8.13.25 Washington Wednesday with Hunter Baker, Australia’s censorship, and a break from screen time

Summary

The World and Everything In It – Episode Summary
Title: Washington Wednesday with Hunter Baker, Australia’s Censorship, and a Break from Screen Time
Host: WORLD Radio
Release Date: August 13, 2025

---

1. Federal Intervention in Washington, D.C.: Addressing Rising Crime

Timestamp: 01:01 – 05:54

The episode opens with a critical discussion on the escalating crime rates in Washington, D.C., prompting President Trump to declare a public safety emergency. This action led to the federalization of the D.C. Metro Police, placing them under the Department of Justice's command. Nearly 900 federal officers, including agents from the FBI and DEA, were deployed alongside hundreds of National Guardsmen to bolster law enforcement efforts.

Key Points:

• Attorney General Pam Bondi emphasized teamwork, stating, “We're a team” (01:20).
• DEA Administrator Terry Cole reported significant progress with "60 arrests that are very impactful" and the removal of "17 firearms off the streets" (01:47).
• Democratic D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser criticized the federal takeover as unnecessary (01:52).

Hunter Baker and Nick Eicher delve into the implications of this move, questioning its temporary nature and potential long-term effects. Baker highlights historical parallels, noting that federal oversight of D.C. is not unprecedented, referencing past financial interventions in the city's governance.

Notable Quote:

Hunter Baker: “Crime in D.C. may be significantly worse than New York City. If the seat of government is threatened by crime and chaos, it makes sense for Congress or the president to exert authority to settle things down.” (07:02)

---

2. Political Standoffs in Texas: Lawmakers' Walkouts

Timestamp: 06:14 – 16:09

The discussion shifts to Texas, where Democratic lawmakers are engaging in quorum-busting walkouts to protest Republican-dominated legislative actions. Governor Greg Abbott has sought judicial intervention to address vacant seats, with President Trump suggesting federal involvement to locate missing legislators.

Key Points:

• Hunter Baker explains this tactic as a recurring strategy used by minority parties to draw attention to legislative grievances, particularly against controversial laws like the 2021 Voting Law.
• The walkouts are seen as a method to delay legislative processes, though historically, such efforts have not altered the predominantly Republican control in Texas (10:21).

Notable Quote:

Hunter Baker: “Ultimately, the Republicans are gonna prevail.” (11:12)

---

3. Leadership Changes at the Bureau of Labor Statistics

Timestamp: 02:35 – 04:36

President Trump has appointed E.J. Antony, a Heritage Foundation economist, as the new head of the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), succeeding Erica McIntarfer. This move follows Trump's accusations of political bias against the former commissioner.

Key Points:

• Nick Eicher outlines Trump’s rationale, suggesting that McIntarfer rigged unemployment figures for political gains (04:06).
• Hunter Baker notes that Antony's appointment, pending Senate confirmation, aligns with Trump's disinflationary economic policies aimed at controlling inflation (04:36).

Economic Insights:

• The latest BLS report indicated that consumer prices in July held steady at a 2.7% increase, with Stephen Miron, Trump’s top economic adviser, attributing this stability to the administration's policies (04:12).
• Kent Covington adds that core inflation rose to 3.1%, slightly above expectations, but overall numbers have fostered optimism for potential Federal Reserve interest rate cuts (04:57).

---

4. Australia's Battle Over Online Speech and Censorship

Timestamp: 17:32 – 23:15

A significant portion of the episode is dedicated to Australia’s ongoing struggle with social media censorship. The government has intensified regulations despite a recent legal victory for Chris Elston (Billboard Chris), who successfully challenged the Esafety Commissioner's demands to remove his controversial posts.

Key Points:

• Chris Elston faced fines for opposing transgender activist appointments to the World Health Organization, though a judge ruling on July 1 partially overturned the censorship (18:07).
• Jasmine Sussex, another key figure, has been embroiled in legal battles over her social media posts, reflecting broader governmental overreach in regulating online speech (18:42).
• Reuben Kirkham of the Free Speech Union of Australia criticizes the Esafety Commissioner's actions as an abuse of taxpayer funds aimed at suppressing dissent (19:32).

Notable Quotes:

Hunter Baker: “If you don't have freedom of expression, you don't have a democratic society.” (21:04)

Reuben Kirkham: “She is using tax dollars to fight the people and undermine our freedoms.” (19:32)

The segment also touches on newly enacted hate speech and age verification laws, which aim to control online interactions and protect children but have sparked debates over free speech implications.

---

5. The Impact of Screens on Family Life and Child Development

Timestamp: 17:32 – 32:32

In an insightful conversation with Claire Morell, a fellow at the Ethics and Public Policy Center, the podcast explores the detrimental effects of smartphones and social media on children and family dynamics. Morell, author of The Tech: A Practical Guide to Freeing Kids and Teens from Smartphones, discusses strategies for reducing screen time and fostering healthier environments for kids.

Key Points:

• Emotional Regulation: Morell explains that reliance on screens to calm children hampers the development of self-control and emotional regulation, leading to increased tantrums and decreased focus (26:11).
• Negative Network Effects: The pervasive nature of social media creates a toxic social environment, affecting even non-users by mediating all social interactions through digital platforms (27:39).
• 30-Day Digital Detox: Morell advocates for a month-long break from screens to allow children’s nervous systems to re-regulate and develop better self-control (31:00).

Notable Quote:

Claire Morell: “If you don't have freedom of expression, you don't have a democratic society, you don't have those basic Western values, you don't have the truth.” (21:04)

The discussion also draws parallels between screen addiction and historical issues like drunk driving, emphasizing the need for community and legislative support to address the problem comprehensively.

---

6. Inspirational Anecdote: Overcoming Mistakes in Preaching

Timestamp: 32:32 – 36:55

The episode concludes with an uplifting story from Josh Revis, a commentator who shares his experience of making a significant mistake during a sermon. Mistaking "Silas" for "Barnabas" while preaching from Acts 16, Revis initially felt devastated but ultimately found reassurance in the message that imperfection does not nullify the power of the Word.

Key Points:

• Lesson in Grace: Revis emphasizes that even flawed presentations of scripture can still convey its true essence and that God can redeem human errors for greater purposes (34:33).
• Encouragement for Leaders: The anecdote serves as a reminder that leaders and speakers can grow from their mistakes, maintaining faith in their calling despite setbacks (36:46).

Notable Quote:

Josh Revis: “Whether you're preaching a sermon, teaching a Sunday school lesson, or doing family devotions, at some point you're going to deliver a stinker. But if you'll be faithful to the word of God, I believe he will keep his promise.” (35:19)

---

Closing Thoughts

Throughout the episode, Hunter Baker, Nick Eicher, Lindsay Mast, and Kent Covington engage in thoughtful discussions on pressing societal issues, blending news analysis with expert insights. From federal interventions in local governance to global battles over free speech and the pervasive influence of technology on youth, the episode provides a comprehensive overview of current events shaping our world.

Final Notable Quote:

Lindsay Mast: “Technology can chip away at family life. Attention spans shrink, moods sour, and family time fractures.” (25:07)

---

For a more in-depth exploration of these topics, including a longer conversation with Claire Morell on screen time and family dynamics, listeners are encouraged to tune in to the full episode available on Apple Podcasts and other platforms.

Transcript

[Lindsay Mast]

Good morning. Today, risking socialism in New York, drawing lines in Texas and cracking down on crime in D.C. can that work?

[Nick Eicher]

We don't want to be left holding.

[Hunter Baker]

The bag when 1,000 National Guardsmen and.

[Nick Eicher]

500 federal officers move on.

[Kent Covington]

All those stories ahead today on Washington Wednesday. Hunter Baker is standing by. Also today, world Tour, an update on the fight against social media censorship in Australia. And speaking of social media, a different kind of fight, the fight for your kids. Attention.

[Lindsay Mast]

It'S Wednesday, August 13th. This is the world and everything in it. From listener supported World Radio, I'm Lindsay Mast.

[Kent Covington]

And I'm Nick Eicher. Good morning.

[Lindsay Mast]

Up next, Kent Covington with today's news.

[Benjamin Eicher]

Federal authorities have wasted no time taking charge in Washington, D.C. today will mark the second full day since President Trump declared a public safety emergency in the nation's capital and placed D.C. metro Police under federal control. Attorney General Pam Bondi told federal agents overseeing the effort, we're a team.

[Claire Morell]

We're in this together.

[Lindsay Mast]

This is our home, all of our.

[Hunter Baker]

Homes, and we're here to make it safer.

[Nick Eicher]

And thank you for what you do for our country.

[Benjamin Eicher]

Metro Police now report through the Justice Department chain of command. And nearly 900 federal law enforcement officers from the FBI, DEA and other agencies were embedded into citywide operations. DEA Administrator and Acting DC Police Chief Terry Cole says, so far we've had.

[Hunter Baker]

60 arrests that are very impactful. We've taken 17 firearms off the streets.

[Benjamin Eicher]

Hundreds of National Guardsmen are also serving in a support role. Democratic D.C. mayor Muriel Bowser has criticized the takeover, calling it unnecessary. The State Department says Secretary of State Marco Rubio and his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov spoke this week in preparation for President Trump's face to face summit with Vladimir Putin. The two leaders are set to meet in Anchorage, Alaska on Friday to discuss what it would take to end the war in Ukraine. State Department spokeswoman Tammy Bruce, the president's.

[Caroline Levitt]

Not calling this a negotiation. He is not the one that asked for it.

[Hunter Baker]

This is what, as I've equated to.

[Nick Eicher]

You before, his remarks were that this.

[Caroline Levitt]

Is to see what's happening, see what's possible.

[Benjamin Eicher]

The White House is calling the summit a, quote, listening exercise. Press Secretary Caroline Levitt sitting face to.

[Caroline Levitt]

Face rather than speaking over the telephone will give this president the best indication.

[Claire Morell]

Of how to end this war and where this is headed.

[Benjamin Eicher]

This week, President Trump indicated that a land swap between Russia and Ukraine may be required to end the war. But Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said his government will not cede territory to Russian invaders. And he adds that even if he were so inclined, Ukraine's constitution forbids it. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is hoping that an ongoing drought in Iran will give the Iranian people one more reason to oust the Islamic regime. In a video message, Netanyahu extended this offer to the people of reject the radical rulers and Israel will show you how to gather fresh drinking water the.

[Hunter Baker]

Moment your country is free. Israel's top water experts will flood into.

[Kent Covington]

Every Iranian city, bringing cutting edge technology and know how.

[Hunter Baker]

We will help Iran recycle water.

[Kent Covington]

We'll help Iran desalinate water.

[Benjamin Eicher]

Over the weekend, Iran's president warned that parts of the Islamic Republic are facing a serious water cris. President Trump has named his choice for the new head of the Bureau of Labor Statistics after firing the last one. World's Benjamin Eicher has more.

[Nick Eicher]

Trump has tapped Heritage foundation economist E.J. antony to lead the bureau, which produces.

[Hunter Baker]

The government's monthly jobs reports.

[Nick Eicher]

The president fired the previous BLS commissioner, Erica McIntarfer, earlier this month, who was picked for the job by former President Joe Biden. Trump accused her of rigging the latest.

[Caroline Levitt]

Unemployment figures for political reasons after a.

[Hunter Baker]

Weaker than expected jobs report.

[Nick Eicher]

E.J. antony has been a defender of many of the Trump administration's economic policies and has signaled support for the dismissal of Mac and Tarfur. Antony will still need Senate confirmation. For World I'm Benjamin Eicher.

[Benjamin Eicher]

The Bureau of Labor Statistics also releases inflation reports, and it reported on Tuesday that consumer prices held steady in July. Overall prices rose 2.7%, the same as the month before. President Trump's top economic adviser, Stephen Miron, says the numbers continue to defy predictions by many that Trump's tariffs would fuel inflation.

[Kent Covington]

Consumer price inflation is running at a 1.9% annualized rate since the president took office, and that's an example of the effects of the president's profoundly disinflationary policies of deregulation, border control, energy abundance and tax incentives to boost capital stock.

[Benjamin Eicher]

However, Tuesday's inflation report did show so called core inflation coming in hotter than expected. Core inflation excludes more volatile sectors like food and energy, and that number rose from 2.7 to 3.1% in July. Still, the overall inflation number slightly beat expectations, raising hopes of a Fed interest rate cut soon and that fueled a Tuesday surge. On Wall Street, I'm Kent Covington and straight ahead, more on the federalization of policing in the nation's capital. Plus learning to unplug in our screen Saturated world. This is the world and everything in.

[Hunter Baker]

It.

[Kent Covington]

It'S Wednesday 13th August GL to have you along for today's edition of the World and everything in it. Good morning. I'm Nick Iker.

[Lindsay Mast]

And I'm Lindsay Mast. Time now for Washington Wednesday. Joining us now, political scientist and world opinions commentator Hunter Baker. Hunter, good morning.

[Hunter Baker]

Good morning.

[Lindsay Mast]

Well, Hunter, on Monday, President Trump declared a public safety emergency in the District of Columbia over violent crime in Washington. This comes after a Doge staffer was attacked during an attempted carjacking. The president is mobilizing the National Guard of D.C. to clean up the streets. So let's talk first about crime in D.C. there's some dispute over how to read the crime statistics and whether they show violent crime going up or down. It seems like it would help to define some terms. And what other factors should we consider when seeing numbers and trends thrown around to support various arguments about crime?

[Hunter Baker]

Well, there are going to be periods where you can point to a higher crime rate. For example, when we were at the peak use of crack cocaine or something like that, maybe in the 90s. That's going to be worse than right now. But I think that if you were to look comparatively across cities, my understanding is, is that crime in D.C. maybe homicides, is significantly worse than New York City. And New York City is not known to be the most peaceful place in the world. So if you're much worse than New York City, then that is not good. So I think that you cannot have the seat of government threatened by crime and chaos. So generally speaking, it makes a certain amount of sense for Congress and or the president to exert some of this authority to try to settle things down.

[Kent Covington]

Well, Hunter, 20 years ago, the D.C. metro Police Department had a homicide reduction plan and used federal agents working alongside D.C. police. So there is some evidence of success with this. So maybe it could work. And the D.C. police union says, yeah, welcomes the help. Here's union leader Greg Pemberton. The audio comes from News Nation.

[Nick Eicher]

I think the concern that we have.

[Hunter Baker]

From the rank and file is that.

[Nick Eicher]

We know it's temporary. This, this authority that Trump invoked is.

[Hunter Baker]

Only valid for 30 days and at the end of that 30 days has.

[Nick Eicher]

To be established by Congress if it wants to go any further than that.

[Hunter Baker]

So, you know, we don't want to.

[Nick Eicher]

Be left holding the bag when a thousand national guardsmen and 500 federal officers move on. And now we're here.

[Kent Covington]

So, Hunter, I'm curious about the politics of this. Are the politics such that Trump's action here will create sufficient public pressure that Congress will have to go along with him and extend that authority? Or do you think that Pemberton has a point and something to be concerned about, that the 30 days come and go and then they're back to this unacceptable status quo? What do you say about that?

[Hunter Baker]

Well, D.C. was governed by a special board up until I guess maybe the beginning of the 1970s, and the history since then has not been great from any number of angles. It's within relatively recent memory that the federal government had to take control of DC's finances because of problems in the city's fiscal management. And now we have this move to intercede because of crime. I would argue that it might be worth thinking about going back to a higher level of supervision. I actually think that that would make sense given the stakes of the business that has to be conducted in dc.

[Lindsay Mast]

Well, Hunter, I don't know why, but if the Texas Democrats quorum break was a Netflix show, I'm pretty sure I'd be binge watching to see what happens next. Dozens of lawmakers are still refusing to return to their posts. They Texas Governor Greg Abbott has asked the state Supreme Court to find the lawmaker seats vacated and President Trump got in on the action, suggesting he'll send out the FBI to track down the missing members. So Hunter, what do you expect to see in a finale of this situation? And is there more to the series, say perhaps a spinoff afterward in California?

[Hunter Baker]

Well, so this kind of thing has happened before. I think this is the third time in Texas within the past 20 years or so. And that comes with Republican domination of the state where Democrats really have no chance of gaining power in the legislature. And so when you're deeply, deeply in the minority, walking out and busting the quorum is just about all you can do. Now on the one hand, it's understandable, maybe as a way to draw attention to their situation, maybe to punish the Republicans for doing something unusual like redistricting in the middle of a 10 year cycle. But ultimately they really don't have a way to win this. Ultimately, I think what history suggests is enough of them will drift back into the state one way or the other and the Republicans are gonna prevail.

[Kent Covington]

Well, Hunter, this has happened before with Texas Democrats and Republicans working on election security and redistricting. But one of those times that lawmakers ran away had to do with a voting law proposed in 2021. So not only did they run away to try to happening or at least to slow it down, but there were also lawsuits and those take a lot longer than Walkouts do. So going back to 2021, the Voting Law that was passed in Texas, Suit was filed against that, and it has wound its way through the courts over the last several years. Finally got to the point of just one step below the Supreme Court, the fifth Circuit Court of Appeals. We got a decision there over the last couple of days, and that law was upheld as constitutional.

[Hunter Baker]

That's right. They're gonna tighten up the mail voting requirements, and they're also going to have stronger voter ID requirements. Now, I think that in most places, this would not be that controversial. The problem is, is that we have sort of the civil rights history that the United States has, and so there were major abuses with regard to voting in the past. Right. And so whenever we talk about doing things to shore up the voting system, the left tends to point back to that history and to sort of claim that we're trying to bring back Jim Crow or something like that. But actually, I think that if we were to poll the American people, we would see that most people want a more secure voting system. We want to have faith in the result, and we want to reduce the opportunities to interfere with it or to game the system as much as possible. So I think that ultimately the Republicans are going to win on this one, not only in the court of public opinion, but in the courts as they've done.

[Kent Covington]

All right, Hunter. Well, now to New York. The Democratic nominee for mayor, Zoran Mamdani, he appears to be leading the field in recent polls. He's got 35% in a crowded field, which is enough to be a pretty commanding lead. The old conservative commentator George Will showed up on Bill Maher's show and had a provocative take. Let's listen to that. From a conservative.

[Hunter Baker]

I want him to win.

[Nick Eicher]

You want him to win?

[Kent Covington]

Yeah, I think every 20 years or so.

[Hunter Baker]

Wait. Every 20 years or so, we need a conspicuous, confined experiment with socialism so.

[Lindsay Mast]

We can crack it up again. Socialist slogan used to be, workers of the world, unite. You have nothing to lose but your chains.

[Hunter Baker]

The new socialist slogan is, trust us, this time it won't be a mess.

[Kent Covington]

Well, it sounds a little like a political vaccine. You just inject some of the bad stuff and build up the antibodies to resist the virus or. I hope I'm getting my science right here. But do you go along with George Will's idea that nothing generates a backlash against socialist ideas like. Well, like a little socialism?

[Hunter Baker]

I think that George Will is correct in terms of what would happen. I think that if Mom, Donnie became mayor, he would quickly be overwhelmed by the problematic effects of those policies. And I think it would serve as a nice object lesson. On the other hand, we're talking about a city of many millions of people and I'm not sure I'd like to see them subjected to that. Now, of course, you know, elections have consequences and people vote and they get what they voted for. But in my view, people need to think carefully. They need to think carefully about the idea, do we want a government run grocery store or are we engaging in a kind of wishing makes it so public policy that to date never turns out well?

[Kent Covington]

All right. Well, before we go, Hunter, I do want to follow up on the notion of consolidating the field. The number two candidate in New York City is former Governor Andrew Cuomo. His idea is let's have a poll mid September and whoever's second place stays in and the others drop out and consolidate behind number two to try to stop Mamdani. What do you think the likelihood of that is?

[Hunter Baker]

It's a good question. It really depends on whether there is an effective counter campaign. Cuomo, I think, does not have a great reputation in New York State. I don't think that people are going to be eager to vote for Cuomo, whereas there's going to be a fair amount of energy behind this young competitor who is leading the pack. So I think that even if you have somebody like Eric Adams dropping out and endorsing Cuomo, I'm not sure it's gonna change the result. So you could end up with sort of this strange interregnum in the history of the mayors of New York City.

[Lindsay Mast]

Hunter Baker is provost at North Greenville University and a World Opinions contributor. Hunter, thanks so much for your time.

[Hunter Baker]

Thank.

[Caroline Levitt]

You.

[Benjamin Eicher]

Additional support comes from Water's edge Kingdom Investments, personal investments that build churches. 5.05% APY on a three month term. Watersedge.com invest from Covenant College. Rigorous academics grounded in Reformed theology lived out in Christ centered community. Covenant. Edu World. And from Dort University where pre med students gain knowledge through undergraduate research and hone skills through hands on simulations. Dort.

[Nick Eicher]

Edu.

[Lindsay Mast]

Coming up next on the World and everything in it, Australia's fight over online speech. The government is tightening social media censorship laws despite a recent courtroom win for Chris Elston, better known as Billboard Chris. In April we reported on a tribunal battle with Australia's Esafety commissioner at issue a post on X by Billboard Chris. He opposed a transgender activist appointment to the World health organization.

[Kent Covington]

On July 1, the judge ruled in favor of Billboard Chris and the social media platform. But the ruling was narrow, restoring only the one post. And the broader crackdown continues. Australians who challenge progressive policies online still face steep fines and censorship if someone complains. World correspondent Amy Lewis reports. And in the greatest victory for freedom of speech on planet Earth this year, we just defeated the Australian government and my post has been restored.

[Caroline Levitt]

That's Chris Elson just after the judge's ruling on July 1. Jasmine Sussex attended some of Elston's trial earlier this year.

[Claire Morell]

I was so excited and it was.

[Caroline Levitt]

A tiny bit, I wouldn't want to say bittersweet, but it was, I think.

[Claire Morell]

To be honest, if I'm brutally honest, I'm a bit jealous.

[Caroline Levitt]

Jealous because Sussex is also fighting the Esafety Commissioner's overreach and she shares some of Elston's lawyers. Sussex is a former breastfeeding counselor who posted on social media that only women can breastfeed. I included a photo of the complainant.

[Claire Morell]

Which he'd given to the Daily Mail, of him bare chested, holding his son.

[Caroline Levitt]

It wasn't a nice point, but it just wasn't vilification. She's now in the fifth year of litigation, first under Queensland's anti discrimination laws and now with Australia's Esafety Commissioner over her use of the X platform to talk about who can breastfeed. That Esafety Commissioner is Julie Inman Grant. Her job is to safeguard Australians from online harm, but her actions affect more than just Australia. Here's Chris Elston again.

[Kent Covington]

And her job is to censor the Internet for the entire world. And so the Australian government ordered an American company to take down a Canadian post featuring a British article.

[Caroline Levitt]

Reuben Kirkham is a director of the Free Speech Union of Australia. He says Inman Grant is using tax dollars to fight the people.

[Kent Covington]

It is most worrying that our public.

[Caroline Levitt]

Money is being spent in this manner.

[Nick Eicher]

And to undermine our freedoms.

[Kent Covington]

It is a world first, but it.

[Hunter Baker]

Is not exactly a precedent that anyone would want to set.

[Caroline Levitt]

Inman Grant's March 2022 letter to X about Elston's post said the company had to remove it or be fined more than $500,000. But since Elston's trial, Inman Grant has had to change the wording in similar notices to social media companies.

[Kent Covington]

He is now reduced to sending these.

[Hunter Baker]

Rather bizarre emails that say, we found something on your page, but you may.

[Nick Eicher]

Want to think about taking it down.

[Hunter Baker]

Into your terms and service, but we're definitely not requiring you to.

[Caroline Levitt]

That's a victory, but it only goes so far. After a six year battle, the State of Victoria's Civil and Administrative Tribunal upheld a decision in July by the Medical Board of Australia to suspend a Christian medical doctor's license. The decision was based entirely on Dr. Jareth Cock's private social media posts critical of abortion, vaccines and transgender ideology. He'd also reposted some satirical articles from the Babylon Bee. Some of the posts were more than 10 years old. Koch had a stellar record with his patients, but the tribunal found him guilty of professional misconduct. Kirkham says that's a massive problem.

[Hunter Baker]

If you don't have freedom of expression, you don't have a democratic society, you don't have those basic Western values, you don't have the truth.

[Caroline Levitt]

And now there are new challenges to free speech. The state of Victoria just passed new hate speech laws and the federal government recently passed age verification laws for social media use, adding a YouTube ban for children under 16. Children who break the law won't be prosecuted, but the digital companies will. Many people think social media restrictions are a good thing, but enforcing those changes gives the government more control over online conversation. And that's exactly what some leftist activists want. Ro Allen is the State of Victoria's human rights commissioner and describes herself as gender diverse. About a year ago, she spoke to Julian Morrow on the Australian Broadcasting Corporation about her strategy to promote gender fluid ideology by squelching online public debate.

[Hunter Baker]

Does the public debate actually impede things?

[Caroline Levitt]

Oh, 100% social media. I think it's the place people go.

[Hunter Baker]

To be their worst.

[Caroline Levitt]

You don't get a really intelligent conversation there. Alan will be in charge of enforcing the state's new laws. Jasmine Sussex says Alan's own bias calls into question whether she will support everyone's human rights.

[Claire Morell]

Our Victorian Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission is going to be, you know.

[Lindsay Mast]

Like judge, jury, prosecutor, investigator, executioner.

[Claire Morell]

It's really, really quite scary.

[Caroline Levitt]

Sussex has seen firsthand how speaking the truth has become costly and unsafe, especially for women who speak out against transgender ideology.

[Claire Morell]

But, you know, it's not high profile women, it's not activists, it's teachers, nurses, social workers. And we're all being, you know, disciplined, silenced, censored, shamed.

[Caroline Levitt]

Some of us have lost jobs.

[Claire Morell]

We just need to be really clear.

[Caroline Levitt]

Eyed about what is actually happening and.

[Claire Morell]

What the consequences are for women.

[Caroline Levitt]

Reporting for World Tour, I'm Amy Lewis in Melbourne, Australia.

[Kent Covington]

Well, it was to the Internet what the Model T was to the automobiles. Slow. But it changed everything. And at the end of that tedious process, quite the rush. Welcome. You've got mail. Yep. After more than 30 years of connecting people and doing so at the breakneck speed of 56kbps. AOL finally pulling the plug on dial up the last day, September 30th. Now back in the 1990s, AOL had 10 million customers. Today it's a bit over 150,000. So the end of an era. And here is the speed leap from dial up to gigabit fiber is 20,000 times faster. So bye bye, dial up, you've got nostalgia, goodbye. It's the world and everything in it. Today is Wednesday, August 13th. Thank you for turning to World Radio to help start your day. Good morning, I'm Nick Iger.

[Lindsay Mast]

And I'm Lindsay Mast. Coming next on the world and everything in it. Breaking free from screenshot Research is confirming what many parents already know. Technology can chip away at family life. Attention spans shrink, moods sour, and family time fractures.

[Kent Covington]

Claire Morell is a fellow at the Ethics and Public Policy Center. She spent years studying the harms of smartphones and social media on kids. Now she's written a book, the Tech A Practical Guide to Free Freeing Kids and Teens From Smartphones. It asks, in our screen saturated world, can a family truly unplug? Her answer is, yes, it can. It's countercultural. It's hard work. But she says it is possible to restore what screens have taken presence, peace and connection.

[Lindsay Mast]

I talked with Claire about self control and developing brains, how schools and communities can help, and how to take practical steps to kick digital distractions to the curb. Here's our conversation. Claire, good morning.

[Claire Morell]

Thanks so much for having me.

[Lindsay Mast]

Claire, let's start with the effects of screens on self control. You talk at length about that in the book. It's something our listeners certainly value. So can you explain how screens work against the goal of developing self control in kids?

[Claire Morell]

Yes. So studies have been done basically to show that kids who are handed a device, instead of being left to themselves when they're having a tantrum or a fit, they actually do not develop the kind of emotional regulation skills or self control that they should. And so children who are frequently handed devices end up having more what they call externalizing behaviors like tantrums and poor focus and kind of just very dysregulated emotions. And a lot of this kind of again comes down to the brain science that when a kid is handed a screen, it does calm them immediately in the short term, but cumulatively it puts their nervous system, a developing nervous system, into this fight or flight mode where the screen actually releases adrenaline and cortisol in their nervous system. They're very stimulated by the screens. And there's no kind of outlet for that. Anytime you hand them a screen, you're working against yourself because it may immediately calm them down, but it's too overstimulating for their nervous system. And there's been more and more studies coming out showing that kids who spend a lot of time on screens, particularly between the ages of 0 to 4, have a very underdeveloped prefrontal cortex. And so, so that ability then to even exercise self control is being stunted because that part of the brain is not being activated by the screens.

[Lindsay Mast]

Now, you found that smartphones don't just negatively impact the user, but they also work outward to affect other kids who may not be using the technology. Explain how that works.

[Claire Morell]

Yeah, it's called negative network effects. And what that means is that because of the nature of smartphones and social media, the problems that come from them are not only individual level, but they actually create harmful group dynamics in a harmful social environment for other kids even who aren't on the smartphones or social media apps. And that's because now the social relationships are all being mediated through the apps and the phones. And so a kid who isn't on the smartphone could actually still experience some of the loneliness and anxiety that the kids on social media are also experiencing just because they're not on the apps. And so there are collective aspects to this problem, which is part of the reason I emphasize so much in the book, that if you do the tech exit, find other families to do this with you, to kind of create your own collective solutions, that your child is not the only one, not on the social media apps or without a smartphone. But then I also explain why schools and policymakers play a really important role in trying to back parents up, because the school has a lot of power over the culture that is set at the school. And then similarly, like policymakers can consider solutions on an even higher level, Trying to help empower parents by either, you know, age, restricting social media out of childhood or something like that. But I do encourage parents, you know, you don't have to wait on those policy solutions even just, just banding together as a group of parents, you can help mitigate those negative group level harms.

[Lindsay Mast]

In the book, you compare the issue of screens to the issue of drunk driving in the 1980s. So tell me a little bit about that.

[Claire Morell]

One of the reasons I talk about drunk driving is because I think, you know, the mothers against drunk driving that was started in the 80s was in response to their kids being harmed by drunk driving. Accidents and that it actually wasn't enough for parents to teach their own children not to drink and drive. But if there were other drivers on the road who were drinking and driving, they were a threat to everyone, not just to their children, but other families and parents and members of the community as well. And that's why I try to explain like similarly with social media and smartphones, like the effects are not just individual and that you can kind of teach your own children why they're not going to have smartphones and social media, but if their peers have these devices and this is how all the social relationships and social environment is being mediated, it's really toxic to everybody. The effects of those are spill over to the community as a whole. And so I kind of say similarly we need just a movement of parents to rise up and say like we're not doing this for our kids. And both kind of at the community level through the schools, parents can have tremendous influence on the schools to say hey, we want to ban smartphones at our school from bell to bell and create a school academic and social environment free of these devices. But then parents raising their voice to their state legislators, to their congress members is also really powerful as those legislative bodies are considering solutions at a higher level to hear from parents that we want this support. Like we want help to keep all kids off of social media. And so that's kind of why I use that analogy in the book.

[Lindsay Mast]

Okay, so let's talk a little bit about detox. So much of this is just, I think it is still so countercultural. You know there are school programs, sports teams, even churches which require the use of certain apps. So how does that work for a family looking to opt out? Wondering how is this possible? Because of the way the system is set up.

[Claire Morell]

Yeah. So I recommend starting with a 30 day digital detox. I think there's actually a science to why 30 days is so helpful that it actually really takes that long for a kid's nervous system to re regulate. Like once they go without that and their, their brain actually returns to baseline, it returns to normal and they will be more calm and able to self calm and emotionally regulate themselves. Now parents don't necessarily have to give up their smartph, but putting some serious distance between ourselves and our phones and just saying here's all these screen free activities we're going to fill our time with and we're just going to try to establish better habits without the devices. And so I would say start with 30 days. I give some examples of screen detox plans in the book that you can kind of follow and try to find another family to do it with you if you can. And to your point about the app, we just have to get more comfortable pushing back as parents to say my kid is not going to have this app to be on this, this sports team or part of this youth group. And for every parent that kind of stands up to that tyranny of the smartphone, it makes it easier on the next parent.

[Lindsay Mast]

This was part of a longer conversation I had with Claire Morrell about what she found in talking to families and her ideas for policy change. We'll air a longer version of that this weekend on the World and Everything in it feed. Wherever you get this podcast.

[Kent Covington]

Today is Wednesday, August 13th. Good morning, this is the World and Everything in it from Listener Supported World Radio. I'm Nick Iger.

[Lindsay Mast]

And I'm Lindsay Mast. Sometimes pastors, Sunday school teachers and Bible study leaders misspeak as they open the Word of God. But world opinions commentator Josh Revis says God can even use embarrassing mistakes for his glory.

[Nick Eicher]

Early in my ministry, I was given the opportunity to preach at a church in a neighboring state. It was one of the first times I had ever been invited somewhere outside my home church to preach. I spent weeks praying and trying to decide what passage I was going to preach. I ultimately landed on Acts 16 in the story of Paul and Silas in jail. I'd heard my dad preach that passage and tell that Bible story countless times. I was ready to paint a word picture that would have the people enraptured. By the time I got done with them. They'd feel like they had been there singing because he lives alongside Paul and Silas in their jail cell. I studied, prayed and prepared like my life depended on it. When the weekend finally arrived, I made the long drive to the church and showed up Bible in hand, ready to preach. When the congregational singing concluded, I made my way to the pulpit and for the next 30 minutes I let it rip. The whole thing felt like a blur, but I made it through and in my mind I felt like it went pretty well. Not bad for a rookie. I walked down the platform steps and sat down next to the pastor. He leaned over towards me and I was expecting a good job. He whispered. It was Paul and Silas. I looked at him blankly, unsure what point he was trying to make. Excuse me, he repeated himself. It was Paul and Silas. I furrowed my brow and asked, what did I say? You said Paul and Barnabas. My first thought was, what a jerk move. I get done preaching and you point out the one mistake I made, the only response I could muster was, when did I say it?

[Claire Morell]

It.

[Nick Eicher]

What he said next hit me like a heavyweight punch to the gut the whole time. Turns out I preached for 30 minutes about Paul and Barnabas in jail. I talked about Paul and Barnabas getting arrested, Paul and Barnabas singing, and Paul and Barnabas sharing the gospel with The Philippian jailer. 30 minutes. And I didn't mention Silas once. I was devastated. I was sure that was the last time I'd ever get to preach anywhere. I had my one shot and I blew it. To be fair to the pastor, he did the right thing. I needed to know. He also took the time after to encourage me. He told me that it wouldn't be the last time I'd make a mistake like that while preaching. And he was absolutely right about that one. He also reminded me that God doesn't require perfect sermons. Laying an egg in the pulpit always stings. And if you take the responsibility of preaching seriously, which you should, you will fight feelings of guilt about confusing the congregation or muddling the message. But there is hope, even for the worst sermons. I mentioned earlier that I never said Silas name in my sermon, which is true. But I did say his name that night. At the beginning of my sermon, I read the entire story, word for word, verse by verse, straight from my Bible. And even though the congregation had to navigate through my convoluted message, the scriptures were clear as a bell. Romans 10:17 doesn't say, faith comes by hearing and hearing by a perfect sermon, by God's grace. Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God. Whether you're preaching a sermon, teaching a Sunday school lesson, or doing family devotions, at some point you're going to deliver a stinker. But if you'll be faithful to the word of God, I believe he will keep his promise in Isaiah 55:11 and his word will not return void. The old saying goes, God can draw a straight line with a crooked stick. And I believe God can redeem a bad sermon for his glory and our good. I'm Josh Revis.

[Kent Covington]

Tomorrow in the study reveals the divorce rate has been falling. We'll explore why that is that and more tomorrow. I'm Nick Iker.

[Lindsay Mast]

And I'm Lindsay Mast. The world and everything in it comes to you from World radio. World's mission is biblically objective journalism that informs, educates and inspires. The psalmist writes, o Lord, make me know my end and what is the measure of my days? Let me know how fleet I am. Verse 4 of Psalm chapter 39. Go now in grace and peace.