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. Iran military says Strait of Hormuz will be "completely closed" if U.S. delivers on Trump threat (CBS News)
“President Trump threatened to "obliterate" Iran's power plants, starting with its largest one, if the Strait of Hormuz is not reopened within 48 hours. Iran's military said it will retaliate by striking U.S. infrastructure in the region, according to state media. Later, Iran's military warned that the Strait of Hormuz would be "completely closed" if the U.S. were to deliver on Mr. Trump's threats.
“Mr. Trump, on Saturday, gave Iran 48 hours to reopen the strait, which has been effectively closed since the start of the war on Feb. 28. The Strait of Hormuz is a waterway vital to international commerce, where roughly one-fifth of the world's gas and oil normally flow. Iran's de facto blockade of the waterway and the numerous attacks on oil and gas infrastructure in the Middle East have sent energy prices soaring.
"If the United States' threats regarding Iran's power plants are carried out … the Strait of Hormuz will be completely closed, and it will not be reopened until our destroyed power plants are rebuilt," Iran's military operation command Khatam Al-Anbiya said in a statement carried by state media. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, after separate Iranian strikes hit southern Israel, injuring more than 100 people, urged other nations to join the war against Iran, saying, "it's for the security of the entire world."
You have heard of the Holy Trinity, but how about the remarkable trinity? Coined by Carl von Clausewitz in his book On War, this trinity consists of 3 dominant, interconnected tendencies within war: primordial violence (propelled by the people), chance and probability (managed by the commander and army), and subordination (controlled by the government).
Threats, like the one issued from Pres. Trump, aren’t limited to a part of the trinity but play a part in all 3. Threats are closely tied to the people, drawing on fear and anger to achieve ends. “War is thus an act of force to compel our enemy to do our will.” Then there is chance, which includes uncertainty, risk, and the unpredictable nature of combat. “No other human activity is so continuously or universally bound up with chance.” Then there is subordination, which centers on the reality that “war is merely the continuation of policy by other means.”
Where Clausewitz sees threats stirring fear and uncertainty, the Bible calls for anchored trust rather than reactive anxiety. The Christian is not naïve about threats—but neither is he ruled by them. The Bible does not eliminate the reality of conflict, but it reframes how one engages it—not driven by hatred, not paralyzed by uncertainty, and not detached from moral purpose. In the end, Clausewitz helps us see how threats function in a broken world. Scripture reminds us that even in such a world, fear is not ultimate, and neither is force—God is. (Mt. 5, Pro. 3)
5. Trump says he will deploy ICE to airports as TSA shortages drive delays (WaPo)
“President Donald Trump said he is sending U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents to airports on Monday, after threatening to do so unless congressional Democrats agree to a GOP-backed funding deal. “ICE will be going to airports to help our wonderful TSA Agents,” Trump said in a social media post on Sunday morning, escalating a standoff over the funding deal that has caused a partial government shutdown and slowed security lines at airports nationwide.
“Saturday saw the highest call-out rate of TSA officers at airports since the partial Department of Homeland Security shutdown began, according to exclusive data from the Transportation Safety Administration first obtained by ABC News. Over 3,250 officers called out Saturday, March 21, according to TSA data, accounting for 11.51% of the scheduled workforce."
Are we all penguins on a melting iceberg? In his insightful book Our Iceberg is Melting, John Kotter uses the story of penguins adapting in order to survive to illuminate the importance of change to achieve desired goals, like safely screening millions of travelers.
While leaders decide how to respond to change, success with change requires buy-in from all, including middle management and “front-line” employees. “Handle the challenge of change well. And you can prosper greatly. Handle it poorly, and you put yourself and others at risk.”
Consider the 8-step change model: create a sense of urgency, build a guiding coalition, develop a vision and strategy, communicate the vision, enable action, generate short-term wins, sustain acceleration, and anchor new approaches in the culture. “Culture changes with as much difficulty in penguin colonies as in human colonies… Transformation is a process, not an event.”
Joseph, the master of change? Joseph’s life was one of change, from assuming the role of favorite son to slave in Potiphar’s house to prisoner managing internal operations to vizier in Egypt. His roles changed, but his commitment to excellence didn’t, rising to one of the highest stations in each place. Adam Grant put it well: “Visions for change are more compelling when they include visions of continuity. Although our strategy might evolve, our identity will endure.” (Gen. 37)
4. Robert Mueller, former FBI director and special counsel, dies at 81 (ABC News)
“Robert Mueller, the former FBI director who led the bureau in the tumultuous decade following the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, and who later served as special counsel overseeing the politically charged investigation into alleged Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election, has died, his family announced. He was 81. "With deep sadness, we are sharing the news that Bob passed away last night," a family statement said. "His family asks that their privacy be respected."
“The FBI Agents Association also mourned the passing of Mueller, noting he led the bureau "during a period of significant change and played an important role in strengthening its ability to confront evolving national security threats while maintaining its core criminal investigative mission."
When so many were dodging the war, Mr. Mueller volunteered for the Marines after graduating from Princeton. Though he could have started his law career, he courageously served his country. He was awarded a Bronze Star, rescuing a wounded Marine while under fire. Later, he was shot, awared a Purple Heart, and returned to lead his platoon.
Does the VP believe the President should be fired? After the tragic and horrific murder of Charlie Kirk, VP Vance said: "If you celebrate Charlie Kirk's death, you should not be protected from being fired for being a disgusting person." Over the weekend, in response to Mueller’s death, Pres. Trump said: “Robert Mueller just died. Good, I’m glad he’s dead.”
I’m not mad, but more sad. God was delighted to reveal himself to us, lavishing us with his unconditional love and showing us a way to get the most out of life. His commands aren’t burdensome to us but are meant as a delight for us. For the Christian, the fullness of life and joy is intricately connected to the death and resurrection of Jesus. But if your gladness is rooted in someone else's death, you are, as CS Lewis put it, settling for making mud pies in the slum when God is offering you a holiday at the sea. (Gal. 1, 1 Jn. 5, Jn. 10, 1 Jn. 2)
Cultural News
3. CBS News will end radio service, cut jobs as Bari Weiss seeks revival (WaPo)
“CBS News will end its nearly century-old radio service, CBS News Radio, and cut more jobs amid a rocky turnaround effort under its new top editor, former opinion journalist Bari Weiss. “Today, we informed our CBS News Radio team and approximately 700 affiliated stations that we will end the service on May 22, 2026,” wrote Weiss and Cibrowski, who have led the network since parent company Paramount Skydance acquired Weiss’s online publication, the Free Press, in October and named Weiss editor in chief. “Unfortunately, this decision means that all positions within the CBS News Radio team are being eliminated.”
“It’s the latest hurdle at the venerable news network once defined by such authoritative voices as Edward R. Murrow, who rose to fame covering World War II for its radio division, and Walter Cronkite, who commanded mass audiences in the 1970s as anchor of “CBS Evening News.” That flagship broadcast has posted declining ratings despite an overhaul led by Weiss that put veteran journalist Tony Dokoupil in the anchor’s chair in January.”
Video Killed The Radio Star? Not so much, Buggles. However, for the first time in history, podcasts have overtaken talk radio as the most-listened-to medium for spoken-word audio in the US. Last month, Edison Research released its Share of Ear survey, finding that podcasts, including video podcasts, eclipsed AM/FM talk radio, with 40 percent of listening time, as opposed to 39 percent for radio. In 2015, AM/FM radio accounted for 75 percent of the time Americans spent listening to spoken-word audio. Podcasts accounted for just 10 percent.
Radio didn’t fail; it just lost its monopoly, according to research. There was a shift from mass media to personal media, with audiences preferring more on-demand, customizable content over “linear” broadcasting. People expect media to fit their identity and preferences, not the other way around.
Itching ears… In one of his final letters, the Apostle Paul warns Timothy that a time will come when people will no longer endure sound teaching. Instead of listening to difficult truths, people will gather teachers who say what their "itching ears" want to hear. In this moment, it’s easier than ever to have your ears itched, but more needed than imagined to have your mind renewed -- whether through radio or podcasts. (2 Tim. 4)
News You Can Use
2. America Strong: the dog that nobody wanted finds a home!
Watch it here. “The righteous care for the needs of their animals, but the kindest acts of the wicked are cruel.” (Pro. 12:10)
1. 4th Grader Inspires With Passionate Message of Civic Engagement
Watch it here. “And we urge you, brothers, admonish the idle, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with them all.” (1 Thess. 5:14)
