10.22 | Before the myths take hold

Myrna Brown (0:05)

Good morning. Abortion on the ballot in Idaho, and pro-lifers encourage Christians to help defeat it.

Brian Nielsen (0:11)

It is your job as a Christian to protect innocent children.

Mary Reichard (0:16)

Also a former ambassador on the religious liberty implications of being debanked, and socialism's appeal has taken root with many young Americans. An expert explains why. Also, an alt-metal ban returns after seven years and proves it has not gone soft.

Joey Lasseter (0:32)

We love doing the crazy stuff.

Mary Reichard (0:34)

And commentary from Daniel Darling on discerning when and how to engage with politics.

Myrna Brown (0:46)

It's Thursday, October 22nd. This is The World and Everything In It. From listeners supported WORLD Radio, I'm Myrna Brown.

Mary Reichard (0:54)

And I'm Mary Reichard. Good morning.

Myrna Brown (0:58)

Time now for News with Kent Covington.

Kent Covington (1:01)

A retired American English teacher is free today after four years behind bars in Russia.

74-year-old Stephen Hubbard said Russian forces took him from his home in Ukraine in 2022, eight years after he'd moved there and accused him of fighting as a mercenary for Ukraine. President Trump told reporters at the White House.

Donald Trump (1:20)

I set the stage earlier, but the other day I was talking to Vladimir Putin about settling his war with Ukraine, which I think we're getting closer to, by the way. But I mentioned, could you let Stephen Hubbard out, please?

Kent Covington (1:35)

He said Putin agreed and that the US did not give up anything in return. He also suggested a link between Hubbard's freedom and Trump's decision to delay new sanctions against Russia.

Donald Trump (1:46)

I was in the midst of getting Stephen out of Russia, and if we did what these foolish people wanted me to do, he wouldn't be coming out right now. He'd be in there for another 20 years.

Kent Covington (2:00)

But he also pointed to ongoing peace talks with Moscow.

Donald Trump (2:04)

The last thing I want to do is upset an apple cart where we're getting close to settling a war.

Kent Covington (2:11)

And he said he appreciated the fact that the Kremlin had largely refrained from interfering in the US conflict with Iran.

US. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff greeted Stephen Hubbard in St. Petersburg Wednesday. But he also spoke with Vladimir Putin in a meeting he characterized as productive. And one day earlier in Norway, Witkoff met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who described that meeting the same way.

Volodymyr Zelensky (2:36)

Our talks with Steve yesterday was a very productive meeting. We shared our ideas, steps forward to the peace.

Kent Covington (2:44)

Zelensky said he wants to freeze territorial lines right where they are for the moment, cease fire and begin serious trilateral talks with the White House and the Kremlin.

Volodymyr Zelensky (2:53)

I think this is the best way President Trump, with his leadership and me and Russian leader trilaterally. Better with Europeans, but minimum trilaterally.

Kent Covington (3:03)

A Kremlin official said Wednesday that Vladimir Putin, after meeting with Witkoff, has agreed for Russia to resume three-way negotiations next month with Washington and Kiev. However, diplomats will steer those talks. This is not the sit-down that Zelensky is calling for with Trump and Putin.

Minnesota Congresswoman Ilhan Omar is speaking out in a new campaign video, asking supporters for donations after federal agents raided her Washington home. The Democrat posted the message Tuesday night speaking from the backseat of a vehicle. She thanked her backers and suggested that the criminal investigation is all political ahead of the midterm elections. She also promised to return to the campaign trail after laying low for more than a week.

Ilhan Omar (3:46)

We're not going to be intimidated. We're not going to be silenced. We're not going to be scared. I'll be out there campaigning alongside all of you and making sure that we beat back all of this and that we win in the midterms.

Kent Covington (3:59)

Investigators are examining, among other things, whether Omar or her father supplied information on immigration paperwork that helped her to become a citizen. Agents searched her home last week and seized her phone. Omar at this point has not been charged with a crime, and her lawyers call the investigation baseless. The congresswoman in her video did not directly address the allegations, and she asked supporters to donate, saying she faces an expensive fight.

French President Emmanuel Macron is criticizing remarks by President Trump and others about riots and looting in France. World's Kristen Flavin has that story.

Kristin Flavin (4:37)

Macron on Wednesday called comments by foreign leaders unacceptable and stupid. He singled out leaders campaigning for elections on the other side of the Atlantic.