3.20.25 Syria’s interim government, free speech rights of a pro-Hamas protester, and printing Bibles in braille

Summary

The World and Everything In It – Episode Summary: March 20, 2025

The World and Everything In It, hosted by WORLD Radio, delivers comprehensive news coverage intertwined with insightful analysis grounded in Christian values. In the March 20, 2025 episode, listeners are presented with in-depth discussions on Syria’s fragile interim government, the contentious deportation case of a pro-Hamas protester, and an inspiring initiative to make Bibles accessible in braille. This summary encapsulates the key points, notable quotes, and expert insights from the episode.

---

1. Syria’s Interim Government: Navigating Peace and Conflict

Overview: The episode opens with an examination of Syria's newly established interim government led by Ahmed Alshara, formerly the head of the Islamist rebel group Hayat Tahrir al Sham (HTS). This government formation follows the overthrow of Bashar al-Assad's regime in December, raising questions about the prospects for lasting peace or continued turmoil in the region.

Expert Insight: David Adesnik, a senior fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, provides a nuanced analysis of the situation. He highlights the complex dynamics between HTS and the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), backed by the United States.

Notable Quotes:

• “In theory, the deal aims for a unified Syrian national army, but on the ground, skepticism remains high,” Adesnik explains at [07:52].
• “The Syrian Democratic Forces have little faith that Shara has genuinely changed,” he adds at [08:12].

Key Points:

• HTS’s Transformation: Although HTS, under Alshara, claims to have moved away from its extremist past, doubts persist about the depth of this transformation. Adesnik notes the group's historical ties to Al Qaeda and ISIS, questioning their commitment to moderation.

• Impact on Regional Powers: The new Syrian leadership's stance towards Iran and Israel is pivotal. Adesnik emphasizes that the interim government's hostility towards Iran could exacerbate tensions, given Iran's long-standing support for Assad. Similarly, Israel remains skeptical of HTS's reformed image, fearing underlying anti-Semitic sentiments.

• Future Prospects: While the interim government seeks to stabilize Syria, Adesnik warns that internal divisions and external pressures might hinder the achievement of a comprehensive peace treaty. The ongoing ceasefire negotiations in the Black Sea region further complicate the path forward.

Conclusion: The formation of Syria’s interim government represents a critical juncture. While there are tentative signs of a shift towards peace, significant obstacles remain, including entrenched hostilities and the quest for genuine reform within rebel factions.

---

2. The Deportation Controversy: Mahmoud Khalil’s Battle for Free Speech

Overview: Another focal point of the episode is the legal and ethical debate surrounding Mahmoud Khalil, a pro-Hamas protester facing deportation from the United States. This case sits at the intersection of free speech rights and national security concerns, stirring significant controversy.

Reporter Insight: Steve West, a seasoned legal reporter, delves into Khalil’s background and the administrative actions taken against him. Khalil, a legal permanent resident and Columbia University graduate, became a prominent figure in pro-Palestinian protests following the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack on Israeli civilians.

Notable Quotes:

• “The government's case relies on immigration law trumping free speech rights,” West states at [14:58].
• “Once you join braille, you stay in braille until you can't do it anymore,” adds a volunteer at [24:27].

Key Points:

• Legal Groundwork: The Trump administration cites the Alien Enemies Act, an 18th-century law, to justify Khalil’s deportation, labeling him as a supporter of a designated terrorist organization. However, Khalil’s attorneys argue that his activities are protected under the First Amendment as free speech.

• Constitutional Implications: Brad Jacob, a constitutional law professor, raises concerns about the broader implications of this case. He posits that if the administration's stance is upheld, it could set a precedent for removing constitutional protections based on political or unpopular speech.

• Government vs. Free Speech: Secretary of State Marco Rubio emphasizes that the deportation is grounded in national security and foreign policy interests rather than merely suppressing free speech. This stance is contested by advocates who argue that the government has yet to provide substantial evidence linking Khalil to criminal activities.

• Potential Outcomes: The case is likely to escalate to higher courts, possibly reaching the Supreme Court. The outcome will have far-reaching consequences for how free speech is balanced against national security concerns in the United States.

Conclusion: Mahmoud Khalil’s deportation case serves as a litmus test for the Trump administration's approach to balancing security with constitutional freedoms. The legal battles ahead will significantly influence the future of free speech rights for both citizens and non-citizens in the U.S.

---

3. Empowering the Visually Impaired: Printing Bibles in Braille

Overview: The episode also highlights a heartening initiative undertaken by a congregation in Louisville, Kentucky, aiming to make the Bible accessible to the visually impaired through braille. This project underscores the community’s commitment to spreading the Word of God to those in need.

Reporter Insight: Betsy Brown reports on the operations at Our Savior Lutheran Church, where volunteers diligently print braille scriptures. The process involves meticulous steps to ensure accuracy and quality, with dedication from individuals like Jerry Granderson and Donna Granderson.

Notable Quotes:

• “If you could have the entire Bible in braille, it would stack to the ceiling,” Jerry Granderson shares at [23:11].
• “This is a pay for play service, so each week we contribute to fund the materials,” Jerry adds at [25:19].

Key Points:

• Printing Process: Volunteers use specialized equipment to emboss braille onto paper, ensuring that the scriptures are readable by those who rely on tactile reading. Each Bible contains numerous sheets printed over the span of an hour, with meticulous quality checks to maintain fidelity.

• Global Impact: The printed Bibles are distributed both domestically and internationally, reaching over 5,600 individuals in 2023 alone. Destinations include countries like Nigeria, Bangladesh, and India, where access to braille scriptures is limited.

• Community Involvement: The initiative is sustained by the congregation’s generous labor and financial contributions. With over $183,000 worth of labor donated in 2023, the volunteers express joy and fulfillment in their mission to serve others.

• Personal Stories: The program has touched lives within the community, including interactions with visually impaired individuals who benefit directly from the accessibility of the braille Bibles.

Conclusion: The braille Bible printing project exemplifies the tangible ways in which faith communities can make a profound difference in the lives of the visually impaired. Through dedication and collaborative effort, these volunteers are ensuring that the Word of God is accessible to all who seek it.

---

Additional Highlights:

• Economic Outlook: Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell discussed the U.S. economy, maintaining interest rates amidst uncertainty stemming from the Trump administration’s policy changes. Powell noted, “Both the economy and the job market appear stable,” at [01:29].

• Bulgarian Soccer Mix-Up: A lighter segment recounted a humorous incident where a Bulgarian soccer match mistakenly honored a living former player, Petko Ganchev. The club swiftly apologized, reflecting the unpredictability and human side of sports.

---

Closing Thoughts:

This episode of The World and Everything In It offers a blend of international politics, legal debates, and human-interest stories, all delivered with a foundation in Christian values. By addressing complex issues like Syria’s governance, the delicate balance between security and free speech, and community-driven charitable efforts, the podcast provides listeners with a well-rounded perspective on current events.

For those who missed the episode, this summary serves as a comprehensive guide to understanding the pivotal discussions and the profound insights shared by experts and community members alike.

---

Notable Quotes Recap:

• “The government's case relies on immigration law trumping free speech rights,” – Steve West ([14:58]).
• “If you could have the entire Bible in braille, it would stack to the ceiling,” – Jerry Granderson ([23:11]).
• “Either due process is for everybody or it's for nobody,” – Cal Thomas ([29:58]).

---

Join the Conversation: Subscribers are encouraged to engage with WORLD Radio’s The World and Everything In It for ongoing coverage of global issues, thoughtful analysis, and inspiring stories that reflect a commitment to truth and justice grounded in faith.

Transcript

[Mary Reichert]

Good morning. Syria's new leadership strikes a deal to regain control. But will it bring peace or more conflict?

[Myrna Brown]

Also, well known protester Mahmoud Khalil faces the threat of deportation, raising big questions about freedom of speech. And in Louisville, volunteers are putting the word of God right into the hands of those who need it.

[Jerry Granderson]

If you had the entire Bible in braille, it would stack to the ceiling, all of those Braille Bibles.

[Mary Reichert]

And world commentator Cal Thomas says due process for all, even the bad guys.

[Myrna Brown]

It's Thursday, March 20th. This is the world and everything in it from listener supported World Radio. I'm Myrna Brown.

[Mary Reichert]

And I'm Mary Reichert. Good morning.

[Myrna Brown]

Up next, Ken Covington with today's news.

[Kent Covington]

During a phone call on Wednesday, President Trump and Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky agreed on a limited ceasefire on energy targets, the same deal Vladimir Putin agreed to. In a call with Trump one day earlier. White House press secretary Caroline Levitt says Trump also floated the idea of the United States taking ownership of Ukraine's nuclear power plants.

[Leslie Faulkner]

American ownership of those plants would be the best protection for that infrastructure and support for Ukrainian energy infrastructure.

[Kent Covington]

Delegations from the US Russia and Ukraine are expected to continue talks to expand a ceasefire into the Black Sea. Special envoy to Ukraine, retired General Keith Kellogg explains next steps. We're going to head to technical talks.

[Cal Thomas]

That's a term where you actually have the talks from both sides sitting down to how we get to a comprehensive cease fire, which leads you to a peace treaty. And we're only at day 58.

[Kent Covington]

US negotiators are headed back to Saudi Arabia this week for more talks with Ukrainian leaders. They also held peace talks there last week. Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell says the central bank is keeping its key interest rate right where it is for now, four and a quarter to four and a half percent. He said the future of the US Economy is hard to predict. With the Trump administration making big changes in trade, immigration, fiscal policy and regulation. It is the net effect of these.

[Steve West]

Policy changes that will matter for the.

[Kent Covington]

Economy and for the path of monetary policy. While there have been recent developments in some of these areas, especially trade policy, uncertainty around the changes and their effects.

[Steve West]

On the economic outlook is high.

[Kent Covington]

Powell says with all that in mind, the Fed is taking a wait and see approach. But he added that right now, both the economy and the job market appear stable. The Trump administration is suspending about $175 million in federal funds for the University of Pennsylvania. That stems from the school's decision to allow male swimmer Leah Thomas who identifies as a woman to compete on the women's Swim team in 2022. Former volleyball player Peyton McNabb, who was injured by a transgender player from an opposing team, reacted to the news.

[Peyton McNabb]

Personally, I'm thrilled. This is something that the Trump administration has promised. For everything they've put these girls through, this is what they deserve.

[Kent Covington]

It follows President Trump's executive order stating that under the Title IX provision of civil rights law, women are shielded from having to compete against men in scholastic sports, but the University of Pennsylvania argues that it was simply following the NCAA rules at the time. Attorney General Pam Bondi is blasting U.S. district Judge James Boasberg for his order temporarily halting the deportation of high risk illegal immigrants such as gang members.

[Mary Reichert]

Why is a judge trying to protect terrorists who have invaded our country over American citizens?

[Kent Covington]

She notes that the president has legally declared certain foreign gangs as designated terrorist organizations. Boas Berg, an Obama appointee, issued the 14 day block on Saturday. It bars President Trump's administration from ordering the deportations under the rarely invoked Alien Enemies Act.

[Leslie Faulkner]

You have one unelected federal judge trying to control foreign policies, trying to control the Alien Enemies act, which they have no business presiding over.

[Kent Covington]

Bondi asserts that the Venezuela based Trende Aragua gang is supported by the regime of Venezuelan dictator Nicolas Maruro and is acting on its behalf. Thousands of homeschool parents protested inside the Illinois State Capitol on Wednesday. They showed up to protest legislation that they're calling an assault on parental rights. The sponsors of the Home School act argue that it will help regulate the fast growing homeschool movement and ensure that all kids get a good education. But parents at the Capitol pushed back.

[Myrna Brown]

I feel like it's overreach because I don't co parent with the government. My children are mine and I get to decide what we learn.

[Peyton McNabb]

It doesn't feel great to have the.

[Leslie Faulkner]

Government who is struggling to educate in.

[Peyton McNabb]

The public school sector tell us how.

[Leslie Faulkner]

We should educate our children.

[Kent Covington]

Under the bill, government officials could demand educational portfolios from homeschooled parents without stated cause. Non compliance could lead to fines or even jail time. Israel is once again on the move in the central Gaza Strip. The Israeli military today released released a video of what it says are Israeli forces carrying out a limited ground operation to retake a key Gaza corridor That comes more than two weeks after a ceasefire expired. Hamas is once again refusing to release hostages and has rejected proposals to renew that ceasefire. Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz says unless all of the hostages are released immediately and Hamas is expelled from Gaza, Israel will act with an intensity not yet seen in this conflict. I'm Kent Covington. And straight ahead, bringing stability to Syria. Plus how one church in Louisville helps the visually impaired to read the Bible. This is the World and everything in it.

[Mary Reichert]

It's Thursday, the 20th of March. This is World radio and we thank you for listening. Good morning. I'm Mary Reichard.

[Myrna Brown]

And I'm Myrna Brown. Up first on the World and everything in it. New alliances in Syria after rebel groups toppled the regime of Bashar al Assad in December, Syria's interim president Ahmed Alshara promised to end the violence. But conflict rages on.

[Mary Reichert]

Earlier this month, Islamist rebels carried out a brutal massacre in Syria's northern coastal region, targeting Alawites, Christians and other minorities. And now in an effort to regain control, Alshara announced a deal with the Syrian Democratic Forces, a Kurdish led group backed by the United States. If the deal holds, what would it accomplish?

[Myrna Brown]

Joining us now is David Adesnik. He's a senior fellow and vice president of research at the foundation for Defense of Democracies. A former official at the U.S. department of Defense, he spent years studying Syria and Iran.

[Mary Reichert]

David, good morning to you.

[Peyton McNabb]

Good morning.

[Mary Reichert]

Well, let's just start with some background. Syria's interim leader, Al Sharra is also the head of the Islamist rebel group Hayat Tahrir al Sham, or hts. This is a group with past links to Al Qaeda and the Islamic State. What is the significance of this group making a deal with the Kurdish forces of SDF? Again, that group supported by the U.S. sure.

[Peyton McNabb]

I think the important thing to notice for several years, Shara, even before he was president and the group have tried to present themselves as moving on a moderating path and no longer being committed to global jihad. I think it's likely the case they have not directly engaged in international terrorism, although they have many ties to other groups that have not repudiated those things. They've feuded with other Al Qaeda groups. They have feuded with the Islamic State rather bitterly and they've persuaded a lot of people that they've made this move. I think there's a lot of open questions about how much they've changed. And of course, now they're effectively in charge. Shara is the president. He has installed his HTS allies throughout the government, especially in the military and security services. And I think the significance of the deal is it's significance in theory and not significance in fact, that it is very unlikely this will lead to an actual integration. The nominal goal of all sides is that Syria should have one national Army. But the Syrian Democratic Forces and their heavily Kurdish components really, I think, have very little faith in Shara that he has changed. And by the same token, Shara will not really want to accept another group having a force that numbers perhaps as much as 100,000 operating with US support on Syrian territory. So the US helped push this deal. It wants to avoid a bigger conflict, but it might simply be a delaying tactic until we could see more things play out in the Syrian transition.

[Mary Reichert]

Well, we know Israel and Iran are watching Syria quite closely for good reason, as is the rest of the world. What does Syria's interim government and its initial actions mean in particular for those two countries, Israel and Iran?

[Peyton McNabb]

Well, I think there's deep hostility toward Iran from the new Syrian government. Right. Iran backed Assad relentlessly during the civil war. They backed all of his atrocities. They helped form militias, send Hezbollah, an Iranian proxy and terrorist group in Lebanon, to facilitate everything Assad was doing. And those who are on the receiving end are not likely to forget it anytime soon. Hundreds of thousands have died. Tens of thousands disappeared. As for Israel, I think you could tell from some of the public statements of their leaders that they believe once someone was an Al Qaeda commander, and he was commander for quite a long time. They have a very hard time believing that tiger has changed its stripes, that, you know, obviously part of the Al Qaeda worldview is hating Jews, hating Israel, hating America. And so of all the audiences that have been exposed to the campaign to show HTS moderation, Shara's moderation, the Israelis are the ones buying it. Absolutely the least. On the other hand, what's been somewhat surprising is Shara has clearly signaled a number of times he's not looking for a fight. And I think that's likely because he's in such a weak position, he doesn't have unified control of his own country. In the final days of Assad's rule, Israel destroyed most of the weapon stores that Assad had. And then while Shara deals with other challenges, the last thing he needs is another fight, regardless of what he feels about Israel.

[Mary Reichert]

David, I want to go back to the massacre from earlier this month. Do we know who is responsible for those killings?

[Peyton McNabb]

There's certainly more to learn, but the basic narrative that most observers seem to agree on is that initially there was an attack by pro Assad insurgent group, remnants of the regime that does not want the new government in place. And that may have included some attacks on civilians. But what really happened after that was an overwhelming response that included both hitting those pro Assad insurgents as well as slaughtering a tremendous number of Alawites. And then after that, the Alawite pro Assad groups retaliated, killing a lot of other Syrians. So there's obviously some debate about who committed the first atrocity, but it seems relatively clear that it was the government forces. And I should say it's not clear they're under the government's control. And that's a big part of the problem. These are clearly forces ideologically aligned with Shara and what he does. But he seemed to be saying, don't do this. Don't make my life harder because my international image is going to suffer. And these forces just wanted to go ahead and take revenge.

[Mary Reichert]

Final question here, David. Are you encouraged or concerned about the direction Syria's taken in the months since the fall of Assad and why?

[Peyton McNabb]

Well, I guess at the beginning there's just the encouragement that comes with the end of a very brutal regime that was advancing all of Iran's goals in the region, you know, threatening both American interests and threatening Israel. So that's encouraging. But in terms of what it could have been, I see a lot of troubling signs. The most recent one I would point to is the new constitution, or technically a declaration, an interim constitution for five years. It's in a lot of ways a blueprint for dictatorship. It puts the executive power under Shara. It lets him appoint the entire legislature, and it lets him appoint their Supreme Court, as well as giving him numerous other powers and saying that all civil liberties can be violated by the government if they believe there's a threat to public order or even public norms. So we are not seeing a state that is headed in the direction of a more tolerant, inclusive or representative government.

[Mary Reichert]

David Adesnik is with the foundation for Defense of Democracies. David, thank you so much.

[Peyton McNabb]

Thank you.

[Myrna Brown]

Coming up next on THE World and everything in it, free speech for people who aren't American citizens. Pro Palestinian protests have roiled many universities and colleges in the US since the October 7, 2023, terrorist attack by Hamas on Israeli civilians. Along with Israel's response, the Trump administration.

[Mary Reichert]

Has responded by pledging to combat anti Semitism. Part of its response are efforts to deport student protesters it claims are Hamas supporters, among them Mahmoud Khalil. Khalil's supporters say the First Amendment protects him. The Trump administration says he is supporting a terrorist organization.

[Myrna Brown]

Joining us now to talk about it is Steve West. He's a reporter for World who worked for more than 30 years as a federal prosecutor in Raleigh, North Carolina. Steve Good morning.

[Steve West]

Good morning, Myrna.

[Myrna Brown]

Well, Mahmoud Khalil has certainly been in the news, but remind us who he is.

[Steve West]

Well, Khalil is a recent Columbia University graduate. He was significantly involved in the protests on that campus. He was an outspoken critic of Israel and its military response to the attacks by Hamas. And he often served as a negotiator between the administration and protesters, some of whom were simply protesting, exercising their free speech rights, but others of whom were illegally occupying buildings or encampments on campus. He's not an American citizen, but he is a legal permanent resident. That is, he has his green card, and he was on track to becoming an American citizen until he was taken into custody by immigration agents on March 8th.

[Mary Reichert]

Mm.

[Myrna Brown]

In fact, the Trump administration has called for his deportation. What's the administration's case, Steve?

[Steve West]

Well, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said it's not a case about free speech. And I think what he really means to suggest is that it's about immigration law and whether the government's foreign policy and national security interests trump Khalil's free speech rights. You know, the government is relying on a provision of federal law that allows it to remove or deport someone if the Secretary of State has reasonable grounds to believe that their presence or activities in the United States would have potentially serious adverse foreign policy consequences. The government says Khalil was a supporter of Hamas, a designated terrorist organization that he distributed pro Hamas leaflets on campus. But so far, it really hasn't been put to its proof.

[Myrna Brown]

And, of course, advocates are jumping in, saying this is an infringement on free speech rights. What's their case?

[Steve West]

Well, they have a strong case. You know, once someone is legally in the country, they have the same free speech rights as an American citizen. And the First Amendment protects all kinds of despicable, hateful speech, speech that may evoke strong emotions, and in Kahlil's case, speech that may make us want to kick him out of the country. It doesn't protect conduct that's criminal in nature. But so far, the government hasn't contended that Khalil was involved in criminal activity or gave any material support to Hamas. You know, that may come, but not yet. You know, until yesterday, the court in New York has been hearing arguments over where the case will be heard, not, you know, what will be heard. But now we know it's been transferred to New Jersey, where Khalil was confined when the petition for his release was filed.

[Myrna Brown]

So help us think big picture here, Steve. What are the larger stakes in this case?

[Steve West]

Well, here's what we have to remember, you know, if this can happen to Kahlil over anti Semitic speech that most people would deplore, what's to keep a different administration from deporting those who voice support for other culturally unpopular ideas? And can the constitutional guarantee of free speech be overridden when the government simply says the person's presence or activities will cause potentially adverse foreign policy consequences, or does it have to make a showing of what that will be? You know, we're about to find out. I asked Brad Jacob, a constitutional law professor at Regent College of Law, to weigh in on this.

[Brad Jacob]

What if Kamala Harris had won the presidential election and she's now president of the United States and you have somebody who's in the country on a green card who goes and does a pro life protest outside of an abortion clinic and they're screaming, you know, you're murdering your baby. You're murdering your baby. And so President Harris says, well, we're revoking your green card. We're going to kick you out of the country because this is so offensive, what you've been saying. Same situation, you just flip the politics.

[Myrna Brown]

You know, Steve, the Trump administration has threatened that this is only the first of many other similar actions. How important is Khalil's case to their future plans?

[Steve West]

I'd say it's pretty important. You know, they claimed a very powerful right to deport anyone deemed against the foreign policy interests of the United States. I don't expect the district court will be the end of this case, but it will likely be appealed all the way to the Supreme Court. And undoubtedly there are other ways to work on this issue, like whether to grant a student visa or let someone in the country in the first place, or as has already occurred, you know, threatening to withdraw federal funding from universities like Columbia University that don't take actions to curb anti Semitic activity.

[Myrna Brown]

And, you know, it's not just the government making this a case of national significance, is it?

[Steve West]

Well, that's right. For their part, Khalil's attorneys have sought to make his case a referendum on the Trump administration's goal of quelling what it has termed anti Semitic activity. Earlier this week, they asked the court to block the administration's efforts nationwide to arrest, detain or remove any non citizens who engage in First Amendment activity in support of Palestinian rights or who are critical of Israel. So it's really a bellwether case for the Trump administration's efforts to quell anti Semitism. And it could also be its judge.

[Myrna Brown]

Steve west is a legal reporter for World and editor of the weekly Liberties Newsletter. We encourage listeners to check that out. Steve, thank you for this report.

[Steve West]

My pleasure, Myrna. Thank you.

[Kent Covington]

Additional support comes from Barnabas Aid Hope and support for our suffering brothers and sisters around the world. Aid from Christians through Christians to Christians. Barnabasaid.org From Dort University, where engineering students are taught to do more than solve problems. They're equipped to help God's creation flourish. Dort. Edu and from Pensacola Christian College, Academic Excellence Biblical worldview affordable cost. Go.pcci.edu world.

[Mary Reichert]

A mix up at a Bulgarian soccer match left fans grieving for a former player. Before kickoff, the club held a solemn moment of silence for Petko Ganchev. Nice gesture, except Ganchev is very much alive and well. In fact, he was driving home to watch the game on TV when his phone started buzzing with concerned calls. And then his wife ran out crying over the announcement of his untimely demise at age 78. Ganchev assured everyone he is still kicking. The club quickly apologized for the mix up, blaming bad information, obviously. But Ganchev wasn't rattled because if soccer teaches you anything, it's how to recover from a bad call. It's the world and everyone Everything in It Today is Thursday, March 20th. We're glad you've joined us today on THE World and Everything In It. Good morning. I'm Mary Reichert.

[Myrna Brown]

And I'm Myrna Brown. More than 43 million people throughout the world are blind or visually impaired, according to Lutheran Braille workers, 95% of them don't have a home church. Now some congregations are stepping up to bring the word of God right to their fingertips. Recent World Journalism Institute graduate Betsy Brown has the story. The FO sounded really nice. I like both of those songs.

[Leslie Faulkner]

A small group gathers in the foyer at Our Savior Lutheran Church in Louisville, Kentucky. They get together every week to print scripture in Braille. This is Jeremiah, Volume 2 and Lamentations. Donna Granderson is one of six volunteers today. Normally there are 12. Each one has a role.

[Jerry Granderson]

It's going to be very loud.

[Leslie Faulkner]

The process starts by placing blank sheets of paper between metal plates. And that's when Jerry Granderson steps in.

[Jerry Granderson]

Basically, I load the grill plates into.

[Kent Covington]

This.

[Jerry Granderson]

Envelope, you know, a hinged envelope, and then we put it through the press. And that's what puts the bumps on the paper, so to speak.

[Leslie Faulkner]

Leslie Faulkner takes the newly printed pages.

[Mary Reichert]

I just take the imprinted pages out in order and get the plates ready to go again to be restocked.

[Leslie Faulkner]

The book they're printing contains 61 sheets of paper and is just over 2 inches thick. Jerry puts it in perspective.

[Jerry Granderson]

So if you can then imagine what it would look like if you had the entire Bible in braille, it would stack to the ceiling. All of those braille Bibles.

[J]

Oh, wait a minute.

[Leslie Faulkner]

Every now and then, the group slows down to check their work.

[J]

I don't usually do this, Jeff.

[Leslie Faulkner]

While they're all familiar with scripture, sisters Debbie and Sue Wolter point out they're not able to read the words they printed.

[J]

Jerry here has put the number on each page because none of us read braille. So if we get them out of order, we're in trouble. And that's the hardest thing because again, if we can't read the braille, so we have to, you know, check page numbers and just continually be, you know, observant.

[Leslie Faulkner]

Samples are sent to the Lutheran Braille Ministry headquarters in California for proofreading and quality control.

[J]

I don't think we've ever had a problem with books that we've had to send to them that we usually catch the problem if there is one here.

[Leslie Faulkner]

On a normal week, the group will repeat the process until they have 15 copies to box and ship that same day. Jerry says the books go to individuals and organizations throughout the world.

[Jerry Granderson]

Some of them go to here in the United States, but the majority of them go overseas to, like, Nigeria, Bangladesh, India. We send a lot to those places.

[Leslie Faulkner]

The congregations efforts reached more than 5,600 people with the Word of God in 2023. The braille ministry has been part of the church for several decades. Suez says that's drawn the group close.

[J]

Once you join braille, you stay in braille until you can't do it anymore, until you can't do it, until you physically feel you can't do it anymore. You know, other than that, I've never seen anybody not want to be doing it.

[Leslie Faulkner]

Lutheran Braille workers credits the congregation for giving more than $183,000 in labor in 2023. It's something the volunteers say they're glad to do.

[Jerry Granderson]

This is a pay for play service, so each week we each contribute into the kitty to help fund for the materials. So I like to tell people, you know, the pay's not that great here, but the benefits are heavenly.

[Leslie Faulkner]

And according to sue, they've seen the fruit of their work in their own congregation.

[J]

We have a gentleman who comes to our church periodically who is blind, and we had the youth second graders here one day learning how we do this. So they got to see how he read it just as fast as in Braille as they could read it with their eyes.

[Leslie Faulkner]

After about an hour, all 122 pages of the volume are printed and Donna binds it together.

[Mary Reichert]

So there you go, the finished book.

[Leslie Faulkner]

Another volume of scripture ready for new hands to read. Reporting for World I'm Betsy Brown in Louisville, Kentucky.

[Mary Reichert]

Sat.

[Myrna Brown]

It's Thursday, March 20th. Good morning. This is the World and everything in it from listener supported World Radio. I'm Myrna Brown.

[Mary Reichert]

And I'm Mary Reichard. World commentator Cal Thomas says even very bad people have constitutional rights.

[Cal Thomas]

President Trump is using an 18th century law to justify the deportation of hundreds of people he says are members of a vicious Venezuelan gang. The Alien Enemies act was last used during World War II by the Franklin Roosevelt administration to justify the internment of Japanese Americans. The government later apologized for that action and paid reparations to the detained survivors, but not until 1988. In the last year of the Reagan administration, U.S. district Judge James Boasberg ordered a halt to deportations until a hearing could be held. The administration said the planes deporting Venezuelans were already in the air and over international waters last Saturday, before the judge's order, President Trump has called for the impeachment of Boisberg, a President Obama appointee. One can agree that these Venezuelans are very bad people while still defending their right to due process, a concept at least as old as the Magna Carta. In a summation of the Magna Carta's influence on modern law, a posting on the Library of Congress site says the Fifth and 14th Amendments to the Constitution, which guarantee that no person shall be deprived of life, liberty or property without due process of law, incorporated the model of the rule of law that English and American lawyers associated most closely with Magna Carta for centuries. Under this model, strict adherence to regular procedure was the most important safeguard against tyranny, unquote. There was at least one option other than paying $6 million to El Salvador to take the Venezuelans and imprison them. It's what the administration initially planned send suspected criminals to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, to await a hearing before an immigration judge. Hundreds of tents were erected for the prospective deportees. The administration apparently preferred a faster strategy, perhaps to demonstrate how tough it could be when following through on Trump's campaign and subsequent promises to rid the country of undocumented aliens and known criminals. That approach has likely contributed to Trump's record high poll numbers. But at what cost? If the Venezuelans had been sent to Guantanamo and each one appeared before an immigration judge, it's likely they would end up being deported that would uphold constitutional law and produce the same results as the administration desires. Think of it this way. If you were charged with a crime, would you want the government bypassing a jury trial to satisfy a government or political objective? This is the way totalitarian regimes behave. It should not be a policy of the United States. No president should be allowed to unilaterally remove constitutional rights from anyone, including those who may have broken the law to get to this country. Founding father George Mason said no free government nor the blessings of liberty can be preserved to any people but by a firm adherence to justice, moderation, temperance, frugality and virtue, by frequent recurrence to fundamental principles, and by the recognition by all citizens that they have duties as well as rights, and that such rights cannot be enjoyed save in a society where law is respected and due process is observed. Either due process is for everybody or it's for nobody. I'm Cal Thomas.

[Mary Reichert]

Tomorrow Culture Friday with John Stone Street. Colin Garbarino reviews Disney's latest take on Snow White. And Bob Case brings us back to the Great American Songbook. That and more tomorrow. I'm Mary Reichard.

[Myrna Brown]

And I'm Myrna Brown. Now, if you enjoyed Betsy Brown's story today, just a quick reminder that it's the sort of journalism we'll teach during our upcoming World Journalism Institute course. Our two week annual seminar for college students and recent graduates is coming up in May. We're currently accepting applications. The deadline is next Friday, so apply today. You can learn more at WJI World. The world and everything in it comes to you from World Radio. World's mission is biblically objective journalism that informs, educates and inspires. Jesus said, as the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. Verse 9 of John, chapter 15. Go now in grace and peace.