This is The Briefing, a daily analysis of news and events from a Christian worldview.Part I (00:13 – 09:00) Welcomed Back into the Arms of Vladimir Putin: The Merchant of Death Returns to Russia in Brittany Griner ExchangeViktor Bout’s Release Is Hailed in Russia as a Kremlin Victory by New York Times (Richard Pérez-Peña)Part II (09:00 – 16:11) A New Morality of Hostage Takers: Why the U.S. (And Other Democratic Nations) Will Get the Short End of the Stick in Government International Hostage SituationsU.S. Reluctantly Embraces New Era of Hostage Diplomacy by Wall Street Journal (Aruna Viswanatha and James T. Areddy)Part III (16:11 – 18:48) ‘A Role Model and Inspiration to LGBTQI+ Americans’: The Political Pressure on the Biden Administration That Led to the Swap for Brittany GrinerBrittney Griner Swap Puts Spotlight on Americans in Russia by New York Times (Valerie Hopkins, Anatoly Kurmanaev and Jonathan Abrams)Press Briefing by Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre, December 8, 2022 by The White HousePart IV (18:48 – 28:55) There’s a New “Independent” in the Senate? Kyrsten Sinema Changes Political Affiliation — But This Is an Unfolding Story, With Interesting WrinklesKyrsten Sinema Switches to Independent, Complicates Democratic Control of Senate by Wall Street Journal (Eliza Collins and Lindsay Wise)Sign up to receive The Briefing in your inbox every weekday morning.Follow Dr. Mohler:Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | YouTubeFor more information on The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, go to sbts.edu.For more information on Boyce College, just go to BoyceCollege.com.To write Dr. Mohler or submit a question for The Mailbox, go here.

Scripture teaches that God is just. He must punish sin. On this episode of the White Horse Inn our hosts help us to understand that God’s mercy must be understood against the background of his justice and wrath in the crucifixion of Jesus Christ (originally aired 01-20-91).

DOCUMENTATION AND ADDITIONAL READING
PART 1
(0:0 – 10:34):
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Huge Political and Cultural Shockwaves From Virginia: Republican Glenn Youngkin Defeats Democrat Terry McAuliffe In Gubernatorial Election In Virginia

PART 2
(10:35 – 16:22):
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Cultural and Moral Issues Dominate Over Political Issues: What Were The Big Issues For Virginians That Led McAuliffe Out Of Office?

PART 3
(16:23 – 20:38):
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Minneapolis Votes Against Defunding the Police — But What Was Behind The Measure, And How Did It Intersect With The Biblical Worldview?

THE HILL (MARTY JOHNSON)
Minneapolis Votes Down Measure Replacing Police Department

NEW YORK TIMES (MITCH SMITH AND TIM ARANGO)
Minneapolis Voters Reject An Amendment to Replace the Police Department.

PART 4
(20:39 – 25:24):
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Wrongful Civil Rights Era Convictions Should Be Expunged? But What About The Historical Record?

ASSOCIATED PRESS (JAY REEVES)
Bid Considered To Wipe Alabama Arrest Records of King, Parks