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 ItPutin 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 FunctionalThe 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? The Hantavirus is Dangerous and Deadly – But Public Health Officials Say This is Not Like CovidPart IV (25:16 – 27:53)Trampled by Elephants, Eaten by a Crocodile, Oh My – The Fallen World is a Dangerous PlaceBig game hunter trampled to death by elephants by The Telegraph (Ben Farmer)South African police airlift massive crocodile suspected of eating missing local by Fox News (Bonny Chu)Sign up to receive The Briefing in your inbox every weekday morning.Follow Dr. Mohler:X | Instagram | Facebook | YouTubeFor more information on The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, go to sbts.edu.For more information on Boyce College, just go to BoyceCollege.com.To write Dr. Mohler or submit a question for The Mailbox, go here.