#ourCOG Daily Brief [July 18, 2026]

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

Today in U.S. news, we’re seeing how spontaneous stadium sing-alongs at World Cup matches are fostering unity and national bonds, a sentiment echoed by a 1976 bicentennial class reflecting on a divided yet hopeful America. Meanwhile, the U.S.-Iran conflict appears to be reigniting into a renewed, limited war with little public desire for escalation, even as federal law enforcement faces scrutiny for quickly defending officials after fatal immigration enforcement shootings. On Capitol Hill, Todd Blanche’s nomination for Attorney General is facing an uncertain path after a tough confirmation hearing. Shifting to global headlines, Greece’s Mount Olympus is being considered for UNESCO World Heritage status, a move that would highlight its environmental and cultural significance. In Britain, ten years after Brexit, political winds are blowing towards Europe again, with many young voters keen on rejoining the EU. And on the global sports stage, all eyes are on the World Cup final, poised to showcase the transition from Argentina’s Lionel Messi to Spain’s Lamine Yamal.

In recent video releases, we’ve seen content including “Welcome To Our Wedding – Faith and Tony,” a piece titled “You Are a Piece of the Foundation,” and a congratulatory message from “Dr. Louis F. Morgan Congratulates Dixon Pentecostal Research Center.”

From the FaithNews RSS feed, we’ve learned about the “International Educators Lunch Set for General Assembly,” the start of production for “AFFIRM Films’ ‘A Music City Story’” in Nashville, the nationwide launch of ChristianPremaritalCounseling.com, and the release of the “Agenda for General Assembly.”

Turning to prophecy news, tensions in the Middle East continue to dominate as Russia’s mysterious ‘Doomsday plane’ landed in Iran today, coinciding with renewed U.S. F-35 deployments and strikes, signaling a dangerous new phase in the U.S.-Iran conflict, marking the sixth consecutive night of U.S. airstrikes. Elsewhere, Israel is gearing up for the 2,000th anniversary of Jesus’ baptism in 2030, anticipating millions of Christian pilgrims. Additionally, British police have confirmed that the murder of former minister Ann Widdecombe was a targeted terrorist attack.

Finally, in Jewish history, we look back to July 18th. In the year 64, during Emperor Nero’s reign, the Great Fire of Rome began. Interestingly, Nero chose to blame the nascent Christian sect rather than the Jews for the blaze, perhaps feeling personally threatened by Christianity’s worship of a divine figure in human form. Centuries later, in 392, an edict by Emperors Valentinian II, Theodosius I, and Arcadius ordered the exile of anyone disturbing the Catholic faith, a move that, while not directly aimed at Jews, underscored the “second class” status of non-Catholics during that era.