#ourCOG Daily Brief [June 3, 2026]

Good evening, and welcome to #ourCOG Daily Brief for June 3, 2026.

In today’s U.S. news, a $1.8 billion fund aimed at compensating those claiming federal government “weaponization” against them was dropped by the White House after significant Republican pushback. Meanwhile, an unexpected trend sees Gen Z embracing crosswords, finding fulfillment in the iconic grids and sparking a renaissance for the pastime. On the tech front, Americans remain skeptical about AI’s benefits outweighing its potential harm, a contrast to views in countries like China and South Korea. Politically, California’s gubernatorial race is heating up, with billionaire Tom Steyer and Republican businessman Steve Hilton vying to challenge front-runner Xavier Becerra, all facing major challenges like high housing costs and economic fallout from AI. And despite bipartisan efforts and strong calls from survivors, the Jeffrey Epstein investigation in Congress appears to be stalling, with little progress toward criminal accountability. Turning to world news, Russia serves as a case study for sanctions not working as planned, having rebuilt self-sufficiency and forged new trade under pressure. In the Middle East, Gulf Arab nations remain wary of Iraq, as the Iran war turned the country into a springboard for Iran-backed militia attacks, posing a significant challenge for Iraq’s young prime minister to win them back. Finally, a unique cultural shift is happening in Côte d’Ivoire, where surfing is gaining immense popularity, putting the country on the competitive surf map and helping to reverse a long-standing culture of fear around the ocean.

For your viewing pleasure, you can catch up on today’s videos, including “The Arch Discipleship Wed.,” “Dr Leon Flood,” “Today On Jentezen Franklin TV #faith,” and “Saved By Grace.”

From our FaithNews RSS feed, we’re following news that a Korean Church Organization has partnered with the Church of God, while Cuba continues to maintain poor religious freedom conditions. Additionally, a new U.S. Army Hymn has been unveiled for the Army’s 250th Anniversary, and Pentecost Sunday has been designated as ‘Evangelism Sunday’.

In prophecy news, the Temple Mount continues to be a focal point, with Sunday seeing a small group of Jewish worshippers unfurl Israeli flags and sing Hatikvah near the Dome of the Rock—a scene unimaginable just a few years ago. This follows reports from earlier in the week where priests recounted their meticulously planned “military operation” to wave the Shavuot offering on the Temple Mount. Momentum for a Third Temple also continues to surge as Israeli officials and rabbis openly discuss Jewish worship rights and future construction plans. Separately, Google is seeking federal approval for its “Debug” program, which proposes releasing up to 32 million mosquitoes in California and Florida to combat disease-carrying insects.

Finally, in Jewish history, looking back at June 4th: in 1039, Holy Roman Emperor Conrad II passed away, marking a positive period for the Jews of the Rhineland. Fast forward to 1391, a riotous mob in Seville, Spain, led by the Queen Mother’s confessor, killed many Jews, almost annihilating the Sevillian Juderia. And in 1632, Jacob Bassewi and his cousin Leon received a significant privilege from the Duke governing Prague.