8.20.25 Hunter Baker on Washington Wednesday, World Tour, and worship during baseball season

Summary

The World and Everything In It – August 20, 2025 Episode Overview: This episode features in-depth political analysis with Hunter Baker on "Washington Wednesday," an international roundup in "World Tour," and a compelling story about how one youth baseball league integrates worship with the sport. The topics range from U.S. chip manufacturing policy, election law, and redistricting debates to global peace negotiations and the balancing act between youth sports and faith.

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Main Theme

Exploring the crossroads of politics, policy, and faith:
The episode takes listeners through U.S. domestic political maneuvers ahead of the 2026 midterms, major international developments in Ukraine and Gaza, and how everyday American life—like youth sports—can intersect with worship and community values.

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Washington Wednesday with Hunter Baker

[06:45] – [20:08]

Guest: Hunter Baker – Political Scientist and World Opinions Contributor
Hosts: Lindsay Mast, Nick Eicher

Key Discussion Points & Insights:

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1. U.S. Takes Equity in Intel via CHIPS Act

• Background: The Biden-era CHIPS Act remains foundational. The Trump administration now proposes converting $8B in federal grants into a 10% equity stake in Intel.
• National Security Angle: There's bipartisan consensus that chip manufacturing is now a matter of vital security.
  • Hunter Baker [08:18]:
    "Typically, even the most ardent free market people would accept a national defense argument that there are certain industries we have to have viable within our own borders... Well, microchips are now in that conversation."
• Taxpayer Benefit: The U.S. stake is argued as benefiting the taxpayer, rather than giving out 'free money'.
  • Sec. Howard Lutnick clip [09:43]:
    "We want equity for the money. If we're gonna give you the money, we want a piece of the action for the American taxpayer."
  • Baker [10:17]:
    "It secures the taxpayer's interest much better than a grant because... it's very likely the government will be able to exit the stake... probably with a reasonable return."
• Political Debate: Critics see it as "Democrat-style industrial policy," but Baker finds the security case compelling.

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2. Voting Machines, Mail-in Ballots & Federal vs. State Authority

• Trump Administration Position: President Trump proposes executive action to end mail-in voting, claiming widespread fraud.
  • Trump clip [11:27]:
    "We as a Republican Party are going to do everything possible that we get rid of mail-in ballots..."
• Hunter Baker’s Analysis [12:10]:
  • "I don't totally agree with his characterization... states are actually the dominant entities when it comes to running elections."
  • Baker notes that Republican efforts in 2024 with mail-in and early voting were successful and calls attempts to undermine their legitimacy "not a winning tactic."
  • He advocates for reliable systems—like strong voter ID—and opposes undermining voter confidence.

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3. The National Redistricting Arms Race

• Texas & California in Focus: Texas passes GOP-friendly maps; California moves to counter with mid-decade redistricting proposals.
  • Obama’s critique [13:55]:
    "Other states looking at what they can do to offset this mid decade gerrymandering. That is highly irregular..."
  • Gov. Gavin Newsom’s response [14:27]:
    "We're asking the voters for their consent to do midterm redistricting in 2026, 2028 and 2030..."
• Nationwide Impact & Baker’s Reform Ideas [16:44]:
  • Baker calls mid-cycle redistricting "highly irregular" and warns it's an endless escalation.
  • Advocates for reforms: nonpartisan, independent commissions, compact districts, community integrity, and transparent use of demographic tech.
  • Baker [15:08]:
    "Nationwide we should seek reform… we all need to feel like we have a principled, neutral process—a level playing field upon which our elections take place."
  • Baker [16:49]:
    "There are just a number of common sense ways to avoid these bizarre shapes designed to maximize party advantage."

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4. The Democratic Party's Leftward Tension in New York

• NY Mayoral Race: Socialist candidate Zoran Mamdani is a frontrunner, with suggestive support from Obama.
• Ideological Tensions:
  • Baker [18:42]:
    "You have the real ideological die hards... [who] tend to believe that if we pushed harder... we would develop a better following. Then you have the ones in the center who... believe American politics is like a bell curve."
  • Discusses whether Obama is moderating or encouraging the left, suggesting both are possible interpretations.

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World Tour: Headlines from Around the Globe

[21:11] – [26:20]

Host: Mary Muncie

Key Segments:

• Ukraine Peace Talks ([21:11]):
  • Trump attempts to broker face-to-face meeting between Putin and Zelensky.
  • Trump quote [21:54]:
    "We're going to find out about President Putin in the next couple of weeks... It's possible that he doesn't want to make a deal."
• Gaza Ceasefire ([22:18]):
  • Qatar: Hamas agrees to a truce proposal mirroring prior U.S. offers (60-day pause, some hostages released).
  • Israel demands release of all living hostages.
• Pro-Democracy Trial in Hong Kong ([23:37]):
  • Jimmy Lai's trial on foreign collusion; activist groups argue it's meant to chill dissent.
  • Benedict Rogers [23:55]:
    "All of the regime's actions, sadly, are having a chilling effect, and that's why they're doing it."
• South Asia Flooding ([24:35]):
  • Deadly mudslides and floods in India & Pakistan displace hundreds.
• Hungary’s Space Milestone ([24:49]):
  • Astronaut Tabor Kapu returns—first Hungarian human spaceflight since 1980.

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Feature: Worship During Baseball Playoffs

[27:22] – [32:19]

Correspondent: Elizabeth Schenck (from Dunn, North Carolina)

Key Storyline:

• Diamond Youth Baseball World Series: Over 800 players (8 years and under) from states as far as Louisiana and Texas gather in NC for the tournament.
• Faith Integration:
  • The league’s motto: "Train up a child in the way he should go..." (Proverbs 22:6)
  • Terry Lanning (State Director, [28:25]):
    "Making it better means making time for prayer in church. Even at the Series, the league's motto is Proverbs 22:6..."
  • Players and coaches encouraged to pray before each game, sometimes prioritizing prayer over the national anthem.
  • Every state hosts a Sunday worship service during the series, though attendance can be low (about 60 out of 4,000 participants).
    • Beth Elmore (Principal, [29:55]):
      "We could have had this place filled up with 11 states in here. But I understand not everybody plays early. But you chose to come and for that, good job."
  • Coaches and parents emphasize the importance of faith and making time for worship, even on tournament weekends.
    • Parent Andrew Pope [31:32]:
      "If we were able to go other places, we definitely for sure would try to lock in somewhere for a service to make sure that that's present for the boys and for our coaches..."
    • Terry Lanning [32:16]:
      "I think these kids will remember this, really, I do."
  • Worship Leader Solomon Machado [30:58]:
    "It's important for the little ones here and the players to show them by example what is most important… Baseball teams, it's the name of Jesus Christ."

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On microchips and national security:

  “Even the most ardent free market people would accept a national defense argument… Microchips are now in that conversation.” – Hunter Baker [08:18]

• On election law authority:

  “States are actually the dominant entities when it comes to running elections… The right thing to do is to nail down that process and make it as free of manipulation as possible.” – Hunter Baker [12:10]

• On redistricting escalation:

  “Redistricting halfway through a 10-year cycle is indeed highly irregular. And now California is going to respond with even greater irregularity.” – Hunter Baker [15:08]

• On the role of faith in sports:

  “We do a worship service at every state we have. Sometimes we might have 80. We had one, we had 250 people at.” – Terry Lanning [30:32]

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• Domestic Politics & Washington Wednesday

  • Intro to Hunter Baker & CHIPS policy: [06:45]
  • Election Laws & Redistricting: [11:13]
  • NY Mayoral Race & Party Direction: [17:28]

• World Tour (International News): [21:11]

• Baseball and Worship Feature: [27:22]

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Episode Tone & Language

• Informed, measured, and conversational: Hosts and guests regularly cite sources, provide context, and strive for clarity without sensationalism.
• Faith-forward but balanced: Awareness of complex issues—political, social, and spiritual—is woven throughout.
• Empathetic Human Stories: Particularly in the sports-and-worship and world tour segments.

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Conclusion

This episode offers a nuanced exploration of urgent American political debates, the interconnectedness of global affairs, and grass-roots faith in public life. Through its breadth of stories and voices, it highlights the ongoing push for principled reforms, community resilience, and a steadfast sense of purpose—both in the headlines and everyday moments.

Transcript

[A]

Good morning. From Obama to mom, Donnie, Democrats debate how far left is too far left? Where's the party headed in 2026 and beyond?

[B]

Hunter Baker standing by for Washington Wednesday will also talk semiconductors, state redistricting fights and the future of voting machines. Also today, our weekly international news roundup world tour. And later, when sports collide with Sunday worship, one baseball league makes time for both.

[A]

We do a worship service at every state we have. It's Wednesday, August 20th. This is the world and everything in it from listener supported World Radio. I'm Lindsay Mast.

[B]

And I'm Nick Eicher. Good morning.

[A]

Up next, Kent Covington with today's news.

[C]

The Trump administration is pressing for a sit down meeting with both Russian leader Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to move peace talks forward. At the White House on Tuesday, reporters asked press Secretary Caroline Levitt about Putin's willingness to meet with Zelensky.

[A]

I understand that the White House is working and allies are working to make this meeting happen, but did Putin promise.

[D]

To do a meeting with Zelensky, a direct meeting in the coming weeks?

[E]

He has and I just answered that question for you.

[C]

The Kremlin, though, says it has agreed in concept and is open to such a meeting, but has not yet signaled any firm intent to hold a trilateral meeting. President Trump met with Putin on Friday and then separately with Zelensky and European leaders on Monday. The White House also stated Tuesday that Trump understands Ukraine's need for security guarantees as part of any peace deal.

[E]

The president has definitively stated US Boots will not be on the ground in Ukraine, but we can certainly help in the coordination and perhaps provide other means of security guarantees to our European allies.

[C]

Trump said those guarantees may have to come without future membership in NATO. He says Ukraine would likely have to give up its ambitions of joining the alliance as part of any agreement with Moscow. Kyiv says its need for security guarantees was underscored once more on Tuesday morning by another major Russian airstrike. Ukraine's air force says Russia launched nearly 300 drones and 10 missiles striking key energy facilities in central Ukraine. Meantime, in the Middle east, negotiators in Qatar trying to broker a ceasefire in Gaza say they're awaiting word from Israel on the latest proposal. World's Benjamin Eicker has more.

[D]

Negotiators say Hamas has agreed to that proposal. The deal on the table is said to be almost identical to the one put forward by the US earlier this year, reportedly a 60 day pause in fighting with Hamas releasing roughly half of the 20 or so surviving Israeli hostages, and Israel hasn't issued an official response. But Fox News reports that an Israeli official speaking anonymously says the country's position hasn't changed from recent public declarations that it is now demanding the return of every living hostage for world I'm Benjamin Eicher.

[C]

The Justice Department has opened an investigation into whether police officials in Washington, D.C. have falsified crime data. That's according to the Associated Press, citing two officials not authorized to speak publicly. That follows reports that a D.C. police commander was placed on leave back in May amid allegations of altering crime statistics in his district. D.C. police Union Chief Greg Pemberton asserted Tuesday that there is evidence that police leadership has interfered with officers reporting of crimes.

[D]

There'll be a shooting or a stabbing, and if the victim is uncooperative with the police, which is not uncommon in.

[B]

Some areas of the city, they'll be.

[D]

Directed to take an injured person to the hospital report, which is not even a crime at all. It's an incident report. Sometimes you'll have a robbery, it'll be reported.

[C]

The District of Columbia has claimed that violent crime is down 26% from last year. Democratic Mayor Muriel Bowser's office declined to comment on the investigation. News of the probe comes a week after President Trump announced that the federal government would assume authority over DC's Metro Police Department. Boston Mayor Michelle Wu says her city will continue to oppose the Trump administration's crackdown on illegal immigration. That comes despite warnings from Attorney General Pam Bondi that sanctuary cities must cooperate with federal immigration enforcement or pay the price. But the Democratic Boston mayor said Tuesday.

[E]

Cities are doing everything we can to protect our residents and keep moving forward. The Trump administration seeks to divide, isolate and intimidate cities and make Americans fearful of one another.

[C]

But Department of Homeland security spokeswoman Tricia McLaughlin fired back.

[F]

Politicians have to take action and stop playing these political games. 70% of the arrests that are made under this administration have been of illegal.

[E]

Immigrants with prior criminal convictions or pending criminal charges.

[D]

So these are criminals that we are going after.

[C]

The Justice Department has warned Boston and at least 30 other sanctuary jurisdictions that they face the loss of millions in federal grants and and some officials could even face criminal charges for taking actions to impede federal immigration enforcement. Hurricane Irin is causing dangerous swimming conditions along the East Coast. The storm was still expected to be packing category two winds of 100 plus miles per hour this morning, fortunately more than 200 miles off the U.S. shoreline. But officials in North Carolina's Outer Banks ordered evacuations after issuing a storm surge warning. Michael Brennan with the National Hurricane Center. This means there's the danger of life threatening inundation of 2 to 4ft of.

[D]

Inundation above ground level.

[B]

And that is again, life threatening inundation.

[C]

Where particularly dangerous currents and storm surge are the main threats on the US East Coast. But heavy rainfall was possible for parts of the Bahamas and Turks and Caicos Islands. I'm Kent Covington. And straight ahead, our weekly conversation with Hunter Baker on Washington Wednesday. Plus, setting faith priorities during baseball playoffs. This IS THE WORLD and everything in it.

[B]

It's Wednesday, the 20th of August. Glad to have you along for today's edition of THE WORLD and Everything in It. Good morning. I'm Nick Iger.

[A]

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

[D]

Good morning.

[B]

Well, Hunter, the Trump administration is proposing to convert nearly $8 billion in grants from the Chips act and working to turn that into an equity stake, possibly around 10% ownership interest in the American chip maker Intel. So quick background on the chips from 2022. It provided more than $50 billion in subsidies, tax credits and research funding. And a lot of Republicans were critical of the CHIPS act at the time. You will remember the idea there was to boost US Semiconductor manufacturing. Let's listen to Treasury Secretary Scott Besant. He was on CNBC this week.

[D]

The last thing we want is a Huawei belt and road, where Huawei is selling chips to the rest of the world and and US Technology is excluded.

[B]

So belt and road. He's talking about China clearly there. And so too was Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick. Same network.

[D]

We need to make our own chips here. We cannot rely on Taiwan, which is 9,500 miles away from us and only 80 miles from China. So you can't have 99% of leading edge chips made in Taiwan. We want to make them here.

[B]

Well, do we, Hunter? And why do we?

[D]

Yeah, so typically, if you have a free market orientation, you would say, I don't want this kind of industrial policy. I don't want the United States government subsidizing or taking a stake in a company like Intel. But this is a little bit different. As you pointed out, Taiwan has become sort of the epicenter of chip manufacturing in the world. And we all know how important microchips are to everything that we're doing in life today. And so typically, even the most ardent free market people would accept sort of a national defense argument that there are certain industries that we have to have viable within our own borders the steel industry is often one of those that we would talk about. Well, microchips are now in that conversation. And there are people who are realizing that we need a company like an intel not to fail. Right. And to be strong in this area.

[B]

Well, Hunter, yeah, it is kind of difficult to contradict the national security case. But what about this equity stake? I'm curious about this because it's not totally clear to me how that necessarily helps, especially when you consider what Secretary Lutnick said. He said that the White House is not seeking any kind of governance voice within the company. Again, let's go back to that CNBC interview. Here's how he positioned the move.

[D]

We want equity for the money. If we're gonna give you the money, we want a piece of the action for the American taxpayer.

[B]

Now, Hunter, he specifically dismissed criticism that CNBC brought up from the Wall Street Journal editorial page, calling it that very thing, Democrat style industrial policy, picking winners and losers living. Lutnick said it isn't that. He says it's just an alternative to pumping free money into big tech. But if there's no governance leverage there, how does that advance the national security goal?

[D]

Well, it helps the company. The United States government taking a stake in intel shows a certain amount of confidence. And actually it's better for the taxpayer this way because previously they were going to get something like maybe $8 billion just in grants. This way, the United States government actually has a stake in the company. And the U.S. government has entered companies before and then exited. I think that's happened with General Motors in the past. And of course, you also have European countries that are involved with Airbus and that partnership has been quite successful and going better than Boeing lately. So I think it's wise to have them do this. It secures the taxpayer's interest much better than a grant because when all is said and done, it's very likely that the government will be able to exit the stake if it wants to and to get its money back and probably with a reasonable return.

[A]

Well, Hunter, 14 months still until the 2026 midterms. But there's lots of maneuvering around the country in advance of them. President Trump said this week he wants to do away with both mail in voting and and voting machines.

[D]

We as a Republican Party are going to do everything possible that we get rid of mail in ballots. We're going to start with an executive order that's being written right now by the best lawyers in the country to end mail in ballots because they're corrupt. And you know that we're the only country in the world. I believe I may be wrong, but just about the only country in the world that uses them because of what's happened. Massive fraud all over the place. The other thing we want change are the machines.

[A]

Now, the president also claims states are an agent for the federal government in counting and tabulating the votes and must do what the government tells them. So how far can the president go in changing these systems? Hunter, are there legitimate concerns here?

[D]

Well, I don't totally agree with his characterization of things. I mean, the states are actually the dominant entities when it comes to running elections. It is true that there is room for Congress to act if there are real concerns about the way elections are carried out in the states. But traditionally the states have been the dominant actors and probably should stay that way. Now, with regard to these questions about mail in voting and voting machines, I would say that the Republicans were pretty successful in 2024. Encouraging voters to do those things. Right? You know, to engage in early voting, to engage in mail voting is actually very successful. I don't think that it's a winning tactic or strategy for Donald Trump to discourage people of the validity of those systems. Now, there are a lot of things you can do to take care of fraud, right, to have systems that are more reliable, whether mail in or early voting or other methods. And I think voter ID being another one of those. And so I think that the right thing to do is to do everything you can to nail down that process and to make it as free of manipulation as possible.

[B]

So also this week, Hunter, the fight over redistricting has extended far beyond Texas. A quorum is present. Democrats in the Texas House have ended their quorum break. They return to vote on the congressional district maps that favor Republicans. But the clash has drawn, of course, national attention. Former President Barack Obama has weighed in, makes an interesting statement here. The audio from ABC News, California responding.

[D]

Other states looking at what they can do to offset this mid decade gerrymandering. That is highly irregular and is not what we should be doing to balance out the maps for this upcoming election.

[B]

So highly irregular, not what we should be doing. But I guess suggesting California is merely responding. And here's the response from California Governor Gavin Newsom.

[C]

We will affirm our commitment to the.

[D]

State independent redistricting after the 2030 census. But we're asking the voters for their consent to do Midterm redistricting in 2026, 2028 and 2030 for the Congressional maps to respond to what's happening in Texas. To respond.

[B]

So Hunter do you think there really is a political imbalance? We've heard the governor of Texas essentially say that, that a lot of Texans voted Republican and they don't have the representation that he's simply trying to correct an imbalance. Is there really a political imbalance of this? Sort of. And is it something that's nationwide?

[D]

There's a lot of different ways you can look at this. The case that a lot of Republicans have made is you look at a state like Massachusetts. Massachusetts fairly recently has had a Republican governor. They have had, you know, elected a Republican senator some time ago. And yet the state of Massachusetts has zero congressional representatives currently. Right. There is not a single district in Massachusetts that is a Republican district. So I think that some Republicans are saying, so we need to maximize states like Texas any way we can. The Democrats have sort of fully gerrymandered and redistricted to the maximum amount and that we need to do the same. I'm very concerned. I mean, from my perspective, I think that redistricting halfway through a 10 year cycle is indeed highly irregular. And now California is going to respond with even greater irregularity. Right. They're proposing to redistrict halfway through. And not only that, but to ignore their existing nonpartisan commission that is supposed to draw the lines. Right. I mean, really, this is kind of just a thing that continues to escalate and escalate. I wrote a piece in World Opinions arguing against these kinds of practices. I think that nationwide we should seek reform. And this is the same sort of a question as what we're talking about with voting practices. We all need to feel like we have a principled, neutral process, sort of a level playing field upon which our elections take place.

[A]

Hunter, you mentioned nationwide reform there. What would that look like specifically?

[D]

Yeah, so first of all, I like having these nonpartisan commissions that draw the lines. We have a lot of technology that allows us to examine the demographics and to try to achieve that. There are some simple principles saying we don't want any districts that have these bizarre shapes. We want the districts to be relatively compact. If the district can take in an existing community of interest, we want it to. Right. So for example, if a county can fairly easily become a district, let's do that. There are just a number of common sense ways to avoid these bizarre shapes that are designed to maximize party advantage.

[A]

Well, speaking of Obama, we heard from him earlier and let's turn again now to New York and the mayoral race there.

[D]

This is what democracy looks like. When we fight, we win.

[A]

It seems like it's shaping up to be as much about national politics as it is the city. That sound from a recent rally with mayoral frontrunner the socialist candidate Zoran Mamdani.

[D]

We are standing in front of Federal Plaza, the very site where New Yorkers are being stolen, whether from their families, their friends, or from the city that they call home. It is at this very site that we understand the cost of this news that former Governor Cuomo has been conspiring with President Trump about the fate of this city, about the future of this city, about the facts of this race.

[A]

So the New York Times published an opinion piece last week about the implications of a phone call from Obama to Mamdani. It says many in Obama world seem to be embracing him, and that could mean mainstream Democrats will follow. So, Hunter, what do you think? Is this a test to see where the party is? And what would the next couple of years look like with Mamdani at the top?

[D]

Yes, there's always a tension within a political party. The same exists on the Republican side. And the tension is, is that you have the people who are sort of the real ideological die hards. And those people tend to believe that if we pushed harder in our preferred direction, whether to the right or the left, right, conservatives, if we would just be more conservative, we would develop a better following. Or on the left, you know, there are many who believe if we would be more socialist, for example, that we would attract a greater following among the American people. And then you have the ones who are in the center who sort of believe that American politics is like a bell curve and most of the voters are in the middle. And so when I look at Obama talking to Mamdani, there are two ways I could interpret it. One is that he is trying to protect the Democratic Party from damaging electoral consequences from him becoming too radical. But the other is that I've always sort of thought that in his heart of hearts that President Obama was fairly sympathetic to the socialist viewpoint and that maybe he wants to talk to Mom Donnie about how he just thinks he can be more effective as he pursues those goals.

[B]

Hunter Baker is a political scientist and provost at North Greenville University and a World Opinions contributor. Hunter, great to talk with you. We'll see you next week.

[D]

Thank you.

[C]

Additional support comes from eyewitness powerful audio dramas bringing faith, courage and history to life in unforgettable ways. At the letter, I witnesspod.com from Ambassadors Impact Network, inviting entrepreneurs to access faith friendly financing [e-mail] and from Cedarville University, equipping students for professional excellence and Gospel Impact. Cedarville.

[B]

Edu World Coming up next on the World and Everything In It World tour, we begin with peace talks in Ukraine and and Israel. Here is World's Mary Muncie.

[E]

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is speaking out about Monday's meeting with President Donald Trump and several European leaders. Speaking here, Zelensky says it's important for the United States to send a clear signal that it will be among the countries participating in security guarantees for Ukraine should a ceasefire deal be reached with Russia. Earlier this week, President Trump said he'd called Russian leader Vladimir Putin to begin arrangements for a meeting between Putin and Zelensky. Trump says he's hopeful that such a meeting could lay the groundwork for an end to the Russia Ukraine war. But much of that will depend on whether or not Putin is serious about peace.

[D]

We're going to find out about President Putin in the next couple of weeks, that I can tell you and we're going to see where it all goes. It's possible that he doesn't want to make a deal.

[E]

Trump added that Zelensky will also have to make some concessions if a ceasefire is ever to be reached. Now to Qatar, where negotiators are waiting for Israel to respond to a potential ceasefire deal.

[D]

We have a positive response from Hamas.

[E]

Qatar'S Foreign Ministry spokesperson Majid Al Ansari.

[D]

That positive response, according to what we know, is almost all that was agreed before by Israel in previous iterations of these talks.

[E]

Qatar says the deal is almost identical to a previous U.S. proposal. That deal involved a 60 day truce and the release of about half of the remaining 50 hostages, 20 of whom are presumed alive. Recently, Israel has said it would not accept anything but the release of all of the hostages. Israeli leaders say Hamas is agreeing now because it's under immense pressure. Meanwhile, the Hamas run Gaza Health Ministry reported this week that the Palestinian death toll has topped 60,000 since the terror group attacked Israel. Next to Hong Kong, where closing arguments began this week in the trial of Jimmy Lai, founder of the now shuttered Pro Democracy Apple daily newspaper. The government has detained Lai since 2020 on charges of foreign collusion and sedition. The 77 year old pleaded not guilty to those charges but is currently serving a sentence of over five years for fraud related to a contractual dispute. He has been held in a windowless cell in solitary confinement for most of his sentence. He's only been allowed to leave his cell for about 50 minutes a day. Benedict Rogers of the UK based rights group Hong Kong Watch believes his treatment is meant to be a war. Others tempted to protest the national security laws.

[D]

All of the regime's actions, sadly are having a chilling effect, and that's why they're doing it.

[E]

Lai faces a life sentence if convicted of the current charges. Republican Senator Pete Ricketts of Nebraska recently said that he and the Trump administration are calling on the Chinese embassy to release Lai before he dies in prison. Next to India and neighboring Pakistan, where mudslides and flash floods killed hundreds of people, many more have been displaced following the large scale flooding which began last week. Mohammed Anwar Khan describes the devastation to DW the flash flood came from the.

[D]

Upper areas and the water entered the city. The rainwater also came into our homes.

[C]

And washed away many vehicles and some of them have been completely destroyed.

[D]

It caused a lot of damage to.

[B]

Our, to our homes.

[D]

The situation has become a lot worse.

[E]

Jammu Divisional Commissioner Ramesh Kumar says heavy monsoon rains caused landslides in several regions. Kumar says here that India's disaster response forces are carrying out major rescue operations alongside relief agencies such as the Indian Red Cross. Hundreds are still missing with rescue efforts ongoing. And finally today we head to Budapest, Hungary, as family members and well wishers welcomed home astronaut Tabor Kapu after a three week visit to the International Space Station. Kapu's mission marks the country's first human spaceflight since 1980. The 33 year old engineer thanked all those who support supported his mission, saying that after 45 years the country can raise its gaze a little higher and that its faces shine a little more, adding that space exploration looks good on the country. When asked about a possible moon mission, Kapu said perhaps someday. But there are many more qualified astronauts who should have the opportunity to do so first. That's this week's world tour. I'm Mary Muncie.

[A]

At the ripe old age of 14, Pearl, the Texas hen is officially the world's oldest living chicken. She's got the battle scars to prove it too. Here's her owner, Sonja Hull, on cbc, the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. She's been through a lot.

[D]

We had a raccoon massacre when she was probably 10. She broke her leg trying to get.

[A]

Away and then contracted chickenpox and then she caught pneumonia. Hey, sounds like endurance to me. Pearl's spending her retirement in the laundry room where she's become besties with a mop.

[D]

As a matter of fact, last week she laid an egg.

[F]

First time in three years.

[A]

Good for you, Pearl. She probably thought she was done with all that. Well, she's no spring chicken, but definitely a record breaking one. It's the world and everything in it. Today is Wednesday, August 20th. Thank you for turning to World Radio to help start your day. Good morning. I'm Lindsay Mast.

[B]

And I'm Nick Eicher. Coming next on the World and Everything in it, where Sunday worship is still part of the game plan. Well, now that summer is drawing to a close, Little League teams are facing off across the country on their way to the World Series. For teams that make it that far, that means travel and lots of it. And of course, travel on weekends.

[A]

But one league tries to make sure families don't have to choose between sports and Sunday worship. World correspondent Elizabeth Schenck reports.

[D]

You're ready to play some baseball.

[F]

Around 800 children and their families have converged on Dunn, North Carolina, for the Diamond Youth Baseball World Series.

[D]

Three and one to go.

[E]

Let's go, let's go, let's go.

[F]

The players, all eight years old or younger, have come from states as far away as Louisiana and Texas. Not even a heat index of 107 degrees can dampen their enthusiasm. Terry Lanning is league's state director. For North Carolina.

[A]

We're focused on local children to learn to play.

[F]

Lanning has volunteered with the league for over 40 years. She started when her kids were young enough to play.

[A]

Now you're gonna get me emotional.

[E]

The love of kids, you know, we.

[D]

Want to do something to make it.

[F]

Better for this league. Making it better means making time for prayer in church. Even at World's the Series, the league's motto is Proverbs 22, 6. Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old, he will not depart from it.

[A]

We definitely believe in God and we do feel like he oversees us, the team.

[D]

South Carolina and Louisiana get their team together. If you choose to go to the pitching mound, say a quick prayer.

[F]

The league encourages coaches to lead their teams in prayer before every game, even if it means cutting the national anthem.

[A]

To save time, we announce every ball game we have.

[D]

Church services.

[A]

Not all states do that.

[F]

The Sunday service is organized by the Dunn Area Recreation Booster Club. The same club gave Bibles to every coach and player. At the tournament, there will be a.

[D]

Non denominational worship service.

[F]

Nearly 4,000 people came to town to play, coach and cheer for the league's World Series. But on Sunday morning, only about 60 show up for the service. Many are coaches and their families. Some are local. Beth Elmore is the principal of Plainview elementary, just down the road from Dunn. As she welcomes the players and coaches to the Sunday service, she calls it like she sees it.

[A]

We could have had this place filled up with 11 states in here. But I understand not everybody plays early.

[D]

And I think the first game's at three.

[A]

But you chose to come and for that, good job.

[D]

Parents and grandparents.

[F]

Lanning hopes every family who participates in the league is connected to a church at home. But when they travel, she wants them to have somewhere to worship together. She admits that's sometimes a challenge.

[A]

Well, you can tell we don't have as many people here as we would like to have, so.

[F]

But we do a worship service at every state.

[A]

Every state we have, we have prayer.

[F]

We have a worship service.

[A]

Sometimes we might have 80. We had one. We had 250 people at.

[G]

It's your breath in our lungs.

[F]

With guitars strapped on and fingers pressing the strings, Solomon Machado pauses to encourage the group who came before, leading them in Sunday worship.

[D]

It's important for the little ones here and the players to show them by example what is most important.

[F]

All the players here identify with their teams. That's what's on their T shirts, their hats and their jerseys. But Machado reminded them that that's not where they get their identity.

[B]

Baseball teams, it's the name of Jesus Christ.

[D]

And so being here is a wonderful example of what is top priority in life. So, Father, we just.

[F]

Andrew Pope and his boys are sitting near the front row waiting for the Sunday service to begin. They're local, so they could have stayed home this morning.

[B]

If we were able to go other.

[C]

Places, we definitely for sure would try.

[D]

To look in, lock in somewhere for.

[C]

A service to make sure that that's.

[D]

Present for the boys and for our.

[C]

Coaches and just to kind of get our mindset right before we, before we take the field.

[F]

Gentry Turner brought her nine year old son to the service. They came from Amelia, Virginia to compete. Her son's coaches lead the teams in prayer before every county game. So they feel right at home here.

[A]

I know in our area that they're.

[F]

Trying to keep God the focus because.

[E]

Without him, we wouldn't be where we're at.

[F]

Even though the Sunday service attendance is lower than she would like, Lanning believes it's important to, to encourage kids in their faith. And she's convinced having the option of church services on the road will help.

[A]

I think these kids will remember this, really, I do.

[F]

Reporting for World, I'm Elizabeth Schenck in Dunn, North Carolina.

[B]

Today is Wednesday, August 20th. Good morning, this is the World and everything in it from listener support at World Radio.

[A]

I'm Nick Iger and I'm Lindsay Mast. Up next, commentator Janie B. Cheney on living with dignity, especially in the midst of incredible suffering.

[G]

Novelist Lionel Shriver came to my attention years ago when she delivered a speech about cultural appropriation while wearing a sombrero. A little too in your face for my taste, but it took nerve. Shriver's nerves were the subject of a recent article for the Free Press titled I Lost Control of My Body. After back surgery last summer, she developed Guslaine Barre Syndrome, or gbs, a rare autoimmune disorder in which the body attacks its own nervous system. For months she was completely dependent on others for every bodily function. It was torture to type. She couldn't sit up or even turn over in bed. Even today, after months of boring and exhausting therapy, she's barely able to hobble with a cane. She may yet rejoin the ranks of the mobile, but it's a hard road ahead with uncertain rewards. Shriver has no use for subjecting to divine will. She writes, there's something passive and wussy about lying back and taking it defeatedly, making your peace with an abruptly wretched existence. I'd like to introduce her to Joni Eareckson Tada, who has managed both immobility and frequent pain almost as long as Shriver has been alive. A less passive, wussy and defeated soul would be hard to imagine. Still, could any functional person read Shriver's article without an uncomfortable reminder of how vulnerable we all are? The New York State assembly recently passed a Medical Assistance in Dying act designed to help people in such conundrums make a so called dignified exit. Dignified as opposed to dependent on strangers to feed them, clothe them and dispose of their bodily waste. I think of dignity often in connection with my husband now approaching the final stages of Alzheimer's dementia. He can still walk, sit, stand and feed himself, sometimes even with a fork, but is dependent on me for everything else. It's a mercy he could not have foreseen where he is now. But often, while changing pull ups or undressing him for bed, I remind myself this could be me someday. Along the Sea of Galilee after the resurrection, the lord told Peter, John 21 when you are old you will stretch out your hands and another will dress you and carry you where you do not want to go. Thus he predicted by what kind of death Peter was to glorify God. Not a dignified death, if tradition is true yet and by what Matthew Henry calls the strange alchemy of Providence a glorious one because Christ stretched out his own hands and let strangers take him where he dreaded to go. He knew what was coming when he prayed. Father, the hour has come. Glorify your son that your son may glorify you. Glory began with ignominious death. I kneel to towel off my husband's legs after a shower and remember Jesus kneeling to wash his disciples feet. I am obliged to treat Doug with dignity. But God has a greater goal in mind for both of us. If humiliation is the seed of a glorious bloom, how can I complain? I'm Janie Buchane.

[B]

Tomorrow comparing US illegal immigration numbers with the EU and what might be behind the difference. And one man's story of how art therapy paints a new picture after surviving cancer. That and more tomorrow. I'm Nick Iker.

[A]

And I'm Lindsay Mast. The world and every and it comes to you from World Radio. World's mission is biblically objective journalism that informs, educates and inspires. The psalmist writes, be still and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations. I will be exalted in the earth. Verse 10 of Psalm 46. Go now in grace and peace.

[D]

Sa.