#ourCOG Daily Brief [December 18, 2025]

Good evening, and welcome to #ourCOG Daily Brief for December 18, 2025.

In today’s top stories, the U.S. is weighing its next moves in Syria following a strike that killed American troops, with President Trump threatening retaliation and observers considering the impact on the U.S.-Syria partnership. Domestically, U.S. policy in Latin America has seen a shift toward more military action, a move celebrated by many in the Cuban diaspora who find a like-minded ally in Marco Rubio. Educators are also grappling with the rise of artificial intelligence, with a pioneering charter school in Hawaii embracing the technology with a new paradigm. California is taking a unique step in fire recovery, establishing a formal role for the public in policymaking, focusing on permitting, resilience, and financial support. Meanwhile, a “fake electors” scheme from 2020 may finally see a trial in Wisconsin, as other similar cases have largely stalled. Internationally, Hezbollah in Lebanon, though battered by Israel and pressured to disarm, remains defiant, with its supporters expressing pride and analysts deeming its arms “existential.” Across Europe, nations are considering strengthening youth military service amidst the looming threat from Russia and diminishing U.S. support, a significant shift after decades of peace. And in Ukraine, despite ongoing destruction, reports continue to highlight the extraordinary human resilience of its people.

Turning our attention to recent video releases, we’ve had thought-provoking titles like “No More Excuses #shorts #jesus #lord,” “Fear makes noise, faith makes room,” “God’s GREATEST Gift,” and “The Child Born For Us! #shorts #christmas #jesus.”

From our FaithNews RSS feed, we’ve learned that Smith was honored with the Spirit of Azusa Award, more Americans are embracing ‘Animal Gifting’ this Christmas, a new foundation has announced a partnership to support military families in need, and Church of God Publications has released the 75th Anniversary Edition of the “Red Back Hymnal.”

In prophecy news, the Mossad chief warns that Iran’s ambition to destroy Israel remains undeterred, emphasizing the need to prevent them from acquiring nuclear weapons, even after their vulnerability was exposed. Amidst rising attacks on Jews and anti-Israel protests worldwide, ICEJ USA has launched a ‘Christian Declaration Against Antisemitism,’ affirming that antisemitism is incompatible with biblical values and U.S. law. The White House Press Secretary also broke down President Trump’s midterm message to seniors, focusing on no tax on Social Security, increased tax refunds in 2026, and a targeted agenda to reduce the cost of living. Separately, a Hamas leader asserted their “legitimate right” to possess weapons, insisting this right must be upheld in any Gaza ceasefire proposals, while Ukraine’s Zelensky has reportedly offered to drop NATO membership as peace talks progress with a Trump envoy.

Finally, in Jewish history, looking back at this day, December 18th, we note that in 1118, Alfonso the Battler conquered Zaragoza. Most notably, in 1271, Kublai Khan officially renamed his empire “Yuan,” marking the start of the Yuan Dynasty of China. Historical accounts, including those from Marco Polo, indicate the presence of influential Jews at Kublai Khan’s court, likely descendants of Persian merchants from the 11th century. Polo observed that Kublai Khan himself celebrated the festivals of Muslims, Christians, and Jews, and various cities like Hangzhou and Guangzhou were home to Jewish communities, with the community in Kaifeng being particularly well-documented.

That concludes our digest for today. Thank you for joining us.