#ourCOG Daily Brief [October 29, 2026]

Good evening, and welcome to #ourCOG Daily Brief for October 29, 2026.

In today’s top stories, U.S. news sees uncertainty around a social media surveillance case following a judge’s death, as unions argue First Amendment violations regarding the review of immigrants’ social media feeds. Political pollsters are grappling with the amplification of “bad and fake” polls by social media, worried about whom they might be missing in the upcoming 2026 midterms. Pete Hegseth’s controversial tenure continues, despite bipartisan criticism, though tensions with President Trump and backlash over the war in Iran may cloud his future. The legacy of Dolores Huerta continues to inspire activism, with calls to uphold her advocacy for workers and voting following her passing. And while the GOP braces for a potential “blue wave,” some Republicans are running surprisingly close races in traditionally Democratic New England. Internationally, Israel faces three complex and difficult options following its bitterly contested elections. In Serbia, students have won their elections, but their incoming bloc warns that a full revolution will have to wait, promising gradual change instead. Meanwhile, after three years of civil war, Sudan is under the severe threat of inflation, with the Sudanese pound losing more than half its value since May, driving up food prices and straining aid efforts.

Turning to our digital content, the latest video titles include the “Dallas Church of God Livestream,” a special event titled “City Nights | A Night of Worship,” and important “relationship advice” from “Silence Doesn’t Fix Relationship Problems #shorts #relationshipadvice #communication.”

From our FaithNews RSS feed, we’ve learned that Lee University is set to host Celebration 2026 and Homecoming from November 5th to 7th. Hillsong Worship is preparing to release new live songs on October 23rd, and Great American Media has launched Pure Flix Familia. Additionally, a new initiative is seeking to benefit Native American Ministries.

In prophecy news, October 29th brings reports of a deadly bat disease, white-nose syndrome, detected for the first time in Glacier National Park. Yesterday, October 28th, saw the opening of the first detransitioner clinic in a Texas hospital, amidst controversy over transgender hormones for minors. On October 27th, Italy’s Catholic bishops stirred debate by promoting the Koran as the “revealed Word of God” in schools. And on October 26th, an 8-1 Supreme Court decision allowed New Hampshire to block student IDs as a valid form of voter identification just days before a key Senate election.

Finally, in Jewish history, October 29th marks a profoundly significant date in 539 BCE, when Babylon fell to Cyrus the Great of Persia. This event cleared the way for the return of exiles to Eretz Israel and the building of the Second Temple. Later, in 969, Byzantine troops occupied Antioch, a city with ancient roots and a history of changing hands, which at one time boasted a thriving Jewish community.