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 says his critics on Iran are 'either jealous, bad people, or stupid' (ABC News)
“President Donald Trump, who arrived early on Thursday back in Washington after attending the G7 and visiting Versailles, posted on social media shortly afterward on a range of topics, including his deal with Iran. "These fools, who think I haven’t been tough enough on Iran, when the Stock Market Just Hit A RECORD HIGH, and Oil prices are 'tumbling' down, are either jealous, bad people, or stupid," Trump posted at 4:42 a.m. ET., adding, "MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!!! President DJT."
“Talks on Iran's nuclear program were expected to start in Switzerland as soon as this weekend, though Vice President JD Vance said the timing depends on when Iran's delegation can travel. The White House later said Vance is no longer leaving for Switzerland late Thursday to help kickstart talks… Israel and Hezbollah have are again trading attacks despite the US-Iran agreement declaring an end to their conflict. Four Israeli soldiers were killed overnight in one of the deadliest incidents for their military since the war began. Israeli strikes later killed at least 18 people in southern Lebanon."
Is Iran a normal country? VP Vance shared that the agreement sets “up a structure whereby if the Iranians behave like a normal country, then we want to treat them like a normal country and welcome them to the world economy.”
Normal countries don’t murder more than 40,000 of their own men, women, and children. Back in March, US embassies around the world highlighted Iran’s “blood-soaked war on Americans.” The document highlighted how, over the past 50 years, the Iranian regime has repeatedly targeted Americans in terrorist attacks. They have taken hostages at the American embassy in 1979, bombed the Marine barracks in Beirut in 1983, and conducted waves of airplane hijackings throughout the 1980s. The document said this was just a “partial list.”
Don’t be fooled by the modern-day Gibeonites… In Joshua 9, the kings west of the Jordan River came together to wage war against Israel… except the Gibeonites. They heard about Joshua and his army, and, in response, pretended to be from a distant land so that they could make peace with a powerful enemy. They wore old clothes, loaded their donkeys with moldy bread, and ended up deceiving Joshua… until he found out and made them pay. In this instance, Iran may say they want to be a normal country, but we shouldn’t be quick to eat their moldy bread.
5. Presidents line up for Obama’s long-awaited center in Chicago (NY Times)
“It took more than a decade of planning, a messy court battle with preservationists and years of plodding construction, but the Obama Presidential Center was finally unveiled on the South Side of Chicago on Thursday. The opening itself was a star-studded party, concert and celebration, the rare event that drew four former presidents standing together onstage — George W. Bush, Bill Clinton and Joseph R. Biden Jr., along with Barack Obama himself. (An invitation was not extended to President Trump, who recently compared the center to a trash heap.) The Roots kicked off the event; Christina Aguilera gave a rendition of “What a Wonderful World;” Bruce Springsteen sang “Land of Hope and Dreams.”
“The exhibits of the museum focus not just on policies, he said, but on democracy’s shared values. “I hope this center will serve as an affirmation of just how special, how precious, our democracy truly is,” Mr. Obama said. The presidential center was created “as a monument to our unshakable values,” Mrs. Obama said, even during “anxious and divisive times.”
The Beatles aren’t the only ones to Come Together… Throughout US history, past presidents have often become close friends. Thomas Jefferson and John Adam were frequent pen pals, until Adams appointed Jefferson’s “most ardent political enemies” to political posts on his way out of the White House. However, after a time, Dr. Benjamin Rush, a signer of the Declaration, took it upon himself to renew their suspended friendship. "I always loved Jefferson, and still love him." In response, Jefferson wrote to Rush: "This is enough for me. I only needed this knowledge to revive towards him all of the affections of the most cordial moments of our lives."
Then there was Herbert Hoover and Harry Truman. Only days after FDR’s death, Pres. Truman sent a handwritten letter to former Pres. Hoover, the only living former President, inviting him to “stop in” at the White House next time he was in town. Hoover wasted no time. The visit went well, to the extent that weeks later, Truman recovered a portrait of Hoover's wife and hosted a private luncheon and ceremony to hang it in the gallery of First Ladies. Truman later remarked to Hoover: “Yours has been a friendship which has reached deeper into my life than you know.”
You are my friends… Speaking to his disciples, Jesus tied friendship with him to love for one another. Frederick Buencher noted: “To be his friends, that is to say, we have to be each other's friends, conceivably even lay down our lives for each other. You never know. It is a high price to pay, and Jesus does not pretend otherwise, but the implication is that it's worth every cent.” While laying down your life is a tall task, showing up for those in your life is a meaningful gesture. (Jn. 15)
4. U.S. moves toward troop reductions in Europe as Hegseth scolds NATO allies (WaPo)
“The Pentagon will conduct a six-month review of troop levels in Europe as it seeks to scale back its military footprint and shift more of the U.S. role at NATO to European allies, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth told his counterparts in Brussels on Thursday. The U.S. plans, and questions about them, are at the center of talks at NATO headquarters, as the Trump administration seeks to curtail the forces and weapons that the United States has dedicated to protecting the continent for decades.
“Along with reviewing its troop posture, the U.S. will cut the number of fighter jets, reconnaissance drones and warships that it would activate for Europe in case of a war or crisis, two diplomats said, speaking on the condition of anonymity to share sensitive details. The U.S. move is set to pull back about a third of fighter jets and some other assets that European nations would struggle to backfill, such as strategic bombers, the diplomats said. NATO officials are working out which countries can fill some of those gaps and how fast.”
Channeling Michael Bublé, the Secretary wants our soldiers to come Home… In 1957, the US had 15 percent of active-duty troops deployed overseas. During the height of Vietnam (1967), we had 36 percent. In 2016, we were back at 15 percent, dipping below 200,000 for the first time in 60 years. At this moment, we currently boast at least 128 bases across 49 countries.
Deep engagement describes why we have troops stationed overseas, according to Joseph Nye. “The U.S. presence is a force for stability, reducing the need for arms buildups and deterring the rise of hegemonic forces.” Instead of having to get ready, we stay ready by stationing troops around the world. “For the security and prosperity of today to be maintained for the next 20 years, the United States must remain engaged... committed to peace in the region, and dedicated to strengthening alliances and friendships.”
Similar to Jonathan with David, there will be times when our allies ask more of us. And like Mordecai to Esther, there will be other times when we ask more of our allies. But there should never be a time when we don’t make every effort to seek after the peace… including by strengthening alliances. (1 Sam. 20, Est. 4, Rom. 12:18, Heb. 12:14)
3. More Employees Embrace ‘Microshifting,’ Carving Their Workday Into Chunks (WSJ)
“He is among the workers who have embraced “microshifting,” or carving their day into short chunks of work, with intentional breaks for family time or personal replenishment. While employees who work from home have long squeezed personal business into the workday—with or without the boss’s blessing—more are now openly working at the times when they are most productive, often in segments of several hours, and some companies are encouraging it.
“Instead of forcing everyone into a rigid schedule, we focus on output and deliverables,” says Woozle founder Mark Pacitti, who is based in Glasgow, Scotland, and works in two-hour microshifts himself. “If someone does their best, deep research work in a focused five-hour window, that’s more valuable to us and our clients than eight hours of diminishing returns.” If done correctly, microshifting prevents burnout. “When you’re trying to solve really difficult problems, you can only push for so long,” said Williams Woolley.”
Working 9 to 5? Not so fast, Dolly Parton. In his book Deep Work, Cal Newport chronicled the importance of eliminating distractions and focusing on what matters most. In his book Slow Productivity, Newport helps readers disregard the myth that "hours worked equals work completed.” He defines slow productivity as organizing knowledge work efforts in a sustainable and meaningful manner, based on 3 principles: do fewer things, work at a natural pace, and obsess over quality.
Don’t fall for the Myth of Pseudo-Productivity… "More work creates better results than less. It's a manager's job to ensure enough work is getting done, because without this pressure, lazy employees will attempt to get away with the bare minimum."
Consider Newton… "The great scientists of past eras would have found our urgency to be self-defeating and frantic. They were interested in what they produced over the course of their lifetimes, not in any particular short-term stretch...they didn't feel pressure to be maximally busy every day. They were instead comfortable taking longer on projects and adopting a more forgiving and variable rhythm to their work."
Work is your service to others that can bring satisfaction to your soul. Dorothy Sayers puts it well: “Work is not primarily a thing one does to live but the thing one lives to do. It is, or it should be, the full expression of the worker's faculties, the thing in which he finds spiritual, mental, and bodily satisfaction, and the medium in which he offers himself to God.” The size of your shift may vary but your heartiness shouldn’t. (Col. 3:23)
News You Can Use
2. “God Bless the beaver”
Watch it here. “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.” (James 1:17)
1. Wife Said “We” Are Doing House Projects Today
Watch it here. “Likewise, husbands, live with your wives in an understanding way…” (1 Pet. 3:7)
