Good evening, and welcome to #ourCOG Daily Brief for October 15, 2025. In today’s top stories, the U.S. Supreme Court has heard arguments on a case that could significantly diminish the Voting Rights Act of 1965, challenging whether race can be a factor in drawing congressional maps. Meanwhile, Maryland is tackling its teacher shortage by […]

Good evening, and welcome to #ourCOG Daily Brief for October 11, 2025. In today’s top stories, President Trump announced funds have been identified to ensure U.S. troops will be paid on October 15th, despite the ongoing government shutdown. However, other federal employees are set to miss their paychecks, with mass federal layoffs already beginning, a […]

Good evening, and welcome to #ourCOG Daily Brief for October 8, 2025. We begin with today’s top headlines. In U.S. news, concerns are rising around Portland’s ICE office regarding security and free speech, prompting questions about the necessity of National Guard deployment given its existing federal protection. President Trump may be showing increased patience with […]

Good evening, and welcome to #ourCOG Daily Brief for October 3, 2025. In today’s top stories, a government shutdown looms large in the U.S., with Washington’s wrangling over Medicaid deeply affecting rural communities like Spruce Pine, North Carolina, where hospitals are struggling. This shutdown is further complicated by President Trump’s threat of mass layoffs, raising […]

Good evening, and welcome to #ourCOG Daily Brief for September 30, 2025. Today in U.S. and world news, discussions continue around a proposed Trump ceasefire plan for Gaza, with a notable concern being the lack of direct input from Gazans themselves regarding their future self-determination. Meanwhile, economic shifts see India and China exploring closer partnerships […]

Good evening, and welcome to #ourCOG Daily Brief for September 29, 2025. We begin with a look at today’s top stories from the U.S. and around the globe. In the U.S., a potential government shutdown looms large, with the Trump administration indicating it might use the event to fire federal employees if a deal isn’t […]

Good evening, and welcome to #ourCOG Daily Brief for September 27, 2025. Today’s headlines see Russia’s repeated flights over NATO countries prompting urgent calls for action and a review of defense strategies, while a year after Hurricane Helene devastated North Carolina, regions still await crucial federal aid despite ongoing recovery efforts. In a move that […]