#ourCOG Daily Brief [October 17, 2025]

Good evening, and welcome to #ourCOG Daily Brief for October 17, 2025.

In U.S. news, ‘lawfare’ appears to be intensifying, with reports of former national security adviser John Bolton’s indictment being the latest example of the Trump Justice Department pursuing those the President feels have wronged him. President Trump is also reportedly applying lessons from the Hamas-Israel ceasefire to Ukraine, aiming to strong-arm a similar peace. Closer to home, recovery efforts for the Blue Ridge Parkway, a vital economic resource, are challenged by geography and the ongoing government shutdown. Meanwhile, the Supreme Court seems poised to potentially diminish the Voting Rights Act of 1965 after hearing arguments on using race in congressional map drawing, and Maryland is addressing its teacher shortage by offering training to laid-off federal workers. Internationally, Bolivia’s recent runoff election highlights the significant progress made in Indigenous rights over the past two decades. In France, a new government has survived two no-confidence votes, but the battle over next year’s budget is just beginning. And in Gaza, Hamas is reportedly waging a violent campaign to reassert control over the streets, two years after going underground.

Moving to our video content, we have recent offerings including “Obedience Over Opportunity | Between Sundays Podcast Episode 14,” a thought-provoking episode from Perry Stone titled “Why Is No One Expelling Evil Spirits Anymore? | Episode 1306,” and an encouraging message from Jentezen Franklin, “Don’t Let Your Pain Be In Vain.”

From our FaithNews RSS feed, we’re seeing stories like the Ministry to Israel’s ‘Lone Soldier Program’ looking to welcome one of the hostages, a new book examining generational shifts in leadership and discipleship, VPN.com honoring TPUSA Founder Charlie Kirk, and Intercultural Ministries hosting their ‘Seat at the Table’ Conference.

In prophecy news, today brings word that President Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin plan to meet in Budapest to discuss ending the war in Ukraine, following a “productive” phone call. This comes after yesterday’s discussions on whether Israel’s defeat of Hamas holds prophetic implication, with experts clarifying it’s not the seven-year covenant mentioned in Daniel 9:27. Earlier this week, there were reports of a deepening scandal in Virginia and voter frustration in New Jersey making upcoming races more competitive, and President Trump announced the start of the second phase in the Gaza Peace Plan.

And finally, looking back at Jewish history, on this day, October 18th, in 67 CE, we remember the tragic fall of Gamla, a fortress in Israel’s Golan region. Roman soldiers captured the stronghold, which had been fortified by Josephus Flavius, leading to a massacre of its inhabitants or forcing many to leap to their deaths from the cliffs. The site, rediscovered in the 1970s, remains a poignant reminder of the Jewish revolt against Rome.