#ourCOG Daily Brief [February 9, 2026]

Good evening, and welcome to #ourCOG Daily Brief for February 9, 2026.

Today in the news, we’re seeing shifts both domestically and abroad. In the U.S., prediction markets are booming, yet their Super Bowl ads are banned due to their polarizing nature. The 18th-century poet Phillis Wheatley, who wrote while enslaved and inspired generations, is now being honored with a postage stamp. A rare move saw a “Reagan conservative” federal judge resign over a president’s actions, highlighting growing concerns as the firewall between the White House and the Department of Justice appears to erode, leading half of Americans to doubt federal law enforcement’s impartiality. On a defense note, America’s missile stockpiles are low due to recent usage, with the U.S. now working to restock amid high tensions with Iran. Internationally, a “day of disruption” is taking place in Israel as soaring violent crime pushes Arab citizens to mobilize and protest, with Jewish citizens joining in, despite what many see as indifference from the police. Meanwhile, some U.S. Olympians find refuge in the Games’ unifying ideals, preferring to focus on competition over politics. And in Latin America, Brazil’s left-leaning President Lula has remarkably managed to avoid President Trump’s scorn, even as Trump shapes a new regional order.

Moving on to our digital content, we’ve had some engaging new videos for you, including “Show Me Your Face/Yahweh,” “3 Unusual Prayers To Pray When A Child Is Messed Up | Perry Stone,” and a short titled “When One Part Hurts, We All Hurt #shorts #christianfaith #jesus.”

From the FaithNews desk, recent headlines include “Church Planting Intensive Set for March 11-13,” “Church Files Emergency Appeal to Resume Worship,” “‘The Bible Recap’ Hits Top 100 on Apple Podcasts,” and “Multi Million Dollar Gift Launches New Era for SMCH.”

In prophecy news, House Oversight Chairman James Comer has launched an investigation into companies linked to Rep. Ilhan Omar’s husband, citing an unexpected surge in their value. President Donald Trump is reportedly relying on Admiral Brad Cooper, commander of CENTCOM, as a crisis diplomat in ongoing Iran nuclear negotiations, a new diplomatic tactic. Domestically, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer is facing criticism after calling voter ID “Jim Crow 2.0,” sparking renewed discussions about election security measures. Finally, there’s a growing discussion that the “Transgender Industrial Complex” is collapsing, losing its influence over legal and medical establishments.

And finally, a look back at “This Day in Jewish History” on February 9th: In 474, Byzantine Emperor Zeno showed extreme anti-Jewish sentiment, wishing death upon Jews after a mob murdered many and burned a synagogue. A brighter note in 1119 saw Pope Calixtus II providing considerable protection for Roman Jews during his pontificate. However, in 1267, the Synod of Breslau ordered Jews in Silesia to wear special caps. And in 1288, we know that Pola, a female copyist from the Avanim family in Rome, completed work on a book of the Bible.

That’s all for your #ourCOG Daily Brief. Good night.