#ourCOG Daily Brief [August 12, 2026]

Good evening, and welcome to #ourCOG Daily Brief for August 12, 2026.

Today in U.S. news, a new trend is emerging as overseas schools are actively recruiting American community college students, offering them more affordable paths to complete their degrees. Meanwhile, parent groups nationwide are voicing concerns over the increasing presence of technology in classrooms, pushing for a return to more traditional learning methods like books to counter rising screen time. In Wisconsin politics, a surprising twist saw democratic socialist Francesca Hong edged out by center-left candidate David Crowley in a messy gubernatorial primary. Shifting gears to a heartwarming story, our Africa editor’s pen pal program for local students blossomed into a beautiful archive of childhood perspectives, with curious questions ranging from “Dear Pen Pal, how far is South Africa from Mexico?” And finally, Somerville, Massachusetts, has made headlines by achieving zero traffic deaths, a testament to their dedication to proven road safety measures and robust community outreach. Internationally, the Israeli election campaign sees the left-wing parties notably sidelining calls for peace with Palestinians, now viewed as a risky proposition following the October 7, 2023, attack. Taiwan is diligently preparing for potential conflict with China, implementing innovative strategies like disabling internet access to test civil resilience and utilizing drones in the Strait. And in Ukraine, a city has chosen a thoughtful approach to rebuilding a war-damaged university, deciding to wait and garner international support, ultimately envisioning a new future rather than rushing immediate repairs.

Turning our attention to recent video content, you can find impactful messages from Bryan Cutshall with “STRUGGLING YOUR WAY TO STRENGTH,” a prayer-focused episode of “This Week On Jentezen Franklin TV,” and an urgent message from Perry Stone titled “9.0 EARTHQUAKE is Coming!”.

From our FaithNews RSS feed, the latest updates include the General Council’s efforts in “Fights Human Trafficking,” the selection of the “Council of Eighteen Chosen by General Council,” the nominations of “Ramirez, Charles Nominated for World Missions Posts,” and the upcoming “International Educators Lunch Set for General Assembly.”

In the latest prophecy news, we’re tracking several significant events. A rare and often fatal “flesh-eating” bacteria has tragically claimed at least seven lives along the Gulf Coast this year, prompting health officials to issue warnings about coastal waters and bringing to mind an ancient prophecy about “Flesh shall rot away while they stand.” Just yesterday, Colombia declared a national emergency after a devastating 7.4-magnitude earthquake in the west of the country, which has claimed at least 111 lives and injured 87 others, with rescue teams still desperately searching for survivors. Earlier this week, Marla Maples, Donald Trump’s ex-wife, revealed intriguing details about his spiritual practices, stating that he carries mystical Jewish texts like the Book of Pinchas and the Book of Zohar for protection. And finally, a large wildfire continues to grow rapidly in western Canada, leading to the evacuation of over 20,000 people in British Columbia, including the entire town of Summerland.

Finally, in Jewish history, looking back to this very day, August 12th, we remember a few pivotal moments. In 30 BCE, Cleopatra committed suicide, but not before attempting to convince Marc Antony to grant her control over lands to the east, including Syria and Palestine. Her fear-inducing demands were so significant that Herod reportedly built the fortress at Masada as a potential refuge. While Antony didn’t concede to all her demands, he did give her control over Jericho and several surrounding towns. Then, in 1099, during the First Crusade, the Crusaders achieved a significant victory over the Saracens at the Battle of Ascalon. This triumph led to the establishment of the Kingdom of Jerusalem under Godfrey of Bouillon, but sadly, it also ushered in a period of intense persecution for the small Jewish population living in Palestine.