The Daily Brief:
Wednesday, June 28, 2017
Senate Republicans will head into the July 4 recess without having repealed ObamaCare after deciding on Tuesday to delay the legislation when it became clear it lacked the votes for passage. The decision sets up a situation Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) had long sought to avoid: a recess where his members will take hits over the healthcare fight and a July that might now be taken up by the healthcare debate.
The GOP leader put on a brave face after an emergency meeting at the White House with President Trump and his conference, telling reporters that his members just needed a little bit more time. "We made good progress," he told reporters after the roughly hourlong meeting in the East Room.
"Everyone around the table is interested in getting to yes - is interested in getting an outcome," he said. "Because we know the status quo is simply unacceptable, unsustainable and no action is just not an option." (Read more)
- Father, we pray for the passage of a truly good bill for the American people. We also pray You will restrain the enemy and expose lies regarding this bill, Republicans in Congress and President Trump.
- Truthful words stand the test of time, but lies are soon exposed. (Proverbs 12:19)
2. Three CNN Employees Resign Over Retracted Story on Russia Ties - The Wrap
Three CNN employees have handed in their resignations over a retracted story linking President Trump to Russia, the network announced Monday. The article was removed from CNN.com on Friday after the network decided it could no longer stand by its reporting.
"In the aftermath of the retraction of a story published on CNN.com, CNN has accepted the resignation of the employees involved in the story's publication," a network spokesperson told TheWrap in a statement.
On Thursday, CNN investigative reporter Thomas Frank published a story involving an investigation into a Russian investment fund with possible ties to several Trump associates. According to the network, an internal investigation found that "some standard editorial processes were not followed when the article was published."
Citing a single unnamed source, the story reported that Congress was investigating a "Russian investment fund with ties to Trump officials." (Read more)
- Father, we are grateful for this very public humiliation of CNN. We pray for organizational reform at CNN so that they will produce accurate content and return to standards of ethics and good journalism.
- Don't repay evil for evil. Don't retaliate with insults when people insult you. Instead, pay them back with a blessing. That is what God has called you to do, and he will grant you his blessing. (1 Peter 3:9)
3. Fed-up media launch assault on 'lying' media - WND
Days after James Hodgkinson unveiled his homicidal intentions against conservatives with a gun attack on Republican members of Congress who were practicing for a congressional baseball game, conservative journalists rallied in front of the White House to demand an end to attacks on and assaults against Trump supporters.
They are making the demands not just of those who are violent, or potentially violent, but of the mainstream media, the Democratic Party and the party's liberal supporters.
Jack Posobiec, journalist and author of "Citizens for Trump," told WND he organized the rally "because it is time to stand for peace. It's time for Trump supporters, people on the right wing, people on the left wing, people in the center, people who are independents, moderates, Republicans - we should all be able to stand up for peace," he said. "There is too much violent rhetoric, and it is time, finally, for us to say, 'Enough with the violence, enough with the violent rhetoric - we need peace and we need it now.'" (Read more)
- Father, we pray the Republican Party leadership will energetically support President Trump and his agenda. May they realize the opportunity they have to implement the will of the people and act upon it quickly.
- Do not delay me, since the Lord has prospered my way. (Genesis 24:56, excerpt)
4. Did the FBI retaliate against Michael Flynn by launching Russia probe? - Circa
Secret memos show Trump adviser roiled bureau by intervening in agent's discrimination case before he was targeted in Russia case.
The FBI launched a criminal probe against former Trump National Security Adviser Michael Flynn two years after the retired Army general roiled the bureau's leadership by intervening on behalf of a decorated counterterrorism agent who accused now-Deputy FBI Director Andrew McCabe and other top officials of sexual discrimination, according to documents and interviews.
Flynn's intervention on behalf of Supervisory Special Agent Robyn Gritz was highly unusual, and included a letter in 2014 on his official Pentagon stationary, a public interview in 2015 supporting Gritz's case and an offer to testify on her behalf. His offer put him as a hostile witness in a case against McCabe, who was soaring through the bureau's leadership ranks. (Read more)
- Father, we pray You would continue to expose every abuse of power within our government. We pray each person will be held fully accountable so that we will be worthy of Your blessing upon our nation.
- Remove wicked officials from the king's presence, and his throne will be established through righteousness. (Proverbs 25:5)
5. Hoyer Agrees: Obama Administration Made 'Very Serious Mistake' in Not Revealing Russian Interference Earlier in 2016 - CNS News
In a press briefing on Tuesday, House Minority Whip Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) said he agreed with his colleague Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) that the Obama administration made a "very serious mistake" in not telling the American people about Russia's interference in the 2016 presidential election until after that election.
At the briefing on Capitol Hill, CNSNews.com asked Rep. Hoyer, "Congressman Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) said on CNN on Sunday that the Obama administration learned of Russian interference in the election in August 2016 but didn't reveal it until after the election and this 'was a very serious mistake.' Do you agree with Rep. Schiff?" Hoyer said, "I agree with Schiff." (Read more)
- Father, we pray even former President Obama will be held accountable for his actions and inactions, as both a public and private citizen.
- Tell these whitewashers that their wall will soon fall down. A heavy rainstorm will undermine it; great hailstones and mighty winds will knock it down. (Ezekiel 13:11)
6. President Trump Officially Nominates Christopher Wray as New FBI Director - BCN
President Donald Trump submitted his nomination for a new FBI director to the Senate. The White House made the official announcement Monday evening. If confirmed, Christopher A. Wray will replace James Comey, whom Trump fired in May.
Wray serves as a criminal defense attorney and used to lead the Justice Department's criminal division under former President George W. Bush. He graduated from Yale and recently served as the attorney for New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, who served on Trump's transition team.
Trump posted his own announcement on Twitter, calling Wray a "man of impeccable credentials." The president also said Wray would "again serve his country as a fierce guardian of the law and model of integrity once the Senate confirms him to lead the FBI."
Wray released a statement regarding his nomination. "I am honored and humbled to be nominated by the president to lead the FBI, the premier law enforcement organization in the world," he said. (Read more)
- Father, we pray the confirmation hearings for Christopher Wray will be quick and fair. May his verbal commitment to protect our country and uphold our Constitution and laws be made a reality through his actions.
- May integrity and honesty protect me, for I put my hope in you. (Psalm 25:21)
7. DHS John Kelly Defunds, Disinvites Islamic Groups Favored By Barack Obama - Breitbart
Administration officials have eliminated 2016 plans to fund Islamic groups allied to former President Barack Obama, and declined to schedule a 2017 Islamic 'Iftar' dinner where those groups were able to show their political influence to the ambassadors of wealthy Islamic countries.
The turnaround was made public on Friday when the Department of Homeland Security announced a revised list of the organizations which are getting DHS funds to help revent young Muslims from becoming jihadis. The new list replaced an Obama list announced January 13, 2017, and it dropped a $800,000 grant for an Islamic seminary in Los Angeles, and a $393,000 grant for a linked organization, the Muslim Public Affairs Council Foundation.
The foundation is a spin-off of the D.C.-based Muslim Public Affairs Council, whose leaders were frequent advisors to Obama and his deputies, where they lobbied for a national strategy of letting semi-segregated Islamic political communities and groups - but not the FBI - play the leading role in combating Islamic terrorism. (Read more)
- Praise You, Lord! We pray this new approach will hold the Muslim community more accountable while moving forward with effective counter-terrorism strategies.
- Remember how the enemy has mocked you, Lord, how foolish people have reviled your name. (Psalm 74:18)
8. Cyber attack sweeps globe, researchers see 'WannaCry' link - Reuters
A major global cyber attack on Tuesday disrupted computers at Russia's biggest oil company, Ukrainian banks and multinational firms with a virus similar to the ransomware that last month infected more than 300,000 computers.
The rapidly spreading cyber extortion campaign underscored growing concerns that businesses have failed to secure their networks from increasingly aggressive hackers, who have shown they are capable of shutting down critical infrastructure and crippling corporate and government networks.
It included code known as "Eternal Blue," which cyber security experts widely believe was stolen from the U.S. National Security Agency (NSA) and was also used in last month's ransomware attack, named "WannaCry." (Read more)
- Father, as this crisis continues, we pray You would give the software companies insight and solutions to protect consumers and companies.
- To you, Lord, I call; you are my Rock, do not turn a deaf ear to me. For if you remain silent, I will be like those who go down to the pit. (Psalm 28:1)
9. The Next SCOTUS Term Looks Like A Blockbuster - Daily Caller
The Supreme Court has set a loaded, controversial docket for its next term, electing to review high-profile immigration, gerrymandering, Fourth Amendment, and LGBT cases for its 2017 sitting.
The high court has spent much of the last year and a half sidestepping antagonism and working towards consensus, after the unexpected death of Justice Antonin Scalia left the tribunal with just eight members. But the (relatively) quiet term the justices have just completed will be succeeded by a blockbuster year. (Read more)
- Father, we lift up our Supreme Court and each Justice to You. We pray for each of them to humble themselves before You, as the Supreme Judge of All, with a desire to honor You as they render their decisions. - " . . . they shall judge the people with righteous judgment." (Deuteronomy 16:18b)
10. Illinois law requires pro-life doctors to discuss 'benefits' of abortion - LifeSite News
I have predicted that "medical conscience" will become a huge social controversy in the next decade, as culture of death proponents seek to force pro-life and Hippocratic Oath-believing doctors out of medicine by compelling them to be complicit in life-taking acts such as abortion and assisted suicide.
I just learned that a law enacted last year in Illinois compels doctors to counsel patients about the "benefits" of all legal medical procedures - the prime target is pro-life doctors about abortion, but it is not limited to that - and if unwilling to do the deed, to become complicity by helping patient find a doctor who will.
(Read more)
- Father, we lift up Your people - those who love You and desire to serve You whatever their profession. We pray against coercive laws that seek to drive them from the marketplace or compromise their beliefs.
- Above all, fear the Lord and worship Him faithfully with all your heart; consider the great things He has done for you. (1 Samuel 12:24)
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