The Daily Brief: Wednesday, September 27, 2017

The Daily Brief: Wednesday, September 27, 2017 (Short Form)

1. North Korea Moving Weapons Into Position To Actually Shoot Down A US Aircraft - Daily Caller

North Korea has reportedly been boosting its defenses along its east coast in response to U.S. bomber flights near the rogue regime. After U.S. Air Force B-1B Lancers, powerful conventional bombers, flew past North Korea Saturday, South Korea's National Intelligence Agency saw the Korean People's Army moving warplanes and coastal defense units into position in the eastern part of the country.

"Since the U.S. declared war on our country, we will have every right to make countermeasures, including the right to shoot down the United States' strategic bombers, even when they are not yet inside the airspace border of our country," North Korean Foreign Minister Ri Yong-ho said Monday.

While North Korea asserts that President Donald Trump's speech at the United Nations was a declaration of war, the White House claims that the regime's thoughts on this issue are absurd, adding that the Trump administration has not declared war on North Korea. It is unclear if North Korea would or even could shoot down a modern U.S. aircraft, although it should be noted that North Korea has shot down U.S. military aircraft in the past. (Read more)
- Father, we pray for a de-escalation of tensions with North Korea and for President Trump and his advisors to have great wisdom.

- Wisdom and money can protect you. But knowledge gained through wisdom is even better-it can save your life. (Ecclesiastes 7:12)

2. U.S. hits North Korean banks with sanctions - Washington Times

The Trump administration slapped sanctions Tuesday on eight North Korean banks and 26 of their bank workers living abroad, part of the continuing response to Pyongyang's illicit nuclear weapons and missile programs. President Trump said at a news conference that the sanctions will further "isolate the North Korean menace."

The Treasury Department announced it was freezing the assets in U.S. jurisdiction of the entities and individuals with ties to North Korea's financial networks."We are targeting North Korean banks and financial facilitators acting as representatives for North Korean banks across the globe," said Treasury Secretary Steven T. Mnuchin. "This further advances our strategy to fully isolate North Korea in order to achieve our broader objectives of a peaceful and denuclearized Korean peninsula. This action is also consistent with U.N. Security Council resolutions." (Read more)
- Lord God, we ask that these new sanctions will have the intended effect on the leadership of the nation of North Korea. In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, we command the spirit of insanity that is in the mind of Kim Jong Un to be bound, and the spirit of a sound mind to be loosed. We ask that You set this captive, and his nation free, to know You and to worship You in Spirit and in Truth, amen.

- "Assuredly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven." (Matthew 18:18)

3. As North Korea threatens electromagnetic pulse attack, questions over lapses in US grid security rise - Fox News

For more than 15 years, security and intelligence officials - including former CIA Director James Woolsey - have been raising the alarm bells about the vulnerability of the U.S. power grid to an electromagnetic pulse (EMP) attack. Only now as tensions with North Korea quickly escalate - with the rogue nation refusing to back down from its nuclear testing and threats of such an onslaught - is the matter really generating attention.

But according to U.S. defense and security officials, while there are players purporting to protect the nation's critical infrastructure given millions of American lives on the line, the reality is that no one really knows what will happen and what can be done.

"We recognize that an EMP event would have extremely dire consequences for the entire country, but where the challenge comes is in attempting to quantify those impacts," one high-ranking Department of Homeland Security official, who requested anonymity, told Fox News. "This is not something we have had a lot of real world experience with." (Read more)
- Father, we know our preparations are useless without Your help and protection. We pray for Your mercy upon our land and our people.

- But the Lord is faithful, and He will strengthen and protect you from the evil one.
(2 Thessalonians 3:3)

4. McConnell Says Republicans Are Giving Up on Health Bill - NY Times

Senator Mitch McConnell on Tuesday officially pulled the plug on the latest plan to repeal the Affordable Care Act, telling senators they will not vote on the measure and effectively admitting defeat in the last-gasp drive to fulfill a core promise of President Trump and Republican lawmakers.

Mr. McConnell's announcement came less than 24 hours after a pivotal Republican senator, Susan Collins of Maine, declared firm opposition to the repeal proposal, all but ensuring that Republican leaders would be short of the votes they needed.

Senate Republicans already tried once this year to approve repeal legislation, an exercise that ended in defeat when Senator John McCain of Arizona gave a thumbs-down in July to kill that repeal proposal. (Read more)
- TO ALL OF YOU WHO HAVE BEEN PRAYING SO INTENSIVELY TO SEE THIS BILL PASSED:

We decree NO to this news!

Senator McConnell CAN yet change his mind, and this vote CAN be taken, and this bill CAN be passed, in Jesus' mighty name, amen!

- "But the LORD is with me like a dread champion; Therefore my persecutors will stumble and not prevail. They will be utterly ashamed, because they have failed, With an everlasting disgrace that will not be forgotten". (Jeremiah 20:11)

5. Sessions to declare free speech 'under attack' on campus, in broadside at political correctness - Fox News

Attorney General Jeff Sessions plans to declare freedom of speech is "under attack" at American colleges and universities, during an address Tuesday taking aim at political correctness run amok on campus.

Sessions plans to tackle the hot-button issue of free speech on campus at Georgetown University Law Center, following a series of clashes at Berkeley and beyond over conservative speakers.

"Freedom of thought and speech on the American campus are under attack," Sessions plans to say, according to excerpts obtained in advance by Fox News. "Whereas the American University was once the center of academic freedom - a place of robust debate, a forum for the competition of ideas - it is transforming into an echo chamber of political correctness and homogenous thought, a shelter for fragile egos." (Read more)
- Father God, we thank You that our Attorney General and the Department of Justice will now intervene on college campuses to ensure that all students are granted the right to speak freely, and safely. Praise You, Lord, amen.

- "Therefore the LORD longs to be gracious to you, And therefore He waits on high to have compassion on you. For the LORD is a God of justice; How blessed are all those who long for Him." (Isaiah 30:18)

6. Dems Are Looking To Work With GOP On Tax Reform - Daily Caller

Democrats in both the U.S. House and Senate are reaching across the aisle to work with President Donald Trump and Republican leadership to pass a tax reform bill. Three Democratic senators and at least eight House members are actively engaged in ongoing negotiations with Trump and members of his administration to accomplish the first major legislative achievement of the president's presidency.

Democratic Sens. Joe Manchin of West Virginia, Heidi Heitkamp of North Dakota and Joe Donnelly of Indiana dined with president at the White House on Sept. 12 to discuss how to reach a bipartisan solution to tax reform that would provide relief for the middle-class and bolster economic growth. Chairman of the Senate Finance Committee Sen. Orrin Hatch of Utah, along with committee members Sens. John Thune of South Dakota and Pat Toomey of Pennsylvania, all Republicans, also attended the dinner.

Trump is scheduled to meet with a bipartisan group of House Ways and Means Committee members Tuesday, which notably includes Democratic Reps. Richard Neal of Massachusetts, Lloyd Doggett of Texas, Brian Higgins of New York, Ron Kind of Wisconsin, John Larson of Connecticut, Linda Sanchez of California, Terri Sewell of Alabama and Mike Thompson of California. (Read more)
- Father, we pray the saying, "you can get a lot accomplished if you don't care who gets the credit" will be true for tax reform. Help our legislators work together for the benefit of the people.

- "All this is for your benefit, so that the grace that is reaching more and more people may cause thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God." (2 Corinthians 4:15)

7. New Poll Finds Bipartisan Consensus Among Voters on Need for Tax Reform - Washington Free Beacon

There is a bipartisan consensus among American voters that Congress should make passing a comprehensive tax reform bill that lowers taxes for the middle class a top priority, according to a poll released on Tuesday. The poll, conducted last week, found that three in four voters say tax reform should either be a top priority (43 percent) or an important priority (30 percent) for Congress. Only 10 percent said tax reform is "not too important" and a lesser 4 percent said tax reform "should not be done."

There appears to be a consensus among voters on what should be prioritized within the bill, with voters from both parties saying it is most important to them that the tax rate is lowered for the middle class. Forty-nine percent of Democrats and 46 percent of Republicans said lowering middle class taxes is most important.

One of the other top issues for voters, according to the poll, is creating a tax code that rewards businesses for prioritizing American workers. A majority of voters said it is very important that tax reform creates incentives for businesses to create jobs in America, manufacture products in America, and be headquartered in America. (Read more)
- Father, we pray for the political will and momentum to push tax reform over the finish line!

- It is better to finish something than to start it. It is better to be patient than to be proud. (Ecclesiastes 7:8)

8. 'Apocalyptic' devastation in Puerto Rico, and little help in sight - CNN

Hurricane Maria whipped Puerto Rico with Irma-level winds, drenched the island with Harvey-level flooding, crippled communications, decimated buildings and damaged a dam that puts downstream residents at risk of catastrophe.

But help has been slow to come to communities where the devastation is described as "apocalyptic," officials and residents argue.

Gov. Ricardo Rosselló said the island faces a humanitarian crisis. He urged Congress to approve a commensurate aid package as the US commonwealth, already hammered by a prolonged economic crisis, tries to get back on its feet.

The governor joined others in emphasizing that Puerto Ricans are American citizens.

"We need something tangible, a bill that actually answers to our need right now," he said. "Otherwise, there will be . . . a massive exodus to the (mainland) United States." (Read more)
- Father, our hearts go out to the millions of people who live on the island of Puerto Rico. They need a miracle, Lord . . . many miracles. We thank You that You are the God who makes the impossible, possible. In Your Name we pray, amen.

- And looking at them Jesus said to them, "With people this is impossible, but with God all things are possible." (Matthew 19:26)

9. FEMA has money to spend in Puerto Rico, but Congress will need to act soon - McClatchy DC

Hurricane Maria made landfall in Puerto Rico less than a week ago, but the Federal Emergency Management Administration has more relief funding available than it did after Hurricane Harvey. After Harvey hit the Houston area, Congress passed a $15.25 billion hurricane relief bill when President Donald Trump struck a deal with Democrats. FEMA was only a few days away from running out of money.

Nearly half of the hurricane relief package that passed in early September, $7.4 billion, is going to FEMA, allowing it to stay afloat while it responds to the crisis in Puerto Rico and cleanup in Florida after Hurricane Irma. A FEMA spokesperson told the Miami Herald that the agency has just over $5 billion in uncommitted disaster relief money as of Monday morning.

"Our focus is still continuing to be on the life-saving efforts and the immediate disaster response efforts which are still currently under way," said White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders. A Republican staffer with knowledge of the appropriations process said that federal funding for hurricane relief will be "fine until mid-October" and that Congress will likely vote on an additional funding bill in the next three weeks. (Read more)
- Father, we pray the people of Puerto Rico will receive the help they need and we pray they would turn their hearts and lives to You in their distress.

- For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall again into fear; rather, you received the Spirit of adoption, by whom we cry, "Abba! Father!" (Romans 8:15)

10. Trump to visit hurricane-ravaged Puerto Rico, says he is 'very proud' of 'amazing' response - ABC News

Shortly after announcing plans to visit Puerto Rico next week, President Donald Trump said Tuesday he is "very proud" of the response to the devastation left by Hurricane Maria on the island, claiming that relief efforts have been described as "amazing."

At a joint White House press conference with Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy, Trump described the challenges faced by the U.S. territory in the aftermath of the storm but touted the work being done to bring "water, food and supplies" to the island.

"Everybody has said, it's amazing the job we have done in Puerto Rico," said Trump. "We're very proud of it." (Read more}
- Lord God, we have now been hit by three ferocious storms in less than one month: Harvey, Irma and now Maria. Father, we can only turn to You now, and to Your supernatural supply. Help us, O Lord we pray, amen.

- "And my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus." (Phil. 4:19)