4.22.26 The Federal Reserve nomination, the surgical backlog in Ethiopia, and relationships with a transient workforce

This episode of The World and Everything In It covers a wide range of global and domestic issues, beginning with President Trump's nomination of Kevin Warsh to lead the Federal Reserve amid a Justice Department investigation into current Chair Jerome Powell. The nomination faces political hurdles, particularly from Senator Tom Tillis, who is blocking confirmation until the investigation into Powell is dropped. Analyst Hunter Baker argues that while the president may want a compliant Fed chair, true independence and inflation control will limit any nominee's ability to simply follow presidential directives. The episode also examines Virginia's approval of a new congressional map, which Democrats believe will boost their chances in the midterms, though Baker criticizes the practice of constant redistricting as harmful to democratic health. On the international front, reporter Onise Adoua details the ongoing medical crisis in Ethiopia's Tigray region, where a five-year civil war left 600,000 dead and a backlog of 5,000 surgeries, with humanitarian workers like Dr. Matthews Bradbury struggling with outdated equipment and limited resources. Meanwhile, Todd Vishen reports from the Grand Canyon on a Christian ministry working with transient seasonal workers—many of whom are fleeing personal crises—building fleeting but meaningful relationships in a high-turnover environment. The episode closes with Janie B. Cheney’s commentary on the biblical story of Caleb, urging listeners to claim their God-given territory with faith and courage, even in the face of obstacles.