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The Briefing with Albert Mohler

Friday, May 8, 2026

5/8/202626 min

This is The Briefing, a daily analysis of news and events from a Christian worldview.
On today’s edition of The Briefing, Dr. Mohler discusses the effectiveness of cell phone bans in schools, YouTube in classrooms, the GUARD Act, Amsterdam’s ban on meat advertising for climate change, praying for a child’s salvation in view of God’s sovereignty, the big problem with a falling birth rate, meeting historical figures, the 10 Commandments and religious freedom, and if A.I. chatbots can become possessed by demonic forces.
Part I (00:13 – 06:41)
Cell Phone Bans in Schools, Do They Work? New Study Shows Positive Trends in Many Important Categories

Part II (06:41 – 11:02)
YouTube is Taking Over Classrooms: The Concerning Amount of Social Media Finding Its Way into School Curricula

Part III (11:02 – 12:51)
Guard Children From A.I. Chatbots: Senator Joshua Hawley’s GUARD Act Receives Unanimous Committee Vote — Now Will Both Houses of Congress Vote to Protect Children?

Part IV (12:51 – 14:52)
Amsterdam Bans Advertising Meat for Climate Change: The Left’s Cultural Insanity is Strong on Both Sides of the Atlantic

Part V (14:52 – 18:25)
How Do I Pray for My Children and Encourage Them to Faith When the Bible Puts Forth Such a Big View of God’s Sovereignty? — Dr. Mohler Responds to Letters From Listeners of The Briefing
Part VI (18:25 – 21:15)
What is the Big Problem with the Falling Birth Rate? — Dr. Mohler Responds to Letters From Listeners of The Briefing
Part VII (21:15 – 22:50)
If You Could Meet One Historical Figure, Who Would It Be and Why? — Dr. Mohler Responds to a Letter From a 13-Year-Old Listener of The Briefing
Part VIII (22:50 – 24:30)
Why Does Posting the 10 Commandments Not Violate the Religious Freedom of an Atheist Teacher? — Dr. Mohler Responds to Letters From Listeners of The Briefing
Part IX (24:30 – 26:09)
Can Chatbots Become Possessed by Demonic Forces? — Dr. Mohler Responds to Letters From Listeners of The Briefing
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Transcript preview

First 90 seconds

  1. Albert Mohler· Host0:00

    [upbeat music] It's Friday, May 8th, 2026. I'm Albert Mohler, and this is The Briefing, a daily analysis of news and events from a Christian worldview. You know, here we are in the digital age, we're in the smartphone age, we're in the internet age. You could just name the technology. It's all around us, and, uh, most people are connected to it one way or the other. And, uh, that comes right down to even the existence of a podcast or a broadcast or any kind of product like that. The world has been transformed. We do understand there are grave dangers, and they're not evenly distributed. So let's put it another way. We understand that there is a unique vulnerability to young people. And one of the things that should appear insane to us is that children and young people have been so exposed to not only cell phones, but to all kinds of very toxic, toxic influences. And, uh, not only that, in the age of artificial intelligence, to, to chatbots, uh, that include, well, as I say, some things that have led, uh, children and young people to self-destructive behavior, some which have, uh, uh, confused them sexually, and there's so many other ways. We're talking about something that's, it's just really dangerous. We're also talking about the fact that these digital devices are taking so much time and consuming so much attention that other things like making friends and sustaining friendships, knowing how to have a conversation, all those things tend to fall apart. Okay. So all around the globe, people are beginning to awaken

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