Republican Sen. Josh Hawley of Missouri fears the federal government shutdown will lead to many going hungry, and he has a bill that he says would fix that. But given Democrats’ continued resistance to extending funding for government programs, it is likely to face partisan headwinds. “We have 650,000 Missourians who get SNAP [Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program] benefits,” Hawley told reporters Monday about the food stamp program. “We’re not a big state. That’s a lot of people. It’s 12% of the national population. Think about that: 12% of Americans get food assistance … that’s pretty extraordinary.” The U.S. Department of Agriculture, which administers the food stamp program’s benefits, has announced that, due to the shutdown, “the well has run dry” and “there will be no benefits issued” starting Nov. 1. Hawley’s bill, the “Keep SNAP Funded Act,” would appropriate federal funds to the food stamp program, and would also provide retroactive benefits to those who have missed them. It currently has 11 sponsors, with Sen. Peter Welch of Vermont as the only Democrat signing on in support. Every prior attempt to fund the government on a piecemeal basis has failed during the current government shutdown. Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Wis. (Bill Clark/CQ-Roll Call via Getty Images)  A bill from Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Wis., to pay federal employees was rejected by Democrats, as was a bill to fund the Department of War and thereby pay the troops. Just three Democrats senators—John Fetterman of Pennsylvania and Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock of Georgia—voted to advance Johnson’s bill. Johnson is currently attempting to compromise with Sen. Chris Van Hollen, D-Md., to create an amended version to pass. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., called Johnson’s bill “nothing more than another tool for [President Donald] Trump to hurt federal workers and American families and to keep this shutdown going for as long as he wants,” Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, has a bill to pay air traffic controllers and Transportation Security Administration (TSA) employees. Known as “rifle-shot” bills, these have been attempts to put Democrats on the spot and pressure them to create momentum for funding the government. “We got to fund all these things, but we’re trying to get the ball rolling, so that’s why you see some of these rifle shot ideas,” Sen. John Hoeven, R-N.D., told reporters Monday. Sen. John Hoeven, R-N.D. (Bill Clark/CQ-Roll Call via Getty Images) But there is a legitimate concern that if Democrats took the opportunity to fund specific areas of the government, it could remove pressure points for them to facilitate a full reopening. “It would take the pressure off Chuck Schumer to get his job done and open the government again,” Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, R-La., said last week when asked whether he was interested in moving House bills to fund the government piece-by-piece. But Hoeven said those bills could also do the opposite. “Hopefully, it’ll put some pressure on them, so they pass the clean [continuing resolution]. We’re trying to break the logjam,” Hoeven said. Sen. Mike Rounds, R-S.D., signaled his support for the approach, although it’s far from ideal. “Look, we want government open, and we’ll take as much as we possibly can, and hopefully [Democrats will] figure a path forward that they can live with,” Rounds said.  “But it would be better if they just said, ‘Look, we’ve made our points, and now we’re going to open up government again,’ and then we can get back down to the negotiations that most of us want to have, and we’ll do the rest of our appropriations bills.” Sen. Markwayne Mullin, R-Okla., told reporters that the rejection of Johnson’s bill demonstrates a lack of interest among Democrats in advancing any of these bills. “The Democrats aren’t going to support them. We already had one,” Mullin said, adding that Johnson’s bill “would have paid all of them. Not one at a time, it would have paid all of them.” The post As Food Stamp Funding Runs Dry, Congress Debates Partial End to Shutdown appeared first on The Daily Signal.

If you're tired of censorship and dystopian threats against civil liberties, subscribe to Reclaim The Net. Sixty-five countries, including the United States and Canada, have signed a United Nations treaty on cybercrime that threatens privacy, online research, and free expression. The agreement, known as the UN Convention against Cybercrime, was signed in Hanoi and will take effect once 40 member states have ratified it. Each country must complete its own ratification process. In the United States, a two-thirds Senate vote is required for approval. The UN Secretary-General António Guterres described the treaty as an essential step in combating cybercrime, saying that “cyberspace has become fertile ground for criminals…every day, sophisticated scams defraud families, steal livelihoods, and drain billions of dollars from our economies.” He called the Convention “a powerful, legally binding instrument to strengthen our collective defenses against cybercrime” and insisted it “cannot be used for any forms of surveillance or others that could be linked to violations of human rights.” The UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), which directed negotiations, has argued that the treaty includes protections for human rights and legitimate research. But organizations such as Human Rights Watch (HRW) and the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) disagree. Before the signing, both groups urged governments not to endorse the treaty, warning that its vague definitions could allow governments to monitor citizens, prosecute security researchers, and suppress political speech. Technology companies have also raised concerns. The Cybersecurity Tech Accord, whose members include Meta and Microsoft, described the treaty as a “surveillance treaty” that could promote government data sharing and criminalize ethical hacking. Vietnam, the host of the signing ceremony, has faced repeated criticism over online censorship. The US State Department recently cited “significant human rights issues” in the country, and Human Rights Watch reports that at least 40 people have been arrested this year for online activity. Vietnam’s President Luong Cuong welcomed the treaty, saying it “not only marks the birth of a global legal instrument, but also affirms the enduring vitality of multilateralism, where countries overcome differences and are willing to shoulder responsibilities together for the common interests of peace, security, stability and development.” Supporters argue that the agreement will improve coordination against crimes such as ransomware, phishing, and online trafficking. Opponents maintain that the treaty’s broad provisions could enable governments to misuse cybercrime laws to pursue journalists, researchers, and activists. The signing of the Cybercrime Convention comes as Guterres continues to expand his call for global action against what he describes as “mis- and disinformation,” and “online harassment.” Speaking at the World Meteorological Organization’s conference in Geneva, Guterres linked the spread of “false” information to public confusion about climate change and urged governments to “resist false narratives” and defend scientific research from distortion. “We must fight mis- and disinformation, online harassment, and greenwashing,” he told delegates. If you're tired of censorship and dystopian threats against civil liberties, subscribe to Reclaim The Net. The post Global Cybercrime Treaty Draws Criticism from Rights Groups and Tech Companies Over Surveillance Fears appeared first on Reclaim The Net.

Dems Demanding a Whole Lotta Nuthin' for Americans to Stop Schumer Shutdown

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Justin Bieber's latest album ends with the pop star delivering an almost eight-minute, spoken-word retelling of the first three chapters of the book of Genesis. Now the 31-year-old singer has opened up about his own Christian faith on a recent livestream, a clip of which was shared on YouTube. In it, the Canadian-born heartthrob sits over fast-food takeout with some of his crew, discussing the Bible, God, and what it means to be a man. 'Now we get to live free and rather than focus on sin, now we can focus on Jesus, the wonderful savior.'Many of Bieber's comments revolve around the responsibility he feels he has to others and to God and how he is doing his best not to judge life based on perceived outcomes."It rains on the just and the unjust," Bieber says, going on to stress that:Bad s**t happens to everybody, you know? Bad s**t happens to good people, good s**t happens to bad people. ... Everyone's on the same equal playing ground, and that's hard for people to really comprehend or want to digest because I think it's makes us feel better to be like, 'Well, I'm better than this guy.'He adds, "I don't want to think I'm better than anybody 'cause you don't know what someone's born into."'It's the same thing'The conversation also turns to matters of morality, with Bieber speaking about taking "ownership" as a man and avoiding the sin of adultery:"If you even think of a woman with lust it's the same thing as actually doing it; committing adultery or whatever," he says, clearly referring to Christ's Sermon on the Mount and Matthew 5:28. "It's the same thing. So if it even just crosses your mind for one second, if you treat a man with anger or something, it's the same as killing a man, scripture says."RELATED: Why the Bible is suddenly flying off shelves across America - YouTube Am I worthy?The singer seems to touch on his own mental battles when he speaks of God's mercy. "Someone's probably struggling with their own self-image of like, 'You know, am I worthy of love?' And God says you are. You know what I mean? I don't make the rules. But Jesus says that, and I really believe Him.""I believe He loved us so much," Bieber passionately continues. He put on skin and bones and came onto this Earth as a person, as a human. Lived a sinless life so that we don't have to be focusing on sin because none of us can do the right thing all the time. And then He literally went to the cross, was lashed, whipped, made fun of, then he rose on the third day defeating death, Hell, and the grave. Now we get to live free and rather than focus on sin, now we can focus on Jesus, the wonderful savior. And I really think He's the king of the world, bro. He's the king of Hollywood. He's the king of L.A., bro. He's the king. — (@) Transaction reactionThe men further discuss how and when scripture makes its way into their daily lives, with Bieber revealing that at this point in his career, he does not want to work with people for transactional purposes."That's what, like, business is these days," he says. "It's just like, 'I scratch your back, you scratch mine.' And you guys, it's not based on love."RELATED: LA Dodgers pitcher Blake Treinen puts Christian faith front and center ahead of World Series: 'Make heaven crowded' When asked how he learned about his faith and if it simply comes from reading the Bible, Bieber responds by saying much of it has stuck with him after his mother rewarded him for memorizing passages as a child."I would get a gold star. So I would just memorize it," he recalls enthusiastically.Bieber admits he often doesn't know where a particular passage comes from in the Bible — just that God brings it to the front of his mind. "The scripture says, 'I will remind you the things that I've told you' and He just reminds me," Bieber concludes. "Because He knows what I want. He knows that I want this for other people. So I think He puts it to my brain."Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

Senate Democrats have brushed off pressure from the nation’s largest union of federal workers after the organization put pressure on lawmakers to end the ongoing government shutdown.'It’s time for our leaders to start focusing on how to solve problems for the American people, rather than on who is going to get the blame for a shutdown that Americans dislike.'As the shutdown enters its fifth week, the American Federation of Government Employees, which represents more than 800,000 workers, called on both parties to abandon “partisan spin” and instead take action to ensure federal employees do not miss another paycheck.“Both political parties have made their point, and still there is no clear end in sight,” Everett Kelley, president of the AFGE, stated. “It’s time to pass a clean continuing resolution and end this shutdown today. No half measures, and no gamesmanship.”Republicans previously proposed a clean continuing resolution to reopen the government until November 21, but Democrats repeatedly blocked it.“When the folks who serve this country are standing in line for food banks after missing a second paycheck because of this shutdown, they aren’t looking for partisan spin,” Kelley continued. “They’re looking for the wages they earned. The fact that they’re being cheated out of it is a national disgrace.”“It’s time for our leaders to start focusing on how to solve problems for the American people, rather than on who is going to get the blame for a shutdown that Americans dislike,” he added.RELATED: Capitol Police officers are forced to take out loans to pay their bills because of government shutdown, union boss says Photo by Moriah Ratner for The Washington Post via Getty ImagesYet CNN reported that Democratic lawmakers “appeared to be unmoved” by the AFGE’s demands, despite more than one million federal workers going unpaid.Senate Minority Whip Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) stated that the AFGE’s comments had “a lot of impact,” noting that the union has “been our friends and we’ve worked with them over the years.” However, he told CNN, “I’m not seeing any change in position at this time.”RELATED: Trump admin blames Senate Democrats for SNAP debacle: 'The well has run dry' Sen. Richard Durbin. Photo by Tierney L. Cross/Getty ImagesSen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.) said, “I work very closely with [the AFGE]. That matters to me. But the issue that I’ve always been focused on, that I’ve shared with y’all is, is a deal, a deal? And the AFGE would not want us to cut a deal and then have Trump fire a bunch of people next week. If we cut a deal and then he did that, they would come to us and say, ‘What the hell were you guys thinking?’”The AFGE filed a lawsuit in September against the Trump administration to block any efforts to fire federal workers furloughed amid the shutdown.Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

A modern marvel of worship is close to completion in a small mountain town in Wyoming.A group of Carmelite monks have used advanced techniques and built off a love for historical design to accomplish the unthinkable: a 145,000 square-foot French Gothic-style monastery.'This will be a miracle when it’s accomplished.'The plans go back more than a decade when the monastery was but a simple drawing as the monks worked to resolve objections from neighboring ranchers in Park County, Wyoming. The area of approximately 30,000 residents had concerns of unwanted sightseers, water supplies, and possible effects on wildlife and ranching operations. Eventually, those concerns were rescinded, and Park County commissioners said the monks could move forward and build their epic house of worship on a 2,500-acre cattle ranch; about seven miles from its nearest neighbor.In October, word of the nearly completed monastery rapidly spread as photos were shared online showing the construction. In a matter of days, new photos emerged of the project nearing completion, until images of the near-finished project eventually showed the monks going over plans on the interior.The monks have surprisingly used state-of-the-art technology like Computer Numerical Control machines to build the ancient-looking building. According to X account Culture Explorer, the monks taught themselves how to carve the stone with the diamond-tipped CNC machines and learned the complex engineering techniques without any formal training.This reportedly included creating depictions of angels, gargoyles, and more, carved out of 4,000-pound stones.RELATED: Christians are refusing to compromise — and it's terrifying all the right people The forward thinking monks have previewed their work on a YouTube channel; they showcased the process of stone carving along with some designs mapped out on digital computer programs.The group described the architecture as having the guiding principles of "maximum height and maximum light, brought together with an intricate and delicate aesthetic."This was coupled with seven key architectural elements, as described by the monks themselves: "pointed arches, large stained glass windows, rib vaults, flying buttresses, pinnacles and spires, elaborate entry portals, and ornate decoration."The Carmelite Monks of Wyoming say they are a contemplative community within the Diocese of Cheyenne, Wyoming."The Carmelite Monks live the fullness of the Carmelite Rule in the solitude of the mountains," they wrote. "They pray the entire divine office in common, have a daily sung mass chanted in Latin, do two hours of mental prayer, manual labor, and the daily common rosary."RELATED: Notre Dame’s reopening calls for celebration — and reflection The massive work of architectural art sits on a remote, private road called Meeteetse Creek Road. The group of monks plan on operating a commercial coffee-roasting facility in order to fund their operation, which consists of living quarters and an eventual nun's convent, according to the channel Purely Catholic.During a public 2010 hearing, the Billings Gazette reported that Brother Simon Mary vowed that "everything" about the monastery was "for the worship of God" and "oriented toward that end."Mary added, "This will be a miracle when it’s accomplished."Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!