The Daily Brief: Monday, October 23, 2017

The Daily Brief: Monday, October 23, 2017

1. Trump hints that he's leaning toward Powell or Taylor for Fed chair - Politico

President Donald Trump hinted Friday that his top two candidates to chair the Federal Reserve are Fed Governor Jerome Powell and Stanford economist John Taylor - though he left the door open to other contenders. POLITICO reported Thursday that Powell is the leading candidate to chair the central bank after current Chair Janet Yellen's term ends in January. The president has interviewed five finalists: Powell, Taylor, Yellen, former Fed Governor Kevin Warsh and National Economic Council Director Gary Cohn.

White House spokeswoman Natalie Strom said Thursday that all five candidates are "at the same level of consideration," and press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders on Friday was careful not to step on Trump's forthcoming announcement. "We still don't have an announcement on that," Sanders told reporters. Asked about the possibility of Powell and Taylor both joining the Fed as chair and vice chair, Sanders said it's "certainly under consideration." (Read more)
- Father God, we ask that You guide our President with Your eye, that He might know Your wisdom in making this critical decision. The position of the Chairman of the Federal Reserve is one of the most powerful on earth. May President Trump rely upon Your power, in choosing wisely. Amen.

- " . . . see, I have given you a wise and understanding heart . . ." (I Kings 3:12)

2. McMaster says Trump 'absolutely' prepared to terminate Iran deal - Jerusalem Post

US President Donald Trump is prepared to withdraw from a nuclear agreement reached with Iran and other international powers in 2015, his national security adviser, H.R. McMaster, said on Thursday.

Speaking at a forum hosted by the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, a think tank that contributed research and scholarship to the Trump administration's new strategy on Iran unveiled last week, McMaster said the president's first choice is to get Congress and European allies on board with a "pressure" strategy that will force Iran back to the negotiating table.

Trump's national security team hopes to negotiate an addendum to the nuclear deal that will address its greatest concerns with the current agreement: its expiration dates, its omission of any restrictions on Iran's ballistic missile work and its opaque language on granting international nuclear inspectors swift access to Iran's military bases. If Congress fails to pass legislation that helps bolster Trump's diplomatic leverage, and if European powers refuse to come along with his strategy, the president will "absolutely" terminate the deal, McMaster said. Trump last week threatened to terminate the accord wholesale if his more measured approach fails to deliver. (Read more)
- Lord God, we thank You for a President who stands by his word. We ask Your Hand of blessing to rest upon President Trump, today and always, in Your Name, amen.

- "But let your 'Yes' be 'Yes,' and your 'No,' 'No.' For whatever is more than these is from the evil one." (Matthew 5:37)

3. John Kelly shames the shameless media - Washington Examiner

Kelly said at the press briefing Thursday that he was "stunned" and "brokenhearted" when he saw Wilson in TV interviews and quoted in news reports divulging details about a personal call from Trump to Myeisha Johnson, whose husband died in an enemy ambush earlier this month in Niger. In front of a room of uncharacteristically hushed reporters, Kelly said he was dismayed to see Wilson politicize one of the few sacred things left: The mourning of a fallen soldier. In this case, Sgt. La David T. Johnson.

Wilson told reporters earlier in the week that she was there for the on-speaker call between President Trump and Myeisha Johnson. She said Trump was "insensitive" because, according to Wilson, Trump told Johnson, "Well, I guess he knew what he signed up for, but I guess it still hurts."

There is no recording of the conversation to corroborate Wilson's quote or even her ungenerous interpretation of the phone call. Assuming the quote is accurate, Kelly said he had told Trump to say something along those same lines, because it was what most comforted Kelly after his own son died serving in Afghanistan.

News publications running articles on Wilson's story botched it even further, readily printing the first half of Wilson's Trump quote ("He knew what he was getting into when he signed up . . .") while disregarding the rest (". . . but I guess it still hurts.") The New York Times, the Associated Press, the Washington Post, and NBC all ran pieces that included the first half of Wilson's quote without the second. (Read more)
- Father in heaven, we pray that You will cover President Trump with Your presence so the attacks by the enemy against him will be dropped. Block and render powerless all that Rep. Wilson said in TV interviews that would swing the minds of the public away from the mourning of the death of Sgt Johnson. May the memory of this man's bravery and faithful service to our country long outlive any words spoken by Ms. Wilson. We pray in the Name of Jesus.

- "Go from the presence of a foolish man, when you perceive not in him the lips of knowledge." (Proverbs 14:7)

4. Frank Gaffney: Abandoning Kurds in Iraq Is a 'Strategic Mistake of Epic Proportions' - Breitbart

Marlow turned to the conflict between independence-seeking Kurds and the Iraqi government, which launched military operations against Kurdish positions this week with the assistance of Iran-backed Shiite militia forces. Marlow expressed concern that the Trump administration is remaining neutral while the Kurds, a vital U.S. battlefield ally in the successful war against the Islamic State in Syria and Iraq, are assaulted by Baghdad and Tehran.

Gaffney said it was "tragic" and a "strategic mistake of great proportions" for President Trump to withhold his support from the Kurds. "Their enemies are our enemies, virtually without exception," he noted. "The Kurds are surrounded by nations that are not just hostile to them, but hostile to us. What I think has happened here, tragically, is a very clear byproduct of the bad advice the president has been getting from H.R. McMaster, his national security adviser," Gaffney postulated. (Read more)

See also: Report: Shiite Militias Hang Photo of Ayatollah Khamenei in Kirkuk Following Invasion - Breitbart

(Read here)
- Father God, we repent before Your Throne of Grace that we have so terribly let these precious ones down. Lord God, the Kurds were there for us when we needed them, and now we are not there for them when they need us. Forgive us, Lord, and bring forth policy that will fully undergird the Kurdish people in their time of need, we pray, amen.

- "Do unto others as You would have them do unto You." (Matthew 7:12)

5. Congress Probes Whether Obama DOJ Used The 'Trump Dossier' Before Surveillance Court - Daily Caller

Both the House and the Senate are investigating whether the former President Barack Obama's administration used intelligence in a salacious "Trump Dossier" as "evidence" before a secret federal surveillance court to obtain permission to spy on Donald Trump campaign aides and later his transition team. The FBI used the dossier to secure permission to monitor the communications of Trump associate Carter Page, based on U.S. officials briefed on the Russia investigation, CNN reported in April.

The latest inquiries began Oct. 4, when the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence subpoenaed Fusion GPS, a political opposition research firm based in Washington, D.C., to appear before the committee and turn over bank documents. The committee is also seeking all Justice Department applications before the Federal Intelligence Surveillance Court, also called the FISA court, to determine if any of the applicants rely on information from the dossier. The Senate Judiciary inquiry is also questioning ethical decisions demonstrated by former director James Comey when the bureau reportedly sought to pay Steele for his services, according to The Washington Post. (Read more)
- God, we pray that no invasion into President Trump's Dossier will go unpunished. Father God, we ask that all bank documents and all Justice Department applications will reveal just how deep this information was used against Trump. Stand against any damage that resulted in this invasion of privacy. In the Name of Jesus we pray. Amen.

- "That they would desire mercies of the God of heaven concerning these secret things." (Daniel 2:18)

6. Trump admin scraps EPA's deceitful 'sue and settle' trick - WND

Limited government advocates and property-rights champions are cheering Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Scott Pruitt for publicly announcing he will scrap the tactic known as "sue and settle" for as long as he is in office.

"We will no longer go behind closed doors and use consent decrees and settlement agreements to resolve lawsuits filed against the Agency by special interest groups where doing so would circumvent the regulatory process set forth by Congress," Pruitt said in a statement.

So what is "sue and settle?" In short, it's a way that politicians and bureaucrats shift policy by pretending to be in a legal fight with a political ally and altering a specific rule to supposedly avoid a lawsuit. Patrick Hedger, manager of the Regulatory Action Center at the FreedomWorks Foundation, offers a more detailed description of how this political and legal charade plays out. (Read more)
- Jesus, let the truth be unveiled and let confusion and disorder be brought to light to be dealt with as You see fit. It seems too hard for our lawmakers to move forward in agreement on so many government issues. Let the Holy Spirit lead the Congress and all agencies to the right decisions with no strongholds of confusion. Amen.

- "For God is not a God of disorder but of peace-as in all the congregations of the Lord's people." (1 Corinthians 14:33)

7. Trump administration considers pausing U.S. refugee family reunification program - Reuters

President Trump's administration has drafted a plan to pause a program that allows family members join refugees already settled in the United States until they can undergo increased security checks, two sources with knowledge of the situation told Reuters. The proposals, if implemented, could significantly slow down refugee admissions and leave refugees who thought they were headed to the United States in perilous situations abroad, say refugee advocates and former officials.

Refugees currently undergo differing levels of security checks when applying for admission to the United States in a process that can take 18-24 months. "When you put in additional security checks you can basically halt the system," said Robert Carey, the former director of the Office of Refugee Resettlement under former President Barack Obama, a Democrat.

"Every check is only good for a finite period of time and they expire and the whole process has to start all over again," he said, adding that the level of scrutiny is higher for refugees than most any other visa applicant to the United States.

Trump also lowered the maximum number of refugees to be allowed into the United States in 2017 to 50,000 from the 110,000 originally set by Obama. The 2018 level has been set at 45,000, the lowest number in decades. (Read more)
- Father, let the refugees coming into the U.S. be those that You say may come. There are laws required for legal entrance into our country. If limiting the number who enter so be it. As U.S. citizens we are required to follow the laws of the land. Give President Trump the wisdom to lead the U.S. in the ways directed by You. We ask in Your Holy name.

- "Solomon son of David established himself over his kingdom, for the Lord his God was with him and made him exceedingly great." (2 Chronicles 1:1)

8. Florida police arrest 277, including cops and doctors, in sex sting - Fox News

Florida police arrested 277 people -- including doctors, cops and pharmacists -- during a weeklong undercover sex sting operation. "Operation No Tricks, No Treats" began Oct. 10 and ran until Oct. 15, according to a press release from the Polk County Sheriff's Office. Judd identified some of the other suspects arrested as a cancer surgeon, teacher, pediatrician, Air Force veteran, retired deputy sheriff, retired police officer, active colonel in the U.S. Marine Corps and several pharmacists. They range in age from 16 to 74 years old.

"That's the most we have ever arrested in the history of the sheriff's office," Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd said. The suspects face 334 charges, including human-trafficking and soliciting another for prostitution. The office stated 215 people traveled to Polk County from other areas in Florida or were visiting the state from Alabama, California, Delaware, Georgia, Louisiana, Michigan, Missouri, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Tennessee, Texas and Virginia. "We are committed to fighting human trafficking, by arresting those who engage in prostitution and trying to identify human trafficking victims," Judd said. "It's no secret. You need to stay out of Polk County if you're going to commit crime." (Read more)
- Praise God from the highest heaven for guiding Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd to set up this sting operation and bring down this major sex trap working to enslave hundreds of victims. God, we ask that You surround the entire area of Polk County and even the State of Florida with angels dispatched by the Lord to uncover every hidden area where human sex trafficking, prostitution and kidnapping of innocent victims has been taking place. Encircle Sheriff Judd with godly protection so no harm can reach him. Empower him with holy intelligence to see into the hidden areas of evil and rout out all enemy forces. In the Name of Jesus we pray.

- "And I will deliver them to be removed into all the kingdoms of the earth, for their hurt, to be a reproach and a proverb, a taunt and a curse, in all places whither I shall drive them. And I will send the sword, the famine and the pestilence, among them, till they be consumed from off the land that I gave unto them and to their fathers." (Jeremiah 24:9-10)

9. Illegal immigrant's abortion demand turns into major battle over Constitution - Washington Times

The fight over whether the government must facilitate an illegal immigrant girl obtaining an abortion has exploded into a full-blown legal battle over the future and limits of Roe v. Wade, according to pro-life and pro-choice groups anxiously awaiting a ruling. A federal appeals court in D.C. heard oral argument on the case Friday and the judges are rushing to rule, with the girl's advocates saying she's 15 weeks pregnant and needs to have the abortion now or else she'll run into later-term restrictions that would make the procedure complicated.

But the Trump administration is balking, saying the 17-year-old girl - known in court documents only as "J.D." - is a juvenile in the custody of federal health officials in a shelter in Texas, and they cannot facilitate the abortion or else they'll run afoul of federal prohibitions on spending taxpayer money on abortion.

Texas, meanwhile, says it fears become a "sanctuary state for abortion" if the courts rule in favor of the girl, while pro-life groups say they fear a surge of illegal immigrant women and girls hoping to take advantage of relatively unfettered access to abortion in the U.S.

"This is a case which would incentivize an abortion-import business for illegal immigrant minor girls in defiance of state laws. And who is being asked to run the business? Taxpayers and the government Office of Refugee Resettlement," said Majorie Dannenfelser, president of the pro-life Susan B. Anthony List. (Read more)
- Abba Father, abortion is murder no matter citizen or refugee. God bless Texas for trying to avoid becoming the "sanctuary state of abortion." Protect the babies and give them the opportunity to live the life You have designed for them. Let the mothers protect their children and teach them Your ways. If the mothers know You not, send someone to lead them to You. Thank You for the love and mercy You give each of us. Amen.

- "You shall speak to him saying, "Thus says the Lord, have you murdered and taken possessions?" And you shall speak to him saying, "Thus says the Lord: In the place where the dogs licked the blood of Naboth, the dogs shall lick your blood, even your blood." (1 Kings 21:19)

10. Air Force punishes colonel who refused to affirm gay marriage, attorney says - Fox News

The Air Force has punished a highly-decorated and respected colonel after he refused to publicly affirm the same-sex spouse of a retiring subordinate. Col. Leland Bohannon, who was on the verge of being promoted to a one-star general, was suspended from command and orders were handed down recommending he not be promoted. "His career is likely over and he will likely have to retire as a colonel instead of as a general," First Liberty Institute attorney Michael Berry told the Todd Starnes Show.

First Liberty Institute, one of the nation's most prominent religious liberty law firms, is representing the distinguished military officer. "This sends a clear message - if you do not have the politically correct viewpoint, you are not welcome in the military," Berry said. "The military is no longer a place of diversity and inclusion if you are a person who holds to a traditional belief on marriage." (Read more)

- Dear Lord, we are grieved at the hearing of this misapplication of justice and of good being called evil. We pray for a turnaround in this case and that the righteousness of the Lord will prevail. Thank You for this brave and honorable man who is willing to stand up to the god of political correctness. Please provide for the future for him and his family.

- "Judge me, O Lord my God, according to thy righteousness; and let them not rejoice over me." (Psalms 35:24)

11. Why millennials are ditching religion for witchcraft and astrology - MarketWatch

Melissa Jayne, owner of Brooklyn-based "metaphysical boutique" Catland, said she has seen a major uptick in interest in the occult in the past five years, especially among New Yorkers in their 20s. The store offers workshops like "Witchcraft 101," "Astrology 101," and a "Spirit Seance."

"Whether it be spell-casting, tarot, astrology, meditation and trance, or herbalism, these traditions offer tangible ways for people to enact change in their lives," she said. "For a generation that grew up in a world of big industry, environmental destruction, large and oppressive governments, and toxic social structures, all of which seem too big to change, this can be incredibly attractive." (Read more)

- Father in heaven, we pray Your powerful healing, which is accomplished through the Blood of Jesus Christ, go all over the world at large. Dispatch a myriad of angels from heaven to walk across the land and minister holiness into every dark, sinister area where witchcraft and satan's deceptive practices are wooing the millennials, and all the world irrespective of age, into a web of evil that will destroy their lives, and ultimately they all will spend eternity in a lake of fire with satan. God, we pray for lost souls to be saved by believing in Jesus' sacrifice of Himself on the Cross. We pray this in the Name of Jesus.

- "That if you shall confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus, and shall believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you shall be saved. For with the heart man believes unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation." (Romans 10:9-10)

The Daily Brief: Tuesday, October 17, 2018

The Daily Brief: Tuesday, October 17, 2018

1. Bowe Bergdahl pleads guilty in desertion case - Fox News

Army Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl pleaded guilty Monday at Fort Bragg to charges he endangered comrades by walking away from his post in Afghanistan in 2009 -- the court case wrapping up three years after a stunning Rose Garden spectacle in which former President Barack Obama, flanked by Bergdahl's parents, triumphantly announced the soldier's release from captivity.

"I understand that leaving was against the law," said Bergdahl, whose decision to walk off his remote post in Afghanistan in 2009 prompted intense search and recovery missions, during which some of his comrades were seriously wounded and other soldiers died. (Read more)
- Lord, we thank You that this chapter is closing, finally. We ask for justice in this situation, even as we remember the lives that were lost or wounded in the search for a deserter.

- "For the Lord is a God of justice; blessed are all those who wait for Him."
(Isaiah 30:18d)

2. EU Vows to Save Iran Deal, Fears for North Korea Mediation - Jerusalem Post

The European Union vowed on Monday to defend a 2015 nuclear deal between Iran and world powers and urged US lawmakers not to reimpose sanctions after President Donald Trump chose not to certify Tehran's compliance with the accord.

Germany and France led a chorus of warnings to the United States, normally the EU's closest foreign policy ally, that any weakening of the agreement to prevent Iran obtaining nuclear weapons could have serious consequences for peace.

As Europeans together, we are very worried that the decision of the US president could lead us back into military confrontation with Iran," German Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel told reporters at a meeting with his EU counterparts. (Read more)
- Lord, the EU must not interfere in the poorly crafted Nuclear Deal that left the world vulnerable to Iran's deceptions. We ask for You to show truth and change their hearts to follow Your will.

- " . . . for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure." (Philippians 2:13)

3. 'This is not the remnants of a hurricane, this IS a hurricane' - Red weather warning extended nationwide as Hurricane Ophelia barrels in- The Independent Irish News

Hurricane Ophelia will be the most severe weather event to his this country since Hurricane Debbie hit in 1961 - resulting in 15 deaths - Met Eireann has warned. This evening Met Eireann confirmed that a red weather warning has been extended nationwide.

Speaking on this evening's weather forecast, meteorologist Joanna Donnelly told viewers "this is not the remnants of a hurricane - this is a hurricane".

Every school and college in the country will remain closed tomorrow as a result, the Department of Education has said. The public have been urged not to make unnecessary journeys. Employers have also been urged to give their employees guidance how working arrangements have been affected in light of the national red warning. (Read more)
- Lord, we pray for Ireland in the wake of this hurricane. They have not had one there in many years, so preparations have been minimal. We ask for Your Presence and help in this time of trouble.

- "God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble." (Psalm 46:1)

4. The Military Is Practicing Rapid Evacuations of Americans From South Korea - Time

The U.S. military will practice evacuating noncombatant Americans out of South Korea as tensions escalate over Pyongyang's nuclear and missile programs. The annual drills, which will take place on Oct 23-27, aims to prepare "service members and their families to respond to a wide range of crisis management events such as noncombatant evacuation and natural or man-made disasters," the U.S. military said in a statement Monday. The U.S. military stressed in the statement that the exercise was a "routinely scheduled drill" and was not tied to current events.

"Although not directly tied to current geopolitical events, our forces must be ready in all areas," General Vincent K. Brooks, commander of United States Forces Korea, said. "This training is as important to readiness as our other routine events such as tank gunnery and fighter wing exercises." (Read more)
- Lord, we thank You that the US military and South Korea are cooperating on plans to protect their citizens in the event North Korea commits a horrifying nuclear act. Lord, large numbers of South Koreans are Christians, we ask for Your hedge of protections about them.

- "He shall call upon Me and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble."
(Psalm 91:15)

5. Louisiana oil rig explodes, at least 7 injured - Fox News

At least seven people are injured and one person is missing after an oil rig exploded Sunday night in Louisiana. Kenner Deputy Chief Administrative Officer Kriss Fortunato said that at least seven people were injured and authorities were actively searching for one missing person, The Times-Picayunereported.

Officials from the St. Charles Parish wrote on Facebook that "The Emergency Operations Center is aware that an oil platform is currently on fire in Lake Pontchartrain and that it caused the loud sound earlier tonight.

Officials are responding." The U.S. Coast Guard is also responding, according to a Facebook post from the Jefferson Parish. Rescue boats are being dispatched from the Kenner Boat Launch and officials with the Jefferson Parish Sheriff's Office are assisting with rescue efforts, The Times-Picayune reported.

Mike Guillot, director of East Jefferson Emergency Medical Services said that the two individuals brought in are in stable condition but the other five brought to the University Medical Center are in critical condition with "blast type injuries and burns," the Times-Picayune reported. (Read more)
- Father, we pray not only for those who have been affected by this explosion, but that You would move to protect America's oil industry from eco-terrorists and others who wish to destroy the American economy.

- "Let Your work appear to Your servants." (Psalm 90:16a)

6. California declares state of emergency over deadly hepatitis A outbreak - LA Times

California Gov. Brown declared a state of emergency Friday because of a hepatitis A outbreak that has killed at least 18 people in the state.

The declaration allows state health officials to buy additional doses of the hepatitis A vaccine to try to halt the outbreak, which is already the nation's second largest in more than two decades.

"We have the capacity to use as much vaccine as we can get our hands on," said Dr. Gil Chavez, state epidemiologist with the California Department of Public Health. The outbreak began in San Diego's homeless community late last year, but has since spread outside the region. Los Angeles and Santa Cruz counties are also now experiencing outbreaks. (Read more)
- Lord we stand in the gap for California, praying for Your mercy, asking for a move of Your Holy Spirit across the state. We lift up Your Bride in that state, whom You love; and we intercede for all who have not yet come to know you in salvation. In Your Name, amen.

- "Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous." Psalm 1:5

7. Mogadishu truck bomb: 500 casualties in Somalia's worst terrorist attack - Guardian

The death toll in the bombing that hit the centre of Mogadishu on Saturday continues to rise, with more than 300 people now believed to have been killed and hundreds more seriously injured. The scale of the loss makes the attack, which involved a truck packed with several hundred kilograms of military-grade and homemade explosives, one of the most lethal terrorist acts anywhere in the world for many years.

On Monday morning, Somalia's information minister announced that 276 people had died in the attack with at least 300 people injured. Within hours, however, Abdikadir Abdirahman, the director of Amin ambulances, said his service had confirmed that 300 people died in the blast. "The death toll will still be higher because some people are still missing," Abdirahman told Reuters.

(Read more)
- Father, Somalia has been under horrific destruction for decades, primarily because of the influence of a false religion. We pray that Your Holy Spirit would be released into the nation, bringing Your truth and light to all.

- "For God so loved the world that He gave His only Begotten Son, that whosever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life." (John 3:16)

8. Sen. Cochran out sick, illness threatens tax-related vote - CNN Affiliate

Mississippi Republican Sen. Thad Cochran remains ill and won't return to his Senate duties Monday as was expected, his office announced. The 79-year-old's absence raises doubts about the ability of GOP leaders to pass a key budget resolution -- a vote is planned later this week -- that is needed to advance tax reform, a top legislative priority for Republicans and President Donald Trump.

"Mrs. Cochran informed me late Saturday night that Senator Cochran has developed another urinary tract infection," said the statement from Cochran's chief of staff Brad White. "After a day of monitoring his condition, and on the advice of his physicians and other health care professionals, Senator Cochran has postponed his return to Washington. He will continue his recuperation at home in Mississippi." (Read more)
- Father, first we pray that You will grant Senator Cochran complete healing. Second, we ask that tax reform would pass, bringing much needed relief to Americans.

- "Who forgives all your iniquities, who heals all your diseases." (Psalm 103:3)

9. North Korea rejects diplomacy with US for now, source says - CNN

A North Korean official reaffirmed Pyongyang's commitment to developing a long-range intercontinental ballistic missile capable of reaching "all the way to the East coast of the mainland US," on Monday, telling CNN that the rogue nation is currently not interested in diplomacy with the US until it achieves that goal.

North Korea is not ruling out diplomacy, but "before we can engage in diplomacy with the Trump administration, we want to send a clear message that the DPRK has a reliable defensive and offensive capability to counter any aggression from the United States," the official said. The comments offer a sobering challenge to the US and the Trump administration which has offered mixed messages regarding diplomatic efforts with North Korea.

White House chief of staff John Kelly said last week that Americans should be concerned about North Korea's ability to reach the United States with an intercontinental ballistic missile, cryptically telling reporters that if the threat grows "beyond where it is today, well, let's hope that diplomacy works." (Read more)
- Lord, we ask that you protect all Western nations in the areas surrounding the Korean peninsula from any and all actions by the rogue North Korean Regime.

- "When the enemy comes in like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord will lift up a standard against him." (Isaiah 59:19)

10. North Korea suspected source of 'mad dog' Trump leaflets - Fox News

First, there was "little rocket man." Now, Kim Jong Un has returned fire in the nickname game with "mad dog Trump." Pro-North Korean propaganda posters likening the U.S. president to a raging dog have begun popping up across the South Korean capital, Reuters reported Monday, citing social media posts and people that found them.

"Let's behead mad dog Trump for the future of a peaceful and warless world and mankind!" one bizarre poster pleads, showing the body of a dog with Trump's head, being decapitated by an axe. "Death to old lunatic Trump!" read another, which showed a North Korean soldier stomping on a head that appears to be Trump's. (Read more)

- Lord as the war of words continues, we ask that You will bring wisdom and peace into this conflict before it grows any wider.

- "A scoffer does not listen to rebuke." (Proverbs 13:1b)

The Daily Brief: Tuesday, October 10, 2017

The Daily Brief: Tuesday, October 10, 2017 (Short Form)

1. Inside the Left's Plans to Occupy Trump - Politico

One week after Charlottesville, "the Resistance" is planning its next move. Members of a group calling itself "Refuse Fascism" met in five cities around the country on Saturday with the intent to plan and organize nationwide demonstrations later this year. Their goal, according to Eva Sahana, a 22 year-old organizer, is simply to "drive out the Trump and Pence fascist regime."

The planning is still in its early stages, but the organizers have an idea in mind. On Saturday, November 4-approximately a year after President Donald Trump's election-members of the Resistance will descend on America's major cities. They'll march and demonstrate, as they have in the past, but this time, say organizers, they won't go home at the end of the day. Instead, the plan is to occupy city centers and parks and not leave until, and only until, Trump and Vice President Mike Pence have fallen.

Read more
- Father, we ask that You prevent any violence on November 4. Since "Occupy Wall Street" left a human waste disaster, we ask that You prevent that as well.

"He will redeem their life from oppression and violence." (Psalm 72:14a)

2. Corker Fires Back: WH 'Has Become An Adult Day Care Center' - Newsmax

Sen. Bob Corker is hitting back against President Donald Trump after a series of Trump tweets attacked the Tennessee Republican.

It's an extraordinary back-and-forth bashing on social media between a Republican president and a senator from his own party.

Here's what Corker is saying: "It's a shame the White House has become an adult day care center. Someone obviously missed their shift this morning."

President Donald Trump on Sunday tore into Corker, taunting the Tennessee Republican - and critic of the president - over his decision to not seek re-election in 2018 with a tweet that charged he "didn't have the guts to run."

In a mini-tweet storm, Trump proclaimed that Corker decided against another run because he didn't get Trump to endorse him - and said he was standing in the way of the administration agenda.

Read more
- Lord, we are saddened by these exchanges between elected officials and the president. We ask for peace and calm, wisdom for all of our leadership.

"Let Your work appear to Your servants and Your glory to their children." (Psalm 90:16)

3. EXCLUSIVE: Interior Secretary Zinke Vows to Stand Up to Leftist Activists, Preserve All National Monuments on Federal Land - Breitbart

Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke ruled out bowing to activist pressure to tear down historical monuments at the federal parks and lands he oversees in an exclusive interview with Breitbart News Deputy Political Editor Amanda House, Sunday.

Immediately after disembarking from a Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission patrol boat aboard which he assessed damage and clean-up efforts from last month's Hurricane Irma, Secretary Zinke sat down with House for a live one-on-one interview. House asked Zinke to weigh in on the current state of the left's campaign against American historical monuments, particularly as that campaign, once largely confined to Confederate memorials, expands to calls to remove monuments to George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, and even Christopher Columbus.

"No monuments are going to be removed from federal land," Zinke assured viewers, reiterating the commitment he made in July when, long before the violent clashes in Charlottesville, Virginia, outside of which a women was killed by an apparent white nationalist, left-wing activists were already stepping up their calls to remove monuments to Robert E. Lee and other Confederate leaders.

Read more
- Lord, we thank You that Secretary Zinke doesn't plan to removes the monuments set on public lands. We ask Your protection for him and especially for the history of the United States.

"Do not remove the ancient landmark which your fathers have set." (Proverbs 22:28)

4. EPA moves to repeal Obama's Clean Power Plan coal regs- Fox News

EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt announced Monday that the Trump administration is moving to scrap the Clean Power Plan, the Obama administration's signature regulatory program to curb emissions from coal-fired power plants.

Pruitt made the announcement at an event in Hazard, Ky., casting the previous policy as unfair.

"That rule really was about picking winners and losers," Pruitt said. "The past administration was unapologetic, they were using every bit of power, authority to use the EPA to pick winners and losers on how we pick electricity in this country. That is wrong."

Read more
Lord, we thank You that these regulations can now be taken up by Congress instead of the previous administration's Executive Orders. We ask for fair and balanced legislation that will protect jobs and also protect the environment.

"A just weight and balance are the Lord's." (Proverbs 16:11a)

5. Vice President Mike Pence leaves Colts-49ers game after players kneel during anthem- Fox News

Vice President Mike Pence walked out on his home-state Indianapolis Colts Sunday when members of the opposing team kneeled for the national anthem, but a report that Colin Kaepernick, the player who started it all, will stand if given another shot in the NFL was quickly dialed back.

"I left today's Colts game because @POTUS and I will not dignify any event that disrespects our soldiers, our Flag, or our National Anthem," Pence tweeted.

Several San Francisco 49ers players kneeled for the anthem on Sunday in Indianapolis.

Pence later posted a statement which read, "I left today's Colts game because President Trump and I will not dignify any event that disrespects our soldiers, our Flag, or our National Anthem. At a time when so many Americans are inspiring our nation with their courage, resolve, and resilience, now, more than ever, we should rally around our Flag and everything that unites us."

Read more
- Father, the backlash from this action among the far left has pummeled our Vice President, leaving extreme disrespect in its wake. We pray for Mike Pence to be strong of Spirit and in heart to not allow any of their words to penetrate.

"Let those be put to shame and brought to dishonor who seek after my life; let those be turned back and brought to confusion who plot my hurt." (Psalm 35:4)

6. Mattis Tells Military to 'Be Ready' Regarding North Korea- Free Beacon

Secretary of Defense James Mattis on Monday urged the U.S. military to "be ready" regarding the nuclear threat posed by North Korea so President Donald Trump can employ military options if necessary.

"What can the U.S. military do to lessen the likelihood of conflict on the Korean peninsula?" a questioner asked at the Association of the U.S. Army's annual meeting.

Mattis said the government is currently using a "diplomatically led, economic sanction-buttressed effort" to try to deter North Korea from its nuclear ambitions but said the future is unpredictable.

"Now what does the future hold? Neither you nor I can say, so there's one thing the U.S. Army can do, and that is you have got to be ready to ensure that we have military options that our president can employ if needed," Mattis said.

Mattis again said the effort to stop North Korea is diplomatically led, touting the United Nations Security Council's recent unanimous votes to impose further sanctions against the rogue country for its belligerent behavior.

Read more
- Lord, we thank you that our leaders are ready for whatever comes. We ask that You station Your Angelic Host around our nation and all allies, to protect us all from harm. We pray that You will be with our Armed Forces in everything they must do.

"Then all this assembly shall know that the Lord does not save with sword and spear; for the battle is the Lord's and He will give you into our hands." (1 Samuel 17:47)

7. CalFire chief: 1,500 structures destroyed in California fires- CNN Affiliate

Firefighters are facing difficulties battling three fast-moving wildfires north of Napa, California, totaling at least 44,000 acres as of early Monday, officials said.

The blazes have become a rapidly evolving crisis as Gov. Jerry Brown on Monday issued an emergency proclamation for three counties and local officials are working up a strategy to confront the fires, which show no sign of ending amid high winds and hot and dry weather.

More than 50 structures have burned due to the rapidly moving Atlas Fire in Napa, said Napa County Fire Chief Barry Biermann. Complicating firefighting efforts are low humidity and a lack of resources, he added.

"As of right now, with these conditions, we can't get in front of this fire and do anything about the forward progress," he said, adding that resources from across California were to begin arriving in the area later Monday.

Read more
- Lord, we ask Your mercy over the land in California. We know that they have sinned against You in mighty ways, just as the rest of our nation has done. We plead for Your mercy and kindness to come into this situation, giving places for the Holy Spirit to move among the people..

"In wrath, remember mercy." (Habakkuk 3:2)

8. New California law allows jail time for using wrong gender pronoun, sponsor denies that would happen- Fox News

California health care workers who "willfully and repeatedly" decline to use a senior transgender patient's "preferred name or pronouns" could face punishments ranging from a fine to jail time under a newly signed law.

California Gov. Jerry Brown signed the legislation last week.

The sponsor, Democratic state Sen. Scott Wiener, has argued adamantly that nobody is going to be criminally prosecuted for using the wrong pronoun.

"It's just more scare tactics by people who oppose all LGBT civil rights and protections," he said in a statement last month.

But the language seemingly allows for the possibility, however remote.

The bill itself is aimed at protecting transgender and other LGBT individuals in hospitals, retirement homes and assisted living facilities. The bill would ensure those facilities accommodate transgender people and their needs, including letting them decide which gender-specific bathroom they prefer to use.

Read more
- Lord, we pray that this new law would be challenged in the courts quickly. We repent for the elected officials in California and their Governor who signed this bill. We also pray Your mighty protection over the privacy of women in restrooms across the state.

"But the word of our God stands forever." (Isaiah 40:8b)

9. The Latest: FEMA chief says storms have "strained" resources Associated Press- Yahoo News

The head of the Federal Emergency Management Agency said the hurricanes that have struck the U.S. and its territories this year - four so far - have "strained" resources.

FEMA Administrator Brock Long told ABC's "This Week" that some 85 percent of the agency's forces were deployed and still working on issues created by hurricanes Harvey, Irma, Maria and now Nate.

He said that "in regards to resources, of course we're strained" because "nearly 85 percent of my entire agency is deployed right now. We're still working massive issues in Harvey, Irma, as well as the issues in Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands, and now this one."

Nate struck the U.S. as a Category 1 storm on Saturday but has since weakened substantially. The National Hurricane Center in Miami downgraded the storm to "tropical depression" strength and discontinued all hurricane and storm surge warnings and watches for the Gulf Coast.

Read more
- Mighty Father, we pray that You will make resources stretch to all who need them. We also ask that Your people will be able to step up to the plate to help those in need. May we lean on You rather than the government, and hold our faith strong.

"Be doers of the words, and not hearers only." (James 1:22a)

10. Iran's IRGC: If Trump Imposes Sanctions, U.S. Military Bases Should Move Outside Our Missile Range- CNS News

Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps on Sunday delivered a thinly-veiled threat to launch missile strikes on U.S. military bases in the region if the United States imposes new sanctions against the regime.

State media quoted IRGC commander Maj. Gen. Mohammad Ali Jafari as saying that if the U.S. introduces new punitive measures under legislation signed by President Trump last August, the U.S. had better "transfer its regional bases to 2,000 kilometers away - that is, as far as the range of Iranian missiles."

Both Jafari and other senior Iranian officials also warned against any additional move to designate the IRGC as a terrorist organization. Unnamed U.S. officials cited in news reports suggest this may be on the cards.

Read more
- Lord, we stand firmly upon Your truth in light of the latest threats from a nation which does not acknowledge You. We continue to ask that Your Holy Spirit visit the people of Iran, removing the false religion and bringing in Your love and mercy.

"No weapon formed against you shall prosper." (Isaiah 54:17)