# 7-21-23 - Integrity Boost for Lawmakers, World Cup Kickoff, and Hollywood Influencers

An episode of [Pray News](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1697158801), 21 Jul 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/e6297f54-bd0a-418a-b556-b4d7002a5b94/audio.mp3?utm_source=Podcast&in_playlist=992944cf-642c-431f-a11e-b4d6010c32cd

This is PrayNews, your 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 News at a Glance: • Some headway is being made in Government accountability. • The FIFA Women’s World Cup is underway and breaking records. • Social media influencers are forced to choose between actors and executives. 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. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

## Transcript

[0:02] Speaker 1: When the righteous thrive, the people rejoice. When the wicked rule,
[0:07] Speaker 1: the people groan. Proverbs 29, 2. Dear Lord, we pray
[0:12] Speaker 1: for our leaders in every sphere, in government, in our workplaces,
[0:16] Speaker 1: in our schools, and in our homes. May they be
[0:19] Speaker 1: guided by your righteousness, that they might govern with wisdom, justice,
[0:24] Speaker 1: and integrity. Let their leadership bring joy, peace, and prosperity
[0:28] Speaker 1: to all people under their care. And give us discernment
[0:31] Speaker 1: to recognize and support leaders who seek to do your will.
[0:35] Speaker 1: Help us contribute to a society where righteousness thrives and
[0:39] Speaker 1: where your love is reflected in our laws and in
[0:42] Speaker 1: our actions. Protect our communities and nations from the harm
[0:47] Speaker 1: that comes from wicked people. And thank you, Lord, for
[0:50] Speaker 1: your providence and love. May your righteousness fill the earth
[0:54] Speaker 1: as the waters cover the sea. We pray these things
[0:58] Speaker 1: with trust in Jesus' name. Amen. Welcome to Prey News,
[1:04] Speaker 1: where hope is our only bias. Today's news at a glance,
[1:07] Speaker 1: some headway is being made in government accountability. The FIFA
[1:10] Speaker 1: Women's World Cup is underway and already breaking records. And
[1:14] Speaker 1: social media influencers are forced to choose between actors and executives.
[1:19] Speaker 1: Thanks for joining us today for Prey News. Keeping up
[1:21] Speaker 1: with current events without getting jaded and cynical can be exhausting.
[1:26] Speaker 1: So we pray this take on news is refreshing. We
[1:29] Speaker 1: aim to leave you both informed and transformed. Before we
[1:33] Speaker 1: dive into today's news, let's hear a word from our sponsors.
[1:39] Speaker 1: Our first story of today is hopefully a step four
[1:42] Speaker 1: in transparency in Washington. Senators Kirsten Gillibrand and Josh Hawley
[1:48] Speaker 1: are expected to introduce a bipartisan bill prohibiting members of
[1:52] Speaker 1: the federal executive branch and lawmakers from owning stocks in
[1:55] Speaker 1: individual companies. This proposed legislation comes in response to the
[1:59] Speaker 1: Wall Street Journal's findings last year that several top executive
[2:03] Speaker 1: branch employees and lawmakers held shares in companies they were
[2:08] Speaker 1: tasked in regulating. That's an obvious conflict of interests, since
[2:12] Speaker 1: these companies that they're regulating, they also have vested interest in.
[2:17] Speaker 1: Senator Gillibrand emphasized that the proposed legislation seeks to assure
[2:21] Speaker 1: the public that their elected leaders prioritize their public duties
[2:25] Speaker 1: over personal profit. The conflict of interest rules that are
[2:28] Speaker 1: currently established, although stringent on the outside, are perceived to
[2:32] Speaker 1: be punctuated by loopholes and omissions and have sometimes been
[2:36] Speaker 1: completely disregarded and waived altogether. The legislation contains severe penalties
[2:42] Speaker 1: for those who breach its conditions, such as requiring executive
[2:45] Speaker 1: branch employees to forfeit profits from stock trading and imposing
[2:49] Speaker 1: fines exceeding $ 10, 000. The proposed bill completely bans the practice
[2:54] Speaker 1: of trading individual stocks from companies that they are tasked
[2:57] Speaker 1: with regulating. Noncompliance could result in a penalty of at
[3:01] Speaker 1: least 10% of the value of the prohibited investments. The
[3:05] Speaker 1: proposed legislation has massive public support from Democrats and Republicans alike.
[3:10] Speaker 1: This is a show of unity, it's bipartisan, and with 80%
[3:15] Speaker 1: of voters in favor of banning stock ownership by government officials,
[3:19] Speaker 1: including Congress members, the president, vice president, Supreme Court justices,
[3:23] Speaker 1: and their families, this is catching steam. Despite its controversial
[3:27] Speaker 1: reception with Congress, the legislation is one of approximately a
[3:31] Speaker 1: dozen bills seeking to revamp government rules for stock trading
[3:35] Speaker 1: within Congress and the executive branch. This proposal also includes
[3:39] Speaker 1: the creation of a public and searchable database for stock
[3:43] Speaker 1: transactions by members of Congress, their staff, and employees of
[3:47] Speaker 1: the executive branch. A lot of lawmakers are currently sitting
[3:50] Speaker 1: on committees that regulate and deregulate companies that they currently
[3:54] Speaker 1: own stock in. This development is of interest to us
[3:58] Speaker 1: as it resonates with the biblical emphasis on honest and
[4:01] Speaker 1: just governance. We want to call our public servants to
[4:04] Speaker 1: act with integrity and transparency. Proverbs 29.2 says, When the
[4:08] Speaker 1: righteous thrive, the people rejoice. When the wicked rule, the
[4:12] Speaker 1: people groan. When the government's top leaders are acting... unjustly,
[4:18] Speaker 1: it trickles down and it affects all of us. The
[4:21] Speaker 1: proposed legislation aligns with biblical wisdom by seeking to eliminate
[4:25] Speaker 1: potential conflicts of interest that could lead to unethical decisions.
[4:29] Speaker 1: This fosters a government where service to the people, not
[4:32] Speaker 1: personal gain, guides decision making. The creation of a public
[4:36] Speaker 1: database also embodies the spirit of transparency, enabling citizens to
[4:40] Speaker 1: hold their leaders accountable, similar to the belief in living
[4:44] Speaker 1: openly before God and others. However, we're realistic. We recognize
[4:49] Speaker 1: that laws and regulations can only go so far. They
[4:52] Speaker 1: can't change the trajectory of the human spirit. They can't
[4:56] Speaker 1: make us righteous. True transformation comes from a change of heart.
[5:00] Speaker 1: As emphasized in Ezekiel 36, when God says, I will
[5:03] Speaker 1: give you a new heart and put a new spirit
[5:06] Speaker 1: in you. I will remove you from your heart of
[5:08] Speaker 1: stone and give you a heart of flesh. We're praying
[5:12] Speaker 1: that the righteousness of God, the word of God, and
[5:14] Speaker 1: the love of God tenderizes the hearts of our leaders
[5:17] Speaker 1: so that they might be driven to make good, ethical,
[5:21] Speaker 1: and righteous decisions on their own without being pressed by
[5:25] Speaker 1: outside regulations. And while we applaud measures that encourage ethical
[5:29] Speaker 1: conduct and transparency, we're going to encourage everyone to pray
[5:33] Speaker 1: for our nation's leaders, that they might seek wisdom and
[5:36] Speaker 1: guidance from God in their personal lives and public duties.
[5:39] Speaker 1: With that said, let's lift this up to the Lord
[5:41] Speaker 1: and pray. May this initiative not only be about adherence
[5:45] Speaker 1: to laws, but inspire a change of heart and a
[5:46] Speaker 1: renewed commitment to serve selflessly instead of selfishly. We pray
[6:06] Speaker 1: these things with trust that your spirit will prevail and
[6:09] Speaker 1: your truth will set us free. In Jesus' name, amen.
[6:14] Speaker 1: The ninth edition of the FIFA Women's World Cup is
[6:17] Speaker 1: underway in Auckland, where co-host New Zealand defeated Norway in
[6:21] Speaker 1: the opener 1-0. This year's tournament, the largest to date,
[6:26] Speaker 1: will run from July 20th to August 20th, featuring 32
[6:29] Speaker 1: teams competing in 64 matches across 10 venues in Australia
[6:34] Speaker 1: and New Zealand. The U.S. Women's National Team, the two-time
[6:38] Speaker 1: defending champions, are considered favorites for an unprecedented third consecutive
[6:43] Speaker 1: title and a record fifth overall. This year's Women's World
[6:47] Speaker 1: Cup is predicted to be a closer competition than in
[6:50] Speaker 1: previous years, with many European nations closing the gap on
[6:54] Speaker 1: the high-flying U.S. team. The tournament will also be hosted
[6:57] Speaker 1: in two countries for the first time ever, with games
[7:00] Speaker 1: held in six stadiums across Australia and four in New Zealand.
[7:04] Speaker 1: Anticipation is high, with ticket sales outpacing the previous tournament
[7:08] Speaker 1: held in France. This surge in interest marks the tournament
[7:12] Speaker 1: as likely to be the most attended standalone women's sporting
[7:15] Speaker 1: event in history. Participating teams include favorites like the U.S., Germany,
[7:21] Speaker 1: and England, and the 2019 runner-up, Netherlands. But there's also
[7:26] Speaker 1: countries making their debut. Haiti, Morocco, Panama, the Philippines, Portugal,
[7:30] Speaker 1: the Republic of Ireland, Vietnam, and Zambia. The tournament also
[7:35] Speaker 1: brings together some of the best talents in women's soccer.
[7:37] Speaker 1: Australia's Sam Kerr, U.S. 's Megan Rapinoe and Alex Morgan,
[7:42] Speaker 1: and Spain's Alexia Puteles are among some of the top
[7:45] Speaker 1: players to watch. There will be some prominent absences, though,
[7:48] Speaker 1: because ACL tears are sweeping through the league right now.
[7:53] Speaker 1: The prize money for this year's tournament has increased significantly
[7:56] Speaker 1: to $ 110 million. This is showcasing FIFA's efforts to reduce
[8:00] Speaker 1: the pay gap between men's and women's World Cups, which
[8:03] Speaker 1: has been a hotly debated topic in the last few years.
[8:07] Speaker 1: But this increase in pay is not just some equality effort.
[8:11] Speaker 1: Women's sports are making a surge right now. So the
[8:14] Speaker 1: increased prize money is reflecting the larger market value the
[8:17] Speaker 1: sport is bringing in. Projected ticket sales are set to
[8:20] Speaker 1: surpass the 1.1 million sold in the previous World Cup
[8:24] Speaker 1: in France. Early data indicates that this year's World Cup
[8:28] Speaker 1: could reach 2 billion viewers, nearly doubling the numbers from
[8:31] Speaker 1: the 2019 tournament. For the first time, FIFA is guaranteeing
[8:36] Speaker 1: direct payments for the players, with each player set to
[8:39] Speaker 1: earn a minimum of $ 30, 000 from a $ 110 million prize pool.
[8:43] Speaker 1: This is a 300% increase from the 2019 French World Cup.
[8:49] Speaker 1: The World Cup is a widely unifying experience. In a
[8:53] Speaker 1: diverse geopolitical landscape, It's always refreshing for the world to
[8:57] Speaker 1: unite under the shared love of a game. Ephesians 4.3
[9:01] Speaker 1: encourages us to The World Cup is a great reminder
[9:08] Speaker 1: that unity, although it requires work, brings us joy. Sporting
[9:12] Speaker 1: events like the Women's World Cup embody values that resonate
[9:15] Speaker 1: with our faith. Unity, teamwork, fair competition... As this tournament begins,
[9:20] Speaker 1: we at Pray News encourage our listeners to support these athletes,
[9:24] Speaker 1: lift them up in prayer, appreciate the dedication, discipline, and
[9:28] Speaker 1: enjoy some time with friends and family and watch their
[9:31] Speaker 1: talent on display. So, let's lift everyone in prayer. Dear
[9:37] Speaker 1: Heavenly Father, we ask for your blessing and protection over
[9:40] Speaker 1: all the Women's World Cup athletes. May this event continue
[9:43] Speaker 1: to promote unity, sportsmanship, and hope in a world that
[9:46] Speaker 1: needs these values. Please grant strength, resilience, and fairness to
[9:50] Speaker 1: all teams. In Jesus' name, amen. Our final story of
[9:54] Speaker 1: today is an update on all the strikes happening in Hollywood.
[9:58] Speaker 1: The Screen Actors Guild American Foundation of Television and Radio Artists, SAG-AFTRA,
[10:04] Speaker 1: which is a very long acronym, has issued a stern
[10:07] Speaker 1: warning to social media influencers during their ongoing strike. This
[10:10] Speaker 1: is a development that sparked significant debate within the digital
[10:13] Speaker 1: entertainment world. The union, which represent Hollywood actors among other
[10:18] Speaker 1: industry personnel, has outlined strict guidelines for influencers who might
[10:22] Speaker 1: be tempted to take up promotional work for studios during
[10:24] Speaker 1: the strike. Even if influencers are not currently members of
[10:28] Speaker 1: the Actors Guild, taking promotional work for studios and crossing
[10:33] Speaker 1: the digital picket line, quote, will result in them being
[10:37] Speaker 1: barred from joining the Guild in the future. The union's
[10:40] Speaker 1: stance even extends to advising creators not to promote any
[10:43] Speaker 1: work from the studios, even if it's simply as a fan.
[10:48] Speaker 1: This move underscores the increasingly complex relationship between traditional entertainment structures,
[10:54] Speaker 1: such as SAG-AFTRA, and the growing influence of digital creators.
[10:58] Speaker 1: The union has existed for decades, while influencers have only
[11:02] Speaker 1: emerged in this significant landscape in the past 5-10 years.
[11:07] Speaker 1: In a bid to embrace this new wave, the Guild
[11:09] Speaker 1: opened up membership to influencers in 2021, and this was
[11:13] Speaker 1: a development that contributed to the ongoing intermingling of the
[11:17] Speaker 1: old and new entertainment. Yet, the current situation puts influencers
[11:22] Speaker 1: in a difficult position. While many digital creators aspire to
[11:25] Speaker 1: make it in Hollywood, they also have to balance their
[11:28] Speaker 1: short-term financial needs with their long-term ambitions. With studios offering
[11:32] Speaker 1: them financial incentives for promotional work, influencers are forced to
[11:36] Speaker 1: weigh the short-term gain against the potential long-term ramifications of
[11:41] Speaker 1: cross-hitting the digital picket line. Influencers have become a key
[11:45] Speaker 1: cog in the Hollywood's promotional machine. used to generate buzz
[11:49] Speaker 1: and reach younger audiences ahead of movie releases. This dependence
[11:54] Speaker 1: adds another layer of complexity to the situation, making the
[11:58] Speaker 1: union stand a hot-button issue with entertainment. As it stands,
[12:04] Speaker 1: the union negotiations are not progressing smoothly. On top of
[12:08] Speaker 1: disagreements over minimum wage increases, there are contentions discussing the
[12:12] Speaker 1: union's proposal that actors receive a cut of subscriber revenue
[12:17] Speaker 1: generated from performances that land on streaming platforms. And this
[12:20] Speaker 1: is a suggestion that studios have outright rejected. As a result,
[12:25] Speaker 1: it seems that the entertainment industry is set for a
[12:28] Speaker 1: prolonged period of negotiations and tensions. It's important for us
[12:32] Speaker 1: to remember that people affected by this strike are more
[12:35] Speaker 1: than just big studio executives and more than high-paid actors.
[12:39] Speaker 1: There's lower-paid actors that usually do extra work in commercials,
[12:43] Speaker 1: but then there's also all of the camera operators out there.
[12:47] Speaker 1: all of the DPs, all of the key grips, all
[12:51] Speaker 1: of the studio and set designers, all of the makeup artists,
[12:55] Speaker 1: all of the administrative assistants and accountants that all rely
[13:00] Speaker 1: on Hollywood to feed their families. And so as the
[13:03] Speaker 1: situation progresses, the stakes get higher, not just for the actors,
[13:07] Speaker 1: not just for the studio executives, but for everyone involved
[13:10] Speaker 1: in the industry. The longer this goes, the worse it's
[13:14] Speaker 1: going to get for a lot of people. And that
[13:16] Speaker 1: seems to be something that the Hollywood executives are betting on.
[13:20] Speaker 1: They want the temperatures to rise and they want people
[13:22] Speaker 1: to feel the pressure so that they have a better
[13:26] Speaker 1: stance in the negotiating table. As it stands, from a
[13:31] Speaker 1: Christian standpoint, the ongoing situation in the entertainment industry calls
[13:35] Speaker 1: for deep prayer and also understanding and application of biblical
[13:39] Speaker 1: principles and seeking resolution. Previously reporting on this issue, we
[13:43] Speaker 1: emphasized the need for open dialogue and understanding for those
[13:46] Speaker 1: who rely on Hollywood to feed their families. The people
[13:49] Speaker 1: currently embroiled in protests aren't just big-name actors, but also
[13:53] Speaker 1: the background actors and writers who make significantly less. Big
[13:56] Speaker 1: studios like Disney have taken a passive approach, waiting for
[13:59] Speaker 1: people to run out of money so they will be
[14:01] Speaker 1: more desperate at the bargaining table. We're saddened by this,
[14:04] Speaker 1: and we will continue to pray for those involved. Secondly,
[14:08] Speaker 1: This issue underlies the importance of fairness and justice, principles
[14:12] Speaker 1: that are deeply embedded in our Christian teachings. Both sides
[14:16] Speaker 1: of the dispute have valid concerns and aspirations that need
[14:20] Speaker 1: to be acknowledged and addressed. The Bible reminds us in
[14:23] Speaker 1: Proverbs 31 to open your mouth, judge righteously, and defend
[14:27] Speaker 1: the rights of the poor and needy. This principle can
[14:29] Speaker 1: guide those involved in negotiations to seek out some fair
[14:32] Speaker 1: outcomes for all parties. Finally, It highlights the importance of
[14:36] Speaker 1: maintaining integrity in our dealings. For these influencers, the decision
[14:40] Speaker 1: to cross the digital picket line is not just a
[14:43] Speaker 1: question of integrity, but also a business decision. These people
[14:46] Speaker 1: also need to put food on the table and pay
[14:48] Speaker 1: their rent. And so we're going to be praying for
[14:50] Speaker 1: them as well. Proverbs 10, 9 reminds us that whoever
[14:53] Speaker 1: walks in integrity walks securely. So let's lift everyone in prayer.
[14:57] Speaker 1: Dear Lord, we lift up those involved in the entertainment
[15:00] Speaker 1: industry's ongoing disputes. Provide them with wisdom, understanding, and the
[15:04] Speaker 1: spirit of fairness during these negotiations. For the influencers in
[15:07] Speaker 1: a difficult position, grant them wisdom and integrity. And we
[15:11] Speaker 1: pray for a resolution that values all parties and fosters
[15:14] Speaker 1: a spirit of collaboration. As some people are suffering because
[15:18] Speaker 1: they're not getting paid and they're not able to provide
[15:20] Speaker 1: for their families, we pray for your provision. We pray
[15:23] Speaker 1: for your comfort. In these trying times, we trust in
[15:25] Speaker 1: your goodness. and in all things we desire for your
[15:28] Speaker 1: kingdom to come and your will to be done on
[15:31] Speaker 1: earth as it is in heaven. So we pray all
[15:33] Speaker 1: these things with trust in Jesus' name. Amen. Thank you
[15:38] Speaker 1: for joining us today on Pray News. We pray you've
[15:40] Speaker 1: been blessed by today. If you've enjoyed this take on
[15:43] Speaker 1: the news, consider sharing it with a friend. We want
[15:46] Speaker 1: everyone to be informed on current events and transformed by
[15:48] Speaker 1: the gospel. We pray today you would proceed with hope, love,
[15:52] Speaker 1: and determination to be a force for good. be sure
[15:54] Speaker 1: to sign up for our newsletter at PrayNews.com. And join
[15:58] Speaker 1: us every weekday for Pray News, where hope is our
[16:01] Speaker 1: only bias.

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