#ourCOG Daily Brief [March 18, 2026]

Good evening, and welcome to #ourCOG Daily Brief for March 18, 2026.

Today in U.S. news, Senator Markwayne Mullin is facing sharp criticism during his confirmation hearing for Homeland Security Secretary, particularly from within his own Republican party, despite offering a more conciliatory tone on immigration. Mullin, a former wrestler and plumbing business owner, is President Trump’s pick to lead the agency at a critical time. Meanwhile, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard carefully navigated questions regarding whether the intelligence community warned the Trump administration about potential Iranian attacks in the Gulf and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz. The ongoing U.S.-Israeli attacks on Iran are having widespread impacts across the Middle East and beyond, significantly burning through U.S. weapons stockpiles and affecting the national budget. Domestically, Senate Republicans are divided over the use of a “talking filibuster” to pass the SAVE America Act, with Majority Leader John Thune reportedly opposing the strategy. On the world stage, India continues to grapple with an overwhelming court backlog of 54 million cases, with trials potentially taking decades due to overworked and understaffed courts. In Egypt, there’s a booming interest in learning Swahili, as young Egyptians seek a stronger connection to Africa. Finally, Iranians are struggling to cope amidst a severe crisis atmosphere, facing continuous U.S.-Israeli attacks, the recent killing of pivotal leader Ali Larijani, and a rigid regime that views protesters as enemies.

In our video section, we recently featured “Alabama Campmeeting June 17, 1989 Carl Richardson,” “1983 Alabama Campmeeting Special Choirs and Groups,” and “The Cost of A Calling | Jentezen Franklin.”

From the FaithNews RSS feed, we’ve seen headlines including “Church Planting Intensive In Session,” “‘Jesus Wells’ Campaign Focuses on ‘World’s Thirstiest Communities’,” “Ministry Wins ‘Best Children’s Feature’ at Movieguide® Awards,” and “Church Planting Intensive Set for March 11-13.”

Turning to prophecy news, missile shrapnel from Iranian attacks reportedly fell today in Jerusalem’s Old City holy sites, including the Temple Mount/Al-Aqsa compound, the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, and the Jewish Quarter, as well as across central Israel, causing minor injuries. This escalation by Tehran, which is now targeting the entire Middle East, is seen by some as reflecting internal vulnerabilities within Iran’s clerical regime. We also noted a comparison between the Ark Encounter and the United States in this monumental year, marking the nation’s 250th and the Ark’s 10th anniversary. Finally, it was reported that Hamas urged Iran to cease its attacks on neighboring countries, marking a significant statement from the Iran-backed group, while also calling for an end to the war in Iran and affirming Iran’s right to self-defense.

And finally, in Jewish history for March 19, we look back to the year 235 and the end of the reign of Severus Alexander, the 26th Emperor of the Roman Empire. Moving to 1191, eighty Jews were tragically burned at Bray, France, after they, with the permission of the local ruler, executed a vassal who had killed a Jew. Then in 1227, Pope Gregory IX was elected; he was a prominent opponent of Judaism who condemned it and, in his 1234 Decretals, codified the doctrine of “perpetual servitude of the Jews.”

That’s all for tonight’s digest. Thank you for joining us.