#ourCOG Daily Brief [February 15, 2026]

Good evening, and welcome to #ourCOG Daily Brief for February 15, 2026.

In U.S. news today, Secretary of State Marco Rubio adopted a softer tone with European allies regarding the Trump administration’s intent to reshape the trans-Atlantic alliance, while still maintaining a firm stance. Meanwhile, an ICE official has indicated that officers appear to have lied about a recent shooting of an immigrant, the latest in a series of incidents where initial accounts have been contradicted by evidence. On a brighter note, community-run ski hills are working to reduce costs and barriers to the sport, offering low- or no-cost opportunities that have even helped produce Olympians. Looking back, reenactors portraying George Washington and Ben Franklin are preparing for America’s 250th anniversary, aiming to tell the complex story of the nation’s founding. And in international relations, the last arms control treaty between the U.S. and Russia has expired, highlighting a multipolar project where an end to arms control isn’t desired, but a change in its approach is. Globally, the Winter Olympics continue to deliver memorable moments. On a perfect Italian day, three top Alpine skiers created a truly Olympic moment in the women’s giant slalom, celebrating joy and sisterhood. Speedskater Jordan Stolz also brought home gold for his country in the 500m event. However, the unforgiving glare of the Olympic spotlight proved challenging for figure skater Ilia Malinin, the favorite and only person to complete the quadruple Axel, who faced an unexpected outcome in Milan.

Switching gears to our digital programming, you can catch up on recent videos including ‘Enlarge the Tent 2/15/26,’ our ‘Sunday Service’ available at 9:30 AM & 11:30 AM EST from citylife church, and the ‘Dallas Church of God Livestream.’

In FaithNews, a Church Planting Intensive is set for March 11th through 13th, while another church has filed an emergency appeal to resume worship. Additionally, ‘The Bible Recap’ has made it into the Top 100 on Apple Podcasts, and a multi-million dollar gift is launching a new era for SMCH.

Moving to prophecy news, First Lady Melania Trump delivered a nostalgia-filled message about love letters and the military community to service members and families at Pope Army Airfield and Fort Bragg. In broader global developments, there’s a growing sense that the necessary alliances for the Ezekiel War, as prophesied in Ezekiel 38-39, are not merely forming but are already established. This comes as Israel officially joins the US-backed Board of Peace as a founding member, though Prime Minister Netanyahu will not attend its inaugural meeting. Meanwhile, January saw strong U.S. job growth, particularly in healthcare, and Sweden expressed readiness to contribute to NATO’s presence in the Arctic.

And finally, let’s turn to Jewish history. On this day, February 15th, in 399 BCE, the philosopher Socrates was sentenced to death. While Socrates himself wasn’t Jewish, his teachings profoundly influenced Jewish thinkers and philosophers throughout history. For instance, the second-century Jewish teacher Aristobulus believed Greek philosophers like Socrates were actually influenced by the teachings of Moses. Later, in 1045, Ibn-Gebriol even quoted ‘the divine Socrates’ and Plato in his work on moral philosophy. Also on February 15th, but much later in 1113, Pope Paschal II officially recognized the Knights.