# 7-19-23 - Trump’s Investigation, American Resilience, & US Soldier in North Korea

An episode of [Pray News](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1697158801), 19 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-b4d6010c32c6/56bf2b8b-8319-4d67-87c3-b4d7002afec5/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: • Trump is being investigated for the January 6th Insurrection. • How does the US economy compare to the EU after the pandemic? • A US soldier is arrested after crossing the North Korean border. 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: You will know the truth, and the truth will make
[0:04] Speaker 1: you free. John 8, 32 Dear Lord, we thank you
[0:09] Speaker 1: for the gift of your word, the ultimate source of
[0:11] Speaker 1: truth in our lives. It is through your word that
[0:14] Speaker 1: we come to understand your will, your character, and the
[0:17] Speaker 1: life you desire for us. We ask that you guide
[0:20] Speaker 1: us deeper into your truth. Uncover our eyes, open our hearts,
[0:24] Speaker 1: and enlighten our minds so that we may gain clarity
[0:27] Speaker 1: amidst confusion, hope amidst despair, and wisdom amidst uncertainty. May
[0:32] Speaker 1: the truth of your love, grace, and salvation permeate every
[0:36] Speaker 1: aspect of our lives. Let it set us free from guilt, fear,
[0:41] Speaker 1: and the burden of past mistakes. Enable us to live
[0:44] Speaker 1: in the light of your truth, liberated and empowered to
[0:47] Speaker 1: serve you wholeheartedly. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen. Welcome
[0:53] Speaker 1: to Pray News, where hope is our only bias. Today's
[0:56] Speaker 1: news at a glance, Trump is being investigated for the
[0:59] Speaker 1: January 6th insurrection. How does the U.S. economy compare to
[1:02] Speaker 1: the EU after the pandemic? And a U.S. soldier is
[1:05] Speaker 1: arrested after crossing the North Korean border. There's controversy and
[1:09] Speaker 1: anger everywhere. Hopefully, you came here for a bit of
[1:12] Speaker 1: wisdom and peace. That's what we aim to do here
[1:14] Speaker 1: at Prey News. We want to leave you informed and transformed.
[1:18] Speaker 1: If you enjoyed this take on the news, follow us
[1:20] Speaker 1: and leave a review. Your engagement ensures others can be
[1:23] Speaker 1: informed on current events and transformed by the Gospels. Our
[1:28] Speaker 1: first story of today has to do with the never-ending
[1:30] Speaker 1: drama of Trump's legal allegations. Former President Donald Trump disclosed
[1:35] Speaker 1: on Tuesday that he received a target letter from federal
[1:38] Speaker 1: prosecutors indicating his status as a subject in their investigation
[1:42] Speaker 1: related to the January 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol.
[1:45] Speaker 1: The news further embroils the former president in legal turmoil
[1:49] Speaker 1: as he campaigns for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination. The
[1:53] Speaker 1: letter received from special counsel Jack Smith signifies Trump's likelihood
[1:58] Speaker 1: of indictment for his actions leading up to the attack
[2:01] Speaker 1: by his supporters on the U.S. Capitol. Trump posted on
[2:04] Speaker 1: his social media platform, Truth Social, that he has been
[2:07] Speaker 1: given a brief four-day period to report to the grand jury,
[2:11] Speaker 1: a step that often precedes arrest and indictment. In his
[2:15] Speaker 1: public statement, Trump labeled Smith as deranged and accused the
[2:18] Speaker 1: current Biden administration of attempting to subvert his bid for
[2:21] Speaker 1: the presidency. The ongoing investigation by Smith's team probes the
[2:25] Speaker 1: alleged attempts by Trump and his associates to overturn the
[2:28] Speaker 1: results of the 2020 election. Prosecutors have questioned Trump's mental
[2:33] Speaker 1: state post-election and the role of his legal representatives in
[2:36] Speaker 1: trying to change the election's outcome. Smith's team has paid
[2:40] Speaker 1: particular attention to the potential legal actions, such as submitting
[2:44] Speaker 1: fraudulent elector slates to Congress or fundraising based on false
[2:48] Speaker 1: claims of election fraud. Trump's activities in New York and
[2:51] Speaker 1: Georgia also remain scrutinized by local prosecutors. However, the specific
[2:57] Speaker 1: pieces of evidence that will be presented and the particular
[3:00] Speaker 1: charges that will be brought against Trump remain unknown. Legal
[3:04] Speaker 1: experts have speculated that charges could include obstruction of an
[3:07] Speaker 1: official proceeding, conspiracy to defraud the government, or even insurrection
[3:11] Speaker 1: against the federal government. However, the last charge has been
[3:15] Speaker 1: rarely used and has a much higher bar to meet
[3:18] Speaker 1: in terms of evidence. Refuting the allegations, Trump decried the
[3:22] Speaker 1: investigation as a politically motivated witch hunt designed to manipulate
[3:26] Speaker 1: the upcoming election. Despite his legal challenges, Trump remains the
[3:30] Speaker 1: frontrunner and the prominent candidate for the GOP nomination, attributing
[3:35] Speaker 1: his legal issues to a concerted effort to keep him
[3:38] Speaker 1: out of the office. His recent legal predicament have resulted
[3:41] Speaker 1: in fundraising surges in some areas and fundraising declines in others,
[3:46] Speaker 1: with GOP rivals largely supporting his criticisms of the prosecution.
[3:50] Speaker 1: From a legal and political perspective, the implications of this
[3:54] Speaker 1: development are vast and potentially precedent-setting. If convicted, Trump could
[3:58] Speaker 1: face significant penalties, and the fallout could impact not only
[4:01] Speaker 1: his own political future, but also the dynamics within the
[4:04] Speaker 1: Republican Party and the broader political landscape. Commenting to the
[4:08] Speaker 1: Wall Street Journal on the situation, House Speaker Kevin McCarthy
[4:11] Speaker 1: dismissed the news of Trump receiving a target letter as
[4:14] Speaker 1: politically motivated, suggesting that it's the Biden administration's way of
[4:19] Speaker 1: attacking their primary opponent. Now, how do we approach this
[4:23] Speaker 1: from a Christ-centered lens? Depending on your party leaning, you
[4:26] Speaker 1: may have different perspectives on whether Trump is innocent or guilty.
[4:30] Speaker 1: We aren't going to speculate either way here. Yet, there
[4:33] Speaker 1: is one thing most of us can probably agree on.
[4:35] Speaker 1: This process has been exhausting. For a while now, the
[4:39] Speaker 1: country has been trapped in ideological and political warfare, and
[4:42] Speaker 1: we all get the sense that somebody is always lying
[4:44] Speaker 1: to us about something. We are reminded of John 8, 32,
[4:49] Speaker 1: when Jesus reminds us that the truth will set us free. Now,
[4:52] Speaker 1: let's not take this scripture out of context. In the
[4:54] Speaker 1: grand scheme of things, this verse largely concerns the truth
[4:57] Speaker 1: of the gospel. It's the gospel and the truth of
[5:00] Speaker 1: Jesus that truly sets us free. However, it can also
[5:04] Speaker 1: be applied to certain situations like this, where we feel
[5:07] Speaker 1: trapped in ideological warfare. We feel trapped because we always
[5:11] Speaker 1: get the sense that somebody's lying to us. We can
[5:14] Speaker 1: also easily be held captive by the lies of special interests,
[5:18] Speaker 1: legacy media, and big government. So we are going to
[5:21] Speaker 1: pray for the truth of these events to be made
[5:23] Speaker 1: known so that we can process and move forward no
[5:26] Speaker 1: matter what party we are loyal to. Former President Trump
[5:30] Speaker 1: may be found guilty of all or some of the
[5:32] Speaker 1: charges brought against him. He might also be vindicated, and
[5:35] Speaker 1: the Biden administration will be exposed for their so-called witch hunt.
[5:39] Speaker 1: Either way, we as Christians are called to pray for
[5:42] Speaker 1: people in authority, that they might make decisions in wisdom
[5:46] Speaker 1: and righteousness. And as such, we ought to pray for
[5:48] Speaker 1: wisdom of those involved in this investigation as well, and
[5:51] Speaker 1: for the courage of those who have been called to testify,
[5:54] Speaker 1: and for justice ultimately to be served for the good
[5:57] Speaker 1: of all Americans in the world around us. Our second
[6:02] Speaker 1: story of today has to do with economic resilience. After
[6:05] Speaker 1: political unrest, a global pandemic, and economic quaking, recent numbers
[6:10] Speaker 1: are showing that Americans have emerged financially stronger from the
[6:13] Speaker 1: pandemic than before. According to a recent analysis by JPMorgan
[6:18] Speaker 1: Chase Institute, Americans now have about 10-15% more in their
[6:22] Speaker 1: bank accounts than they did pre-COVID in 2019. This is
[6:26] Speaker 1: despite inflation soaring to its highest level in decades last year.
[6:30] Speaker 1: where consumers experienced a $ 5 per gallon gas price and
[6:35] Speaker 1: $ 10 for a dozen eggs. Do you remember that? Maybe
[6:37] Speaker 1: you're still experiencing something like that if you live in California.
[6:41] Speaker 1: In the face of increasing inflation, American paychecks have been
[6:45] Speaker 1: steadily growing. For four consecutive months, salaries have outpaced inflation,
[6:50] Speaker 1: breaking a long-standing tread of declining purchasing power. Over the
[6:55] Speaker 1: past year, average hourly wages have risen by 4.4%, compared
[6:59] Speaker 1: to a 3% inflation rate. So we're watching this proverbial
[7:02] Speaker 1: race on the edge of our seats. You see, inflation
[7:06] Speaker 1: is coming in hot, but the average hourly wages are
[7:09] Speaker 1: still keeping pace slightly ahead of inflation. It's like this
[7:13] Speaker 1: race where everyone wants to see one person win. This
[7:17] Speaker 1: paints a clear picture as to why the U.S. has
[7:19] Speaker 1: managed to avoid a recession thus far, even amidst skyrocketing
[7:23] Speaker 1: inflation and the Federal Reserve's move to increase interest rates
[7:26] Speaker 1: 10 times. Consumer sentiment has played a pivotal role in
[7:31] Speaker 1: sustaining this economic buoyancy. In fact, it soared to a
[7:35] Speaker 1: nearly two-year high last month, leading to an increased consumer spending.
[7:40] Speaker 1: While median account balances have seen a 41% increase since
[7:44] Speaker 1: their peak in April of 2021, they're still higher than
[7:48] Speaker 1: in 2019. This is primarily due to the enormous financial
[7:52] Speaker 1: stimulus infused into the personal bank accounts during the pandemic,
[7:56] Speaker 1: which hasn't fully yet depleted. Europe, however, is in a
[8:01] Speaker 1: bleaker situation. Europeans are facing economic decline, with their purchasing
[8:06] Speaker 1: power dwindling due to reduced consumption, inflation, the pandemic, and
[8:10] Speaker 1: the Russia-Ukrainian war. The Wall Street Journal recently compared the
[8:15] Speaker 1: economic trajectories of the U.S. and Europe. Around 15 to
[8:18] Speaker 1: 20 years ago, the U.S. and Europe accounted for 25%
[8:21] Speaker 1: each of global consumption spending. Today, America has risen to 28%
[8:27] Speaker 1: while Europe has declined to 18%. The report from the
[8:31] Speaker 1: Wall Street Journal suggests that potential driving factors are Europe's
[8:34] Speaker 1: preferences for leisure time and the fact that the Eurozone
[8:38] Speaker 1: relies heavily on exports for GDP, with China being a
[8:41] Speaker 1: major market. And as China still recovers from the pandemic,
[8:45] Speaker 1: that means that Europe is going to still be set back.
[8:48] Speaker 1: Poor economic growth and demographic prospects are making Europe less
[8:52] Speaker 1: appealing to companies as well. which are now focusing more
[8:54] Speaker 1: on North American markets in the US, Canada, and Mexico.
[8:58] Speaker 1: Over the past 15 years, the Eurozone economy grew about 6%
[9:02] Speaker 1: compared to 82% for the US. One key factor that
[9:07] Speaker 1: helped the US avert economic stagnation seen in Europe is
[9:11] Speaker 1: the difference in approach to financial aid during the pandemic.
[9:15] Speaker 1: We all remember getting those stimulus checks. Well, the European
[9:18] Speaker 1: countries largely focused their stimulus efforts on employers and businesses.
[9:23] Speaker 1: whereas the U.S. targeted its citizens directly, giving the stimulus
[9:26] Speaker 1: checks directly to their bank accounts. This approach has led
[9:30] Speaker 1: to a significant discrepancy in annual wages between the U.S.
[9:33] Speaker 1: and Europe, with wages falling in Germany, Spain, France, Italy,
[9:37] Speaker 1: and the U.K. since 2019. However, we can't get too cocky.
[9:42] Speaker 1: These successes are not devoid of potential pitfalls. The U.S.
[9:46] Speaker 1: is set to face challenges as the final remnants of
[9:48] Speaker 1: the COVID stimulus packages are scheduled to expire this fall.
[9:52] Speaker 1: Measures that kept student loan payments at bay, billions in
[9:55] Speaker 1: childcare funding, and claims for food stamps will soon end,
[9:59] Speaker 1: potentially impacting the economic stability gained over the last three years.
[10:05] Speaker 1: From a Christian perspective, this situation serves as a reminder
[10:08] Speaker 1: of the enduring spirit and resilience of the American people.
[10:12] Speaker 1: Things have seemed dark lately, but we are learning that
[10:15] Speaker 1: some of that darkness is media-generated, there are pockets of
[10:18] Speaker 1: hope to look for everywhere. Amidst times of turmoil, the
[10:22] Speaker 1: ability to adapt, persevere, and keep hope is alive and paramount.
[10:28] Speaker 1: This story also highlights the importance of stewardship for all
[10:31] Speaker 1: of us, an aspect of life echoed all throughout Scripture.
[10:35] Speaker 1: The wiser we are with our resources, the bigger blessing
[10:38] Speaker 1: we can be to others around us, to our communities,
[10:40] Speaker 1: to charities, to churches, to humanitarian efforts. As we continue
[10:44] Speaker 1: navigating these uncertain times, let us remember to exercise prudence
[10:48] Speaker 1: with our finances, let's plan for the future, and let's
[10:51] Speaker 1: trust in God's providence as we face potential economic challenges ahead. However,
[10:57] Speaker 1: let's also be mindful of this prevailing truth in 1
[10:59] Speaker 1: Timothy 6.17 which says, Charge those who are rich in
[11:03] Speaker 1: this present world that they not be arrogant, nor have
[11:07] Speaker 1: their hope set on the uncertainty of riches, but on
[11:09] Speaker 1: the living God who richly provides us with everything to enjoy.
[11:14] Speaker 1: We understand that there is more to life than financial success.
[11:18] Speaker 1: What does it profit us to gain the whole world
[11:20] Speaker 1: but lose our souls? Our hope doesn't rest in our
[11:22] Speaker 1: economic growth alone. We rest all of our hope in
[11:26] Speaker 1: the salvation of our souls and hope in Jesus Christ
[11:29] Speaker 1: and his plan for our lives. Our last story is
[11:34] Speaker 1: an interesting one and it will continue to intrigue us
[11:36] Speaker 1: for the days ahead. North Korea has detained an American soldier,
[11:41] Speaker 1: Private Second Class Travis King, after he crossed the military
[11:45] Speaker 1: demarcation line separating North and South Korea without authorization, U.S.
[11:49] Speaker 1: officials have reported. King had recently completed a two-month term
[11:54] Speaker 1: in South Korean detention facility after a physical altercation with
[11:57] Speaker 1: local citizens. It is reported that during his time there,
[12:01] Speaker 1: King expressed his wish not to return to America. A
[12:05] Speaker 1: spokesperson for the U.S. and Korea stated, that the soldiers
[12:08] Speaker 1: serving under the U.S. forces in Korea and the U.S.
[12:11] Speaker 1: Army willfully and without authorization crossed into North Korea. Fox
[12:17] Speaker 1: reported that King is believed to be in North Korean custody,
[12:21] Speaker 1: and the U.S. officials are cooperating with their military counterparts
[12:24] Speaker 1: to resolve the situation. Before his detention by North Korean regimes,
[12:28] Speaker 1: King had spent approximately one week under observation at a U.S.
[12:32] Speaker 1: base in South Korea following his release from the South
[12:35] Speaker 1: Korean detention facility. He was meant to return to the U.S.,
[12:39] Speaker 1: but missed his flight. Officials reported the King was in
[12:43] Speaker 1: civilian clothes and on a tour in a personal capacity
[12:46] Speaker 1: when the incident occurred. North Korea's state media has yet
[12:50] Speaker 1: to comment on the matter. A full investigation is underway,
[12:53] Speaker 1: with Dan Hoffman, a former CIA station chief, pointing out
[12:56] Speaker 1: North Korea now has, quote, another piece of leverage, unquote,
[13:00] Speaker 1: against the U.S., as the soldier could be used as
[13:03] Speaker 1: a pawn in future negotiations. The State Department confirmed its
[13:07] Speaker 1: awareness of the incident, adding that the U.S. government cannot
[13:11] Speaker 1: provide emergency services to the U.S. citizen in North Korea
[13:15] Speaker 1: due to absence of diplomatic counselors in those regions. It's
[13:19] Speaker 1: rare for Americans or South Koreans to defect to North Korea. However,
[13:25] Speaker 1: over 30,000 North Koreans have fled to South Korea since
[13:28] Speaker 1: the end of the Korean War in 1953 to escape
[13:31] Speaker 1: political oppression and economic hardship. There are some obvious missing
[13:35] Speaker 1: pieces to this story, and we will continue to keep
[13:38] Speaker 1: an eye out as it develops. As it stands now,
[13:41] Speaker 1: we will be praying for Travis King and his family.
[13:44] Speaker 1: The cruelty and inhumane conditions of North Korea are both
[13:48] Speaker 1: well-known and mysterious at the same time. We are reminded
[13:52] Speaker 1: of the parable of the lost sheep in Luke 15,
[13:54] Speaker 1: where each individual is valuable to God. No matter King's
[13:57] Speaker 1: background or intentions, we know that no soul is too
[14:00] Speaker 1: far gone for God. We hope for a resolution where
[14:03] Speaker 1: Private King, like the lost sheep, is safely brought home.
[14:08] Speaker 1: Let's also pray for Private King's safety and his swift
[14:10] Speaker 1: return home, but also the diplomatic wisdom needed to resolve
[14:14] Speaker 1: this incident and incidents like it. And we're also going
[14:17] Speaker 1: to be praying for all the families whose loved ones
[14:19] Speaker 1: are serving abroad, especially in areas of tension. This situation
[14:23] Speaker 1: is a stark reminder of the volatile world we live
[14:27] Speaker 1: in and the need for peace and unity that Christ brings.
[14:32] Speaker 1: This story also serves as a reminder to pray for
[14:34] Speaker 1: the thousands of North Koreans who have felt compelled to
[14:38] Speaker 1: leave their home country due to oppression and the millions
[14:41] Speaker 1: still suffering within its borders. Our faith reminds us of
[14:45] Speaker 1: the potential of redemption, reconciliation, and peace in these complex
[14:49] Speaker 1: geopolitical situations. We're reminded also that every human is deserving
[14:54] Speaker 1: of dignity, respect, and has a right to life. And
[14:58] Speaker 1: so may we never lose hope that the gospel can
[15:00] Speaker 1: change the world around us for the better. Thank you
[15:04] Speaker 1: for joining us today on Pray News. It is our
[15:07] Speaker 1: aim to be informed and transformed. If you enjoyed this
[15:10] Speaker 1: take on news, follow us and leave a review. Your
[15:12] Speaker 1: engagement ensures that others can be informed on current events
[15:15] Speaker 1: and transformed by the gospel. You can also sign up
[15:18] Speaker 1: for our newsletter at PrayNews.com. We pray today that you
[15:21] Speaker 1: would proceed with hope, love, and determination to be a
[15:24] Speaker 1: force for good. Join us daily for Pray News, where
[15:27] Speaker 1: hope is our only bias.

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