Does Mike Johnson Want To Expand Abortion Tourism?– thefederalist.com Source Link Excerpt:
With the enhanced Obamacare subsidies Democrats passed as part of their “Covid emergency” in 2021 set to expire on Dec. 31, congressional Republicans are considering what, if anything, to do about it. In a recent interview, House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., said, “I don’t love the policy” of extending the subsidies, “but I understand the political realities and the realities of people on the ground.”
Respectfully, I don’t think he understands the political realities in the slightest. Apart from Johnson’s convenient case of amnesia — remember when Republicans said they wanted to repeal Obamacare rather than expand and extend it? — the speaker is ignoring one major issue. Extending the enhanced subsidies would 1) keep taxpayer dollars flowing to plans that fund abortion and 2) allow blue states to create “slush funds” for abortion tourism that undermine the protections that pro-life states, including Johnson’s home state of Louisiana, have worked diligently to enact.
Vance urges people to go hard against anyone ‘justifying or celebrating’ Charlie Kirk’s killing – live | Charlie Kirk shooting– www.theguardian.com Source Link Excerpt:
To close out as guest host of Charlie Kirk’s podcast, JD Vance went hard against what he called the far left and an increased tolerance for violence on it, saying the administration would be working to dismantle those who celebrate Kirk’s death and political violence against their opponents.
Vance said that after he left Kirk’s family in Arizona, he read a story in the Nation, a leftwing publication, where the author detailed Kirk’s views and, he said, took a quote about a supreme court justice out of context to imply it applied to all Black women.
The magazine was not a “fringe blog” but a “well-funded, well-respected magazine whose publishing history goes back to the American civil war. George Soros’s Open Society Foundation funds this magazine, as does the Ford Foundation and many other wealthy titans of the American progressive movement,” Vance said, hinting at the organizations the administration might target in the aftermath of Kirk’s murder. Vance later mentioned that the foundations that helped fund the magazine are tax-exempt, a sign that the government could go after that status.
“Charlie was gunned down in broad daylight, and well-funded institutions of the left lied about what he said so as to justify his murder,” Vance claimed. “This is soulless and evil, but I was struck not just by the dishonesty of the smear, but by the glee over a young husband’s and young father’s death.”
Vance said Erica Kirk asked his wife, Usha, for advice on how to tell her children that their father had been murdered on the vice-president’s visit to escort Kirk’s remains back to Arizona. As she was asking for that advice, Vance said, “there were people dancing on that father’s grave”.
Teacher raped schoolboy, 11, in her own bed then gave pathetic excuse | World | News– www.express.co.uk Source Link Excerpt:
A teacher who raped an 11-year-old boy after luring him back to her home confessed to police with a disgusting excuse. Horrifying bodycam footage has captured the moment Alley Bardfield admitted to enticing her victim home for “play dates” in her bed.
The married 34-year-old was arrested and subsequently confessed to having sexual intercourse with the child on the bed she usually shared with her husband at their residence. The newly released bodycam footage revealed the US teacher’s shocking 12-word confession after the arresting officer questioned her motives towards the young lad.
It was also heard in court that Bardfield had sent over £500 to the teenager over several months and swapped explicit photos with the boy on Snapchat.
When asked by the arresting officer why she sent nude pictures to the boy, she responded: “He kept asking and asking and asking and wouldn’t leave me alone.”
In a shocking twist, Bardfield told a police officer that the young boy made advances towards her and blamed him for the revolting incident. This revelation came about when the boy’s parents grew suspicious after observing their son’s unusual behaviour at home, reports the Daily Star.
The parents discovered that their 11-year-old had been visiting Bardfield’s house in Mount Zion, Illinois, after going through his mobile phone. These visits were referred to as “play dates” by Bardfield, one of which disturbingly led to a sexual encounter.
Report outlines DEI impact on US medical schools – The North State Journal Source Link Excerpt:
A new report issued by the James G. Martin Center outlines how diversity, equity and inclusion at medical schools in the United States compromises “academic standards, undermine merit-based admissions and hiring, and jeopardize public health outcomes.”
“Medical education must prioritize competence, not ideology,” Jenna A. Robinson, James G. Martin Center president said in a press release. “This report reveals the extent to which DEI policies are weakening the physician pipeline at a time when Americans need highly skilled, well-trained doctors.”
Authored by Martin Center Senior Fellow Jay Schalin, the report, “An End to Excellence: How Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Undermine Our Medical Schools,” looked at the 10 top-ranked American medical schools with respect to diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programs and policies.
The schools in the report include Harvard Medical School, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, University of California at San Francisco School of Medicine, University of Michigan Medical School, Stanford University School of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Yale School of Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine at the University of California at Los Angeles and Weill Cornell Medicine.
Schalin’s report examines how DEI policies, described as an aggressive extension of affirmative action, have eroded meritocracy in the nation’s medical schools by prioritizing race, gender and ideologies in areas like admissions, faculty hiring, curricula and student programs, potentially leading to less competent physicians and compromised health care.
‘Am I safe here?’ TPUSA student speaks out after GWU official calls Kirk assassination ‘fair’– www.thecollegefix.com Source Link Excerpt:
A conservative George Washington University student is speaking out after an assistant campus director at George Washington University posted on social media that it was “fair” Charlie Kirk was assassinated because he supported the Second Amendment.
“If nothing else, it is fair, in a nation where children get massacred by gun violence on the regular, the people who advocate for continued gun ownership at the expense of those children are not immune from the consequences of their advocacy. No thoughts, and no prayers,” posted Anthony Pohorilak, assistant director of academic initiatives at George Washington University’s Mount Vernon campus.
He wrote the message on Facebook, according to Fox News, which first reported on the post.
Olivia D’Angelo, a GWU graduate student, told The College Fix on Saturday she is “disgusted” by Pohorilak’s post. As an undergrad at UNC Asheville, she founded and served as president of the Turning Point USA chapter there until her graduation in May 2025.
“I did this because of Charlie Kirk. His dedication to Christ and the truth of the gospel was inspiring, and I wanted to challenge politics that lead people away from God. I wanted to be like him,” D’Angelo (pictured) told The Fix via email.
She said his “brutal death” is heartbreaking for her and all those involved in the TPUSA movement.
Celebrities Attack Trump, Promote Hamas at Emmys, Remain Silent on Charlie Kirk’s Murder– slaynews.com Source Link Excerpt:
The murder of conservative activist Charlie Kirk was completely ignored during Sunday night’s 77th Primetime Emmy Awards, despite the show’s long history of using its stage for political grandstanding.
Just four days earlier, the 31-year-old Turning Point USA founder was assassinated at Utah Valley University during a Q&A session on his “American Comeback Tour.”
The shocking political murder drew international headlines and condemnation from President Donald Trump, who called it a “heinous assassination” and an act of “political violence.”
But when Hollywood’s elite gathered at the Peacock Theatre in Los Angeles, not one actor, director, or host acknowledged Kirk’s death.
Instead, the event was saturated with progressive politics.
Viewers Furious at “Deafening Silence”
The silence over Kirk’s murder did not go unnoticed.
Social media users blasted the Emmys for refusing even a brief tribute.
High School Seniors Are Struggling To Read — It’s Time To Overhaul Our Education System– dailycaller.com Source Link Excerpt:
As a kid, I was a bit rambunctious. I talked a lot in class, acted up some, and didn’t always pay attention to the lesson. Halfway through 8th grade my English teacher, Mrs. Hunt, told me something profound.
“You know, your classmates really look up to you. They see you as a leader. I bet if you paid attention in class more, you could teach them a thing or two,” she said.
That conversation changed my life. After that, I took my education seriously and tried to be the leader Mrs. Hunt thought I could be. Years later, I completed my doctoral degree in higher education. That conversation with Mrs. Hunt was a defining moment that put me on the pathway to academic and financial success.
This is not a unique story in America. Right after college, I was a middle school math teacher in a low-income community. I learned firsthand what Mrs. Hunt and so many other great teachers already knew — any kid can learn, regardless of zip code, race, income, or background. They just need great teachers who care about their future and an education bureaucracy that gets out of the way.
But right now, bad education policy has put our education system in crisis.
The 2024 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) — known as The Nation’s Report Card — paints a grim portrait of K-12 achievement nationwide. These results, the first comprehensive post-pandemic snapshot, reveal American students testing at historic lows across math, reading, and science. In 8th-grade science, only 31% scored proficient, marking the first decline since 2009. For 12th graders, only 22% are proficient in math — the lowest average score since 2005. Nearly two-thirds lack proficiency in reading.
Obama-Appointed Judge Blocked From Forcing Taxpayer Funding of Planned Parenthood Clinics– conservativeroof.com Source Link Excerpt:
A federal appeals court on Thursday blocked a lower court order mandating taxpayer funding for abortion giant Planned Parenthood.
A three-judge panel for U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit, all appointed by former President Joe Biden (D), ultimately allowed a congressionally approved measure stripping Planned Parenthood of taxpayer dollars through Medicaid to go forward as litigation continues. The order stays two July preliminary injunctions issued by Obama-appointed U.S. District Judge Indira Talwani, which blocked the defunding measure from going into effect.
“Notwithstanding the contrary conclusion reached by the district court after its careful consideration of the matter, we conclude that defendants have met their burden to show their entitlement to a stay of the preliminary injunctions pending the disposition of their appeals of the same,” wrote Judges Gustavo Gelpí, Lara Montecalvo, and Seth Aframe.
“The motion is GRANTED. The July 21, 2025 preliminary injunction and the July 28, 2025 preliminary injunction are hereby stayed pending disposition of the respective appeals,” they continued.
Republicans passed a measure in this summer’s “Big, Beautiful Bill,” stripping Planned Parenthood of taxpayer funding through Medicaid for one year. Defunding abortion providers through the reconciliation process allowed the Senate to bypass the critical 60-vote threshold for a simple majority vote, instead capitalizing on Republicans’ overall trifecta. While federal funding for abortions is barred by the Hyde Amendment — except in cases of rape, incest, or life of the mother — pro-life advocates argue no federal funds should be used to prop up any organization that performs abortions.
Left-Wing Protesters Disrupt Charlie Kirk Vigil With Song Engraved On Alleged Assassin’s Bullets– dailycaller.com Source Link Excerpt:
Left-wing protesters at a vigil for Turning Point USA (TPUSA) founder Charlie Kirk sang a song that was engraved on a bullet in the rifle of Kirk’s alleged assassin in a video posted to social media Sunday evening.
“Protesters sung the song written on the bullet casings which killed Charlie Kirk at the vigil mourning his death tonight at NYU,” the group posted. “They also threatened to kill NYU College Republican Club president Ryan Leonard. They’re not looking for peace.”
Gen Zers Will Never Be The Same After Kirk’s Assassination– thefederalist.com Source Link Excerpt:
Doubtlessly, a new age has just begun.
Most of Gen Z was nothing more than a twinkle in their parents’ eyes when 9/11 occurred. They never lived in a version of America without the Transportation Security Administration or looming terrorist threats. They were born into the aftermath, a world filled with warnings. Don’t play outside unsupervised, don’t take candy from strangers, don’t sit on a bus with your headphones on.
Zoomers are well accustomed to a world where safety is the primary concern because threats are always dangling nearby. They were raised in the era of “cancel culture” and closed dialogue. They were told that the best thing they could do was sit on their phones and scroll through social media, self-censoring their own thoughts.
That’s where Charlie Kirk met many young Americans.
For a demographic that was born in a world obsessed with fearmongering, it was a special thing to have someone make a call for truth through open conversation. Even the large nonpolitical segment of this group formed an emotional attachment to Kirk. He often trended, with clips of him going viral on a weekly basis. Teachers didn’t attack Kirk the same way they attacked Trump, because Kirk was not a public official but a personality to be reckoned with. This gave young people space to approach his rhetoric.
These same young people are not going to tolerate the horrific death of someone they came to know and care about. They have spent their entire lives being told that safety is a priority and forced tolerance will give them safety.
So-Called Christian Publication Ripped for Thumbing Noses at Charlie Kirk While Praising George Floyd– www.westernjournal.com Source Link Excerpt:
Plenty of legacy media outlets had atrocious coverage of Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk and his assassination on Wednesday. But a purportedly Christian media outlet rightfully drew a special degree of ire for their reaction to his tragic death.
Christianity Today, founded by evangelist Billy Graham but run in more recent years by subversive woke evangelicals like Russell Moore, coughed up an article about the martyrdom of the Christian conservative hero entitled “Died: Charlie Kirk, Activist Who Championed ‘MAGA Doctrine.’”
In a distant tone, the article described his career as a political activist and his cultural impact, as well as discussed his role in influencing the MAGA movement and the administrations of President Donald Trump.
The piece largely overlooked his testimony to the Christian faith and his sincere desire to see young people trust in Jesus.
Christian social media users quickly noticed the distinction between that coverage and the coverage of another high-profile death of a far less worthy man five years ago.
Here’s Charlie Kirk rightly critiquing the water downed gospel message in America… pic.twitter.com/fwNB9tVs4V
Scott Jennings drops all the receipts on Dem rhetoric that killed Charlie Kirk, while new details about killer are revealed– www.louderwithcrowder.com Source Link Excerpt:
I’ve given up on thinking that we are going to have an honest conversation about the left in the aftermath of Charlie Kirk’s assassination. It was barely after his death was made official that the media wanted to tie Kirk’s murder to “Trump’s” rhetoric, and for conservatives to get lectured by Chuck Schumer to stop blaming his party for it. Yes, after someone inspired by Schumer’s political party’s rhetoric murdered one of our own.
At best, we can hope that “Talk Radio” Scott Jennings gets a chance to sit in for “Lone Voice of Sanity on CNN” Scott Jennings. Though let’s be honest, there is zero chance CNN allows a video medley calling Democrats out for their violent, incendiary rhetoric. Or in any way holding Democrats accountable for anything. The one silver lining is that CNN is irrelevant.
It will be interesting to see how the left and the media (but I repeat myself) cover the story from here. If they cover it at all. They tried to play up that the killer was a white MAGA Republican who killed Charlie Kirk because he wasn’t conservative enough.
Teacher Suspended After Forcing Kids to Watch Charlie Kirk Assassination Video– townhall.com Source Link Excerpt:
A Canadian public school classroom was thrown into controversy last week after a teacher was suspended for allegedly showing ten and eleven-year-old students graphic portions of the Charlie Kirk assassination video. He then lectured the students in his class about fascism and transgendersim, and told them that because of Charlie’s political beliefs, he deserved to die.
The students were ages 10 through 11.
While playing a video of Kirk’s murder over and over, junior high teacher “gave a speech to his students regarding anti-fascism, anti-trans, and how Charlie Kirk deserved for this to occur.”
A source told the Toronto Sun on Thursday that, “Several students from his class went home and complained to their parents, traumatized at witnessing the on-camera death, which they were forced to witness numerous times over.” Adding that “While playing this video repeatedly, he gave a speech to his students regarding anti-fascism, anti-trans, and how Charlie Kirk deserved for this to occur.”
The parents of those students reached out to the Corvette Junior Public School, which put the teacher on leave effective Friday, September 12th.
Almost surprisingly, administrators at the Canadian public school sent letters to the parents of those affected, calling the horrific incident “extremely troubling and completely disturbing.” They further offered social work services to the traumatized children and assured parents that school administrators would be directly involved in providing additional support.
TikTok removes video honoring Charlie Kirk: violates ‘community guidelines’– www.thecollegefix.com Source Link Excerpt:
A video by The College Fix honoring TPUSA leader Charlie Kirk in the wake of his assassination has been removed by TikTok, which states the video violates “community guidelines.”
The five-minute video, posted to all The College Fix’s media platforms on Saturday, features Assistant Editor Gabrielle Temaat expressing heartbreak over Kirk’s assassination. It then showcases three clips of Kirk debating students on various hot-button topic, and ends by quoting reactions to his murder.
The video was accepted on X, YouTube and Facebook with no problems….
Alleged Assassin’s Trans Partner ‘Hated’ Conservatives And Christians, Relative Says– trendingpoliticsnews.com Source Link Excerpt:
The roommate of alleged killer Tyler Robinson, who is accused of assassinating iconic conservative activist Charlie Kirk, “hates conservatives and Christians,” one of his relatives told Fox News.
Lance Twiggs, the 22-year-old romantic partner of Robinson’s, has not been charged in connection with the crime. Federal investigators have described him as a “person of interest” who has been cooperative with the investigation, however.
He is said to be in the process of “transitioning” from male to female.
According to a female relative who spoke with Fox News on the condition of anonymity, Twiggs began to “act differently” when he turned 18, at which point he developed a hatred of Christians.
MAHA takes on Big Pharma to restore trust in American health– www.theblaze.com Source Link Excerpt:
… Now, a growing number of Americans are speaking out decisively against the quartet of Big Pharma, Big Ag, Big Food, and Big Health. This coalition of “Make America Healthy Again” voters is targeting a crisis of institutional credibility and a growing unease with an industry that is no longer trusted and seems more focused on profits than on people’s health.
As a psychiatric nurse practitioner, I see these problems firsthand. With the MAHA coalition powering Republican victories up and down the ballot, we as Republicans have a generational opportunity to take back our health system. We can make changes and save American lives, but we need to agree on the problems to start.
More than two-thirds of all Missouri adults are overweight. Synthetic opioid overdoses claimed nearly 850 lives last year, with local St. Louis and St. Charles Counties ranking at or near the worst in the state. And should we forget the COVID mandates that caused overdoses to spike, caused childhood anxiety and depression to rise, and kept healthy toddlers in masks? Such measures stunted their development for years, as dissenting scientists and members of the public were told to “trust the experts” and shut up.
Dismissing people is the quickest way to continue to diminish what little trust remains. In my practice, I encounter this lack of trust in our medical establishment every day with my patients. After years of being told to trust “the science” — meaning “don’t question us” — many people no longer trust anything the medical establishment has to say.
Cracker Barrel Suspends Restaurant Remodels, Keeps Americana Style– www.breitbart.com Source Link Excerpt:
After pledging to restore its “Old Timer” logo, Cracker Barrel announced Tuesday it will suspend its restaurant remodel program in response to customer concerns over modernization plans.
Cracker Barrel Old Country Store said in a statement on Tuesday that it will halt remodels of its restaurants and maintain its traditional branding in response to widespread customer feedback. The company revealed the update in a post on X and on its website, noting that guests had voiced opposition to both the new logo design and changes to store interiors.
“We’re continuing to listen. Today, we’re suspending our remodels. If your restaurant hasn’t been remodeled, you don’t need to worry, it won’t be,” the company wrote. “With our recent announcement that our ‘Old Timer’ logo will remain, along with our bigger focus in the kitchen and on your plate, we hope that today’s step reinforces that we hear you.”
The company added that while it tested a modernized interior design in only four of its 660 locations, the plan will not move forward. Cracker Barrel reaffirmed its commitment to its signature “vintage Americana” atmosphere, including rocking chairs on porches, fireplaces, peg games, and antiques sourced from its Lebanon, Tennessee, warehouse.
Cracker Barrel also emphasized that the “Old Timer” logo, featuring the well-known character Uncle Herschel, would remain on road signs, menus, and in stores. The chain recently restored “Uncle Herschel’s Favorite Breakfast Platter” to its menu, pointing to customer demand for tradition.
The decision comes after weeks of backlash to Cracker Barrel’s rebranding efforts, which included a redesigned logo that omitted the classic illustration. The logo change was part of a broader $700 million modernization plan led by CEO Julie Felss Masino, which also included updated restaurant interiors and menu changes.
Company cofounder Tommy Lowe criticized the redesign in late August, calling the new logo “pitiful” and urging leadership to “keep it country.” The uproar intensified after Cracker Barrel’s stock price dropped more than 12 percent following the rollout of the new design.
President Donald Trump also weighed in, encouraging the company to revert to its classic branding. Trump congratulated Cracker Barrel after the reversal, saying the move could help restore customer loyalty.
In its Tuesday statement, Cracker Barrel reiterated its long-standing values, first established when the company opened in 1969: “hard work, family, and scratch-cooked food made with care.” The company stressed that while it may experiment with new platforms and menu items, the heritage and country hospitality that defined the brand would remain central.
“Our 70,000 hard-working team members look forward to welcoming you for breakfast, lunch or dinner soon,” the company expressed.
AI has no idea what it’s doing, but it’s threatening us all– www.sciencedaily.com Source Link Excerpt:
The age of artificial intelligence (AI) has transformed our interactions, but threatens human dignity on a worldwide scale, according to a study led by Charles Darwin University (CDU).
Study lead author Dr Maria Randazzo, an academic from CDU’s School of Law, found the technology was reshaping Western legal and ethical landscapes at unprecedented speed but was undermining democratic values and deepening systemic biases.
Dr Randazzo said current regulation failed to prioritize fundamental human rights and freedoms such as privacy, anti-discrimination, user autonomy, and intellectual property rights – mainly thanks to the untraceable nature of many algorithmic models.
Calling this lack of transparency a “black box problem,” Dr Randazzo said decisions made by deep-learning or machine-learning processes were impossible for humans to trace, making it difficult for users to determine if and why an AI model has violated their rights and dignity and seek justice where necessary.
“This is a very significant issue that is only going to get worse without adequate regulation,” Dr Randazzo said.
“AI is not intelligent in any human sense at all. It is a triumph in engineering, not in cognitive behavior.
Is there a scientific reason why the universe exists?– www.livescience.com Source Link Excerpt:
Is there a scientific reason why the universe exists? In other words, what is the science of why there is anything at all, instead of only nothing?
The answer has to do with opposites. Scientists have found that the universe exists because it began with a slight imbalance between matter and antimatter. Particles of matter — that is, all of the electrons, protons and neutrons in the atoms and molecules of regular stuff — differ from particles of antimatter, which carry the opposite electric charge but are similar in many ways.
Matter and antimatter do not get along. When their particles collide, they annihilate each other in an intense burst of gamma-rays. Fortunately, antimatter is now extremely rare. Although antimatter had a foundational role in the formation of the universe, the fact that there is now so little of it is one of cosmology’s great mysteries.
The Illinois Baptist State Association, or IBSA, is a community of nearly 1,000 Baptist churches, ministries, and missions, dedicated to advancing the Gospel across the Land of Lincoln.
Today, they face a heart-wrenching dilemma. Rooted in their belief that life is sacred from conception, IBSA has provided health insurance as an Illinois employer for its 20-plus employees and retirees for over a century—always excluding abortion coverage.
But Illinois’ 2019 Reproductive Health Act forces IBSA to choose between providing health insurance or funding abortion, directly violating its deeply held faith. (Keep reading to find out how we’re fighting back!)
The RHA mandates that all employer health insurance plans cover chemical and surgical abortions. And anytime they’ve sought an exemption, the reply has been “no.” This abortion coverage mandate has turned IBSA’s commitment to care for its employees into a moral crisis.
