#ourCOG Daily Brief [February 28, 2026]

Good evening, and welcome to #ourCOG Daily Brief for February 28, 2026.

Today, the Middle East has been thrust into a new conflict as the U.S. and Israel launched a broad campaign of strikes against Iran, hitting at least five Iranian cities, targeting missile sites and top leaders’ offices. Iran has retaliated across the region, including missile strikes in the Gulf, marking the first time Tehran has attacked U.S. Gulf allies like the UAE, Jordan, Bahrain, and Kuwait. Israelis, accustomed to conflict, are awakening to an emergency of much higher stakes. In the U.S., President Trump’s decision to use force in Iran carries political risks, particularly given the lack of congressional authorization and public opposition to military action. Domestically, former President Bill Clinton testified on the Epstein scandal, a situation that may further diminish his legacy, especially among younger Democrats. Meanwhile, President Trump is also actively trying to exert more control over elections, issuing orders to tighten voting rules and demanding states turn over voter rolls, with many of these moves currently being fought in court as the fall midterm elections approach. And as for lighter news, after this week’s blizzard across the Northeast, our reporter in Boston set off on a seven-mile hike through the city to discover where all the snow disappears, gaining an appreciation for those who make it happen.

For our video updates, we encourage you to check out our latest titles, including “Where is God It’s a Relationship Not a Location,” followed by “Born Again Dancing on the Grave of the Past,” and finally, “What Is Your Issue? One Touch of Faith Changes Everything” from Mark 5:25-34 with Bishop Jason Garner.

We have no recent faith-based news available from our RSS feed today.

Turning to prophecy news, the most significant development is the reported death of Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, who was killed in an Israeli strike today as part of the joint U.S. and Israeli military operation. This comes after the U.S. warned embassy staff yesterday to leave Israel amid escalating tensions. Earlier in the week, there was notable discussion around a blood moon, planetary parade, and solar eclipse converging on Purim, with many wondering if the Messianic era is near, especially with the U.S. and Iran signaling readiness for war. Looking back a bit further, Ukraine’s allies called on Russia for a “full, unconditional ceasefire” on the four-year anniversary of Moscow’s invasion.

Finally, in Jewish history, we look back to March 1, 286. On this day, Roman Emperor Diocletian raised Maximian to the rank of Caesar, as he sought to restore stability to the Roman Empire. Interestingly, Diocletian was more concerned with Christians, whom he viewed as a cause of dissolution for the Empire, than he was with the Jews. When he tried to unify the empire by demanding all under his reign accept his divinity and offer sacrifices to his cult, Diocletian explicitly exempted the Jews. The only notable negative point surrounding Diocletian and his Jewish subjects was an accusation that they had mocked him due to his early origins as a swineherd.

That concludes our Daily Brief for February 28, 2026. Thank you for joining us.