The World and Everything In It
Episode: Culture Friday on the Catholic School Shooting, Spielberg’s Jaws, and Listener Feedback
Date: August 29, 2025
Host: WORLD Radio team (Myrna Brown, Nick Eicher)
Featured Guest: John Stonestreet, president of the Colson Center and host of the Breakpoint Podcast
Movie Review: Max Bells on Jaws
Episode Overview
This episode centers around three major segments:
- Culture Friday: In-depth analysis of the Minneapolis Catholic school shooting, media framing, and biblical engagement with cultural crises.
- Film Retrospective: A 50th anniversary look at Steven Spielberg’s Jaws and its enduring impact.
- Listener Feedback: Responses, corrections, and reflections from the audience on recent WORLD coverage.
The episode maintains a signature tone of earnest biblical analysis, seasoned news reporting, and warm listener engagement.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Minneapolis Catholic School Shooting and Media Framing
[00:53–18:59]
The Tragedy
- Two children, 8-year-old Fletcher Merkle and 10-year-old Harper Moisky, were killed during Mass at a Catholic school by a shooter who also wounded 18 others, most of them students.
- The shooter, a 23-year-old transgender-identifying male, left a manifesto expressing hate for many groups, including strong anti-Catholic, antisemitic sentiments, and a fascination with mass killings.
Media Coverage and its Consequences
- John Stonestreet notes that the media’s approach diverges significantly from previous incidents with similar facts, especially when it comes to the identity and motivations of the perpetrator.
- Some outlets downplayed the shooter’s transgender identity, while others reported it openly—more than in prior attacks.
- Stonestreet points out a dangerous detachment from truth: “To detach from reality on something so obvious and then pretend like that won’t have any sort of comorbidity or connection to other mental illness … it was always nonsensical. Now we have another example of people who paid the price.” ([09:44])
- Media use of pronouns and framing can serve to obscure rather than reveal important truths behind such tragedies.
The “Thoughts and Prayers” Critique
- Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey’s “don’t just say this is about thoughts and prayers” remarks ([11:51]) are echoed and amplified in national media, notably by commentators like Jen Psaki and Allie Velshi, and by Rep. Maxwell Frost. The refrain—“Thoughts and prayers aren’t enough”—is critiqued as an inadequate response.
- Stonestreet highlights the irony: “That statement, thoughts and prayers aren’t enough, but gun laws are. I mean … that is the political illusion … the problem is us. The problem is the kind of people that we are cultivating.” ([13:17], [13:53])
- He points to the disconnect between believing laws or policy changes alone suffice, versus addressing deeper cultural and spiritual crises.
Hope and Redemption – Chloe Cole’s Story
- The discussion pivots to documentary Truth Rising and the story of Chloe Cole, a young woman who detransitioned after medical interventions and found hope and peace in Christ.
- “She has this epic line in our film … 'It's not my truth or your truth. Jesus is the truth.' … Redemption is possible … that’s the task of the church.” ([16:09], [17:50])
- Stonestreet calls for Christians to be “revolutionaries” by courageously speaking truth in a culture of deception.
Notable Quotes
- “To detach from reality on something so obvious and then pretend like that won’t have any sort of comorbidity or connection to other mental illness… was always nonsensical. Now we have another example of people who paid the price.”
— John Stonestreet, [09:44] - “Thoughts and prayers aren’t enough, but gun laws are? If that’s not the political illusion, I don’t know what is.”
— John Stonestreet, [13:17] - “If George Orwell said, which I think he did, ‘In an age of deception, telling the truth is a revolutionary act,’ Christians are to be revolutionaries in this sense—and not just some of us, all of us...”
— John Stonestreet, [17:45]
2. 50th Anniversary: Steven Spielberg’s Jaws
[20:47–26:31]
The Film that Changed Summer Movies
- Jaws (1975) is hailed as the original summer blockbuster—suspenseful, action-packed, with strong performances and memorable lines ("You’re gonna need a bigger boat." [23:44])
- Max Bells highlights Spielberg’s camera work: the use of horizon, pacing, and tension above and below the waterline.
- The story’s themes are epic, recalling classics like Moby Dick and The Old Man and the Sea—ordinary people confronting an unstoppable menace.
- Notable Moments:
- Quint’s monologue about surviving the USS Indianapolis disaster ([24:59]) brings gravitas and history to the film’s central conflict.
- Insights from director Francis Ford Coppola position Spielberg as a masterful audience-centric filmmaker ([25:31]).
Notable Quotes
- “Spielberg’s visual instincts to place individuals against the blue sky or the chop of the water, heighten the action in Jaws.”
— Max Bells, [23:09] - “He was very fortunate that the kind of movie he really had a sense for was also the kind of movie that the audience had a sense for.”
— Francis Ford Coppola, [25:37]
3. Listener Feedback
[26:39–34:19]
Corrections and Clarifications
- Date mistake on Dr. James Dobson Family Institute founding corrected to 2010 ([26:59]).
- Pronunciation corrections for “Marty Makary” (FDA commissioner), “gyotaku” (Japanese art form), and “fentanyl” ([27:08–27:35]).
- Lighthearted feedback on dictionary slang pronunciation, e.g., “skibidi” ([27:57]).
Reflections and Critique
- Listeners appreciated coverage of the Scopes trial and tech/screen issues, but requested deeper scriptural engagement in some cultural segments ([29:14–30:51]).
- A mother’s moving tribute to Dr. Dobson as an encouragement for Christian parenting ([31:02]).
- Lighthearted moment with a two-year-old enjoying Myrna’s weekly sign-off—hearing “grace and peas” ([32:51]).
Engagement Invitation
- Recurring reminder for listeners to send feedback, corrections, and to participate in live events ([33:48–34:19]).
Notable Quotes
- “He was my cheerleader on the radio. … He gave me so much encouragement as a mom, reminding me I was … valuable to God … And he actually helped me get involved in political action … I still do that.”
— Brenda Davis (Listener), [31:02] - “Gregory especially loves to hear Myrna’s closing words … As he hears it, though, he hears ‘grace and peas.’ Not quite the biblical shalom we’re going for, but … when he eats his peas, that will probably bring some peace at home for sure.”
— Nick Eicher, [32:58]
Timestamps of Important Segments
- Minneapolis Catholic School Shooting—News Recap: [00:53–07:20]
- Culture Friday, In-depth Analysis: [07:29–18:59]
- Media framing: [08:54–11:26]
- “Thoughts and prayers” debate: [12:01–15:19]
- Chloe Cole & hope of redemption: [15:19–18:52]
- Jaws 50th Anniversary Retrospective: [20:47–26:31]
- Iconic moments and director’s insights: [23:44–25:49]
- Listener Feedback: [26:39–34:19]
- Corrections: [26:59–27:35]
- Listener reflections: [27:57–32:43]
- “Grace and peas” moment: [32:51]
- Invitation to WORLD Stage Houston: [33:48–34:19]
Episode Takeaways
- Culture Friday: The tragedy at the Minneapolis Catholic school highlights deep fractures and confusion in societal discourse over identity, mental health, and reality. The episode challenges listeners to move beyond platitudes (“thoughts and prayers”) to address foundational truths and offers a redemptive alternative in gospel hope.
- Jaws Retrospective: Spielberg’s classic film is celebrated as a storytelling milestone—technically innovative, viscerally thrilling, and packed with memorable themes and lines.
- Listener Feedback: WORLD maintains a culture of humility and engagement—correcting mistakes, amplifying listener voices, and staying rooted in biblical worldview.
Language & Tone
- The tone is consistently earnest, compassionate, and biblically grounded—even when offering cultural critique or engaging in spirited debate.
- Listener voices are respected and featured with warmth and light humor, helping to draw the audience into a participatory conversation.
Conclusion
This episode threads together national tragedy, pop culture, and robust listener engagement under the unifying call for biblical truth and Christian hope to prevail amid confusion and suffering. It’s an installment that blends tough news, analytical clarity, and moments of levity—representative of WORLD’s distinctive voice in Christian journalism.