The Daily Brief:
Thursday, July 13, 2017 Short Form
House Majority Whip Steve Scalise has been moved out of the Intensive Care Unit at Med Star Washington hospital, reports ABC News. Scalise, a Republican congressman from Louisiana, has been battling severe injuries from being shot in the hip at a GOP congressional baseball practice on June 14. The bullet caused multiple fractures and severe bleeding. In late June, Scalise was moved out of the ICU and his condition was upgraded to "fair." However, an infection caused his condition to regress back to "serious," and he was subsequently moved back to the ICU for surgery.
The ABC News report shows that he has now been moved back out of the ICU. His condition remains "serious," and he is still being treated for the infection. Doctors who are treating Scalise have said that they expect him to be able to walk again but he will have to endure "an extended period of healing and rehabilitation." (Read more)
- Father, we pray for the complete, miraculous healing of Representative Scalise and for his family to experience Your peace as they continue to be lifted up in prayer. We pray as he recovers, he will continue to do great exploits for Your Kingdom.
- ". . . the people who know their God shall be strong, and carry out great exploits." (Daniel 11:32b)
2. Top Lawmaker Demands Investigation into Comey, Former Obama Officials for Leaks of Classified Intel - Washington Free Beacon
The chairman of the House National Security Subcommittee is calling on the Department of Justice to launch a formal investigation into former FBI Director James Comey's alleged leak of classified information, according to an exclusive interview with the Washington Free Beacon in which the lawmaker also called on the Trump administration to purge all former Obama administration holdovers from government.
Rep. Ron DeSantis (R., Fla.), a member of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform and chair of its National Security subcommittee, is urging Attorney General Jeff Sessions to launch a full scale investigation into Comey's handling of a series of potentially classified memos that were leaked to the press earlier this year.
Comey admitted in testimony before Congress that he leaked these memos in order to spur an investigation into the Trump administration's alleged collusion with Russia during the 2016 campaign. Reports alleging these memos contained classified information has riled congressional Republicans and spurred new calls for an investigation into Comey. DeSantis also called on the Trump administration to purge all former Obama administration officials still working in the government, claiming that the holdovers and their allies outside the White House are responsible for an unprecedented series of national security leaks aimed at damaging the Trump administration's national security apparatus. (Read more)
- Father, we pray President Trump will successfully remove all disloyal public servants throughout our government. We pray Your Word will go before him, enabling him to defeat his enemies.
- You who are his angels, praise the Lord. You are the mighty warriors who do what he says and who obey his voice. (Psalm 103:20)
3. House Lawmakers Take Action in NDAA Markups to Fight Human Trafficking - Washington Free Beacon
Republican and Democratic lawmakers are moving forward to adopt measures aimed at fighting human trafficking into the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). House Speaker Paul Ryan (R, Wis.) commented at a press briefing Wednesday on the importance of the measure, and of the NDAA as a whole, in ensuring U.S. Armed Services have the resources they need to defeat terror around the world.
"It's not the kind of work that attracts most of the attention around here, but we think this work is vital and so we continue to work on our agenda," Ryan said on Wednesday. "We want law enforcement to have every possible resource at their disposal to fight this growing problem," Ryan said. "That means protecting victims who really are and should be the focus of this work, and it also means going after the perpetrators to the fullest extent." (Read more)
- Father, we pray for the restoration of these lives which the enemy has tried to destroy, both the victims and the perpetrators. Help our law enforcement and the "eyes on the street" identify and rescue these precious people.
- Yes, I will certainly keep you safe from these wicked men. I will rescue you from their cruel hands. (Jeremiah 15:21)
4. Trump to nominate Quarles to be Fed's top banking regulator - Reuters
U.S. President Donald Trump plans to nominate former Treasury official Randal Quarles to be the Federal Reserve's top banking regulator, the White House said on Monday. If confirmed by the Senate, Quarles would be the first vice chair of supervision at the Fed, a role created after the 2008 financial crisis but never filled during the Obama administration.
Quarles is viewed as an industry-friendly figure who will likely listen to banks that have complained about the impact of regulations implemented since the financial meltdown. His nomination has been widely expected since April.
Former Fed Governor Daniel Tarullo effectively ran banking supervision until he stepped down in February, overseeing a strict implementation of the 2010 Dodd-Frank Wall Street reform law and administering rigorous "stress tests" annually to banks on how prepared they are to withstand unexpected shocks.
Quarles currently runs a private investment firm that he founded, the Cynosure Group, from Salt Lake City, Utah. He was previously a partner at private equity firm the Carlyle Group. He was also undersecretary for domestic finance at the Treasury under President George W. Bush and was the U.S. executive director of the International Monetary Fund. (Read more)
- Father, we lift up Randal Quarles and all the other nominees who are awaiting approval. We pray for these approvals to happen quickly and for our government to work properly.
- They were all select men-mighty warriors and outstanding leaders. (1 Chronicles 7:40, excerpt)
5. Soros's Son Continues Generous Donations to Dems with Maxed Out DNC Contribution - Washington Free Beacon
Alexander Soros, son of liberal billionaire George Soros and the managing partner of Soros Brothers Investments, gave $33,900 to the Democratic National Committee, according to Federal Election Commission records. The $33,900 donation from Alexander Soros to the DNC, the maximum amount that can be given to a national party in a calendar year, was made on April 28, records show.
Alex also provided a $2,700 contribution to Friends of Maria, the campaign committee of Democratic Sen. Maria Cantwell (Wash.), and $1,000 to Ossoff for Congress, the campaign committee of failed Georgia Democratic candidate John Ossoff this year.
Alex has outpaced his father in political giving to Democratic campaign committees so far this cycle. George Soros provided a $2,700 donation to Sen. Cantwell's campaign and a $1,000 contribution to John Ossoff, filings show. Alexander, who has posted pictures of himself on social media day-drinking with Democratic leadership, including Sen. Chuck Schumer (D., N.Y), has quietly stepped up as a major donor to liberal campaigns and causes in recent years.
Throughout the 2016 election cycle, Alex increased his donations to Democrats by millions of dollars, the Washington Free Beacon previously reported. (Read more)
- Father, You have allowed the Soros family to accumulate wealth and influence. We pray they would have a transformative experience with Your Holy Spirit and begin to use their wealth and influence to build Your Kingdom.
- "Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is-his good, pleasing and perfect will." (Romans 12:2)
6. Reversed Trend: Christian Refugees Outnumber Muslims Under Trump Administration - CBN News
More Christian refugees than Muslim entered the United States in the first five months of the Trump administration, according to a new Pew Research Center report. That reverses the trend under the Obama administration when, during his final fiscal year in office, more Muslim refugees entered the country.
The U.S. took in more than 9,500 Christian refugees from January 21 through June 30; more than 7,200 Muslim refugees gained access during that time. Pew Research released the report Wednesday, showing that in this period, 50 percent of all refugees were Christians; 38 percent were Muslims. Around 11 percent were a part of other religions, and one percent said they did not belong to any religion. (Read more)
- Father, we pray for You to select each person who comes into this nation, for Your purposes and Your glory. We pray those who do not know You will come to a saving knowledge of Christ through Your Church in our nation.
- For the Son of Man came to seek and save those who are lost. (Luke 19:10)
7. House Committee Says 'Sex' and 'Gender' Are Not Fluid - CBN News
Lawmakers on Capitol Hill are making it plain that the meaning of "sex" and "gender" is not as fluid as the LGBT community would like you to think. The House Committee on the Judiciary introduced legislation that would prohibit "sex" and "gender" from being interpreted as "gender identity" when it comes to civil rights laws.
The Civil Rights Uniformity Act affirms that when Congress passed civil rights laws, the purpose was to protect against discrimination when it comes to a person's biological sex, rather than their "self-professed" gender identity. According to the Liberty Counsel's website, the bill will provide an objective standard to administrators, lawmakers, and judges who are enforcing civil rights statutes.
"The Civil Rights Uniformity Act would ensure that policies which affect the privacy and safety of women and girls are no longer reshaped to meet the demands of the special LGBT rights agenda," said Mat Staver, Chairman of Liberty Counsel Action. (Read more)
- Father, we pray the Civil Rights Uniformity Act will receive quick approval in Congress and be signed by President Trump. We pray for an end to the enemy's tactic of sexually confusing our people and robbing them of their identity in You.
- God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. (Genesis 1:27)
8. Moscow steps up war of words in diplomatic row with U.S. - Reuters
Moscow on Tuesday toughened its rhetoric in its row with Washington, saying it was considering ways to retaliate for the seizure of some of its diplomatic premises in the United States and expulsions of diplomats.
"The situation is outrageous," Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov told Russian media during a visit to Austria on Tuesday. "I believe that for such a great country like the United States of America, this advocate of international law, it's just shameful to leave the situation in mid-air," he said in comments posted on his ministry's website. "We are now thinking of specific steps."
At a news conference later in Brussels with the EU's top diplomat Federica Mogherini, Lavrov spoke of "retaliatory measures" but declined to answer when asked if that meant that Russia would expel U.S. diplomats or seize diplomatic property. He called on Washington to heed Moscow's demands for a return of diplomatic assets. "If this does not happen, if we see that this step is not seen as essential in Washington, then of course we will take retaliatory measures. (Read more)
- Father, we pray President Trump and the State Department will successfully resolve the diplomatic issues with Russia.
- If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men. (Romans 12:18)
9. A month into the Qatar crisis, the sides are at an impasse - Jerusalem Post
The Saudi-led bloc hedged its bets by not invading on the first day of the crises, now they don't know what to do next to rein in the neighbor they accuse of supporting terrorism. US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson is on a mission to end the Qatar crisis. On Monday, he flew to Kuwait at the invitation of the emir to discuss "ongoing efforts to resolve the Gulf dispute," according to the State Department. It is part of a multi-day trip to Qatar and Saudi Arabia.
Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain, Yemen, Maldives and Egypt cut ties with Qatar on June 5 and 6. The unprecedented decision by three of Qatar's five Gulf Cooperation Council partners (Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Bahrain) to cut ties went beyond withdrawing ambassadors. Qataris were expelled, and the land border and airspace closed.
Turkey has stepped in militarily to defend Qatar, sending a battalion of troops that could eventually number up to 1,000 men to protect the small country from invasion by its much more powerful Saudi neighbor. The US has expressed two views.
The Saudis and the UAE were following President Donald Trump's call to "drive out" terrorism, including Hezbollah and Hamas, when they chose to isolate Qatar after May's US presidential visit. But the US State Department and Defense Department, the latter of which maintains a massive base in Qatar, have urged a resolution to the crises. Kuwait has emerged as a conduit for negotiations. European states have also urged a resolution to the crises, with the German foreign minister Sigmar Gabriel even warning that war could break out. (Read more)
- Father, thank You for exposing the funding of terrorist organizations and duplicity of Qatar. We pray the Emir, Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, would choose to comply with the demands of Saudi Arabia and her allies.
- Take no part in the worthless deeds of evil and darkness; instead, expose them. (Ephesians 5:11)
10. Great Ormond Street bombarded with negative reviews over Charlie Gard case - The Independent UK
Some have accused the doctors of being 'murderers' and say the UK has 'lost three centuries of history and civilisation'
The London hospital treating Charlie Gard has been attacked by trolls angry about his treatment using Google reviews.
The High Court is due to hear fresh evidence on Thursday about experimental treatment in the US that the 11-month-old's parents want him to have.
. . . trolls, angry that the hospital has been granted the power to withdraw life support without Charlie's parents consent, have vented their rage on Google reviews where they claim the doctors' are "murderers".
One wrote: "CENSORSHIP ALERT! People's Google reviews of this hospital are being deleted! (Read more)
- Father God, we pray that the parents of this little baby will be granted permission in court today to travel to the U.S., and that this long ordeal will be over. In Your Name, amen.
- "Behold, I am the Lord, the God of all flesh; is anything too difficult for Me?" (Jeremiah 32:27)
11. France Ready To Show President Trump Why Paris Is 'Toujours Paris' - Forbes
President Emmanuel Macron is determined to provide his American counterpart, President Donald Trump, a welcome that will leave no doubt why "Paris is still Paris," despite the tragic terrorist attacks the city has suffered in recent years.
The U.S. president will arrive at Orly Airport in the French capital on the morning of July 13th to be a guest of honor at the country's Bastille Day celebration, a national holiday commemorating the storming of the Bastille prison in 1789, a turning point in the French Revolution, and that features a traditional military parade down the Champs-Elysées.
This will be Trump's first visit to France since he was elected president. He and Macron met for the first time in May in Brussels when their notorious "white-knuckle handshake" made global news.
According to the program on Thursday, Trump will visit the American Military Cemetery in Suresnes, west of Paris, to pay homage to the U.S. soldiers killed on French territory during the war. He will lay a wreath at the nearby memorial de L'Escadrille La Fayette honoring the American pilots who fought in that war.
At 3:45 p.m., Macron will receive Trump at the Elysée Palace for talks that will include, according to the agenda, the international fight against terrorism, global trade and the environment. A press conference is to follow. (Read more)
- Father God, we pray for the safety of President Trump and our First Lady as he travels to France to celebrate their Bastille Day. We pray there will be a softening of relations between our two countries as a result. Amen.
- "For He will give His angels charge concerning you, To guard you in all your ways." (Psalm 91:11)
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