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. Lindsey Graham died of aortic dissection, preliminary medical report says (WaPo)
“Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina) died suddenly on Saturday night at age 71, his office said, prompting tributes from President Donald Trump and lawmakers from both parties who recalled his record as a foreign policy hawk and deep friendships he forged during his three decades in Congress. In a statement, Graham’s office said preliminary findings from the D.C. medical examiner’s office found that Graham suffered from an aortic dissection, in which a tear occurs in the inner layer of the main artery. This was caused by arteriosclerotic cardiovascular disease, the statement said. These tears usually occur when there is high blood pressure.
“A former Air Force lawyer who served in the Air Force Reserve while in Congress and was briefly deployed to both Iraq and Afghanistan as a senator, Mr. Graham was first elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1994, before winning his Senate seat in 2002. Graham’s death narrows Republicans’ majority in the Senate, where they had held a 53-47 edge. He had been running for reelection this year.”
“How we seek to spend our time may depend on how much time we perceive ourselves to have,” according to Atul Gawande. In Being Mortal, Gawande rightly notes: “Our ultimate goal, after all, is not a good death but a good life to the very end.”
Over the past 24 hours, many have shared some of the more memorable moments of Sen. Graham: his defense of Justice Kavanaugh, the time he destroyed his phone after the President shared his private number, and his bold move to support protesters in Iran. But as Gawande notes: “In the end, people don't view their life as merely the average of all its moments—which, after all, is mostly nothing much plus some sleep. For human beings, life is meaningful because it is a story. A story has a sense of a whole, and its arc is determined by the significant moments, the ones where something happens. Measurements of people's minute-by-minute levels of pleasure and pain miss this fundamental aspect of human existence.”
To live is Christ and to die is gain... Former Sen. Ben Sasse repeated this idea on a podcast released earlier this year. In December, Sasse shared that he was diagnosed with stage 4, metastasized pancreatic cancer. He was given 90 days to live… 7 months ago. For Sasse: “I would never want pancreatic cancer to exist, but I also wouldn’t go back to a phase in my life where I hadn’t known the prayer of pancreatic cancer.” Tragically, Sen. Graham, a lifelong Southern Baptist, died unexpectedly but lived fully. Yet, as Ben Sasse notes, we are all dying, so live accordingly. “Death and dying aren’t the same — the process of dying is still something to be lived.” (Ps. 90)
5. Trump orders new round of strikes to "hold Iranian forces accountable," CENTCOM says as two sides exchange threats (CBS News)
“U.S. forces on Sunday conducted another round of strikes on Iran, following another strike Saturday in retaliation for an Iranian attack on a Cyprus-flagged container ship in the Strait of Hormuz, the Pentagon said.
“An Iranian delegation traveled to Oman earlier Saturday to continue negotiations via mediators, despite a dramatic exchange of fire with the U.S. that derailed the truce agreed to under the mid-June memorandum of understanding signed by President Trump and his Iranian counterpart.
“President Trump on Friday threatened to "decimate and destroy" Iran if the regime made an attempt on his life, adding that "1000 Missiles are Locked and Loaded and aimed at the Islamic Republic of Iran" should it carry out an assassination attempt. In a statement Saturday, Iran's supreme leader vowed revenge for his father's death.”
Is Iran too weak to make peace? John Bolton, in the WSJ, asserted this over the weekend, highlighting that the mixed messages from the Iranian leadership reveal the lack of leadership and the abundance of opportunity. “What exists instead of a government is “heads of authority” with various kinds of clout and vulnerability. They compete for power, but none can consistently dominate, today or in the foreseeable future. This disarray explains why some in Iran are again reportedly plotting to murder Mr. Trump, while others are still negotiating with his representatives.”
The lack of leadership in Iran requires tougher sanctions on Iran, according to Bolton. “We can face this reality now or after November’s elections. The right course is to act swiftly, reimpose the blockade and choke off Iran’s oil revenues. Continued uncertainty in the Gulf could well keep oil prices elevated before November regardless of negotiations or cease-fires. If we delay, Tehran’s hand will be stronger, having gained more time and billions of dollars in new revenue. Even if the president punts until after the elections, this remains the only intelligible path forward.”
Finish strong... King Asa of Judah went to battle against a formidable force led by Zerah the Cushite in the Valley of Zephathah. But after Asa prayed, the lines clashed, and the Cushites were broken and began to flee. Instead of plundering the Cushite camp, Asa and his army pursued them to Gerar. They kept up the pressure so relentlessly that the text notes the Cushites "could not recover." Instead of settling for a big win, they were resilient to achieve a complete one. Similar to Asa and the Cushites, we have set Iran back, but as Bolton concluded: “Iran has no real government. This is a good thing. We caused it, and we should finish it.” (2 Chron. 14)
4. Trump administration subpoenas New York Times journalists who reported security concerns around new Air Force One (CNN)
“Four New York Times journalists who reported on security concerns surrounding a Qatari-gifted jet serving as the new Air Force One have been subpoenaed by the Justice Department, the news outlet reported early Saturday. The journalists –– Julian E. Barnes, Eric Lipton, Tyler Pager and Eric Schmitt –– have been subpoenaed to testify before a federal grand jury in Manhattan on Wednesday, according to The Times, which noted federal agents delivered some of the subpoenas to reporters’ homes.
“The Times said in its report that it will fight the court order, which is highly unusual and is a direct threat to the news media’s ability to gather information in the public’s interest. The subpoenas suggest the Trump administration is trying to find out who leaked to The Times before the news organization reported this week that President Donald Trump left a NATO summit in Turkey on the old Air Force One over security concerns from the Secret Service.”
Is Pres. Trump following in former Pres. Obama’s footsteps? Interestingly enough, a study out of the Committee to Protect Journalists noted that Pres. Obama, over his 2 terms, issued more than 100 subpoenas to journalists. In comparison, that number is around 20 for Pres. Trump, with Pres. Nixon ranked atop the list with more than 120.
Is Madison’s monster still scary? James Madison championed a free press at the Founding. He likened a free press to Argus, the 100-eyed monster from Greek mythology. He thought every citizen was an Argus that could check unconstitutional action and preserve the republic in the pursuit for truth. When the Sedition Act sought to squelch speech, Madison said the act ought to “produce universal alarm; because it is leveled against that right of freely examining public characters and measures, and of free communication among the people thereon, which has ever been justly deemed the only effectual guardian of every other right.”
The state has a monopoly on force, but not on truth – hence the reason for the press, to hold the government and others accountable. In the Scriptures, we read about the value of accountability. David repented because of it, and Saul needed more of it (2 Sam. 12, 1 Sam. 15). The people perish without vision, but those in power stray without accountability – especially from the press.
3. Senators celebrate bipartisan housing bill becoming law despite Trump's refusal to sign (ABC News)
“Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle celebrated the landmark bipartisan housing bill becoming law overnight Saturday despite President Donald Trump's refusal to sign it. The 21st Century Road to Housing Act aims to address the country’s housing shortage by increasing the supply of homes and overall homeownership. The legislation loosens regulations to encourage housing construction and limits Wall Street investors from buying homes that could go to families instead. It passed in the Senate 85-5 and in the House 358-32, both veto-proof majorities, last month.
"Trump said he was refusing to sign the bill because the Senate has not taken up the unrelated Save America Act which would make significant election and voting reforms, including requiring photo ID at polling places and proof of citizenship before a person could register to vote.”
Built This City On Rock and Roll? Hopefully, we build more homes… while listening to rock and roll, Starship. Since 2020, average house prices have grown by more than 50 percent, and rents have grown by at least 30 percent. For context, the general rate of inflation over that time is around 25 percent.
Why is housing so expensive at this moment? Consider tariffs, zoning taxes, permitting fees, and impact fees. With tariffs, the National Association of Home Builders estimates that the cost of building materials has increased by 34 percent since December 2020, raising the cost of construction by an average of $10,900. Relative to zoning taxes, in some metro areas, this can be as high as $500,000 per quarter-acre.
Concerning permitting fees, homebuilder surveys estimate that they average more than $7,500 for a 2,600-square-foot house, and sometimes exceed several months just to secure them. Finally, there is impact fees, which are taxes meant to gauge the infrastructure cost of new construction. They can exceed $16,000 per home on average.
The difference between wanting a home and having a home is discipline, according to Dave Ramsey. In his book The Total Money Makeover, noted: “It is human nature to want it and want it now; it is also a sign of immaturity. Being willing to delay pleasure for a greater result is a sign of maturity.” As Christians, we count the cost and call on counselors – especially when it comes to purchasing a house (Luke 14:28, Pro. 11:14). As stewards of God’s resources, we carefully consider our commitments of what God has shared with us, knowing one day we will give an account. Ramsey is right: “A budget is people telling their money where to go instead of wondering where it went… You must gain control over your money or the lack of it will forever control you.”
News You Can Use
2. Dads During Summer
Watch it here. “As soon as they come out in leaf, you see for yourselves and know that the summer is already near.” (Lk. 21:30)
1. When 3 kids were required to have a license to sell lemonade, they fought the government and won
Watch it here. “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed…” (2 Tim. 2:15)
