Monday, May 11, 2026

This is The Briefing, a daily analysis of news and events from a Christian worldview. On today’s edition of The Briefing, I discuss Putin’s new signal about Ukraine, who is the Supreme Leader in Iran, the Hantavirus, and one man who was trampled by elephants and another who was eaten by a crocodile. Part I (00:14 – 10:19) Putin Sends a New Signal: Is the Conflict in Ukraine Coming to an End? Clearly, Putin Is Running Out of Time, and Russians Know It Putin says he thinks Ukraine conflict ‘coming to an end’ by BBC News (Claire Keenan) Vladimir Putin, the Man Who Broke Russia by The Wall Street Journal (Walter Russel Mead) Putin’s Strongman Image Is Fading as Ukraine Brings War Home to Russia by The Wall Street Journal (Yaroslav Trofimov) Russia Has Lost More Than 350,000 Soldiers, New Estimate Finds by The New York Times (Paul Sonne) Part II (10:19 – 18:42) Who is Really in Control in Iran? It is Not Clear That the Supreme Leader is Really Supreme, Or Even Functional The Real War for Iran’s Future: Who Will Determine the Fate of the Islamic Republic? by Foreign Affairs (Afshon Ostovar) Part III (18:42 – 25:16) Another Deadly Virus?