4.14.26 A new phase of the Iran war, Israel and Lebanon ceasefire talks, stronger enforcement of abortion drugs, and a musical experience for young listeners

Summary

Podcast Summary: The World and Everything In It – April 14, 2026
Episode Title: A new phase of the Iran war, Israel and Lebanon ceasefire talks, stronger enforcement of abortion drugs, and a musical experience for young listeners
(Hosted by World Radio; Main Hosts: Mary Reichard and Nick Eicher)

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Episode Overview

This episode takes listeners through major international headlines and domestic topics, focusing on the evolving conflict with Iran—including a new U.S.-led naval blockade—ongoing ceasefire and diplomatic negotiations between Israel and Lebanon, the rise of unregulated abortion drug sales in the U.S., and the power of music education through a behind-the-scenes look at a children's symphony concert. The episode wraps up with a pointed commentary on religion, politics, and blasphemy in public life.

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Key Segments and Discussion Points

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1. War with Iran: A New Economic Phase

[01:00]–[12:05]

Main Points:

• The United States, led by President Trump and Vice President J.D. Vance, has imposed a naval blockade on Iran, particularly targeting oil exports through the Strait of Hormuz.
• The blockade is a response to failed peace talks and Iran’s continued nuclear ambitions.
• U.S. leaders believe they hold significant leverage—militarily and economically.
• International allies show mixed support; European involvement remains uncertain amid diplomatic strains.

Key Quotes:

• Vice President J.D. Vance:
  “We have the military advantage. We now have additional economic pressure … through the blockade that we’ve imposed on their oil coming out of the Straits of Hormuz. So we have a lot of cards. We have the leverage and we’re going to see what the Iranians do with that.” [01:10]
• Ryan Brobst, analyst:
  “If Iran is going to be blockading it, we shouldn’t allow them to profit from that blockade …while stopping all of our partners in the Gulf… This is a way to increase leverage in negotiations and make it clear to Iran that there’s going to be a cost…” [06:45] “This is part of an effort by the Trump administration to bring all elements of national power to bear on Iran … This is more of a continuation of strategy.” [08:12]
• NATO Secretary General Mark Ruda (paraphrased by Brobst): Differences exist among allies regarding methods to reopen the strait, creating uncertainty about coalition strength. [09:14]
• Vice President J.D. Vance:
  “Do we see a fundamental commitment of will for the Iranians not to develop a nuclear weapon? … We haven’t seen that yet. We hope that we will.” [10:59]

Notable Moments:

• The unusual escalation path: U.S. switched from initial military bombardment to an economic squeeze via blockade after peace talks broke down—a reversal of typical intervention strategy. [07:27]
• The episode addresses China’s interests and limited leverage in the Strait of Hormuz, given its naval limitations. [10:01]

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2. Israel and Lebanon: Ceasefire Talks Amid Persistent Hostilities

[12:09]–[16:31]

Main Points:

• Negotiators from Israel and Lebanon meet in Washington to discuss ending cross-border attacks.
• A central issue: Whether Lebanon will take steps to control and disarm the Iran-backed Hezbollah group.
• Civilian casualties and displacement in Lebanon are high; targeted Israeli strikes have drawn international criticism.
• Hezbollah rejects direct talks with Israel, calling negotiations "pointless."
• Disagreement persists over whether Lebanon is included in the current Iran ceasefire framework.

Key Quotes:

• Israeli spokesperson Shosh Bedrosian:
  “Our actions are not against Lebanon and its citizens, but against a murderous terrorist organization that has taken the Lebanese people as hostages. … The first and most important thing right now is to ensure that Hezbollah is disarmed, they are demilitarized, and so is southern Lebanon as well.” [14:11, 14:47]
• French Foreign Affairs spokesman Pascal Confavereau:
  “Iran has to stop terrorizing Israel through Hezbollah because Hezbollah chose to bring Lebanon into a war which is not Lebanon’s war.” [13:46]
• Hezbollah Leader (paraphrased): The group will not participate in negotiations with Israel, rejecting preconditions for talks. [15:09]

Notable Moments:

• First-person audio captures sounds of conflict on the Israeli-Lebanon border (sirens, interceptions). [12:34]
• A mother of a Lebanese Red Cross worker killed in a drone attack, highlighting civilian cost. [14:02]

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3. Religious Liberty Task Force Final Meeting

[02:18]–[03:22]

Main Points:

• Trump administration's Task Force discusses threats to religious freedom in America.
• Key recommendations: Legal challenges to the Johnson Amendment and mandatory labor rights postings.

Key Quote:

• Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick:
  “Every time we hear separation of church and state, we need to say there is no separation of church and state. That’s a lie. ... That’s what the Constitution says.” [02:57]

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4. US Congressional Scandals & International News

[03:22]–[05:33]

Summary:

• Eric Swalwell (D-CA) resigns from Congress and gubernatorial race amid misconduct allegations.
• Tony Gonzalez (R-TX) to retire after admitting to an affair.
• Super Typhoon Sinlaku threatens the Northern Mariana Islands; presidential disaster declaration in place.
• Nigerian airstrike on market kills over 100 civilians; calls for independent investigation.

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5. Black Market Abortion Drugs: Rising Risks and Calls for Stricter Enforcement

[17:16]–[23:12]

Main Points:

• Online sale and shipment of abortion pills has spiked since Dobbs v. Jackson (2022).
• Many sellers disregard FDA rules and provide drugs for pregnancies beyond approved limits.
• The lack of in-person medical oversight endangers women’s health.
• Senate Committee presses FDA and manufacturers for stricter enforcement of protocol.

Key Quotes:

• Heather Lawless, Pro Life Reliance Ministries CEO:
  “The drugs come in these little black baggies that, like heroin would come in or fentanyl would come in.” [19:09]
• Dr. Ingrid Scop, Charlotte Lozier Institute:
  “Abortion has been able to follow its own rules outside of the normal way that medicine is practiced.” [19:49]
  “I think it’s absolutely critical that the FDA police its own prescribers. Their job is to protect women and girls from dangerous drugs.” [21:28]
• Jamie Dangers, Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America:
  “The pipeline now is so Wild west and so there’s, there’s no way of protecting women.” [22:10]

Notable Moments:

• Firsthand account from a pro-life advocate ordering drugs through encrypted apps as an investigative method. [17:46]
• Emphasis on failure of both FDA and pharmaceutical companies to uphold safety standards and legal requirements.

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6. Music Education: Symphony Concerts for Kids

[24:16]–[30:39]

Main Points:

• University of Southern Mississippi stages concerts specially designed for young students.
• Musical program blends live performance, history, and visual elements (archival footage and animation) to keep kids engaged.
• The aim: to spark students' interest in music, potentially influencing future school participation and academic performance.

Key Quotes:

• Gregory Walnick, Director of Orchestral Activities:
  “If we can do something to sort of light that spark, that’s a primary objective for me with the children’s concerts.” [26:01]
  “To actually see professional level musicians performing and presenting this in a program that’s tailor made for them. There’s just so many positives for it.” [30:24]

Memorable Moment:

• Student reactions to hearing unusual instruments (like taxi horns) and animated elements during the performance.

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7. Commentary: Blasphemy, Politics, and Presidential Imagery

[31:14]–[34:21]

Main Points:

• Denny Burke critiques President Trump for posting (then deleting) an image depicting himself as Jesus Christ.
• The commentator challenges the defense offered by supporters, calling the episode an example of blasphemy and irreverence toward sacred imagery.

Key Quotes:

• Denny Burke:
  “The issue is not prayer. The issue is blasphemy… God will not share his glory.” [32:25]
  “There is a pattern here. Irreverence, carelessness, a willingness to treat sacred things as tools for humor, for messaging, for effect. … Making blasphemy great again will not end well, not for the president and not for those who excuse it.” [33:44]

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Timestamps for Important Segments

• [01:00] – War with Iran: Blockade and diplomatic impasse
• [06:09] – Ryan Brobst interview on U.S. strategy toward Iran
• [12:09] – Israel-Lebanon ceasefire talks; Hezbollah’s role
• [17:16] – Black market abortion drugs; enforcement debate
• [24:16] – Music education: children’s symphony concert
• [31:14] – Denny Burke: Commentary on presidential imagery and blasphemy

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Memorable Quotes & Moments

• “If Iran is going to be blockading [the Strait of Hormuz], we shouldn’t allow them to profit from that blockade…” —Ryan Brobst [06:45]
• “We have the leverage and we’re going to see what the Iranians do with that.” —Vice President J.D. Vance [01:10]
• “There is a pattern here—irreverence, carelessness, a willingness to treat sacred things as tools for humor … None of that changes the central issue. God is not mocked.” —Denny Burke [33:15]

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Conclusion

This episode is a dense, informative roundup of the latest on U.S.-Iran tensions, Middle East diplomacy, American regulatory and moral debates around abortion, and the cultural importance of music education—each segment grounded in objective reporting and biblical analysis. The closing commentary offers a firm perspective on the boundaries between faith, politics, and respect for the sacred. For comprehensive coverage with expert insight, it’s a compelling, thought-provoking listen.

Transcript

[Mary Reichard]

Good morning. A new phase in the war with Iran. A naval blockade choking off its economic lifeline.

[Ryan Brobst]

President Trump will cut off essentially all

[Gregory Walnick]

revenue that has been flowing into the Iranian regime.

[Nick Eicher]

Also today, peace talks in this country between Israel and Lebanon and combating the black market for abortion drugs. Later, a university symphony gives young students a concert experience all their own.

[Gregory Walnick]

To actually see professional level musicians performing. There's just so many positives for it.

[Nick Eicher]

And world opinions. Commentator Denny Burke on the president and blasphemy.

[Mary Reichard]

It's Tuesday, April 14th. This is the world and everything in it from listeners supported world radio. I'm Mary Reinkert.

[Nick Eicher]

And I'm Nick Icker. Good morning.

[Mary Reichard]

Time now for the news with Kent Covington.

[Kent Covington]

The White House says it's up to Iranian leaders to decide whether the war in Iran will end or Resume. Vice President J.D. vance said Monday, we have the cards.

[Vice President J.D. Vance]

We have the military advantage. We now have additional economic pressure that we're applying on them through the blockade that we've imposed on their oil coming out of the Straits of Hormuz. So we have a lot of cards. We have the leverage and we're going to see what the Iranians do with that.

[Kent Covington]

It was Vance who led the US Delegation to Pakistan for those direct weekend peace talks with Iranian leaders. Crucially, the White House says Iran was not budging on giving up their nuclear ambitions.

[Vice President J.D. Vance]

They were unable, I think the team that was there was unable to cut a deal and they had to go back to Tehran either from the supreme leader or somebody else and actually get approval to the terms that we had set.

[Kent Covington]

President Trump has expressed optimism that a deal will still come together, but he says the outcome will be, quote, unpleasant if Iran refuses to take a deal. Pakistan has offered to host more talks, but none have been publicly announced. The current two week ceasefire is set to expire early next week. The Trump administration's Religious Liberty Task Force held its final meeting on Monday to discuss threats to religious freedoms in America. World's Carolina Lumeta reports from the nation's capital.

[Carolina Lumeta]

Commission members asked faith leaders and advocates from across the country how the federal government may have violated their religious consciences. They also previewed recommendations they planned to hand to President Trump to better protect religious liberty. Commissioner Kelly Shackelford suggested that the administration allow the IRS to fine a church for preaching politics in order to then trigger a court challenge to overturn the Johnson Amendment. That amendment bars nonprofits from endorsing or opposing political candidates. And commission chairman and Texas Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick recommended requiring businesses and schools to post information about employees, religious rights.

[Nick Eicher]

We need to push back. Every time we hear separation of church and state, we need to say there is no separation of church and state. That's a lie. I'm going to make it very clear because we know that's what the Constitution says.

[Carolina Lumeta]

The commission is set to deliver their final report to the president next month. However, Patrick plans to send a letter to Trump asking him to extend the commission for at least another year. Reporting for world I'm Carolina Lumeta in Washington.

[Kent Covington]

Democratic Congressman Eric Swalwell is ending his campaign for California governor and resigning from Congress following allegations of sexual misconduct. Reports from the San Francisco Chronicle and then CNN detailed the accusations by a former staffer and multiple other women. Numerous Democrats had been calling on the congressman to step down, including fellow California Congressman Ro Khanna.

[Denny Burke]

He should step aside. I've called for House ethics investigations.

[Gregory Walnick]

I've called for law enforcement investigations.

[Kent Covington]

The Manhattan district attorney's office says it is investigating one of those alleged incidents. Swalwell has denied the accusations. Meantime, GOP Congressman Tony Gonzalez of Texas says he will file paperwork today to retire from Congress amid pressure from fellow Republicans to step aside. That comes after Gonzalez admitted to an affair with a staff member who later died by suicide. Super Typhoon Sinlaku is barreling toward the Northern Mariana Islands, a US territory packing sustained winds of nearly 170mph. The storm was forecast to be the strongest on earth this year. It's expected to cross near the islands of Tinian and Saipan as a Category 4 or 5 typhoon. President Trump approved emergency disaster declarations over the weekend, and FEMA has dispatched nearly 100 staff to the region. Families are mourning in Nigeria after a Nigerian air force strike intended for jihadi rebels slammed into a crowded market, killing more than 100 people. World's Kristin Flavin has that story.

[Kristin Flavin]

Human rights groups confirmed the death toll from survivors in Yobe State. That's near the heart of a Boko Haram insurgency that has ravaged the region for more than a decade. The military says it struck a terrorist stronghold in the area, but made no mention of hitting the market. The Yobe state government said only that people at the weekly market were, quote, affected. The Associated Press says at least 500 civilians have died in similar strikes since since 2017. Amnesty International is calling for an independent investigation of the weekend airstrike. For world, I'm Kristen Flavin.

[Kent Covington]

I'm Kent Covington. And still ahead, a new phase in the war in Iran with a naval blockade choking off its economic lifeline. And we'll Have a preview of peace talks in Washington between the governments of Israel and Lebanon. This is the World and Everything in It.

[Nick Eicher]

It's Tuesday, the 14th of April. Glad to have you along for today's edition of the World and Everything In It. Good morning. I'm Nick Igerd.

[Mary Reichard]

And I'm Mary Reichardt. Up first, the latest on Iran. And for that, let's welcome Ryan Brobst. He is deputy director of the center on Milit and Political Power at the foundation for Defense of Democracies with a focus on U.S. defense and military strategy. Ryan, good morning.

[Ryan Brobst]

Thank you for having me.

[Mary Reichard]

Well, a week ago it looked like the war might be ending, but now talks have failed and the US has imposed a blockade of the Strait of Hormuz that will choke off Iranian exports. Now, the president said the ultimate goal is all in, all out. So how do you assess the strategy here?

[Ryan Brobst]

So right now what we're seeing is that Iran is continuing to blockade the Strait of Hormuz selectively allowing a small number of vessels to go in and out. And I think the reason why President Trump announced the US Blockade of the Strait of Hormuz is that, you know, if Iran is going to be blockading it, we shouldn't allow them to profit from that blockade at the same time, profit from selling their oil at higher prices while stopping all of our partners in the Gulf from doing so at the same time. So I think this is a way to increase leverage in negotiations and make it clear to Iran that there's going to be a cost if they continue blockading the strait.

[Nick Eicher]

Ryan, it seems a bit backward in a way, and it may not be, but it seems that way. To see US Strategy begin with five weeks of all out military bombardment and then with a breakdown of talks, the shift goes to economics. I want to play a soundbite from former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, who had this to say yesterday.

[Mike Pompeo]

President Trump has essentially gone for the jugular.

[Gregory Walnick]

He will cut off essentially all revenue that has been flowing into the Iranian regime.

[Ryan Brobst]

And so now they'll have to decide.

[Nick Eicher]

So, Ryan, why do you think the administration believes that economic pressure will succeed where military pressure didn't seem to get the job done? Could it be as simple as Iran's leverage over the rate was kind of the only thing they had left?

[Ryan Brobst]

I think that's part of it. And this is part of an effort by the Trump administration to bring all elements of national power to bear on Iran. It's worth noting that during the military campaign, there was significantly less Iranian Oil getting out as well. And since these negotiations look like it might stretch on for a longer period of time, it makes sense that we can use these tools that have a longer time horizon, such as economic warfare, to increase the pressure on Iran. So it's a little bit of an interesting order of things. But it is also worth noting that economic pressure was also applied to Iran before the conflict began. So I see this as more of a continuation of strategy.

[Mary Reichard]

Well, we are seeing mixed signals from allies. There is talk of efforts to help reopen the strait. NATO Secretary General Mark Ruda said the UK Is leading efforts to reopen the strait, but Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Monday contradicted that. So what does that tell you about how a aligned the US and its allies are right now?

[Ryan Brobst]

So I think the US and our allies are aligned on the fact that we want the Strait of Hormuz to be open to all commerce. What's less clear is how aligned we are on how to actually get to that point. It's seemingly unlikely that European countries are, at least in the immediate future, going to be sending their warships to help out with these efforts. The Trump administration has, you know, there were significant strains over Greenland earlier in the year. They kind of poisoned the relationship a bit. So it's not surprising to see that they're more reluctant to commit forces right now. That may change in the near future. And our European allies do have some minesweeping capabilities that could be quite useful. So time will tell.

[Nick Eicher]

So let's zoom out a little bit more. What do you think this blockade might mean for China? Do you think it increases China's leverage, or might it just increase China's vulnerability?

[Ryan Brobst]

They are certainly interested in this and want ships to and from China to be able to pass through the Strait of Hormuz. They don't necessarily have a ton of leverage yet, as the People's Liberation Army's Navy does not have a very significant presence in there, certainly not compared to the U.S. navy. But this could lead to China putting pressure on both the US and potentially Iran to to resolve this impasse.

[Nick Eicher]

Well, now we've been talking about the blockade, but let's not forget the one thing the president said is the absolute red line for the US and that is no nuclear weapons for Iran. That's clearly the message the vice president carried into the talks that broke down over the weekend. Let's hear the vice president.

[Vice President J.D. Vance]

But the simple question is, do we see a fundamental commitment of will for the Iranians and not to develop a nuclear weapon? Not just now. Not just two years from now, but for the long term. We haven't seen that yet. We hope that we will.

[Nick Eicher]

Well, now, how does that shape what the US does next here?

[Ryan Brobst]

This is likely to be the largest sticking point in negotiations is over Iran's stockpile of highly enriched uranium as well as their ability to enrich it in the future. Iran likely sees that a nuclear weapon might be able to to protect them from similar attacks in the future, but at the same time continuing to possess that increases the likelihood that there's going to be a resumption of hostilities right now. And this has been an issue with Iran for decades at this point. So it's not surprising to me that we were unable to resolve this issue in just one weekend. And negotiations over this are likely to stretch out for quite some time.

[Mary Reichard]

Ryan Brobst of the foundation for Defense of Democracies who focuses on U.S. defense and military strategy. Ryan, we appreciate your time today. Thanks so much.

[Ryan Brobst]

Thank you.

[Mary Reichard]

Coming up next on THE WORLD and everything in it, peace negotiations between Israel and Lebanon. Negotiators from both countries will meet in Washington today to discuss a potential ceasefire. The aim is to stop rocket and air attacks across their shared border.

[Nick Eicher]

At issue is whether Lebanon will agree to rein in the Iran backed terror group Hezbollah. World reporter Travis Kircher has the story.

[Travis Kircher]

At Israel's northern border, certain sounds have become a normal part of life, like air raid sirens recorded by a resident who witnessed rockets fired across the border from Lebanon late last month. The sounds you hear are Israeli air defenses intercepting the rockets. And on Monday, Israel rescue services picked through debris after they said a 60 year old woman suffered injuries from a rocket attack. Those rockets fired by the Lebanon based terror group Hezbollah. Over the past few weeks, the Israeli military has conducted what it says are targeted airstrikes against Hezbollah militants like this one late last month on the terror group's headquarters headquarters in southern Beirut. On Monday, a funeral was held for a Lebanese Red Cross worker who died in an Israeli drone attack. Speaking here, the Red Cross worker's mother says she's waiting for a phone call from her son that will never come. Israel's actions have increasingly drawn criticism from world leaders. Spokesman for the French Ministry for Foreign Affairs Pascal Confavereau told Fox News Sunday

[Ryan Brobst]

there is 1 million of displaced persons. There is almost 2,000 victims. Second, Iran has to stop terrorizing Israel through Hezbollah because Hezbollah chose to bring Lebanon into a war which is not Lebanon's war.

[Travis Kircher]

Israeli government spokeswoman Shosh Bedrosian says the Israeli military only targets Hezbollah militants, but they often embed themselves in civilian areas.

[Shosh Bedrosian]

Our actions are not against Lebanon and its citizens, but against a murderous terrorist organization that has taken the le Lebanese people as hostages. Now that Hezbollah has been so severely degraded, the government in Lebanon reached out for us for talks.

[Travis Kircher]

Bedrosian says the Israeli government comes to Washington today with firm conditions.

[Shosh Bedrosian]

We will not discuss a ceasefire with Hezbollah, which continues to carry out indiscriminate attacks against Israel and our civilians.

[Travis Kircher]

Instead, she says, Israel will deal only with the Lebanese government, which must promise to deal with the terror group itself.

[Shosh Bedrosian]

We're looking to make sure that there is some type of agreement between our two countries that would have to do with peace, peace relations between Israel and Lebanon. And also, of course, the first and most important thing right now is to ensure that Hezbollah is disarmed, they are demilitarized, and so is southern Lebanon as well.

[Travis Kircher]

Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salaam said Sunday that he's committed to finding a way to reach a ceasefire and end the war. But that won't be easy, especially amid the US And Israel's ongoing conflict with Iran, currently paused by a fragile two week ceasefire. Lebanon's place in that ceasefire has been a point of contention. Both the United States and Israel claim that the current ceasefire deal with Iran does not include Lebanon, but Iranian leadership insists that it does. Tehran says it will only guarantee an end to the war in Iran if Israeli attacks in Lebanon stop. In Beirut, demonstrators gathered over the weekend to protest against the negotiations. And calls by Israel for Hezbollah to disarm drew sharp criticism from the head of the group. Speaking here, he said his organization rejects any negotiations with Israel, calling them pointless. Today's talks are considered a starting point for negotiations. If successful, those talks could continue in the days and weeks ahead. Reporting for World I'm Travis Kercher.

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[Nick Eicher]

Up next on the world and everything in it, pro lifers and lawmakers sound the alarm over online abortion drug providers.

[Mary Reichard]

Black market abortion pills are nothing new. But since since the Supreme Court's Dobbs decision, pro life advocates say more websites are offering to ship the drugs to women, and they're not adhering to the few remaining protections. Now members of Congress are calling on the Trump administration to crack down on the illegal pills. Here's World's Lauren Canterbury Heather Lawless is

[Heather Lawless]

no stranger to buying abortion pills online. Last year she spoke to someone on the Signal app who said they could help her do just that.

[Jamie Dangers]

I said I need them sent to me. I'm in Idaho. Is that allowed?

[Heather Lawless]

Idaho protects nearly all women and babies from abortion and abortion drugs. But the anonymous stranger on the other end of the Signal chat replied, yes,

[Jamie Dangers]

you can take abortion pills in the state of Idaho. Email this email. They'll send you the abortion pills for free.

[Heather Lawless]

Lawless wasn't pregnant and the drugs were not for her or anyone else. She's the founder and CEO of the Pro Life Reliance Ministries, and she says she and her team have seen the number of black market abortion pills skyrocket since the 2022 Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization Supreme Court decision. The US Food and Drug Administration does not recommend buying abortion drugs online and has only approved mifepristone for use in at home abortions through 10 weeks. But on Signal, the user went ahead with telling Lawless how to get the pills even when she said she was 12 weeks pregnant.

[Jamie Dangers]

I filled out the form and then they sent me an email and they sent ME protocol for 11 to 16 weeks.

[Heather Lawless]

The abortion drugs Lawless has received come in packaging different from the manufacturers, usually with little to no instructions or information about risks and side effects.

[Jamie Dangers]

They come in these little black baggies that, like heroin, would come in or fentanyl would come in.

[Heather Lawless]

The Senate Committee on Health, Education, labor and Pensions has taken notice of the same problems. Lawless has found found that many abortion drug suppliers that market to American women do not comply with the U.S. government's requirements. In March, it asked the FDA and mifepristone makers to combat the online sale of unapproved and misbranded abortion drugs. But they missed the committee's deadline last week to respond to questions about how they regulate abortion pills. Dr. Ingrid Scop is the vice president and director of medical affairs for the Charlotte Lozier Institute.

[Dr. Ingrid Scop]

Abortion has been able to follow its own rules outside of the normal way that medicine is practiced.

[Heather Lawless]

In 2011, the FDA recognized mifepristone posed serious health risks, and so it implemented arems, a risk evaluation and mitigation strategy program, to ensure it was prescribed correctly and to track adverse outcomes. But the agency has since expanded the drug's use from seven weeks of pregnancy to 10 and removed key protections like the in person dispensing requirement.

[Dr. Ingrid Scop]

It continues to require the prescriber to accurately assess the gestational age, to rule out an ectopic pregnancy, and to be available if a woman has a complication that requires surgery.

[Heather Lawless]

But Scop said since many women and girls order the drugs without ever speaking to a doctor or even visiting a pharmacy, these requirements are nearly impossible to follow.

[Dr. Ingrid Scop]

You don't have to look very far to discover that abortion drug prescribers are not following the REMs.

[Heather Lawless]

The FDA also requires the three approved mifepristone manufacturers to decertify prescribers who don't follow the REMS plan, something they have not been doing. According to the Senate Help Committee's letters, all three companies direct women to third party websites, which openly advertise the drug for use after the 10th week of pregnancy. The senators argue that the companies appear to be promoting prescribers who are not following regulations, and they say the FDA has not done enough on their end either.

[Dr. Ingrid Scop]

I think it's absolutely critical that the FDA police its own prescribers. Their job is to serve the American public. Their job is to protect women and girls from dangerous drugs.

[Heather Lawless]

During the first Trump administration, some effort was made to hold illegal sellers of abortion pills accountable, though with little success. Now in Trump's second term, pro lifers say there have been even fewer attempts. Many pro lifers say the best move would be to reinstate the in person dispensing requirement for abortion drugs that was in place during Trump's first term. Jamie Dangers is the director of federal affairs for Susan B. Anthony, Pro Life America.

[Jamie Dangers]

The pipeline now is so Wild west and so there's, there's no way of protecting women, she says.

[Heather Lawless]

Requiring women to obtain abortion drugs from a prescriber in person is an obvious way to protect them from the dangers of chemical abortions.

[Jamie Dangers]

This letter, I think, really lays out how low the bar is right now.

[Heather Lawless]

But even if the administration does not reinstate the dispensing requirement, Danger said holding abortion drug sellers accountable for failing to follow the REMS plan would still be a good step. Whether the FDA will do so remains to be seen. Reporting for World I'm Lauren Canterbury.

[Nick Eicher]

Give me a break. And not just a piece of that KitKat bar. Thieves in Europe broke off an entire shipment. More than 400,000 candy bars, about 12 tons of chocolate, all told. The truck was carrying the KitKats from a factory in Italy all the way to Poland. As for the truck itself, still missing and so are the candy bars. Now the company behind KitKat is asking for help launching an online tracker so customers can check the batch code on their bars and see if their chocolate is hot, so to speak. No suspects so far, but here's hoping the candy culprits soon find themselves behind less tasty bars. It's the World and everything in it.

[Mary Reichard]

Today is Tuesday, April 14th. Thank you for turning to World Radio to help start your day. Good morning. I'm Mary Reichard.

[Nick Eicher]

And I'm Nick Eicher. Coming next on THE WORLD and everything in it, a musical mission. Teaching young students about music doesn't just check extracurricular boxes. It can boost literacy, strengthen math skills and even raise graduation rates.

[Mary Reichard]

And when live performances are crafted specifically for kids, the experience can spark new interests. World senior writer Kim Henderson recently attended just such an event. Here's her report.

[Kim Henderson]

It's 10am on a Friday. Sunlight is streaming through a bank of sky high windows in historic Bennett Auditorium at the University of Southern Mississippi. Gregory Walnick is the university's director of orchestral activities. He takes the mic and gives some background on the composer of the piece the audience is about to hear.

[Gregory Walnick]

And his name was George Gershwin.

[Kim Henderson]

The audience is mostly elementary students, rows and rows of them.

[Gregory Walnick]

And George Gershwin was famous because he wrote lots of popular hits, things that you could listen to maybe on the radio.

[Kim Henderson]

The university's internationally recognized orchestra begins to play George Gershwin's composition An American in Paris. The music is beautiful, very polished and professional. But it's mid morning on a work day. Why would a university symphony go to the trouble of putting on a concert just for kids?

[Gregory Walnick]

The target audience usually for these programs is third to fifth grade. That's the couple of years before they decide whether or not they want to get involved within instrumental music in their elementary schools. So if we can do something to sort of light that spark, that's a primary objective for me with the children's concerts.

[Kim Henderson]

Walnick is enthusiastic and relatable. He has an easy rapport with this crowd.

[Gregory Walnick]

George, can we hear a little of our special instrument, taxi horns.

[Kim Henderson]

The kids love it. When Walnick introduces another instrument, the tuba, he teaches them about Mississippi's musical connections.

[Gregory Walnick]

The blues developed over in the Mississippi Delta,

[Kim Henderson]

So Walnut doesn't like to interrupt the performance too much.

[Gregory Walnick]

It's really better if the students can also get sort of the context of the piece. So if we took a work that's 20 minutes long and then divided it into four sections, that's about five minutes each. And that's a manageable chunk that children of this age can follow along with.

[Kim Henderson]

According to the U.S. department of Education, students who study music develop more than just musical abilities. They benefit in science and math, too. Also at risk, students enrolled in music and arts courses find school more engaging. They're less likely to drop out, and they're more likely to pursue higher education. For children's concerts, Walnack likes to add a layer of visual stimulation to keep students attention. The orchestra are dressed in black, and above them, a video plays on a huge screen.

[Gregory Walnick]

One of my graduate assistants, Carlos Teo, spent many hours mining archival footage to find, you know, Paris in the 1920s. There's some very famous taxi horn sounds that go on and sort of the bustling city. So he was able to capture that through archival video. And then he and another student also works to animate a figure of George Gershwin, who was sort of walking around Paris.

[Kim Henderson]

The choice of Gershwin's music for today's concert was intentional. An American composer for America's 250th birthday. Another intentional component, making sure the orchestra members buy in on the importance of playing for kids.

[Gregory Walnick]

So on the first day of the semester, I called a mandatory meeting for everyone that would play over the course of the semester, explained what the calendar was, and then said, you know, we have the opportunity to do a children's concert as we did this past year.

[Kim Henderson]

Mariah Atwood is a member of the orchestra. She's getting her master's in trumpet performance. She was there when they voted unanimously to do the concert.

[Heather Lawless]

This is always super fun for us. It's another opportunity to perform it before our big performance. And we always like entertaining the kids when they come.

[Gregory Walnick]

We have a trumpet soul that's going to sound something like this. Oh, yeah.

[Kim Henderson]

Going forward, Walnick says his orchestral conducting students will be expected to design and present a children's concert like this one, where students listen until the very end.

[Gregory Walnick]

Thanks for coming.

[Nick Eicher]

Thank you so much.

[Heather Lawless]

That was such a treat.

[Denny Burke]

You don't get treated.

[Gregory Walnick]

Thank you.

[Heather Lawless]

Because usually the concerts or at night

[Kim Henderson]

with kids, as some adults stop to thank Walnut after the concert, a mom explains in one word why she drove her children more than an hour for the experience exposure.

[Carolina Lumeta]

It's not something I can offer my kids at home. So I think it's neat to see so they can see it firsthand, see what it's like.

[Kim Henderson]

Walnick agrees.

[Gregory Walnick]

You know, we can watch videos, we can listen to recordings, we can talk about music, but to actually see professional level musicians performing and presenting this in a program that's been tailor made for them. There's just so many positives for it.

[Kim Henderson]

Reporting for World, I'm Kim Henderson in Hattiesburg, Mississippi.

[Nick Eicher]

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

[Mary Reichard]

And I'm Mary Reichard. One image posted online and then quickly deleted has stirred backlash even among the president's supporters. It showed Donald Trump in a way many Christians say crosses a line.

[Nick Eicher]

World Opinions contributor Denny Burke says the explanation for it does not hold up and the deeper issue should not be ignored.

[Denny Burke]

Sunday night, President Trump posted an image that offended even some of his strongest Christian supporters. By yesterday, it was gone. But the explanation that followed only made things worse.

[Heather Lawless]

Listen, Mr. President, did you post that picture of yourself depicted as Jesus Christ?

[Mike Pompeo]

Well, it wasn't depiction. It was me. I, I did post it and I thought it was me as a doctor and had to do with Red Cross, as a Red Cross worker there, which we support. And only the fake news could come up with that one. So I, I just heard about it and I said, how did they come up with that? It's supposed to be me as a doctor making people better. And I do make people better. I make people a lot better.

[Denny Burke]

That explanation strains credulity. The image didn't depict a doctor. It showed Trump in flowing robes, radiant healing, surrounded by symbols of power and reverence, people looking on, even appearing to pray. No reasonable person sees that and thinks physician. What makes this worse is not just the image, but the defense of it. Some supporters have argued that the President is simply expressing faith that Christians are overreacting, that prayer and healing are part of Christian life. But that misses the point entirely. The issue is not prayer. The issue is blasphemy. Scripture is not silent about this kind of thing. When King Nebuchadnezzar took glory for himself, that God brought him low, driving him from his throne until he recognized who truly rules. When King Herod accepted praise as a God, the Book of Acts says that he was struck down on the spot. These are not obscure warnings. They are clear. God will not share his glory. There is a pattern here. Irreverence, carelessness, a willingness to treat sacred things as tools for humor, for messaging, for effect. And it shows up in moments like this where something plainly serious is waved away with a casual explanation. None of that changes the central issue. God is not mocked. There is a limit to how long such things go unanswered. Whether judgment comes now or later is not for us to say. But Scripture is clear that it does come. There is still time for repentance. But repentance is more than deleting a post or offering a thin explanation. It means taking responsibility, turning away and turning toward Christ. Making blasphemy great again will not end well, not for the president and not for those who excuse it. For World I'm Denny Burke.

[Mary Reichard]

Tomorrow, Congress returns to work. We'll talk politics on Washington Wednesday with Hunter Baker. And athletes in an endangered college sport. Find and share good news that and tomorrow. I'm Mary Reichard.

[Nick Eicher]

And I'm Nick Eicher. 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, say among the nations the Lord reigns. Yes, the world is established. It shall never be moved. He will judge the peoples with equity. Let the heavens be glad and let the earth rejoice. Let the sea roar and all that fills it. Let the field exalt and everything in it. Verses 10 through 12 of Psalm 96 go now in grace and peace.