#ourCOG Daily Brief [February 3, 2026]

Good evening, and welcome to #ourCOG Daily Brief for February 3, 2026.

In today’s headlines, U.S. news reports a concerning rise in claims of excessive force by immigration agents beyond the national spotlight of Minneapolis, involving U.S. citizens and legal residents. Meanwhile, schools across the nation are implementing new nutrition guidelines and reinstating the Presidential Fitness Test as part of the “Make America Healthy Again” federal agenda. On the tech front, our reporter got a glimpse into future computing with Meta and Ray-Ban’s new smart glasses. The largest batch yet of Jeffrey Epstein files has been released, revealing some details of his communications with powerful contacts, though they may not satisfy all inquiries. A partial government shutdown began Saturday, expected to be brief, but setting the stage for crucial debates over immigration enforcement policies and funding. Internationally, in eastern Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia region, Russian forces continue their relentless advance amidst bitter cold, making peace talks seem distant despite negotiations elsewhere. Venezuela hopes an oil revival will ease its economic woes, but President Trump and interim President Delcy Rodríguez may find that Venezuelans are also seeking significant political change. Finally, Canada is strategically building the Gordie Howe International Bridge to Detroit, aiming for a future less dependent on the U.S., even as the two nations face trade disagreements.

In other news, our latest videos include the encouraging message, “He will not fail you,” a recent “Chapel | Jonathan Etienne | February 3, 2026” broadcast, and a #shorts segment addressing “The Mistake Christians Make About Forgiveness.”

From the FaithNews RSS feed, we’re tracking a multi-million dollar gift that is launching a new era for SMCH, a new fundraising model championing change as nonprofits seek solutions to the ‘donor exodus,’ IFCJ expanding support in Syria by delivering ambulances, and a Black History Celebration set for February 4th.

In prophecy news, recent discussions highlight the symbolic placement of an ancient stone vessel, used for ritual purity, in Israel’s Knesset, drawing connections to the modern parliament’s role in potentially championing the Third Temple. Elsewhere, a police union leader attributes recent deadly Minneapolis shootings to blocking ICE coordination, while an attorney and self-defense expert have weighed in on the Alex Pretti shooting, deeming it legally justified. Broader commentary suggests that current events, particularly in “Woke-Marxist-Jacobin hotspots,” indicate Democrats have become “useful idiots” for globalist and Marxist forces aiming to destroy Western civilization.

Finally, in Jewish history, looking back at February 4th: in 211 AD, the reign of Roman Emperor Septimius Servus concluded; he had famously outlawed conversions to both Judaism and Christianity. Then, in 362 AD, Roman Emperor Julian, known as Julian the Apostate, promulgated an edict recognizing equal rights to all religions in the Roman Empire. Julian undid Constantine’s edicts that made Christianity the state religion, favoring Hellenism and even demonstrating sympathy for the Jewish people, with plans to rebuild the Temple in Jerusalem before his untimely murder by a Christian Arab soldier.