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 28, 2025. Today’s U.S. news highlights significant domestic and international tensions. Russia’s continued flights over NATO territory are prompting a review of the alliance’s defensive capabilities against Moscow. Domestically, a year after Hurricane Helene devastated North Carolina, regions are still awaiting federal aid despite marking […]