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. Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine condemns Ramaswamy ad and calls on him to cease airing it (ABC News)
“Republican Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine on Thursday condemned a controversial ad from GOP gubernatorial candidate Vivek Ramaswamy featuring his Democratic opponent Amy Acton's estranged mother calling her daughter a "liar." DeWine told reporters in Columbus, Ohio, that the ad is "deeply, deeply troubling" and that the Ramaswamy campaign "needs to take it down," according to audio provided by Cleveland ABC affiliate WEWS. "It's wrong to run this ad," DeWine said, adding that even though the midterms are fast approaching, he "would urge Ramaswamy's campaign to take this down."
“President Donald Trump defended Ohio Republican Vivek Ramaswamy’s campaign ad featuring his opponent Amy Acton’s estranged mother, telling him to keep it up and “say thank you, God.” Trump thinks Republicans were “weak” for criticizing the ad and views backlash within the party as damaging, a source said.”
Tom Petty isn’t the only one who Won’t Back Down... Vice President JD Vance defended the ad, dismissing condemnation of it from even fellow Republicans as “whining.” He praised Ramaswamy for having the “audacity” to call it like it is. “I’m a little bit disgusted when I see Republicans across the country who are whining more about that advertisement than they are about what the congressional Democrats and other Democrats want to do to the United States of America.”
Contrary to Hootie and the Blowfish, Vance doesn’t want to Let Her (or them) Cry… This is an example of Rally Round The Flag Syndrome. This refers to how during times of crisis, leaders will unify people against a threat – real or perceived. This incentivizes some to exaggerate or initiate events in order to divert attention to other places.
I don't agree with VP Vance, but he has a point. Research out of Columbia University found that apologies by public figures do not help and can even backfire. They suggest that an apology is like a confession, amplifying the wrong and confirming negative priors about the public figure.
Unlike Mr. Ramaswamy, I don’t think I will have to answer to the founding fathers in the afterlife. We will all have to answer to God, knowing that apologies are not contingent upon their acceptance but rather upon your wrongdoing. Some say you should never apologize. They insist it shows weakness, and you will never be able to satiate the other side with your contriteness. That may be a winning strategy for some, but it is a losing maneuver in the kingdom of God. (Acts 3:19, 1 John 1:9)
5. Virginia state lawmaker who led redistricting push indicted by DOJ in marijuana trafficking conspiracy (ABC News)
“Federal authorities have indicted Virginia Democratic state Sen. L. Louise Lucas and several family members and associates on charges stemming from a years-long marijuana trafficking conspiracy and corruption probe. Lucas, 82, has long been a powerful force in Virginia state politics and previously spearheaded the commonwealth's redistricting effort which was reversed by the state's Supreme Court earlier this year.
“But in a sweeping 45-page indictment unsealed Thursday, prosecutors accuse her of using her legislative office to help support a "criminal enterprise" through a medical marijuana dispensary business with charges ranging from racketeering, money laundering, drug trafficking and fraud. Recreational marijuana distribution is not currently legal in Virginia.”
Elvis isn’t the only one who has a Suspicious Mind… In related news, the Justice Department reportedly has opened an investigation into Corey Lewandowski. There are allegedly accusations that he personally profited from his role as a top adviser to the Department of Homeland Security.
What explains this type of behavior? Psychologist Albert Bandura defined this as moral disengagement, describing how individuals rationalize questionable behavior to bypass their own ethical standards. This follows a 4-stage process. First comes the rationalization, where people rewrite the narrative using excuses like "everybody does it" or "it's not technically illegal." Next is the deflection, which shrinks personal agency. After that comes the denial, putting on blindfolds to pretend no real harm is being done. Finally, there is the devaluation, which minimizes the wrong and the impact on those who were wronged.
Forsake fancy excursions… In The Divine Comedy, Dante wrote: "Now learn, my Son, with tardy foot to make your Judgment run, And Fancy's wild excursions to repel.” Essentially, we don’t rush to judgement – just like our God. He walked over to Adam and Eve, he whispered to a wayward Elijah, and he patiently pursued after a disobedient Jonah. We don’t jump to conclusions, but we are quick to listen and pursue after truth. (Lk. 8:17, 2 Cor. 5:10, 1 Pet. 3:8, Mt. 5:4)
4. Russia launched covert influence campaign to undermine US candidates supportive of Ukraine (Politico)
“The Russian government has launched a covert online influence campaign to sway public opinion and undermine both Democrats and Republicans sympathetic to Ukraine ahead of the midterms, two key Democratic lawmakers warned Wednesday. Senate Intelligence Committee Vice Chair Mark Warner (D-Va.) and House Intelligence Committee ranking member Jim Himes (D-Conn.) told reporters that the findings on Russia were detailed in a classified report on foreign election interference sent to their offices by the U.S. intelligence community earlier this week.
“It’s a carnival out there,” Himes said of Russia’s digital efforts, which he said aim to generate “a sense of chaos and anarchy.” According to Himes, Russian disinformation operations cover a range of topics, from sowing distrust in U.S. institutions to questioning the validity of voting machines.”
“In addition, Russia on Wednesday freed an American who had been jailed for more than four years on charges of fighting as a mercenary in Ukraine, in a deal completed during a visit by a top U.S. envoy and at a time when President Donald Trump has taken a series of actions meant to benefit Moscow.”
Is Pres. Putin a humanitarian? Steve Witkoff, U.S. special envoy to the Middle East, faced backlash earlier this week for his comments to the Russian president after the announcement of the release of the American hostage. “You talk so much about my president, President Trump, being a humanitarian — you are a humanitarian also, sir, and I salute that.”
Putin has assassinated political opponents, kidnapped 20,000+ Ukrainian children, deployed chemical weapons, killed innocent civilians, invaded Ukraine and Georgia, significantly struck Estonia with cyberattacks, and poisoned dissidents. In his book The Compatriots, Andrei Soldatov notes how Moscow has gone to great lengths to target enemies abroad. Russians can flee the motherland, but they cannot silence the “tiny but insistent voice in their heads, the one telling them: wherever you are, you cannot hide from us."
This characterization of Putin illuminates a classic study regarding flattery. There are 3 main tactics regarding sycophancy: other enhancement ("the classic suck-up"), opinion conformity ("the yes-man"), and self-presentation ("the self-promoter").
C.S. Lewis likened a lie to a pregnancy, in that it doesn’t take long for everyone to know. I’m grateful one of our American neighbors is coming home, and I know, like a baby, the truth will come out regarding Mr. Putin and being a humanitarian. (Lk. 8:17)
Cultural News
3. Making More Money Could Actually Change Your Personality, New Study Finds (Vice)
“Your personality might change a little, too. In a new study, researchers led by Wen-Dong Li of the Chinese University of Hong Kong analyzed data from 11 long-term studies involving up to 134,515 working adults across five countries. They examined how people’s incomes and personalities changed over periods ranging from four to 20 years.
“People who started earning more money generally became a little more conscientious and emotionally stable afterward. They were also slightly less agreeable and less outgoing. In other words, a bigger paycheck might help you get your stuff together while making you a little less interested in everyone else’s.
“Psychologist Paul Piff has explored how money influences behavior, including an experiment involving a rigged game of Monopoly. One player started with twice the money, and the wealthier players became increasingly pushy as the game went on. Even better, they started crediting their success to their own abilities, despite having an unfair advantage from the beginning.”
Alan Jackson is Livin’ On Love, and some are living differently due to money. A fascinating study looked at how money altered how we drive. The UC Berkeley study found that drivers of luxury cars were 4 times less likely than those in less expensive vehicles to stop and allow pedestrians the right of way. They were also more likely to cut off other drivers.
In his book The Art of Spending Money, Morgan Housel argues you should see money less as a yardstick and more as a tool. “There are two ways to use money. One is as a tool to live a better life. The other is as a yardstick of status to measure yourself against others. Many people aspire for the former but spend their life chasing the latter... Spending money to show people how much money you have is a fast way to go broke and an expensive way to gain respect. Disappointment is often the outcome."
Money is a gift, and the love of money is a trap (1 Tim. 6:10, Deut. 10:14). The generosity of Theophilus funded the work of Dr. Luke, and the contentment of Lydia advanced the kingdom eventually into Europe (Luke 1:1-4, Acts 16:11-40). Having money can be a force for good, but loving money (even if you don’t have it) can keep you from experiencing the goodness of life.
News You Can Use
2. How a few drinks and a Mark Twain story sparked a town tradition
Watch it here. “So then, brothers, stand firm and hold to the traditions that you were taught by us, either by our spoken word or by our letter.” (2 Thess. 2:15)
1. Why some households are opting for “dump dinners” to save time, energy
Watch it here. "Taste and see that the Lord is good." (Ps. 34:8)
