#ourCOG Daily Brief [May 8, 2026]

Good evening, and welcome to #ourCOG Daily Brief for May 8, 2026.

In today’s top stories, pressure is mounting in the U.S. to reconsider immigrant children’s rights to public education, while President Trump’s firm stance on Iran is pushing European allies like NATO towards developing more independent defense strategies. Domestically, communities are grappling with “teen takeovers,” prompting discussions on fostering youth connection, as cities like Boston work to keep school buses running on time amidst nationwide struggles. Meanwhile, the White House ballroom project, reflecting President Trump’s efforts to leave a physical legacy, may soon see a billion dollars in Congressional funding. On the world stage, British regional elections served as a “referendum on Starmer,” with Labour suffering significant losses and Reform UK gaining ground. Israelis are expressing growing concern over worsening ties with the U.S., despite close working relationships between leaders, while the resilience of Lebanon’s Hezbollah militia continues to mystify analysts, as it persists and even intensifies attacks on Israel despite massive Israeli operations.

Turning to our video segment, you can find recent discussions covering “Lee University, Revival, and the Next Generation” from the Between Sundays Podcast, a deep dive into “The Presence of the Lord Part 1” with Jentezen Franklin, and Perry Stone’s message on “Releasing The Anointing That Destroys Bondages.”

In FaithNews, reports highlight “Hundreds Attend Smoky Mountain Gathering,” the ECFA has “Applaud[ed] House Vote on Clergy Act,” the “Executive Council Completes April Session,” and the “First Christian Startup School [is] Now Open.”

For our latest prophecy news, recent headlines include a report on Disney cruise workers among dozens busted in a child exploitation ring in San Diego, while researchers are still analyzing Alaska’s 1,578-foot tsunami as the second largest ever recorded. The Sanhedrin has made a stunning claim, suggesting that Persia’s founding prophet, Zoroaster, was none other than the biblical Mordechai. There’s also a deep dive into the resurgence of Communist rhetoric in America and how California’s “Fuelmaggedon” is exposing the catastrophic failures of green energy policies.

Finally, in Jewish history, we look back to May 9th, specifically 1457 BCE, and the Battle of Megiddo. This ancient conflict saw Thutmose III defeat a large Canaanite coalition, extending Egyptian influence into Canaan and Syria. This pivotal event might shed light on some passages in Genesis and Exodus, though the exact timeline of the Exodus itself remains a subject of historical debate. Megiddo, of course, continued to be a site of military importance, with King Solomon keeping a chariot force there, and later seeing a Judean loss to the Egyptians in 609 BCE.