It’s Tuesday, February 4th, A.D. 2025. This is The Worldview in 5 Minutes heard on 125 radio stations and at www.TheWorldview.com.  I’m Adam McManus. (Adam@TheWorldview.com)

By Kevin Swanson

Egyptian Christian jailed for converting from Islam

An Egyptian Christian, Abdulbaqi Saeed Abdo, is a father of five and converted from Islam to the Christian faith.

Originally from Yemen, West Asia, he has been released from an Egyptian prison after three years of incarceration.  Abdo was indicted on charges of participating in a private Facebook group which advocated the Christian faith.  

Alliance Defending Freedom International represented the Christian convert who suffered poor treatment in prison, affecting his heart, liver, and kidneys. 

Trump pauses tariffs on Canada & Mexico after pledge to boost border enforcement

On Monday, President Donald Trump agreed to a 30-day pause on his tariff threats against Mexico and Canada since America’s two largest trading partners took steps to appease his concerns about border security and drug trafficking, reports the Associated Press.

TRUMP: “Had a great talk with Mexico. We have to stop fentanyl from coming in, and we have to stop the illegal aliens from coming in.”

In the face of a 25% tariff south of the border, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said she would reinforce the border with 10,000 members of her country’s National Guard. 

TRUMP:  “They’ve agreed to put in 10,000 soldiers permanently, like forever, 10,000 soldiers at their side of the border and stop fentanyl.”

That’s why Trump called off that tariff threat for the moment. Mexico’s trade surplus with the U.S. is running at $160 billion.

The Trump administration had also suggested a 25% tariff on Canadian annual imports of some $430 billion.  Initially, the Canadian government responded with a suggestion of a 25% tariff on American goods, currently running at $107 billion.

But, on Monday afternoon, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau posted on X that the pause would occur “while we work together,” saying that his government would name a fentanyl czar, list Mexican cartels as terrorist groups, and launch a “Canada-U.S. Joint Strike Force to combat organized crime, fentanyl, and money laundering.”

Will Trump’s tariff threat persuade China and European Union?

Trump has announced a 10% tariff on China on $400 billion of imports to begin today if President Xi Jinping does not demonstrably commit to combat illegal immigration and drug smuggling, reports Reuters.

TRUMP: “If we can’t make a deal with China, then the tariffs will be very, very substantial.”

China’s surplus is $270 billion.

Europe will not be immune to President Trump’s tariff pressure either. He is planning to levy a tariff on the European Union which, at this point, holds a trade surplus of $160 billion with the United States.

U.S. Agency for Int’l Development under control of State Dept now

Meanwhile, the Trump administration has announced that the U.S. Agency for International Development, primarily responsible for administering civilian foreign aid and development assistance, will move under the direct control of the U.S. State Department.  It will no no longer act as an independent agency.

USAID spending has run between $15 and $20 billion per year over the last 20 years. It was created in 1961 under the Kennedy administration.

In related news, the USAID website was taken down Saturday.  

Dept. of Defense ends identity months

The U.S. Defense Department has announced an end to the sponsorship and support of “Identity Months” through the use of official resources. That will include Black History Month, Women’s History Month, and National Disability Employment Awareness Month.

The release entitled “Identity Months Dead at DoD” stated that the department would instead “celebrate the valor and success of military heroes of all races, genders, and backgrounds as we restore our warrior culture and ethos.”

New York doctor to be arrested for prescribing Abortion Kill Pill

A Louisiana grand jury has issued an arrest warrant for a New York doctor who allegedly prescribed abortion kill pills for a pregnant minor who resided in the state of Louisiana.  

The jury indicted Dr. Margaret Carpenter; her company, Nightingale Medical, PC; and the minor’s mother for the felony of administering an abortion-inducing drug to the child. West Baton Rouge District Attorney Tony Clayton told the Associated Press that the mother turned herself in to the police last week.

Job 24:1, 14 speaks of this.  “Since times are not hidden from the Almighty,
why do those who know Him see not His days? … The murderer rises with the light; He kills the poor and needy; and in the night he is like a thief.”

Education decline in America

The United States is leading the world in educational decline, according to the most recent Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study issued towards the end of 2024.

Our students’ math scores dropped from 13th place in 2019 to 25th place in the 2023 testing.  American 4th graders’ scores fell 18 points after 2019, while 8th graders’ scores fell by 27 points—the biggest drop since the United States began participating in the test in 1995.

Peggy Carr, the commissioner of the National Center for Education Statistics, noted what she called the “steep, steep” declines — erasing progress made in previous years.

Brazil, South Africa, and Morocco have the worst scores while China, South Korea, Singapore, and Japan lead the world in science and math. 

But let us all remember that “the fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction..”  (Proverbs 1:7)

Martyr John Rogers burned at the stake February 4, 1555

And, on this day in history, February 4th, 1555, John Rogers was burned at the stake, as the first Christian martyr under the reign of the English monarch Mary I. She became known as “Bloody Mary” for ordering a total of 280 Protestants burned at the stake.

Rogers was a friend of William Tyndale and continued Tyndale’s efforts to translate the Bible. Roger’s work included the first complete English Bible and English Bible commentary, published under the pseudonym Thomas Matthews. His translation was known as the Matthews Bible.  

He is remembered for singing the Psalms as he was marched to the site of his execution. 

Close

And that’s The Worldview on this Tuesday, February 4th in the year of our Lord 2025. Subscribe by Amazon Music or by iTunes or email to our unique Christian newscast at www.TheWorldview.com. Or get the Generations app through Google Play or The App Store. I’m Adam McManus (Adam@TheWorldview.com). Seize the day for Jesus Christ.