Daily Brief: Tuesday, Nov. 21, 2017

Daily Brief: Tuesday, Nov. 21, 2017 (Short form)

1. Trump designates North Korea as a state sponsor of terrorism - Washington Examiner

President Trump plans to designate North Korea as a state sponsor of terrorism on Monday, years after the hermit nation was removed from the list during the George W. Bush administration.

Speaking to members of his Cabinet, Trump said the designation "should have happened a long time ago." The White House expects the move to put further pressure on North Korean leader Kim Jong Un to abandon his nuclear and ballistic missile programs.

"This designation will impose further sanctions and penalties on North Korea and supports our maximum pressure campaign to isolate the murderous regime," the president told reporters, noting that the Treasury Department is set to announce additional sanctions against North Korea on Tuesday. (Read more)
- Lord, we thank You that this action has finally been taken, as it should have been years before. We ask once again for your Spirit to save the people of North Korea from this brutal regime and destroy the false worship atmosphere of that country.

- "For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry." (1 Samuel 15:23)

2. "It's Time!" U.S. House Introduces Parental Rights Amendment to the Constitution - Breaking Christian News

"The freedom for parents to direct the upbringing, education, and care of their children is an American tradition once established beyond debate," said Rep. Hultgren. "Yet every day, families are broken apart by state actors who presume they are able to make a better decision for a child than a parent can. With recent state laws and court decisions threatening this American value, it is time parental rights are enshrined as fundamental rights and therefore protected under the Constitution."

"We are grateful to Representative Hultgren for taking up this vital issue before Congress," says ParentalRights.org President Jim Mason, a proponent of the resolution. "Parental rights is a crucial battle that too few are talking about. Every other question, whether of politics, religion, values, or ideology, hinges on the right of good parents to raise their children in a way that is true to them."

The Amendment, which would provide that "the liberty of parents to direct the upbringing, education, and care of their children is a fundamental right," requires a two-thirds vote in each house of Congress to go to the states for ratification. This means bipartisan support will be necessary for its passage. "Parental rights affect us all, regardless of race or belief, across every community or demographic," says Detroit-area family law attorney Allison Folmar. "Absolutely, this Amendment should have bipartisan support. In fact, it should have universal support."

The NFL's 2005 MVP Shaun Alexander is also among those supporting the Amendment effort. Alexander is vice president of ParentalRights.org. "I am still amazed with how much authority the courts have over parents' rights today. With the Parental Rights Amendment now introduced in both houses of Congress, we can begin to push back and win for all parents' authority for how to raise their own children. The Parental Rights Amendment will protect the greatest team ever assembled-the family." (Read more)
- Lord, we know that passing a Constitutional Amendment is exceedingly difficult. We do pray that this will go through. We take authority over the forces of evil that wish to continue to destroy the family and bind them up in the Mighty Name of Jesus and by the power of His Shed Blood.

- "Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh." (Genesis 2:24)

3. Democrats Dump $250K a Day into Partial Birth Abortion Candidate Doug Jones Campaign to Beat Roy Moore - Gateway Pundit

The Roy Moore scandal has unleashed a torrent of online donations to Democrat Doug Jones, who was collecting around $250,000 per day in its immediate aftermath, according to two sources familiar with the matter who spoke to NBC News on condition of anonymity.

Democrats may end up in the unlikely situation of dramatically outspending the GOP in the Senate contest in deep red Alabama now that national Republicans have abandoned Moore. The Republican candidate's bank account had been depleted by a tough primary battle even before nine women came forward to accuse him of sexual impropriety.

The scandal has super-charged Jones' already robust online fundraising to "Ossoff-level money," as one Democrat put it, referring to failed Democratic congressional candidate Jon Ossoff, who amassed a staggering $30 million in a Georgia special election this year.

Unlike Ossoff, however, who was matched by an equally massive amount of GOP money, Jones' spending may go unanswered by pro-Moore forces through the Dec. 12 election. (Read more)
- Father, You are the righteous judge of all men. We pray that Your choice for the Senate seat in Alabama would be the one who wins, regardless of how much money is spent on either side.

- "But You, O Lord, are a God full of compassion, and gracious, longsuffering and abundant in mercy and truth." (Psalm 86:15)

4. Secretive Liberal Donor Network to Ramp Up Efforts to Elect Far-Left District Attorneys - Free Beacon

The Democracy Alliance, a secretive leftwing dark money donor network whose members each direct hundreds of thousands in funding to progressive groups, are set to ramp up efforts to elect far-left prosecutors across the nation, according to documents obtained by the Washington Free Beacon.

The documents, which were gathered from the Democracy Alliance's three-day fall investment conference last week at the posh La Costa Resort in Carlsbad, Calif., show that electing ultra-progressive prosecutors in cities across the country is of high importance to the deep-pocketed donors as part of their "resistance" efforts and 2018 strategy. Closed events were held at the summit on issues ranging from using the state of California as a progressive template to expand elsewhere, to the "importance of prosecutor races." (Read more)
- Father, we pray that these secret moves will be more and more open to public view. We ask that George Soros be brought to his knees. Let his reign of manipulation in world politics be stopped in its tracks, and let every penny he has spent to do so be given to the righteous.

- "Therefore do not fear them. For there is nothing covered that will not be revealed, and hidden that will not be known." (Matthew 10:26)

5. Lois Lerner wants IRS testimony sealed forever, fearing death threats - Fox News

Former IRS official Lois Lerner and her deputy are asking a federal court to keep their testimonies in the Tea Party targeting case private forever, over fear of death threats and potential harm to their families if the documents go public. Lerner and her deputy Holly Paz filed a motion last Thursday to keep the materials-including tapes and transcripts of their depositions-sealed due to threats they have received in the past.

Court documents, reviewed by Fox News, said the "public dissemination of their deposition testimony would expose them and their families to harassment and a credible risk of violence and physical harm." "Whenever Mss. Lerner and Paz have been in the media spotlight, they have faced death threats and harassment," the documents stated. "Returning Mss. Lerner and Paz to the media spotlight places them at risk, regardless of what they actually said in those depositions."

The documents also stated that: "Public exposure will put innocent bystanders, namely Mss. Lerner's and Paz's family members (including young children), at risk, too." (Read more)
- Lord, we have to ask who she's afraid of? Her own party or Conservatives? This is a ploy by this person to bury the truth forever. We ask that it not be allowed. Let ALL truth be revealed in this matter.

- "Truth shall spring out of the earth and righteousness shall look down from heaven." (Psalm 85:11)

6. Border agent killed, partner injured by illegal immigrants using rocks, report says - Fox News

Illegal immigrants reportedly assaulted two U.S. Border Patrol agents with rocks, killing one and seriously injuring another Sunday near the southern border with Mexico.

Details around the attack remained murky Monday, however, an FBI spokesperson said Rogelio Martinez and his partner were not shot and a National Border Patrol Council official told KTSM the assailants were "undocumented immigrants" who used likely used rocks to bash the agents. "We strongly believe rocks were what was used," NBPC Vice President Art Del Cueto told KTSM.

The FBI had taken over the investigation into the death of Martinez, 36, and the injuring of his partner, who was not identified. The two were patrolling the Big Bend Sector of Texas when the attack occurred. "They were not fired upon," said Jeanette Harper of the FBI's El Paso office. "There are so many different agencies working together that we need to come together and develop a timeline." (Read more)
- Lord, we pray for Comfort for the family of the slain Border Patrol agent, and heal the other agent quickly. We pray Your mighty protection over the borders of our nation, granting us victory over our enemies.

- "You have subdued under me those who rose up against me." (Psalm 18:39b)

7. The Air Force is throwing money at pilots to stay. Fewer and fewer are interested - Air Force Times

Despite offering fat retention bonuses to entice pilots to stay in the Air Force, the percentage of eligible pilots accepting them is plummeting. The Air Force said it typically hopes about 65 percent of eligible pilots will accept the retention bonuses. But in fiscal 2015, only 55 percent took the bonuses and signed up for longer stints.

And the so-called "take rate" has plunged even further since then, to 48 percent in fiscal 2016, and 44 percent in fiscal 2017, according to figures released by the Air Force. In all, 476 pilots accepted retention bonuses last year.

The dramatically increased bonuses ― once called Aviator Retention Pay and earlier this year renamed the Aviation Bonus Program ― are one of several tools the Air Force is rolling out to try to stem an exodus that has contributed to an almost 2,000-pilot shortfall.

Commercial airlines are aggressively recruiting Air Force pilots and can offer salaries that are far higher than what the military offers. (Read more)
- Father, our Armed Forces can only fly if we have qualified pilots. We ask that You grant wisdom to our military, and find a solution to this shortfall, that America would remain strong.

- "Wisdom is better than strength." (Eccl 9:16a)

8. New School under fire for putting Linda Sarsour on anti-Semitism panel - Fox News

A private university in New York City is hosting a panel on combating anti-Semitism -- but there's at least one glaring problem, according to critics: an avowed anti-Zionist protester is among the so-called experts.

Brooklyn-born Muslim activist Linda Sarsour is set to be a panelist at the New School's Nov. 28 event, "Anti-Semitism and the Struggle for Justice." Sarsour has previously said "nothing is creepier than Zionism," has lauded National of Islam Minister Louis Farrakhan and objected to the Jewish right to return to Israel.

Further, the event, which is moderated by Amy Goodman of Democracy Now, appears to reject anti-Semitism while also exhibiting an anti-Israel stance. "When anti-Semitism is redefined as criticism of Israel, critics of Israeli policy become accused and targeted more than the growing far-right," the event description reads.

The New School, which says it was founded on principles of tolerance, social justice, and free intellectual exchange, told Fox News, in a statement, the school has "been contacted by several individuals who have expressed their concerns about the university's participation."

The New York Post Editorial Board labeled the event an Orwellian "fake panel . . .meant to promote Israel-bashing." (Read more)
- Father, this ludicrous action brings great grief to our hearts, as an avowed Jew-hater is allowed on an "anti-Semitism" panel. WE ask that You move in all the hearts of those who have done this egregious thing and stop it in its tracks. As for Ms. Sarsour, we ask yet again that You bring her to her knees, face up with You as Truth.

- "He who justifies the wicked and he who condemns the just, both of them alike are an abomination to the Lord." (Proverbs 17:15)

9. Big Brother Is Here: Twitter Will Monitor Users Behavior 'Off Platform' - Zero Hedge

In perhaps the most intrusive move of social media platforms' efforts signal as much virtue as possible and appease their potentially-regulating government overlords, Twitter has announced that it is cracking down on what it defines at hate-speech and not just by looking at its own site.

In what amounts to a major shift in Twitter policy, Mashable's Kerry Flynn reportsthat the company announced on Friday that it will be monitoring user's behavior "on and off the platform" and will suspend a user's account if they affiliate with violent organizations, according to an update to Twitter's Help Center on Friday. (Read more)
- Lord, we are pressured on every side from media giants who, under the guise of protecting us, actually deny the right to privacy at all. We ask that You will clinch down on all the companies who have determined that their subjective view is the only right one.

- "Do not deliver me to the will of my adversaries." (Psalm 27:12a)

10. The Next Big Middle Eastern War - Frontpage Magazine

Saudi Arabia vs. Iran.

The Syrian Civil War killed hundreds of thousands and displaced millions. Its ripple effects brought terror to Europe and dragged the United States into the fighting. And it's just the appetizer for the coming war.

The real war is the one that the Saudis and the Iranians have been maneuvering toward for years. Those maneuvers included everything from Iran's nuke deal, the fighting in Yemen, the Syrian Civil War, the Iraqi suppression of Kurdish independence, the rise of ISIS, and the Qatari embargo.

The death toll from the buildup to the Sunni-Shiite regional war is approaching a million. And the war hasn't even begun yet. It may never become an actual war as we understand it. It's possible that there will be a hundred little wars exploding across the region. These wars will tear apart more of the region and the talking heads on television will blame global warming or Israeli settlements. Those progressive excuses make much more sense to the media than an Islamic religious war. And it will almost certainly drag us in. (Read more)
- Father, we speak shalom peace over Israel, and all Western interests in the region. We ask that You move over the Middle East, changing hearts and redirecting thoughts. You are the God of Justice and Mercy and we hope in You.

- "Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we will remember the name of the Lord Our God." (Psalm 20:7)