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. Trump floats temporarily withdrawing Blanche's AG nomination over GOP holdouts (ABC News)
“President Donald Trump on Thursday floated the possibility of temporarily withdrawing Todd Blanche's nomination for attorney general as his confirmation is being held up by two outgoing Republican senators. "Todd Blanche is a STAR, and everyone knows it! He has the potential to go down as one of the Greatest Attorney Generals of All Time. However, John Cornyn, of Texas, and Thom Tillis, of North Carolina, both of whom I refused to Endorse, and whose political careers have been ended by my action, are refusing to vote for this Great Nominee, who will remain, in any event, as Acting," Trump wrote in a social media post.
"I have no objection to temporarily withdrawing Todd’s name, if they do not do the right thing, and putting him back after Cornyn and Tillis are out of office," Trump wrote. Earlier Thursday morning, Cornyn said there were "new complications" in the standoff. Cornyn is demanding the Department of Justice put in writing that the nearly $1.8 billion so-called "Anti-Weaponization Fund" is officially dead, and that the scope of President Trump's immunity deal with the IRS be narrowed.”
Are you more Wilson or Madison? Daniel Stid highlights 2 movements that are animating the current moment in our political life. The Wilsonian movement aims to remake Congress to resemble a European parliament, where the majority party gets its way on everything. This channels the thinking of former Pres. Wilson, who called the Founders’ separation of powers a “radical defect” in the original constitutional design. This side believes the party in power should be able to exercise it without pushback.
Then there is the Madisonian movement, which is the faction of accommodation and compromise. Knowing the “latent causes of faction are thus sown in the nature of man,” this side recognizes that disagreements are inevitable and the “regulation of these conflicting interests forms the principal task of modern legislation." As James Madison noted: "We may well suppose that neither side would entirely yield to the other, and consequently that the struggle could be terminated only by compromise."
It's been said that compromise is trading the fantasy of perfection for the reality of progress. Throughout the biblical narrative, from the Jerusalem Council to Daniel's diet to Abigail and David, compromise served as the quiet victory of getting things done. In this moment, when maneuvering abounds, a good deal may leave some unsatisfied, but all further along. (Acts 15, Daniel 1, 1 Sam. 25)
5. Georgia school shooter’s father, who bought son a gun, sentenced to 15 years (WaPo)
“Colin Gray, whose son shot and killed four people at a northern Georgia high school in 2024 with a gun Gray had bought him, was sentenced Thursday to 15 years in prison. “Mr. Gray committed crimes, but his crimes are tethered to the tragedy committed by his son, and that makes the situation a little unique,” Judge Nicholas Primm said during the sentencing.
“Gray was convicted of second-degree murder earlier this year, a landmark verdict in a larger effort to hold parents of school shooters accountable. The elder Gray had given his son an AR-15-style rifle and left it unsecured in the boy’s bedroom even though the teenager was displaying psychological problems and a fixation with school shootings.
“During his trial, the elder Gray testified that he had given his son the rifle for Christmas in 2023 and saw no warning signs of a shooting to come. Jimmy Berry, an attorney for Gray, said he is a loving parent who struggled at times but was “wired to see the best” in his son. Gray and his wife, Marcee, struggled with drug addiction and were inattentive to their son’s problems as Colt Gray allegedly developed paranoia and a fascination with school shootings, The Washington Post previously reported.”
In his book The Intentional Father, Jon Tyson identifies 5 types of fathers: irresponsible (no involvement in the child’s life), ignorant (unaware of the impact he has on his child’s life), inconsistent (sometimes is involved but has other priorities), involved (present and active but doesn’t tailor his parenting to child’s needs), and intentional (deeply invested to help child reach full potential).
Tyson writes: “Formation happens day by day; distortion happens day by day. We are either helping our sons move into adulthood or joining the culture’s attempt to trap them in an extended adolescence.”
Repairing fences… Tyson shares a story about a farmer repairing a fence with his sons. When another farmer passes by, he asks: “Why are you letting your sons help you? It’s going to take five times as long. You should just do it yourself.” The father responded: “Oh, but you’ve made a mistake. You think I’m repairing a fence. I’m not. I’m raising my sons.” (Pro. 22)
4. Seattle Storm co-owner suspended after fan confrontation (ABC News)
“The WNBA suspended Seattle Storm co-owner Celeste Keaton for five home games and fined her an undisclosed amount, multiple reports said Thursday, after an exchange with two teenage girls in which Keaton allegedly called them “f–king insane” over their stance on trans athletes competing in women’s sports, leaving one of the girls in tears. The incident occurred during Tuesday’s Storm-Fever game in Seattle, which came after Indiana guard Sophie Cunningham said in a recent ESPN profile that she wants to “protect young girls in a locker room, or young girls in sport who shouldn’t have to go against biological men.”
“The teenagers sat courtside and held signs supporting Cunningham, while wearing shirts advocating against trans inclusion in women’s sports. The Storm apologized Wednesday after the girls discussed the incident with the unDivided podcast. They allege that Keaton told them “Jesus loves everyone” and added “I hope Jesus can forgive you for what sin you’ve done.”
Like Bonnie Raitt, the Storm co-owner is giving us Something To Talk About… largely because of how she talked to her customers. In his insightful book The Mom Test, Rob Fitzpatrick lays out a customer interview strategy for new businesses chasing success, rooted in “questions that even your mom can't lie to you about." He writes: "Every time you talk to someone, you should be asking at least one question which has the potential to destroy your currently imagined business."
Compliments are like fool’s gold in the archaeological site that is customer conversations, according to Fitzpatrick. "Compliments are the fool's gold of customer learning: shiny, distracting, and worthless…. You're not here to collect compliments; you're trying to learn the truth." But on this search for truth, you have to dig carefully. "Trying to learn from customer conversations is like excavating a delicate archaeological site. The truth is down there somewhere, but it's fragile. While each blow with your shovel gets you closer to the truth, you're liable to smash it into a million little pieces if you use too blunt an instrument.” In this instance, that blunt instrument is cursing out your customers… who happen to be kids.
Conversations can be risky because words are powerful. They both reveal the heart of a speaker and can melt a sinner's heart of stone. They were a liberating tool with Pharaoh, brought about healing with Jarius, and play a significant part in our salvation story. James compares the tongue to the rudder of a ship. And for Ms. Keaton this morning, her ship has been docked. (James 3:5-6).
Cultural News
3. Where are the US’s safest big cities? New study released (The Hill)
“A recent analysis by personal finance site SmartAsset considered four such metrics to find the safest big city in the U.S. Unlike the rankings it released earlier this year, SmartAsset limited its review to cities with a population of 250,000 or more. It then scored each city based on its rates of violent crimes, property crimes and auto fatalities, as well as its natural disaster risk.
“Based on these metrics, SmartAsset determined that Virginia Beach, Virginia, is the safest large city in the U.S. Its “relatively low” disaster risk combined with its second-lowest violent crime rate helped bolster its standing in SmartAsset’s rankings. The city also recently ranked among the best for raising a family.
“At the bottom of SmartAsset’s overall list is Memphis, Tennessee, largely driven by its high crime and auto death rates, which were the worst across the list. Fellow Tennessee city Nashville also ranked in the bottom 10.”
Unlike Kenny Loggins, fewer Americans are in the Danger Zone… Crime rates in large US cities continue to fall in the first half of 2026. A recent study looked at 13 crime types across 36 cities, finding that homicides are down 18 percent from the same period in 2025. Reported levels of 9 of 13 offenses were lower in the first half of 2026 than in the first half of 2025, with reported carjacking incidents seeing the largest drop (47 percent ) and drug offenses seeing the largest rise (12 percent).
Crime never pays, and it serves as a type of tax. Money Geek calculated that citizens of DC pay a crime tax of approximately $6,300. A recent study suggests that every $1 spent on policing yields $1.63 in reduced victim costs.
A quiet life is greater than a loud one… In the Scriptures, we read how we are to honor the emperor, submit to authorities, and do good to all people. Such a life positions you to “live quietly,” walking “properly before outsiders and dependent on no one.” Contrast this life with that of a criminal, living loudly because his/her actions fail to submit to authorities and take from others. Whereas a loud life demands a response in the name of justice, a quiet life compels questions because of godliness. (1 Pet. 2, Rom. 13, Gal. 6, 1 Thess. 4)
News You Can Use
2. America Strong: Rising high School Junior chases dreams on the track field
Watch it here. "Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles." (Heb. 12:1-2)
1. 99-year-olds share secret to a long, happy marriage
Watch it here. “What God has brought together, let no man separate.” (Mt. 19:6)
