# 9-5-2023 - Idalia Brings Flamingos, Biden’s Labor Day Speech, & Nuclear Sushi

An episode of [Pray News](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1697158801), 5 Sep 2023, 14 min.

Audio: https://podtrac.com/pts/redirect.mp3/traffic.omny.fm/d/clips/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/ce9a673d-e313-4c0a-9df4-b4d6010c32c6/b34188aa-cca9-4687-9035-b4d700122848/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: • Hurricane Idalia churned up some political strife and delivered flamingos to Ohio. • Biden takes jabs at Trump during his Labor Day speech in Pennsylvania. • Japan dumped nuclear waste into the ocean, ate fish from it, and expects us to be fine with it… 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: Count it all joy, my brothers, when you fall into
[0:02] Speaker 1: various struggles, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance.
[0:07] Speaker 1: Let endurance have its perfect work, that you may be
[0:10] Speaker 1: perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. James 1, 2-3 Dear Lord,
[0:17] Speaker 1: help us to see challenges not as setbacks but as
[0:19] Speaker 1: stepping stones to a stronger faith. Give us the courage
[0:23] Speaker 1: to face trials with a joyful heart, knowing that each
[0:26] Speaker 1: obstacle serves as a divine classroom. where we learn perseverance, resilience,
[0:30] Speaker 1: and reliance on you. When we feel overwhelmed, be our
[0:34] Speaker 1: strength and refuge, ever-present to guide and uplift us. Grant
[0:38] Speaker 1: us the grace to trust in you more deeply with
[0:41] Speaker 1: each trial, learning to count it all joy as our
[0:43] Speaker 1: faith is tested and refined for your kingdom and the
[0:47] Speaker 1: betterment of others. Thank you, Lord, for the promise that
[0:50] Speaker 1: through every trial, you are shaping us to be more
[0:53] Speaker 1: like you. In the precious name of Jesus, we pray. Amen.
[0:57] Speaker 1: Welcome to Prairie News, where hope is our only bias.
[1:00] Speaker 1: Today's news at a glance. Hurricane Idalia churned up some
[1:02] Speaker 1: political strife and delivered flamingos to Ohio. Biden takes jabs
[1:07] Speaker 1: at Trump during his Labor Day speech in Pennsylvania. And
[1:10] Speaker 1: Japan dumped nuclear waste into the ocean, ate fish from it,
[1:13] Speaker 1: and expects us to be fine with it. We hope
[1:15] Speaker 1: you had a wonderful long weekend and feel ready to
[1:18] Speaker 1: tackle the week with passion and purpose. No matter where
[1:21] Speaker 1: you find yourself today, maybe riding on a high or
[1:23] Speaker 1: battling a low, We want you to know that you're
[1:25] Speaker 1: loved by your creator and fashioned for a purpose. We
[1:29] Speaker 1: pray you find meaning each day this week. We know
[1:31] Speaker 1: life isn't always easy, nor should it be. Through all
[1:34] Speaker 1: the struggle, chaos, and dysfunction, there are lessons to learn
[1:37] Speaker 1: and truths to unearth. Hopefully, we don't grow bitter in
[1:41] Speaker 1: our struggles, but better. Take heart, brothers and sisters. We
[1:44] Speaker 1: are all face planning through this life together. We pray
[1:46] Speaker 1: this take on the news blesses you. If it has
[1:48] Speaker 1: blessed you so far, would you consider leaving us a review?
[1:52] Speaker 1: Doing so will help others find us, and we would
[1:54] Speaker 1: genuinely love to hear your feedback. Before we start today's
[1:57] Speaker 1: first story, let's hear a word from these sponsors. Today's
[2:00] Speaker 1: first story is about literal and political storms. As Hurricane
[2:04] Speaker 1: Idalia leaves its mark on Florida's landscape and communities, it
[2:07] Speaker 1: raises a question. How do we deal with the intensifying
[2:10] Speaker 1: weather events that batter not just our homes, but our spirits,
[2:14] Speaker 1: and possibly the spirit of America itself. President Joe Biden
[2:18] Speaker 1: recently visited Florida to assess the damage inflicted by Hurricane Idalia.
[2:22] Speaker 1: This comes as a reassurance to residents that, in the
[2:25] Speaker 1: president's own words, your nation has your back. Interestingly, though,
[2:28] Speaker 1: Governor Ron DeSantis chose not to attend the tour, citing
[2:31] Speaker 1: that the preparations would interfere with ongoing disaster recovery efforts.
[2:35] Speaker 1: One cannot help but be skeptical, though, that It's possible
[2:39] Speaker 1: DeSantis doesn't want to be seen shaking hands and being
[2:41] Speaker 1: friendly with his possible opponent in the presidential race. If
[2:45] Speaker 1: we were to give the governor the benefit of the doubt,
[2:47] Speaker 1: we would say that public service can be and often
[2:49] Speaker 1: is accomplished without the spotlight doing things behind the scenes.
[2:53] Speaker 1: It can be tempting to view this absence through a
[2:55] Speaker 1: political lens, and it very well might be. Rick Scott,
[2:58] Speaker 1: the Republican U.S. Senator, showed bipartisan support by joining the president.
[3:02] Speaker 1: The key takeaway from this is that unity, especially in
[3:04] Speaker 1: times of crisis, is not only essential but possible. This
[3:07] Speaker 1: is not a Democrat versus Republican issue. It's a human issue.
[3:10] Speaker 1: There are people that are suffering, losing their livelihoods in
[3:13] Speaker 1: their homes. This is the eighth major hurricane to hit
[3:17] Speaker 1: the Gulf Coast in the last six years. The repeated
[3:19] Speaker 1: bouts of destruction lead to a pertinent question. Is it
[3:22] Speaker 1: time to consider relocating rather than just rebuilding time and
[3:26] Speaker 1: time again? While the instinct to return to one's roots
[3:29] Speaker 1: is powerful, we also need to weigh the emotional and
[3:31] Speaker 1: economic costs. Some experts argue that given the impacts of
[3:34] Speaker 1: the shifting climate, certain areas in the United States and
[3:38] Speaker 1: beyond might be best abandoned for more secure locales. These
[3:42] Speaker 1: are difficult questions that must be faced collectively with input
[3:45] Speaker 1: from everyone involved. But amidst the tragic backdrop of the
[3:48] Speaker 1: hurricane destruction comes a peculiar and lighthearted event. Rare pink
[3:54] Speaker 1: flamingos have been sighted. While these iconic birds are closely
[3:58] Speaker 1: associated with Florida, Idalia has rerouting plans and has brought
[4:02] Speaker 1: these birds to places they're not commonly found. Alabama, South
[4:07] Speaker 1: and North Carolina, Ohio, Tennessee, and Virginia have all been
[4:10] Speaker 1: blessed with these pink beauties. It's a bizarre and almost
[4:14] Speaker 1: poetic twist of fate. These flamingos are a surreal reminder
[4:17] Speaker 1: of nature's whimsical nature, even amidst chaos. The presence of
[4:21] Speaker 1: these elegant birds, almost as if flaunting their absurdity, offers
[4:25] Speaker 1: a momentary moment of bliss and laughter, painting smiles on
[4:29] Speaker 1: faces of those who have almost forgotten how to. Adversity
[4:34] Speaker 1: often serves as a crucible for character, and it's good
[4:37] Speaker 1: to laugh in moments like these. As James 1, 2-3
[4:39] Speaker 1: tells us, This is a time for unity. a time
[4:50] Speaker 1: to practice charity, love, and empathy towards those who have
[4:53] Speaker 1: suffered loss. It's a time to grasp at any small
[4:56] Speaker 1: slivers of joy in the midst of profound suffering and loss.
[5:01] Speaker 1: In such challenging times, let us remind ourselves of the
[5:04] Speaker 1: calling to love our neighbors. Whether it's a Democrat president
[5:07] Speaker 1: offering federal aid, a Republican senator putting his state before
[5:10] Speaker 1: his party, or even a flock of off-course flamingos lightening
[5:14] Speaker 1: the mood, let us take all these as signs of
[5:16] Speaker 1: hope and solidarity and the enduring human spirit. Unity is
[5:20] Speaker 1: not just a political necessity, it's a spiritual mandate. And maybe,
[5:24] Speaker 1: just maybe, the sight of pink flamingos against the backdrop
[5:26] Speaker 1: of an Ohio State Park reminds us that two seemingly
[5:30] Speaker 1: opposite things can actually be brought together. So, with all
[5:34] Speaker 1: this being said, let's lift this up in prayer. Heavenly Father,
[5:38] Speaker 1: we pray for the communities affected by Hurricane Idalia and
[5:41] Speaker 1: other natural disasters. Guide our leaders to put aside political
[5:45] Speaker 1: differences and unite in providing relief and long-term solutions. Amidst
[5:49] Speaker 1: the trials, help us to find moments of grace, like
[5:51] Speaker 1: the unexpected appearance of pink flamingos. Help us to find
[5:55] Speaker 1: small pockets of joy, looking to you in all things
[5:58] Speaker 1: to uplift our spirits and remind us of your mysterious, wonderful,
[6:02] Speaker 1: and faithful ways. We love you, Lord, and we trust
[6:05] Speaker 1: you in these times. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.
[6:09] Speaker 1: Our second story starts in Pennsylvania, the keystone state known
[6:13] Speaker 1: for its importance in the presidential election and cheesesteaks. In
[6:16] Speaker 1: a season of heated political rhetoric, where facts often get
[6:19] Speaker 1: lost in translation or hijacked for emotional resonance, President Joe
[6:23] Speaker 1: Biden took the stage in Pennsylvania, firing shots at his
[6:26] Speaker 1: probable 2024 rival, Donald Trump. The occasion? Labor Day, the
[6:30] Speaker 1: holiday that celebrates workers by giving them a day off
[6:33] Speaker 1: to shop for mattresses at a discount price. Biden sought
[6:36] Speaker 1: to reassure voters about his economic policies amidst concern about inflation,
[6:40] Speaker 1: job growth, and what many argue is the most crucial
[6:43] Speaker 1: issue headed into the 2024 election. the economy. Biden's talking
[6:47] Speaker 1: points were as subtle as a sledgehammer, targeting Trump's job
[6:50] Speaker 1: record by stating that Trump was just one of two
[6:53] Speaker 1: presidents in history who left office with fewer jobs in
[6:56] Speaker 1: America than when he got elected. Ouch. A recent Reuters
[6:59] Speaker 1: poll showed that the economy, unemployment, and jobs rank as
[7:02] Speaker 1: the American people's top concern. And Biden is beginning to
[7:06] Speaker 1: make his case that he is the right man to
[7:08] Speaker 1: right the ship. In this anticipated rematch between Biden and Trump,
[7:11] Speaker 1: it's apparent that economic issues will be at the ballot
[7:14] Speaker 1: box's main event. In the same poll, 60% of Americans,
[7:17] Speaker 1: including a startling one in three Democrats, expressed dissatisfaction with
[7:21] Speaker 1: Biden's handling of inflation. Republicans are not mincing words either,
[7:24] Speaker 1: attributing the rise of the cost of living to Democratic policies.
[7:28] Speaker 1: Concerns linger, despite the Federal Reserve's attempt to stabilize the
[7:31] Speaker 1: economy by raising interest rates. Biden plays up his administration's
[7:35] Speaker 1: record in job creation and passing a $ 1 trillion infrastructure law,
[7:39] Speaker 1: But this is juxtaposed with an unemployment rate that jumped
[7:42] Speaker 1: from 3.8% and moderate wage gains, suggesting that the labor
[7:46] Speaker 1: market might just be losing its mojo. In his speech,
[7:50] Speaker 1: Biden highlighted his efforts to extend overtime pay to millions
[7:53] Speaker 1: and praise unions for contributing to the economy. But the
[7:56] Speaker 1: skepticism surrounding his economic leadership is a looming shadow he
[8:00] Speaker 1: can't easily escape. Whether the reality is as grim as
[8:03] Speaker 1: the public actually perceives, that remains a point of debate.
[8:07] Speaker 1: But what's clear is that Biden has a lot of
[8:08] Speaker 1: work cut out for him. But his recent speech also
[8:11] Speaker 1: is quelling certain... With so much information, nuance, and shades
[8:15] Speaker 1: of gray in the political world, it's easiest to just
[8:18] Speaker 1: take a side and outsource our opinions to a party. However,
[8:21] Speaker 1: it's crucial to remember that no candidate is perfect. And
[8:24] Speaker 1: no matter who is on the ballot, they are bound
[8:26] Speaker 1: to surprise us with the occasional victory. All to fail
[8:30] Speaker 1: at something else a week later. Every person is capable
[8:33] Speaker 1: of amazing triumphs and agonizing defeats. Whether that's Biden, whether
[8:36] Speaker 1: that's Trump, whether that's somebody else entirely. It's important to
[8:39] Speaker 1: vote for the candidate who aligns most closely with your values,
[8:43] Speaker 1: but it's equally important to be charitable in your judgments.
[8:46] Speaker 1: The economy may be the number one issue for voters,
[8:48] Speaker 1: but our ultimate hope does not lie in a government
[8:51] Speaker 1: or an economic system. Instead, it lies in Christ, who
[8:54] Speaker 1: teaches us the love and understanding should prevail over discord
[8:57] Speaker 1: and division. In a world where perfection is an unattainable standard,
[9:01] Speaker 1: it's comforting to know that our hope is rooted in
[9:03] Speaker 1: something far greater than any economic policy or presidential candidate.
[9:08] Speaker 1: As it says in Matthew 6, but first seek the
[9:10] Speaker 1: kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things
[9:13] Speaker 1: will be added on to you. As for us, we're
[9:15] Speaker 1: going to keep our eyes fixed on the kingdom of God.
[9:17] Speaker 1: As we navigate this upcoming election, let's remember to place
[9:20] Speaker 1: our trust in Christ first, because it's only through him
[9:22] Speaker 1: that we find true security, regardless of who wins the
[9:25] Speaker 1: 2024 election. After all, economies fluctuate, leaders come and go,
[9:29] Speaker 1: they fail and they succeed. The word of God remains constant. Lord,
[9:33] Speaker 1: as we approach another election season, guide us in making
[9:36] Speaker 1: decisions that align with love, understanding, and the common good.
[9:39] Speaker 1: Help us to place our trust not in any one
[9:41] Speaker 1: leader or economic system, but in you, the constant in
[9:44] Speaker 1: a world of change. Grant us the wisdom to discern
[9:47] Speaker 1: what truly matters, keeping in mind that our ultimate security
[9:50] Speaker 1: is found in your kingdom and in your kingdom alone.
[9:52] Speaker 1: In Jesus' name, amen. This last one is for fish enthusiasts,
[9:56] Speaker 1: sushi lovers, and nuclear waste aficionados. Japan's Prime Minister Fimo
[10:01] Speaker 1: Kishida and his cabinet ministers are showing us how to
[10:04] Speaker 1: chew bravely in the face of controversy. They sat down
[10:08] Speaker 1: to enjoy some good old-fashioned Fukushima sashimi, caught freshly from
[10:12] Speaker 1: the waters where treated radioactive wastewater has been released. Bon appetit.
[10:18] Speaker 1: Japan released treated radioactive wastewater from the Fukushima nuclear plant
[10:23] Speaker 1: into the Pacific Ocean. This delectable water cocktail is the
[10:26] Speaker 1: byproduct of a 2011 nuclear meltdown caused by a massive
[10:30] Speaker 1: earthquake and tsunami in the area. The process of discharging
[10:33] Speaker 1: this water began last week and is expected to continue
[10:36] Speaker 1: for decades. Environmentalists, neighboring countries, and your future 12-toed grandchildren
[10:42] Speaker 1: all raise their eyebrows at this. The lunch featuring flounder, octopus,
[10:46] Speaker 1: and sea bass wasn't just a foodie affair. It was
[10:49] Speaker 1: a political statement tackling reputational damage and promoting seafood safety
[10:53] Speaker 1: based on scientific evidence. Some people find the concept of
[10:57] Speaker 1: dining on potentially radioactive fish less than palatable, so these
[11:01] Speaker 1: Japanese officials sat down to enjoy a meal from the
[11:03] Speaker 1: water to prove their confidence in the treatment of nuclear waste.
[11:07] Speaker 1: At this point, you might be wondering, how risky is
[11:10] Speaker 1: it to consume this nuclear fish? Radioactive wastewater contains titrium,
[11:14] Speaker 1: a weak radioactive isotope of hydrogen. Though harmful in large amounts,
[11:18] Speaker 1: experts claim that the wastewater has been diluted enough to
[11:21] Speaker 1: be safe. But let's remember, safety is a relative term,
[11:25] Speaker 1: just like calling your Aunt Edna's mystery meatloaf edible. The
[11:29] Speaker 1: real issue isn't just about immediate toxicity. It's about long-term
[11:33] Speaker 1: impact and ecological balance. So how does one treat nuclear
[11:36] Speaker 1: wastewater to make it, let's say, less glowy? Some options
[11:40] Speaker 1: include deep geological repositories, which is storage in deep rock layers.
[11:44] Speaker 1: There's also advanced filtration systems, making radioactive elements less soluble.
[11:48] Speaker 1: There's also vetrification, which is turning the waste into glass,
[11:52] Speaker 1: which sounds horrifying and fascinating at the same time. The
[11:56] Speaker 1: trick is to pick a method that's effective and economically sensible,
[11:59] Speaker 1: and that's a euphemism for cheap. While Japan seeks to
[12:02] Speaker 1: repair its domestic reputation, countries like China and South Korea
[12:05] Speaker 1: are not keen on playing the taste test game just
[12:08] Speaker 1: like Japan. China has banned all Japanese seafood imports for
[12:12] Speaker 1: the time being, and South Korea saw protests condemning the
[12:15] Speaker 1: wastewater discharge. In other words, the water is fine, but
[12:18] Speaker 1: the diplomatic climate? Pretty chilly. Perspective matters here. As stewards
[12:22] Speaker 1: of God's creation, the responsibility to treat the environment with
[12:25] Speaker 1: reverence is ours. While it's easy to joke about glowing fish,
[12:29] Speaker 1: the moral imperative remains. We are called to honor the
[12:32] Speaker 1: earth and consider the consequences of our actions, both immediate
[12:35] Speaker 1: and long-lasting. Nuclear is one of several paths forward to
[12:38] Speaker 1: lower carbon emissions, but the issue of waste remains, sorry, fishy.
[12:42] Speaker 1: We want to ensure that our future generations have a
[12:44] Speaker 1: healthy ocean to fish from and can leave a legacy
[12:47] Speaker 1: of clean and sustainable living for themselves. As we ponder
[12:50] Speaker 1: our place in the ecosystem, perhaps it's time to do
[12:53] Speaker 1: more than eat fish for the cameras. After all, political
[12:56] Speaker 1: theater may be good for the headlines, but it's thoughtful,
[12:59] Speaker 1: sustained action that actually writes the story of change. So
[13:04] Speaker 1: with all this being said, Let's close our time together
[13:06] Speaker 1: in prayer. Dear Heavenly Father, grant us wisdom to be
[13:09] Speaker 1: responsible stewards of your creation. Help us to navigate complex
[13:13] Speaker 1: and controversial issues like nuclear waste with integrity, considering both
[13:17] Speaker 1: immediate and long-lasting impacts on the environment and communities. May
[13:20] Speaker 1: our actions reflect thoughtful and sustainable care for the earth,
[13:23] Speaker 1: the earth that you've appointed us as stewards of. Rather
[13:26] Speaker 1: than mere political theater, we pray that we'd have transformed
[13:29] Speaker 1: hearts that care for the next generation and the world
[13:32] Speaker 1: around us. We love you, Lord. and we trust you
[13:35] Speaker 1: in these times. In Jesus' name, amen. Thank you for
[13:39] Speaker 1: joining us today on Pray News. It is our aim
[13:41] Speaker 1: to be informed and transformed. We pray today you would
[13:43] Speaker 1: proceed with hope, love, and determination to be a force
[13:45] Speaker 1: for good. If you've enjoyed this take on the news,
[13:48] Speaker 1: write us a review and share your experience. We would
[13:49] Speaker 1: love to hear from you. You can sign up for
[13:51] Speaker 1: our newsletter at praynews.com, and there you will find all
[13:53] Speaker 1: the sources to our reporting. And be sure to download
[13:56] Speaker 1: the Pray.com app to make prayer a priority in your
[13:58] Speaker 1: life and experience the Bible in new, exciting, and cinematic ways.
[14:02] Speaker 1: God bless.

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