# 9-8-2023 - AI Drones, Trump’s Legal Updates, and Texas Border Drama

An episode of [Pray News](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1697158801), 8 Sep 2023, 16 min.

Audio: https://podtrac.com/pts/redirect.mp3/traffic.omny.fm/d/clips/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/ce9a673d-e313-4c0a-9df4-b4d6010c32c6/8b291450-58a2-4253-a329-b4d70010211b/audio.mp3?utm_source=Podcast&in_playlist=992944cf-642c-431f-a11e-b4d6010c32cd

This is PrayNews, your Daily Christian news and beacon of hope in the stormy seas of current events. Sign up to receive PrayNews in your inbox every weekday: https://www.praynews.com/ Today’s Good News at a Glance: AI drone technology excites The Pentagon but raises some ethical concerns. A small article in the 14th Amendment threatens Trump’s ability to run for office. Texas is ordered to remove its floating barrier at the border. Pray News is your number 1 source for the top conservative news given to you daily. Download the Pray.com app and make prayer a priority in your life. Watch and listen to inspiring sermons, dramatized Bible stories, and relaxing Bedtime Bible Stories at Pray.com, the digital destination for faith. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

## Transcript

[0:00] Speaker 1: Search me, O God, and know my heart. Try me
[0:03] Speaker 1: and know my thoughts. See if there is any wicked
[0:05] Speaker 1: way in me, and lead me in the everlasting way.
[0:09] Speaker 1: Psalm 139, 23-24 Dear Lord, we invite you to search
[0:15] Speaker 1: the depths of our heart. Shine your light on the
[0:17] Speaker 1: hidden corners, exposing our fears, doubts, and anything that separates
[0:21] Speaker 1: us from you. Help us to be self-reflective rather than judgmental,
[0:26] Speaker 1: recognizing our own imperfections before we critique others. In doing so,
[0:31] Speaker 1: may we be led towards transformation, growing in grace and
[0:34] Speaker 1: in wisdom. Guide us away from paths that lead to
[0:38] Speaker 1: offense and hurt and steer us towards your eternal way,
[0:42] Speaker 1: the way of love, mercy, and everlasting peace. Thank you
[0:46] Speaker 1: for your unfailing love and for your promise to guide
[0:48] Speaker 1: and correct us when we are astray. In the holy
[0:51] Speaker 1: name of Jesus we pray, amen. Welcome to Prairie News,
[0:54] Speaker 1: where hope is our only bias. Today's news at a glance,
[0:57] Speaker 1: AI drone technology excites the Pentagon, but raises some ethical questions.
[1:02] Speaker 1: A small article in the 14th Amendment threatens Trump's ability
[1:05] Speaker 1: to run for office, and Texas is ordered to remove
[1:08] Speaker 1: its floating barrier at the border. The deeper you look
[1:11] Speaker 1: at the news, the more nuanced everything seems to be.
[1:14] Speaker 1: Sometimes you wish everything was either good or bad, good
[1:17] Speaker 1: or evil. That would make policy, politics, and relationships a
[1:20] Speaker 1: whole lot easier. However, life is complex, nuanced, and not
[1:24] Speaker 1: always black and white. Some policies are good for one demographic,
[1:27] Speaker 1: but bad for others. Some stories make certain people happy,
[1:30] Speaker 1: but others sad. As we navigate today's news, let's anchor
[1:34] Speaker 1: our hearts in one undeniable fact. God is good, people
[1:38] Speaker 1: are flawed, and we all need a little grace in
[1:40] Speaker 1: our lives. We're glad you're here. We hope today's news
[1:43] Speaker 1: leaves you informed and transformed. If you have enjoyed this
[1:47] Speaker 1: take on the news, consider leaving us a review. We
[1:49] Speaker 1: would love to hear your thoughts on how this has
[1:51] Speaker 1: impacted your life. Before we dive into today's first story,
[1:54] Speaker 1: let's hear a word from these sponsors. Today's first story
[1:57] Speaker 1: highlights some advancements in AI technology. The US Department of
[2:01] Speaker 1: Defense recently announced a major new initiative that aims to
[2:04] Speaker 1: accelerate the deployment of artificial intelligence in weapons systems. The project,
[2:09] Speaker 1: dubbed Replicator, is being heralded as a game-changing shift in
[2:12] Speaker 1: defense and security. especially as the U.S. aims to curtail
[2:16] Speaker 1: China's growing global influence. While the initiative promises to revolutionize
[2:20] Speaker 1: warfare by making it more efficient and minimizing human risk,
[2:23] Speaker 1: it also raises some ethical concerns, especially when it comes
[2:26] Speaker 1: for the potential for unintended casualties. Deputy Secretary of Defense
[2:30] Speaker 1: Kathleen Hicks announced the initiative at a defense news conference
[2:33] Speaker 1: in Arlington, Virginia. The Replicator program aims to deploy thousands
[2:38] Speaker 1: of AI-powered weapons and security systems across all military domains
[2:41] Speaker 1: within the next 18 to 24 months. According to Hicks,
[2:44] Speaker 1: these units will be small, smart, cheap, and many, including
[2:49] Speaker 1: drones capable of operating at various altitudes and potentially even
[2:52] Speaker 1: being solar-powered. The program will not require additional funding or personnel,
[2:57] Speaker 1: but it will utilize existing resources. Replicator's proponents argue that
[3:02] Speaker 1: the integration of AI into weapons systems could offer several advantages. First,
[3:06] Speaker 1: it could provide a, quote, military advantage faster, unquote, over
[3:09] Speaker 1: global competitors like China. Second, by deploying autonomous systems that
[3:13] Speaker 1: can operate without human intervention, the initiative aims to put
[3:16] Speaker 1: fewer human soldiers in line of fire, thus reducing casualties.
[3:20] Speaker 1: Make no mistake, Hicks said, Replicator signals from the top
[3:23] Speaker 1: that we are embarking on an audacious change fast, using
[3:27] Speaker 1: the means we have to face an urgent challenge, and
[3:29] Speaker 1: we intend to meet it with courage to bet big.
[3:32] Speaker 1: Despite its potential benefits, though, the Replicator program is not
[3:35] Speaker 1: without controversy. human rights organizations and ethicists have expressed concern
[3:40] Speaker 1: about the potential for, quote, killer robots to be deployed
[3:44] Speaker 1: without sufficient human oversight. Critics argue that autonomous systems may
[3:48] Speaker 1: not possess the ethical or moral reasoning to discriminate between
[3:51] Speaker 1: combatants and non-combatants, which could lead to unintended casualties, perhaps
[3:56] Speaker 1: not of U.S. soldiers that we're putting on the ground,
[3:58] Speaker 1: but other people, civilians. The Pentagon has responded to these
[4:02] Speaker 1: concerns by stating that appropriate levels of human judgment will
[4:06] Speaker 1: be involved in any use of force. Hicks assured that
[4:09] Speaker 1: the U.S. will maintain its ethical standards for autonomous weapons, adding,
[4:13] Speaker 1: there is always a human responsible for the use of force,
[4:16] Speaker 1: full stop. The introduction of autonomous AI systems in warfare
[4:20] Speaker 1: raises some deep ethical and moral questions, though. While these
[4:23] Speaker 1: technologies can minimize the risk to human soldiers, we must
[4:27] Speaker 1: also consider their potential to harm innocent lives. The Bible
[4:30] Speaker 1: teaches us that leaders are held accountable for their actions,
[4:33] Speaker 1: and as illustrated in passages like Romans 13 and 1
[4:36] Speaker 1: Peter 2, which discuss the responsibility of governing authorities to
[4:40] Speaker 1: protect the people around them. The deployment of AI in
[4:43] Speaker 1: warfare presents a complex moral landscape that requires careful thought, prayer,
[4:47] Speaker 1: and discernment. It forces us to consider whether we are
[4:51] Speaker 1: stewarding our technological advancements responsibly and ethically, or if it's
[4:55] Speaker 1: just a matter of we can do this, so we will.
[4:58] Speaker 1: As we move towards a new frontier in military technology,
[5:01] Speaker 1: it is imperative that we proceed with caution. fully aware
[5:04] Speaker 1: of the potential consequences, while never forgetting the sacredness of
[5:07] Speaker 1: human life that our faith teaches us to uphold. So
[5:11] Speaker 1: with all these being said, let's lift this story up
[5:13] Speaker 1: in prayer. Heavenly Father, we pray for wisdom and discernment
[5:16] Speaker 1: as technological advancements like the Replicator Program become a part
[5:19] Speaker 1: of our defense systems and our everyday lives. Guide those
[5:22] Speaker 1: in positions of power to make ethical decisions that honor
[5:25] Speaker 1: the sacredness of human life. May we tread carefully in
[5:28] Speaker 1: uncharted moral landscapes and not just continue because we want
[5:32] Speaker 1: to defeat our enemies. Let's always keep in mind the
[5:34] Speaker 1: heavy responsibilities that come with wielding such technologies. Guide us
[5:38] Speaker 1: with wisdom, love, and discernment. And we pray these things
[5:41] Speaker 1: with trust, that you are going to have your way
[5:43] Speaker 1: among us. In Jesus' name, amen. Our next story is
[5:47] Speaker 1: yet another chapter in Donald Trump's saga of legal battles.
[5:50] Speaker 1: As former President Donald Trump edges closer to another Republican
[5:54] Speaker 1: presidential nomination, a pivotal question looms. Can the 14th Amendment's
[5:58] Speaker 1: disqualification clause bar him from running for public office? This question,
[6:03] Speaker 1: which seemed purely academic before, is suddenly very much alive.
[6:07] Speaker 1: Legal challenges are springing up across states, adding a new
[6:11] Speaker 1: layer of complexity to the American political landscape. The focus
[6:15] Speaker 1: is primarily on Section 3 of the 14th Amendment, crafted
[6:18] Speaker 1: during the Reconstruction era. This section disqualifies individuals from public
[6:22] Speaker 1: office if they swore an oath to defend the Constitution
[6:24] Speaker 1: and then engaged in insurrection or rebellion against the U.S.
[6:28] Speaker 1: or aided its enemies. Originally drafted to prevent Confederates from
[6:32] Speaker 1: reclaiming power through democratic means, Section 3 has regained prominence
[6:36] Speaker 1: after the Capitol riot in January 6, 2021. A comprehensive
[6:41] Speaker 1: law review article by William Bowd of the University of
[6:43] Speaker 1: Chicago and Michael Stokes Paulson of the University of St.
[6:47] Speaker 1: Thomas argues that Trump's actions leading up to the Capitol
[6:50] Speaker 1: riot should render him ineligible for future public office. They
[6:54] Speaker 1: propose that state election officials or courts can apply Section
[6:58] Speaker 1: 3 without needing impeachment proceedings, congressional action, or criminal convictions.
[7:03] Speaker 1: While no election authority has officially declared Trump ineligible yet,
[7:07] Speaker 1: officials in Michigan and New Hampshire are reportedly studying the
[7:10] Speaker 1: amendment's relevance. Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson, for example,
[7:14] Speaker 1: indicated that valid legal arguments exist for excluding Trump from
[7:18] Speaker 1: the primary ballot. Donald Trump has obviously refuted these attempts
[7:23] Speaker 1: to disqualify him, describing them as an attempt to manipulate
[7:26] Speaker 1: the upcoming election. He argues that almost all legal scholars, quote,
[7:31] Speaker 1: doubt the legal foundation for these challenges. Furthermore, other scholars
[7:35] Speaker 1: like Noah Feldman and Michael McConnell have questioned the validity
[7:38] Speaker 1: of the case against Trump. One pivotal court case from 1869,
[7:43] Speaker 1: ruled by Chief Justice Solomon Chase, set the precedent that
[7:46] Speaker 1: litigants could not invoke Section 3 without legislative backing. The
[7:50] Speaker 1: lack of such federal legislation today could pose challenges for
[7:53] Speaker 1: those seeking to disqualify Trump. Questions also linger about whether
[7:57] Speaker 1: a former president falls under the category of an officer
[8:00] Speaker 1: to the United States as specified in Section 3. The
[8:03] Speaker 1: debate is far from settled. While some argue that Trump's
[8:07] Speaker 1: actions on January 6th could disqualify him, others warn of
[8:10] Speaker 1: the dangers of misinterpreting Section 3 and the precedents it
[8:13] Speaker 1: could set. Cases challenging eligibility based on Section 3 have
[8:17] Speaker 1: generally been unsuccessful, although there have been exceptions, like the
[8:21] Speaker 1: case of Otero County Commissioner Coy Griffin in New Mexico.
[8:25] Speaker 1: As we watch these legal proceedings unfold, it reminds us
[8:29] Speaker 1: of a deeper, timeless truth. Leaders are accountable for their actions.
[8:34] Speaker 1: The Bible says that leaders are watched by God and
[8:36] Speaker 1: will be judged by him in Hebrews 13. In a
[8:38] Speaker 1: society torn by partisanship, it is crucial for us to
[8:41] Speaker 1: approach these matters with discernment and to remember that ultimately,
[8:45] Speaker 1: every leader answers to a higher power. Whether or not
[8:48] Speaker 1: the 14th Amendment will be applied to disqualify a former president,
[8:51] Speaker 1: we ought to be diligent, prayerful, and committed to the
[8:53] Speaker 1: truth and justice in our own lives. Are we in
[8:56] Speaker 1: a community that holds us accountable for our actions? Have
[8:59] Speaker 1: we avoided community correction and conviction of sin for the
[9:02] Speaker 1: sake of comfort or the sake of convenience? These questions
[9:06] Speaker 1: are worth asking, and we want to direct all of
[9:08] Speaker 1: our introspection inwards instead of just being merely critical of
[9:12] Speaker 1: our leaders. May we all exercise self-reflection today, probing our
[9:16] Speaker 1: hearts to see if we have fallen short of being honest, accountable,
[9:19] Speaker 1: and willing to grow in our mistakes. As it says
[9:22] Speaker 1: in Psalm 139, Search me, O God, and know my heart.
[9:26] Speaker 1: try me and know my thoughts. See if there's any
[9:28] Speaker 1: wicked way in me and lead me in the everlasting way. So,
[9:32] Speaker 1: let's lift this story up in prayer, giving it up
[9:35] Speaker 1: to our Lord. Dear Lord Jesus, as our nation navigates
[9:38] Speaker 1: complex legal and ethical questions, we pray for wisdom and
[9:41] Speaker 1: discernment for all involved. May truth and justice prevail in
[9:44] Speaker 1: a climate of deep division and partisanship. Guide our leaders
[9:48] Speaker 1: and our citizens to act in ways that honor you,
[9:50] Speaker 1: holding ourselves accountable to higher principles of integrity and responsibility.
[9:54] Speaker 1: Transform our hearts, Lord, and may we not grow bitter
[9:57] Speaker 1: in all of these discussions. Rather, may we direct our
[10:00] Speaker 1: attention upwards, being better every single day for the sake
[10:03] Speaker 1: of your kingdom and drawing closer to you. In Jesus' name, amen.
[10:08] Speaker 1: Our last story of today sparks a debate between security
[10:11] Speaker 1: and compassion. In a ruling that has reignited debate over
[10:14] Speaker 1: border control and immigration, a federal judge recently ordered the
[10:17] Speaker 1: state of Texas to remove floating buoys placed on the
[10:20] Speaker 1: Rio Grande River. These buoys, part of Texas' broader Operation
[10:24] Speaker 1: Lone Star aimed at curbing migration, were intended to deter
[10:27] Speaker 1: migrants from crossing into the United States from Mexico. The
[10:30] Speaker 1: judge's decision has drawn varied reactions, highlighting the complex and
[10:34] Speaker 1: nuanced issue of maintaining border integrity while respecting human dignity. U.S.
[10:39] Speaker 1: District Judge David Ezra, an appointee of former President Ronald Reagan,
[10:43] Speaker 1: ruled that the floating buoys threatened safety and diplomatic relations.
[10:47] Speaker 1: His decision came in response to a lawsuit filed by
[10:50] Speaker 1: the Biden administration, which raised concerns about the water barrier's
[10:54] Speaker 1: humanitarian and environmental impacts. Judge Ezra further questioned the efficacy
[10:58] Speaker 1: of the barriers, noting that there was, quote, no credible
[11:01] Speaker 1: evidence that the buoy barriers as installed has significantly curtailed
[11:05] Speaker 1: illegal immigration, unquote. Texas officials led by Republican Governor Greg
[11:09] Speaker 1: Abbott have stated they plan to appeal this decision. Governor
[11:13] Speaker 1: Abbott criticized the ruling, claiming it merely prolongs President Joe
[11:17] Speaker 1: Biden's willful refusal to acknowledge that Texas is rightfully stepping
[11:21] Speaker 1: up to do the job that he should have been
[11:22] Speaker 1: doing all along. The Rio Grande area, particularly around Eagle Pass,
[11:27] Speaker 1: has seen approximately 270,000 migrant detentions this fiscal year. Texas
[11:33] Speaker 1: installed the buoys in July, covering about 1,000 feet of
[11:36] Speaker 1: the river. as a part of a broader strategy to
[11:38] Speaker 1: curb illegal immigration. However, the effort raised concerns over safety,
[11:42] Speaker 1: particularly given the risky endeavors many migrants undertake to cross
[11:47] Speaker 1: the U.S. Moreover, the water barrier was criticized for violating
[11:51] Speaker 1: federal laws that govern waterways. Judge Ezra's ruling also touched
[11:55] Speaker 1: on the possible diplomatic fallout from Texas's actions, a sentiment
[11:59] Speaker 1: echoed by U.S. Associate Attorney General Vanita Gupta. who stated
[12:03] Speaker 1: that the barrier irreparably harms diplomatic relations, public safety, navigation,
[12:07] Speaker 1: and the operations of federal agency officials in and out
[12:10] Speaker 1: of the Rio Grande. This perspective resonates at a time
[12:14] Speaker 1: when international cooperation is essential for addressing the root causes
[12:18] Speaker 1: of illegal immigration. The floating barrier issue underscores the fine
[12:23] Speaker 1: line between maintaining border integrity and showing compassion for migrants
[12:27] Speaker 1: who are often fleeing dangerous situations. The state of Texas
[12:30] Speaker 1: argues that measures like the floating buoys and the 60-mile
[12:33] Speaker 1: razor wire fence are necessary for keeping borders secure and
[12:37] Speaker 1: deterring illegal activity such as drug smuggling. Critics argue that
[12:41] Speaker 1: such measures lack humanity and violate international law, calling instead
[12:45] Speaker 1: for a more compassionate approach to migration. But how do
[12:47] Speaker 1: you balance that compassion security? In a country often torn
[12:52] Speaker 1: between a call for strong borders and the call for compassion,
[12:55] Speaker 1: the debate over floating barrier and wires is adds another
[12:59] Speaker 1: layer to a complex issue. The very essence of the debate,
[13:02] Speaker 1: though it seems like just a matter of law and policy,
[13:04] Speaker 1: is fundamentally a question about values. What is the right
[13:07] Speaker 1: balance between protecting a nation's boundaries and respecting the intrinsic
[13:10] Speaker 1: dignity of every human being that's trying to better their
[13:13] Speaker 1: lives by crossing the border? The Bible speaks frequently of
[13:17] Speaker 1: the stranger, the alien, and the wanderer, often urging believers
[13:21] Speaker 1: to extend kindness and hospitality. Verses like Matthew 25-35, where
[13:25] Speaker 1: Jesus speaks of welcoming the stranger, and the Old Testament
[13:27] Speaker 1: injunctions to care for the alien as one would a native-born,
[13:31] Speaker 1: like Leviticus 19, challenges us to look at immigration not
[13:34] Speaker 1: just as a political issue, but as a moral and
[13:36] Speaker 1: spiritual one as well. However, the Bible also provides wisdom
[13:40] Speaker 1: on the need for law and order, as seen in
[13:42] Speaker 1: passages like Romans 13, which speak of the role of
[13:45] Speaker 1: governing authorities in maintaining peace and justice and security for all.
[13:49] Speaker 1: The removal of Texas's floating buoys from the Rio Grande
[13:52] Speaker 1: brings to the forefront a need for a balanced, thoughtful
[13:55] Speaker 1: discourse on immigration policy. As we said in our opening,
[13:58] Speaker 1: not everything is black and white. There's nuance. Is it
[14:01] Speaker 1: good to keep our borders safe and secure from drug smuggling? Absolutely.
[14:07] Speaker 1: Is it okay to put up buoys and razor wires
[14:11] Speaker 1: that could possibly harm children? Absolutely not. Two things can
[14:15] Speaker 1: be true at the same time. And as believers, it
[14:18] Speaker 1: behooves us to consider how to uphold the rule of
[14:20] Speaker 1: law while also caring for the least of these, as
[14:22] Speaker 1: Jesus called them. It's nuanced issue that does not lend
[14:26] Speaker 1: itself to easy answers, but requires prayerful consideration, thorough dialogue,
[14:30] Speaker 1: and a deep respect for the sanctity of all humans.
[14:34] Speaker 1: So let's close our time in prayer, calling for compassion, conviction,
[14:37] Speaker 1: and everything in between. Heavenly Father, as our nation grapples
[14:40] Speaker 1: with complex issues of border control and human dignity, grant
[14:43] Speaker 1: wisdom to our leaders and compassion to our citizens. May
[14:47] Speaker 1: we find a balanced approach that respects the law while
[14:49] Speaker 1: also honoring the innate worth of every individual. Guide us
[14:53] Speaker 1: through these challenging times to make decisions that reflect your
[14:55] Speaker 1: justice and your mercy. Even when we stumble, would you
[14:58] Speaker 1: help us, Lord? Even when we fail, would you lift
[15:01] Speaker 1: us up? And in all things, may we strive to
[15:04] Speaker 1: reflect your kindness, your mercy, your justice, and your compassion.
[15:08] Speaker 1: We love you, Lord. And it's in Jesus' name we pray. Amen.
[15:12] Speaker 1: Thank you for joining us today on Pray News. It
[15:14] Speaker 1: is our aim to be informed and transformed. We pray
[15:16] Speaker 1: today you would proceed with hope, love, and determination to
[15:19] Speaker 1: be a force for good. If you've enjoyed this take
[15:21] Speaker 1: on the news, consider writing us a review and share
[15:23] Speaker 1: your experience. We would love to hear from you. You
[15:25] Speaker 1: can sign up for our newsletter at PrayNews.com. On that website,
[15:28] Speaker 1: you will find all the sources to our reporting. And
[15:30] Speaker 1: be sure to download the Pray.com app to make prayer
[15:32] Speaker 1: a priority in your life and experience the Bible in
[15:35] Speaker 1: new and exciting ways. God bless.

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