#ourCOG Daily Brief [February 8, 2026]

Good evening, and welcome to #ourCOG Daily Brief for February 8, 2026.

In today’s top stories, prediction markets are booming, yet their ads remain banned from major events like the Super Bowl, highlighting their popular but polarizing nature. The 18th-century enslaved poet Phillis Wheatley is being honored with a postage stamp, recognized for her revolutionary ideals and inspirational legacy. In a rare move, a “Reagan conservative” federal judge, Mark Wolf, has resigned over presidential actions, as public trust in the Justice Department erodes amid concerns of political pressure. Meanwhile, the U.S. is looking to restock its missile interceptor supplies, depleted by recent use and heightened tensions with Iran. Internationally, Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s governing party secured a supermajority in a snap election. Alpine racer Lindsey Vonn once again showed her remarkable grit in a heartbreaking crash during her comeback leading up to the 2026 Winter Games. And in Gaza, the Rafah border crossing with Egypt has reopened for Palestinian returnees, a key component of the Israel-Hamas ceasefire, though its initial operation is reportedly imposing hardships.

For those interested in spiritual enrichment, you can catch up on our latest video offerings, including “Sunday Service | Sundays at 9:30AM & 11:30AM EST | citylife church,” “Sunday Service Live at Free Chapel I 11am,” and the “Dallas Church of God Livestream.”

From our FaithNews RSS feed, we’re tracking a “Church Planting Intensive Set for March 11-13,” a “Church Files Emergency Appeal to Resume Worship,” news that “‘The Bible Recap’ Hits Top 100 on Apple Podcasts,” and a “Multi Million Dollar Gift Launches New Era for SMCH.”

In prophecy news, a top military official, Admiral Brad Cooper, is gaining President Trump’s trust as a crisis diplomat in ongoing Iran nuclear negotiations. Domestically, Senator Chuck Schumer is facing criticism for calling voter ID “Jim Crow 2.0,” reigniting debates around election security. There’s also discussion that the “Transgender Industrial Complex” may be collapsing, following shifts in legal and medical establishments. And in a concerning report, an illegal immigrant with an active deportation order was reportedly hired as a police recruit in New Orleans and issued a firearm.

Finally, in Jewish history for February 8th, we look back to 8421 when Constantius III became co-Emperor of the Western Roman Empire, serving alongside Honorius, who was known for his anti-Jewish policies, including laws diverting taxes from Jewish leaders to the imperial treasury. In 1250, during the seventh crusade, King Louis IX of France, described as chivalrous but hostile to Jews, confronted Ayyubid forces at the Battle of Al Mansurah, a period that proved to be a debacle for the Jewish people. Later, in 1265, Hulagu Khan, whose 1255 invasion of Persia was devastating, continues to shape the region.

That’s your #ourCOG Daily Brief for February 8, 2026. Good evening.