause of the crash. The helicopter was assisting law enforcement officers as they exchanged gunfire with a suspect in a domestic violence incident. Chief Sean Connolly with the Flagstaff Police Department said the suspect was armed with a semiautomatic rifle, hopping from roof to.

[Nick Eicher]

Roof, taking points of vantage from high ground, firing upon our officers into homes, multiple backyards, multiple community members, multiple rooftops.

[Kent Covington]

Officers eventually wounded the suspect and took him into custody. Could former vice president Kamala Harris be gearing up for another presidential bid? More than a year after her election loss in 2024, Harris is rebooting her campaign social media sites to get basically.

[Myrna Brown]

The latest of what's going on and also to meet and revisit with some of our great courageous leaders, be they elected leaders, community leaders, civic leaders, faith leaders.

[Kent Covington]

Harris is teaming up with a liberal activist group to rebrand her Kamala campaign accounts to simply be known as headquarters. The team working behind the rebrand said it's about making use of the public outreach machine built in the last election. But it has further fueled speculation that Harris may be gearing up to launch another White House bid. I'm Kent Covington. And straight ahead, backlash over this year's super bowl house halftime show. That's coming up on Culture Friday. Plus, an old fashioned love story set in Italy. This is the World and everything in It.

[Myrna Brown]

It's Friday, the 6th of February. Glad to have you along for today's edition of the World and Everything In It. Good morning. I'm Myrna Brown.

[Nick Eicher]

And I'm Nick Iker. First up on the World and Everything in it controversy before kickoff last fall, organizers announced Puerto Rican rapper Bad Bunny would headline the super bowl halftime show. The backlash was swift, with critics objecting to everything from language to politics. And it made it all the way to the White House.

[John Stonestreet]

I never heard of him.

[George Grant]

I don't know who he is.

[John Stonestreet]

I don't know why they're doing it.

[Myrna Brown]

World's Emma Iker looked into the controversy and what's driving the push for alternative programming.

[Emma Eicher]

The frustration surrounding the plans for Bad Bunny to headline points to a broader tension around the Super Bowl's cultural identity. Critics claim Bad Bunny is out of step with American football's core audience and its traditions. Here's TV host Greg Kelly on Access Hollywood.

[John Stonestreet]

Do you think maybe we should just kind of entertain blowing off the NFL like a boycott or something along those lines? This guy does not seem like a unifying entertainer and a lot of folks don't even know who he is.

[Emma Eicher]

The super bowl has long traded on red, white and blue symbolism, and this year, with the country's 250th anniversary, the league is leaning into that tradition. Players will wear a USA250 patch on their jerseys, and other anniversary tributes include the commemorative coin toss and a time capsule on the field. It's amid this that Bad Bunny has indicated he plans to perform exclusively in Spanish. While roughly 80% of American are English speakers. He's also been openly critical of the Trump administration's policies. Critics say that political posture, along with his musical style, limits his appeal for football fans. But backlash against super bowl halftime headliners is nothing new. For decades, the NFL has faced criticism over its halftime shows, including the infamous wardrobe malfunction when Justin Timberlake tore part of Janet Jackson's outfit in 2004.

[Colin Garberino]

Or.

[Emma Eicher]

When performer Mia made an obscene hand gesture at the cameras in 2012. In 2020, critics widely panned Jennifer Lopez and Shakira's performance as too provocative. The performance also featured children in cage like structures as a visual protest against US immigration policies. one point, Shakira sang in Spanish alongside Bad Bunny, who was a guest. This this year is different because now there's competition. Here's Turning Point USA spokesman Andrew Colvett on the Charlie Kirk podcast on Monday.

[John Stonestreet]

The American people have been underserved. This is going to be intimate and exciting, high octane, high energy and it's going to be made for tv. It's just a totally different experience than.

[Nick Eicher]

What you're going to get from the other guys.

[Emma Eicher]

TP USA announced its own counter programming, the All American Halftime Show. The lineup so far features Kid Rock, Brantley Gilbert and Lee Brice and Gabby Barrett. All are country artists with conservative political associations and several have spoken publicly about their Christian faith. Details about the schedule and set list have not been released other than the Kid Rock promise of great songs for folks who love America. Colvitt says the show won't include explicitly Christian overtones, but there might be faith based elements throughout the performance.

[John Stonestreet]

If you're watching the big game, you just want something that the family can enjoy, but it's going to be excellent in like high octane entertainment. This is where you can go.

[Emma Eicher]

TP USA has recently pulled off large complex live events on short notice. Its year end America Fest was its biggest. The September Charlie Kirk Memorial, organized in about 10 days, managed VIP appearance after VIP appearance and was produced as hours of live television largely without error. This weekend's alternative halftime show will air on several streaming platforms on Super Bowl Sunday. Reporting for world I'm Emma Eicher.

[Nick Eicher]

Joining us now John Stonestreet, the president of the Colson center and host of the Breakpoint Podcast. John, good morning.

[John Stonestreet]

Good morning.

[Nick Eicher]

All right John, so you heard Emma's reporting there on this alternative halftime show organized, deliberate counter programming meant to offer something very different from what the NFL has for been serving up of late. So what do you think it says about the cultural moment when The super bowl halftime show now comes with a parallel alternative.

[John Stonestreet]

I think it's overdue. I think we've needed some replacement for some of these lousy halftime shows for a long time. Particularly the ones that just basically rely on sexual exploitation and are not family friendly, you know, what's what whatsoever. I think it's interesting that we're getting it this year in a number of ways. I think a lot of it has to do with people just really aren't that amazed by the artist known as Bad Bunny. The name alone is enough for me to never listen to him, and I have not. But of course the politically charged aspect of his career is, I think, part of it. I think there's plenty of history of artists that are really, really good and talented that still attract an audience from both sides of the political aisle. He's not one of them. Kind of underwhelming really is probably part of it. I think the positioning that Turning Point USA is in and has there ever been an entity kind of in a position to do something opposite of this? And the answer is no. At the same time, look, you gotta think it's a little bit ironic that the kid friendly or family friendly alternative to the halftime show is featuring Kid Rock. Never really been known as someone with clean language and buttoned up lyrics and all that sort of stuff. And I just think it's interesting that on political grounds you have One group that 10, 15, 20 years ago found him to be a pretty offensive artist, now find him to be a great American. And on the other hand, you know, you have people that really loved his music and thought he was actually a really interesting talent. I, I have a friend and former student who's a big music guy who I remember hearing about Kid Rock back in the day and you know, kind of like it's, it's so unusual because it's kind of this, you know, redneck guy that is crossing genres and he's actually really musically talented and we really liked him. And now in the wake of this announcement, he posts about how bad of an artist he is. So, you know, I don't think we're objective music critics, I guess is what we should all admit about ourselves. And this is event is a mirror to hold up in front of us and maybe we can be a little more honest with ourselves about how politically driven we really are.

[Nick Eicher]

Yeah, you know, I think it was the, the TV host Laura Ingraham some years back who came up with that phrase, shut up and sing. You know, little impolite, but I have to admit, I've. I've really grown weary of hearing the ill informed political views of celebrity performers. I just. I don't want what my favorite singer thinks about immigration. I just don't want to hear it.

[John Stonestreet]

I'm more and more in the shut up and sing school than I've ever been.

[Myrna Brown]

All right, come on now. Yet, John. Coming out of the Grammys, we heard plenty of political hot takes. But, you know, we also heard something very different. A tight, respectful testimony from the artist Jelly Roll, AKA Jason Deford. He describes his faith as a backslider's journey marked by belief in Christ, shaped by addiction, incarceration and recovery. He said his music and his story are a kind of ministry focused on redemption and hope for people who feel broken. Let's hear him.

[Jelly Roll (Jason Deford)]

I know they're going to try to kick me off here, so just let me try to get this out. First of all, Jesus, I hear you and I'm listening, Lord. I am listening, Lord. There was a time in my life, y', all, that I was broken. That's why I wrote this album. I didn't think I had a chance, y'. All. There was days that I thought the darkest things. I was a horrible human. There was a moment in my life that all I had was a bible this big and a radio the same size and a 6 by 8 foot cell. And I believed that those two things could change my life. I believed that music had the power to change my life and God had the power to change my life. And I want to tell y' all right now, Jesus is for everybody. Jesus is not owned by one political party. Jesus is not own by no music label. Jesus is Jesus. And anybody can have a relationship with him. I love you, Lord.

[Myrna Brown]

Did you hear that, John?

[John Stonestreet]

I just heard a recording of it and, and I know the Jelly Roll story. And I think that that's what's so compelling here musically. I think, you know, there's a. A lot of talent and incredible voice. He's very interesting in the lyrics he produces, but his story makes it all the more interesting, you know, And I think that for a lot of art, there's a story behind it. There's an artist behind it with a story, and his is so really, absolutely compelling in so many ways. He also seems like someone whose faith is getting more serious, not less serious, not getting more watered down, but actually becoming more and more committed and both his courage and what he's willing to say out loud. And it's an amazing thing when you see a story of redemption. Redemption is a compelling story to all of us. And I think it's more than just kind of a one off coincidence. When it's compelling to us, it's because redemption is really the story of the world. It's the story that we need to define life itself if there really is going to be anything substantial to hope that we all need to have and cling on to. So, yeah, it's the power of story. And I think it also, by the way, says something about a Christian worldview of communication, whereas a postmodern view really sees communication is just in the eye of the beholder or the hearer or the viewer or the listener. Right. It's the beauty is in the eye of the beholder framing. And so really, it doesn't matter what the author intends. It only matters what we get out of the lyrics or the experience that we have interpretively in the moment. And I think if the artist really, sincerely didn't matter, that all that matters is what we feel or think in interaction with the product, then why do these stories compel us so much? So I think there's something apologetic here that points to what is true and real about the universe and a story like this one.

[Myrna Brown]

Well, John, I had the opportunity to meet a young woman who detransitioned after medical interventions as a teenager. We recorded an interview that aired yesterday, and hearing her describe how quickly she was rushed from confusion to permanent surgery, it was sobering and it was heartbreaking. But this comes on the heels of that big jury award, $2 million to another young woman finding doctors liable for malpractice. Now we have the nation's leading plastic surgeons association urging that destructive surgeries be deferred to adulthood. And the AMA also tentatively agrees things are moving fast.

[John Stonestreet]

It's moving really fast. This case is a landmark. It's a moment. The story definitely seems to be trending in a much better direction than it was trending three years ago. There does seem to be incredible momentum. A big part of it is what this story represents. And I think there's a number of things that came to light. Even though, to be clear, this jury did not issue a verdict on the efficacy of transgender, quote, unquote, treatments. Basically, what they did is point out a couple things. Number one is, first of all, they. This woman's story matters. And it wasn't that long ago that we were told that detransitioners didn't really exist. And now we're seeing that not only do they exist, there's an awful lot of them. And there Is lawsuit after lawsuit lining up. And the amount of the award from the jury, $2 million, says a lot about just how real these detransitioners are. The second thing that was at the core of this trial, and I think is behind the malpractice is just how many mental health comorbidities young women suffer with these days. And they have been ignored and actually dismissed and left untreated. And that is not good for the victim. And then the third one is the suicide myth, and we've talked about that here before, that parents of these minors who often feel silly, who often feel intimidated, who always want what's best for their kid, or at least almost always want what's best for their kid, they were lied to. They were told the suicide myth, and they were threatened. You know, would you rather have a live son or a dead daughter? And the manipulation is coming to head. People are calling that out. And all three of those factors were front and center in this case, and it led to the accusations and now the conviction on malpractice. So it's the first of what will be many, I think. I pray. I mean, listen, I hope all these people go to jail. I hope all these medical institutions that did this are bankrupted because of their evil foolishness. And, you know, when we're done with the hospitals and the medical professionals, then let's go to the school boards and the superintendents and the school counselors, because there's a whole lot of those folks, too, who are just as guilty of those three key rushing people to medically irreversible treatments, ignoring comorbidities, and lying to parents. Those three things are consistent features of this story. It's where all the cultural momentum came from in the bad way. And calling them out and pointing out that they are the lies that they are is the reason we've gotten this cultural momentum reversed. And a whole lot of people need to go to jail.

[Nick Eicher]

Well, hey, John, before we go, a friend of yours, Oz Guinness, is being honored with the Colson Center's Wilberforce Award for Advancing Truth and Freedom of Conscience. And that's coming here in a few. A few months. But, John, when you think about the reasons for choosing OS Guinness for an award like this, what does it say about the moment that we're in right now and the kind of leadership that a moment like this calls for?

[John Stonestreet]

Well, you know, many people forget that William Wilberforce was not only a great social reformer who'd been put in parliament, but he was a great thought leader. He was able to create networks, coalitions and articulate ideas that were built on a Christian worldview that would have direct impact on the world around him. He was a central example of what it means to have a personal faith that is not private, but that is public in terms of living out the ramifications of the truth claims that Christianity makes on who God is, on morality, and certainly on what gives us human dignity and value. And I don't know another person whose ideas have been more relevant and more widely available in our lifetimes on the things that matter the most than Os Guinness. I often call him a Gandalf of our world because I think he is. But I think at just the right time and just the right place, God put this man and helped us think about things like human dignity and like the definition of freedom. And I like the public implications of our faith and why truth matters and also being able to think historically so that we're not kind of captive in a sort of chronological snobbery that C.S. lewis talks about. All of these things are essential if we're going to protect things like religious freedom and if we're going to actually hold together this project of the Western world and continue then to be the proclaimers of the Gospel and the Good News and also putting feet to the words that we say as Christians. He's championed all those ideas and I think especially about religious freedom. The greatest enemy of freedom, Oz has taught us, is not from without, it's from within. It's when we don't understand freedom, we don't understand the scope of it. When we allow our faith to be reduced down to the privatized corners of our world, then religious freedom becomes meaningless. And that's what we have, right? We have a lot of people trying to pat us on the head saying, oh, you have religious freedom. When what they mean is merely just the freedom to believe whatever we want in our own heads and hearts. But the good that Christianity and religious truth brings to the world is something that no other framework, no other religious or non religious system brings. And so we have an important, I think, responsibility to steward these things and protect these things, especially at a cultural moment where things are at such great risk. And we not only need to be active, we need to think well. And we not only need to think well, we need to act. And I think Oz is a wonderful example of that. Like William Wilberforce himself was.

[Myrna Brown]

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

[John Stonestreet]

Thank you both.

[Kent Covington]

Additional support comes from Free Lutheran Bible College. Grounding stage in the word of God for life in Jesus Christ on campus and in person in Plymouth, Minnesota. Flbc Edu World from B and H Academic. Their new resource God and Country explores faith and national identity. 40% off lifeway.com godandcountry and from ambassadors Impact Network Network connecting entrepreneurs with Christian investors for capital and spiritual support. Ambassadorsimpact.com.

[Myrna Brown]

Today is Friday 6th February. Thank you for turning to World Radio to help start your day. Good morning, I'm Myrna Brown.

[Nick Eicher]

And I'm Nick Iger. Before we move on, I want to bring in a colleague from World Watch. That's our daily TV news for students. I just love World Watch and I want to say good morning now to one of our on air reporters, Caleb Bailey. Hey, good morning, Caleb.

[Caleb Bailey]

Good morning, Nick. And I love World Watch too. I might be a little more biased than all of you, but I do love World Watch.

[Nick Eicher]

Well, lots of world listeners are World Watchers, but not everyone. So we'll see if we can remedy that problem today. But listen, if you have kids at home, World Watch is a terrific resource. It's real news, but done in a way that helps students to grow in their understanding without insulting their intelligence. It's really great for the whole family. But Caleb, I want you to tell about the special offer for World Watch. Let's hear it.

[Caleb Bailey]

Yeah, I mean, if you haven't tried out World Watch, there is no better time than the present. We've got a deal that's really too good to pass up. So at World watch we're offering 90 days free to new subscribers. So that's going to be three months of current events covered by Christian journalists that we remind you every day. You know what, whatever the news, the purpose of the Lord will stand. That's a pretty good perspective for all news. And so why not try it for yourself for free for three months? So here's all you have to do. You go to wng.orglove90. Once again, that's wng.orglove90. You know, personally, it's pretty easy to fill up on candy at this time of the year, Nick, but trust me, signing up for World Watch is even easier.

[Nick Eicher]

Well, Valentine's candy and free World Watch. I think that the health secretary would frown on the candy, particularly if it's got red dye in it. But worldwide is way better for you. Anyway, three months for free. The price is right. 90 days. But did I hear it right, Caleb? Wng.org L O V E90Love90 that's correct.

[Caleb Bailey]

Nat King Cole said it best. L O V E. L O V.

[Nick Eicher]

E. Caleb, thank you. Nice Valentine's offer. We will link it in the program transcript and in the program notes. Well, coming next on the World and everything in it, speaking of Valentine's Day, a new romantic comedy. Not a moment too soon.

[Myrna Brown]

Perfect timing. Rom coms used to be movie theater staples, but these days it's pretty rare to find the genre on the big screen. It's even more rare to find one that doesn't try to be funny by transgressing traditional values. Well, this weekend the new film Solo Mio hits theaters. It's the latest collaboration between the family of Catholic filmmakers known as the Kinane brothers and Kevin James, who's most famous for his role on the CBS sitcom the King of Queens.

[Nick Eicher]

Here now is world arts and culture editor Colin Garberino.

[Colin Garberino]

In Solo Mio, Kevin James plays Matt Taylor, a romantic guy who books an all inclusive package for his upcoming honeymoon in Italy.

[Kent Covington]

Buena, Serra, signore.

[John Stonestreet]

Hey, Buena.

[Kent Covington]

I'm just gonna need to move some things around with my reservation.

[Colin Garberino]

There's only one one problem with this honeymoon package. It's not going to be a honeymoon anymore. His fiance left him at the altar.

[Kent Covington]

Just. We're going to need to shift some things down a little bit. Shift the tour, the dinner reservations, the few days in Tuscany.

[John Stonestreet]

Let's just go ahead and let's do it.

[Kent Covington]

Yeah, you can shift it, Mr. Taylor. I'm sorry, but I cannot shift anything.

[Colin Garberino]

Matt's dream vacation turns surreal when he decides he might as well go alone.

[Kent Covington]

Call it what you want. Honeymoon, vacation.

[Nick Eicher]

It's paid for.

[Colin Garberino]

Solo Mio is an utterly charming film, reminiscent of the screwball romantic comedies of the 1930s and 40s. The idea of a single man participating in the two become one package has an appealing and absurd quality. Much of the comedy comes from the other two couples who book the same vacation.

[John Stonestreet]

Oh, let me be your wingman. I don't need a wingman.

[Kent Covington]

Please, I'm not single.

[Colin Garberino]

Jonathan Roumie, known for playing Jesus on the Chosen, and Julie Serda play newlywed therapists who use respectful tones and meaningful looks when they disagree. Kim Coates and Alyson Hannigan play a married couple who are devoted to each other despite being a total mess. The husbands on the tour function sort of like Job's friends from the Bible. They're well meaning, but the contradictory advice they offer provides little comfort to Matt.

[John Stonestreet]

He's just gotta move on.

[Kent Covington]

Yes, maybe, but not right now.

[George Grant]

Is that your opinion or your therapist's.

[Colin Garberino]

As the honeymoon progresses, Matt's heartbreak gives way to confusion when he meets a kind and beautiful woman named Gia, played by the Italian actress Nicole Grimaudo. She owns a local cafe and has her own disappointments to work through.

[Emma Eicher]

Not Zuchero?

[John Stonestreet]

Oh no, I think it is Zuchero.

[Kent Covington]

Only because in the app it says let me see.

[George Grant]

I'm sorry.

[Kent Covington]

I'm pretty sure. Yeah.

[Colin Garberino]

The film is rated pg. When was the last time we had a romantic comedy in theaters rated pg? There's not much objectionable content, but we do get a couple of scenes of drunkenness in which Matt attempts to cope with his discouraging situation.

[Kent Covington]

It's impossible.

[Colin Garberino]

The film also has some out of the blue moments that I won't spoil. I expect some viewers will be amused and delighted, but the film's charm is rooted in the performances of the lead actors. James Matt is wholly sympathetic and Grimaldo's Gia is endearing and enchanting. There's also something refreshing about both leads. Being middle aged Solo Mio feels like a romantic comedy for grown ups without the offensive material usually aimed at adult audiences. And of course, the beauty and romance of the movie's Italian setting also add to the enjoyment.

[John Stonestreet]

Cheer up Zochero.

[Myrna Brown]

You are in Rome.

[George Grant]

Okay, Cheer up.

[Colin Garberino]

With a running time of only 97 minutes, the story zips along from one absurd moment to the next. The romantic aspect of the plot is a little predictable, but I don't think that's necessarily a bad thing. Solo Mio offers a comforting return to the love stories of the past. I'm Colin Garberino.

[Nick Eicher]

Good morning. This is the world and everything in it. From listener supported World Radio, I'm Nick Iger.

[Myrna Brown]

And I'm Myrna Brown. World commentator George Grant explores one of the great paradoxes of storytelling, how lies told by rogues and heroes alike have shaped some of the most enduring stories ever written.

[George Grant]

Here's Wordplay the novelist Lawrence Block has quipped that writing fiction is the art of telling lies for fun and profit. Indeed, the best told tales are often full of lies and liars. Deception is often used as a key plot element. Dissembling is a useful device for creating layers of mystery, intrigue or suspense. Sometimes the author lets readers know things that characters don't know. Sometimes characters know things that other characters don't know. And sometimes characters know things that the reader doesn't know. Red herrings, false flags, ruses, bluffs, artifices, ploys, duplicity and contrivance abound. Think of all the ways lies and liars shape classic fiction. Huckleberry Finn begins with a discourse on the nature of lying and authorship. Huck then has to navigate truth and deception as he navigates the Mississippi, an adventure he inaugurated by faking his own death in To Kill a Mockingbird. Mayella's false testimony leads to tragic injustice, and lies send the innocent Edmund to prison. In the Count of Monte Cristo, the story of the Great Gatsby hinges on lies about Gatsby's romantic life, his past adventures, the origins of his ostentatious wealth, and even the pretense of all the unopened, unread books in his library. Perhaps the worst lie of all. Shakespeare cast the chronic deceiver Iago as a central character in his play Othello. Holden Caulfield called everyone phonies while constantly lying about himself in the Catcher in the Rye. In Homer's Odyssey, Odysseus used lies and disguises to resolve his formidable challenges. The plots of Tolstoy's Anna Karenina, Pasternak's Dr. Zhivago, Austen's pride and Prejudice, Eliot's Silas Marner, and Steinbeck's east of Eden all turn on deceptions. And it was the lying of Edmund that complicated the drama in the lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. In the Bible, the duplicity of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, of Joseph's brothers, and of Ananias and Sapphire provide provocative backdrops to the great redemption story. Even the apostle Peter lied three times, declaring that he was not one of Christ's disciples. And of course, Satan is described as a liar and the father of lies. Indeed, Jesus declared that when the devil lies, he speaks his native language. The adage a lie can travel halfway round the world while the truth is still putting its boots on has long been attributed to Mark Twain. But that's a lie. A generation earlier, Charles Haddon Spurgeon identified it as an old English proverb. Regardless of its provenance, it declares the reality that in truth and in fiction, lies are easier to tell than they are to undo, because they inevitably take on a life of their own. WC Fields once jested, bending the truth is merely a quibble over words. But the resolution of all of us who name the name of Christ ought to be that the words of our mouths and the meditations of our hearts be acceptable in the sight of the Lord, our rock and our Redeemer. I'm George Grant.

[Nick Eicher]

All right. Time now to name the crew who helped out with this week's programs. Mary Reichard, David Bonson, Mary Muncie, Grace Snell Joe Rigney, Hunter Baker, Joyce Wu, Onize Adam, Amy Lewis, Janie B. Cheney, Travis Kercher, Cal Thomas, John Stonestreet, Emma Eicher, Colin Garbarino and George Grant. Thanks also to our breaking news crew, Kent Covington, Steve Klosterman, Travis Kercher, Daniel Devine and Christina Grub. And thanks to the overnight outfitters getting the program polished up each weekday bright and and early. Carl Peetz and Benj Eicher. Harrison Waters is Washington producer. Kristen Flavin is features editor. Lindsay Mast is producer. I'm executive producer Nick Eicher.

[Myrna Brown]

And I'm Myrna Brown. 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 Bible says after God spoke the words of the Ten Commandments. Now when all the people saw the thunder and the flashes of lightning and the sound of the trumpet and the mountain smoking, the people were afraid and trembled. And they stood far off and said to Moses, you speak to us and we will listen, but do not let God speak to us, lest we die. Moses said to the people, do not fear, for God has come to test you that the fear of him may be before you, that you may not sin. The people stood far off while Moses drew near to the thick darkness where God was. Verses 18 through 20 of Exodus chapter 20 Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts this weekend as you worship with your brothers and sisters in Christ in a Bible believing church. And Lord willing, we'll be right back here with you on Monday. Go now in grace and peace.