#ourCOG Daily Brief [May 7, 2026]

Good evening, and welcome to #ourCOG Daily Brief for May 7, 2026.

In today’s top stories, U.S. news highlights include President Trump’s “naughty list” concerning Iran war disputes, which is reportedly pushing Europe towards developing more independent defense strategies as trust in the U.S. partnership wanes. Domestically, communities are grappling with “teen takeovers,” revealing young people’s need for connection, with one Georgia beach town offering a model for maintaining peace and fostering community. Boston is also working to keep its school buses running on time, as districts nationwide face struggles with late arrivals, prompting calls for accountability. The White House ballroom project, which has so far been privately funded and reflects President Trump’s effort to leave a physical legacy, may soon see a billion dollars in congressional funding. Internationally, the Strait of Hormuz remains blocked, despite President Trump’s pledge for military assistance, with both the U.S. and Iran claiming control over the vital shipping lane, leaving its future uncertain. Turning to global events, Lebanon’s Tehran-backed Hezbollah militia continues to fight and even intensify its attacks on Israel, defying powerful and persistent Israeli assaults that began in late 2024. In the UK, rising antisemitism has prompted volunteer groups like Shomrim North West London to step up and protect Jewish communities following recent attacks. And in Sudan, the ongoing civil war has displaced millions, leaving countless couples separated and unsure if they will ever reunite.

Looking at our video lineup, the latest titles include “The moment everything changes,” along with “International Praise Church Men’s Health Awareness, scheduled for June 5th and 6th, 2026, at 5071 Percival Road in Elgin, South Carolina, for May 7, 2026.”

From our FaithNews RSS feed, the latest headlines include “Hundreds Attend Smoky Mountain Gathering,” “ECFA Applauds House Vote on Clergy Act,” “Executive Council Completes April Session,” and “First Christian Startup School Now Open.”

In prophecy news, the Sanhedrin has made a stunning claim, asserting in a formal letter to the Iranian people that Zoroaster, the founder of Persia’s ancient religion, was none other than the biblical Mordechai, calling on Iranians to remember this rewrite of ancient history. Meanwhile, concerns are being raised over the alarming rise of communist rhetoric in America, a stark contrast to a nation founded on individual liberty. California is facing its own “Fuelmaggedon” with rising gas prices, exposing the failures of green energy fantasies amid renewed conflict in the Middle East and the continued blockage of the Strait of Hormuz. And in Egypt, archaeologists have uncovered a large statue believed to depict King Ramses II, thought to be the pharaoh from the biblical Exodus narrative.

Finally, in Jewish history, looking back at May 8th, in the year 336, Emperor Constantine issued decrees prohibiting Jews from negatively interacting with Jewish converts to Christianity. He further legislated that any Christian or other slave circumcised by a Jew would be granted freedom, in a move to solidify Christianity’s primacy. Later, in 589, Visigoth King Reccared I, who had famously converted to Catholic Christianity in 587, summoned the Third Council of Toledo, earning him favor with Pope Gregory.