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. Police confirm 3 fatalities, 5 injuries after shooting at Idaho In-N-Out Burger (ABC News)
“Three people were killed and another five were injured when a gunman opened fire outside an In-N-Out Burger restaurant in Twin Falls, Idaho, on Saturday, authorities told ABC News on Sunday. The suspected shooter died in the incident, but it was unclear if the alleged perpetrator is one of the three people police confirmed were killed, said Twin Falls police spokesperson Joshua Palmer. The name of the suspect has not been released.
“Lynsi Snyder, In-N-Out's president, said in a statement posted on social media that an employee was among those shot and killed. "In-N-Out will be mourning with the families and praying for them as they tread through a very painful season," she said. At a news conference Saturday evening, Twin Falls Police Chief Matthew Hicks said a motive for the shooting remains under investigation. The suspected shooter is also dead, Hicks said, and police believe there is no longer any threat to the community.”
Tragedy had its moment over the weekend, but one good Samaritan made sure it was only a moment. A heroic armed citizen tried to take out the gunman as he opened fire on an Idaho In-N-Out, according to the now viral video. This brave man with a handgun exchanged gunfire with the shooter, saving lives by distracting the one who was trying to take them.
Thank God for the good guy with a gun…. From 1990 to 2015, there were at least 10 instances of a good guy with a gun stopping a mass shooting. One study looked at data on mass public shootings from 1977 to 1999. Researchers studied 13 types of gun-control laws and the impact of law enforcement. They found that right-to-carry laws reduced both the frequency and the severity of mass public shootings.
There are 3 types of people in the world, according to Lieutenant Colonel David Grossman: sheep, wolves, and sheepdogs. In his book On Combat (2004), Grossman notes that sheep are innocent citizens with no capacity for violence, wolves are unempathetic citizens with a capacity for violence, and sheepdogs are those who have a capacity for violence and a deep love for their fellow citizens. I don’t know if there are only 3 types of people in the world, but I am exceedingly grateful for that courageous sheepdog in Idaho. (1 Pet. 4:10)
5. Sen. Bernie Moreno says Rep. Max Miller is ‘a danger,’ shouldn’t be in Congress (WaPo)
“Sen. Bernie Moreno (R-Ohio) said Sunday that his former son-in-law, Rep. Max Miller (R-Ohio), is “a danger” and should not serve in Congress in the wake of his daughter Emily Moreno’s domestic abuse allegations against Miller. Emily Moreno has accused the congressman of abusing her, including throwing hot water on her and holding a gun to her head. She has also accused him of harming their 2-year-old daughter.
“Sen. Moreno’s comments came about 90 minutes after Miller, in a lengthy live-streamed video, denied the allegations of domestic abuse and said he would not drop his reelection bid. In a post on X, Moreno described the congressman’s behavior as erratic and said he feared for his family’s safety. “He is a danger to my daughter, and I hold my breath every minute he has custody of my granddaughter,” Moreno wrote. “If there are any basic standards of character required to hold elected office, Max Miller fails them. He should not serve in the House of Representatives.”
Only a virtuous people, according to Ben Franklin, are capable of freedom. In this land of the free, James Madison said it was a chimerical (imaginary) idea to believe that a government can secure freedom without public virtue. Essentially, if you can’t control yourself, how can you expect to establish rules to contain others? Today, a record-high 56 percent of Americans rate moral values in the US as “poor,” and 80 percent say moral values are “getting worse,” up 14 points.
2 wrongs don’t make a right…but it does make it easier to propagate wrong. Psychologist Albert Bandura defined this as moral disengagement, describing how individuals and groups rationalize questionable behavior to bypass their own ethical standards. It's the mental process that allows people to do questionable things without feeling guilty. In this moment, partisanship often precedes moral disengagement.
A need for Amos... A shepherd from Judah, Amos was sent to the northern kingdom of Israel during a time of prosperity and strength. On the surface, everything seemed great. However, corruption lingered under it all. Instead of just enjoying the good times, Amos called for his friends to be better all the time. Calling out the opposition is expected; calling out your own side requires courage, believing that the arrows from a friend are greater than the kisses from an enemy. (Pro. 27:6).
4. DOJ moves to dismiss Reflecting Pool vandalism charges against David Hearn, says damage due to "botched installation" (CBS News)
“Federal prosecutors on Friday asked a judge to dismiss an indictment charging former U.S. Olympic canoeist David Hearn with ripping up the bottom of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, citing new information that the damage was caused by a "botched installation" by a contractor, not vandalism. The U.S. Attorney's Office in D.C. had charged Hearn with felony destruction of government property, accusing him of causing more than $1,000 in damage to the sealant that was recently installed at the bottom of the Reflecting Pool.
“On Friday, prosecutors cited new information that the damage was caused by a "botched installation" by a contractor, not vandalism. President Trump criticized the decision on Saturday afternoon, saying on Truth Social that there "may have been some contractor difficulty, but the major damage was caused by VANDALS!"
Why is it so hard to admit when you’re wrong? A recent survey found that a majority of Americans don’t like to admit when they are wrong for a combination of 3 reasons: they hate to feel and look weak; they have deep-seated insecurities; they have an extreme need for approval from others.
Having a willingness to admit when you’re wrong is known as intellectual humility. A study out of Brigham Young University found that such humility consists of having 2 sets of skills: social and growth. Relative to social, someone who has this humility has a commitment to sincerity, honesty, and thoughtfulness. Concerning growth, this person is open, curious, and self-aware. Essentially, this person not only wants to seek after the truth but to be truthful with others. Studies have shown that people who admit to being wrong are considered more competent and likable than those who refuse to do so.
Whether it is classified emails or this incident, something is wrong because it transgresses a line – regardless of which side of aisle crosses the line. Mistakes are inevitable; confession is biblical. David made a few mistakes during his life, but those mistakes made David into a man after God’s own heart. Adam Grant put it well: “Saying "I was wrong" isn't an admission of incompetence. It's a sign that you have the humility to recognize your mistakes and the integrity to learn from them. The faster you acknowledge when you’re wrong, the faster you can move toward being right.” (2 Sam. 11, Ps. 51, 53)
Cultural News
3. Singles want AI help — not AI partners (Axios)
“Singles see AI as a dating tool, not a dating prospect, according to new Match Group data. Match Group — the owner of Tinder, Hinge, Match.com, OkCupid and others — surveyed approximately 1,000 U.S. singles ages 18 to 39 about AI, dating and relationships. 74% say they use ChatGPT and roughly 64% say AI helps create a stronger dating profile, make conversation and plan dates. But nearly half of those surveyed view AI negatively in the context of romantic relationships. Two in five say they would refuse to date someone who uses an AI companion app. Among women ages 18 to 24, that rises to 51%.”
Elvis Can’t Help Falling In Love but it looks like some want digital help to find love… In 2023 (the most recent data), there were roughly 111 million single adults ages 18 and up in the US. In 1990, that number was 70 million. In December 2025, the Census Bureau reported that 47 percent of US households were married couples, a significant drop from 50 years earlier, when it found that 66 percent of households fit that description.
We are in a dating recession, according to some. There are a variety of factors that account for this, but one is the aversion to love risk. However, in her book The Up Side of Down, Megan McArdle highlights how some of the greatest joys in life are often accompanied by risks in life. “There is a famous story of a rich old man being interviewed by a young striver, who asks him for the secret of his success. “Good judgment,” says the magnate. His eager young follower dutifully scribbles this down, then looks at him expectantly. “And how do you get good judgment?” “Experience!” says our terse tycoon. “And how do you get experience?” “Bad judgment!”
The Bible describes how the marriage relationship is a mystery. And like any good mystery, the clues are both enticing and enthralling – but they always require searching, which increasingly looks like AI support in this moment. However, discovering the answer to those lovely questions will be one of the most rewarding pursuits in life. (Eph. 5:22-31, Pro. 18:22).
News You Can Use
2. John Lennox has spent decades defending the Christian faith as a mathematician and philosopher. But I’m not sure he’s ever said anything more beautiful than this.
Watch it here. “I am hard pressed between the two. My desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better.” (Phil. 1:23)
1. After a stranger gifts a boy with autism a piano, he dazzles the world: "He's Mozart level"
Watch it here. “Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them…” (Rom. 12:6)
