#ourCOG Daily Brief [November 1, 2025]

Good evening, and welcome to #ourCOG Daily Brief for November 1, 2025.

Domestically, several significant stories are unfolding: former President Trump’s involvement in stalling the Gateway tunnel project is intensifying New Jersey’s gubernatorial race, while the ongoing government shutdown threatens to bring widespread disruptions to airports, national parks, and vital programs like SNAP. The U.S. is also flexing its military muscle with the USS Gerald R. Ford’s deployment to the Caribbean, raising questions about potential actions beyond counternarcotics, possibly related to Venezuela. In Chicago, “Operation Midway Blitz,” a federal immigration enforcement campaign, has sparked a mix of empathy and lingering resentment after a major apartment raid in the South Shore neighborhood. Meanwhile, California is putting a congressional redistricting plan on the ballot, a direct response to Texas’s efforts to gain Republican seats in the U.S. House. On the global stage, France has updated its rape laws to include the crucial element of consent, a long-sought change largely influenced by the Gisèle Pelicot case. As COP30 approaches in Belém, Brazil, there are growing calls from activists and diplomats for an overhaul of the “mega” climate conferences. And in a lighter but significant note, the World Series is offering Blue Jays fans – and Canada as a whole – a chance to change the plot after nearly a year of U.S.-Canadian diplomatic tensions.

In our latest video updates, we’ve been exploring “The Power of a Sound,” heard from our “Island Bishop in Jamaica” in a powerful #shorts segment, and reflected on “The Power of Getting Back Up” with Jentezen Franklin.

From our FaithNews feed, highlights include the ‘Lone Soldier Program’ of Ministry to Israel actively looking to welcome one of the hostages, a new book examining the generational shift in leadership and discipleship, VPN.com honoring TPUSA Founder Charlie Kirk, and Intercultural Ministries hosting their ‘Seat at the Table’ Conference.

Turning to prophecy news, a significant discussion revolves around what’s being called an “ideological virus” infecting young Evangelicals, suggesting that anti-Zionism is anti-Christ and challenges Israel’s unique purpose in God’s plan. This comes as U.S. lawmakers and pro-Israel activists recently toured Israel’s biblical heartland, including Judea and Samaria. Meanwhile, there’s a major geopolitical play for the future of the Middle East, with Iran, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey actively seeking closer ties. All eyes are also on the new Gaza ceasefire, with its critical conditions centered on the return of Israeli hostages and the complete disarmament of Hamas.

Finally, in Jewish history, looking back at November 2nd: In the year 655, the Ninth Council of Toledo opened, adopting a resolution that required all *conversos* – not just converted Jews but others from the Migration Period – to attend Christian festivals in the presence of their bishop to prove the sincerity of their faith, with non-compliance leading to floggings or forced fasting. Much later, in 1285, King Peter III of Aragon passed away. The *Jewish Encyclopedia* notes that Pedro III was a protector of the Jews, shielding them from the hatred of the clergy who often destroyed their vineyards and disturbed their graves, even taking severe measures against bishops who favored such outrages.