Venezuela oil deal, Pentagon turmoil, Putin's desperation, foldable iPhone rumors & NFL returns! | Ep. 84
In this week's Brief: Conner is joined by Josh Miller, CEO of Denison Ministries, for a whirlwind trip around the world. They start in Venezuela, where Trump's "biggest oil deal in world history" comes with a surprising backstory. And they parse through what the deal could mean for gas prices back home.
From there, they cover a rough week for U.S. military leadership, including Army Secretary Dan Driscoll's resignation, the USS Lincoln's unprecedented nine months at sea, renewed U.S.-Iran strikes, and just how desperate Putin may be, given how badly Russia's war in Ukraine is going. It all leads to a pivotal question: where is our hope really built when nations and leaders keep falling short?
Plus, they speculate on what next week’s major Apple product announcements could entail (a foldable iPhone?). And with the NFL season kicking off next week, Conner and Josh make their early Super Bowl picks!
Topics
- (0:00) Introduction
- (0:43) Venezuela oil deal setup
- (8:01) Deal terms and Pentagon stake
- (11:24) Will gas prices drop
- (18:37) Pentagon resignation fallout
- (22:11) USS Lincoln deployment strain
- (27:01) War escalation and lessons
- (30:41) Russia-Ukraine stalemate
- (32:09) Drone war slaughterbots
- (35:42) NATO nuclear fears
- (38:55) Hope beyond politics
- (44:09) Apple event rumors
- (46:28) NFL returns predictions
- (49:59) Conclusion
Resources
- Send us your thoughts, questions, and topic ideas: culturebrief@denisonforum.org
- Culture Brief Instagram
- Watch on Youtube
- Sign-up for Denison Forum newsletters: DenisonForum.org/subscribe
Articles on this week’s top headlines:
- U.S. Warship is Close to Thai R.R. Spot After Long Iran Deployment
- U.S. Sending Fresh Aircraft Carrier to Middle East Amid Iran War Strain
- Russian troops survive an average of 30 minutes on the Ukrainian battlefield, CIA director says
- CIA chief used Moscow visit to warn Russia against attacks on NATO allies, helping Iran
- Dan Driscoll’s Parting Shot
- Days after Trump announces Venezuela oil deal, White House fills in some of the details
- Analyst breaks down challenges U.S. will face to unlock Venezuela's oil
- Gas Prices Remain High as August Will Likely Set New Record
- GDP (constant 2015 US$)
- Center Finds Democracy Thwarted in Venezuela
- Church in Venezuela seeks donor support for rebuilding phase of quake relief
About Conner Jones
Conner Jones is the Managing Editor for Denison Forum at Denison Ministries and Co-Hosts Denison Forum's "Culture Brief" podcast. He graduated from Dallas Baptist University in 2019 with a degree in Business Management. Conner passionately follows politics, sports, pop-culture, entertainment, and current events. He enjoys fishing, movie-going, and traveling the world with his wife and son.
About Josh Miller
Josh Miller is the Chief Executive Officer at Denison Ministries. He is also a disciple of Jesus, husband, and father. A Christian leader, author, and songwriter, Josh brings over 20 years of ministry experience—from global worship tours to pastoral leadership. He lives in Plano, Texas with his wife and two sons, fueled by faith, craft coffee, and a love for tacos.
About Denison Forum
Denison Forum exists to thoughtfully engage the issues of the day from a biblical perspective through The Daily Article email newsletter and podcast, the Faith & Clarity podcast, as well as many books and additional resources.
All episodes are produced by Sound of a Rose. For more information, you can visit soundofarose.com.
