#ourCOG Daily Brief [May 19, 2026]

Good evening, and welcome to #ourCOG Daily Brief for May 19, 2026. In today’s top stories, U.S. schools are facing budget challenges as international graduate student enrollment drops. President Trump has released 161 declassified UFO files, a move he says promotes transparency, though critics suggest it’s aimed at his base. On the political front, Marco Rubio has solidified his place in Trump’s inner circle by aligning his foreign policy, and in Louisiana, Senator Bill Cassidy lost his primary bid to Julia Letlow and John Fleming, who are now headed for a runoff, marking a defeat for a Trump-opposed incumbent. Additionally, new testimony in the Jeffrey Epstein case from prison guard Tova Noel is anticipated, potentially shedding light on persistent conspiracy theories. Internationally, Vladimir Putin is in Beijing, aiming to bolster Russia-China ties and counter perceived U.S. adventurism, following a recent visit from Trump. The two Koreas appear to be moving away from reunification, with North Korea abandoning the goal and South Korea now weighing its response. And in the Middle East, Qatar remains steadfast in its core mission of mediation despite being tested by the Iran war, though it’s also recognizing its own evolving security needs.

Turning to our video section, we recently featured “Praise and Worship” from May 17th, 2026, along with “Lee University Commissioning Speaker Highlights” from May 2026, and the reflective “Ups And Downs.”

From our FaithNews RSS feed, recent headlines include a “Korean Church Organization Partners with Church of God,” reports that “Cuba Maintains Poor Religious Freedom Conditions,” the “U.S. Army Hymn Unveiled for 250th Army Anniversary,” and the designation of “Pentecost Sunday” as “Evangelism Sunday.”

In prophecy news, tensions remain high as Russia and Belarus conducted joint nuclear weapons drills this week, practicing with Russian nuclear-capable hypersonic missiles that Russia deployed to Belarus last year, effectively placing Belarus under its nuclear umbrella. Meanwhile, a pastor in the U.K. was arrested for street preaching, facing charges related to hate speech. In Israel, ministers have made strong public calls for expanded Jewish control on the Temple Mount and even for rebuilding the Temple, especially on Jerusalem Day. And looking at natural phenomena, a 2023 paper, linking a solar magnetic event called the Terminator, predicted that the next Super El Niño would arrive this year, in 2026.

Finally, let’s turn to Jewish history. Looking back to May 20th, significant events include Vespasian’s capture of Jericho in 68 A.D. during the Great Revolt, leading to a tragic slaughter of its Jewish residents. Fast forward to 325 A.D., the First Council of Nicaea opened, where, among other decisions, the date for Easter was fixed, ensuring it would no longer coincide with the first day of Pesach. Later, in 526 A.D., a devastating earthquake originating in Syria reportedly killed 300,000 people, impacting regions including Acre and Beit Jann. And in 1092 A.D., under St. Ladislaus, the Synod of Szabolcs decreed that Jews in Hungary were forbidden from having Christian wives or keeping Christian slaves.