#ourCOG Daily Brief [October 21, 2025]

Good evening, and welcome to #ourCOG Daily Brief for October 21, 2025.

In today’s top stories, partisanship is being set aside in Three Rivers, Michigan, as residents unite to push for clean water, while elsewhere, a government shutdown drags on with no end in sight as Republicans and Democrats remain at an impasse. Across the U.S., “No Kings” protests against President Trump are bringing a street party vibe to cities, with demonstrators arguing he’s testing the nation’s balance of power. Meanwhile, the Trump administration is reportedly ramping up military presence near Venezuela without congressional approval, suggesting potential land operations. On the domestic legal front, “lawfare” is hitting new levels, with the Justice Department pursuing individuals like former national security adviser John Bolton, whom President Trump claims have wronged him. Internationally, Israelis are feeling increasingly isolated globally as the world focuses on Palestinian suffering in Gaza, raising questions about the effectiveness of boycotts. India may emerge as an unexpected winner from Trump’s H-1B visa price hike, benefiting from a new pool of job seekers. And in Ukraine, despite Russia’s intensified targeting of energy infrastructure in a bid to weaken morale, Ukrainians are showing resilience, determined to keep the lights on through a third winter at war.

From our video content today, we featured a “Masterpiece,” followed by “Chapel | Missions Week: Coleman Bailey,” and a segment titled “October 21, 2025,” which also included another “Masterpiece.”

In FaithNews, we’re following the ‘Lone Soldier Program’ of the Ministry to Israel, which hopes to welcome one of the hostages, and a new book examining the generational shift in leadership and discipleship. Additionally, VPN.com has honored TPUSA Founder Charlie Kirk, and Intercultural Ministries recently hosted their ‘Seat at the Table’ Conference.

Turning to prophecy news, the Israeli cabinet has reportedly renamed the Iron Swords War to the “War of Redemption,” while in France, a tornado near Paris left one person dead and several injured. Prime Minister Netanyahu reiterated that ending the war in Gaza early would have meant Israel’s “days were numbered.” On the economic front, Poland’s president has signed a new zero income tax law for parents with two or more children to support families. We also hear about New York Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani, who is being called a “warning for America” despite his attempts to rebrand himself as a friend of the Jewish people.

And finally, in Jewish history, looking back to October 22nd, in the year 362, a mysterious fire destroyed the temple of Apollo at Daphne outside Antioch. Some believe Christians, angered by Emperor Julian’s favor towards Jewish and pagan rites and the closure of a major church, may have set the blaze. Julian, the last non-Christian Roman emperor, had famously promised to rebuild the Temple at Jerusalem, a promise he couldn’t keep due to his untimely and mysterious death. Also, on this day in 741, Charles Martel passed away.