# 7-20-23 - The World’s on Fire, No Labels President, and The Hunter Biden Whistleblower

An episode of [Pray News](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1697158801), 20 Jul 2023, 15 min.

Audio: https://podtrac.com/pts/redirect.mp3/traffic.omny.fm/d/clips/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/ce9a673d-e313-4c0a-9df4-b4d6010c32c6/51227ead-7f74-4304-b4c2-b4d7002ab428/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: • Record heat waves torch the US and Europe! • Is Joe Manchin running for president? • More updates on the dramatic saga of Hunter Biden. 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: What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone
[0:03] Speaker 1: claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such
[0:06] Speaker 1: faith save them? Dear Heavenly Father, we understand from your
[0:13] Speaker 1: word that faith is not a passive belief but an
[0:16] Speaker 1: active commitment that must be demonstrated through our actions and deeds.
[0:20] Speaker 1: We understand that faith without works is dead and that
[0:23] Speaker 1: our faith is made evident to the world through our deeds.
[0:27] Speaker 1: We pray for the strength and courage to live out
[0:30] Speaker 1: our faith daily. Help us not to merely say what
[0:33] Speaker 1: we believe, but to show what we believe through acts
[0:36] Speaker 1: of kindness, generosity, compassion, and love. Forgive us when we
[0:41] Speaker 1: fall short, when our deeds do not align with our
[0:44] Speaker 1: proclaimed faith. Guide us back onto the path. Remind us
[0:48] Speaker 1: of your eternal love and renew our spirits so we
[0:52] Speaker 1: may continue striving to live a life that truly reflects
[0:55] Speaker 1: our faith in you. And it's in Jesus' name we pray. Amen.
[1:02] Speaker 1: Welcome to Pray News, where hope is our only bias.
[1:05] Speaker 1: Today's news at a glance, record heat waves torch the U.S.
[1:08] Speaker 1: and Europe. Is Joe Manchin running for president? And more
[1:11] Speaker 1: updates on the dramatic saga of Hunter Biden. If you've
[1:14] Speaker 1: been impacted by Pray News thus far, consider writing a
[1:17] Speaker 1: review and share a testimony. We'd love to hear from you.
[1:20] Speaker 1: There's a lot of challenging events happening in the world today,
[1:23] Speaker 1: but we have the assurance that although the world has
[1:25] Speaker 1: its troubles... we worship the one who has overcome the world.
[1:30] Speaker 1: Our first story of today might be a little close
[1:32] Speaker 1: to home, literally. A perilous heat wave, threatening more than
[1:36] Speaker 1: a third of the US population with potentially fatal triple-digit temperatures,
[1:40] Speaker 1: has prompted serious warnings from the National Weather Service. Firefighters
[1:44] Speaker 1: are grappling with wildfires and searing heat, and hospitals are
[1:48] Speaker 1: overwhelmed with heat-related cases. Now, Our intention isn't to be
[1:52] Speaker 1: too doom and gloom, but we do want to shed
[1:55] Speaker 1: some light on these sweltering conditions. The weather conditions have
[1:59] Speaker 1: hit Phoenix especially hard, leading to an unfortunate 17-day streak
[2:03] Speaker 1: of temperatures above 110 degrees. Heat records are on a
[2:07] Speaker 1: verge of being shattered all over the place. Similarly, El
[2:11] Speaker 1: Paso's 33 consecutive days of reaching 100 degrees or higher
[2:15] Speaker 1: and Miami's 38 straight days with heat indexes over 100
[2:18] Speaker 1: are also set to extend. the National Weather Service forecasts
[2:23] Speaker 1: a 60 to 90% chance of above-normal temperatures across a
[2:27] Speaker 1: large part of the country's western half, and much of Florida.
[2:31] Speaker 1: From July 26 to August 1, the possibility of above-normal
[2:35] Speaker 1: temperatures will remain at 60% or higher for much of
[2:37] Speaker 1: the south, with slight changes in Arizona, California, and the southeast.
[2:42] Speaker 1: The heat dome over the southern United States and northern
[2:45] Speaker 1: Mexico responsible for the heat wave is intensifying. and could
[2:49] Speaker 1: potentially be the most intense heat dome on record over
[2:53] Speaker 1: the southern United States. The situation has pushed Phoenix's healthcare
[2:57] Speaker 1: system to the brink, with local hospitals grappling with a
[3:00] Speaker 1: surge of heat-related patients. The heat wave has also ignited
[3:04] Speaker 1: the wildfire season in Southern California. The Rabbit Fire, which
[3:08] Speaker 1: broke out near Beaumont, California, quickly engulfed steep terrain and
[3:12] Speaker 1: thick vegetation, expanding over 7,600 acres in just a few days.
[3:18] Speaker 1: This marks the commencement of California's wildfire season. Air quality
[3:22] Speaker 1: concerns have heightened due to wildfire smoke and high ozone
[3:25] Speaker 1: levels produced during the heat wave. Furthermore, the severe heat
[3:29] Speaker 1: has touched Death Valley in particular, pushing temperatures to nearly
[3:32] Speaker 1: the highest ever recorded on Earth. Death Valley recently hit
[3:37] Speaker 1: 128 degrees Fahrenheit, just six degrees shy of the world's
[3:41] Speaker 1: hottest temperature ever recorded, 134 degrees in 1913. Europe is
[3:47] Speaker 1: currently experiencing a heatwave with temperatures reaching 104 degrees Fahrenheit
[3:51] Speaker 1: in Rome, 102 in Madrid, and 107 in Athens. Wildfires
[3:56] Speaker 1: have been reported in Greece, Spain, and Switzerland, causing authorities
[4:00] Speaker 1: to advise people to stay indoors during peak hours. The
[4:03] Speaker 1: heatwave and wildfires could have long-term economic consequences on tourism
[4:08] Speaker 1: in southern Europe, a region that is very dependent on
[4:12] Speaker 1: that industry. We know that as followers of Christ, hope
[4:17] Speaker 1: isn't always necessarily put in a specific circumstance or an
[4:20] Speaker 1: outcome that we're expecting. Heat might continue to rise. Temperatures
[4:24] Speaker 1: might continue to change and shift. But we can hope
[4:28] Speaker 1: in this, that Jesus desires to empower us to help
[4:31] Speaker 1: those in need. In these trying times, the Christian community
[4:34] Speaker 1: has been rising to the occasion, offering support and demonstrating
[4:37] Speaker 1: Christ's love through action. Churches all over Arizona are opening
[4:41] Speaker 1: their doors as cooling centers. distributing water and sun protection
[4:45] Speaker 1: items to the homeless, and reaching out to the vulnerable
[4:48] Speaker 1: populations susceptible to these severe weather conditions. This has been
[4:52] Speaker 1: a beautiful and hopeful example of how the body of
[4:55] Speaker 1: Christ can rise up during intense circumstances. The teaching of
[4:59] Speaker 1: our faith reminds us to care for the least of
[5:01] Speaker 1: these in their time of need, encouraging us to extend
[5:04] Speaker 1: our hands in support to those struggling. When the heat rises,
[5:08] Speaker 1: so should the body of Christ to respond to these needs.
[5:11] Speaker 1: The Bible reminds us to have hope and faith even
[5:14] Speaker 1: in times of struggle, and to remember that when we
[5:16] Speaker 1: are hard-pressed on every side, we aren't going to be crushed.
[5:20] Speaker 1: We're perplexed, but we're not going to be in despair.
[5:22] Speaker 1: We're going to be persecuted, but not forsaken, struck down,
[5:25] Speaker 1: but not destroyed. This is a beautiful opportunity for the
[5:29] Speaker 1: body of Christ to rise up, show its resilience, and
[5:32] Speaker 1: be an asset to the world around it. Remember, we
[5:35] Speaker 1: need to stay safe out there, so keep your family safe,
[5:38] Speaker 1: be mindful of hydration, but also, Keep your eyes open
[5:42] Speaker 1: to those suffering in need, to those who might be
[5:45] Speaker 1: in need of refuge, might be in need of resources.
[5:48] Speaker 1: Remember the words of James chapter 2, What good is it,
[5:51] Speaker 1: my brothers, if a man says he has faith, but
[5:54] Speaker 1: has no works? Can faith save him? Let's be people
[5:57] Speaker 1: mobilized by faith to help those in need during times
[6:00] Speaker 1: of crisis. In light of these things, let's lift this
[6:03] Speaker 1: story up in prayer. Heavenly Father, we pray for all
[6:06] Speaker 1: those affected by this dangerous heat wave, both in the U.S.
[6:08] Speaker 1: and in Europe. We ask for your divine intervention to
[6:11] Speaker 1: bring relief from these extreme temperatures and protection to all
[6:14] Speaker 1: those at risk, particularly the vulnerable, the elderly, and the homeless.
[6:19] Speaker 1: Guide those battling the wildfires and grant strength to the
[6:22] Speaker 1: healthcare workers tending to heat-related cases. Lastly, we pray for
[6:26] Speaker 1: the Christian community and all others, that they might continue
[6:29] Speaker 1: to embody your love and compassion, offering aid to those
[6:32] Speaker 1: in need during these challenging times. In Jesus' name, amen.
[6:37] Speaker 1: Our second story of today is about Senator Joe Manchin.
[6:40] Speaker 1: Senator Joe Manchin recently visited New Hampshire and spurred a
[6:44] Speaker 1: whirlwind of political speculation. Senator Manchin has been associated with
[6:48] Speaker 1: potential preparations for a 2024 presidential run. The senator attended
[6:53] Speaker 1: a No Labels event in New Hampshire, a state widely
[6:57] Speaker 1: recognized as a traditional launchpad for presidential campaigns. No Labels
[7:02] Speaker 1: is a third-party organization funded by private equity moguls, hedge funds,
[7:05] Speaker 1: and other majority players, and has raised $ 70 million. and
[7:09] Speaker 1: is on track to secure ballot access in all 50 states.
[7:12] Speaker 1: At the No Labels event, Manchin's presence was interpreted as
[7:17] Speaker 1: a not-so-subtle invitation to join the organization as an independent candidate.
[7:22] Speaker 1: As Manchin sat with moguls discussing this necessity of common-sense solutions,
[7:28] Speaker 1: he continued to tease the possibility of a third-party run.
[7:32] Speaker 1: When asked about his potential bid, Manchin explained that he
[7:35] Speaker 1: believes American policies have gone He suggested that the only
[7:42] Speaker 1: way to bring them back to the center is through
[7:44] Speaker 1: the threat of independent candidates capable of attracting voters from
[7:47] Speaker 1: both sides. However, he also clarified that he wouldn't make
[7:51] Speaker 1: any decisions until the end of the year. Political analysts
[7:55] Speaker 1: have suggested that Manchin's possible third-party run could be a
[7:58] Speaker 1: strategic move if President Joe Biden decides not to run
[8:02] Speaker 1: in the next election due to health or other reasons.
[8:04] Speaker 1: The idea is to position himself to quickly jump into
[8:07] Speaker 1: the fray if the opportunity arises. However, critics question the
[8:12] Speaker 1: likelihood of voters seeing much of a difference between Biden
[8:15] Speaker 1: and Manchin. Furthermore, the no-labels approach is seen as somewhat cynical,
[8:20] Speaker 1: exploiting American fatigue with the political system to strengthen the
[8:23] Speaker 1: status quo. Many Democrats fear that a Joe Manchin third-party
[8:27] Speaker 1: run would hurt President Joe Biden's chances at re-election, deterring
[8:32] Speaker 1: left-leaning voters away. This seems like a good time to
[8:35] Speaker 1: mention third parties. Some third party candidates have thrown their
[8:38] Speaker 1: hats into the presidential race. Green Party candidate Cornel West
[8:42] Speaker 1: is currently polling highest among all third party voters. And
[8:45] Speaker 1: Lars Mapstede is the current front runner for the Libertarian Party.
[8:49] Speaker 1: We haven't heard much from them because the two party
[8:51] Speaker 1: system dominates the current media landscape. However, a recent poll
[8:56] Speaker 1: by Quinnipiac University suggests that more Americans now than ever
[9:00] Speaker 1: are open to third party candidates. From a Christian perspective,
[9:03] Speaker 1: this development is a reminder of the diverse array of
[9:06] Speaker 1: viewpoints within our nation and the ongoing struggle to find
[9:10] Speaker 1: a balance between them. Since we live in a representative democracy,
[9:14] Speaker 1: our votes should reflect our values. We are encouraged in
[9:17] Speaker 1: Colossians 3.17, Whatever you do, whether in word or in deed,
[9:20] Speaker 1: do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus.
[9:23] Speaker 1: That includes voting. May party affiliation never eclipse our dedication
[9:27] Speaker 1: to Christ and His kingdom. So let's lift this story
[9:31] Speaker 1: up in prayer. Dear Lord, we pray for discernment and
[9:34] Speaker 1: wisdom for everyone in the 2024 presidential race. We ask
[9:38] Speaker 1: that you guide them and all those involved in the
[9:41] Speaker 1: process to make decisions that are aligned with your divine will.
[9:44] Speaker 1: If there be any corruption or greed entangled in their intentions,
[9:47] Speaker 1: we pray that you would weed them out. Additionally, we
[9:50] Speaker 1: pray for our nation's electorate, the voters, that they may
[9:53] Speaker 1: vote responsibly, keeping their faith and values at the forefront. Lord,
[9:58] Speaker 1: remind us that our hope is not in political leaders,
[10:01] Speaker 1: but in you who controls the times and seasons. Amen.
[10:06] Speaker 1: Our last story of today is an update on a
[10:08] Speaker 1: previous story regarding the most recent Hunter Biden investigation. The
[10:12] Speaker 1: identity of the unnamed whistleblower who alleged political misconduct in
[10:16] Speaker 1: the Hunter Biden investigation is has been revealed as IRS
[10:19] Speaker 1: Special Agent Joseph Ziegler. Ziegler is a Democrat with over
[10:23] Speaker 1: a decade of service in the IRS's Criminal Investigation Division.
[10:27] Speaker 1: Ziegler is now set to testify before the House Oversight Committee. Ziegler,
[10:31] Speaker 1: who appeared publicly for the first time alongside his supervisor,
[10:34] Speaker 1: Gary Shapley, another whistleblower within the IRS, will discuss alleged
[10:38] Speaker 1: political interference in the long-running federal probe into President Biden's son.
[10:43] Speaker 1: Shapely has previously alleged in media interviews that prosecutors concealed
[10:48] Speaker 1: evidence from investigators and stalled steps such as conducting interviews
[10:52] Speaker 1: and serving document requests. As a special agent within the
[10:56] Speaker 1: IRS Criminal Investigation Division for 13 years, Ziegler is expected
[11:01] Speaker 1: to argue that Hunter Biden should have been charged with
[11:03] Speaker 1: a tax felony rather than a lesser misdemeanor charge. He
[11:07] Speaker 1: will also attempt to reveal contradictions between President Biden's public
[11:11] Speaker 1: statements about his non-involvement in Hunter's overseas business dealings and
[11:15] Speaker 1: the content reviewed communications and text messages. Ziegler is expected
[11:20] Speaker 1: to cast light on the corrosion of ethical standards and
[11:23] Speaker 1: the abuse of power that threatens our nation, unquote, which
[11:27] Speaker 1: he claims to have witnessed firsthand. He plans to outline
[11:31] Speaker 1: several instances of prosecutors allegedly deviating from standard procedures. slowing
[11:37] Speaker 1: the investigation and creating roadblocks that hindered the case, including
[11:41] Speaker 1: blocking the questioning of Hunter Biden's adult children. In his testimony,
[11:45] Speaker 1: Ziegler will call on Congress and Biden administration to consider
[11:49] Speaker 1: appointing a special counsel for the Hunter Biden investigation and
[11:52] Speaker 1: all related spinoff inquiries. He believes an official channel should
[11:56] Speaker 1: be established for federal investigators to flag such issues to
[11:59] Speaker 1: send senior officials. In line with Ziegler's testimony, Shapley will
[12:03] Speaker 1: testify that Delaware's U.S. Attorney's Office delayed critical investigative steps,
[12:08] Speaker 1: such as serving document requests and pursuing physical search warrants
[12:11] Speaker 1: in multiple states, until after the 2020 presidential election. He
[12:15] Speaker 1: will provide insight into the investigation's dealings with Hunter Biden's
[12:19] Speaker 1: laptop and the communications with the CEFC China Energy executives. Now,
[12:24] Speaker 1: let's talk about the elephant in the room. It's difficult
[12:26] Speaker 1: to report on stories like this without appearing biased in
[12:30] Speaker 1: favor or against someone. As is the case with recent
[12:33] Speaker 1: probes into former President Donald Trump, we don't want to
[12:36] Speaker 1: make habits of declaring someone guilty before they have even
[12:39] Speaker 1: been declared so under a court of law. That being said,
[12:42] Speaker 1: Hunter Biden has been found guilty of several charges already,
[12:46] Speaker 1: and we're going to keep a close eye on how
[12:48] Speaker 1: this story unfolds. For now, we want to take this
[12:51] Speaker 1: opportunity to look at our own relationship with the truth.
[12:54] Speaker 1: We are reminded of the words in Proverbs 12.22, The
[12:57] Speaker 1: Lord detests lying lips, but he delights in trustworthy people.
[13:02] Speaker 1: The thing is, we think lies will somehow save us
[13:05] Speaker 1: from trouble, but they always seem to find us in
[13:07] Speaker 1: the end. Do you remember in Genesis 12, when Abraham
[13:11] Speaker 1: lied about Sarah being his wife to Pharaoh? He thought
[13:14] Speaker 1: his lies would somehow save his life, but what they
[13:17] Speaker 1: ended up doing was creating a ripple effect of tragedy
[13:20] Speaker 1: for him, his wife, and Pharaoh. Stories like Abraham's and
[13:24] Speaker 1: this ongoing investigation into Hunter Biden should act as cautionary
[13:27] Speaker 1: tales for us. There's always a temptation to lie when
[13:31] Speaker 1: we feel like we've been caught in something. But what
[13:33] Speaker 1: ends up happening is just a snowball effect, and we
[13:36] Speaker 1: create a wake of destruction. The Lord is always desiring
[13:40] Speaker 1: for truth to reign supreme in our lives. This goes
[13:43] Speaker 1: for our professional relationships, our personal relationships, our marriages, our
[13:47] Speaker 1: relationships to our children. In all things, may truth be
[13:51] Speaker 1: at the forefront. And may we never be scared of
[13:54] Speaker 1: its ramifications. The truth will set us free. And lies
[13:57] Speaker 1: put us in a prison. Lies will continue to snowball
[14:00] Speaker 1: until we can't handle it anymore. They'll find us out.
[14:04] Speaker 1: And the Lord is usually very just and loving to
[14:07] Speaker 1: expose our lies so that we don't fall into a
[14:10] Speaker 1: cycle of sin and shame over and over again. It's
[14:13] Speaker 1: actually his mercy when lies are caught. That way, we
[14:17] Speaker 1: don't continue down that path away from righteousness and away
[14:20] Speaker 1: from his kingdom. If these allegations are true, they cause
[14:24] Speaker 1: deep concern, reflecting a betrayal of the public trust and
[14:26] Speaker 1: a deviation from ethical standards. So, with that being said,
[14:31] Speaker 1: let's lift this entire situation up in prayer. Heavenly Father,
[14:35] Speaker 1: we ask for your wisdom and truth to prevail in
[14:37] Speaker 1: the ongoing Hunter Biden investigation. We pray for justice to
[14:40] Speaker 1: be served and for our leaders to be guided by
[14:42] Speaker 1: your righteousness. We ask for strength and courage for those
[14:46] Speaker 1: under scrutiny that they may choose to do what is right.
[14:49] Speaker 1: May this situation serve as a reminder for all of
[14:52] Speaker 1: us to walk in honesty and integrity, following the path
[14:56] Speaker 1: you have laid out before us. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.
[15:01] Speaker 1: Thank you for joining us today on Pray News. It
[15:03] Speaker 1: is our aim to be informed and transformed. We pray
[15:06] Speaker 1: today that you would proceed with hope, love, and determination
[15:09] Speaker 1: to be a force for good. If this podcast blessed you,
[15:13] Speaker 1: consider writing a review and sharing a testimony so we
[15:15] Speaker 1: know how it's impacted you. And join us daily for
[15:18] Speaker 1: Pray News, where hope is our only bias.

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