Stembridge News Digest

  • Despite Disney bureaucracy, COVID-19 did not ruin our cruise Fri, 12 Aug 2022 04:00:27 GMT
    As the father of three princess-obsessed girls age 2, 3, and 5, I was thrilled when my in-laws gifted our family a three-night Bahamian Disney Cruise, sailing from Port Canaveral, Florida, a year ago. Supply chain issues postponed our departure aboard the Disney Wish, but we set sail on July 22 and made many happy memories.
  • Polarized paradise Fri, 12 Aug 2022 03:00:51 GMT
    The city’s high school principal lives in a camper. A small business owner lives out of his truck. A family of six lives in a two-car garage. All in a small town where the average home costs $1.2 million.
  • There's no place like homeless Fri, 12 Aug 2022 03:00:47 GMT
    Much is made of increasing shelter capacity for homeless people across the country. But what if many of them simply don’t want to be sheltered?
  • Burying the lede, burying the lede again, and the teacher’s pet Fri, 12 Aug 2022 03:00:28 GMT
    Israel subject to a double standard.
  • Eat your vegetables — and your innings Fri, 12 Aug 2022 03:00:27 GMT
    Every child in America is now supposed to be above average. Every parent is supposed to raise his sons and daughters to be “leaders.” The empowerment motto is “you can have it all.”
  • An IRS that's armed and dangerous Fri, 12 Aug 2022 03:00:21 GMT
    The Biden administration has a lot of nerve proposing to double the budget of the Internal Revenue Service and add 87,000 employees.
  • Building in Bezerkeley Fri, 12 Aug 2022 03:00:17 GMT
    I didn’t grow up in Berkeley. I was born and raised one town over in Oakland, California. But I did spend enough time near Strawberry Canyon growing up that I knew instantly when I read the headline, “UC Berkeley to build student, homeless housing at People's Park,” that construction was never going to happen.
  • Who's behind the wheel? Fri, 12 Aug 2022 03:00:13 GMT
    A new study settles the debate: Women are better drivers than men — simply because they would rather drive a car than let it drive them.
  • America can no longer afford our comforting lies about Taiwan Fri, 12 Aug 2022 03:00:08 GMT
    “When I was a little girl," House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said in Japan last week, “I was told when at the beach that if I dug a hole deep enough, we would reach China. So we’ve always felt a connection there.”
  • Pennsylvanians deserve safety and economic prosperity once again Thu, 11 Aug 2022 23:00:38 GMT
    Skyrocketing crime. Record-breaking homicides. Families living in fear.
  • The unacknowledged legislators of the world Fri, 12 Aug 2022 03:00:51 GMT
    W.H. Auden hated Percy Bysshe Shelley’s apothegm that poets are “the unacknowledged legislators of the world.” That phrase, he wrote, “describes the secret police, not the poets.” Having put his poetic talents in service of the political Left for most of the 1930s, he had come to believe that the “integrity of a writer is more threatened by appeals to his social conscience, his political or religious convictions,” than by appeals to his wallet. That realization made him renounce those of his political poems — notably “September 1, 1939,” written to record the author's thoughts and feelings on the occasion of the Nazi invasion of Poland, the outbreak of World War II — containing “false emotions, inflated rhetoric, empty sonorities.” His political poems had, in a sense, made him a poetic legislator — or, more plainly, a propagandist.
  • Departing Whole Foods CEO frets that "socialists are taking over" Thu, 11 Aug 2022 15:01:22 GMT
    Outgoing Whole Foods CEO John Mackey raised concerns that "socialists are taking over" key institutions across the country.
  • Eric Trump says safe breached by FBI in Mar-a-Lago search was empty Tue, 09 Aug 2022 02:14:16 GMT
    Eric Trump said his father, Donald Trump, had nothing in a safe they claim the FBI breached as part of a raid of the former president's Mar-a-Largo resort on Monday.
  • People more likely to move to states that reflect political beliefs: Poll Mon, 08 Aug 2022 18:02:05 GMT
    Both Democrats and Republicans are more likely to move to states that reflect their political views, indicating that self-segregation along ideological lines may increase parties' political advantages in former swing states over the coming years.
  • South Dakota residents have until Aug. 15 to comment on abortion ballot question Mon, 08 Aug 2022 13:00:25 GMT
    (The Center Square) - Acting South Dakota Attorney General Mark Vargo said Friday residents have until Aug. 15 to comment on a proposed constitutional amendment regulating abortion.
  • Election 2022: Hawaii voters have week remaining in mail-in primary Sat, 06 Aug 2022 15:00:15 GMT
    (The Center Square) - Hawaii voters will cast their ballots by mail in the Aug. 13 primary that includes a crowded gubernatorial race.
  • The born-to-rule elites Sat, 06 Aug 2022 11:00:15 GMT
    Meghan Markle and the Democratic Party find they have much in common.
  • Legislative special session likely to deal with Eastern Kentucky flooding Thu, 04 Aug 2022 13:00:02 GMT
    (The Center Square) – A special session of the Kentucky General Assembly will likely need to be called to provide relief for the counties and communities ravaged by flooding in the eastern part of the state last week.
  • Oklahoma lawmakers want to make adoption easier Tue, 02 Aug 2022 19:15:25 GMT
    (The Center Square) - Lawmakers say they want to examine ways to reduce barriers and make Oklahoma’s adoption and foster care system more efficient following the overturn of Roe v. Wade.
  • Democrats defend against charge that Manchin-Schumer bill will hit manufacturers Tue, 02 Aug 2022 16:06:11 GMT
    Democrats said that their plan for a 15% corporate minimum tax would not be as detrimental to U.S. manufacturers as Republicans have alleged.
  • DC Mayor Bowser renews call for DC National Guard assistance amid influx of migrants Fri, 12 Aug 2022 04:17:44 +0000


    Washington, D.C., Mayor Muriel Bowser, a Democrat, is asking for the D.C. National Guard to be deployed to help the city contend with the influx of migrants arriving in the region, a request that comes after the city's prior request for D.C. National Guard assistance was denied.

    "The District of Columbia writes to provide additional information to support our July 19 request to deploy the DC National Guard (DCNG) to help prevent a prolonged humanitarian crisis in our nation's capital resulting from the daily arrival of migrants in need of assistance," Bowser wrote in an August 11 letter to U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin.

    Month after month, the nation's southern border is inundated by massive flows of migrants coming into the country.

    But some migrants have been heading to D.C. from the states of Texas and Arizona, where the states' Republican governors have been busing migrants who voluntarily take the trip.

    In a letter last month, Christopher Rodriguez, the director of the D.C. Homeland Security and Emergency Management Agency, requested the help of the D.C. National Guard on behalf of Mayor Bowser. The letter declared that "the Governors of Texas and Arizona are making a political statement to the federal government, and instead, their actions are having direct impacts on city and regional resources in ways that are unsustainable."

    That request was later rebuffed by the Defense Department, which is why Bowser is now trying again.

    In the new letter requesting the D.C. National Guard, Bowser wrote that, "our hope is that the DCNG can aid in strengthening local efforts beginning August 22 and extending for the next 90 days. We need help from our federal partners as we seek to stabilize and manage our operating environment in this critical moment."

  • Florida will bar Medicaid coverage for gender reassignment surgeries, hormones Fri, 12 Aug 2022 03:00:00 +0000


    Florida will prohibit Medicaid coverage for various gender reassignment measures such as surgeries, puberty blockers, hormones, hormone antagonists, and procedures that would change primary or secondary sex characteristics.

    The rule, which marks a blow against radical leftist gender ideology, will go into effect later this month on August 21.

    "Throughout this process ⁦@AHCA_FL [Florida Agency for Health Care Administration] has remained committed to following the evidence in the treatment of gender dysphoria, rather than the eminence of a medical society or association. Our focus will always be on paving the way for a healthier Florida," tweeted Brock Juarez, communications director for the Florida Agency for Health Care Administration.

    Media reports discussing the state's move used the term "gender-affirming" to refer to the gender transition measures that will not be covered by Florida Medicaid. A Politico headline read, "Florida bans Medicaid from covering gender-affirming treatments," while a Washington Post headline declared, "Florida to bar Medicaid coverage for those seeking gender-affirming care."

    "'Gender affirming care' is not standard medical terminology. It's propaganda. The media should stop using left-wing talking points," Juarez tweeted.

    Several groups issued a joint statement expressing staunch opposition to the rule.

    "Lambda Legal, Southern Legal Counsel, Florida Health Justice Project, and National Health Law Program denounce Florida's cruel effort to strip transgender Floridians on Medicaid of the ability to access essential, medically necessary, and often lifesaving medical care," the groups said in the statement. "This discriminatory and medically unsound rule will take effect on August 21, 2022, putting transgender people in jeopardy of losing access to critical gender-affirming health care services."

    Leftists were outraged earlier this year by the approval of legislation in the Sunshine State that included a provision that prohibits teaching about gender identity and sexual orientation in kindergarten through third grade.

    "Classroom instruction by school personnel or third parties on sexual orientation or gender identity may not occur in kindergarten through grade 3 or in a manner that is not age-appropriate or developmentally appropriate for students in accordance with state standards," the law states.

  • 'Cards Against Humanity' is sending profits from states restricting abortion to a pro-abortion organization over Dobbs decision Fri, 12 Aug 2022 02:45:00 +0000


    The organization behind the popular "Cards Against Humanity" card game released a statement announcing that it would send the profits from states that restrict abortion to an organization supporting choice after the Dobbs Supreme Court decision.

    "About a month ago, the Supreme Court struck down Roe v. Wade. Nearly half the states wasted no time transforming themselves into dystopian forced-birth hellscapes, where human beings are forced to carry unwanted pregnancies by threat of imprisonment," read a statement from the company.

    The card company said it conducted a poll to find out how many people in abortion-restricting states actually knew about the regulations in their state.

    The poll found that 6 in 10 people in nine states with total abortion bans didn't know what the law actually was in their state.

    "Turns out ignorance is bliss, until you need an abortion," it added.

    In the seven states where there is no exception for rape and incest, 8 in 10 people said they believed there should be an exception for either, while 6 in 10 didn't know what the law in their state was, according to the poll.

    "Anti-choice a**holes want to control your sex life. 7 in 10 of them think 'casual sex' is a major problem," the company claimed.

    After several more claims from the poll, the company got back to business.

    "Thanks for reading! Sorry to bum you out," the statement said.

    "If you're unfortunate enough to live in one of these forced-birth hellholes, 100% of profits from your order on the CAH store will be donated to the National Network of Abortion Funds to help the people most f***ed over by Republicans in your state government. And for the love of God, don't forget to vote this fall," it added.

    "Okay, time for some casual sex," it concluded.

    Many on the left applauded the company for the statement and claimed they would purchase more of their products.

    This is not the card company's first foray into politics. In 2017, the company claimed to have received donations in order to purchase a plot of vacant land on the Mexico-U.S. border so that then-President Donald Trump couldn't build his border wall. There was no evidence that it actually purchased the land.

    Here's more about the Dobbs decision:

    Leftist Celebrities Prove Their Ignorance on Abortion Restrictions www.youtube.com

  • Brett Kavanaugh assassination suspect said he was a 'sissy slave' and 'trans gamer girl' named 'Sophie' in online posts, asked how to 'take out' high-value targets: Report Fri, 12 Aug 2022 02:15:00 +0000


    The California man accused of attempting to assassinate Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh identified himself as a "sissy slave" and a "trans gamer girl" named "Sophie" in online posts, according to a new report.

    Nicholas John Roske, 26, was arrested on June 8 near the home of Kavanagh. He was caught carrying a black tactical chest rig, tactical knife, a Glock 17 pistol with two magazines and ammunition, a thermal monocular, pepper spray, zip ties, a hammer, screwdriver, nail punch, crowbar, and duct tape, according to the affidavit. Roske faces federal charges of attempting to murder a U.S. Supreme Court justice.

    The FBI affidavit filed in support of an application for a search warrant request allegedly revealed the social media accounts of Roske. The usernames for Roske's profiles on Reddit, Google, and Discord were reportedly exposed.

    Under the Reddit username "AmericanNick," Roske allegedly posted several messages attempting to garner companionship with a female and explore his "kinks" while identifying as a transgender.

    TownHall reported, "In this particular high-profile attempted murder case, an FBI special agent identified several Reddit accounts Roske operated in recent years—one of which the suspect used to embrace his transexual "femme" and submissive "sissy slave" persona, according to the search warrant applications filed in federal court."

    The AmericanNick user said, "Hi my name is Sophie."

    Roske posted numerous personal ads on Reddit, desperately seeking companionship.

    In one ad, Roske purportedly said he was a "Trans Girl looking for other Girl Gamers" to "chill" or play video games.

    A year ago, Roske allegedly said he was a 25-year-old "Trans Girl" seeking a "movie buddy."

    Several Reddit posts allegedly show the Kavanaugh assassination suspect posing as a "male-to-female" seeking a female.

    In the subreddit titled "Sissy Personals," the AmericanNick account posted, "Seattle Sissy Seeking Female for Training." Another post is in search of a "Domme."

    "The suspect, listing himself as a 'Trans Girl' in the city's University District, struck a more erotic tone with his approach in another Reddit post soliciting 'Another Girl for Play/Friendship' on a recurring basis," TownHall reported. "Roske, then 25, divulged that he has 'many kinks and only a few limits' but would 'enjoy some vanilla time' as well. 'I have done a lot of research and have some experience being both a sub and a domme,' Roske typed."

    The outlet added, "In an explicit Reddit post, Roske desired one such 'Daddy to Have Complete Sexual Control Over Me.'"

    Roske – who is believed to be a pro-abortion extremist for allegedly wanting to assassinate the pro-life Justice Kavanaugh – allegedly wanted to abort every single baby in the womb.

    "I think that something as significant as consciousness should not be imposed no matter (the person before they gain consciousness) without consent, and as a non-conscious person cannot give consent, being born is inherently done without consent," Redditor AmericanNick7 wrote seven years ago.

    "In addition, as a negative utilitarian, I wish for suffering to be reduced as much as possible," the Reddit user said. "If abortion were mandatory for pregnant women, no new people would be born, and thus no new people would experience suffering. If no new people are born, humanity will end and thus human suffering will end."

    The user concluded, "I am aware how radical this view is, but I do hold it sincerely."

    TownHall reported, "Last year, Roske called for the redistribution of wealth in America on a leftist anti-capitalist subreddit. On 'r/LateStageCapitalism,' Roske uploaded a pie chart of progressive causes that can be aided by $3.2 trillion from 400 of the richest Americans, including paying for paid annual family leave, wiping out delinquent medical debt, handing out $10,000 to every American household, and vaccinating 'the world' against COVID-19."

    Roske also believes "America hates black people more than it loves guns," per his last Reddit comment.

    Last year, Roske reportedly asked in three different subreddits if someone with borderline personality disorder could work at the FBI.

    According to the report, Roske used his "Narrow_Frosting_1539" Reddit account in May to ask the r/TacticalGear subreddit, "What is a good place to get a kevlar vest?"

    On May 30, Roske allegedly went on the U.S. Marine Corps subreddit and posted the question: "How difficult is it to covertly take out an HVT [the U.S. military abbreviation for 'high-value target']?"

    When asked about the circumstances, Roske purportedly replied, "A house in a medium-density residential area. Let's say 1-4 people for security. Nightime. Some equipment but not cutting edge. So portable thermal imaging but not a whole surveillance team. So it would be one operator working essentially alone."

    In the "Political Discussion" subreddit, the Narrow_Frosting_1539 account asked on May 20, "What will likely happen if the current Supreme Court remains? What would change if the democrats got a majority?"

    The Redditor adds, "The Roe v Wade leak has brought a lot of attention to the supreme court and what it is capable of. If going into the future the Supreme Court retains the same members, what is a realistic expectation for the future? On the other hand, if a conservative judge were replaced by a liberal judge, thus changing which party has the majority, what would change? I am curious both about the immediate results (over the next few years) and long term (the next few decades)."

  • Boston Children's Hospital scrubs videos touting 'gender-affirming hysterectomies' for young girls after online criticism Fri, 12 Aug 2022 01:45:00 +0000


    Boston Children's Hospital touted "gender-affirming hysterectomies" for young girls in a video unearthed by the popular Libs of TikTok account before scrubbing from YouTube.

    The video featured Dr. Frances Grimstad of Boston Children’s Division of Gynecology explaining the different types of hysterectomies a girl could undergo.

    “A gender-affirming hysterectomy is very similar to most hysterectomies that occur,” says Grimstad. “A hysterectomy itself is the removal of the uterus, the cervix — which is the opening of the uterus — and the fallopian tubes, which are attached to the sides of the uterus.”

    Grimstad identified herself as an advocate of trans reproductive health in her Twitter biography, which also includes her preferred pronouns as she and her.

    Here's the video from Libs of TikTok:

    The video was just one in a series offering explanations about other transgender-related operations such as vaginoplasty and facial feminization surgery.

    “Some gender-affirming hysterectomies will also include the removal of the ovaries, but that’s technically a separate procedure called a bilateral oophorectomy, and not every gender-affirming hysterectomy includes that,” Grimstad continued. “People who are getting gender forming hysterectomies do not have to have their ovaries removed.”

    The full video was made private after it was publicized and criticized by many on the right.

    On the hospital's website, they continued to take credit for being among the first to defend transgender rights through their Gender Multispecialty Service.

    As the first pediatric and adolescent transgender health program in the United States, GeMS has long provided gender-affirming care. That care can come in several different forms: It can mean supporting kids who are exploring their gender identity, transitioning socially (for example, changing their pronouns, using an affirmed name, or modifying their clothing), or pursuing medical care.

    The statement also criticized state laws classifying "gender-affirming medical treatments for transgender youth — such as puberty blockers and hormone therapy" as child abuse and promised the organization would continue to support transgender operations.

    Here's a video about the transgender debate:

    Mom: My kid was TRICKED into SECRET sexuality club at school www.youtube.com

  • White House touts 'Big news' that the national average price for a gallon of gas has fallen below $4 per gallon Fri, 12 Aug 2022 01:15:00 +0000


    The national average price for gas has decreased to just under the $4.00 per gallon, a development that the White House is hailing as "Big news."

    As of Thursday, the AAA national average price for a gallon of regular fuel is $3.99, marking the first time in more than five months that the figure has dipped below $4 per gallon.

    "Big news: The average national gas price has dropped below $4 per gallon. With over a dollar drop in just 58 days, this is the fastest decline in gas prices in over a decade," a tweet on the White House Twitter account reads.

    The $3.99 per gallon AAA national average marks a notable decrease since that number ticked slightly past $5 per gallon earlier this year, but $3.99 is still higher than the $3.185 per gallon average a year ago.

    "Today's news that the average national gas price is below $4 a gallon is welcome relief to working families. That's over one dollar down from peak prices. And I'm not done calling on oil producers to increase global supply so prices can drop even more," a tweet posted on President Joe Biden's @POTUS Twitter account declared.

    In addition to high gas prices, Americans have also been enduring the financial burden caused by high inflation.

    On Wednesday, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics released a new consumer price index report: "The Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) was unchanged in July on a seasonally adjusted basis after rising 1.3 percent in June," BLS noted. "Over the last 12 months, the all items index increased 8.5 percent before seasonal adjustment," the report stated. "The all items index increased 8.5 percent for the 12 months ending July, a smaller figure than the 9.1- percent increase for the period ending June."

  • Suspect shot in FBI attack dies after hours-long standoff — identified as man present at the Capitol on Jan. 6 Fri, 12 Aug 2022 00:45:00 +0000


    The man who allegedly attacked FBI offices in Cincinnati, Ohio, earlier on Thursday — and who was shot as police attempted to apprehend him — has died from his injuries after a shootout, law enforcement officials said. Official sources also identified him as a man who had attended the protest at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6.

    Officials said a man tried to enter the FBI offices at about 9:15 a.m. but was unsuccessful and fled the area.

    Later, an Ohio state trooper spotted the suspect's car and tried to initiate a stop that led to a chase.

    “The suspect vehicle did fire shots during that pursuit,” said Lt. Nathan Dennis to reporters. “Gunfire was exchanged between officers on scene and the suspect."

    CNN reported that a source told them law enforcement believed he was armed with an AR-15 and a nail gun. One report said that he had been wearing body armor and fired the nail gun into the building.

    Police set a perimeter around the suspect's car after it came to a stop in in Clinton County, north of the FBI offices.

    Officials said they negotiated with him for about 6 hours before they moved in after those negotiations failed. They said he raised his gun and pointed at them before they shot and killed him.

    Law enforcement officials confirmed to NBC News that they had identified the man as Ricky Walter Shiffer and that he had been present at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6.

    Also on Thursday, U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland announced in a media briefing that the Department of Justice would be seeking the release of the search warrant involved in the Mar-a-Lago raid. He also admitted that he had personally signed off on the search warrant at former President Donald Trump's Florida residence.

    Many on the left have criticized overheated rhetoric against the FBI by those angry over the bureau's actions at Mar-a-Lago.

    FBI Director Christopher Wray defended the department's actions in an email to employees.

    “There has been a lot of commentary about the FBI this week questioning our work and motives,” Wray said. “Much of it is from critics and pundits on the outside who don’t know what we know and don’t see what we see. What I know – and what I see – is an organization made up of men and women who are committed to doing their jobs professionally and by the book every day; this week is no exception.”

    Here's more about the attack on FBI offices:

    Armed man who tried to breach Cincinnati FBI office dead after standoff www.youtube.com

    [Ed. Note: This story has been updated with additional information.]

  • New Hampshire mother and two young sons found shot to death. Police have charged a child suspect with the murders. Fri, 12 Aug 2022 00:15:00 +0000


    Police have charged a child suspect with three counts of murder in the shooting deaths of a New Hampshire mother and her two young sons.

    Officials reported that they found 25-year-old Kassandra Sweeney, and her sons 4-year-old Benjamin Sweeney and 1-year-old Mason Sweeney, shot to death at their Northfield residence. They had been called to the residence at about 11:30 a.m. by a 911 call an August 3. Autopsies found that the suspects had each died of one single gunshot.

    Officials had said that it appeared the incident was not a random act and that they were seeking a suspect after identifying "all involved parties" without releasing the information.

    Later on Thursday, officials said they had arrested a juvenile suspect, but added that state laws prevented them from identifying the suspect or offering other details.

    The suspect was charged with three counts of murder in the first degree and one count of falsifying evidence.

    Officials said that they had been in touch with Sean Sweeney, the husband of the victim and the father of the children, saying he had been "very cooperative and helpful in this investigation."

    Sweeney spoke about the heinous murders in a Facebook post on Sunday.

    "I wanted to thank everyone for the outreach and support, while things will never be 'normal' again my body finally shut down and let me get some sleep last night and I woke up feeling as 'normal' as possible," Sweeney said.

    He added that his wife had been "the most amazing, caring, sweetest all around good person that anyone could ever meet."

    A GoFundMe account had raised over $45k to help the family with memorial costs and living expenses.

    Here's more about the harrowing case:

    Father 'beyond devastated' by shooting deaths of 2 boys, mother in Northfield, New Hampshire www.youtube.com

  • College student in Texas moves to adopt orphan boy he found in a trash can in Haiti Thu, 11 Aug 2022 23:45:00 +0000


    One American university student is taking the necessary steps to become the legal father of an orphan boy he found in a trash can several years ago while visiting Haiti.

    Jimmy Amisial, a 27-year-old college student studying communication and electronic media at Texas State University, first met his future son on a return trip to his native country of Haiti five years ago. At the time, he had flown to Haiti to visit his mother, Elicie, and while there, he also decided to pay a visit to an orphanage where he had volunteered since he was a teenager.

    What he saw when he arrived at the orphanage changed his life forever.

    "People were crowding round this bin, and I heard them arguing about what to do with this tiny baby," Amisial recently recalled. "Everyone was just staring at him. Not a single soul wanted to help."

    While others stood about, Amisial decided to take action.

    "He was crying and had no clothes on, and I could see the pain in his eyes. I had to do something," Amisial said.

    He took the baby to Elicie's home where he and his mother washed, clothed, and fed the baby before taking him to a doctor. Tending to the baby's hygiene needs was particularly important since the baby was covered in ants from his time in the trash bin.

    Amisial also contacted police to try and find the baby's parents, but they have never been identified.

    With no known birth parents, the baby would have had few prospects aside from an orphanage. So a judge assigned to his case asked Amisial whether he wanted to adopt the boy. Though Amisial was concerned about the baby's welfare, he was still initially torn about what to do.

    “When I was asked to raise him, I stayed awake for days tossing and turning, trying to make a decision,” he said. "I was already behind on my university fees, and my family has always struggled to make ends meet. But I didn’t have a dad growing up, and this poor child was facing a lifetime of instability and uncertainty."

    Despite the challenges he knew he would face, Amisial ultimately decided to become the legal guardian of the boy he had already named Emilio Angel Jeremiah.

    "Something inside was telling me that this had happened for a reason – so I took a leap of faith. Sometimes you don’t have to know what to do. You just have to be ready to do it."

    Now, five years later, Amisial is still in the process of formally adopting Emilio.

    "It's been an incredible journey and watching him grow up has been so rewarding," Amisial said of Emilio. "I'm very proud of him."

    "I had to do what I had to do when no one else wanted to do it, and I'm so grateful for the past four and a half years," he added. "I truly do feel like a father, and I'm excited to put pen to paper and make Emilio my son. I just need to raise the money first."

    Meanwhile, Emilio lives with his grandmother Elicie in Haiti, where Amisial splits his time. A GoFundMe account has been created to help Amisial raise the $60,000 he says he needs to complete the adoption process.

    "It’s been fun seeing him grow. He’s a joy to be around," Amisial said. "Mom loves him, the kids in the orphanage love him, and I love him as if he were my own. He really is a special little boy."

    For more on Jimmy and Emilio's story, check out this clip from Sky News:



  • MARK LEVIN destroys biased media coverage of FBI raid on Mar-a-Lago Thu, 11 Aug 2022 23:34:54 +0000


    Left-wingers believe that the FBI raid on former president Donald J. Trump's home was completely justified. Mark Levin wants to know how Democrats know the FBI was justified. Were they tipped off? This is a Stalinist mindset, and that's the nature of the Democrat party.

    Mark looked at several unprecedented acts against Trump under a microscope in this video. "Pelosi violated the traditional way impeachments are conducted," Mark said, "and that has never been done before ... Impeaching a man who is not president anymore has never been done before. [Congress] triggered a special counsel investigation without a predicate required in the department of justice regulations. That has never been done before."

    Let's not forget about the January 6 committee or the Democrats' complete disregard for the Constitution. Now, 90 days before the midterm elections, we have a former president who is likely to want to run for president again being raided by the FBI for reasons related to the Presidential Records Act.

    This is the criminalizing of politics like we've never seen before.


    Want more from Mark Levin?

    To enjoy more of "the Great One" — Mark Levin as you've never seen him before — subscribe to BlazeTV — the largest multi-platform network of voices who love America, defend the Constitution, and live the American dream.

  • New details emerge about Trump raid — and 'it doesn't look good for the FBI' Thu, 11 Aug 2022 23:20:47 +0000


    New, alleged details about the raid of former President Donald Trump's home at Mar-a-Lago hint that it's "not looking good for the FBI," said BlazeTV host Glenn Beck on the radio program Thursday.

    Trump has faced attacks from every direction, but despite all of it, he has "not been found guilty or had any kind of real, solid evidence against him," Glenn pointed out.

    Glenn detailed a long list of investigations, accusations, and lawsuits against Trump, and the latest puzzling revelations about the FBI's raid of Mar-a-Lago, which only seem to raise even more questions. For example, did agents truly refuse to give Trump's lawyer a copy of the warrant upon arriving at the home? Because sources have alleged that his attorney was kept "10 feet away from the warrant" and was not allowed to actually read it. If that's true, then it was absolutely against the law.

    Then there was the inordinate amount of time spent going through Melania Trump's closet. And did they have the proper authority to break into Trump's safe?

    "That warrant had better damn well say that they can break into that safe because the law is, you can't go into somebody's house and ... just tear it all apart," Glenn said. "You have to have a pretty good idea of where things might be located, and you ask for permission for those areas. And you have to know exactly what you're looking for, and if it's in a safe, you need to specifically say, 'it's in a safe and we're having a safe cracker come in.' If they didn't say in the warrant that they could crack his safe, it's the fruit of the poisoned tree. By the way, there was nothing in the safe."

    Glenn also explained that the FBI broke into a specific "safe room" that contained national archives, which Trump was allegedly told by investigators to keep in a locked room.

    "[Trump] made a safe room, and put two locks on it, at their request. And that's what they broke into," Glenn said. "This doesn't look good for the FBI," he added.

    Watch the video clip below to hear more from "The Glenn Beck Program." Can't watch? Download the podcast here.



    Want more from Glenn Beck?

    To enjoy more of Glenn’s masterful storytelling, thought-provoking analysis, and uncanny ability to make sense of the chaos, subscribe to BlazeTV — the largest multi-platform network of voices who love America, defend the Constitution, and live the American dream.

  • GOP Rep. Liz Cheney says Republicans endanger lives by 'attacking the integrity of the FBI agents involved with the recent Mar-a-Lago search' Thu, 11 Aug 2022 23:15:00 +0000


    GOP Rep. Liz Cheney of Wyoming claimed in a tweet on Thursday that fellow Republicans endangered lives by assailing the integrity of the FBI agents involved in searching former President Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago home.

    "I have been ashamed to hear members of my party attacking the integrity of the FBI agents involved with the recent Mar-a-Lago search. These are sickening comments that put the lives of patriotic public servants at risk," Cheney tweeted.

    In a statement on Monday, Trump said that the FBI raided his Mar-a-Lago home in Florida.

    According to the FBI, an armed individual tried to breach the visitor screening center at the FBI Cincinnati field office on Thursday.

    Cheney, a vocal Trump critic, is one of the 10 House Republicans who voted to impeach then-President Trump last year in the wake of the Jan 6. Capitol riot. She is one of the two Republicans serving on the House select committee created to investigate the Jan. 6 episode.

    The congresswoman is facing a Trump-backed opponent in the Aug. 16 GOP primary for Wyoming's at-large congressional district.

    Democratic lawmakers have encouraged people to support Cheney in the Wyoming Republican primary. Democratic Rep. Dean Phillips of Minnesota urged people to "please consider temporarily switching parties and voting for Liz Cheney on or by August 16th."

    During an interview last month, Cheney told CNN's Jake Tapper that regardless of the outcome of the primary contest she will "continue to fight hard to ensure Donald Trump is never anywhere close to the Oval Office ever again."

    "America cannot remain free if we abandon the truth. The lie that the 2020 presidential election was stolen is insidious. It preys on those who love their country. It is a door Donald Trump opened to manipulate Americans to abandon their principles, to sacrifice their freedom, to justify violence, to ignore the rulings of our courts and the rule of law. This is Donald Trump's legacy, but it cannot be the future of our nation," Cheney declared in a campaign ad.

    "The Great Task" www.youtube.com

  • Social security recipients may see big COLA boost in 2023 Thu, 11 Aug 2022 22:45:00 +0000


    American seniors and others who receive monthly social security checks will likely see a big cost of living raise in 2023.

    According to experts, social security benefits are likely to increase anywhere from 9.3% to 10.1% next year. Should they increase by 9.6%, the average social security recipient, who currently collects $1,656 every month, will receive an additional $158.98 on each check, resulting in about $1,900 over the course of the entire year.

    A 9.6% increase would also mark the largest increase since 1981, when it went up 11.2%, and would be the fourth-highest increase in nearly 50 years.

    Every October, the Social Security Administration announces the COLA raise that has been assessed for the forthcoming year. It determines this raise by examining inflation data from July, August, and September of the current year. In 2022, social security benefits went up 5.9%, a staggering jump that more than doubled nearly every yearly increase since 1982.

    Still, that amount has not been enough to keep pace with rising inflation. In June, inflation rose to 9.1%, and increases in food and gas prices have left many social security dependents strapped for cash.

    Soaring costs associated with Medicare Part B have also meant added expenses for many seniors. An analysis conducted by Senior Citizens League estimates that, despite the 5.9% increase in 2022, social security checks are still short $58 each month, based on actual cost of living. SCL also stated that 37% of its survey respondents claimed to receive some kind additional income assistance in 2021, a 21% increase from the years prior to COVID.

    "This suggests that the pandemic and inflation have caused significantly higher numbers of adults living on fixed incomes to turn to these programs to supplement their Social Security and Medicare benefits as prices have continued to climb," said Mary Johnson of SCL.

    Though economists caution that we do not yet have the data points for August and September, many are anxiously anticipating an increase that will help offset their added expenses.

    Johnson said she expects the Social Security Administration to announce the 2023 COLA increase on October 13.

  • FBI claims only 4.4% of active shooter incidents were thwarted by armed citizens, but real figure may be closer to 14.6% Thu, 11 Aug 2022 22:15:00 +0000


    John R. Lott Jr., the president of the Crime Prevention Research Center (CPRC), revealed in a report published on Wednesday by RealClearInvestigations that the FBI grossly underestimates (i.e., by an order of more than three) the number of times an armed citizen has thwarted an active shooter event. He suggested that the narrative constructed by the FBI and developed further by the media on the basis of the allegedly skewed data interpretation may be misused for political purposes.

    Whereas the FBI reported that 4.4% of active shooter incidents between 2014 and 2021 were precluded or ended by armed citizens, the CPRC has found that the number is actually 14.6%. Lott admits that even this figure may be an underestimate.

    Lott attributes the discrepancy to misclassified shootings and to overlooked incidents, both of which have much to do with how an "active shooter event" has been defined.

    The FBI defines an active shooter as "an individual actively engaged in killing or attempting to kill people in a populated area." An "active shooter incident" reportedly does not account for incidents the Bureau "deems related to other criminal activity, such as a robbery or fighting over drug turf."

    Not only does the Bureau's selective definition allegedly mean that the number of active shooter incidents reported between 2014 and 2021 is smaller (252 as opposed to 281), but also that the number of incidents stopped by an armed citizen is smaller (11 as opposed to 41).

    One instance cited in Lott's report is the case of 28-year-old Mercedes Perez, who crashed into a parked vehicle on August 11, 2021, and then started firing on the group of people who came over to help. A nearby resident ended her shooting spree.

    Woman shot and killed after crashing car; shoots at people trying to check on her, police say YouTube - KENS-5

    In another instance cited by the CPRC but ignored by the FBI, a Syracuse property manager "saved the lives of several individuals" on August 31, 2021, by shooting Demetris Jackson after Jackson opened fire on a group of people.

    It is not just misclassification and inattention that may have resulted in the underestimation of armed citizen responses. The FBI depends upon reports from Texas State University's Advanced Law Enforcement Rapid Response Training Center, reports which allegedly fail to pick up on incidents that do not receive news coverage of the kind that would usually trigger consideration.

    "Although collecting such data is fraught with challenges," wrote Lott, "some see a pattern of distortion in the FBI numbers because the numbers almost exclusively go one way, minimizing the life-saving actions of armed citizens."

    While the FBI might include the heroic efforts of armed citizens like Elisjsha Dicken — who stopped a mass shooter at an Indiana mall on July 17 — in this year's tally, the Bureau's alleged refusal to acknowledge other incidents may inadvertently dissuade more Americans from carrying or being prepared.

    Lott intimated that this dissuasion, if not intended by the FBI, is nevertheless advanced by the media. He highlighted Indiana University Bloomington law professor Jody Madeira's comments in the Washington Post, printed after Dicken ended Jonathan Sapirman's rampage. Madeira suggested that an armed and prepared citizenry would be "particularly dangerous ... You'll get this idea that these people [e.g., Dicken] are needed out there to help protect citizens, when in reality that's the job of the police."

  • No more quarantines or test-to-stay in schools, CDC reveals sweeping changes to COVID-19 guidance Thu, 11 Aug 2022 22:00:00 +0000


    The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says Americans no longer need to quarantine if exposed to COVID-19, a sweeping announcement that rolls back several of the agency's pandemic recommendations.

    In new "streamlined" guidance released Thursday, health officials removed the distinction between vaccinated Americans and those who are not up to date with COVID-19 vaccines, meaning the CDC's guidance is now the same for everyone.

    The agency says that individuals exposed to someone with COVID-19 no longer need to quarantine and should instead wear a high-quality face mask for 10 days and get tested after five days. Those who test positive for the virus should isolate while they are sick and come out of isolation once they test negative.

    Additionally, testing to screen people for COVID-19 is no longer recommended for anyone who does not have COVID symptoms.

    Protocols for schools have also been updated. The CDC has ended its "test-to-stay" strategy, which required that children exposed to the virus test negative to continue in-person learning at school. The agency also removed the recommendation that kids in different classrooms avoid mixing.

    While health officials emphasized that the pandemic is not over, they said that new vaccines, treatments, and therapeutics have reduced the risk of severe illness to the point that society can now live with COVID.

    “We’re in a stronger place today as a nation, with more tools—like vaccination, boosters, and treatments—to protect ourselves, and our communities, from severe illness from COVID-19. We also have a better understanding of how to protect people from being exposed to the virus, like wearing high-quality masks, testing, and improved ventilation," the CDC's Dr. Greta Massetti said in a statement.

    "This guidance acknowledges that the pandemic is not over, but also helps us move to a point where COVID-19 no longer severely disrupts our daily lives,” she added.

    A growing number of Americans say they've already returned to living their lives without disruption from COVID.

    Four in 10 Americans say they have returned to their "normal, pre-COVID-19 life," according to a new survey from the Annenberg Public Policy Center. This is an increase from a prior survey in January when only 16% said their lives were back to normal.

    A majority of Americans (54%) also said they never or rarely wear a mask when indoors with people who are not from their household. This is the first time a majority has said they never or rarely wear a mask since the question was first asked in September 2021.

    “After more than two years of experience with Covid-19 and its effects, the public is largely aware of the nature and risks of infection,” said Kathleen Hall Jamieson, director of the Annenberg Public Policy Center. “A consistent percentage does not believe a pre-Covid normal will ever be restored. But a growing number have returned to their pre-Covid life. One can only hope that those in each group have accurately calculated the risks and benefits that their decision entails.”

    Interestingly, there was a partisan and gender split between who reported they had returned to normal and who said they were still living with pandemic restrictions.

    Survey respondents who are male, who report being or leaning Republican, who say they aren't regularly wearing masks, or who indicate they are less worried about getting COVID in the next few months were more likely to say their lives had already returned to normal.

    Respondents who are female, who say they are Democrats or lean Democratic, who are 65 and older, who regularly wear masks indoors around non-household members, or who are more worried about catching COVID were less likely to report that their lives have returned to normal.

News Web Sites

Columnist/Blog Web Sites


This page has been visited 42 times today and 57,881 times since May 11, 2015.