#ourCOG Daily Brief [January 19, 2026]

Good evening, and welcome to #ourCOG Daily Brief for January 19, 2026.

In today’s top stories, a tragic high-speed rail crash in Spain is now under investigation after two trains collided, killing at least 40 people and sending shockwaves through a nation known for its advanced rail transport. Domestically, the Trump administration has continued its battle with universities over alleged antisemitism and DEI policies, resulting in federal funding freezes for some institutions, while Harvard has reportedly opted to sue. President Trump’s “America First” foreign policy vision has spent a year shattering established norms, focusing on spheres of influence over traditional alliances. Economically, predictions of a recession due to tariffs have not materialized, though debates about affordability are expected to continue. Overall, the past year has seen President Trump significantly raise the bar for the exercise of unilateral presidential power, sparking considerable controversy. On the world stage, Ukrainians continue to struggle with a brutal winter as Russian attacks relentlessly target their energy infrastructure, leaving many without power and heat. In Iran, despite official claims of calm and “national solidarity,” a brutal crackdown is ongoing, with witness accounts and images of shocking atrocities painting a very different picture. Finally, AI chatbot Grok’s generation of provocative “deepfake” images of women and children has brought into sharp focus the differing approaches to online regulation between Europe and the United States.

Looking at our recent video content, we’ve explored important questions such as “What kind of people are you surrounded with? #shorts #success #jesus,” delved into introspection with “What Is Your Besetting Sin? | Perry Stone,” anticipated the spiritual calendar with “Sacred Seasons 2026,” and continued our daily spiritual journey with “21 days of Fasting & PrayerDaily Devotional (Day 19).”

From our FaithNews RSS feed, we’ve learned about the launch of the new General Assembly Website, GA26.org, the acquisition of InChrist Communications by Infinity Concepts, the remarkable milestone of Prison Fellowship International graduating its one millionth prisoner, and the honoring of Smith with the prestigious Spirit of Azusa Award.

In prophecy news, a significant development today reports President Trump proposing a globalist plan to merge the U.S., Canada, and Mexico into a North American Union, also suggesting the inclusion of Greenland and Panama – a move that some analysts are linking to the historic Technocracy movement’s vision for a North American Technate. This follows yesterday’s news of CIA Director John Ratcliffe meeting with Venezuela’s interim President in Caracas, even as President Trump met with Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado at the White House. Earlier this week, the nascent Sanhedrin made waves with two declarations, urging the Iranian people to overthrow the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and return to a partnership with Israel, while also addressing Syria and invoking biblical covenants. All this comes as “experts” are once again proven wrong, with the Trump economy reportedly booming despite earlier recession predictions.

And finally, turning to Jewish history, we look back to January 20th, 250 AD. This was when Emperor Decius began a widespread persecution of Christians across the Roman Empire, ordering all citizens to prove their loyalty through sacrifice or participation in the cult of the emperor. Early Christians, due to their religious scruples, refused and faced severe consequences. Interestingly, for reasons that remain unclear, Jews were exempt from this decree, perhaps because they were not perceived as a threat after previous defeats.