#ourCOG Daily Brief [November 15, 2025]

Good evening, and welcome to #ourCOG Daily Brief for November 15, 2025.

First up in the news, on the U.S. front, immigration courts are seeing significant changes under the Trump administration, aiming to speed up removal proceedings and detain more individuals. The government has finally reopened after a 43-day shutdown, though turning the federal apparatus back on quickly and smoothly remains a challenge. There’s also a vital effort underway at Howard University and elsewhere to preserve the history of the Black press, uncovering invaluable documents like Frederick Douglass’s *The North Star*. Politically, House Democrats have released emails from Jeffrey Epstein referencing President Trump, though the White House claims they were “selectively leaked.” The Senate did vote to end the shutdown with some Democratic support, and a House vote is now next. Internationally, federal officials have begun immigration enforcement in Charlotte, leading to arrests and sparking debate between public safety concerns and local fears. Hopes for a diplomatic reset between Israel and Syria have dimmed following Israeli raids and arrests in the Golan Heights. And in Chile, a far-right candidate is leading the presidential race, largely fueled by voter worries about crime attributed to immigrants.

Turning to our latest videos, we recently explored “The Story behind St. Lambert in Belgium” in a new short. We also delved into “Why Gratitude Can Change Everything!” and highlighted “Gratitude’s Power: Silence Complaints, Embrace Joy!” in two more inspiring shorts.

In FaithNews, we’re tracking several important stories: Robeck is set to present the Azusa Lecture on Evangelism at the Azusa Street Mission, and “Decision Point” is confronting America’s cultural lies. Looking ahead, the “Our Faith, Our Family, Our Freedom Conference” is scheduled for Atlanta from November 6th to 8th, 2025. And in a poignant update, the Ministry to Israel’s “Lone Soldier Program” is preparing to welcome one of the recently released hostages.

Now for a look at the latest prophecy news. There’s growing suspicion that Iran may have seized an oil tanker, the Talara, from international waters, making headlines as recently as today. Meanwhile, a conservative watchdog group is urging Speaker Johnson to garnish Rep. Ilhan Omar’s salary over outstanding student loans, a story that also saw Omar brushing off deportation threats earlier this week, stating she could “go live wherever” she wanted. And on the international stage, the IAEA is demanding uranium inspections in Iran, while the U.S. is reportedly planning to construct a half-billion-dollar military base near Gaza to supervise a potential ceasefire.

Finally, in Jewish history, this day, November 16th, marks the birthdate of Tiberius, who became the second Roman emperor in 14 C.E. Known as a competent general but with a rather sour disposition, Tiberius’s reign wasn’t necessarily anti-Semitic in nature, but rather a series of poor decisions that impacted the Jewish people. He empowered figures like Sejanus, who disliked Jews, and appointed the famously mismatched Pontius Pilate as Procurator in Judea. He even banned Jews from Rome for a period, though that was more about a domestic spat than religious animosity. In the end, his legacy is often measured by his choice of heirs.