7.10.25 Doctors give unborn baby a chance to live, President Trump’s newborn investment accounts, and the new album from My Brother’s Keeper

Summary

The World and Everything In It

Host: WORLD Radio
Episode: July 10, 2025
Title: Doctors give unborn baby a chance to live, President Trump’s newborn investment accounts, and the new album from My Brother’s Keeper

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1. Introduction

The episode opens with host Myrna Brown and co-host Lindsay Mast setting the stage for a day filled with critical news topics, including the intersection of life and state laws, innovative financial initiatives for newborns, and a spotlight on a contemporary bluegrass band. The discussion is grounded in WORLD Radio’s commitment to sound journalism rooted in Christian values.

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2. Breaking News Highlights

Timestamp: 00:05 - 04:33

• Russia-Ukraine Conflict:
  Mark Mellinger reports on Russia’s intensified drone and missile attacks on Ukraine, marking the largest barrage to date. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky highlights the strategic targeting of Ukrainian military airfields.
  Notable Quote:
  “Russia is intensifying its attacks against Ukraine, launching more than 700 drones, its largest such barrage of the war so far,” – Mark Mellinger [01:06]

• U.S. Political Efforts:
  President Trump expresses frustration over the rising death toll in Ukraine and the stalled U.S.-led peace negotiations. Senate Majority Leader John Thune discusses a bipartisan bill aimed at increasing economic sanctions on Russia to pressure an end to the war.
  Notable Quotes:
  “We need leverage that we need and that frankly, the White House needs in their negotiations with the Russians,” – Cal Thomas [02:36]
  “I think it's an important message to send, especially now,” – John Thune [02:26]

• Middle East Tensions:
  Israeli airstrikes in Gaza, resulting in significant casualties, are reported alongside optimism from President Trump regarding potential ceasefire negotiations with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
  Notable Quote:
  “There's a very good chance that we'll have a settlement, an agreement of some kind this week and maybe next week,” – Cal Thomas [03:26]

• Natural Disasters:
  Devastating floods in Central Texas and New Mexico are covered, highlighting the tragic loss of lives and the extensive rescue efforts underway.
  Notable Quote:
  “We have all the heavy equipment that we can muster up to try to remove that debris,” – Eric Vickers [04:14]

• Trump’s Lawsuit Against California:
  The Trump administration sues California over alleged Title IX violations, specifically addressing the participation of transgender boys in girls' sports. This sparks a debate on the implications for women's rights and educational opportunities.
  Notable Quote:
  “It is just totally unfair to have men competing against women in sports,” – Cal Thomas [05:39]

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3. Life and Legalities: The Adriana Smith Case

Timestamp: 07:01 - 13:20

This segment delves into the poignant case of Adriana Smith, a 30-year-old woman who was kept on life support due to Georgia’s stringent heartbeat law, which prohibits abortions once a fetal heartbeat is detected around six weeks.

• Background:
  Adriana Smith was declared brain dead in February while nine weeks pregnant. Despite her family's wishes to remove life support, legal constraints tied to Georgia's Life Act prevented doctors from acting without clear directives.

• Community and Legal Perspectives:
  Fairfield Baptist Church’s senior pastor, Eric Vickers, describes Adriana as a “martyr for our times” [08:25]. Conversely, pro-abortion advocates argue that the law violated Smith's autonomy, labeling her a victim of restrictive legislation.

  Notable Quotes:
  “I don't think the pro life law had anything to do with whether that baby's alive,” – David Gibbs, National Center for Life and Liberty [10:26]
  “So who's to say that the mom wouldn't have wanted her child to be brought to term given her circumstances?” – John Mize, Americans United for Life [12:17]

• Legal Clarifications:
  Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr clarifies that the Life Act does not mandate keeping a woman on life support post brain death but prohibits terminating a pregnancy under such circumstances. Legal experts emphasize that the hospital acted within ethical and legal boundaries to preserve innocent life [09:11].

• Advocacy for Women's Rights:
  The discussion highlights ongoing legislative efforts in states like Colorado, Washington, and Michigan to allow women to refuse life-sustaining treatment irrespective of pregnancy, advocating for greater autonomy in end-of-life decisions.

  Notable Quote:
  “We should have had a choice,” – April Newkirk, Smith’s mother [12:46]

• Conclusion:
  The segment underscores the complex interplay between life-saving medical decisions and restrictive state laws, emphasizing the need for clear directives and compassionate dialogue in such critical situations.

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4. Financial Futures: President Trump’s Newborn Investment Accounts

Timestamp: 13:26 - 19:29

President Trump introduces the “Big Beautiful Bill Act,” which allocates $1,000 into investment accounts for every newborn in the United States over the next four years, aiming to secure financial stability for future generations.

• Program Details:

  • Initial Investment: $1,000 per baby, managed by a chosen bank.
  • Additional Contributions: Families, friends, employers can contribute up to $5,000 annually.
  • Withdrawal Terms: At age 18, individuals can withdraw half for education, business, or home-buying. The remaining funds become accessible at 25.

• Support and Criticism:
  Republicans praise the initiative as a pro-family measure, while analysts express concerns about its long-term financial sustainability and potential to benefit wealthier families disproportionately.

  Notable Quotes:
  “This is a pro family initiative that will help millions of Americans harness the strength of our economy to lift up the next generation,” – Cal Thomas [15:05]
  “It's a rich get richer plan. It focused significantly on savings versus assets,” – Eric Vickers [16:29]

• Comparative Analysis:
  The program is contrasted with state-level baby bond initiatives, noting differences in eligibility, tax implications, and accessibility, raising questions about equity and the program's overall impact.

  Notable Quote:
  “Republicans in every other piece of economic policymaking will tell you that simply writing people checks is an incredibly ineffective and often counterproductive way of making people better off for the long run,” – John Mize [18:55]

• Economic Implications:
  The Treasury Department estimates a $17 billion cost over ten years, with debates on whether savings from other budget cuts will offset this expenditure.

  Notable Quote:
  “The savings in the big beautiful bill will cover that cost,” – President Trump [17:35]

• Conclusion:
  The segment highlights the ambition behind the investment accounts while addressing practical concerns regarding implementation, fiscal responsibility, and equitable benefits across different socio-economic groups.

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5. Cultural Spotlight: My Brother’s Keeper’s New Album

Timestamp: 21:34 - 29:23

The podcast shifts focus to the music scene, featuring a review of My Brother’s Keeper’s latest album, Wartime Cartoons, and exploring their innovative approach to bluegrass.

• Band Overview:
  My Brother’s Keeper, comprised of the La Copte brothers, is recognized for blending traditional bluegrass with progressive elements, creating a unique sound that challenges genre conventions.

• Album Analysis:
  Wartime Cartoons features a mix of original compositions and covers, including an a cappella rendition of George A. Young’s God Leads His Dear Children. Their ability to incorporate influences from indie rock and pop bands like the Beach Boys and A-ha sets them apart in the bluegrass community.

  Notable Observation:
  “The group's latest Wartime Cartoons is a photo of what might be a grandfather and a grandson... suggesting that something interesting and unpredictable lies within,” – Arsenio Orteza [23:36]

• Musical Innovation:
  The band experiments with unconventional instruments and harmonies, such as using an organ in a bluegrass song, and reimagining pop classics in an acoustic format. Their progressive stance allows for greater creative freedom and broader musical exploration.

  Notable Quotes:
  “We listen to a lot of the Beach Boys and we try to figure out how can we incorporate the type of harmonies that they use into a bluegrass context,” – Eric Vickers [25:22]
  “If that sounds like your father's bluegrass to you, you had a pretty cool dad,” – Arsenio Orteza [28:22]

• Background and Training:
  The La Copte brothers were homeschooled with a strong emphasis on music, participating in church performances and jam sessions from a young age. Their father fostered their musical talents by integrating song analysis into their studies, laying a solid foundation for their innovative approach.

  Notable Quote:
  “We learned that element of playing in front of others because after service we were jamming together,” – Eric Vickers [26:52]

• Conclusion:
  My Brother’s Keeper exemplifies the evolution of bluegrass, merging traditional roots with modern influences to create a dynamic and engaging musical experience. Their latest album, Wartime Cartoons, showcases their commitment to pushing the boundaries of the genre while maintaining its core values.

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6. Commentary: IRS Rule Change on Politics in the Pulpit

Timestamp: 29:30 - 33:47

Cal Thomas provides an in-depth analysis of the IRS’s decision to lift restrictions on political endorsements from churches and other religious institutions, exploring the implications for religious freedom and political discourse.

• Historical Context:
  The IRS rule, initially introduced in 1954 to prevent churches from engaging in political campaigning, is revisited. The original intention was to maintain the separation between church and state amidst political tensions during Senator Lyndon Johnson's re-election.

• Implications of the Change:
  Thomas argues that allowing political endorsements in sermons undermines the primary mission of religious institutions and risks alienating congregants with diverse political views. He emphasizes the importance of maintaining a clear boundary to preserve church unity and focus on spiritual teachings.

  Notable Quotes:
  “Politicians and preachers should mostly stay in their own lanes, where Scripture speaks clearly to a contemporary issue,” – Cal Thomas [32:52]
  “I don't attend church services to hear about politics,” – Cal Thomas [30:27]

• Pros and Cons:
  While some argue that religious leaders have a right to express their personal political opinions, Thomas contends that intertwining politics with religion can lead to divisiveness and detract from the church’s spiritual mission.

  Notable Quote:
  “The country needs them to [religious voices in the public square],” – Cal Thomas [32:30]

• Impact on Church Attendance:
  The blend of politics and religion is cited as a factor in declining church attendance, particularly among younger demographics who perceive churches as overly partisan and unwelcoming to diverse viewpoints.

• Conclusion:
  Thomas advocates for a return to a non-partisan approach in religious settings, urging pastors to focus on spiritual guidance rather than political endorsements. This stance aims to foster unity within congregations and uphold the integrity of religious institutions amidst evolving political landscapes.

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7. Closing Remarks

The episode wraps up with hosts Myrna Brown and Lindsay Mast previewing upcoming segments, including further discussions on the IRS ruling, a review of the latest Superman movie, and engaging wordplay segments. They also extend gratitude to contributors and listeners, reinforcing WORLD Radio’s mission to provide biblically grounded, objective journalism.

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Listeners are encouraged to stay tuned for the next episode, which promises deeper insights into the intersection of faith, politics, and culture.

Transcript

[Myrna Brown]

Good morning. A recent delivery of a baby to a mom on life support shines a light on the conflict between the end of life decisions and state heartbeat loss.

[David Gibbs]

I don't think the pro life law had anything to do with whether that baby's alive.

[Lindsay Mast]

Also today, a new federal savings and investment program for families and bluegrass reimagined.

[Eric Vickers]

We listen to a lot of the Beach Boys and we try to figure out how can we incorporate the type of harmonies that they use into a bluegrass context.

[Lindsay Mast]

And Cal Thomas says politics should remain out of the pulpit despite what the IRS may allow.

[Myrna Brown]

It's Thursday, July 10th. This is the world and everything in it from Listener Supported World Radio. I'm Myrna Brown.

[Lindsay Mast]

And I'm Lindsay Mast. Good morning.

[Myrna Brown]

Up next, Mark Mellinger with today's news.

[Mark Mellinger]

Russia is intensifying its attacks against Ukraine, launching more than 700 drones, its largest such barrage of the war so far, along with 13 missiles. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky says this latest assault targeted a town that's home to Ukrainian army airfields and is also near a key hub for receiving critical foreign military aid. President Trump lamented the war's climbing death toll.

[Cal Thomas]

Think of it, 7,000 people a week on both sides. 7,000 people young, mostly military people, young souls are dead.

[Mark Mellinger]

Trump's also frustrated by the stalled U. S led efforts to broker an end to the war. U.S. chief of Protocol Monica Crowley tells FOX Business Vladimir Putin has continued to.

[John Thune]

Press the war in Ukraine and as.

[Cal Thomas]

The president has indicated, he would like.

[John Thune]

To have both sides come to the table.

[Cal Thomas]

But that has not materialized quite yet.

[Mark Mellinger]

Meantime, the Trump administration has resumed sending weapons, including precision guided rockets, to Ukraine after the Pentagon directed the pause of some deliveries last week. US Senators are putting together a bipartisan bill to ratchet up pressure on Russia to end its war on Ukraine. The bill would impose new economic sanctions on Russia and has 80 co sponsors. Senate Majority Leader John Thune. I think it's an important message to send, especially now.

[Cal Thomas]

And I think it's, it's leverage that we need and that frankly, the White House needs in their negotiations with the Russians.

[Mark Mellinger]

So in my view, the, you know.

[Eric Vickers]

The sooner we can execute on that, the better.

[Mark Mellinger]

Thune says GOP leadership is working with the White House and U.S. house colleagues to get the bill finalized. He's hopeful Congress can vote on the bill later this month. Another round of Israeli airstrikes has killed 40 people in the Gaza Strip, according to a hospital in southern Gaza. Israel confirms it struck more than 100 targets where it suspects Hamas of hiding weapons and fighters among civilians. Still, President Trump, fresh off two days of meetings in the White House with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, is optimistic. Negotiators are close to the hammering out a Gaza ceasefire.

[Cal Thomas]

There's a very good chance that we'll have a settlement, an agreement of some kind this week and maybe next week, if not.

[Mark Mellinger]

Negotiators for both sides have been meeting this week in Qatar. US Special envoy Steve Witkoff says they've been making good progress and he will be joining them soon. In Central Texas, the death toll is up to at least 118 with at least another 160 missing. And as crews clean up from the deadly Fourth of July flooding, hundreds of volunteer first responders used backhoes and their bare hands Wednesday to dig through piles of debris stretching for miles along the Guadalupe River. Fredericksburg Fire Chief Lynn Bizzell says crews are doing everything they can to find survivors.

[Eric Vickers]

We have 300 people working. We have all the heavy equipment that we can muster up to try to remove that debris. We are finding vehicles and RVs deep inside the debris that you can't even see from the outside. And so the challenges are there. They're real.

[Mark Mellinger]

With the hopes of finding survivors dwindling by the day, crews are focusing on doing what they can to bring closure to the families of the missing. In New Mexico, torrential rain has led to flash flooding that has claimed at least three lives. A man, a four year old girl and a seven year old boy in the village of Ruidoso were swept away Tuesday as floodwaters rose to 20ft. Ruidoso Mayor Lynn Crawford Our emergency responders conducted approximately 65 swift water rescues during yesterday's event. Crawford says the flash flooding also wiped out some homes and it'll take days to total up damage estimates. New Mexico's governor has signed an emergency declaration. The Trump administration is suing California, accusing it of Title 9 violations for letting boys who consider themselves transgender to compete in girls sports. Title IX is the federal law banning sex based discrimination in education. US Education Secretary Linda McMahon it is.

[Cal Thomas]

Just totally unfair to have men competing against women in sports and also to share their intimate locker facilities, et cetera. Women fought hard for these rights and it is the law and the president means business with it.

[Mark Mellinger]

McMahon talking to Fox News. The Justice Department calls California's rules demeaning, saying they signal girls opportunities and achievements are secondary to accommodating boys. California Governor Gavin Newsom's office calls the suit a cynical attempt to distract from the White House's freeze on billions of dollars in federal grants from after school and summer education programs. I'm Mark Mellinger. Straight ahead, Georgia's heartbeat bill is blamed for keeping a brain dead woman alive. But there's more to the story, plus pastors, politics and the IRS. This is the world and everything in it.

[Lindsay Mast]

It's Thursday, the 10th of July. Glad to have you along for today's edition of THE WORLD and Everything in It. Good morning. I'm Lindsay Mast.

[Myrna Brown]

And I'm Myrna Brown. First up on the World and everything in it. When life and death collide. In February, 30 year old Adriana Smith was declared brain dead. Doctors at Emory University Hospital in Atlanta kept her on life support because she was nine weeks pregnant. On June 13, doctors delivered Smith's baby via C section. Four days later, they removed Smith's ventilator.

[Lindsay Mast]

The tragedy of Smith's death and the good news about of her baby's arrival have been met with outrage. That's because there's a troubling question at the heart of this story. Should Smith have been allowed to die earlier? Here's World's Anna Johansson Brown.

[Anna Johansen Brown]

Inside the cream colored sanctuary of Fairfield Baptist Church, mourners filed past Adriana Smith's open casket. It was June 28th. Pink and white flowers flanked the coffin, contrasting with the large black speakers on stage. Fairfield senior Pastor Eric Vickers.

[Eric Vickers]

I want to be honest about where we are this afternoon.

[Cal Thomas]

As the city, as the state, as.

[Eric Vickers]

The nation and even the world is watching. We are living in critical and perilous times and Adrianna has become a martyr for our times.

[Anna Johansen Brown]

Many pro abortion advocates are also calling Smith a martyr because she wasn't allowed to die sooner. According to Georgia's Life act, doctors can't abort preborn babies after detecting a heartbeat, usually around six weeks. Some have said that's why Smith had to stay on a respirator. In a YouTube video, hospice nurse Julie McFadden explained the logic.

[Lindsay Mast]

So although Adriana's family would like to possibly take her off life support due to this law, medical professionals are legally not allowed to do that.

[Anna Johansen Brown]

Emory Hospital apparently told Smith's family they wanted to avoid violating Georgia's abortion restrictions and other relevant laws. But it's overly simplistic to argue that Georgia's Life act legally forced the hospital's hand. Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr told news.

[Lindsay Mast]

Outlet 11Alive there is nothing in the Life act that requires medical professionals to keep a woman on life support after brain death. Removing life support is not an action with the purpose to terminate a pregnancy.

[Anna Johansen Brown]

John Mize is the CEO of Americans United for Life. He says, pointing to the state's abortion restriction is a mischaracterization.

[John Mize]

When the rare circumstance of when a woman suffers a pregnancy complication in a pro life state, the abortion advocates are always prepared to re victimize these women and their families on national media, attempting to twist narratives to make it appear as if pro life laws are to blame.

[Anna Johansen Brown]

Many states require physicians to keep pregnant patients on life support, but these laws have to do with end of life care, not abortion. In Georgia, doctors can override a woman's wishes regarding life support if she is found to be pregnant, and they can save her unborn child.

[David Gibbs]

Generally, when there is no advance directive, the protocol should be to save life.

[Anna Johansen Brown]

David Gibbs is president and general counsel of the national center for Life and Liberty. He says it's not fair to take aim at or give credit to Georgia's Life Act.

[David Gibbs]

In fact, I will go so far as to say I don't think the pro life law had anything to do with whether that baby's alive. I think the doctors made a decision that there was no clear directive from the mother to end the baby's life.

[Anna Johansen Brown]

But some people say the circumstance violated Smith's autonomy for a different reason. And this is where the second argument for Smith's martyrdom comes in. Some advocates think it wasn't fair to keep Smith on a ventilator just because she was pregnant US Representative Ayanna Pressley from Massachusetts.

[Eric Vickers]

But because Adriana was nine weeks pregnant about a month past a missed period, Adriana's body has been turned into an.

[Anna Johansen Brown]

Incubator, an incubator with no medical rationale.

[Eric Vickers]

No ethical reason and no compassion.

[Anna Johansen Brown]

These kinds of arguments are behind a movement to let women refuse life sustaining care no matter what. In 2021, Colorado authorized women to refuse life support during pregnancy beginning July 27. Women in Washington state may do the same. There's a similar bill going through the Michigan Legislature and a related lawsuit in Kansas. The issue of refusing care came up at Adriana Smith's funeral. After scripture readings and a bluesy rendition of His Eye Is on the Sparrow, a Georgia lawmaker read a resolution which she called Adriana's Law. State Representative Park Cannon whereas the advance.

[Myrna Brown]

Directive protection contained in Georgia's advance directive.

[Lindsay Mast]

Statute should be upheld to ensure that.

[Myrna Brown]

A patient's end of life wishes, regardless of pregnancy, take pretty presidents over fetal personhood causes.

[Anna Johansen Brown]

But Smith might have wanted to give her baby a shot at survival. Here's John Mize again.

[John Mize]

But there wasn't an advance directive that the child be terminated. So who's to say that the mom wouldn't have wanted her child to be brought to term given her circumstances? That's the complexity in the gray area.

[Anna Johansen Brown]

Mize believes the hospital rightly chose to keep Smith on life support until her baby could be delivered. But he said doctors should have at least brought Smith's family into the decision making process. Audio from 11Alive's interview with Smith's mother, April Newkirk.

[Myrna Brown]

I'm not saying that we would have chose to terminate her pregnancy. What I'm saying is we should have had a choice.

[Anna Johansen Brown]

General counsel David Gibbs believes the safe delivery of Smith's baby vindicates the hospital.

[David Gibbs]

And they made the decision that this was a viable baby in our care and we are going to save its life. And I think it was a right decision. I think it was a brave decision. I also think it's within their code of ethics. I mean, doctors are to, under the Hippocratic oath, preserve and protect innocent life. And in this case, I really believe that they did the right thing.

[Anna Johansen Brown]

For world I'm Anna Johansen Brown.

[Myrna Brown]

Coming up next on THE world and everything in it, a nest egg for babies. While President Trump's Big Beautiful Bill act is best known for budget cuts and tax breaks, the law he signed on July 4 will also give billions of dollars to the youngest Americans. The idea is to put $1,000 in an investment account for every baby born in the United States for the next four years.

[Lindsay Mast]

So how will the accounts work and are there strings attached? World reporter Carolina Lumeta has the story.

[John Thune]

At a White House roundtable event in June, House Speaker Mike Johnson explained the president's plan to invest in the future of Americans with actual investments.

[Eric Vickers]

If you have a 401k, you understand the power of investing early for the future. Trump accounts take that same principle and they apply it from the very beginning of Americans lives.

[John Thune]

Here's how it works. When a baby is born, the Treasury Department will automatically open a diversified investment account and put $1,000 into it. The account will be managed by a bank of the family's choice.

[Cal Thomas]

They'll be open for additional private contributions each year from family, friends, parents, employers.

[John Thune]

Churches, private foundations and more, up to $5,000 a year. Once the child turns 18, he or she may withdraw half of funds. The but only for higher education, tuition costs, a trade school, starting a business or buying a home. While the original version before Congress restricted the program to children born to American citizens, the Senate removed that provision.

[Cal Thomas]

This is a pro family initiative that will help millions of Americans harness the strength of our economy to lift up the next generation, and they'll really be getting a big jump on life, especially if we get a little bit lucky with some of the numbers and the economies into the future.

[John Thune]

During the White House event launching the proposal, business leaders also signed on. Dell Technologies CEO Michael Dell said his company would match the government's initial contribution for its employees and it embodies our.

[Cal Thomas]

Core belief that opportunity should begin at birth.

[John Thune]

The idea of accounts for babies is not new. In fact, it's been a Democratic talking point for years. Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton brought up the idea of a baby bonus during her 2007 presidential campaign. And in 2021, New Jersey Senator Cory Booker sponsored a bipartisan bill to launch baby bonds that could accrue up to $50,000 per baby. Then in 2023, Connecticut launched the first statewide baby bond program.

[Eric Vickers]

There is a discussion at the highest levels of government, both Democrats and Republicans, who recognize the value and the importance of wealth, particularly seeding it for babies.

[John Thune]

David Radcliffe studies state and local policy for the New School Institute on Race, Policy, Power and Political Economy, based in New York. He helped implement Connecticut's program. Radcliffe likes the idea behind Trump accounts but has some concerns about how the president's plan will work.

[Eric Vickers]

We really see this as a rich get richer plan. It focused significantly on savings versus assets.

[John Thune]

The Connecticut program is reserved for children born into low income families, while the Trump version is open to all. While Connecticut's program is tax free, the Trump accounts will be taxed on withdrawal. Furthermore, the account owner can only withdraw half of the amount at age 18 and then the full account once he or she turns 25. The total investment will also depend on the additional contributions, something that wealthy parents can take advantage of while poorer parents cannot. Assuming 5% growth over 18 years, that $1,000 looks different. With additional investment, the young person in.

[Eric Vickers]

The poor circumstance 3,000 that wealthier child can accrue up to $150,000.

[John Thune]

Another concern for analysts is the expected price tag. Adam Michel is director of tax Policy Studies at the Cato Institute.

[John Mize]

The government will be transferring $1,000 into each of these accounts temporarily through 2028. But that money has to come from somewhere.

[John Thune]

The Joint Committee on Taxation expects the program to cost $17 billion over 10 years. President Trump says the savings in the big beautiful bill will cover that cost. But Michelle suspects the government will need to borrow money or raise taxes to keep funding the accounts down the road.

[John Mize]

So that transfer itself is not making anyone in the aggregate better off.

[John Thune]

There are already nearly a dozen savings programs with tax advantages available to American families. Michelle at the Cato Institute recommends a universal savings account that's managed by the individual, not the Treasury Department.

[John Mize]

You put the money in, it grows, and you can spend the money whenever and on whatever you like. And they're a way of actually letting individuals and families save for their future in a way where the government is less involved rather than more.

[John Thune]

Republicans in Congress praise the program as part of a larger pro family agenda. Senator Bernie Moreno of Ohio told me the seed amount might be small, but is compounded with other investments included in the bill.

[Eric Vickers]

That thousand dollars will make a big difference. The other piece is, of course, the child tax credit going to $2,200. I think that's a really good part of it. This is clearly a bill that's going to help working families.

[John Thune]

For analysts like Adam Mischel, government promises of free money don't sound like a recipe for future success.

[John Mize]

Republicans in every other piece of economic policymaking will tell you that simply writing people checks is a incredibly ineffective and often counterproductive way of making people better off for the long run.

[John Thune]

It's now up to the Treasury Department to start building Trump accounts for babies born back in January until the end of 2028. Reporting for World, I'm Carolina Lumeta in Washington.

[Mark Mellinger]

Additional support comes from Cedarville University, committed to transforming lives through Christ centered education. Cedarville. Edu World from Nicaea Conference 2025, a historic gathering of church leaders from every inhabited continent. [e-mail] and from Water's edge, Kingdom Investments, personal investments that build churches.

[Eric Vickers]

5.05% APY on a three month term.

[Mark Mellinger]

Watersedge.com invest.

[Lindsay Mast]

In Nebraska last week, a mess. Massive treasure hunt. 50 years in the making. Ann Johnson found her little toy dog. Audio from KLKN TV My grandfather Harold.

[John Thune]

Davison had me wrap this up, put it in a bag and he wrote on the outside. This was dropped in by Ann Johnson when I was probably four.

[Lindsay Mast]

What she dropped it into was a huge underground space created by Davison in 1975, the world's largest time capsule, big enough to also hold a yellow Chevy Vega, a motorcycle, a leisure suit, pet rocks and some 5,000 other relics. Tammy Lincoln says her family took part in adding to the capsule when she was just 10. She recalled what Davison told her about why he did it.

[John Thune]

He did not want to tell his.

[Myrna Brown]

Children and grandchildren what it was like in 1975.

[Cal Thomas]

He wanted to build a time capsule.

[Lindsay Mast]

And he could show them instead. Also in the capsule personal letters and recordings now working their way back to their owners and owners families 50 years later. It's the World and Everything In It.

[Myrna Brown]

Today is Thursday, July 10th. Thank you turning to World radio to help start your day. Good morning, I'm Myrna Brown.

[Lindsay Mast]

And I'm Lindsay Mast. Coming next on the World and Everything In It, Three homeschooled brothers raised on hymnals and harmony reinvent bluegrass the La Copte Brothers make up the band My Brother's Keeper, and their strong new album called Wartime Cartoons came out in June. But World's music critic Arsenio Orteza says that all of the music they've released in the last dozen years holds up to repeated listening.

[Arsenio Orteza]

One look at My Brother's Keeper's album covers tells you that you're not dealing with your father's bluegrass. Most feature evocative paintings or band photos, more in line with indie rock. The group's latest Wartime Cartoons is a photo of what might be a grandfather and a grandson, identically dressed, possibly for church, sitting across from each other in folding chairs. The man holds a large book and appears to be reading or singing from it. To the boy, whose posture suggests rapt attention, it has no obvious connection to any of the album's 15 songs. Instead, it suggests that something interesting and unpredictable lies within. This is wartime cartoon's shortest song, the 1 minute 10 second Sunday morning 9:53am page 3364 in the light blue hymnal. It may be the only song on a bluegrass album ever played entirely on an organ. It's certainly proof that the brothers at the core of the five member group don't mind bending. Traditional bluegrass rules. Actually, Joshua Benjamin and Titus Luckopt call what they do progressive bluegrass. The term allows them some leeway in how they present their music and in the kind of music they present. I asked what progressive bluegrass means to the band.

[Eric Vickers]

Here's Benjamin so you're using acoustic instruments, not heavy drums and not ever any heavy electric instruments. So you're staying within the confines of the genre. But then you're bringing influences in from all kinds of different fields, lyrically and musically. So you might be really influenced by a rock band and you're trying to figure out a way to present those sounds, but still using the acoustic bluegrass instruments. Talking away I don't know what I'm saying, I'll say it anyway. Today's another day to find you.

[Arsenio Orteza]

The group's 2018 performance of Aha's Take on Me may best illustrate the approach. My Brother's Keeper takes an 80s synth pop classic and strips it down to mandolin, guitar, fiddle and bass. More impressively, it features the youngest La Copt Titus, hitting the Refrain's famous high note. The two cover songs on their latest album aren't quite as stylistically daring. The group has even recorded one of them before, the folk standard Poor Wayfaring Stranger. But the other, George A. Young's God Leads His Dear Children along gets an a cappella treatment that showcases the brothers vocal harmonies like nothing else on the disc.

[Eric Vickers]

Pastures so rich and so sweet God leads his dear children along where the waters cool flow bathe the weary ones feet Traditional bluegrass has four part singing, but we listen to a lot of the Beach Boys and we try to figure out how can we incorporate the type of harmonies that they use into a bluegrass context.

[Arsenio Orteza]

There's more to My Brother's Keeper than the Beach Boys and Aha Though the group's bassist, Wyatt Sawmill Murray, has been known to compose under the influence of video game music. The Luckhaupts grew up in a Baptist church pastored by their uncle, where they joined their musical cousins in frequent impromptu post service jamming. They were also exposed to Southern gospel quartet music. The most significant piece of their story is that from kindergarten through grade 12 they were homeschooled. Their curriculum included five years of piano, after which each added an instrument of his choice, Joshua Lacopte.

[Eric Vickers]

So at about the age of 10, we all then added our bluegrass instruments in fiddle for me, guitar for binge, Titus on the mandolin.

[Arsenio Orteza]

Their father, perceiving their interest in music, built song analysis into their studies. In this way, Joshua told me the band's foundations were laid pretty early because.

[Eric Vickers]

We were in front of people at church every week. We learned that element of playing in front of others because after service we were jamming together, we were learning how to work in and out of music. A big part of bluegrass is the jam circle, the idea where everybody can gather around and play some standard songs that we all would recognize and everybody gets a turn to take a break. Everybody gets a chance to sing a little bit, and you learn a lot from that.

[Arsenio Orteza]

The church organ and a cappella pieces demonstrate the kind of audacious variety that My Brother's Keeper has woven into its albums. Consider, for instance, the very title of Wartime Cartoon's most powerful song, smile it's the End of the World. Its lyrics pack quite a wallop, too. The song begins by taking aim at a watered down gospel trickling off a pulpit. It also paraphrases a famous quotation often attributed to G.K. chesterton, but really from a novel by Bruce Marshall about what men who patronize brothels are subconsciously looking for.

[Eric Vickers]

There's a whole lot of folks who want to be the bride, but they don't like the wedding gown. And I'm at the top of a bestseller's list for words that I played your eyes so smile with me down through the end of the world I'd kill for a Nobel Peace Prize.

[Arsenio Orteza]

But like My Brother's Keeper's other albums, Wartime Cartoons has lighthearted moments as well. Many of them occur in the title cut, a breezy and original slice of western swing meets gypsy jazz. The song has no lyrics, so what it has to do with Wartime or cartoons will no doubt spark discussion, something that all good music does sooner or later. And if that sounds like your father's bluegrass to you, you had a pretty cool dad. I'm Arsenio Orteza.

[Lindsay Mast]

Today is Thursday, July 10th. Good morning, this is the World and everything in it from listener supported World Radio. I'm Lindsay Mast.

[Myrna Brown]

And I'm Myrna Brown. World commentator Cal Thomas reacts to this week's decision by the IRS to change its stance on politics in the pulpit.

[Cal Thomas]

The Internal Revenue Service announced on Monday it is overturning a restraint on churches and other houses of worship that was supposed to keep them from endorsing candidates for political office. The root of the ban extends back to 1954. Then Senator Lyndon Johnson was running for reelection. The Texas Democrat faced a primary challenge from a wealthy rancher and oilman. A non profit conservative group published materials that recommended voters support Johnson's challenger in what many believe to be retribution. Johnson introduced an Amendment to Section 501 of the IRS Code prohibiting organizations that are tax exempt from trying to influence political campaigns. Many took this as an attempt to muzzle preachers. The measure was rarely if ever enforced. Many black and white liberal preachers invited mostly Democratic candidates to their services close to elections, giving them tacit if not outright endorsements. Their tax exempt status was never canceled. Issues range from the Vietnam War to civil rights. On one level, this is a freedom of speech issue, but not all freedoms are necessarily worth exercising. Even so, the government shouldn't be the one to determine what a pastor can say and where. But the larger question is this. Who benefits the most and least from the IRS ruling? Some politicians will benefit, but churches that see this as an opportunity to jump into the political waters will be harmed as they will dilute their primary mission. Besides, many churches have members who hold different political views. For the pastor to engage in partisan politics runs the risk of having some of them leave. I would there's always been a presumption among those advocating for more political involvement by churches that members are ignorant about politics and can't form their own opinions without instructions from their preacher organizations. Some liberal but mostly conservatives have raised a lot of money promoting a fusion between church and state. I don't attend church services to hear about politics. Neither do I wish to hear theological pronouncements from politicians, many of whom misquote Scripture or take it out of context to fit their political agendas. The mostly defunct Shakey's pizza restaurants used to have a sign on the wall that said Shakes has made a deal with the bank. The bank doesn't make pizzas and Shakey's doesn't cash checks. Well, that's how I feel about politics in the pulpit. Politicians and preachers should mostly stay in their own lanes, where Scripture speaks clearly to a contemporary issue, including marriage, gender, abortion and the wisdom found in Proverbs and Ecclesiastes. I'm ready to listen, but don't let me hear who the pastor prefers in the next election. I'm not without information, and neither is anyone else if they take the time to do research. Religious people have an absolute right to express their views in the public square. Indeed, the country needs them to. Many of our founders exercised that right, and the principles found in the Declaration of Independence and other documents reflected their worldview. And yes, colonial preachers frequently base their sermons on politics, praising or denouncing politicians. But that exception should not create a rule. One of the reasons cited for the decline in church attendance in America is that many, especially young people, believe churches are already too political and identified solely with the Republican Party. For those who disagree, I quote the ultimate church state moment In John chapter 18, we read of Jesus exchange with Pontius Pilate. Jesus said, my kingdom is not of this world. Now that ought to be good enough for everyone to put their priorities in the right order, no matter what the IRS says. I'm Cal Thomas.

[Lindsay Mast]

Tomorrow, more on that IRS rule change with John Stonestreet on Culture Friday. Also, a review of the latest Superman movie and wordplay with George Grant. That and more tomorrow. I'm Lindsay Mast.

[Myrna Brown]

And I'm Myrna Brown. Our thanks to Becca McCallum for writing and reporting our story today on end of life decisions. The world and everything in it comes to you from World Radio. World's mission is biblically objective journalism that informs, educates and inspires. Jesus said, come, come to me all who labor and are heavy laden and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me. For I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light. The Gospel according to Matthew, chapter 11, verses 28 through 30. Go now in grace and peace.