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 he won't forgive his enemies, even to get into heaven (WSJ)
“In his first sit-down interview since Republicans’ devastating election losses, President Trump floated a deal with Democrats on immigration, suggested he might not endorse a Republican successor ahead of the 2028 election and said he had no intention of forgiving his political enemies.
“Trump acknowledged that his hard-line immigration policies may have hurt Republicans in Tuesday’s midterm elections—and he expressed openness to reaching a compromise on the issue with newly empowered Democrats. The president suggested that immigration was an area where he could work with Democrats, saying that such a deal would be “something that’s actually doable.”
“Douthat asked Trump a philosophical question at the end of the interview: What happens when you die? Trump said that he hoped to go to heaven. Then Douthat pressed further, asking whether Trump would be willing to forgive his political enemies—including former Federal Bureau of Investigation Director James Comey and former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi—to go to heaven. “I want to be honest, no,” Trump said. “I probably cannot do that, no, because I do hate some of my enemies, and I always will.”
Beware of ghosts… In his book Forgiveness, Tim Keller highlights how wraith is an old word for ghost, a spirit that can’t rest. “Ghosts, according to legend, stay in the place where something was done to them, and they can’t get over it or stop reliving it. If you don’t deal with your wrath through forgiveness, wrath can make you a wraith, turning you slowly but surely into a restless spirit, into someone who’s controlled by the past, someone who’s haunted.”
American culture pits self-fulfillment against self-sacrifice, according to Keller. As a response to any mistreatment, the former will produce revenge and the latter withdrawal. “In such a culture, forgiveness is seen as self-hating, and revenge and anger are considered authentic.”
Anger is possibly the most fun of the 7 deadly sins, according to Frederick Buechner. “To lick your wounds, to smack your lips over grievances long past, to roll over your tongue the prospect of bitter confrontations still to come, to savor to the last toothsome morsel both the pain you are given and the pain you are giving back--in many ways it is a feast fit for a king. The chief drawback is that what you are wolfing down is yourself. The skeleton at the feast is you.” (Eph. 4, Pro. 6)
5. Trump shares cartoon of UFC fighters beating reporters after offering Dana White press job (WaPo)
“President Donald Trump on Sunday shared a cartoon video depicting the Ultimate Fighting Championship CEO as White House press secretary, directing UFC fighters to beat up journalists — a day after Trump said he had offered Dana White the job.
“Trump announced Saturday in another social media post that he had offered White the press secretary job, describing him as a “violent Fighter and Warrior,” and suggested that he could bring along prominent UFC fighters “even though some are not from our Country.”
“White later declined to answer questions about the position, telling reporters at an event in London that he will meet with Trump on Monday. A White House official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because they weren’t authorized to speak about the matter publicly, said the offer was made as a joke. The position has been empty since Katie Zacharia left the role just five days into her tenure last month.”
You serious, Clark? This would be a different direction, or more specifically, a weird decision, according to Olga Khazan. In her book Weird: The Power of Being an Outsider in an Insider World, Khazan writes how it’s “good to be a weirdo… Being different from other people around you confers hidden advantages that can help you in life and in work. Groups are smarter and more powerful when their members hold a diversity of views.”
Consider The Beatles and “idiosyncrasy credits.” These are credits that outsiders rack up when they adopt the styles and behaviors of the insider group. Over time, they have built up the credibility to act differently… like The Beatles. Before they broke onto the scene, these British performers would taunt their German crowds and call them Nazis. Eventually, the band’s manager urged them to rack up credits with their audiences: don’t swear, no drinking on stage, and wear suits instead of leather jackets. “At first, conform; then innovate.”
The Scriptures are filled with weirdos: John the Baptist with his clothing choices, little David in the big field, and Zacchaeus the tax collector. I’m skeptical of Dana White as Press Secretary, because of his lack of experience and his past indiscretions, but Adam Grant is right: “The most valuable indicator of future potential is not past performance. It's recent progress. The people who exceed expectations tomorrow are the ones who improved the most yesterday." (Mt. 3, 1 Sam. 16, Lk. 19)
4. Stephen Miller is named new White House chief of staff as Susie Wiles departs (WaPo)
“President Donald Trump has removed his long-serving and top aide Susie Wiles as White House chief of staff, replacing her with Stephen Miller, the president announced Friday. The staffing shake-up comes as Trump remains angry over Tuesday’s midterm losses. It represents a turn further to the right for Trump’s policy agenda and poses a sharp contrast with the decision by voters this week to make the largest shift to the left in half a century.
“The announcement drew extraordinary expressions of outrage from Democrats’ newly empowered leadership, with whom Trump will need to work over the next two years. Miller, 41, one of the few high-ranking officials from Trump’s first administration who returned for the second, most recently has served as the White House deputy chief of staff for policy and homeland security adviser.
“Referred to by many in Trump’s orbit as “the prime minister” because of his broad sway over policy, Miller has planned and directed some of the most controversial initiatives of Trump’s second term, including many of the administration’s immigration policies. He also has had major influence over other domestic issues, relations with Latin America and Trump’s efforts to widen U.S. sway over Greenland.”
It’s Getting Harder and Harder to Breathe… and hire good people, Maroon 5. Paul Oyer and Scott Schaefer write in Personnel Economics that "the fundamental economic problem in hiring is one of matching with costly search and bilateral asymmetric information.” Essentially, you have limited information and uncertain variables that lead to success.
Consider NBA draft picks. A favorite study, as of late, looked at what makes a good draft pick. The working assumption was that total points and Final Four appearances would be good predictors of NBA talent. However, subtler stats, like rebounding, assists, and field-goal percentage, were more consistent metrics for NBA success.
“Personnel is policy” was a slogan of the Reagan years. It highlighted a larger truth: be cautious with the company you keep. As Christians, we know our associations can be beneficial and also detrimental (1 Cor. 15:33, Ecc. 4:12). The Gibeonites deceived Joshua, to the detriment of Israel (Josh. 9). But the efforts of Abishai and his men benefited Joab’s army (2 Sam. 10). Dan McLaughlin was right: “You can tell a man’s vices by his friends, and his virtues by his enemies.”
Cultural News
3. Are You a Hugger? Your Answer May Be Telling. (NY Times)
“Now, Dr. Dueren and her colleagues have published a study looking at how people remember and perceive hugs. Drawing from a large survey, they analyzed the responses of more than 15,000 people who were asked about the positive aspects of memorable hugs, like comfort, friendliness or happiness. The study suggested that people’s gender, as well as their attachment style — or how they relate to other people in the context of relationships, according to attachment theory — plays a role in what hugs mean to them.
“Survey participants filled out a questionnaire that measured their attachment style. Those who scored higher in what psychologists term an avoidant attachment style — displaying independence and self-sufficiency in their interpersonal relationships — were less likely to remember hugs that left them with positive emotions than those who scored lower on that scale. Those who had a so-called anxious attachment style — showing a tendency to feel distress when faced with the prospect of separation — had a greater likelihood of remembering a positive hug.”
Joe Cocker isn’t the only one Feelin’ Alright when he is in cuddle cove… While some would prefer not to hug, others are willing to pay for hugs. The average hug lasts approximately 3.17 seconds. But one study found that the most pleasant hug lasts 5 to 10 seconds.
Are hugs like drugs? In a captivating study about hugs helping the immune system, researchers isolated 400 people in a hotel and exposed them to a cold virus. Interestingly enough, people who had supportive social interactions had fewer and less severe symptoms.
Greet one another with a holy kiss (or hug). There are at least 2 components Paul was getting at with the directive to show affection toward your fellow brother and sister in Christ: doctrinal unity and physical liturgy. In his phenomenal book You Are What You Love: The Spiritual Power of Habit, James K.A. Smith writes: “Learning virtue—becoming virtuous—is more like practicing scales on the piano than learning music theory… Learning here isn’t just information acquisition; it’s more like inscribing something into the very fiber of your being.” For the Christian, the holy kiss (or hug) is a physical action which reinforces a spiritual necessity: unity. (Romans 16, 1 Corinthians 16, 2 Corinthians 13, 1 Thessalonians 5)
News You Can Use
2. After decades alone, 2 Michigan singles find unexpected love
Watch it here. "He who finds a wife finds a good thing, and obtains favor from the Lord." (Pro. 18:22)
1. High school football game ends with three laterals, a fooled defense & the highest IQ play you'll ever see
Watch it here. “And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.” (James 1:4)
