#ourCOG Daily Brief [January 17, 2026]

Good evening, and welcome to #ourCOG Daily Brief for January 17, 2026.

Today’s headlines bring a mix of U.S. and world events. In the United States, the Justice Department is reportedly investigating whether Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey’s public statements may have impeded federal immigration enforcement. This comes as President Trump considers U.S. options in Iran amidst protests and crackdowns, with a shift in his message after initially hinting at military action. The President has also threatened to invoke the Insurrection Act in Minnesota as protesters clash with ICE, an 1807 act that allows for military deployment on U.S. streets under rare circumstances. Adding to the tension, some businesses in Minneapolis and other cities are protesting the administration’s deportation crackdown by barring ICE agents without a judicial warrant. On a different note, a historical perspective suggests that direct U.S. ownership of Greenland may not be essential for national security, given the long-standing cooperation with Denmark. Globally, Ukraine is enduring a harsh, cold winter as Russian attacks continue to devastate its energy infrastructure, leaving many without power and heat. In Iran, despite official claims of “national solidarity,” witness accounts and images are surfacing, painting a stark picture of “atrocities” during the recent crackdown. And in tech news, AI chatbot Grok’s generation of provocative “deepfake” images has sparked a debate, highlighting the differing views on online regulation between Europe and the U.S.

For those interested in video content, we have several new uploads available. These include “I’m Built For This” by Bishop Jason Garner, “Sacred Seasons 2026,” “21 days of Fasting & Prayer,” and our “Daily Devotional” for Day 17. Don’t forget to check out the “NYA” video as well.

Turning to faith news, we regret to report that there is no recent faith-based news available today.

In prophecy news, the nascent Sanhedrin made significant declarations on January 17th, addressing Iran and Syria. They’re invoking Cyrus and biblical covenants, urging the Iranian people to overthrow the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and restore partnership with Israel. Prior reports highlighted how ‘experts’ were again wrong about the Trump economy, which is booming despite recession predictions. There was also a notable exchange where Justice Alito pressed an ACLU attorney to define ‘man or woman.’ Lastly, Bill and Hillary Clinton reportedly refused to testify in the Jeffrey Epstein investigation.

And finally, in Jewish history, looking back at January 18th, we find significant events that illustrate the shifting landscape for Jewish communities. In 360 AD, Roman Emperor Constantius II decreed that only Catholic Churches would receive exemptions from state taxes, a move that clearly demonstrated Christianity’s growing status as the state religion and its detrimental impact on Jews. Later, in 532 AD, the Nika riots in Constantinople came to an end with Emperor Justinian retaining his throne, largely due to his wife’s courage. While senators opposed to Justinian tried to capitalize on these riots, history does not record the specific views held by the Jewish community during these tumultuous events.