3.3.26 Blocking abortion clinics in Virginia, Texas elections, recent Supreme Court rulings, and homes for the homeless

Summary

Podcast Summary: The World and Everything In It — March 3, 2026

Episode Theme:
A comprehensive look at ongoing U.S. and world news, focusing on local anti-abortion efforts in Virginia, the high-stakes Texas Senate primary, recent Supreme Court rulings, and a faith-based housing solution for homelessness, with additional commentary on the fragile political moment in Iran after the death of its Supreme Leader.

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1. Major News Headlines (00:52 – 05:56)

• Iran Conflict Escalation & U.S. Troops' Deaths
  • Rising American casualties following Iranian retaliation for U.S. and Israeli strikes.
  • President Trump mourns the fallen and argues, “We continue this mission with ferocious, unyielding resolve to crush the threat this terrorist regime poses to the American people.” (01:14)
  • The U.S. administration’s goal: destroy Iran’s ballistic missile capacity and prevent nuclear armament, not regime change.
  • Israeli leaders echo the existential threat Iran poses, especially if it attains nuclear weapons:
    “Imagine that same regime with a nuclear capability.” (03:13)
  • U.S. political debate: Democrats criticize Trump for breaking promises to end 'endless wars,' while Republicans defend the need for military action.
  • Ongoing shutdown of the Department of Homeland Security due to congressional stalemate over immigration issues and funding.

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2. Blocking Abortion Clinics in Virginia (06:29 – 12:20)

Main Story: Local Zoning Battles Over Abortion

• Lynchburg, VA:
  Residents and leaders support a zoning ordinance to restrict where abortion clinics can open.

  • Overwhelming public comment in favor; seen as a legally defensible strategy.
  • Council member Martin Mischance:
    “I can't imagine what it would look like if an abortion clinic petitioned to come into Lynchburg. The number of people that would show up to speak out against that would be exponential.” (07:38)

• Context & Concerns:

  • Virginia faces a possible constitutional amendment to protect abortion rights; as neighboring states have enacted bans, demand and providers shift into Virginia.
  • David Radford (Roanoke County Supervisor):
    “These out of state abortion providers are targeting Virginia cities.” (09:30)

• Effectiveness & Dissent Among Pro-Lifers:

  • Some see zoning as insufficient; Mark Lee Dixon (Sanctuary Cities for the Unborn) argues only outright local bans are morally and practically effective:

    “We do not say that it is okay for women to prostitute themselves on this street corner, but not that street corner… We do complete bans across the board.” (10:35)

  • Legal experts warn about reliance on the federal Comstock Act, and limits imposed by Virginia law.

• Notable Reflection:
  Joshua Hetzler (Freedom’s Law Center) views zoning as “not a compromise to move the ball forward.” (12:11)

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3. Texas Senate Primary Showdown (12:26 – 18:35)

Candidates and Stakes

• Republican Primary:

  • Incumbent Sen. John Cornyn (endorsed by law enforcement, closely aligned with Trump).
    • Volunteer Suzanne Feather:
      “He is the only politician that I have worked with that I have never been disappointed in.” (13:30)
  • Challenger Ken Paxton (TX Attorney General)—highlighting his acquittal and conservative credentials but also his scandals and controversial reputation.
    • Paxton:
      “I've been acquitted, I've been redeemed, and I'm on my way to winning this race.” (13:48)
  • Congressman Wesley Hunt (trailing but could force a runoff).

• Democratic Primary:

  • Rep. James Talarico—a young, progressive seminary student, trying to bridge political gaps:
    • “Politics is just another word for how we treat our neighbors and we should treat each other a lot better than this.” (17:06)
  • Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett—known for her combative style in Congress and championing progressive causes.

Analysis & Trends

• Democratic optimism: Historic turnout, hope of breaking a decades-long losing streak (“Hope springs eternal...” — Mark Jones, 17:36).
• Massive spending: Over $110 million spent on TV and digital ads.
• Potential for runoffs: If no candidate receives more than 50%, runoffs in May.

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4. Supreme Court Rulings Recap (19:13 – 24:01)

Legal correspondent Ginny Ruff summarizes four opinions:

1. Haynes Celestial Group v. Palmquist – Unanimous. Parents can retry their case against a baby food manufacturer in Texas state court.
   • Justice Sotomayor:
     “The rule is very simply this: plaintiff filed in the forum it wanted and it filed appropriately; it was entitled to stay in state court.” (21:04)
2. Geo Group v. Detainees – Unanimous. GEO Group must wait until after trial to appeal a key ruling on forced labor liability in an immigration detention facility.
3. Villarreal v. Texas – Unanimous. Affirms limitation on lawyer–defendant conversations during a trial recess as reasonable.
   • Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson:
     “Why should he be allowed to [prep the witness] during an overnight recess?” (22:36)
4. U.S. Postal Service v. Conan – 5–4. The Postal Service is shielded from intentional-misdelivery lawsuits under federal law (with a noted dissent from Justices Sotomayor, Kagan, Gorsuch, and Jackson).

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5. Eden Village: A Home for the Homeless in Missouri (25:03 – 31:05)

Story of Hope and Dignity

• Project Overview:
  Eden Village, a private, faith-based initiative in Springfield, MO, offers permanent, supportive housing in the form of tiny homes for chronically homeless individuals.

• Personal Testimony:
  Resident Heather Cole describes her emotional first day:

  “When you being on the streets for so long, when you walk in the door, it's very special. It's overwhelming. It's breathtaking. I cried like a baby.” (26:37)

• Founders’ Vision:
  Linda and David Brown wanted to provide genuine dignity and a real sense of home:

  “Let's give some dignity to our friends. They don't have it on the street… We're going to put them in something we would live in, not something in between...” (28:17)

  • Residents must pay rent, keep drugs off property, actively engage with the community, and participate in skill-building (“skin in the game”).

• Faith Motivation:

  “We call it God's project because we couldn't have done it on our own. And our prayer in the beginning was... God, if this is not what you want us to do, close the doors. Well, you can see He’s opened them.” — Linda Brown (30:11)

• A New Start:
  Heather Cole, now employed, has higher standards for her life and future relationships:

  “It was somebody showing me that I was worthy enough for them to care about.” (31:00)

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6. Commentary: Iran’s Narrow Window for Change (32:09 – 34:43)

Albert Mohler, World Opinions Editor:

• Reflects on the monumental shift in Iran after Ayatollah Khamenei’s death:

  “History reminds us that regimes which seem permanent can fall with stunning speed… The architecture of fear that held Iran in place has been shaken at its highest level.” (32:09)

• Emphasizes the potential—and peril—of the moment:

  “Moments like this are rare. They’re also dangerous. They can be decisive… the opportunity is real. It may close quickly… the removal of a tyrant does not guarantee a free society, but it removes an historic obstacle.” (Entire segment, but especially 33:00–34:00)

• Urges prayer for courage and wise leadership inside Iran, calling it “a civilizational moment.”

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “There is no one more vulnerable than a child who cannot speak, vote or defend themselves." — Lynchburg resident, (07:26)
• “I've been acquitted, I've been redeemed, and I'm on my way to winning this race.” — Ken Paxton, (13:48)
• “If it's not John Cornyn, it's a guaranteed hundred plus million dollars spent and no guarantee that we hold Texas.” — Sen. Tim Scott (14:56)
• “It was somebody showing me that I was worthy enough for them to care about.” — Heather Cole, (31:00)
• “This is not merely a military development. It is a civilizational moment.” — Albert Mohler, (34:31)

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• Major World/National News: 00:52–05:56
• Virginia Abortion Clinic Zoning: 06:29–12:20
• Texas Senate Primary: 12:26–18:35
• Supreme Court Rulings: 19:13–24:01
• Eden Village Homeless Solution: 25:03–31:05
• Iran Commentary (Albert Mohler): 32:09–34:43

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Tone & Language:
Maintains a biblically grounded, measured, and analytical tone, spotlighting local voices and national experts, and engaging religious and ethical perspectives throughout.

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Transcript

[Lindsay Mast]

Good morning.

Pro lifers in Virginia find ways to stifle the growth of the abortion industry.

[Narrator/Reporter]

Virginia is basically an abortion tourism state.

[Nick Eicher]

Also today, the Senate primary in Texas will have a report and how one couple is finding solutions for the local homeless.

[Narrator/Reporter]

Being on the streets for so long, when you walk in the door, it's very special.

[Nick Eicher]

And World Opinion's editor Albert Moeller on Iran's narrow window for change.

[Lindsay Mast]

It's Tuesday, March 3rd. This is the world and everything in it from listener supported World Radio. I'm Lindsay Mast.

[Nick Eicher]

And I'm Nick Eicher.

[Todd Vishen]

Good morning.

[Lindsay Mast]

Up next, Kent Covington with today's news.

[Kent Covington]

The American death toll from Iran's response to US And Israeli strikes has now risen to at least six. US Central Command announced that US Forces recently recovered the remains of two previously unaccounted for service members from a facility that was struck during Iran's initial attacks in the region. At the White House on Monday, President Trump said he mourns those lost in their memory.

[Narrator/Reporter]

We continue this mission with ferocious, unyielding resolve to crush the threat this terrorist regime poses to the American people. And a threat indeed it is.

[Kent Covington]

The president again defended the military action, saying the time to strike was now to eliminate the Iranian threat before it became any more dangerous.

[Narrator/Reporter]

We thought we had a deal, but then they backed out and they came back and we thought we had a

[Nick Eicher]

deal and they backed out.

[Narrator/Reporter]

I said, you can't deal with these people.

[Kent Covington]

Trump said that after focused strikes against nuclear targets in Iran last year, his administration warned Iranian leaders not to take further action toward a nuclear weapon, but they did not listen. Secretary of State and acting National Security Adviser Marco Rubio also addressed reporters on Monday. He said that the imminent danger that motivated the US to act when it did was the likely retaliation by Iran from a planned Israeli strike. But Rubio said that even if the US had done nothing right now, it would have been forced to act within a matter of months.

[Narrator/Reporter]

This operation needed to happen because Iran, in about a year or a year and a half would cross the line of immunity, meaning they would have so many short range missiles, so many drones that no one could do anything about it because they could hold the whole world hostage.

[Kent Covington]

The secretary said the goal of this action was not regime change, though the administration would be delighted to see more rational leadership in Iran. The mission, he said, was to destroy the country's ballistic missile capability and prevent a nuclear Iran.

[Narrator/Reporter]

And the hardest hits are yet to come from the US Military. The next phase will be even more punishing on Iran than it is right now. Someone was screaming, how long will it take? I don't know how long it'll take. We have objectives.

[Kent Covington]

President Trump said the initial timeline for this military action was four or five weeks, but that the US Is more than capable and prepared to go longer if needed. Meantime, Israeli Ambassador to the UN Danny Danone echoed the remarks of President Trump and Secretary Rubio, saying that despite the short term risks of this conflict for Israel, his government had to act.

[Narrator/Reporter]

Look at what they are doing now without a nuclear weapon threatening the entire region. Now imagine that same regime with a nuclear capability.

[Kent Covington]

Israeli forces launched retaliatory strikes in Lebanon after the Iran backed terror group Hezbollah launched a missile attack at Israel and an Israeli military official did not rule out another ground invasion in southern Lebanon, where Hezbollah is based. Meantime, in Washington, Democratic leaders are taking shots at President Trump's decision to launch Operation Epic Fury in Iran. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer told lawmakers yesterday that he's not shedding any tears over the death of Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Khamenei, but at the same time he accused the president of breaking a core promise to his constituents.

[Narrator/Reporter]

Donald Trump ran for office on the promise to wind down America's endless wars. What he's doing is exactly, exactly the opposite. He's picking military fight all over the world and not taking care of business here at home.

[Kent Covington]

Schumer said he plans to lead a War Powers Resolution aimed at limiting Trump's ability to launch similar strikes in the future without approval from Congress. Senate Majority Leader John Thune said Iran's leadership left the president with no choice but to act. President Trump and his administration relentlessly pursued

[Narrator/Reporter]

a diplomatic solution to the threat posed by Iran, but the Iranian regime refused diplomatic off ramps, and so now the president is taking action.

[Kent Covington]

Thune added that Iran fuels terrorism throughout the Middle east and that the current regime must be stopped. With some in the US Expressing growing fears of terror attacks amid the conflict in Iran, the shutdown of the Department of Homeland Security rolls into its third week. World's Harrison Waters has more.

[Narrator/Reporter]

Lawmakers are still negotiating a deal to fund DHS after Democrats derailed funding last month demanding changes to Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or ice. Neither side has budged since last week, even with heightened fears of threats to the homeland. On Friday, many DHS employees received partial paychecks, but Border Patrol and ICE officers received full paychecks thanks to funding passed last year. Later today, DHS Secretary Kristi Noem will testify to the Senate Judiciary Committee. Democrats plan to grill her about the actions of ICE agents in Minneapolis, while Republicans are expected to dig into how the shutdown is affecting the function of agencies like TSA and fema. Reporting for world, I'm Harrison Waters.

[Kent Covington]

And I'm Kent Covington. Still ahead, pro lifers in Virginia find ways to stifle the great growth of the abortion industry. Plus, a report on the U.S. senate primary in Texas. This is the World and Everything in It.

[Nick Eicher]

It's Tuesday 3rd March. Glad to have you along for today's edition of the WORLD and Everything In It. Good morning. I'm Nick Iger.

[Lindsay Mast]

And I'm Lindsay Mast. First up, local leaders in Virginia are using zoning ordinances to shut abortion businesses out of their communities. Many pro lifers say the approach is a good one, but others say the regulations don't go far enough. World's Lauren Canterbury has the story.

[Lauren Canterbury]

Last month, residents of Lynchburg, Virginia, packed the City Council chambers to give testimony about a proposed zoning ordinance. The new regulation will significantly restrict where abortion facilities can open within city limits. About 70 people spoke in the meeting, with the overwhelming majority supporting the ordinance.

[Narrator/Reporter]

The zoning amendment before you, as you've already heard, is simple in its purpose. It simply places reasonable limits on where these facilities can operate. You hold the power of life in your hands, whether you realize it or not, and there is no one more vulnerable than a child who cannot speak,

[Linda Brown]

vote or defend themselves.

[Lauren Canterbury]

The council voted 4 to 2 in favor of the ordinance. City Council member Martin Mischance said the protections are in line with the community's values.

[Narrator/Reporter]

I can't imagine what it would look like if an abortion clinic petitioned to come into Lynchburg. The number of people that would show up to speak out against that would be exponential.

[Lauren Canterbury]

Other municipalities are also considering similar legislation as a proactive response to a November ballot item that could enshrine abortion into the state constitution. If that amendment passes, some pro lifers worry that abortion businesses could flood Virginia. After the U.S. supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in 2022 and Pro Life trigger laws took effect in states like Tennessee, West Virginia, and Kentucky, thousands of women began traveling to Virginia for abortions. Currently, the state is the only one in the south that still allows abortions through the second trimester of pregnancy, and a baby may still be killed later if three doctors agree that a mother's physical or mental health is at risk.

[Narrator/Reporter]

You know, Virginia is basically an abortion tourism state.

[Lauren Canterbury]

David Radford is the vice chairman of the Roanoke County Board of Supervisors. Last month, Radford and his fellow supervisors directed the county's Planning Commission to evaluate an ordinance similar to the one that passed in Lynchburg. Roanoke county is located about 50 miles from west Virginia, where babies are protected in nearly all cases. There are three abortion facilities in the county. Radford said he and other local lawmakers started considering zoning ordinances after the newest facility opened in the town of Vinton in 2024. After Summit Medical Centers submitted paperwork to open an abortion facility in Vinton, residents pushed back. The Town council approved an ordinance requiring a special use permit for abortion facilities, but they were too late to stop Summit and the facility opened just a few months later.

[Narrator/Reporter]

They caught him by surprise, and that's what's happening in Virginia right now. These out of state abortion providers are targeting Virginia cities.

[Lauren Canterbury]

While the ordinances do not ban abortion outright, Mischiens and Radford agree that the change is the most legally defensible way to control where such facilities operate. Virginia is a Dillon's Rule state, which means local governments only have powers that the state legislature explicitly grants to them, radford said. That includes zoning.

[Narrator/Reporter]

Our basic ability at this point is we want to identify, call it out and give the public a chance to oppose it. Otherwise it looks like Virginia could be, you know, the capital of abortion on the East Coast.

[Lauren Canterbury]

While many local pro life leaders see these zoning ordinances as a win, others say they are not really protecting unborn babies. Mark Lee Dixon, founder of the Sanctuary Cities for the Unborn Initiative, believes abortion should be outlawed in the same way many municipalities ban prostitution.

[Narrator/Reporter]

We do not say that it is okay for women to prostitute themselves on this street corner, but not that street corner. We do complete bans across the board.

[Lauren Canterbury]

More than 100 cities and counties across the country have done just that, introducing sanctuary ordinances outlawing abortion and abortion trafficking. Dixon says the regulations are based on the federal Comstock act, which prohibits mailing drugs or tools used to perform abortions. He argues that abortion businesses can be banned because they are violating federal law. Supporters of such bans believe municipalities should not treat abortion facilities as businesses to be zoned, but as criminal entities.

[Narrator/Reporter]

We shouldn't even entertain organizations coming into our cities, coming into our counties saying that they want to in the life of innocent children made in the image of God.

[Lauren Canterbury]

Dozens of cities and counties have successfully introduced Dixon sanctuary ordinances, but some legal experts say federal law is too easy for Congress to change and is difficult to enforce.

[Narrator/Reporter]

I don't, I wouldn't want to hang my hat on the Comstock act that's

[Lauren Canterbury]

founding Freedom's Law Center's Josh Hetzler If

[Narrator/Reporter]

Virginia law says generally, you know, there's a fundamental right to an abortion, well, I don't think a local government's going to be able to say otherwise.

[Lauren Canterbury]

Hetzler acknowledges that a zoning ordinance won't protect all unborn babies, but he still sees the tactic as a small victory.

[Narrator/Reporter]

There may be a way that is more perfect. We should continue to strive for that. But it's not a compromise to move the ball forward.

[Lauren Canterbury]

Reporting for world, I'm Lauren Canterbury.

[Nick Eicher]

Coming up next on THE WORLD and everything in it. A Senate showdown. Today is the last day for Texas voters to choose their candidates for the November general election. Early voting began in February, and polls say the races are very close.

[Lindsay Mast]

On the Republican side, a longtime incumbent faces a challenge from the state attorney general and a US Congressman. On the Democratic side, a moderate branded state senator and a U.S. congresswoman are vying for the seat. World's Todd Vishen has more from Houston.

[Todd Vishen]

Republican Senator John Cornyn is seeking a fifth term in Washington, and he's running on a long track record. He has millions of dollars in funding from the National Republican Senatorial Committee, he's endorsed by law enforcement groups, and he votes with President Trump 99% of the time.

[Lindsay Mast]

He doesn't always vote with you, but he always does the right thing as

[Narrator/Reporter]

far as he can make it work.

[Todd Vishen]

Suzanne Feather is a longtime Cornyn volunteer. She helped with setup at a Houston restaurant before the senior Texas senator spoke to about 50 supporters the first week of early voting.

[Lindsay Mast]

He is the only politician that I have worked with that I have never been disappointed in.

[Todd Vishen]

But Cornyn faces the stiffest competition of his long political career from Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton. Here he is during a campaign stop at a bar aptly named the Angry Elephant.

[Narrator/Reporter]

I've been acquitted, I've been redeemed, and I'm on my way to winning this race.

[Todd Vishen]

Paxton championed his no holds barred attacks on progressive politics and federal overreach. That message resonated with Republicans like Tom Oliverson, a state representative who sits at the desk Paxton once occupied.

[Narrator/Reporter]

The status quo is not okay for me.

[Todd Vishen]

Oliverson introduced Paxton to supporters during early voting.

[Kent Covington]

I want someone with more conservative values and I want somebody who's going to

[Narrator/Reporter]

be like Ted Cruz was when he first got in the Senate.

[Todd Vishen]

But Paxton's career and personal life have been riddled with scandal. He narrowly survived impeachment proceedings over financial fraud allegations, and last year his wife filed for divorce on biblical grounds. Paxton has said the allegations are political hit jobs. He had a slight lead in the polls heading into early voting.

[Narrator/Reporter]

We have so many issues that we need to deal with, from the deficit to China to better judges to actually representing Texas values on second Amendment.

[Todd Vishen]

But the GOP worries he could lose a general election and a crucial seat in Washington. Here's Senator Tim Scott, chair of the GOP's Senate fundraising committee on Fox and Friends.

[Narrator/Reporter]

If it's not John Cornyn, it's a guaranteed hundred plus million dollars spent and no guarantee that we hold Texas.

[Todd Vishen]

Cornyn also faces a primary challenge from US Congressman Wesley Hunt. Hunt's polling and fundraising trails behind the leaders, but he could block any of the candidates from getting 50% of the votes. If that happens, the top two will head to a runoff in May. In the Democratic primary, State Representative James Talarico and U.S. congresswoman Jasmine Crockett are both pitching themselves as the answer to combating the Trump administration.

[Narrator/Reporter]

The actual politics and policies proposed by both Crockett and Talarico are pretty similar.

[Todd Vishen]

Rice University political science fellow Mark Jones says Crockett is in the lead with non white voters, but Talarico is enjoying a popularity surge and their campaigns are completely different.

[Narrator/Reporter]

It's more in terms of style and background and just overall vibes and likability.

[Todd Vishen]

Crockett is a former lawyer known in Washington for her quick comebacks and arguments with conservative House Republicans like this one with then Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene last year.

[Narrator/Reporter]

Well, you the one talking about I

[Lauren Canterbury]

guess I think your fake eyelashes are messing up.

[Narrator/Reporter]

No, ain't nothing. Hold on, hold on.

[Lauren Canterbury]

Listen, I'm just curious just to better understand your ruling. If someone on this committee then starts talking about somebody's bleach blonde, bad built butch body that would not be engaging in personalities, correct?

[Narrator/Reporter]

A what now?

[Todd Vishen]

Crockett has won long shot campaigns before and she believes she can win this year's race not by pitching to moderates, but by bringing out the blue progressives in a red state.

[Lauren Canterbury]

If I allow someone to disrespect me, how is it that the people that I represent will believe that I will fight for them?

[Todd Vishen]

On Friday, former Vice President Kamala Harris endorsed Crockett. Crockett's competition. James Talarico has won swing districts before too, and he's on a mission to convert Republicans.

[Narrator/Reporter]

That word love is maybe the most important word in the English language. It's certainly the most important word in all of our lives and yet we rarely hear it spoken in our politics.

[Todd Vishen]

The 36 year old seminary student has put his ordination plans on hold to focus on politics first.

[Narrator/Reporter]

Politics is just another word for how we treat our neighbors and we should treat each other a lot better than this.

[Todd Vishen]

In 2021, he claimed God is non binary while arguing against a law that would bar boys from playing in girls sports. Since then, he's condemned Christian nationalism, argued that the Bible does not talk about abortion, and claimed conservatives manipulate scripture for political gain. Early voting turnout was unusually high, with Democrats leading the surge. Here's Jones again with the polling.

[Narrator/Reporter]

No Democrat has won a statewide election in Texas since 1994, and so hope springs eternal. But Democrats this year are optimistic with Donald Trump in the White House and the potential to face a damaged or flawed Republican candidate, that this could be the year that they actually are able to win a statewide race and break that losing streak that's been hanging over them for now. You know, 30 years.

[Todd Vishen]

A record $110 million has already been spent on each side for advertising alone. If either race comes to a runoff, those will take place in May. Reporting for World, I'm Todd Vishen in Houston, Texas. Additional reporting and writing by Carolina Lumetta.

[Kent Covington]

Additional support comes from Covenant College, where students are equipped with a Christ centered education rooted in the Reformed tradition. Covenant. Edu World from Free Lutheran Bible College, grounding students in the word of God for life in Jesus Christ on campus and in person. In Plymouth, Minnesota, flbc Edu World and from Boyce College, where truth comes first. Every class begins with Scripture and prepares students to live with wisdom, conviction and Christlike faithfulness.

[Narrator/Reporter]

Boycecollege.com Last week, the Supreme Court issued four opinions.

[Lindsay Mast]

World Legal correspondent Ginny Ruff has this roundup.

I'll start with a correction. Last week when I reported on the tariff decision, I said that along with Chief Justice John Roberts principal opinion and Justice Brett Kavanaugh's principal dissent. Every other justice with the exception of Samuel Alito wrote a separate concurrence or dissent. But Justice Sonia Sotomayor didn't either. And Justice Alito actually brought up their omissions during a recent oral argument. The tariff opinion was the size of a small book, 170 pages. Last Tuesday, a lawyer before the court suggested the justices could decide his case with a super short written opinion.

[Narrator/Reporter]

All we're asking you to do is to reverse.

[Linda Brown]

I mean, it could be an opinion

[Narrator/Reporter]

that's 160 pages less than the tariff's opinion last week. Well, if, well, That's certainly a goal to aim for. I felt very left out in the tariffs. Justice Sotomayor didn't write and I didn't write opinions. But if maybe we'll have a chance here.

[Lindsay Mast]

I did read all 170 pages. Apologies for the oversight. All right, moving on. The court issued four more opinions last week. First, Haynes Celestial Group versus Palmquist. Sarah and Grant Palmquist fed their son baby food they say contained heavy metals that contributed to their son's autism. Justice Sotomayor wrote the unanimous opinion. She affirmed that a lower court correctly held the parents could pursue their case in Texas state court instead of federal court. Here's Justice Sotomayor during oral argument, giving an early indication of the decision to come.

[Narrator/Reporter]

The rule is very simply this plaintiff filed in the forum it wanted and it filed appropriately it was entitled to stay in state court.

[Lindsay Mast]

A trial in federal court has already taken place and the Palmquist lost. But this decision means a redo in Texas in the proper court. Next Geo Group vs Geo Group runs an immigration detention facility in Colorado under a contract with ice. A group of detainees allege the government contractor forced them to do janitorial work for no pay or a dollar a day. Geo Group lost its argument that it's shielded from liability because it acted at ice's direction and it wanted to appeal that unfavorable ruling before the trial began, but the Supreme Court said no. This one, too was unanimous. Justice Elena Kagan writing that the Geo Group can raise that as a defense during the trial, but it'll have to wait to appeal the ruling denying it immunity until after final judgment number three. Villarreal vs Texas another unanimous judgment. David Villarreal took the stand at his murder trial to argue self defense. But an hour into his testimony, the judge called an overnight recess. The judge instructed the defense attorney to refrain from discussing his client's testimony during the recession. But he was permitted to talk about related topics with his client, like whether he should take a plea. At oral argument, Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson said that sounded reasonable to the extent

[Narrator/Reporter]

that the lawyer couldn't manage coach prep practice with the witness while he's on the stand. Why should he be allowed to do so during an overnight recess?

[Lindsay Mast]

She wrote the opinion affirming a lower court's ruling. Finally, the Last case today, U.S. postal Service v. Conan. Conan sued the Postal Service, alleging it wrongfully withheld her mail and its reason for doing so was racially motivated. The Postal Service argued a federal statute protects it from claims arising out of the loss, miscarriage or negligent transmission of letters. Here the debate centered over whether the statute's language protected the Postal Service from intentional misdelivery. In a 5, 4 ruling in favor of the Postal Service, Justice Clarence Thomas wrote the majority opinion to say it does. Justice Sotomayor dissented, joined by Justices Kagan, Neil Gorsuch, and Jackson. Reporting for World, I'm Jenny Ruff.

[Nick Eicher]

A five year old boy in Colorado just conducted his first airline audit. Five years old, William Hines loves airplanes. So when a family friend gave him a Southwest Airlines pilot training manual, he didn't just flip through. He studied that thing and spotted what appeared to be a discrepancy 2 terrain graphics. It didn't quite match up. So he told a grown up and the note made its way all the way to the desk of the CEO. Southwest says it wasn't actually an error, just different zoom settings on those graphics. But that ultimately was not the point. The kid was impressive. So Southwest invited William and his family to Dallas for a VIP tour. The youngster even got in the simulator, got to sit in the Captain's seat at 5, cleared for takeoff.

[Narrator/Reporter]

Wow.

[Nick Eicher]

It's the world and everything in it.

[Lindsay Mast]

Today is Tuesday, March 3rd. Thank you for turning to World Radio to help start your day. Good morning, I'm Lindsay Mast.

[Nick Eicher]

And I'm Nick Eicher. Next up on the World and everything in it, homelessness in America. As of 2024, nearly 800,000 people are homeless, driven by a mix of factors. Massive migration, high housing and rental costs, family instability, the sudden loss of income, not to mention untreated mental illness and substance abuse.

[Lindsay Mast]

One solution for the chronically homeless is found in Springfield, Missouri. It's not a government program. It's privately supported and local. It's called Eden Village, one of two such projects in town. And World's Mary Reichard paid a visit.

[Mary Reichard]

I've driven past this drab area on the old industrial side of Springfield, Missouri for years. It's a mishmash of strip mall buildings and concrete by the train tracks. But then there is this four and a half acre stretch of cheery houses painted red, blue, green, orange or yellow on each side of a neatly paved road. Eden Village is a gated neighborhood for chronically homeless people. Estimates are that this town, with a population of around 170,000, has up to 2,700 homeless people. Heather Cole used to be one of them until she landed here.

[Narrator/Reporter]

I ain't really ever had a place of my own.

[Mary Reichard]

She recalls the day she unlocked the door to her brand new home.

[Narrator/Reporter]

When you being on the streets for so long, when you walk in the door, it's very special. It's overwhelming. It's breathtaking. I cried like a baby.

[Mary Reichard]

This is what Eden Village provides for people Linda Brown founded it with her husband, David.

[Narrator/Reporter]

The longer they're on the street, the longer it takes to acclimate. You know, they can't live beyond the hour they're in. They can't even think about tonight. They can't think about tomorrow. They're incapable of. They've gotten so used to just surviving in the moment that they can't project out. Well, if I do this, I can do this, you know, so they've got to relearn all that.

[Mary Reichard]

The Browns saw the problem up close after they moved downtown in 2010. Linda explains.

[Linda Brown]

I've always had a passion, curiosity. What is their story? Why are they homeless? What happened to them? So we started with a small space,

[Mary Reichard]

some place to serve meals and to get to know people.

[Linda Brown]

It came to me after a while, after several years, that what we're doing is basically a band aid.

[Mary Reichard]

The Browns got to go home and sleep in warm beds. Their friends walked back to the woods and alleys to sleep and exposed to the elements. So Linda got an idea.

[Linda Brown]

The tiny home craze was starting at that point. And I said, why? Let's check out some tiny homes and see. And so we researched that. I'm in real estate, and so we found this vacant mobile home park here. And we thought this would be a perfect place.

[Mary Reichard]

The infrastructure for building was already there, but there was a lot more involved.

[Narrator/Reporter]

Our idea is, let's give some dignity to our friends. They don't have it on the street. You know, nobody pays attention to them. And so what we said, we're going to put them in something we would live in, not something in between, which would be better than living on the street, but we still wouldn't live in it. What does that say to that person?

[Mary Reichard]

So they decided on a 400 square foot, fully furnished home to fund the project. The couple spoke to any group that would listen, like local rotary clubs. Soon, others caught the vision, too. Community support led to a $3 million plus development of 31 tiny homes. The residents also have skin in the game. They pay about $300 a month in rent, usually out of welfare or disability checks. Eligibility requires a person to be homeless in Springfield for at least a year and have a diagnosed mental or physical disability. And once housed, the rules are simple. Be a good neighbor and keep drugs off the property.

[Linda Brown]

If we find out that there are drugs in the home, we give them a choice. You either move out or you. If you go for treatment, we'll save your home. And when you come out, you'll have your home and Then it's their choice.

[Mary Reichard]

A disaster relief organization in Springfield provides common household items.

[Linda Brown]

We have a store, a little store here on the property, so the residents know that what's in the store and how many points it takes for toilet paper, whatever. And so they earn points by, you know, either mowing someone's yard and we keep track of all that. So they accumulate their points and that's how they purchase. So we're having to acclimate them into living as we do, and so that's a transition for them.

[Mary Reichard]

The Browns see Eden Village as an expression of their Christian faith.

[Linda Brown]

We call it God's project because we couldn't have done it on our own. And our prayer in the beginning was, you know, God, if this is not what you want us to do, close the doors. Well, you can see he's opened them.

[Mary Reichard]

As for Heather, who lives at Eden Village, she's got a job and her life is stable. Does she plan to stay here forever?

[Narrator/Reporter]

I'm 48 years old, and it is designed for single people, and I don't know that I want to stay single for the rest of my life. However, I'm not leaving my home for anything less than what I think God wants me to have, which is a godly man and a man that works and doesn't do drugs. You know, I set my standards a

[Mary Reichard]

little higher, and in part because of the opportunities a home brings, she's got higher standards for herself, too.

[Narrator/Reporter]

It was somebody showing me that I was worthy enough for them to care about.

[Mary Reichard]

After nearly a decade on the streets, that has allowed Heather to go beyond surviving to learning how to really live. Reporting for world, I'm Mary Reichard in Springfield, Missouri.

[Nick Eicher]

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

[Lindsay Mast]

And I'm Lindsay Mast. A door has opened in Iran. Whether it leads to freedom or slams shut again depends on what happens next. Here is world opinions editor Albert Mohler.

[Narrator/Reporter]

The world order can change in a matter of hours. We saw that this weekend as Iranians began their work week. Israeli and American forces struck with overwhelming military force. By the end of the day, Ayatollah Ali Hosseini Khamenei, supreme leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran for more than three decades, was dead, and Iranian authorities confirmed it. Khamenei was not merely head of state, he was the embodiment of a revolutionary regime Born in 1979, a regime built on clerical rule, sustained by repression, animated by a militant apocalyptic vision of Shia Islam. For 45 years. That regime has defined itself by hostility to the west, by sponsorship of terror worldwide, and by the relentless pursuit of nuclear weapons. It appeared immovable. Until it wasn't. History reminds us that regimes which seem permanent can fall with stunning speed. The Ottoman Empire once seemed permanent. So did the Soviet Union. So did the Shah of Iran. And now the second supreme leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran is gone. The military strikes continue. Iran's Revolutionary Guards remain powerful. The future is uncertain. But this much is clear. The architecture of fear that held Iran in place has been shaken at its highest level. That matters. Moments like this are rare. They're also dangerous. They can be decisive. The Iranian people have endured decades of censorship, imprisonment, torture, and the violent suppression of protest. Many have longed for freedom. Many have paid dearly for even whispering that. Now history has handed them a narrow window. Whether the window opens into liberty or slams shut into even deeper repression will depend on what happens next, what happens inside Iran. President Trump has called upon the Iranian people to seize political control. That is easier said than done. But the opportunity is real. It may close quickly. Let's be clear, opportunities like this just don't linger. They're measured in days, perhaps hours. Let's also be clear. The removal of a tyrant does not guarantee a free society, but it does remove an historic obstacle that once seemed immovable. So let's pray. Pray that courage rises in Iran. Pray that wise leadership emerges. Pray that the Iranian people recognize the gravity of this hour and seize it. Because this is not merely a military development. It is a civilizational moment. And as President Trump said, this is the moment for action. Do not let it pass. Let's pray it doesn't. For world, I'm Albert Moeller.

[Nick Eicher]

Tomorrow, Washington Wednesday will talk about the Iran war and American politics and policy. And we'll talk to the creators of a new graphic novel about a modern day martyr in Pakistan. That and more tomorrow. I'm Nick Icar.

[Lindsay Mast]

And I'm Lindsay Mast. The world and everything in it comes to you from World Radio. World's mission is biblically objective journalism that informs, educates and inspires. The Bible records Mary's song of praise. My soul magnifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my savior. For he has looked on the humble estate of his servant. For behold, from now on, all generations will call me blessed. For he who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is his name. And his mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation. Luke 1, verses 46 through 50 go now in grace and peace.