#ourCOG Daily Brief [May 9, 2026]

Good evening, and welcome to #ourCOG Daily Brief for May 9, 2026.

We start with a look at today’s headlines. Domestically, America prepares to celebrate its 250th anniversary, reflecting on the Declaration of Independence’s global impact even as political polarization continues at home. Amid this, pressure is mounting to reconsider immigrant children’s rights to public education. On the international front, President Trump’s “naughty list” over Iran disputes is pushing Europe toward a more independent defense posture, signaling a potential shift in long-standing alliances. Here in the U.S., community order is being tested by “teen takeovers,” highlighting young people’s need for connection, with one Georgia beach town offering a successful model for peace and community building. Meanwhile, school districts nationwide are grappling with late buses, and Boston is pressing for accountability to keep its students rolling. Globally, Thursday’s U.K. election results delivered a significant blow to Labour, with voters expressing frustration with Prime Minister Keir Starmer and instead rewarding Reform UK. A growing crisis in the U.S.-Israel relationship is causing concern among Israelis, despite close working ties between President Trump and Prime Minister Netanyahu, as American public support for Israel plummets. And in the ongoing conflict, Lebanon’s Hezbollah militia continues to fight and even intensify its attacks on Israel, defying massive and persistent Israeli strikes as part of the broader U.S.-Israel war against Iran.

In our video library, you can catch up on “Living Proof | Luke 7:11–15” with Pastor April Garner, explore “What Does the Bible Say About Revenge?” with Jonathan Vorce, and relive the moments from “Spring Commencement” held today, May 9, 2026.

Turning to FaithNews, we see that “Hundreds Attend Smoky Mountain Gathering,” the “ECFA Applauds House Vote on Clergy Act,” the “Executive Council Completes April Session,” and the “First Christian Startup School Now Open.”

From the world of prophecy news, intriguing developments include a look at whether we’re witnessing the collapse of the LGBTQ+ movement, as data suggests a freefall in identification among young people. Disturbingly, recent reports detail Disney cruise workers among dozens arrested in a child exploitation sting, while new research reveals Alaska’s massive 1,578-foot tsunami was the second largest ever recorded. In a stunning claim, the Sanhedrin has formally written to the Iranian people, stating that Persia’s founding prophet Zoroaster was none other than the biblical Mordechai, calling on them to remember their ancient history. Finally, there’s a sobering reflection on the surprising presence of communist rhetoric in America, a nation founded on individual liberty.

And in Jewish history, looking back to this day, May 10th: in 70 CE, during the Siege of Jerusalem, Titus launched a full-scale assault on the city’s Third Wall. Centuries later in 1013, Muslim Berber tribesmen took over Cordoba after three years of fighting, a power shift that, notably, did not negatively impact the Jewish population, who maintained their role. Later, in 1267, a Church synod in Vienna mandated that Jews wear distinctive garb. And in 1293, King Dinis I of Portugal stood firm, resisting pressure from the clergy to apply anti-Semitic restrictions.