# 7-24-23 - ‘Barbenheimer’, RFK Jr./Republican Alliance, and Trump’s Trial Date

An episode of [Pray News](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1697158801), 24 Jul 2023, 18 min.

Audio: https://podtrac.com/pts/redirect.mp3/traffic.omny.fm/d/clips/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/ce9a673d-e313-4c0a-9df4-b4d6010c32c6/7e09536e-4ed6-4035-a5f2-b4d70029da90/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: • ‘Barbenheimer’ is sweeping the nation. • A recent censorship hearing featuring RFK Jr. sparks party debates. • Trump’s trial is scheduled during peak campaign season. 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

[0:00] Speaker 1: Search me, O God, and know my heart. Try me
[0:03] Speaker 1: and know my thoughts, and see if there be any
[0:05] Speaker 1: wicked way in me, and lead me into the way everlasting.
[0:09] Speaker 1: Psalm 139, 23-24 Dear Heavenly Father, we are humbled by
[0:16] Speaker 1: your perfect knowledge of us. We invite you to search
[0:19] Speaker 1: our hearts and minds, to illuminate areas where we might
[0:22] Speaker 1: be harboring judgment, resentment, or unkindness towards others or ourselves.
[0:27] Speaker 1: Help us to be self-reflective, to see ourselves as you
[0:30] Speaker 1: see us, not to condemn, but to grow in grace.
[0:34] Speaker 1: Teach us to approach others with the same grace and
[0:36] Speaker 1: understanding you show us. Give us the courage to confront
[0:40] Speaker 1: our faults and the humility to accept your guidance. Help
[0:43] Speaker 1: us to always remember that our identity is rooted in
[0:46] Speaker 1: you and that through you, we have the ability to change, grow,
[0:51] Speaker 1: and better reflect your image. We pray all these things
[0:55] Speaker 1: in Jesus name. Amen. Welcome to Prey News, where hope
[1:00] Speaker 1: is our only bias. Today's news at a glance, Barbenheimer
[1:04] Speaker 1: is sweeping the nation. A recent censorship hearing featuring RFK Jr.
[1:08] Speaker 1: sparks party debates. And Trump's trial is scheduled during peak
[1:12] Speaker 1: campaign season. We are grateful you're here and that you
[1:16] Speaker 1: trust us to inform you on the news and encourage
[1:18] Speaker 1: you with the gospel. We don't take that for granted. Hopefully,
[1:22] Speaker 1: today's take on the news blesses you. If you've been
[1:24] Speaker 1: impacted by Prey News, consider rating us and writing a review.
[1:28] Speaker 1: We would love for more people to get a chance
[1:30] Speaker 1: to find us and be impacted by the truth. We'll
[1:33] Speaker 1: dive headfirst into the news after a quick word from
[1:36] Speaker 1: these sponsors. Our first story of today is about the
[1:39] Speaker 1: phenomenon Barbenheimer. The twin cinematic sensation, quote, Barbenheimer, made up
[1:45] Speaker 1: of Christopher Nolan's Oppenheimer and Greta Gerwig's Barbie, opened across
[1:49] Speaker 1: North American theaters over the weekend. This unusual pop culture
[1:52] Speaker 1: amalgamation has rapidly captured the public imagination. inspiring everything from
[1:58] Speaker 1: memes and merchandise to intense debates over the preferred viewing
[2:02] Speaker 1: and order of a double feature. At first glance, the
[2:05] Speaker 1: coupling of these wildly different movies seems downright silly. Yet,
[2:09] Speaker 1: with its capacity for nurturing the odd and celebrating the funky,
[2:13] Speaker 1: the online community managed to morph this unexpected pairing into
[2:17] Speaker 1: a cultural phenomenon known as Barbenheimer. This Frankenstein's monster of
[2:22] Speaker 1: a weekend double feature created waves at the box office,
[2:25] Speaker 1: and people could not be more stoked. Christopher Nolan, the
[2:29] Speaker 1: mastermind behind the tenant interstellar in the Dark Knight trilogy,
[2:32] Speaker 1: offered a gritty exploration of the atomic bomb's creation in Oppenheimer. Conversely,
[2:38] Speaker 1: Greta Gerwig, a feminist icon behind Little Women and Lady Bird,
[2:43] Speaker 1: brings us a playful take on childhood staple Barbie. Simultaneously,
[2:48] Speaker 1: the combined strength of their respective fan bases and the
[2:51] Speaker 1: film's high-profile cast paved the way for their individual success.
[2:56] Speaker 1: Both these movies, in their opposite natures, somehow bolstered one
[3:00] Speaker 1: another up. And so everybody went this weekend for double
[3:04] Speaker 1: feature after double feature. And it sparked all these debates.
[3:08] Speaker 1: Are you going to see Barbie first? Are you going
[3:09] Speaker 1: to see Oppenheimer first? What is the best pairing? And
[3:13] Speaker 1: it also paired a bunch of collaborations with merchandise. The nostalgia,
[3:17] Speaker 1: inherent fun, and ubiquity of the Barbie brand, combined with
[3:19] Speaker 1: the public's eagerness to return to the movie theater after
[3:22] Speaker 1: the COVID-induced hiatus, have created a unique cultural moment. Barbie
[3:26] Speaker 1: as a franchise has managed to adapt to the visual
[3:30] Speaker 1: trends of platforms like Instagram and TikTok, feeding to audiences'
[3:34] Speaker 1: curiosity and nostalgia while hinting at possible subversive feminist undertones.
[3:39] Speaker 1: On the other hand, the somber and impactful narrative of
[3:41] Speaker 1: Oppenheimer maybe just what the audience needs to balance the
[3:45] Speaker 1: vibrant energy of Barbie. This unusual cinematic duality offers an
[3:50] Speaker 1: escape from reality, an emotional rollercoaster. The marketing brilliance behind
[3:54] Speaker 1: Barbenheimer has been its unavoidable presence, made possible through a
[3:58] Speaker 1: series of strategic partnerships with different brands across industries. This
[4:03] Speaker 1: has not only expanded the reach of both films, but
[4:05] Speaker 1: also generated a mutually beneficial halo effect, boosting interest and
[4:10] Speaker 1: potential audience numbers for both. Now, where do we begin
[4:15] Speaker 1: with offering a Christian commentary here? On a simpler and
[4:19] Speaker 1: lighthearted note, it's beautiful to see people's God-given talents on display.
[4:23] Speaker 1: When people use their creativity to inspire people and tell
[4:26] Speaker 1: stories that matter, they are living as image bearers of God.
[4:30] Speaker 1: We are all stamped with creativity because we are made
[4:32] Speaker 1: in the image of a creative God. On a more
[4:35] Speaker 1: serious note, both these movies explore some tough topics and
[4:39] Speaker 1: some controversial topics as well. Oppenheimer allows us to reflect
[4:43] Speaker 1: on the ethical implications of scientific advancement and the complex
[4:46] Speaker 1: interplay of power, knowledge, and responsibility. This film can open
[4:51] Speaker 1: up discussions about peace, justice, and the Christian call to
[4:53] Speaker 1: be stewards of God's creation. We, like all of humanity,
[4:57] Speaker 1: are capable of incredible things. But that same potential could
[5:01] Speaker 1: be applied to evil, war, and destruction. Movies like Oppenheimer
[5:04] Speaker 1: invite us to consider The words of Psalm 139, Search me,
[5:08] Speaker 1: O God, and know my heart. Try me and know
[5:10] Speaker 1: my thoughts, and see if there be any wicked way
[5:13] Speaker 1: in me, and lead me in the way everlasting. You see,
[5:16] Speaker 1: with Barbie, it can help us explore themes that impact
[5:19] Speaker 1: us like consumer culture, gender, and the meaning of true beauty,
[5:24] Speaker 1: which goes beyond physical appearance. Barbie has been villainized in
[5:27] Speaker 1: the past for creating unhealthy beauty standards in young girls,
[5:30] Speaker 1: but now it's being embraced by Hollywood. Is this an
[5:33] Speaker 1: act of hypocrisy or hypocrisy Are they trying to bend
[5:35] Speaker 1: it towards a positive message? Another question that many believers
[5:39] Speaker 1: might be asking is, is it a sin to see
[5:41] Speaker 1: movies like these? Is it a sin to watch a
[5:44] Speaker 1: movie that clearly displays other sins? Is it a sin
[5:48] Speaker 1: for me to watch a movie that glorifies other sins
[5:51] Speaker 1: as well or puts them on display and acts like
[5:54] Speaker 1: they're okay? What comes to mind is the scripture when
[5:58] Speaker 1: Jesus says, if your right eye causes you to sin,
[6:01] Speaker 1: gouge it out. If your right hand causes you to sin,
[6:03] Speaker 1: cut it off. Now, is Jesus telling us to dismember ourselves?
[6:07] Speaker 1: Not necessarily. In many ways, what God is asking of
[6:11] Speaker 1: us is if anything causes us to stumble or if
[6:14] Speaker 1: anything causes us to sin, then we ought to remove
[6:18] Speaker 1: that from our lives. So that threshold is going to
[6:22] Speaker 1: be different for every single believer. If you've had an
[6:24] Speaker 1: issue with cursing and language that isn't glorifying to God, well,
[6:28] Speaker 1: perhaps it wouldn't be an appropriate thing for you to
[6:31] Speaker 1: surround yourself with movies and TV shows and songs that
[6:34] Speaker 1: are always cursing, always slandering. It's a matter of what
[6:38] Speaker 1: stumbles us and what keeps us away from God. So
[6:42] Speaker 1: as believers, we have to have discernment. We have to
[6:44] Speaker 1: lean on the Holy Spirit and we have to make
[6:46] Speaker 1: sure that we're not stumbling ourselves into sin or the
[6:49] Speaker 1: people around us. Us being informed on all of these
[6:52] Speaker 1: things and having healthy discussions around them is ultimately going
[6:55] Speaker 1: to help us. As we head to the theaters, let's
[6:58] Speaker 1: consider the powerful narratives of these films and let's look inward.
[7:02] Speaker 1: Let's take personal inventory at our own sin and our
[7:05] Speaker 1: own lives and our own creativity, and let's take the
[7:07] Speaker 1: opportunity to ponder, discuss, and reflect on them from a
[7:10] Speaker 1: faith-based perspective. That being said, let's lift this story in
[7:14] Speaker 1: some prayer. Heavenly Father, we pray for discernment as we
[7:17] Speaker 1: navigate these powerful narratives. Barbie, Oppenheimer, it's a fun cultural phenomenon,
[7:23] Speaker 1: but may these films not only serve as entertainment, but
[7:26] Speaker 1: also spark meaningful discussions about societal and ethical issues. We
[7:30] Speaker 1: pray that as we engage with these stories, we are
[7:32] Speaker 1: inspired to reflect on our own values established in your word,
[7:36] Speaker 1: and that we're reminded constantly of your call to be
[7:39] Speaker 1: responsible stewards of your creation and responsible stewards of the
[7:42] Speaker 1: creativity you've given us. May you inspire us to be creative,
[7:46] Speaker 1: think creatively, and appreciate the creativity in one another. We
[7:50] Speaker 1: love you, Lord, and it's in Jesus' name we pray. Amen.
[7:54] Speaker 1: This next story has to do with censorship and presidential
[7:57] Speaker 1: candidates and vaccines. So loaded with controversy, but hopefully we
[8:02] Speaker 1: can navigate it in a respectful way. Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
[8:06] Speaker 1: gave a testimony to Congress last Thursday on the topic
[8:08] Speaker 1: of social media censorship and the weaponization of the government
[8:12] Speaker 1: to silence dissenting opinions fueled fiery exchanges between Democrats and Republicans.
[8:17] Speaker 1: There were many topics discussed during the four-hour hearing. Topics
[8:21] Speaker 1: ranged from censorship of figures like RFK Jr., and alternative
[8:25] Speaker 1: views on vaccine efficacy, and also broad strokes at weaponization
[8:29] Speaker 1: of the federal government to attack dissenting political opinions by
[8:33] Speaker 1: labeling them misinformation. You've no doubt seen that around. People
[8:37] Speaker 1: labeling things as misinformation or fake news. All of these
[8:41] Speaker 1: are branded attacks at certain points of views that people
[8:45] Speaker 1: don't agree with. RFK Jr., who is a Democratic candidate,
[8:49] Speaker 1: was invited by Republicans to testify at this hearing. He was, however,
[8:54] Speaker 1: uninvited by Democratic representatives the day up. GOP representatives saw Democrats'
[9:00] Speaker 1: attempts to uninvite Mr. Kennedy as an attempt of censoring
[9:05] Speaker 1: a censorship hearing, quote unquote. Democrats, however, accused the Republican
[9:09] Speaker 1: counterparts of co-signing Kennedy's controversial views on vaccines. There were
[9:14] Speaker 1: a lot of controversial subjects that were brought up, and
[9:16] Speaker 1: there was a lot of contentious debate. There was a
[9:18] Speaker 1: lot of accusations, and there was a lot of apologies
[9:21] Speaker 1: as well. It was a very interesting hearing to listen into.
[9:25] Speaker 1: One of the main takeaways from the hearing was how
[9:27] Speaker 1: Robert Kennedy Jr., a Democratic candidate for president, found himself
[9:32] Speaker 1: under fire from his fellow Democrats, his own party. The
[9:36] Speaker 1: ones who backed him were, interestingly enough, members of the
[9:40] Speaker 1: Republican Party. This reveals a subtle shift in both parties.
[9:44] Speaker 1: The ties between Kennedy and and Republicans were exposed by
[9:49] Speaker 1: ranking member Stacey Plaskett. Plaskett drew attention to Jason Boyles,
[9:55] Speaker 1: treasurer of Kennedy's super PAC, Heal the Divide, who is
[9:59] Speaker 1: also listed as a treasurer for committees supporting several Republican representatives.
[10:04] Speaker 1: Democrats contend that Republicans are using Kennedy to diminish President
[10:09] Speaker 1: Biden's chances in the upcoming 2024 general election. So, as
[10:14] Speaker 1: a Christian news outlet, it's essential for us to assess
[10:17] Speaker 1: this development through the lens of faith. Keep in mind,
[10:20] Speaker 1: it's a censorship hearing. It's about free speech. It's about
[10:22] Speaker 1: how much power does the government or how much authority
[10:25] Speaker 1: should the government have in social media. The Bible calls
[10:30] Speaker 1: all of us to seek truth, understanding, and to dialogue
[10:34] Speaker 1: about what truth is. And we are also called to
[10:37] Speaker 1: pursue peace in all matters. Proverbs 2, Romans 14 are
[10:41] Speaker 1: specific to this. This process of finding the truth, this
[10:46] Speaker 1: process of discussing what is truth, what is lies, this
[10:50] Speaker 1: process is hinged on freedom of information. So the process
[10:56] Speaker 1: of finding truth is definitely hindered when information is censored
[10:59] Speaker 1: or dismissed without valid reason. When things are dismissed as
[11:03] Speaker 1: misinformation or things are dismissed as fake news, we can
[11:07] Speaker 1: really dilute the true pursuit of truth that comes through
[11:12] Speaker 1: honest dialogue. The Bible also instructs us to respect those
[11:16] Speaker 1: in authority, though. Romans 13 specifically goes through this. And
[11:20] Speaker 1: we're also called to pray for those in authority in
[11:22] Speaker 1: 1 Timothy 2. This includes not just our government officials,
[11:26] Speaker 1: not just the people that we have elected, but also
[11:29] Speaker 1: includes all the scientists, health experts that were navigating the
[11:32] Speaker 1: pandemic of this time. Often in challenging circumstances, we're wanting
[11:37] Speaker 1: someone to blame for the challenge. And the censorship hearing
[11:41] Speaker 1: greatly had to do with defending a lot of healthcare
[11:44] Speaker 1: professionals that were under fire from people like Kennedy. The
[11:48] Speaker 1: polarization over vaccines, natural immunity, all of these things that
[11:52] Speaker 1: were covered in this hearing call us to foster understanding
[11:56] Speaker 1: and respectful dialogue when we are seeking the truth. Seeking
[11:59] Speaker 1: truth honestly, but also for the purpose of love. Ephesians
[12:03] Speaker 1: 4.15 calls us to speak the truth in love. This
[12:07] Speaker 1: doesn't equate to using the truth as a weapon to
[12:09] Speaker 1: harm or accuse others. Instead, truth should be shared with love, respect,
[12:14] Speaker 1: and intention to build up, not tear down. Contentious figures
[12:17] Speaker 1: like RFK Jr. are bound to spur debates like this.
[12:22] Speaker 1: And as Christians, we must hold all of our leaders
[12:24] Speaker 1: or all of our potential leaders to the standard of
[12:27] Speaker 1: encouraging civil, constructive debates. That's why one of the highlights
[12:32] Speaker 1: of this entire hearing were when both congressmen and RFK Jr.
[12:36] Speaker 1: would clarify their points and apologize where they were maybe wrong.
[12:41] Speaker 1: It was a really beautiful thing to see. So, in
[12:43] Speaker 1: this way, we can play our part in reflecting the
[12:46] Speaker 1: love of Christ in a divided world. And here we are.
[12:49] Speaker 1: We're going to pray for the entire thing. Dear Lord,
[12:54] Speaker 1: we lift up our nation's leaders as they navigate complex
[12:57] Speaker 1: and divisive issues. We pray for wisdom and discernment as
[13:00] Speaker 1: they make decisions that impact our country and our world.
[13:04] Speaker 1: We ask for unity, respect, and understanding in their discussions,
[13:07] Speaker 1: particularly around sensitive topics such as censorship and vaccine efficacy.
[13:12] Speaker 1: Help them to communicate truth with love and humility, avoiding
[13:16] Speaker 1: the weaponization of information, and instead fostering constructive debates that
[13:20] Speaker 1: honor you. We love you, Lord, and we trust you.
[13:23] Speaker 1: In Jesus' name, amen. Our last story of today is
[13:27] Speaker 1: yet another chapter in this wild legal saga surrounding the
[13:30] Speaker 1: former President Donald Trump. as Judge Aline Cannon set a
[13:34] Speaker 1: trial date for May 24th regarding Trump's handling of classified
[13:39] Speaker 1: documents after leaving office. The decision ensures the proceedings will
[13:43] Speaker 1: unfold during the thick of the election cycle, rejecting Trump's
[13:47] Speaker 1: efforts to delay the trial until after the 2024 presidential campaign,
[13:52] Speaker 1: in which he is currently the Republican frontrunner. Now, it
[13:55] Speaker 1: does seem reasonable that the trial should take place before
[13:58] Speaker 1: the election on the off chance that President Donald Trump
[14:02] Speaker 1: is found guilty. However, in case you were worried that
[14:06] Speaker 1: this was unfair to the former president, the judge didn't
[14:09] Speaker 1: actually fully side with the Justice Department, who had requested
[14:12] Speaker 1: a December start date. She stated that the government's proposed
[14:16] Speaker 1: schedule is atypically accelerated and inconsistent with ensuring a fair trial.
[14:21] Speaker 1: Trump and his legal team pleaded not guilty last month.
[14:25] Speaker 1: arguing that a fair trial could only occur after the
[14:28] Speaker 1: election due to the complexities of preparation during the campaign season.
[14:33] Speaker 1: Prosecutors disputed these claims, suggesting that a December date would
[14:37] Speaker 1: provide ample time for preparation. They stated that the case
[14:41] Speaker 1: did not present new questions of fact or law and
[14:45] Speaker 1: claimed to have already provided Trump's team with all evidence
[14:49] Speaker 1: related to the case. Despite these arguments, Judge Cannon deemed
[14:52] Speaker 1: that Trump's team needed additional time to review what she
[14:55] Speaker 1: described as a trove of evidence likely to increase as
[14:59] Speaker 1: the trial date approaches. She said, and I quote, This
[15:02] Speaker 1: case has attracted considerable attention, particularly due to Judge Cannon's
[15:21] Speaker 1: past rulings in favor of the former president, such as
[15:24] Speaker 1: appointing an external arbiter to review documents seized from Mar-a-Lago. However,
[15:30] Speaker 1: her decision was later overturned by an appeals court panel.
[15:34] Speaker 1: This trial adds to a growing list of legal challenges
[15:37] Speaker 1: for the former president, as it was announced earlier this
[15:40] Speaker 1: week that Trump is the target of a separate investigation
[15:44] Speaker 1: concerning efforts to reverse his 2020 election lost. culminating in
[15:49] Speaker 1: the January 6, 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol. Up
[15:53] Speaker 1: until now, Trump's popularity with his own base has seemed
[15:57] Speaker 1: to remain steady and unwavering. However, there are rumblings of
[16:01] Speaker 1: change with the growing number of legal allegations. Trump's top
[16:05] Speaker 1: donors are beginning to shift slightly. People who donated to
[16:08] Speaker 1: his campaign before are starting to donate to candidates such
[16:11] Speaker 1: as Tim Scott and Ron DeSantis. You wonder if they're
[16:14] Speaker 1: starting to prepare for the worst here. The process of
[16:17] Speaker 1: justice can be long and complicated, just as this ongoing
[16:22] Speaker 1: legal saga illustrates. But we take solace in the biblical
[16:25] Speaker 1: assurance that the Lord loves justice. And we are going
[16:30] Speaker 1: to seek his guidance and wisdom as we navigate these
[16:32] Speaker 1: complex times, not making too many assumptions before anything's proven.
[16:37] Speaker 1: We are reminded of our duty to pray for our
[16:39] Speaker 1: leaders as well, current and former, that they may be
[16:42] Speaker 1: guided by wisdom and a commitment to truth, justice, and
[16:45] Speaker 1: the well-being of all people. We thrive in a nation
[16:49] Speaker 1: when our leaders are held accountable. So, it's our hope
[16:53] Speaker 1: that all involved in this case and those observing from
[16:56] Speaker 1: afar are led to a greater understanding of truth, justice,
[17:00] Speaker 1: and the imperative of ethical conduct regardless of one's station
[17:04] Speaker 1: in life. Let's conclude today by lifting this story up
[17:08] Speaker 1: in prayer. Heavenly Father, We ask for your presence in
[17:12] Speaker 1: the legal proceedings involving the former president. Grant wisdom and
[17:16] Speaker 1: discernment to all involved that they might seek truth and justice.
[17:20] Speaker 1: We pray for our nation as it navigates this challenging time,
[17:24] Speaker 1: asking for peace and unity. We pray for unity amongst
[17:27] Speaker 1: your body, that people of differing political opinions can unite
[17:31] Speaker 1: under the name of Christ. We also pray for our leaders,
[17:35] Speaker 1: present and future, that they may act with integrity in
[17:37] Speaker 1: the best interests of all people. We love you, Lord,
[17:41] Speaker 1: and we trust you. And it's in Jesus' name we pray. Amen.
[17:46] Speaker 1: Thank you for joining us today on Pray News. It
[17:48] Speaker 1: is our aim to be informed and transformed. If you
[17:51] Speaker 1: found this take on the news to be impactful, consider
[17:54] Speaker 1: rating us and writing a review. We'd love to hear
[17:56] Speaker 1: your thoughts. We pray today that you would proceed with hope, love,
[17:59] Speaker 1: and determination to be a force for good. And join
[18:02] Speaker 1: us daily for Pray News, where hope is our only bias.

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