Pope: 'I will not debate war with Trump'

This episode of the Global News Podcast covers a high-stakes international standoff between Pope Leo and former U.S. President Donald Trump, sparked by Trump's public criticism of the Pope's opposition to war and immigration policy. The Pope firmly refuses to debate Trump, reaffirming his moral duty to speak out against violence and promote peace, particularly during his upcoming visit to Algeria—a symbolic gesture toward interfaith dialogue with the Muslim world. Meanwhile, tensions escalate in the Middle East as the U.S. prepares to enforce a naval blockade on the Strait of Hormuz, prompting Iran to label it piracy and warning of retaliation. The episode also examines the humanitarian crisis in Iran, where executions have surged to their highest level since 1989, and the geopolitical ripple effects of the blockade, including potential Chinese involvement and regional instability. In Europe, Hungary undergoes a political transformation as Peter Magyar defeats Viktor Orban in a landslide, promising to restore democracy, combat corruption, and reposition Hungary within the EU—raising hopes for improved relations with Ukraine and a shift away from right-wing populism. The podcast closes with a heartwarming story of an eight-year-old boy’s plush toy, 'Rise,' which traveled to the moon aboard the Artemis mission as a zero-gravity indicator, symbolizing the power of youth innovation and global inspiration.