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. Judge ordered 5-year-old released, but data shows ICE is detaining more kids (WaPo)
“The 5-year-old boy, in a blue knit bunny hat and Spider-Man backpack, was returning from preschool when immigration officers detained him late last month in Minneapolis. A few days later, officers there took custody of a 2-year-old girl after breaking her family’s car window. Liam Conejo Ramos and Chloe Renata Tipan Villacis, along with their fathers, were flown to a family immigration detention center in Dilley, Texas, an hour south of San Antonio, where detainees face long lines for basic supplies and inadequate medical care, according to people who have been housed there. They are among an escalating number of children swept up in the Trump administration’s enforcement dragnet, which has drawn mounting public outrage over its aggressive tactics and increasingly indiscriminate ramifications.
“The U.S. government does not provide direct information about children in immigration custody. But an independent analysis by the Marshall Project, a nonprofit news organization, concluded that at least 3,800 people under 18, including 20 infants, were detained in 2025."
Detained by ICE or abandoned by their parents? Are we in a propaganda war? Pastor/podcaster Josh Howerton thinks so, providing multiple examples of how ICE is being misportrayed in the media. From the picture of the 5-year-old boy to countless other examples from across the US, Howerton does not “think people realize the degree to which you are in a propaganda war right now with ICE.” He goes on: “The Democratic Party is dependent upon the immigrant-to-voter pipeline to win elections, progressives are trying VERY hard to "BLM" ICE right now.”
His examples are compelling; his working theory less so… especially lately. Holistically, naturalized citizens make up roughly 10 percent of the electorate. And David Shor has highlighted that Pres. Trump won immigrants in the 2024 election; in 2020, then Pres. Biden won immigrants by 27 points. In addition, CNN exit polls found that 46 percent of Hispanic voters cast their ballots for Trump, a 14 percent rightward shift from 2020.
A Wise King and 2 moms… When Solomon first became king, two moms, who lived in the same house, came to the wise King with a maternity dispute. To determine the true mother, the king said the baby should be cut in half. One woman agreed that it was fair; the true mom agreed to give up the child, wanting the best for him even if it meant the worst for her. I don’t think Solomon was going to cut the child, but he did reveal the truth. To a certain degree, children aside, this is less about ICE officials enforcing the law and more about some parents abandoning their children to flee from the law. Throughout history, parents have had to make tough decisions, with trade-offs on both sides. Some decisions are selfish; others are selfless; and every decision will be weighed. (1 Kings 3)
5. Massive trove of Epstein files released by DOJ, including 3 million documents and photos (CBS News)
“The Justice Department on Friday released additional documents from the Jeffrey Epstein files. CBS News has a team of journalists examining the latest Epstein files release and will highlight notable findings below. Some files include mentions of prominent figures, like President Trump, former President Bill Clinton and billionaire Elon Musk, who have not been tied to wrongdoing.
“Attorneys for alleged victims of late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein -- citing an “unfolding emergency” -- are urging two federal judges in New York to order the immediate takedown of the Justice Department’s Epstein files website on Sunday. The lawyers are contending widespread failures by the DOJ to redact names and identifying information of Epstein’s victims, according to a copy of a letter obtained Sunday by ABC News.
“As part of its required disclosure of the Epstein files, the federal government was tasked with redacting both sexually explicit imagery and information that could be used to identify victims. But in the process of reviewing more than three million pages uploaded to the Justice Department’s website on Friday, The New York Times came across nearly 40 unredacted images that appeared to be part of a personal photo collection, showing both exposed bodies and the faces of the people portrayed."
A conspiracy is less about a bad subject and more about a controlled society. The conspiracy theory was first defined by Karl Popper in 1948. In his lecture, Towards a Rational Theory of Tradition, Popper defined a conspiracy theory as “the view that an explanation of a social phenomenon consists in the discovery of the men or groups who are interested in the occurrence of this phenomenon (sometimes it is a hidden interest which has first to be revealed), and who have planned and conspired to bring it about.” In this instance, the conspiracy is less about the immorality of Epstein and more about the power of Epstein over influential figures.
In his book A Culture of Conspiracy, Michael Barkun identifies 3 core assumptions for every conspiracy: everything is connected, everything is premeditated, and nothing is as it seems. “The distinguishing thing about the paranoid style is not that its exponents see conspiracies or plots here or there in history, but they regard a ‘vast’ or ‘gigantic’ conspiracy as the motive force in historical events. History is a conspiracy, set in motion by demonic forces of almost transcendent power, and what is felt to be needed to defeat it is not the usual methods of political give-and-take, but an all-out crusade.”
Most conspiracies don’t go far enough? If Epstein was truly in control, I don’t think he would have been caught. But God is in control. And the more we learn about the evils of Epstein, the more I don’t understand why God allowed him to perpetuate such evil. But as Jerry Bridges wisely put it: “The sovereignty of God is often questioned because man does not understand what God is doing. Because He does not act as we think He should, we conclude He cannot act as we think He would… But confidence in the sovereignty of God in all that affects us is crucial to our trusting Him. If there is a single event in all of the universe that can occur outside of God’s sovereign control then we cannot trust Him. His love may be infinite, but if His power is limited and His purpose can be thwarted, we cannot trust Him.” (Luke 8, Ps. 119)
4. Former CNN journalist Don Lemon arrested in connection with Minnesota protest (ABC News)
“Former CNN journalist Don Lemon and three others have been arrested in connection with an incident in which anti-ICE protesters disrupted a service at a Minnesota church, according to officials. The charges they are facing are not yet clear.
“The incident unfolded on Jan. 18, when protesters entered Cities Church in St. Paul. The protesters said one of the pastors is the acting field director of the St. Paul ICE field office. Protesters were heard chanting "Justice for Renee Good" inside the church.
"The FACE Act contains no exception that would permit journalists or their producers to use or threaten force or physically obstruct worshippers who are lawfully exercising their First Amendment rights. ... Nor does Section 241 afford impunity to journalists or their producers to conspire to violate those worshippers’ rights. The complaint’s detailed allegations speak for themselves on each agitator’s role in the incident for which they are charged."
What constitutes a journalist? In their classic book The Elements of Journalism, Bill Kovach and Tom Rosenstiel outline 10 elements and principles of good journalism. They write that “reality is that which, when you don’t believe it, doesn’t go away.” A few of the elements include an obligation to the truth, loyalty to citizens, and maintaining independence from those they cover. “The press was to serve the governed, not the governors.”
Destiny’s Child was Independent, Don Lemon less so. Videos have emerged that suggest he conspired with these protestors before raiding the service. After the service, he shared his opinions on these Christians, calling them “entitled” and accusing them of white supremacy. “I think people who are in religious groups like that — it’s not the type of Christianity that I practice — but I think they’re entitled, and that entitlement comes from white supremacy.” Watch it here.
I’m not persuaded Lemon was acting as a journalist, but I am convinced you reap what you sow. Consider Jacob. Early in his life, he deceived his father, Isaac, by dressing in his brother’s clothes to steal the birthright blessing. Fast forward, Jacob was deceived by his uncle Laban, who tricked him into marrying his older daughter. In this instance, Lemon was free to go into the church, but it doesn’t appear he was free from the consequences of doing so. (Gen 27, 29, Gal. 6)
Cultural News
3. Remembering Catherine O’Hara, brilliant star of ‘Home Alone’ and ‘Schitt’s Creek’ (CNN)
“Catherine O’Hara, the radiant actress whose singular comedic delivery helped elevate movies and TV shows like “Beetlejuice,” “Home Alone” and “Schitt’s Creek” to cult classic status, has died. She was 71. A statement from CAA, the agency that represented O’Hara, said the actress died Friday “at her home in Los Angeles following a brief illness.”
“O’Hara got her start at Second City in her native Canada, before turning to film, where she brought to life two of cinema’s most memorable mothers. In 1988’s “Beetlejuice,” she played Delia Deetz, a devilish mom who turned lip syncing into an art form. In 1990’s “Home Alone,” O’Hara turned a one-word movie line (“KEVIN!”) into pop culture history. As a frazzled mom of five who left one of her brood (Macaulay Culkin) at home during their holiday trip to France, O’Hara brought heart and humor to the now classic Christmas movie. A sequel was released in 1992.”
She was flustered as Kate McCallister in Home Alone, in denial as Moira in Schitt’s Creek, and captivated by Prince Valium in Beetlejuice. Adults laugh on average 18 times a day, children laugh about 300 times a day, but if you watch Best in Show, you will double your daily laughter totals due to Gerry and Cookie Fleck.
We laugh at jokes, but we really bond over jokes. In his book The Second Mountain, David Brooks notes that only 15 percent of laughter occurs due to something being funny. Laughter, according to Brooks, is the “reward of shared understanding.” It is the “language people use to bond.”
She didn’t always play the best mom on the big screen, but she wanted to be a memorable one for her kids. Over the weekend, a video went viral when someone asked what role she most wanted to be remembered for. Her response: “The mother to my children.” Her sense of humor made the world a better place, and now she joins the creator of the world in a place he prepared for her. (2 Cor. 5)
News You Can Use
2. Ai recreates the first 10 US presidents..
Watch it here. “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” (Rom. 12:1-2)
1. Pepsi has released their Super Bowl ad that restarts the soda wars by stealing Coca Cola’s iconic polar bear mascot.
Watch it here. “Taste and see that the Lord is good.” (Ps. 34:8)
