# 9-13-2023 - US Sues Google, Libya Storm, & Smucker’s Twinkie

An episode of [Pray News](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1697158801), 13 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-b4d6010c32c6/00efa2b7-6edb-4417-a29a-b4d7000e132c/audio.mp3?utm_source=Podcast&in_playlist=992944cf-642c-431f-a11e-b4d6010c32cd

This is PrayNews, your Daily Christian News and 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 Good News at a Glance: • The U.S. is going after Google for monopolizing the search engine market. • A catastrophic storm kills over 5,000 people in Libya. • Smucker takes a giant leap to become the titan of the snack industry. Pray News is your number 1 source for the top conservative news given to you daily. 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: I know how to be humbled, and I also know
[0:03] Speaker 1: how to abound. In everything and in all things I
[0:06] Speaker 1: have learned the secret both to be filled and to
[0:09] Speaker 1: be hungry, both to abound and to be in need.
[0:12] Speaker 1: I can do all things through Christ, who strengthens me.
[0:16] Speaker 1: Philippians 4, 12-13 Dear Lord, You are a steady and
[0:23] Speaker 1: unwavering presence in a chaotic and constantly changing world. You
[0:27] Speaker 1: anchor my soul and quiet my anxious thoughts. When I
[0:31] Speaker 1: find myself reeling and drifting away, you are faithful to
[0:34] Speaker 1: bring me back to you. I pray that you would
[0:36] Speaker 1: give me peace today, Lord. Teach me to be content
[0:39] Speaker 1: in every season, trusting that you will guide and uphold
[0:43] Speaker 1: me in every situation. While some circumstances may be too
[0:46] Speaker 1: big for me, nothing is too big for you. I
[0:49] Speaker 1: declare today that while I may be too weak to
[0:52] Speaker 1: handle some of life's most difficult challenges, I can do
[0:55] Speaker 1: all things when you give me strength. And it's in
[0:58] Speaker 1: the name of Jesus that I trust, in the name
[1:01] Speaker 1: of Jesus that I rely on, and in the name
[1:03] Speaker 1: of Jesus I pray. Amen. Welcome to Pray News, where
[1:07] Speaker 1: hope is our only bias. Today's news at a glance,
[1:10] Speaker 1: the U.S. is going after Google for monopolizing the search
[1:13] Speaker 1: engine market, a catastrophe storm kills over 5,000 people in Libya,
[1:18] Speaker 1: and Smucker takes a giant leap to become the titan
[1:21] Speaker 1: in the snack industry. Today's stories are diverse, to say
[1:26] Speaker 1: the least. There's some controversial news, some tragic news, and
[1:30] Speaker 1: silly news. Each day can be like that, mixed with
[1:33] Speaker 1: ups and downs. Each day can bring new heartache, insight,
[1:36] Speaker 1: and fresh absurdity to laugh at. What's important is that
[1:39] Speaker 1: our joy remains anchored in Christ through it all. So,
[1:42] Speaker 1: whether we are reading about a shady business deal, crying
[1:45] Speaker 1: over the loss of life, or laughing at the idea
[1:48] Speaker 1: of peanut butter and jelly Twinkies, we remain steady and
[1:51] Speaker 1: unwavering in our faith. We don't rely on good news
[1:54] Speaker 1: stories to keep us happy, nor do we let sad
[1:56] Speaker 1: stories keep us down. For I have learned to be
[1:59] Speaker 1: content in all situations, and I can do all things
[2:02] Speaker 1: through Christ who strengthens me. Philippians 4. We're glad you're
[2:05] Speaker 1: here with us today. We pray this take on the
[2:07] Speaker 1: news leaves you informed and transformed. If you've been blessed
[2:10] Speaker 1: by Pray News so far, we would love it if
[2:12] Speaker 1: you left us a review. Doing so will help others
[2:14] Speaker 1: to find this podcast, so they too can be informed
[2:17] Speaker 1: on current events and be transformed by the gospel. Today's
[2:21] Speaker 1: first story comes out of Silicon Valley. When giants tremble,
[2:25] Speaker 1: the earth shakes. The antitrust case between the United States
[2:28] Speaker 1: and Google, dubbed US versus Google, is sending seismic waves
[2:32] Speaker 1: through the corridors of power and tech. It's no secret
[2:35] Speaker 1: that Google controls approximately 90% of the search engine market,
[2:39] Speaker 1: a statistic that screams monopoly even to the untrained eye.
[2:43] Speaker 1: This monopoly, according to the Department of Justice, is sustained
[2:47] Speaker 1: through an exclusive partnership with hardware companies like Apple. making
[2:50] Speaker 1: Google the default search engine across millions of devices. For
[2:54] Speaker 1: the consumer, switching to an alternative like DuckDuckGo or Bing
[2:58] Speaker 1: demands a labyrinth of 15-step processes. But Google counters these
[3:03] Speaker 1: claims by saying that they are the chosen ones, not
[3:06] Speaker 1: because of coercion or underhanded deals, but because their search
[3:10] Speaker 1: engine is genuinely superior. They argue that users can switch
[3:14] Speaker 1: whenever they want, but few decide to. And while that
[3:18] Speaker 1: argument is technically true, It doesn't wash the smell of
[3:21] Speaker 1: monopoly off of them. So where do we stand? On
[3:24] Speaker 1: one side, the government argues that Google's practices hinder innovation
[3:29] Speaker 1: and give them an unfair competitive edge. This claim doesn't
[3:32] Speaker 1: exist in a vacuum. Google's dominance does have a trickle-down
[3:35] Speaker 1: effect on advertising rates, competitors, and perhaps even the user experience.
[3:40] Speaker 1: On the flip side, Google argues that competition is just
[3:43] Speaker 1: a click away, despite them being the default choice. They
[3:46] Speaker 1: contend that customers would change their settings to use different
[3:50] Speaker 1: search engines if their product wasn't top-notch. The argument is
[3:53] Speaker 1: not without merit. Many Windows users who don't have Google
[3:56] Speaker 1: products preloaded still opt for Google Search. Why? Because it
[4:00] Speaker 1: works so well. While many legal experts predict that Google
[4:03] Speaker 1: will not be broken up due to the trial, there's
[4:06] Speaker 1: another subtler effect called the policeman at the elbow, a
[4:09] Speaker 1: term coined by Tim Wu. The term has several legal meanings,
[4:13] Speaker 1: but one of them means that once scrutinized by the government,
[4:16] Speaker 1: companies become overly cautious, constantly looking over their shoulder for
[4:20] Speaker 1: regulatory watchdogs. This atmosphere can stifle innovation and even hinder
[4:24] Speaker 1: a company's growth potential. With echoes from the past, like
[4:28] Speaker 1: Microsoft and IBM antitrust cases, this trial also serves as
[4:32] Speaker 1: a harbinger of technological shifts on the horizon. The AI
[4:36] Speaker 1: wave that looms large could significantly impact the tech industry's
[4:39] Speaker 1: power dynamics. potentially making this trial a turning point. We
[4:43] Speaker 1: can't deny Google's brilliance in creating a search engine that
[4:46] Speaker 1: has become synonymous with internet search itself. Yet the essence
[4:50] Speaker 1: of a balanced marketplace is the freedom for other companies
[4:53] Speaker 1: to rise and make their mark. Google should welcome this,
[4:56] Speaker 1: not just as a moral or legal imperative, but as
[4:59] Speaker 1: a catalyst for innovation and improvement. To cap this off,
[5:02] Speaker 1: it's worth mentioning the biblical concept of accountability. The scriptures
[5:06] Speaker 1: often emphasize the importance of equitable scales and just measures.
[5:09] Speaker 1: Proverbs 11.1 speaks of this. Just as Google holds tremendous power,
[5:14] Speaker 1: it also carries an equal responsibility to its users, competitors,
[5:17] Speaker 1: and society's moral fabric. As the trial unfolds, we must
[5:21] Speaker 1: remember that true power comes not just from market share,
[5:24] Speaker 1: but from the just and accountable use of the power
[5:26] Speaker 1: that's given to us. Perhaps it's time for Google to
[5:29] Speaker 1: consider not just what it can do, but what it
[5:31] Speaker 1: should do. After all, even giants have to answer to someone.
[5:35] Speaker 1: With all this being said, let's lift this up in prayer.
[5:38] Speaker 1: Heavenly Father, we ask for wisdom and discernment for all
[5:40] Speaker 1: parties involved in this significant antitrust case. May the outcomes
[5:43] Speaker 1: reflect justice, fairness, and promote a landscape where innovation and
[5:47] Speaker 1: competition can flourish. Remind us all of the importance of
[5:50] Speaker 1: wielding power responsibly and accountably for the benefit of society
[5:55] Speaker 1: as a whole. Our second story is tragic. And what
[5:59] Speaker 1: is being described as one of the most devastating natural
[6:02] Speaker 1: disasters to hit the North African country Libya is grappling
[6:06] Speaker 1: with a staggering loss of life in the Mediterranean cyclone Daniel.
[6:10] Speaker 1: The lethal storm caused massive flooding in the eastern region,
[6:13] Speaker 1: resulting in a humanitarian crisis of unprecedented proportions. More than
[6:18] Speaker 1: 5,000 individuals are feared dead, and thousands more are missing,
[6:23] Speaker 1: primarily in the city of Derna and its surrounding areas.
[6:27] Speaker 1: Survivors recount stories of buildings swept away by floodwaters and
[6:31] Speaker 1: families separated in chaos. Photos outside a local hospital in
[6:35] Speaker 1: Derna depict bodies shrouded in blankets, silently telling the story
[6:38] Speaker 1: of an overwhelmed healthcare system. According to a high-ranking official
[6:42] Speaker 1: in the government of eastern Libya, the number of dead
[6:45] Speaker 1: may exceed 5,300 and the missing exceed 4,000. This natural
[6:49] Speaker 1: disaster has further strained Libya's already eroded state institutions, crumbling
[6:54] Speaker 1: under the weight of years of political instability, war, and corruption.
[6:58] Speaker 1: Libyan authorities are making monumental efforts to reach survivors, restore communications,
[7:03] Speaker 1: and provide essential resources like food, water, and shelter. However,
[7:07] Speaker 1: these operations are severely hampered by the ongoing political divisions
[7:11] Speaker 1: within the country, as eastern Libya, the region most affected
[7:15] Speaker 1: by the storm, is controlled by Khalifa Haftar, a Moscow-backed
[7:19] Speaker 1: militia leader and a government that rivals the United Nations-recognized
[7:23] Speaker 1: administration in Tripoli. Despite these obstacles, Prime Minister Abdul Hamid
[7:28] Speaker 1: of the UN-recognized government, has instructed all officials to aid
[7:32] Speaker 1: affected regions, stating, the circumstances and divisions drawn from abroad
[7:37] Speaker 1: will not prevent us from helping you. Countries like Turkey
[7:40] Speaker 1: and Egypt, which have had historical involvement in Libya, are
[7:43] Speaker 1: sending rescue teams and other forms of aid. In addition,
[7:46] Speaker 1: the United States and other international organizations have pledged support.
[7:50] Speaker 1: Convoys from public utility companies in western Libya have been dispatched,
[7:54] Speaker 1: laden with aid, including medical supplies and mattresses. In times
[7:59] Speaker 1: of incomprehensible loss and human suffering, many turn to faith
[8:03] Speaker 1: for comfort and guidance, and we do the same. While
[8:06] Speaker 1: no words can ease the pain felt by thousands of
[8:09] Speaker 1: families in Libya, the Christian community worldwide can serve as
[8:12] Speaker 1: a beacon and an example of compassion and charity in
[8:15] Speaker 1: times of trouble. Whether by contributing to the relief funds,
[8:18] Speaker 1: sending supplies, or simply keeping the affected in our prayers,
[8:22] Speaker 1: it is time for the global community and global unity
[8:25] Speaker 1: to be shown. For the families grieving, we can only
[8:28] Speaker 1: offer our deepest condolences and uphold them in prayer daily,
[8:32] Speaker 1: asking for God's mercy and healing in this difficult time.
[8:35] Speaker 1: As Libya mourns its dead and missing, the international community
[8:38] Speaker 1: must rally together to provide timely aid and help the
[8:42] Speaker 1: country rebuild. Amid political divisions and human suffering, the storm
[8:46] Speaker 1: has left behind a trail of destruction, a challenge to
[8:49] Speaker 1: our collective conscience, and an appeal to our better nature
[8:53] Speaker 1: to rise up and help those in need. So let's
[8:55] Speaker 1: be praying for them. Heavenly Father, we lift up the
[8:58] Speaker 1: people of Libya in the time of devastating loss and suffering.
[9:02] Speaker 1: May you provide comfort to those who are grieving, strength
[9:04] Speaker 1: to the rescuers, and wisdom for the leaders as they
[9:06] Speaker 1: navigate the crisis. Unite all of us in compassion and
[9:10] Speaker 1: action and in prayer, so that aid may reach those
[9:13] Speaker 1: in need swiftly, and a path to healing and reconstruction
[9:16] Speaker 1: to be found. In Jesus' name, amen. All right, we're
[9:20] Speaker 1: going to do our best to pivot to some lighthearted
[9:22] Speaker 1: news for our last story of the day. J.M. Smucker
[9:25] Speaker 1: is going where no jam company has gone before. With
[9:28] Speaker 1: a staggering $ 4. 6 billion, Smucker is setting its sights on
[9:32] Speaker 1: the holy grail of snack foods, Twinkies. Cue the heavenly choir.
[9:37] Speaker 1: Remember when Smucker's was all about peanut butter and jelly? Well,
[9:40] Speaker 1: those days are over, people. The company that ventured into
[9:43] Speaker 1: pet food eight years ago is now making a massive
[9:46] Speaker 1: play to conquer the American snackiverse by acquiring hostess brands. Why?
[9:51] Speaker 1: Because in America, snacking is no longer a pastime. It's
[9:54] Speaker 1: an Olympic sport, and they're going for the gold. Smucker's CEO,
[9:58] Speaker 1: Mark Smucker, clearly couldn't resist the lure of Hostess Ho-Ho's breakfast,
[10:02] Speaker 1: as he declared the acquisition would bring Smucker right into
[10:05] Speaker 1: the heart of America's center aisles. It's the promised land, folks.
[10:09] Speaker 1: Forget your organic quinoa and kale chips. The center aisle
[10:12] Speaker 1: is where the real magic happens, where dreams are born, and, apparently,
[10:15] Speaker 1: where snacks grow 20% faster than those nerdy, healthy alternatives.
[10:20] Speaker 1: According to the snack lord himself, Mark Smucker, about 70%
[10:23] Speaker 1: of consumers eat at least two snacks a day. Some
[10:26] Speaker 1: food industry analysts are side-eyeing Smucker's optimism. They whisper that
[10:30] Speaker 1: Hostess brands are, shall we say, mature, sort of like
[10:33] Speaker 1: that cheese you found in the back of your fridge
[10:34] Speaker 1: last week. In other words, Smucker's gambled on an old
[10:38] Speaker 1: and possibly dying brand. The Dark Horse favorites to bring
[10:41] Speaker 1: this Smucker's gamble to a victory are the young folk.
[10:44] Speaker 1: Millennials and Gen Zers have redefined snacking. With a 10%
[10:48] Speaker 1: increase in snack consumption compared to their seniors, they've made
[10:52] Speaker 1: the center aisles the place to be. Forget nightclubs, if
[10:55] Speaker 1: you want to go where's hip, check your local 7-Eleven.
[10:58] Speaker 1: Smucker already has a variety of perishable snacks. This leads
[11:01] Speaker 1: us to question, will they go together like peanut butter
[11:04] Speaker 1: and jelly, or more like oil and water? Merchers usually
[11:07] Speaker 1: benefit from synergies, like building up their supply chains. But here,
[11:10] Speaker 1: there's questions about competition within the same business. Smucker's last
[11:15] Speaker 1: gamble was on Uncrustables. Who would have predicted that Uncrustables
[11:18] Speaker 1: would evolve from a $ 1 million buy to a $ 650
[11:21] Speaker 1: million empire? Will Twinkies be a bigger victory than Uncrustables?
[11:25] Speaker 1: We shall see. So there you have it. Smucker's monumental, groundbreaking,
[11:29] Speaker 1: history-altering $ 4. 6 billion acquisition of Twinkies. It's either going to
[11:34] Speaker 1: be a sweet success or a cream-filled catastrophe. Now, on
[11:39] Speaker 1: a more earnest note, there's a reflective perspective we ought
[11:43] Speaker 1: to consider here. While enjoying a Twinkie or two or
[11:46] Speaker 1: three is one of life's simple pleasures, the Bible reminds
[11:49] Speaker 1: us to exercise moderation and self-control. As Proverbs 25, 16 says,
[11:59] Speaker 1: The Bible is also clear that our bodies are temples
[12:01] Speaker 1: of the Holy Spirit and should be treated with care
[12:02] Speaker 1: in 1 Corinthians 6, 19-20. And an often forgotten sin
[12:06] Speaker 1: that many believers forget is gluttony. There's a fine line
[12:10] Speaker 1: between enjoyment and indulgence. And when it comes to food
[12:13] Speaker 1: in this country, we tend to cross that line quite
[12:16] Speaker 1: a bit. This acquisition, as monumental as it is in
[12:19] Speaker 1: the snacking world, reminds us to maintain a balanced life.
[12:23] Speaker 1: Food is meant primarily for nourishment and fuel for the
[12:25] Speaker 1: day's tasks. Secondly, food is about fellowship, meant to be
[12:29] Speaker 1: made and enjoyed and shared among family and friends. Let
[12:33] Speaker 1: us all exercise discernment so that enjoying the occasional treat
[12:37] Speaker 1: doesn't become a vice. Now, let's close our time together
[12:40] Speaker 1: in prayer. Dear Lord, we thank you for the occasional
[12:43] Speaker 1: lighthearted business story to give us a break from all
[12:45] Speaker 1: the greed and shady deals out there. We also ask
[12:48] Speaker 1: that you would give us discipline and discernment when it
[12:51] Speaker 1: comes to what we eat. Remembering that our bodies are
[12:53] Speaker 1: temples to be cared for and food is meant to
[12:55] Speaker 1: be fuel for our lives instead of hindrance to our progress.
[13:00] Speaker 1: Lord Jesus, we pray that you would give us discipline
[13:02] Speaker 1: and discernment in all areas of our lives so that
[13:04] Speaker 1: we might be effective ambassadors for your kingdom everywhere we go.
[13:08] Speaker 1: Whether it be our workplaces, our families, or our friendships,
[13:12] Speaker 1: we pray that we would shine your light wherever we are.
[13:15] Speaker 1: Strengthen us for the road ahead and empower us for
[13:18] Speaker 1: the day. We love you, Lord. And it's in Jesus'
[13:20] Speaker 1: name we pray. Amen. Thank you for joining us today
[13:24] Speaker 1: on Pray News. It was our aim to be informed
[13:26] Speaker 1: and transformed. We pray today you would proceed with hope, love,
[13:29] Speaker 1: and determination to be a force for good. If you've
[13:32] Speaker 1: enjoyed this take on the news, consider writing us a
[13:34] Speaker 1: review and share your experiences. You can sign up for
[13:37] Speaker 1: our newsletter at PrayNews.com. There you will find sources to
[13:39] Speaker 1: all of our reporting. And be sure to download the
[13:42] Speaker 1: Pray.com app to make prayer a priority in your life
[13:44] Speaker 1: and experience the Bible in new and exciting ways. God bless.

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