The Daily Briefing highlights the news of the day and research that reveals the spirit of the day.
The Daily Briefing is a newsletter sent straight to your inbox every morning that provides biblical insight on today's news.
Top News
6. White House airs another government-funded ad, this time with Trump warning of ‘final battle’ (CNN)
“The Trump administration is using taxpayer funds to air a television advertisement from Donald Trump’s 2024 presidential campaign in the latest in a series of ads promoting the president ahead of the midterms that the White House maintains are “public service announcements.” The 30-second video, which is virtually identical to one that aired in 2024, shows Trump walking down a hallway as his voice can be heard warning of a “final battle” against “globalists” and “warmongers.” The 2024 iteration of the ad from the Trump campaign urged viewers to “Join President Trump’s Fight for America.”
“We will cast out the communists, Marxists, and fascists. We will throw off the sick political class that hates our country. We will rout the fake news media, and we will liberate America from these villains once and for all.” The ad aired during at least two NFL games on Sunday.
“The White House has compared the ads to previous administrations running public service announcements about Medicare, Obamacare and promoting Covid-19 vaccination, saying in a statement that its new commercials “are very clearly not campaign ads. US senator John Kennedy told CBS News on Sunday “there ought to be a rule” against such spending – before tacitly admitting such spending is “probably” illegal."
“Everyone is doing it is never a legitimate excuse for prevarication and misuse of office,” according to RR Reno. Writing in First Things, Reno, who has been a strong supporter of the president in the past, highlights recent exploits from this administration, from the cryptocurrency ventures to releasing a book while still in office. However, Reno also isn’t shy to tout the achievements, such as the anti-DEI efforts and the judicial appointments. “The good and bad in this administration are difficult to untangle.”
He goes on: “Perhaps all administrations are corrupt to some degree… No doubt the Trump people recognize that American voters are deeply cynical about the norms championed by the Great and the Good. The public suspects that these norms are applied selectively. As a result, the excuse that “everybody does it” has gained wide currency.” He concludes: “My point is that the rot runs deep. Repair will require leaders who value honor over wealth.”
Paging Josiah… The 8-year-old inherited a nation in spiritual and structural ruins. His grandfather, King Manasseh, was one of Judah’s most wicked kings, filling Jerusalem with idols, occult practices, and injustice. His father, Amon, continued the pattern. By the time Josiah took the throne, idolatry and moral decline were deeply entrenched norms. When the priest read the words of the law to King Josiah, the king didn't defend the status quo. Realizing how far the nation had strayed, he tore his clothes in grief and humility, accepting full accountability for the state of his people. In this moment, just like with Josiah, past wrongs aren’t a permission slip for present ones. (2 Kings 22-23)
5. UK police arrest 5 men under terrorism, explosives acts close to US air base (ABC News)
“British police announced on Sunday morning that five people were arrested "on suspicion of offenses under the explosives act" close to a major air base hosting U.S. forces in the southwest of England. "
“The village of Whelford is located around 2 miles from RAF Fairford, which hosts the U.S. Air Force and has since February been serving as a key hub for American operations against Iran -- including for heavy bombers like the B-1 Lancer and B-52 Stratofortress. President Donald Trump said that the suspects in the RAF Fairford counter-terrorism investigation had been under surveillance for a "long time," telling reporters on Sunday that they were "looking to do big damage" to the U.S. Air Force base there.”
A tale as old as time: spying on the British…. Back at the Founding, George Washington was unlike the other Founding Fathers in a variety of ways, one of which was his affinity for spying. While James Madison “hoped never to see it transplanted to this side of the Atlantic,” Washington was a “sophisticated consumer of intelligence,” according to Jeff Rogg in The Spy and The State. One British officer, after the war, shared: “Washington did not really outfight the British, he simply outspied us!”
How effective is intelligence? One study analyzed 225 terrorism cases since 9/11 and found the NSA’s program under Section 215 of the Patriot Act has played “an identifiable role in initiating, at most, 1.8% of these cases.” Another study found that there was a minimal impact, identifying 48 potential instances of terrorist activity. But if you can stop just one attack, isn’t it worth it?
Throughout the Scriptures, we read about the value of intelligence gathering. David drew on Hushai's loyalty to better understand Absalom's motivations. Joshua sent two secret operatives across the Jordan River to gather intelligence on Jericho. And Moses dispatched 12 tribal leaders to scout Canaan before the Israelites attempted to enter it. We come from a long line of shrewd operators. Their shrewdness isn’t rooted in selfishness but rather in stewardship, in the position they have and the power they hold. We have been entrusted with resources, which we will one day have to give an account for. This doesn’t preclude you from using your power, but it should prompt you to be cautious so as not to abuse your power. (Pro. 15:21, 13:16, Gen. 30, 18)
4. New Jersey lieutenant governor resigns after release of damaging ethics report (NBC News)
“New Jersey Lt. Gov. Dale Caldwell has resigned from his position following an investigation that found he violated state ethics and harassment policy, Gov. Mikie Sherrill said Friday at a press conference. Caldwell was not present at the announcement.
“The report found there was credible evidence that Caldwell made "a romantic advance toward a female staffer's friend," and after his advance was rebuffed he made sexually inappropriate comments to the staffer about their friend. They also found he violated an ethics code and code of conduct “when he brought guests to ticketed events without payment or reimbursement” and “when he sought to obtain a promotion for a state employee with whom he had a romantic relationship.”
His actions demonstrated a loose culture; hers revealed a tight one. In Rule Makers, Rule Breakers, Michele Gelfand highlights that there are loose environments where norms are less strict, and norm violations go unpunished. And then there are tight environments, which are the opposite. “People in high-power positions tend to live in looser worlds where they sometimes not only violate social norms but also border on completely inappropriate behavior."
Historic adversity informs the elasticity of the culture, according to Gelfand. Countries that have historically faced greater adversity (invasions, famines, natural calamities) have much tighter norms because this has enabled them to overcome extreme hardships. Other research demonstrates that sexual harassers often get away with the behavior for so long because they experience less pushback due to their, at times, high status.
Regardless of culture, don’t underestimate the role of the townspeople. In the story of Judah and Tamar, we learn how Judah failed to live up to his commitments and morally failed by violating Tamar. However, consider the role of the townspeople in that narrative: the townspeople tell Tamar that Judah is on his way, they tell Hirah that there is no prostitute, and they relay the shocking news to Judah. The townspeople, regardless of culture, not only play a role in the story but also in revealing the truth of the story. (Gen. 38)
Cultural News
3. How an Iced Coffee in a Job Interview Sparked a Raging Etiquette Debate (WSJ)
“A simple question about chilled caffeine has sparked heated debates on couches and online about workplace decorum, highlighting shifting expectations of professionalism. Proponents say it’s a way to show their personality—and after all, it’s just a drink. For iced-coffee critics, the problem is what the beverage signals: casualness, poor preparation and bad time management. Recruiters, job seekers and career coaches all have weighed in on the potential indignities of an iced beverage.
“It’s…sipping, and swirling, and the noise, and the wet hand, and then also you think it drips,” Caitlin Wehniainen, a Miami-based recruiter for Fortune-500 companies, said in an interview. “You’re dripping down the initial lobby, then you’re going up the elevator, you’re dripping through the reception area of this office.”
“The online fracas began brewing last week after Wehniainen posted a TikTok describing some of her Gen Z candidates walking into job interviews with iced coffee. The divide mostly falls along generational lines. Younger candidates tend to see an iced coffee as harmless. Gen X and baby boomers see it as a breach of traditional corporate etiquette.”
Tuesday isn’t the only thing thats gone, Lynyrd Skynyrd. Here in the US, only 52 percent of adults said having good manners is an especially important quality. This made the US the country least likely, of the 24 countries surveyed in recent years, to believe good manners are crucial for kids. Back in 1990, that number was 76 percent.
As society becomes more complex, norms become more generalized, according to Emile Durkheim. One study took this idea and applied it to contemporary etiquette manuals, finding that there have been 3 main shifts relative to manners: a shift from specific to general expectations for behavior in social settings, a shift from demanding to more suggestive rules of behavior in social situations, and a weakening in the severity of sanctions for breaches of etiquette.
I may have a little trauma from etiquette lessons as a kid, but I also know I am significantly better because of them. As Bill Kelly noted: "Good manners are just a way of showing other people that we have respect for them." As those who have been tasked to walk in love and be marked by grace, manners are a vivid way to consider others as more important than yourself. (Eph. 5, Phil. 2)
News You Can Use
2. Justin Verlander leaves the mound for the final time, with his family
Watch it here."How good and pleasant it is when God's people live together in unity!" (Ps. 133:1)
1. 81-year-old luggage delivery driver gets a shot at retirement
Watch it here. “So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone…” (Gal. 6:10)
