#ourCOG Daily Brief [June 2, 2026]

Good evening, and welcome to #ourCOG Daily Brief for June 2, 2026.

Today in U.S. news, Generation Z is rediscovering the joy of crosswords, sparking a renaissance for the iconic pastime, while a national survey reveals Americans remain skeptical about the benefits of artificial intelligence, unlike their counterparts in China and South Korea. California’s gubernatorial race is heating up, with Tom Steyer and Steve Hilton vying to challenge front-runner Xavier Becerra, as the state grapples with high housing costs and the economic fallout from AI. The Jeffrey Epstein investigation continues to face hurdles in Congress, with lawmakers struggling to deliver criminal accountability despite bipartisan efforts and calls from survivors, and a recent Supreme Court decision on voting rights prompts a historical reflection on America’s ongoing struggle with racial inequality. Globally, the Iran war has left Gulf Arab nations wary of Iraq, and its new prime minister faces the challenge of rebuilding economic and diplomatic ties amid a complex crisis, even as Côte d’Ivoire celebrates a growing surf culture that’s changing perceptions of the ocean. Meanwhile, British politicians are pushing for more North Sea drilling in response to soaring energy costs linked to the Iran war, though it remains to be seen if this will significantly lower prices.

The latest video titles available for viewing include “How Do I Win,” “Part Two,” “Praise and Worship – May 31, 2026,” and “Testimony.”

From the FaithNews RSS feed, we have reports on a Korean Church Organization partnering with the Church of God, Cuba maintaining poor religious freedom conditions, the unveiling of a U.S. Army Hymn for the Army’s 250th anniversary, and Pentecost Sunday being designated as ‘Evangelism Sunday’.

In our prophecy news segment, we’re tracking Google’s “Debug” program, which seeks federal approval to release millions of mosquitoes in California and Florida to combat disease. This past week also saw the priests who performed the Shavuot offering on the Temple Mount recount their meticulous, military-like planning, as momentum for a Third Temple in Jerusalem continues to build with Israeli leaders discussing greater control of the Temple Mount. Additionally, Moscow recently signed a military partnership with the Taliban, and the U.S. Treasury announced the seizure of one billion dollars in Iranian state cryptocurrency as part of Operation Epic.

Finally, in Jewish history, we look back at events on June 3rd. In 350 AD, the Roman usurper Nepotianus proclaimed himself Emperor, a development within the Constantinian Dynasty which had established Christianity in the Roman Empire, often to the considerable distress of the Jewish people. Centuries later, on June 3rd, 1098, during the First Crusade, Antioch fell to the crusaders after an eight-month siege, a pivotal moment that cleared the path to Jerusalem, where the Christians would eventually capture the city and tragically slaughter its Jewish inhabitants. And in 1140, French scholar Peter Abelard was found guilty of heresy.