6.3.25 AI regulation, NPR funding, a psychiatrist again gender-affirning care, and a fading Pride.

Summary

Podcast Summary: The World and Everything In It Episode: 6.3.25 AI Regulation, NPR Funding, a Psychiatrist Against Gender-Affirming Care, and a Fading Pride
Release Date: June 3, 2025
Host: Mary Reichard and Nick Eicher

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1. Regulating Artificial Intelligence: A National vs. State Approach

The episode opens with a pressing discussion on the need to regulate artificial intelligence (AI), particularly to safeguard children. Mary Reichard introduces the topic, highlighting the urgency among child safety advocates.

Key Points:

• Federal Moratorium on State AI Laws: The Senate is considering President Trump's budget proposal, which includes a clause preventing states from enforcing their own AI regulations for the next decade. This has sparked a debate between streamlining innovation and ensuring protective measures for vulnerable populations.

• Advocacy for Federal Guidelines: Tim Estes emphasizes the necessity of federal intervention to establish robust safety standards for AI. At [09:06], Estes states, "We have to put a line in the sand now because they will keep going until someone stops them." He criticizes the tech industry's self-regulation, likening it to ineffective social networking practices.

• State Attorneys General Opposition: Dave Yost, Ohio's Attorney General, along with nearly 40 other state AGs, oppose the federal moratorium, arguing it undermines states' rights to protect their citizens. At [09:52], Nick Eicher notes, "Ten years is an eternity," reflecting the concern over long-term impacts.

• Industry Perspective: Venture capitalist David Sachs warns against hindering AI innovation, suggesting that overly restrictive regulations could allow China to dominate the AI landscape. At [10:42], Carl Truman quotes Sachs, "I would say that China winning the AI race is a huge risk."

• Divergent Legislative Views: Senators like Ted Cruz advocate for minimal regulation to foster entrepreneurial freedom, while others like Josh Hawley aim to block AI provisions in the budget bill. This division highlights the complexity of balancing innovation with safety.

Conclusion: The debate underscores a fundamental tension between fostering technological advancement and implementing necessary safeguards, with significant implications for both national policy and individual states.

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2. NPR Funding Under Fire: A Battle Over Public Media Support

The episode transitions to the contentious issue of federal funding for public media, specifically NPR and PBS, following an executive order by President Trump aimed at cutting this support.

Key Points:

• Executive Order Impact: President Trump's order targets the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB), which allocates over $500 million to public media. The executive order demands that CPB cease funding NPR and PBS by the end of the month.

• Public and Institutional Reactions: Heather Norman, president of the Illinois Public Broadcasting Council, explains how CPB funds are crucial for national programming and maintaining infrastructure. Without these funds, stations may struggle to sustain local reporting and emergency communications. At [15:00], Norman states, "If Norman doesn't get the grant money from CPB, they'll have less to spend on their own local reporting and maintaining their infrastructure."

• NPR's Legal Challenge: NPR has filed a lawsuit arguing that the executive order constitutes unconstitutional viewpoint discrimination, violating the First Amendment. David Gibbs, general counsel for the National Center for Life and Liberty, elaborates, "The government is very protected in how they handle discretionary spending... but targeting individual institutions because of their viewpoint is problematic." [18:29]

• Public Opinion: Reactions from listeners like Angie Witt and Jackie reveal a reliance on NPR for unbiased news, while others like Travis Kercher question the sustainability of public media without government support. Carl Truman adds, "If a news organization can't stand up on its own, then I don't think the government should just supplement it." [16:58]

• Potential Outcomes: If NPR loses the lawsuit, CPB will halt funding, severely impacting NPR and PBS operations. This legal battle highlights the fragile balance between governmental control and media independence.

Conclusion: The struggle over NPR funding reflects broader concerns about media bias, government intervention, and the sustainability of public broadcasting in the current political climate.

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3. Academic Freedom and Gender-Affirming Care: The Case of Dr. Alan Josephson

A significant portion of the episode delves into the controversial dismissal of Dr. Alan Josephson from the University of Louisville, following his opposition to gender-affirming care for minors.

Key Points:

• Dr. Josephson’s Stand: Dr. Josephson, a respected child psychologist, spoke out against the rapid increase in children identifying as the opposite sex and the corresponding rise in gender-affirming treatments. At [24:03], he reflects, "It was virtually nonexistent 15 years ago. We didn't see any of these kids."

• Consequences of Speaking Out: After presenting his views at a Heritage Foundation forum, Dr. Josephson faced backlash from colleagues, leading to his resignation and eventual demotion. He claims his dismissal violated his First and Fourteenth Amendment rights. [28:00] "I was removed from my position of leadership... we built a division."

• Legal Settlement: In April, the University of Louisville agreed to pay Dr. Josephson $1.6 million, acknowledging the potential overreach in his demotion. Tyson Langhofer of Alliance Defending Freedom underscores the issue, stating, "Most of Josephson's co-workers who were indignant... never even bothered to watch it." [29:30]

• Broader Implications: The case raises questions about academic freedom, the intersection of personal beliefs and professional responsibilities, and the evolving landscape of gender identity in educational institutions.

Conclusion: Dr. Josephson’s experience highlights the tensions within academia regarding gender identity issues, emphasizing the need for balanced discourse and protection of academic freedom.

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4. The Evolution of Pride Month: From Visibility to Muted Presence

World Opinions contributor Carl Truman offers a critical analysis of Pride Month, examining its societal impact and changing dynamics over recent years.

Key Points:

• Heightened Visibility: Three years prior, Pride flags were omnipresent in cities like Toronto and Philadelphia, signaling strong cultural integration of LGBTQ+ values. At [30:39], Carl Truman observes, "The Pride flag was everywhere, far more visible than that of Canada itself."

• Shift Towards Muted Celebrations: In the past two years, the fervor surrounding Pride Month has diminished. Truman suggests this could be due to the trans issues becoming too contentious and intrusive for mainstream acceptance. "The presence of the 'T' in the Pride alliance became a terrible public relations liability." [31:18]

• Public Relations Challenges: Incidents involving brands like Target and Budweiser highlighted the complexities of embracing LGBTQ+ values without alienating broader audiences. Concerns over parental rights and the depiction of transgender issues in public spaces contributed to this shift.

• Cultural Integration vs. Marginalization: Truman contrasts Pride Month's prominence with other observances like Martin Luther King Jr. Day, questioning the implications of dedicating an entire month to LGBTQ+ celebrations. "Simple math suggests it's 30 times more so than MLK." [30:39]

• Christian Perspective: The analysis reflects a Christian viewpoint, critiquing the normalization of practices like IVF, surrogacy, and the concept of marriage beyond traditional bounds. Truman calls for a return to what he sees as more grounded values, expressing hope for a less "pornified" public square. [33:40]

Conclusion: The transformation of Pride Month reflects broader societal debates about LGBTQ+ rights, cultural values, and the balance between visibility and acceptance. The episode encourages listeners to consider the implications of these changes from a Christian perspective.

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Closing Remarks

The episode of The World and Everything In It provides a comprehensive exploration of pressing contemporary issues, from AI regulation and public media funding to academic freedom in gender-affirming care and the evolving landscape of Pride Month. Through in-depth discussions and diverse perspectives, hosts Mary Reichard and Nick Eicher offer listeners insightful analysis grounded in ethical and cultural considerations.

Notable Quotes:

• Tim Estes on AI Safety: "We have to put a line in the sand now because they will keep going until someone stops them." [09:06]
• Carl Truman on PR Challenges: "The presence of the 'T' in the Pride alliance became a terrible public relations liability." [31:18]
• Dr. Alan Josephson on Gender Identity: "The truth is that we were made in God's image, that we're made men and women, that we have a biological truth to the universe." [26:52]

Listeners are encouraged to reflect on these discussions, considering the balance between innovation, public safety, freedom of speech, and cultural values in shaping the world today.

Transcript

[Mary Reichard]

Good morning. Regulating AI for child safety advocates, it's an urgent priority.

[Tim Estes]

We have to put a line in the sand now because they will keep going until someone stops them.

[Nick Eicher]

Also today, NPR sues President Trump saying cutting funding cuts free speech. And a former university administrator speaks out after losing his job over gender ideology.

[Dr. Alan Josephson]

I was told not to come to various faculty meetings. People didn't want to hear what I was going to say, even though I wasn't a rabble rouser by any means.

[Nick Eicher]

And world Opinions contributor Carl Truman on Pride month.

[Mary Reichard]

It's Tuesday, June 3rd. This is the world and everything in it from listeners supported world Radio. I'm Mary Reichard.

[Nick Eicher]

And I'm Nick Eicher. Good morning.

[Mary Reichard]

Time for news now with Kent Covington.

[Kent Covington]

The man accused of carrying out what the FBI is calling a terror attack in Colorado on Sunday is now facing numerous federal and state felony charges. Those include 16 counts of attempted murder and a federal hate crime charge. US Attorney Bishop Bruhl says the suspect is 45 year old Egyptian national Mohamed Sabri Solomon.

[Tim Estes]

Mr. Solomon stated that he had been planning this attack for a year and he acted because he hated what he called the Zionist group.

[Kent Covington]

Solomon allegedly attacked a group of peaceful demonstrators who had gathered to raise awareness about Israeli hostages in Gaza. FBI Special Agent Mark McCulloch says it was clearly a targeted terror attack.

[Nick Eicher]

Witnesses are reporting that the subject used.

[Kent Covington]

A makeshift flamethrower and threw an incendiary device into the crowd. The suspect was heard to yell free.

[Nick Eicher]

Palestine during the attack.

[Kent Covington]

Local authorities say some of the victims suffered serious injuries. DHS officials say Solomon came into the US in 2022 on a B2 visa and illegally overstayed that visa, which expired the following year. And that attack in Boulder, Colorado, has drawn swift condemnation from Washington to Israel. On Capitol Hill, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said Monday it was an elderly.

[David Gibbs]

Group of people peacefully calling for the release of hostages held by Hamas brutally attacked on the Jewish holiday of Shavuot.

[Mary Reichard]

Which celebrates God giving the Torah to the Jewish people.

[Kent Covington]

And Republican Senator John Thune added, there is no place for this kind of violence in our society and we must forcefully condemn anti Semitism and do everything we can to stand with and protect our Jewish neighbors. Meantime, Israeli ambassador to the UN Danny Danon expressed gratitude for the solidarity, but he said more must be done to combat anti Semitism in America.

[Carl Truman]

We appreciate the words, the statements, the declarations, but now it's time for action.

[Kent Covington]

The attack in Colorado came less than two weeks after two Israeli embassy staffers were gunned down in front of a Jewish museum in Washington. Negotiators from Russia and Ukraine gathered in Istanbul again on Monday to resume peace talks, but not much to show for it so far. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky told reporters the.

[Travis Kercher]

Starting point should be a ceasefire and humanitarian actions, the release of prisoners and the return of abducted children.

[Kent Covington]

Both sides did agree to exchange the bodies of 6,000 fallen soldiers and seriously wounded troops.

[Carl Truman]

They exchanged documents and we are preparing.

[Travis Kercher]

A new release of prisoners of the.

[Kent Covington]

War, but aside from that, no real progress, the Ukrainian delegation said. Russia presented a memo outlining the Kremlin's terms for ending the war. Officials in Kyiv said they'll need a week to review the document. Ukraine has previously rejected many of Moscow's demands in the past, such as giving up Ukrainian land now occupied by Russian troops, declaring neutrality and abandoning NATO ambitions. Meantime, Ukraine landed a serious blow against Russia's strategic arsenal with a surprise drone attack. World's Benjamin Eicker has more.

[Travis Kercher]

President Zelensky described the covert operation as one for the history books. Ukraine says it damaged or destroyed nearly a third of Russia's strategic bomber fleet on Sunday, and it reportedly did that with cheaply made drones carefully sneaked across the border over the span of 18 months. The drones were then launched at the same time from hidden trucks near the targeted air bases. The attack encapsulates Ukraine's wartime strategy. Outnumbered, outgunned and dependent on Western partners, military commanders have sought innovative and cost effective ways to land serious punches in the war for world. I'm Benjamin Eicher.

[Kent Covington]

Federal authorities say Immigration and Customs Enforcement arrested more than 1400 accused illegal immigrants in Massachusetts, including some accused of serious crimes. The effort was dubbed Operation Patriot, and U.S. attorney for the District of Massachusetts Leah Foley said Monday those arrested included.

[Dr. Alan Josephson]

Individuals who pumped deadly narcotics into our.

[Kent Covington]

Neighborhoods, trafficked firearms for transnational criminal organizations.

[Travis Kercher]

Defrauded the government benefit programs and in some cases preyed on vulnerable children.

[Kent Covington]

Democrats in Boston have accused the Trump administration of sowing fear, but acting ICE Director Todd Lyons fired back Boston's my.

[Nick Eicher]

Hometown and it really shocks me that officials all over Massachusetts would rather release sex offenders, fentanyl dealers, drug dealers, human.

[Kent Covington]

Traffickers and child rapists back into the neighborhoods. Democratic governor Maura Heatley is criticizing the operation after ICE agents arrested an 18 year old high school student heading to volleyball practice over the weekend. The UK says it will manufacture new nuclear powered attack submarines and plans to build an army ready to fight a war in Europe as part of a boost to military spending. Prime Minister Keir Starmer says going forward, war fighting readiness will be the central purpose of British armed forces.

[Keir Starmer]

When we are being directly threatened by states with advanced military forces, the most effective way to deter them is to be ready and frankly to show them that we're ready to deliver peace through strength.

[Kent Covington]

The buildup is designed to send a message to Moscow, but it's also meant to signal to Washington that the UK Is stepping up and pulling its weight within the NATO alliance. Starmer says UK defense spending will hit 2.5% of GDP by 2027 and it will aim for 3% by 2034. I'm Kent Covington and straight ahead, should the government regulate artificial intelligence? Plus, the battle over taxpayer funding for National Public Radio and pbs. This is the WORLD and everything in it.

[Mary Reichard]

It's Tuesday the 3rd of June. This is World Radio and we're so glad you've joined us today. Good morning, I'm Mary Reichard.

[Nick Eicher]

And I'm Nick Eicher. First up on the World and everything in it, moving the guardrails for artificial intelligence. This week, the Senate takes up President Trump's budget proposal. It's more than a thousand pages on taxes and spending. But buried in the fine print is a clause that would prevent states over the next decade from enforcing their own AI laws.

[Mary Reichard]

Supporters say it's about streamlining innovation. Others say it could affect efforts to protect children. With writing and reporting from Harrison Waters in Washington, here is World's Anna Johansen Brown.

[Anna Johansen Brown]

Before tackling his newest project, Tim Estes developed tools to track down terrorists and traffickers. Now he's working on making AI safe for children.

[Tim Estes]

So many of the applications today that parents allow their kids to use, I don't think they fully realize like how much they have been engineered to, to addict them and to abuse their attention and then how much they're left wide open into various harm.

[Anna Johansen Brown]

Estes founded AngelQ to develop an AI powered web browser. It adapts and filters the Internet to children in age appropriate ways. But he knows not all AI companies have noble intentions and there comes a.

[Tim Estes]

Competition between companies to make it more and more engaging and the kids are going to get strip mined for their attention.

[Anna Johansen Brown]

In May, Estes joined researchers from the Heat Initiative and Social Media Victims Law center to publish a statement. It called for federal guidelines in developing AI tools.

[Tim Estes]

We have to put a line in the sand now because they will keep going until someone stops them. Unfortunately, they've had a decade of driving forward promising to self regulate and we've seen in social networking that is a joke.

[Anna Johansen Brown]

Some of the statement's proposals appear in a piece of legislation recently put forward in the Senate. In May, Tennessee Senator Marsha Blackburn reintroduced the Kids Online Safety Act. The bill aims to hold social media platforms and other Internet companies accountable for harmful content and push them to take steps to protect minors online. But first, lawmakers have a different piece of legislation on the a budget reconciliation bill. It contains a decade long moratorium on state laws that limit or restrict AI systems.

[Nick Eicher]

Ten years is an eternity.

[Anna Johansen Brown]

Dave Yost is attorney General for the state of Ohio. He joined nearly 40 other state attorneys general calling on Congress to delete the AI policy. They note that the bill would upend hundreds of pending or enacted laws about AI generated content and data privacy. Yost says Congress has a legitimate interest in regulating interstate commerce. But blocking states from regulating AI goes too far.

[Kent Covington]

If Congress means to create a national.

[Carl Truman]

Standard, they need to do that, not.

[David Gibbs]

Just try to tell the states that.

[Nick Eicher]

They may not act to protect their citizens.

[Anna Johansen Brown]

The White House sees it a little differently. Venture capitalist David Sachs serves as President Trump's top adviser on AI. Over the weekend, he talked about the risks of AI on his business podcast.

[Carl Truman]

I would say that China winning the AI race is a huge risk.

[Nick Eicher]

I don't really want to see a.

[Carl Truman]

CCP AI running the world. And if you hobble our own innovation, our own AI efforts in the name of stomping out every possibility of X.

[Nick Eicher]

Risk, then you probably end up losing.

[Carl Truman]

The AI race to China because they're.

[Nick Eicher]

Not going to abide by those same regulations.

[Anna Johansen Brown]

In January, President Trump revoked a 2023 order from President Biden that he said put too much red tape around AI development. He's since called for greater freedom for AI companies to develop models to rival those developed by China. Tech developer Tim Estes says clearing red tape does not have to come at the expense of removing guardrails.

[Tim Estes]

I think America is big enough and thoughtful enough to actually have amazing, revolutionary AI that has to satisfy basic safety concerns. Just like having the best planes in the world with safety has not stopped us.

[Anna Johansen Brown]

Even some generally in favor of deregulation are worried about Wes Hodges is acting director of the center for Technology and the Human Person at the Heritage Foundation.

[Nick Eicher]

Yeah, unless they're hiding something behind the curtain, it seems like it is taking away the protections without offering, you know.

[Travis Kercher]

That federal standard in return.

[Nick Eicher]

And that does concern me.

[Anna Johansen Brown]

Last month, Hodges joined Tim Estes and other groups calling for federal guidelines. This bill is not what he expected.

[Kent Covington]

And suddenly anything that targets an algorithm.

[Nick Eicher]

Or AI, depending on the definitions of this language that we're discussing suddenly are would be stopped, would not be able to be enforced.

[Anna Johansen Brown]

Senate Republicans are split on regulating AI. Texas Senator Ted Cruz has called for a light touch. Here he is during a Commerce subcommittee hearing in May.

[Nick Eicher]

Do we go down the path that embraces our history of entrepreneurial freedom and technological innovation, or do we adopt the command and control policies of Europe?

[Anna Johansen Brown]

Meanwhile, Missouri Senator Josh Hawley has said he will do everything he can to kill the AI provision before the bill goes to President Trump's desk. With senators back from recess, committees will get to work reviewing the budget reconciliation bill this week. Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost expects senators to receive a lot of feedback from their constituents.

[David Gibbs]

Of course AGs are talking to they're Congress people, just like lobbyists for big.

[Carl Truman]

Tech are talking with Congress folks.

[Anna Johansen Brown]

Tim Estes hopes lawmakers will weigh the benefits of developing AI carefully alongside the costs of user safety.

[Tim Estes]

This is very strictly capitalism at the expense of kids and at the expense of adults, too.

[Anna Johansen Brown]

Running amok for world, I'm Anna Johansson Brown.

[Nick Eicher]

Coming up next on THE WORLD and Everything in at a high stakes showdown between National Public Radio and the Trump administration.

[Mary Reichard]

This month, the president issued an executive order to cut off federal funding for public media. And last week, NPR sued to keep the money flowing. World's Mary Muncie reports.

[Anna Johansen Brown]

I think around here is at 90.3 FM, I think, or 90.1 close to that.

[Carl Truman]

In Sioux Center, Iowa, Angie Witt gets her news from the radio. She's concerned about President Donald Trump's order.

[Anna Johansen Brown]

I'll lose listening to programs that I.

[Carl Truman]

Really enjoy and then I really trust public radio. And so then I'll have to search for some other news source that isn't going to be skewed or biased one way or another. But not everyone believes public radio is unbiased.

[Anna Johansen Brown]

I, you know, take everything with a grain of salt.

[Carl Truman]

Jackie listens to National Public Radio or NPR when she's driving.

[Anna Johansen Brown]

I think it'd be sad, but I.

[Carl Truman]

Mean, I get most of my news from Internet, so and I don't have.

[Mary Reichard]

A tv, so I'm kind of irregular that way. But I don't think the government should.

[Anna Johansen Brown]

Be funding things like that.

[Carl Truman]

And Trump agrees. His order is called ending taxpayer subsidization of biased media. For the past few years, Congress has appointed more than $500 million to the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, or CPB. CPB puts money toward TV and radio programming, and stations can apply for grants. They also pay for music licenses and provide system support. The executive order says CPB must stop funding NPR and the Public Broadcasting Service, or PBS. We're about 18% funded from CPB. Heather Norman is the president of the Illinois Public Broadcasting Council and the general manager of Tri State's Public Radio in Macomb, Illinois, a university town. So you could use them for salary support. You could use them to pay for national programming. You know, it's really up to you what you do. Norman station uses CPB funding for national programming. That's things like a jazz program out of Indiana, classical music out of Chicago, or national news from npr. In other words, a lot of the station's programming. So if Norman doesn't get the grant money from cpb, they'll have less to spend on their own local reporting and maintaining their infrastructure. Infrastructure that's important in emergencies. All the public radio stations are part of a federal system. So if there was ever a national emergency, it is our system that that information would first go out on. After Trump's order, public media stations started fundraising to fill the gap. So far, Norman says, it's been going well, but our Grant is about 18% of our budget. Are they going to be able to make up that 18%? Likely not. Norman sees that as a reason to keep government funding coming. Others think that means people don't actually value it as much as they say they do.

[Travis Kercher]

If a news organization can't stand up on its own, then I don't think the government should just supplement it.

[Carl Truman]

Isaac Saul runs an independent newsletter called Tangle. He's written about fairness in the media and how to incentivize accurate journalism.

[Tim Estes]

80% of our revenue comes from memberships. The other 20% comes from advertising, donations, the occasional event. And that membership revenue allows us to.

[Travis Kercher]

Really stay true to our mission.

[Carl Truman]

In other words, Tangle doesn't have to worry about an investor, an advertiser, or the government pulling their funding over something they say. Instead, they have to deliver on their promises to their audience.

[Travis Kercher]

News organizations, jobs, generally speaking, especially in the world of politics and government, are to cover the agencies that are now funding them. So there's an inherent conflict of interest there.

[Carl Truman]

Whether the government should stop funding public media is one thing, but what about whether it can? David Gibbs is the general counsel for the national center for Life and Liberty.

[David Gibbs]

NPR and a number of their stations in Colorado have sued and argued that that is an illegal act for a number of reasons.

[Carl Truman]

NPR's case cites a few reasons why it believes the order shouldn't stand.

[David Gibbs]

One reason is just that it was authorized through Congress, and under our Constitution, the Congress is the one that is to control programs and funding.

[Carl Truman]

So the question is, can the executive branch reverse what Congress has done? Gibbs says. Probably not.

[David Gibbs]

But then a major issue that is being raised by NPR and others is that it is a violation violation of the First Amendment free speech under the Constitution.

[Carl Truman]

In the executive order, Trump specifically calls out NPR and PBS for being biased. NPR says Trump is punishing them because he doesn't like what they say, calling it viewpoint discrimination.

[David Gibbs]

And when you go to specific government actions attacking the viewpoint of a speaker or a media outlet, the judges and the courts tend to give that the highest level of First Amendment protection, gibbs.

[Carl Truman]

Says the government will likely argue that it's not censoring, it's just taking away funding, something that it has every right to do.

[David Gibbs]

The government is very protected in how they handle discretionary spending. The government runs into great limitation when they start targeting individual institutions or people because of their viewpoint, gibbs says.

[Carl Truman]

If Congress had acted to reduce or eliminate funding as part of its budget cuts, it would be a lot harder for NPR to make a viewpoint discrimination case. Trump's order says which viewpoints NPR and PBS promote does not matter, only that they inaccurately portray current events. But Gibbs says Trump calling out those platforms on social media may stymie his plans. But for now, the order stands, and if NPR loses, CPB will stop funding NPR and PBS by the end of the month.

[David Gibbs]

We certainly as people of faith want good speech, healthy speech, wholesome speech. But when you start protecting speech based on whether you like it or not, you do begin down a slippery slope that could have consequences that no one truly intends.

[Carl Truman]

Reporting for World, I'm Mary Muncie.

[Travis Kercher]

Additional support comes from the Mission Focused Men for Christ podcast this month Fathers helping sons embrace Biblical manhood. Mission Focused Men for Christ on all podcast apps from Rich Haven Camp and Retreat centers in Brevard, North Carolina and Cono, Iowa camp and year round retreat registrations@ridge haven.org and from evangelism Explosion International helping believers share the good news of Jesus with with the world. Evangelismexplosion.org.

[Nick Eicher]

Sounds impossible, but true. The grandson of President John Tyler, born during the Church was Washington presidency has just passed away during Trump 47. Here is the generational math President Tyler had a son at age 63. That son became a dad at 75 and that boy Harrison Ruffin Tyler made it well into 2025 Age 96 three generations two plus centuries the archive audio.

[Kent Covington]

Here from CBS My grandfather was born in 1790, my father was born in 1853 and I was born in 1928. And so that's how we get to where we are.

[Nick Eicher]

He did speak of the family habit of late in life. Arrows in the quiver.

[Kent Covington]

I got one wife who's still going strong and that's enough. We're not going that route again.

[Nick Eicher]

It's the world and everything in it.

[Mary Reichard]

Today is Tuesday, June 3rd. Thank you for turning to World Radio to help start your day. Good morning, I'm Mary Reichardt.

[Nick Eicher]

And I'm Nick Eicher. Coming up next on the World and everything in it. Bad psychology. About 10 years ago, child psychologist Dr. Alan Josephson began raising concerns about a sudden rise in children identifying as the opposite sex. That and the rush to respond to it with so called gender affirming care. When Dr. Josephson shared those views publicly, he was demoted and then dismissed from his post at the University of Louisville.

[Mary Reichard]

And now, years later, the university is paying the price. World reporter Travis Kercher has the story.

[Travis Kercher]

The University of Louisville School of Medicine's pediatrics department sits in the heart of downtown Louisville. It's part of UofL's effort to become a premier, nationally recognized metropolitan research university and to teach the next generation of doctors and nurses. But in 2003, the school's pediatric psychiatry and psychology division was struggling. That's why the school hired Dr. Alan Josephson to become its chief.

[Dr. Alan Josephson]

By then I developed a national reputation in family therapy, family work, family assistance, and they wanted someone like that, but also someone who had leadership skills. And by then I was.

[Travis Kercher]

Josephson says he was hired to put the school's psychology and psychiatry division on the map. In his 14 years of leadership, the division quadrupled the size of its faculty and expanded its training services and national profile. Things were changing for the better. Meanwhile, Dr. Josephson was noticing another change, this one and the younger patients visiting his clinic.

[Dr. Alan Josephson]

This issue kept coming up again and again and again.

[Travis Kercher]

Boys thought they were girls and girls thought they were boys. Josephson said this was something new.

[Dr. Alan Josephson]

It wasn't always there. And that's a fundamental thing to understanding this whole thing. It was virtually non existent 15 years ago. We didn't see any of these kids. Then probably about 10 years ago, it began to pop up all over the place.

[Travis Kercher]

The medical community began to use a new term, rapid onset gender dysphoria.

[Dr. Alan Josephson]

Groups of girls would show up together, that they all had it. I mean, if it weren't so serious, it would be laughable. And that's why many of us strongly believe this does not have biological origins. This is psychological and social origins.

[Travis Kercher]

Josephson favored A therapeutic approach to treat minors and adolescents with gender dysphoria. But the medical community was rapidly embracing puberty blockers and then hormone therapy and even surgical treatment to mask sex characteristics. Josephson said he saw the effects of so called gender affirming care as permanent, drastic and dangerous for minors. In October 2017, he and three other pediatric specialists spoke out against the approach in a Washington forum hosted by conservative think tank the Heritage Foundation.

[Dr. Alan Josephson]

Parents, children need help and they're not getting help because of this phenomenon. And I'm not going to use the word abuse, but I will want you.

[Travis Kercher]

To think back home. That got people talking and there were.

[Dr. Alan Josephson]

Colleagues in the university who saw it and didn't like what I said.

[Travis Kercher]

Court documents show that two weeks after the forum, the director of UofL's LGBT center emailed the dean of the school of Medicine. He wrote that Josephson's presentation raised his professional profile as someone who denies transgender identity. The email went on to accuse Josephson of ethical violations. Another concern was about a federal case in which Josephson had agreed to testify as an expert witness. That case involved which school bathrooms trans identifying students should use. Josephson says his faith in Christ and in objective science moved him to want to testify.

[Dr. Alan Josephson]

The truth is that we were made in God's image, that we're made men and women, that we have a biological truth to the universe. And if you just try to change that, you're going against God's laws.

[Travis Kercher]

But court records show Josephson's colleagues were complaining behind his back. An assistant professor in Josephson's own division alerted the director of an LGBT center at the school to let her know about Josephson's upcoming testimony. The director called the idea ugly and concerning Josephson said no one approached him directly.

[Dr. Alan Josephson]

No one ever talked to me. I never had anyone sit down with me and said, what is going on with your teaching? I've been hearing things. Nobody did that.

[Travis Kercher]

Less than two months after the Heritage presentation, Josephson received an official letter from his boss. It demanded he resign as division chief or be removed. Josephson offered his resignation. The next day, he was demoted to what he characterizes as a junior faculty member.

[Dr. Alan Josephson]

I was removed from my position of leadership, was taken away from chief of Charles Hikarchy, which was a big deal. You know, I was nationally known for this. I'd worked hard. I'd gotten recognition. We built A Division.

[Travis Kercher]

Dr. Jennifer Lee Ultimately took Josephson's place and continues to serve as the division's chief. In an email after his resignation, Lee told colleagues that in her words, the bus was moving in the right direction and they needed to figure out who wanted on or who needed to get off. Josephson said he felt betrayed by his colleagues. At the same time, some in his office supported him, but only privately.

[Dr. Alan Josephson]

I'd have people come into my office, quietly, look to the side, close the door behind them, and essentially say something like this, doctor, you know, I really agree with you. I think your ideas are good, but I can't say it publicly. I just can't speak out. And they're, of course, fearing their jobs.

[Travis Kercher]

In 2019, the school allowed Josephson's contract to expire. Court documents show the school claimed he wasn't fulfilling the demands of his workload. He was without a job. He sued the School of Medicine, alleging his demotion violated his First Amendment right to freedom of speech, as well as his 14th amendment rights to due process and equal protection. In April, the school agreed to pay him $1.6 million. Alliance Defending Freedom attorney Tyson Langhofer represented Josephson. He says most of Josephson's co workers who were indignant over his appearance at the Heritage foundation forum never even bothered to watch it.

[David Gibbs]

We asked them in depositions, what did you object to?

[Tim Estes]

They couldn't name it because they didn't watch his remarks. They simply knew it didn't align with the party line.

[Travis Kercher]

Both Langhoffer and Josephson insist that the next generation of healthcare workers should be taught by doctors, not activists.

[Dr. Alan Josephson]

Talking with a lot of young parents these days where children are moving on, they'll say, I'm not sure I want to send my kid to a university when they're like that. What do you say to that? You know?

[Travis Kercher]

Reporting for World, I'm Travis Kercher in Louisville, Kentucky.

[Nick Eicher]

Today is Tuesday, June 3rd. Good morning, this is the World and everything in it, from listener support and we're welcome back to World Radio. I'm Nick Eicher.

[Mary Reichard]

And I'm Mary Reichard. Up next, what we choose to celebrate. Veterans get a day. Martin Luther King Jr. Gets a day. The Pilgrims get a long weekend. But the LGBTQ movement, it gets an entire month. What is the message? Here's World Opinions contributor Carl Truman.

[Keir Starmer]

How a society marks time reflects what it thinks is important. The 30 day allowance given to Pride is no exception. It is clearly considered very important indeed. Simple math suggests it's 30 times more so than MLK, making the claim improbable that the LGBT community is somehow marginalized. Pride Month has become a reminder over the years for many Christians that we are strangers in an increasingly Strange land values such as sexual continence, public modesty, and the need to protect children from garish displays of promiscuity have been in short supply for many years. Pride Month exemplifies that. Yet there does seem to have been a shift. Three years ago I was in Toronto in June. The Pride flag was everywhere, far more visible than that of Canada itself. The same was true when, a week or two later, I walked through Philadelphia. Any visitor from another planet could have been forgiven for thinking it was the values of the LGBTQ community that provided the unifying principle of the culture, not some shared national narrative. And yet, in the two years since, the month's sexual radicalism seems to become much more muted. One reason is likely the fact that the T the Trans issue was always a step too far. It flew in the face of common sense, and it intruded into everyone's lives in ways that gay marriage did not. The experiences of Target and Budweiser revealed the public relations problem. People who had no objection to two men living together in a sexual relationship might still have very strong opinions about other things, like their daughter's privacy being compromised or sports being reduced to nonsense by third rate male swimmers defeating top female competitors, or male rapists being allowed in women's prisons like children given a free hand in the candy store. Add to that the way in which the issue has been used to attack parental rights. The presence of the T in the Pride alliance became a terrible public relations liability. Whether the trend of Pride Month being more low key and less ubiquitous continues remains to be seen. We can only hope that it does so. But as Christians, we must also ask whether some of this is due to developments that are less encouraging than a dose of sanity on the trans issue. It may well be that the sound and fury is dying down because so much of that which it was intended to achieve has been accomplished. Gay marriage did not destroy the world as we know it. That's because marriage had been destroyed long ago with the advent of no fault divorce. It turned the institution into a sentimental bond, not a relationship designed for both companionship and procreation. It downgraded children, making them peripheral to any normative understanding of the marital union. And that made the necessarily sterile notion of gay marriage entirely plausible. It also reinforced the acceptability, even desirability, of IVF and surrogacy. All of these things are now normalized, and all raise very serious challenges for Christians. As we head into another Pride Month, we can hope this year will continue the trend of becoming more low key, a less pornified public square benefits us all. But if it does so, it would be premature to assume that this is unmitigated good news. It might simply indicate that so much of pride's ambitions have become an intuitive part of our culture and that orthodox Christian attitudes are even more outlandish than they were before. I'm Carl Truman.

[Nick Eicher]

Tomorrow, Washington, Wednesday. World's Leo Braceno on the performance of Health Secretary RFK junior Robert F. Kennedy. That and more tomorrow. I'm Nick Icar.

[Mary Reichard]

And I'm Mary Reichard. The world and everything in it comes to you from World Radio. World's mission is biblical objective journalism that informs, educates and inspires. The Bible says have nothing to do with irreverent silly myths. Rather, train yourself for godliness. For while bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in every way as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come. Verses 7 and 8 of 1 Timothy, chapter 4. Go now in grace and peace.