#ourCOG Daily Brief [August 23, 2026]

Good evening, and welcome to #ourCOG Daily Brief for August 23, 2026.

We begin with today’s top U.S. and world news. In the U.S., trade tensions are escalating as talks with Canada have collapsed, leading to new Canadian tariffs on American goods like steel, dairy, and electronics beginning September 8th. President Trump has expanded the military’s role in immigration enforcement at the southern border, granting the Pentagon greater arrest powers. On a lighter note, consumer interest in chocolate origins is fueling the “bean-to-bar” movement, while politically, fans at D.C.’s ‘Freedom 250’ IndyCar race are questioning the impact of politics on sports, and concerns about self-dealing in Washington are growing, with potential for increased oversight if Democrats win the House. Globally, we delve into the rich history of chocolate, from Mexico’s 4,000-year-old cocoa traditions to Côte d’Ivoire, where farmers are seeking greater benefits from their iconic crop. And in Venezuela, prior to recent deadly earthquakes, a decline in crime and a new sense of opportunity had residents exploring Caracas in fresh ways after the ouster of Nicolás Maduro.

Switching gears to our video offerings, our latest available is “When The Enemy Thought He Won” from Pastor Bryan Montgomery’s Sunday Service, presented by citylife church, Dallas Church of God Livestream, airing Sundays at 9:30 AM and 11:30 AM EST.

From our FaithNews RSS feed, we have several important updates: The Church of God is celebrating its 140th Anniversary today, the Christian AI ‘FlickerFaith’ is now free worldwide, Iranian Christians are reportedly struggling to survive, and the General Council is actively fighting human trafficking.

In prophecy news, Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez has been rejected as a 2028 presidential candidate by the Maoist DSA faction, the Liberation Caucus, which labeled her an ‘opportunist’ for what they deem a lack of ‘Palestine Solidarity.’ We also reflect on ‘Echoes of Exceptionalism,’ specifically recalling events like the 1991 coup attempt in Moscow and the importance of refusing to live by lies. A significant convergence is noted as Rosh Hashanah and the 25th anniversary of 9/11 align on September 11, 2026. Finally, Iran has lost a crucial economic lifeline as the United Arab Emirates suspended all trade and financial transactions with Tehran, following accusations of ballistic missile fire towards maritime traffic.

And finally, in Jewish history, looking back at August 23rd, we note several significant events. In 634, Umar began his reign as the second Caliph, a pivotal moment for Jewish communities as he overturned the ban on Jews worshipping in Jerusalem. He even cleaned the Temple Mount and invited 70 Jewish families to settle on its southern end. Later, in 686, Charles Martel, the hero of the Battle of Tours, was born. His victory in 732 against invading Moslem forces from Spain was crucial, ending the immediate Moslem threat to Western Europe and establishing a clear demarcation between Christian and Moslem Europe at the Pyrenees, which profoundly impacted the lives of Jewish people on either side of that divide.