#ourCOG Daily Brief [October 11, 2025]

Good evening, and welcome to #ourCOG Daily Brief for October 11, 2025.

In today’s top stories, President Trump announced funds have been identified to ensure U.S. troops will be paid on October 15th, despite the ongoing government shutdown. However, other federal employees are set to miss their paychecks, with mass federal layoffs already beginning, a move the White House says is aimed at pressuring Democratic lawmakers. This comes as federal workers are already reeling from a tough year of cuts. Internationally, a Gaza ceasefire and hostage deal have cleared a significant hurdle, with negotiators decoupling the emotional first phase from the more complex second, though much hard work remains for lasting peace. In Europe, nations are grappling with the challenge of boosting defense budgets while maintaining social welfare programs, and in Peru, Congress successfully removed President Dina Boluarte after multiple previous attempts amid a crime wave. Meanwhile, Israelis and Palestinians are greeting the Gaza deal with a mixture of joy, relief, and understandable caution.

Turning our attention to our video features, we have a recent Masterpiece message, “Jeremiah 18: 1-6” from Bishop Jason Ganer, a fun look at “What Perry Will Look Like When He’s Old!”, and an encouraging short reminding us to “Surround Yourself with POSITIVE People Who LIFT You Up.”

From our FaithNews RSS feed, we’ve recently seen updates on the “International Offices Prayer Center Dedicated,” “Upward Sports Celebrates 30 Years of Ministry Impact Through Sports,” a “Group Launches AI Assistant for Women’s Health Centers,” and “Cook Casts Inaugural Vision for Lee University.”

In prophecy news, a recent post discusses the critical importance of controlling language in shaping debates, noting how terms like “justice-involved individuals” or “reproductive healthcare” can redefine issues. On a significant note, Hamas has confirmed that the war is over, citing guarantees from the U.S. and other mediators. This follows President Trump’s announcement earlier in the week that both Israel and Hamas had signed off on the first phase of the Gaza peace plan, which includes the release of Israeli hostages. Earlier this month, France also saw fresh political chaos with its Prime Minister resigning after just 27 days in office.

Finally, in Jewish history, looking back at October 12th, we remember several significant events. In 539 BCE, Cyrus the Great’s Persian armies captured Babylon, paving the way for Jews to return to their homeland. The tombstone of Elijah ben Simon from 1129 is among the oldest evidence of Jewish settlement in Nuremberg. Tragically, in 1285, the Jews of Munich faced a devastating blood libel, leading to the deaths of most of the community, with 180 survivors burned alive in their synagogue after refusing baptism. In 1366, Jews in Sicily were forbidden from decorating the outside of their houses of worship, and in 1491, the infamous Blood Libel tied to the Holy Child of La Guardia saw inquisitors arranging a meeting between Yucef Franco and Benitor Garcia.

That concludes our digest for this evening. Thank you for joining us.