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Myrna Brown
Good morning. Today, when sin not only finds you but puts in on the Jumbotron. Plus social media witchcraft and more on women's sports.
Nick Eicher
That's all ahead today on culture Friday. Katie McCoy standing by. Later, the Fantastic Four.
Kent Covington
Galactus asked too high a price.
Colin Garbarino
What does he want? What did he ask?
Steve Witkoff
He said, give us your child and.
Colin Garbarino
I will spare the earth.
Benjamin Eicher
I am not giving him up.
Nick Eicher
World Arts and Culture editor Colin Garberino reviews the reboot of Marvel's first family and listener feedback for July.
Myrna Brown
It's Friday, July 25th. This is the world and everything in it from listener supported World Radio. I'm Myrna Brown.
Nick Eicher
And I'm Nick Eicher. Good morning.
Myrna Brown
Up next, Ken Covington with today's news.
Kent Covington
Peace talks in Qatar between Israel and Hamas have broken down once more. Negotiators from the United States and Israel are leaving Doha, saying the talks have become pointless. State Department spokesman Tommy Pickett the question.
Colin Garbarino
Has never been our commitment to a ceasefire. The question has been Hamas's commitment to a ceasefire.
Kent Covington
US Special envoy Steve Witkoff said the terror group has shown no interest in peace. Meantime, the humanitarian crisis in Gaza is only getting worse. At least one pal Palestinian woman died yesterday near a food distribution site. Israel says it has plenty of aid that is ready for collection, but the international community is not stepping up to distribute it. And Tommy Pigott says the blame does not rest with Israel.
Colin Garbarino
We have been dedicated to getting those 90 million meals into Gaza in a way where it has not been looted by Hamas. These discussions of getting more aid into Gaza have been part of that ceasefire we are hoping for. But again, the blame of this lies at the feet of Hamas.
Kent Covington
The World Health Organization warns that nearly 2 million Gaza residents are at risk of starvation. A passenger plane has crashed in eastern Russia, killing all passengers and crew aboard. World's Benjamin Eicher has more.
Benjamin Eicher
Igor Smirnov with Russia's Emergency Ministry said the plane went down in a dense forest about nine miles south of the town of Tinda. Nearly 50 people were killed. There were no survivors. The Angara Airlines flight vanished from radar, and search crews found the burning wreckage of the plane on a hillside south of its planned destination in Tinda. Officials are still investigating the cause of the crash. Early media reports point to bad weather in the area. For World I'm Benjamin Eicher.
Kent Covington
President Trump paid a visit to Federal Reserve headquarters in Washington Thursday, touring ongoing renovations to the building. Fed Chairman Jerome Powell joined him for that tour.
Nick Eicher
Expect to be finished in 2027.
Steve Witkoff
We're well along as you can see.
Kent Covington
But Powell also voiced disagreement with Trump's accusations of massive cost overruns.
Steve Witkoff
2.7 is now 3.1. I'm not aware of that.
Benjamin Eicher
Yeah, it just came out.
Steve Witkoff
I haven't heard that from anybody at the Fed.
Kent Covington
President Trump has sharply criticized the chairman for the Fed's recent stance of holding off on cutting interest rates to evaluate the effects of Trump's tariffs. The president said the two talked about that.
Colin Garbarino
I believe that the chairman is going.
Nick Eicher
To do the right thing.
Colin Garbarino
I mean, it may be a little.
Benjamin Eicher
Too late as the expression goes, but.
Colin Garbarino
I believe he's going to do the right thing.
Kent Covington
Trump has said that while he thinks Powell has done a poor job in the role, he has no plans to fire him before the chairman's term expires next year. Powell has repeatedly said that the president's pressure will not affect the Fed's process. Meantime, on Capitol Hill, the House Oversight Committee grilled Ron Klain. He is former chief of staff to President Joe Biden. It is part of an ongoing probe surrounding Biden's mental fitness and cognitive decline while in office. Other former Biden officials have pleaded the fifth before the committee, but Klain did not. According to Democratic Congressman Ro Khanna, he was fully cooperative.
Colin Garbarino
There are times where he was asked.
Kent Covington
About personal conversations he had with the.
Colin Garbarino
President, and he was fully forthcoming.
Kent Covington
Biden's former White House doctor Kevin o' Connor appeared before the panel this month after being subpoenaed, but he invoked his Fifth Amendment right against self incrimination. The panel is investigating whether White House officials covered up Biden's cognitive decline and whether anyone other than the president was making presidential decisions. Wrestling entertainment icon Hulk Hogan has died at the age of 71. His real name was Terry Bollea. He rose to fame in the 1980s after adopting the Hogan identity with a larger than life Persona and the physique to match. His fame soon transcended the wrestling ring, including an appearance in Rocky 3.
Nick Eicher
I wanted to be Rocky.
Benjamin Eicher
I wanted to be in the movie.
Nick Eicher
And then, you know, as fate would have it, a few years down the road, Stallone was watching Madison Square Garden wrestling and when I got back from Japan, I had a Western Union telegram, urgent call Sylvester Stallone.
Benjamin Eicher
I went, whoa.
Kent Covington
He went on to enjoy a successful on screen career outside of the ring with movie and TV roles and even his own Saturday morning cartoon. Terry Bollea's family said he had recently undergone neck surgery and was in recovery when he collapsed at home. The cause of death is believed to be cardiac arrest related to surgical complications. And the jazz music world is saying goodbye to an icon after Chuck Mangione died this week at the age of 85. Magione's smash hit feels so Good, heard there made him a Star in 1977. He won his first Grammy that year for his album Bella Via, which he named after his mother. He later became a voice actor on the animated TV comedy King of the Hill. Chuck Mangione released more than 30 albums before retiring and 2015 Missouri's Attorney General is suing Planned Parenthood, accusing it of deceiving the public about an abortion drug. World's Christina Grube has more.
Myrna Brown
State Attorney General Andrew Bailey's lawsuit says the abortion giant has violated a state consumer protection law. Bailey charges that Planned Parenthood is falsely.
Benjamin Eicher
Claiming that chemical abortions are safer than Tylenol. The Food and Drug Administration claims the abortion drug mifeprizdone only causes serious adverse events for between roughly three to four.
Myrna Brown
And a half percent of women who.
Benjamin Eicher
Take it as part of the abortion regimen. However, a new study suggests the rate of serious reactions such as sepsis, infection or hemorrhaging could be closer to 11%. For world, I'm Christina Grube.
Kent Covington
And I'm Kent Covington. Straight ahead, Katie McCoy is standing by for Culture Friday. And later, the Fantastic Four is back on the big screen. But is it fantastic? This is the World and everything in it.
Nick Eicher
It's Friday, the 25th of July. Glad to have you along for today's edition of the World and Everything in It. Good morning. I'm Nick Iger.
Myrna Brown
And I'm Erna Brown. It's Culture Friday. And joining us now is author and Speaker Katie McCoy. Good morning, Katie.
Benjamin Eicher
Good morning. Happy Friday.
Myrna Brown
Happy Friday. Well, I have gone back and forth on this topic. Do we talk about the kiss cam on Culture Friday or not? And then, you know, I just thought we have to because, well, Dr. Mohler wrote about it in his World Opinions piece and seemingly a good portion of the world's population has seen that that infamous video of that couple. So, Katie, I'd like to get your take on it, but first I want to read just a quick interesting quote from Dr. Mohler's article. He writes, isn't it interesting that our culture is still capable of coming to the quick moral judgment that adultery is wrong? The prophets of moral relativism want that kiss cam video to be unremarkable, just two autonomous human beings doing what autonomous human beings, one man, one female, can do. But it just isn't possible to look at the video without moral judgment. So, Katie, why has this become a cultural obsession?
Benjamin Eicher
This is both a fascinating and devastating story that we saw this week. First of all, when you see it, there's that moment of shock and, you know, our social media driven reality TV culture, that almost voyeuristic glimpse into realizing, oh, we caught someone doing something wrong or something that they are at least ashamed of. But then you let it set in that this represents one or two families that have really been torn apart. What we don't see is all the fallout on the children of the CEO or this human resources director. We don't see the generational harm that it does. We don't see the erosion of trust in family relationships. There are a couple of other things, though, that Dr. Mohler pointed out in his piece. First of all, isn't it fascinating that in our very sexually liberated culture that people instinctively not only recognize that adultery was wrong, but on some level, disqualifying. This CEO resigned from his job not only because of the shame, the attention that it brought to his company, but if this was just kind of no big deal, then why would he have had to resign? But then it also shows us something, and it goes all the way back, Myrna, to Genesis 3. Shame. And who among us has not had shame? And when we have shame, what do we do? We hide. We try to run away from it. You saw, in a split second, they're found out. And what do they do? They literally duck, turn away. They don't want their faces to be seen. They can't face the world in light of the world knowing what they've done. And this is something that no matter how educated we become technologically advanced, we become medically healthy, we become, we will never outgrow the conscience and the effect that shame has on our human conscience. And because of that, we will never outgrow or evolve past the need for a savior to cover our shame with true covering that lasts. This is what is in Genesis 3. It's what we see in the gospel story. It's what Paul tells us about in Romans. And this really is kind of that beginning Gospel conversation on display. If you want to talk about that with your friends and neighbors, say, why did they hide? Would you hide? How come if our sexual lives are just two consenting adults and it doesn't matter, then why would people feel the need to cover shame? And it shows us the need for forgiveness, for justification for a savior.
Nick Eicher
You know, Katie, I wonder whether it's possible that what we were seeing in that video was a couple of People trying to have it both ways, trying in effect, to lead this double life, understanding that the whole thing was predicated upon concealment, successful concealment, and that what we saw in the video was not shame per se, but a recognition that their cover was blown. And what they were realizing in the instant was we can no longer have it both ways. It's over.
Benjamin Eicher
You know, it's probably in the moment just that they were caught. But like my mama told me, you can pick your sin, but you can't pick your consequences. And so what they probably recognize what hit them as like a freight train is that not only have they been found out, but now the consequences are out of their hands, as they are with all of our sin.
Nick Eicher
I wanted to ask you about this. This was a piece that appeared in the Wall Street Journal. It turns out that you can buy just about anything on Etsy, including apparently magic. A growing number of young adults are turning to so called Etsy witches. They're paying for spells that promise love, job offers, even sunny weather for a wedding. The prices on this range from $7 to a couple hundred dollars. Business apparently is booming. So Katie, do you think that this is a sign people are desperate? Is it a sign of spiritual confusion? Is it all of the above or something else that I can't think of right now?
Benjamin Eicher
Nick. The rise of spiritualism, interest in Wicca crystals, tarot cards, horoscopes, and now Etsy witches is so indicative of this next generation. Writers and cultural commentators have been marveling over the exponential rise of these businesses. Among Generation Z, for instance, it went from a $2 billion to a $12 billion industry in about a three year period. And one study said that about 65% of people between the ages of 14 and 29 read their horoscope daily. When I mentioned this to adults, they think that's insane. That seemed like something in the 80s 90s that I used to do way back when. Well, it's had a big revival and there are a few reasons for that. I think it demonstrates first of all the human impulse to connect with something greater in a way to explain the world. We are all looking for a way to, what we call in philosophy or theology, the meta narrative of where is history going? How do I make sense of my life in the grand story of history. And so Generation Z, we've talked about the rise of the nones N o N e s and how they are increasingly religiously unaffiliated. Well, what we know is that people don't stop worshiping. People don't Stop looking for answers to these major existential questions. And so, so many young people are trying to find and identify that in spiritualism and specifically witchcraft. It was amazing to me to find out that the hashtag witchtok on TikTok has about 8 million posts. This is huge among young people, and I think it demonstrates a few different things in this generation. First of all, cr chronic and widespread anxiety. They are trying to latch onto something that will help them have a sense of control and help them have a sense that the world makes sense. You know, it's a lot easier to chalk up a bad breakup with, well, he's a Gemini and I'm a Sagittarius. Not. There are serious maturity or emotional growth issues that I have to do or sitting with the pain of rejection. And then the other aspect is this generation is deeply spiritual, but they have grown up with the message that, quote, unquote, organized religion is oppressive and trying to control you. And so they're effectively trying to have this DIY spirituality, DIY religion. It gives them a sense of autonomy and control and feeling like they're connected to something bigger than themselves. But the biggest thing that we can think about this from a biblical worldview is exactly what Solomon said. There really is nothing new under the sun. These things cycle in and out, but what they reveal about human nature is exactly the same.
Myrna Brown
Katie, we had a quiet but significant change in Olympic policy. Both the U.S. olympic and Paralympic Committees have updated rules aimed at keeping men out of women's sports. The move aligns with an executive order by President Trump. And governing bodies like USA Fencing are already falling in line. One female fencer was recently disqualified for refusing to compete against a male. So, Katie, how do you take this, and do you think it's permanent or just rooted in the current mood?
Benjamin Eicher
I hope it's permanent. You know, 10, 15 years ago, people who came out as self identifying as transgender were called brave. They were going against the grain of culture. Now, however, to simply come out in favor of common sense and basic biology, that's considered brave. We're seeing a return to common sense and just the simple realities of natural law. That, for instance, the physical world can tell us something about who we are and how we are designed. We're seeing this most notably in case after case related to sports. That's certainly where it's kind of ground zero on a lot of these cultural issues. I hope we'll continue to see this in things like bathrooms and domestic abuse shelters, rape shelters, women's prisons. Hopefully this continues. But people talk about a vibe shift. I think a lot of it is now people are just feeling more confident speaking out. You know, two years ago, the big tipping point seemed to be Target. And when Target came out with all of these pride themed paraphernalia and clothing, people felt like it was just a bridge too far. And Target listened. They backed off. We're seeing sphere after sphere where people are speaking up and companies are listening because at the end of the day, they have to make money. The Olympics is actually no different. They have sponsors, they have commercials. And so when you and I make our opinions known, it really does have power. Before we get off on this, I cannot help but point out the Nike ad. When Scotty Scheffler won the Open championship and Nike did these twin photos. One was Scheffler kneeling down with his little boy, his son and his golf club. And it was this adorable picture. And it said, you've already won. The implication being he's a dad, he's got a wonderful family, he's already won at life. And then the next photo is but another Masters doesn't hurt either. And so it was a beautiful ad that people have been absolutely going crazy over saying, yes, more of this Nike. This is the same company though, that two years ago gave a trans identifying influencer Dylan Mulvaney sports bras and they had huge backlash from it. So don't think that your dollar doesn't matter. It does. And collectively, all of our dollars can make a difference in what industries, businesses and whole sectors of our society do.
Myrna Brown
Author and Speaker Katie McCoy. Katie, always good to talk with you. Thank you.
Benjamin Eicher
Good to talk with you both.
Nick Eicher
Additional support comes from Dort University offering.
Colin Garbarino
Fast track ag degrees to help graduates.
Nick Eicher
Make an impact in agriculture.
Kent Covington
Sooner Dort. Edu from the Joshua program at St. Dunstan's Academy in Virginia, a gap year shaping young men through trades, farming, prayer, St. Dunstan. And from Cedarville University, equipping students for.
Nick Eicher
Professional excellence and gospel impact.
Colin Garbarino
Cedarville. Edu World.
Nick Eicher
Today is Friday, July 25th. Thank you for turning to world radio to help start your day. Good morning, I'm Nick Iger.
Myrna Brown
And I'm Myrna Brown. Coming next on the world and everything in it, the summer movie season gets another dose of superhero spectacle.
Nick Eicher
Well, with Warner Bros. Scoring a win from its Superman reboot, Marvel now enters the ring with Fantastic Four First Steps, the 37th film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. 37th. Let that number sink in. It may be the most memorable thing about what feels like a vanilla film. Here is world arts and culture editor Colin Garbarino for the last five years.
Steve Witkoff
The once mighty Marvel has had a pretty spotty track record. But the studio is hoping the introduction of Marvel's first family into the MCU will add some spark to the flailing franchise.
Benjamin Eicher
Are you the protectors of this world?
Steve Witkoff
Yes, we are.
Colin Garbarino
Your planet is now marked for death.
Steve Witkoff
The Fantastic Four First Steps is set in an alternate universe steeped in a retro futuristic mid century modern aesthetic. The primary heroes in this reality are Reed Richards, his wife Sue Storm, her brother Johnny, and their friend Ben Grimm. The foursome gained superpowers after being exposed to cosmic radiation on a space flight. Reed gained the power to stretch his body. Sue can turn herself invisible and create force fields. Johnny can light himself on fire and fly. And Ben became a hulking rock monster. Despite using their powers to keep humanity safe, the four try to maintain a healthy home life.
Colin Garbarino
You're late. What do you mean? What do you mean what do I mean? You're late for dinner.
Steve Witkoff
But things are about to change.
Benjamin Eicher
Why are you being weird?
Colin Garbarino
We're not being weird.
Nick Eicher
Well, I'm doing that weird thing with your face.
Kent Covington
Oh, we don't know what you're talking about.
Nick Eicher
Are you pregnant?
Steve Witkoff
Reed and sue are about to become parents. It's a complication to the superhero life that we haven't seen before in the mcu.
Nick Eicher
You are going to be the best dad.
Colin Garbarino
Just kidding.
Nick Eicher
You are out of your depth. But we are going to be the best uncles ever.
Steve Witkoff
The new parents must try to figure out how to balance their responsibilities with the prospect of a new baby. Reid is worried the baby might have some strange mutations. And sue is worried that Reid worries too much. He's the smartest guy on the planet, but he can't understand that some things are out of his control. For example, you never know when a cosmic entity might show up to eat your planet.
Benjamin Eicher
Your world will be consumed by the Devourer. There is nothing you can do to stop him.
Steve Witkoff
Having a baby on the way is stressful enough. But then a mysterious silver woman on a surfboard shows up to announce that a space traveling giant named Galactus is coming to destroy Earth. The superheroes try to head him off and Galactus offers them a choice. But it's a no win situation for Reed, Sue, Johnny and Ben. On the whole, this Fantastic Four film is much better than most of Marvel's recent movies. But let's be honest, the bar is pretty low right now. Here are some things the movie gets right. The retro futuristic setting is really fun to look at. It's New York city in the 1960s, except Reed drives a flying car. The Jetsons vibe really works. Also, the casting works. Pedro Pascal makes a fine Reed Richards, and I'm a big fan of Vanessa Kirby as Sue Storm. Eben Moss Bachrach and Joseph Quinn also fit their parts as Ben and Johnny. And as I said, seeing the characters navigate a growing family feels fresh. The heroes also wrestle with a moral dilemma choosing the side of life. And for a PG13 movie, the language is pretty mild and family friendly.
Kent Covington
Is this guy good or what?
Benjamin Eicher
I want to add a couple cloves of garlic. Not because it's not delicious, I just.
Colin Garbarino
Want to add a little bit of zip.
Steve Witkoff
But despite some cool visuals, the movie isn't quite fantastic enough. Each member of the team has their little moment, but their character arcs are a little lazy. Reed is brilliant, sue is passionate, Johnny's impetuous, and Ben is a rock. Okay, that's fine, but it feels a little shallow. For example, why isn't Ben wrestling with being a big ugly rock monster? And did we really need to gender swap the Silver Surfer to give Johnny an interstellar love interest?
Benjamin Eicher
Use this time to rejoice and celebrate.
Steve Witkoff
The storyline also includes some trite moments. Sue has to stand up and give an impassioned speech that changes the mind of an angry crowd. I'm really tired of impassioned speeches in movies that change people's minds. That never happens in real life. It's as unbelievable as getting superpowers from cosmic radiation. Also, the final showdown between the heroes and Galactus felt predictable. And of course, Marvel continues its girl boss trend by having sue save the day. Although an angry mom with superpowers would be pretty scary. Anyway, this Marvel movie isn't bad. It's just vanilla. But it's vanilla with some cool vintage sprinkles, so I'll give it a thumbs up. Oh, and I forgot to mention the best part. Since Fantastic Four takes place in an alternate reality, it's unconnected to the 36 movies and 14 TV series that came before it. So no homework required. I'm Colin Garbarino.
Myrna Brown
Today is Friday, July 25th. Good morning. This is the world and everything in it from listeners supported World Radio. I'm Myrna Brown.
Nick Eicher
And I'm Nick Iker. Next up, you write. We read listener feedback for the month of July. We turn now to World Radio executive producer Paul Butler to unbox the inbox.
Colin Garbarino
We begin today with longtime listener Mary Stella from Midlothian, Virginia. One of our recent stories about persecution of Christians in Nigeria motivated her to pray both for her brothers and sisters she doesn't know and for one in particular that she does.
Benjamin Eicher
I'm calling in reference to Anise Odua. I am listening right now to the program about all the persecution in Nigeria and every time I hear Anise voice I often wonder is she safe? Is she okay? But I just want to encourage people to pray for her that the good Lord will keep her and her new family safe. So alarming to hear of these reports. But please everybody, everybody pray for the safety for all the Nigerian Christians and everybody there. Thank you.
Colin Garbarino
Well, thank you Mary. The last time we checked with Onize, everything was going well, everyone is safe and is healthy and she plans on being back with us in the fall. But in the meantime, I'm sure she appreciates your prayers. Next, a note from Joe Berecki. His email had this subject line to whom does that voice belong? This is what he writes as an odd duck sort who is int on seeing all the end credits of movies in the theater. I always make it a point of listening on Fridays. But there is one person I've yet to hear credit given or at least not credited for his daily vocal appearances. I'm referring to the person who informs us of the various organizations who provide support for World. I'm hoping you'll be able to enlighten us. Waiting with great expectation. Well Joe, we've been holding on to your email since it came in on July 1st. Sorry to keep you hanging, but here at last is Answer. It's Carl Peetz. Carl not only helps us put the program together each and every evening, but he also is the voice for all of our generous sponsors. Thanks for noticing and we are grateful for the many ministries and organizations who financially support our work. Next, Beverly Jacobson from Colorado enjoyed Daniel Darling's recent profile of a comedian. Quick correction here. Throughout that commentary, we mispronounced Nate Bargetze's name, though that's not why Beverly wrote in. She had one other small bone to pick with us instead.
Myrna Brown
I do take a little issue with his reference to Job 8:21 being a promise from God about filling our mouths with laughter. Because if we study the whole book of Job, we know that Job's friends had some maybe less than stellar observations about God's ways and his character. So I think it's a little stretch to say that that that's a promise from God. But I love the observation from Proverbs and everything else. And I love again that he highlighted one of my favorite comedians. Thanks so much for the thoughtful commentary and everything that you do at the world and everything in it.
Colin Garbarino
Well, Beverly, thank you so much for that. As you point out, Job 8:21 does indeed feature the words of one of Job's friends, and he does not have the complete picture of who God is or what he's doing. So we should be cautious. But in the end, we do see God restore to Job all that was lost and more, and he ends the book rejoicing. Once again, we agree that we could have probably made it more clear that it isn't a blanket promise for all people, even though it did turn out to be true for Job. Next, a comment about our short report on televangelist Jimmy Swaggart's passing, which included a mention of his infamous confession. Listener Gabriel Galetta had this personal reflection.
Benjamin Eicher
My dad actually gave his life to Christ the very night that he confessed that he had sinned, and he was invited to church that night by his boss and went and God drew him in. And I'm thankful that he did because he met my mom there and we came along and we stayed there a number of years and eventually moved to a different church and then were missionaries in southern Africa. But if it hadn't been for him going that night, I don't know if I'd be here today. So I just wanted to draw attention to the fact that we serve a God who is big enough to use both our success, our failures, our shortcomings, anything and everything to draw people to Himself.
Colin Garbarino
What a great reminder of God's grace. Thanks so much, Gabriel. Well, next, Mike Smucker sent us this voice memo recording after hearing Janie Buchaney's commentary on kids and bicycles. I completely agree with the assessment of kids, bicycles, and growing up, but Janie Buchaney will be encouraged to know that there are still some glimmers of hope to be found. Our children don't look for safe places to ride a bicycle. They have learned to ride safely on increasingly dangerous roadways. It may not be the same that it was years ago, but your report serves to remind and affirm the reality that our family is blessed in the opportunities that have been made available to us.
Steve Witkoff
Thank you for the reminder.
Colin Garbarino
One more word of encouragement from a pastor in Northwest Florida about last weekend's special episode on the 100th anniversary of the Scopes Monkey Trial.
Kent Covington
My name is Ben Rossel and I just wanted to take a minute to thank you for the podcast you released this week on the Scopes Monkey Trial. I've listened to a lot of podcasts and I can honestly say that was at the very top among the best I've ever heard in my life. The content and writing was thoughtful and thorough, historically accurate and provocative and edifying to me as a Christian to reflect on. And its production was just beautiful, high quality, engaging. I can't wait to recommend it to my church and I look forward to hearing what's to come in the future. So keep up the good work and God bless you.
Colin Garbarino
Before we go today, one quick correction. During Wednesday's world tour, I mistakenly identified a 100-year-old runner as a centurion instead of a centenarian. One listener pointed it out, but gave me the benefit of the doubt by saying I probably was thinking of how he was over 100. I'm not sure that makes it much better, but I appreciate the grace. Thanks to everyone who wrote and called in this month. It's good to hear from you. We're grateful for the time you take to share your thoughts with us. Our email address is editorng. You can include an audio file attachment to your email and we'll consider it for air again. That email address is Editor. That's listener feedback for the month of July. I'm Paul Butler.
Nick Eicher
Alright, it's time to name the team who helped to make things happen this week. Jenny Ruff, David Bonson, Emma Eicher, Mary Reichert, Josh Schumacher, Janie B. Chaney, Leo Bruceno, Hunter Baker, Mary Muncie, Andrew Walker, Lindsay Mast, Becca McCallum, Cal Thomas, Katie McCoy and Colin Garbarino. Thanks also to our breaking news team, Kent Covington, Mark Mellinger, Travis, Christina Grube, Steve Klosterman and Lindi Langdon. And thanks to the guys who stay up late to get the program to you early. The Moonlight Maestros, Ben Jaiker and Carl Peets. Paul Butler is Executive producer, Harrison Waters, Washington Producer Kristin Flavin is features editor Les Sillers, Editor in Chief I'm Nick Iker.
Myrna Brown
And I'm Myrna Bryant. 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 you will not need to fight in this battle. Stand firm, hold your position and see the salvation of the Lord on your behalf. O Judah and Jerusalem, do not be afraid and do not be dismayed. Tomorrow go out against them and the Lord will be with you. 2 Chronicles chapter 20, verse 17. Your weekly reminder here. Worship with a Bible believing church this weekend. The Christian life is to be lived together, be encouraged and be an encourager and Lord willing, will be right back here with you on Monday. Go now in grace and peace.
Podcast Summary: The World and Everything In It
Episode: 7.25.25 Culture Friday on Digital Shame Cycles, a Review of The Fantastic Four: First Steps, and July Listener Feedback
Release Date: July 25, 2025
The World and Everything In It, a top 100 Apple Podcasts news program by WORLD Radio, delves into essential headlines, in-depth field reporting, interviews, and expert analysis. This episode, released on July 25, 2025, titled "Culture Friday on Digital Shame Cycles, a Review of The Fantastic Four: First Steps, and the July Listener Feedback," covers a range of topics from international peace talks to cultural analyses and movie reviews.
At the episode's onset, Kent Covington reports on the collapse of peace negotiations between Israel and Hamas in Doha, Qatar.
US and Israeli Negotiators Withdraw: "Peace talks in Qatar between Israel and Hamas have broken down once more. Negotiators from the United States and Israel are leaving Doha, saying the talks have become pointless." [01:02]
Hamas's Commitment Questioned: Colin Garbarino emphasizes, "Has never been our commitment to a ceasefire. The question has been Hamas's commitment to a ceasefire." [01:15]
Humanitarian Crisis Worsens: The World Health Organization warns that "nearly 2 million Gaza residents are at risk of starvation," highlighting the dire situation exacerbated by stalled negotiations.
Benjamin Eicher reports a fatal incident involving an Angara Airlines flight.
Details of the Crash: "The plane went down in a dense forest about nine miles south of the town of Tinda. Nearly 50 people were killed. There were no survivors." [02:14]
Possible Cause: Early reports suggest bad weather as a contributing factor, though investigations are ongoing.
The podcast covers President Trump's recent visit to the Federal Reserve headquarters.
Renovation Updates: Nick Eicher notes, "Expect to be finished in 2027." [02:56]
Disagreement Over Costs: Fed Chairman Jerome Powell disputes Trump's claims of "massive cost overruns," stating, "2.7 is now 3.1. I'm not aware of that." [03:07]
Interest Rates Tension: Powell maintains that the Fed's decisions on interest rates remain unaffected by presidential pressure, despite Trump's criticism. "I believe he's going to do the right thing," Garbarino adds about Powell's stance. [03:27]
Kent Covington reports on the House Oversight Committee's scrutiny of former White House Chief of Staff Ron Klain regarding President Joe Biden's mental fitness.
The episode mourns the loss of wrestling legend Hulk Hogan and jazz musician Chuck Mangione.
Hulk Hogan's Legacy: "He rose to fame in the 1980s after adopting the Hogan identity with a larger-than-life persona and the physique to match." [05:01]
Chuck Mangione's Impact: Known for his hit "Feels So Good," Mangione leaves behind a rich musical legacy with over 30 albums. [05:18]
Christina Grube reports on Attorney General Andrew Bailey's lawsuit against Planned Parenthood for alleged deceptive practices regarding the abortion drug mifepristone.
Allegations: Bailey claims Planned Parenthood "is falsely claiming that chemical abortions are safer than Tylenol." [06:22]
Study Findings: A new study suggests serious adverse reactions to mifepristone could be closer to 11%, challenging FDA claims. [06:43]
Katie McCoy discusses the societal obsession with public shaming, particularly in the context of adultery, referencing a viral "kiss cam" incident.
Moral Judgment in Modern Culture: Dr. Mohler's quote highlights, "Isn't it interesting that our culture is still capable of coming to the quick moral judgment that adultery is wrong?" [08:54]
Impact of Shame: McCoy reflects on the enduring human experience of shame, drawing parallels to biblical narratives. "Shame... will never outgrow the need for a savior to cover our shame with true covering that lasts." [10:00]
Consequences of Public Shaming: She emphasizes the hidden fallout on families and the erosion of trust, urging listeners to consider deeper moral and spiritual implications.
The conversation shifts to the growing trend of "Etsy witches," where young adults purchase spells and charms online.
Generational Shift: McCoy notes, "Generation Z... are effectively trying to have this DIY spirituality, DIY religion. It gives them a sense of autonomy and control." [13:12]
Spiritual Confusion and Desperation: She attributes the rise to widespread anxiety and a search for meaning outside traditional organized religion.
Biblical Perspective: McCoy concludes by referencing Solomon, stating, "There really is nothing new under the sun... what they reveal about human nature is exactly the same." [16:12]
Katie addresses recent policy updates by the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committees aimed at preventing men from competing in women's sports.
Policy Alignment: This move follows a similar executive order by President Trump and has seen organizations like USA Fencing make corresponding changes. [16:50]
Cultural Shift: McCoy expresses hope that this represents a permanent return to "common sense and just the simple realities of natural law." [16:50]
Economic Influence: She cites the impact of consumer choices on corporate policies, referencing Nike's fluctuating stance on transgender athletes as an example. [19:27]
Colin Garbarino provides an analysis of Marvel's latest installment, The Fantastic Four: First Steps, highlighting both strengths and weaknesses.
Alternate Universe Setting: The film is praised for its "retro-futuristic mid-century modern aesthetic," transporting viewers to a 1960s New York with a Jetsons-esque vibe. [21:24]
Casting Success: Pedro Pascal and Vanessa Kirby receive commendations for their portrayals of Reed Richards and Sue Storm, respectively. [22:00]
Character Development: While the film introduces the Fantastic Four balancing superhero duties with impending parenthood, Garbarino critiques the shallowness of character arcs. [22:33]
Plot Predictability: The introduction of Galactus and the moral dilemmas faced by the heroes are seen as somewhat formulaic, though the film avoids direct connections to previous Marvel works, making it accessible to new audiences. [24:55]
Overall Assessment: Despite its shortcomings, the movie is deemed "much better than most of Marvel's recent movies," earning a tentative thumbs up for its engaging visuals and fresh family dynamics. [23:09]
Executive Producer Paul Butler presents a compilation of listener messages, reflecting a range of personal stories and constructive critiques.
Prayer Requests for Nigerian Christians: Mary Stella from Virginia expresses her concern and asks listeners to pray for Christians facing persecution in Nigeria. [26:31]
Acknowledgment of Uncredited Voices: Joe Berecki inquires about the anonymous voice announcing sponsor support, which is clarified as Carl Peetz, highlighting the behind-the-scenes contributors. [27:22]
Scriptural Accuracy Feedback: Beverly Jacobson from Colorado points out a misinterpretation of Job 8:21 in a previous episode, prompting a thoughtful correction regarding its biblical context. [28:54]
Personal Reflections: Listener Gabriel Galetta shares a heartfelt story about his father's religious conversion tied to televangelist Jimmy Swaggart's confession, underscoring the impact of personal struggles and redemption. [30:18]
Encouragement on Parenting and Safety: Mike Smucker responds to a segment on kids riding bicycles, emphasizing the resilience and adaptability of children despite changing safety environments. [31:32]
Praise for Educational Content: Ben Rossel, a pastor from Northwest Florida, lauds the podcast's episode on the Scopes Monkey Trial for its historical accuracy and inspirational quality, expressing eagerness for future content. [31:43]
Corrections and Acknowledgments: Colin Garbarino addresses a mistake in identifying a 100-year-old runner as a "centurion" instead of a "centenarian," appreciating listener grace. [32:29]
The episode concludes with acknowledgments to the production team and a preview of upcoming content, including the latest superhero film release. Myrna Brown closes with an inspirational Bible verse from 2 Chronicles 20:17, encouraging listeners to worship with a Bible-believing church and live out the Christian life in community.
Notable Quotes:
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