Come learn how to make homemade salt dough ornaments! Made with only three simple ingredients, this easy recipe is perfect for special keepsakes like handprints, footprints and paw prints – or use cookie cutters to create festive shapes like stars or snowflakes. You can leave salt dough ornaments plain or decorate them with paint, glitter, bells and more. I’ve included tips on how to seal them to last as long as possible too! Enjoy this fun holiday craft project with kids, friends, or the whole family. I love to make DIY salt dough ornaments with the footprints of our beloved pets, including my soul kitty Bodhi Moon and our 12 year old chicken Hennifer! I will cherish this ridiculous golden chicken foot forever. What is Salt Dough? Salt dough is a simple, natural, malleable dough made from flour, salt, and water. It’s a great inexpensive alternative to clay and can be used in a wide variety of crafts including ornaments. Once fully dried (and preferably sealed) salt dough becomes very hard and can last a lifetime if stored carefully. WARNING: Salt dough ornaments can be toxic to dogs if ingested! Ingredients This recipe will make about 10 to 15 salt dough ornaments, depending on the size you make them. Feel free to double the amount if desired. 2 cups all-purpose flour (not self-rising flour) 3/4 cup salt – it’s best to make salt dough ornaments with regular iodized table salt (like Morton) 3/4 to 1 cup of warm water Supplies large mixing bowl, or stand mixer with dough attachment rolling pin parchment paper and/or silicone baking mat baking sheet tooth pick, wooden skewer or drinking straw (to make holes to hang them) twine or ribbon for hanging recommended: mod podge or clear acrylic spray sealant to protect them long-term. The finish of your chosen sealer will affect the final sheen of your salt dough ornaments. I already had matte Mod Podge at home but it also comes in glossy, sparkle, or extra glittery! Optional Supplies assorted cookie cutters of choice. You can also use festive cookie stamps to create 3D prints and cut out around them (or use the same size round cookie cutters). acrylic paint and small paint brushes. I used some old Folk Art paints I had leftover from years of making fruit and veggie stamped tea towels, including some pretty metallic paints. glitter, beads, small bells, or other small charms acrylic paint markers work great for writing and finer details too! RELATED: Love homemade ornaments and holiday crafts? Don’t miss our tutorial on how to make dried orange slice ornaments (my favorite!), DIY dried orange garlands, or these adorable blown egg ornaments. Instructions 1) Mix the Salt Dough Preheat the oven to 215°F. In a large mixing bowl (or in stand mixer with a dough attachment), combine and thoroughly mix the flour and salt first. Then slowly pour in the warm water (not hot) and mix as you go. Start with 3/4 cup water for now. The dough may seem a tad dry at first, but should come together with continued mixing. If it still seems dry, slowly mix in the rest of the water, adding just 1-2 Tbsp at a time. See notes about the ideal texture below. Continue to mix and knead the dough for several minutes until it’s soft and smooth. If you’re not using a stand mixer, knead the dough with your hands on a clean work surface. Expert Tips The ideal texture for salt dough ornaments is smooth, holds together in a nice ball, and is easy to work with – similar to play dough or sugar cookie dough. It shouldn’t stick to your hands (or only minimally). If it’s too dry and flaky, mix in more water to adjust the consistency, adding just 1 to 2 Tbsp at a time. Or if it’s too wet and sticky, knead in 1 to 2 Tbsp additional flour at a time. 2) Roll Out the Dough Place the salt dough ball between two sheets of parchment paper, or on a silicone baking sheet with a piece of parchment paper on top. (If you doubled the recipe, split the dough ball into two first.) Gently roll out the dough until it’s about 1/4 to 1/2 inch thick (err on the thicker side for hand or footprints). Try to make the thickness fairly even across the dough. Gently peel the top layer of parchment paper off the dough. 3) Cut or Stamp Next, use cookie cutters to cut out fun shapes or cookie stamps to create pretty 3D designs! You could also use letter stamps to make names or cute sayings. To do hand or footprints, I suggest gently pressing the hand/foot/paw into an open area on the dough first, and then use a cookie cutter or knife to cut out around it afterwards. Gently peel away the excess salt dough from around the sides of your ornaments, leaving them in place on the parchment paper. Use a toothpick, wooden skewer, or end of a small paintbrush to create a small hole in the top of each ornament for hanging. You can roll out the extra dough again to make more ornaments, or simply discard it. You can also store extra salt dough in a Ziploc bag or airtight container (to prevent it from drying out) to use within a couple days. WAIT to paint until after baking. 4) Bake Carefully transfer the parchment paper with the ornaments onto a baking sheet. Bake at 200-225°F for 2 to 3 hours or longer, until they’re totally hard and the bottom/center is no longer soft or wet. Baking salt dough ornaments “low and slow” is key to prevent browning, curling or bubbling! They may take more or less time depending on the size and humidity levels. To promote even drying, flip and rotate the ornaments every hour. Wait until they’re fully cooled and dry before painting or sealing. I usually leave mine in the oven overnight (with the oven off, drying more from residual warmth) and then decorate them the next day. 5) Decorate Once they’re dry and cooled, have fun painting or decorating your salt dough ornaments! Use acrylic paint, paint pens, glitter, or other additions to add your own personal flair. Because our tree is typically decorated in mostly gold and silver, I kept my salt dough ornamental fairly neutral too. In addition to a paint brush, I found using a Q-tip made it easy to create polka dots on mine…but I’m certainly not a pro painter! I also used permanent marker to write names or dates on the back before sealing. Paint pens would work great for that too. I had fun with the shapes, but the footprints are my fave! 6) Seal to Make Them Last Since they’re naturally porous, it’s best to apply a clear sealant to salt dough ornaments to help protect them against moisture, mold, crumbling or deterioration over time. This will help them last a lifetime! However, it’s essential that ornaments are fully dry before sealing them (including paint) – otherwise you lock moisture IN instead of out. I sometimes wait a couple days to seal mine after decorating, allowing them to air dry even further in the meantime. To seal salt dough ornaments, coat the finished dry ornaments with mod podge or a clear acrylic spray. (If working with spray, do so outside or in another very well-ventilated area.) Spread the ornaments out on cardboard, newspaper, or parchment paper, seal one side, allow them to fully dry, and then flip them over to seal the back side as well. Don’t forget the edges! For the best long-lasting results, apply two coats of sealer – especially to unpainted/plain ornaments. One coat is sufficient for painted sides. I had this leftover from making pressed flower candle lantern jars – another fun craft and sweet little DIY gift idea! 7) Hang and Enjoy Last but not least, add twine or ribbon to hang your salt dough ornaments on your tree! I love to add little bells, wood beads, tiny crystals or other charms to the twine for some extra special flair. My newest most prized possession, complete with a moon charm for my Bodhi Moon. I already had a variety of skinny ribbon, festive twine, jingle bells and other charms in my craft box – leftover from years of making blown egg ornaments and dried orange ornaments Frequently Asked Questions Can you air dry salt dough ornaments? Yes, you can follow a no-bake option and allow your salt dough ornaments to air dry instead, though they can take 4 to 7 days to fully dry this way – and it can be tricky in cool or humid climates. Baking them at a low temperature (200-225°F) is much faster and guarantees success on the other hand. How do I know when salt dough ornaments are done drying/baking?  The ornament should be firm and dry to the touch, and have a uniform color (light tan to white) on both sides. It’s common for the bottom to be a slightly different color than the top, but it shouldn’t have a darker, wet-looking center on either side. What’s the best way to store salt dough ornaments? Store dry, sealed ornaments in a cool, dry location inside an airtight container away from sources of moisture. Wrap each piece individually in tissue paper to cushion and protect them. In humid climates, you could add a desiccant packet or uncooked rice to help absorb any lingering moisture. Long live Hennifer! She thanks you all for tuning in today. Have fun! Well friends, I hope you enjoy making homemade salt dough ornaments just as much as we do. I can’t wait to see what fun designs you come up with. Let us know if you have any questions in the comments below, and please leave a review once you give it a try! Don’t miss these related posts: Holiday Stovetop Potpourri Mason Jar Recipes (Free Printable Gift Tag) How to Make a Dried Orange Garland (Oven or Dehydrator) 30 Best DIY Gift Ideas: Mason Jar Gifts, Food, Self Care & More How to Make Dried Flower Candle Jar Lanterns (Pressed Flower Crafts) Print Easy Salt Dough Ornaments Recipe An easy salt dough ornaments recipe made with only three simple ingredients, plus tips to help them last a lifetime! Create special keepsakes like handprints, footprints and paw prints – or use cookie cutters to create festive shapes to paint. Keyword how to make salt dough ornaments, salt dough ornaments, salt dough recipe Prep Time 20 minutes minutesCook Time 1 hour hourBaking Time 2 hours hours Servings 12 ornaments (varies with size) Equipmentlarge mixing bowl, or stand mixer with dough attachmentRolling pinparchment paper and/or silicone baking matBaking sheettooth pick, wooden skewer or drinking straw (to make holes to hang them)twine or ribbon for hangingrecommended: Mod Podge or clear acrylic spray sealant to protect them long-term. The finish of your chosen sealer will affect the final sheen of your salt dough ornaments (e.g. matte, glossy or sparkly)assorted cookie cutters and/or cookie stamps of choice (optional)acrylic paints, small paint brushes, and/or acrylic paint markers (optional)glitter, beads, bells, or other small decorations (optional) Ingredients2 cups all-purpose flour3/4 cup salt (basic iodized table salt works best)3/4-1 cup warm water (start with 3/4, up to 1 cup if needed) InstructionsPreheat the oven to 215°F.Prepare Salt DoughIn a large mixing bowl (or in stand mixer with a dough attachment), combine and thoroughly mix the flour and salt first.Then slowly pour in the warm water, mixing as you go. Start with 3/4 cup water, mix well, and only add more if the dough seems too dry and flaky (isn't holding together well). *See notes about adjusting the texture below. Continue to mix and knead the dough for several minutes until it’s soft and smooth. If you’re not using a stand mixer, knead the dough with your hands on a clean work surface.Roll and StampPlace the dough ball between two sheets of parchment paper, or on a silicone baking sheet with a piece of parchment paper on top. (If you doubled the recipe, split the dough ball into two first.) Gently roll out the dough until it’s about 1/4 to 1/2 inch thick (err on the thicker side hand for footprints). Gently peel off the top peel of parchment paper. Next, use cookie cutters to cut out fun shapes or cookie stamps to create pretty 3D designs. To do hand or footprints, I suggest gently pressing the hand/foot/paw into an open area on the dough first, and then use a cookie cutter or knife to cut out around it afterwards. Gently peel away the excess salt dough from around the sides of your ornaments, leaving them in place on the parchment paper. (You can roll out the extra dough again to make more ornaments if you wish.)Use a toothpick, wooden skewer, or end of a small paintbrush to create a small hole in the top of the ornament for hanging. BakeCarefully transfer the parchment paper with the ornaments onto a baking sheet.Bake at 200-225°F for 2 to 3 hours or longer, until they’re totally firm and the bottom/center is no longer soft and wet. Baking salt dough ornaments “low and slow” is key to prevent browning, curling or bubbling! They may take more or less time depending on the size.Flip and rotate the ornaments every hour to promote even drying.Wait until they’re fully cooled and dry before painting or sealing.  Paint (optional)Once they’re cool, have fun painting or decorating your salt dough ornaments! Use acrylic paint, paint pens, glitter, or other additions to add your own personal flair. SealSince they're naturally porous, it's best to seal salt dough ornaments to protect against mold, moisture, crumbling and make them last!Wait until the ornaments are fully dry (including paint) to seal them.Apply one to two coats of clear sealer (e.g. mod podge or acyclic spray sealer) to each side of the ornaments, allowing them to dry between sides and coats. If using a spray sealer, be sure to work in a very well-ventilated area or outside. Hang and Enjoy!Add twine or ribbon to hang your salt dough ornaments on your tree! I love to add little bells, wood beads, tiny crystals or charms to the twine for some extra special flair. Notes*The ideal texture for salt dough ornaments is smooth, holds together in a nice ball, and is easy to work with – similar to play dough or sugar cookie dough. It shouldn’t stick to your hands (or only minimally). If it’s too dry and flaky, mix in more water to adjust the consistency, adding just 1 to 2 Tbsp at a time. Or if the salt dough is too wet and sticky, knead in 1 to 2 Tbsp additional flour at a time. The post Easy Salt Dough Ornaments Recipe for Handprints, Shapes and Keepsakes appeared first on Homestead and Chill.

If you're tired of censorship and dystopian threats against civil liberties, subscribe to Reclaim The Net. Foreigners planning trips to the United States may soon face one of the most extensive digital disclosure requirements ever introduced at a national border. Under a new directive from the Trump administration, travelers will have to submit five years of their social media history along with extensive personal data before being allowed entry. The rule, described in new documents released by US Customs and Border Protection (CBP), affects even citizens of visa waiver countries such as the UK, Germany, and France. We obtained a copy of the new documents for you here. What was once a short online form for the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) is set to become a far more intrusive process. Applicants will be expected to upload a selfie, provide every phone number and email address used over the last five years, and list relatives’ names, addresses, and birth dates. Authorities have stated that compliance will be “mandatory.” Currently, the ESTA system is relatively straightforward: travelers pay $40 to give basic contact and emergency information, and if approved, receive permission to visit. The proposed expansion transforms this into a digital audit of a person’s communications. The move follows an earlier decision by the State Department in June to make some visa holders’ social media profiles publicly viewable. Officials have justified these changes as a national security measure, saying that online behavior could reveal “anti-American activity.” The timing of the new requirement coincides with preparations for the 2026 World Cup and the 2028 Olympic Games, both of which will take place on US soil. The administration argues that large international events draw heightened security risks, though the new data collection policy would apply broadly to all visitors, not only those attending the games. It marks a shift from traditional border checks to a continuous form of data surveillance, where online activity becomes part of a traveler’s permanent record; an new precedent for global movement and personal privacy alike. If you're tired of censorship and dystopian threats against civil liberties, subscribe to Reclaim The Net. The post US May Require Digital Background Checks for Tourists and Their Families appeared first on Reclaim The Net.

A Slow, Careful, and Inadequate Walk Back on COVID Vaccines?

SO SMOL.

This confirms one of Einstein’s predictions from over a century ago.

“We hope the headlines and social media likes are worth it,” the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) said Wednesday, warning Democrat Illinois Governor JB Pritzker that he violated the U.S. Constitution Tuesday by signing a bill designed to thwart the federal department’s efforts to U.S. immigration law. “(President) Donald Trump, (DHS Secretary) Kristi Noem, and (Border Chief) Gregory Bovino have tried to appeal to our lesser instincts. But the best of us are standing up to the worst of them," Gov. Pritzker said at the bill’s signing ceremony. In addition to giving illegal aliens new rights to sue the U.S. government for efforts to enforce immigration law, the bill also protects them from investigation and arrest, Fox News explains: “Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker on Tuesday signed a sweeping bill aimed at further shielding illegal immigrants in the state from deportation, creating new safeguards at courthouses, hospitals, day cares and university campuses to limit civil immigration enforcement.” “We will counter the Trump Administration’s depravity,” Gov. Pritzger vowed Tuesday in a social media post touting the new state law: “Today, I've signed into law legislation that expands legal protections for the people of Illinois. Dropping your kid off at day care, going to the doctor, or attending classes should not be a life-altering task. We will counter the Trump Administration's depravity.” DHS responded by reminding the Illinois governor that, per the U.S. Constitution, federal law trumps any and all state and local laws: “Article VI, Paragraph 2 of the U.S. Constitution, still clearly states: ‘This Constitution, and the Laws of the United States which shall be made in Pursuance thereof … shall be the supreme Law of the Land.’ “By signing this law, @GovPritzker violated the Supremacy Clause. “We hope the headlines and social media likes are worth it.” DHS Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs echoed the sarcastic sentiment in an interview with Fox News: "By signing this law, Pritzker violated the Supremacy Clause, his oath he took as Governor to ‘support the Constitution of the United States’ — which itself falls under the oaths clause of the Constitution. "We hope the headlines, social media likes, and fundraising emails he did this for are worth it!" The full text of Article VI of the U.S. Constitution is presented below.

For elite journalists, being compared to Walter Cronkite is considered a great honor, so when the Norman Lear Center at the USC Annenberg School for Communications and Journalism announced their 2025 Walter Cronkite Awards for excellence in political journalism on Wednesday, it gave insight into who the industry views as the best of the best. For everybody else, the 2025 winners were a reminder that for those journalists, fighting President Trump is the best way to get street cred. The first winner was NBC White House correspondent Peter Alexander for “holding the powerful accountable.” According to the judges, “Alexander’s live reporting and interviewing ‘meets the challenge of fearlessly engaging’ with the U.S. President and his staff in the Oval Office and White House Press Room. Noting his ‘deep commitment to the pursuit of truth,’ they praised his ‘vital work to correct false narratives’ … he remains composed under pressure, persevering and prepared with the facts.’” Speaking of fraud and false narratives, Alexander recently suggested Trump’s comments about Somalis were related to impending ICE operations and not the welfare fraud scandal. Another award winner was CBS’s 60 Minutes correspondent Scott Pelley, executive producer Bill Owens, and producer Maria Gavrilovic for a “story about executive orders targeting law firms that the president treats as political enemies ‘an excellent and shocking look at the context and the breadth of the threat’ of wielding power against the judicial system.” They were also praised for airing that “a week after the program’s executive producer resigned after 24 years with the show, prompted by increased corporate supervision of its news content in the face of a $20 billion lawsuit from President Trump and the pending FCC approval required for CBS owner Paramount Global’s merger with Skydance Media. ‘This skillful examination stands up for the Fourth Estate’s responsibility to not fold under pressure’” Next were PBS News Hour anchors Amna Nawaz and Geoff Bennett for their “On Democracy” series. “Judges called this ‘brilliant concept’ for a series of interviews with experts, scholars and activists ‘the very best that news can do.’ … it delivered diverse viewpoints that “cut through the noise.” In reality, News Hour featured 98 liberal guests from July 18 to September 18, but only 21 conservatives. MS NOW’s Rachel Maddow was also honored for being “the first and only national television program to cover the Hands Off protest movement on April 7 as ‘a valuable contribution to the historic record of this presidency,’ hailing the ‘engaging and informative’ episode reporting on 1,400 peaceful demonstrations as a ’strong use of the medium’ showing viewers they’re not alone in dissent.” Back on CBS, Evening News anchor John Dickerson’s pretentious end-of-show monologues were praised for “defending civil service and risks to healthcare, to the DOJ, DOGE and DEI. Dickerson does a journalist’s job of ‘bravely’ calling out false narratives ‘with humanizing detail and precision.’ His ‘clear explanations’ tell us how and why it matters that democratic values are under assault, and his ‘historical grounding’ presents facts with ‘calm and rational delivery,’ making his writing even more ‘powerful and effective.’” The Daily Show’s Jon Stewart was recognized for “continuing a comedic tradition in American journalism” and being “a master of his class,’ as shown in the entry’s analysis of DOGE, Stewart exposes how its chainsaw approach eroded safeguards that protect democracy instead of actually cutting fat.” It’s ironic that Stewart was the first comedy host to be recognized by the award given that he spent part of Monday’s show mocking Trump for winning the first-ever FIFA Peace Prize, which he claimed was just a way for FIFA to appease Trump. Also receiving an award was Noticias Telemundo anchor Julio Vaqueiro for “exploring the massive changes enacted, from immigration to tariffs,” and KFOR Oklahoma City for “this ‘stunning’ three-part series about a U.S. citizen and her daughters detained and humiliated by Homeland Security agents ‘a poignant example of finding an important local story that illustrates a national one and digging deep into it and not letting go.’” Not only was there no award given to anyone who investigated the left, but there was also no award given to anyone who did something non-Trump related. The 2025 Walter Cronkite Awards ended up being just another instance of journalists patting themselves on the back for allegedly keeping democracy alive.

Following months of rumors, CBS News’s parent company Paramount Skydance announced Wednesday that CBS Mornings co-host Tony Dokoupil will become the new anchor of the CBS Evening News on January 5, signifying editor-in-chief Bari Weiss’s biggest gamble yet, the network’s most serious attempt to break out of a lifetime in third place, and the most concrete effort to nudge a legacy newscast back to the center since the days of Jeff Glor from December 2017 to May 2019. Dokoupil will the top job from longtime CBS News journalist John Dickerson and former CBS New York anchor Maurice DuBois, who lasted less than a year and suffered from criticism over its format, plummeting ratings, and rampantly smug liberal bias. Weiss acknowledged the non-existent levels of trust in the media, writing in a press release that “[w]e live in a time in which many people have lost trust in the media” and Dokoupil will be “the person to win it back...because he believes in old school journalistic values: asking the hard questions, following the facts wherever they lead and holding power to account.” CBS News President Tom Cibrowski added Dokoupil represents “what everyone wants in an evening-news anchor – authentic, compassionate, unafraid” and “connects instantly, whether he’s talking with world leaders or with families navigating difficult news in their own backyards.” The on-air announcement came on CBS Mornings’s “Talk of the Table” segment with co-hosts Gayle King and Nate Burleson saying they would be discussing “a guy who everybody’s been whispering about in our hallways, in and out of the building” and thus they had to “clear up some rumors about him.” Set to M People’s Moving on Up, Burleson made it official: “Tony Dokoupil — or, as Oprah calls him — Tony Baroni — is moving from the table to the desk as the new anchor of CBS Evening News.” Dokoupil shared his first on-air comments about the new gig, proceeded by heaping praise from Burleson and featured co-host Vladimir Duthiers, who insisted Dokoupil is “the perfect person” to “make us competitive again” and “bring us on the trajectory of winning”: Here’s ‘CBS Mornings’ announcing that @TonyDokoupil will become the anchor of the @CBSEveningNews in January and will bid farewell to the AM show after seven years at “the best job I’ve ever had in journalism” Tony says EN is “a massively important show” with “a massively… pic.twitter.com/z9f7BgabSH — Curtis Houck (@CurtisHouck) December 10, 2025 Dokoupil made clear the change wasn’t out of unhappiness on the AM show: “I want to talk about us because it’s been almost seven years we’ve been doing this together and I am not joking when I say this is the best job I’ve had in journalism, and if things didn’t change around us... I would never change.” Duthiers backed him up, revealing to viewers “I spoke to you a couple weeks ago, you said if you could retire doing this job with us, that would be your dream.” Dokoupil paid tribute to his three co-hosts well: [This new job is] only because of what I learned here. I mean, you are the most authentic, curious, empathetic person on television, Gayle. And I’ve learned so much from you for the last seven years. Nate, you’re the most charming man on TV. I still have a list of 27 activities that we’re going to get to before we pass from this Earth. And Vlad, you’re the renaissance man. You make me smarter about music and humanity everyday. And just the commercial breaks around here, I wish people at home could know, and thank you to the audience as well. They concluded by asking what Dokoupil’s wife — MS NOW host Katy Tur — thought of this hoopla.  Dokoupil joked “I think she’s been lobbying for this for years” and long wanted to be able to have him join her in taking their children to school. Dokoupil’s character arc has been certainly interesting. Starting in the Obama era, he was at Newsweek and The Daily Beast then NBCNews.com before shifting to on-camera duties at MSNBC during the 2016 election cycle (which was when he met Tur as a fellow correspondent). Partway through that election, he shifted over to CBS where he’s been ever since as a correspondent then morning co-host when the newscast was called CBS This Morning. The NewsBusters archives reveal a lengthy record of bias, most infamously an early 2020 segment in which he used pies to promote socialism (and earned fawning praise from Democrat Senator Elizabeth Warren). But in the last few years, Dokoupil has noticeably tacked toward the center (or at least ensured conservative/non-liberal arguments were accurately articulated, such as here and here). Not-so-coincidentally, one inflection point was his reporting since Hamas’s barbarism on October 7, 2023, which personally affected him because his two older children and ex-wife were living in Israel. In May 2024, liberal talk radio host Charlamagne tha God accused him of being “on the left” and a Biden voter, leading to Dokoupil dismiss this and shout he was “not on the left.” It all culminated in a truly red-pill moment as Dokoupil seemed to have been on thin ice because he dared grill far-left author Ta-Nehisi Coates on the September 30, 2024 CBS Mornings about his virulent anti-Israel book. Following vicious backlash from the pro-Palestinian staffers inside CBS News, Dokoupil survived thanks to then-Paramount boss Shari Redstone and also cultivated the respect of Weiss, who then had launched her site The Free Press. Be that as it may, readers can expect NewsBusters to provide rigorous oversight of the new CBS Evening News and see if this newscast — which will start with a series of trips across the country to speak with ordinary Americans — will live up the standard Cibrowski, Weiss, and Dokoupil himself have set. To see the relevant CBS transcript from December 10, click here.

Last weekend, right after President Trump released his National Security Strategy, chairman of the Joint Chiefs, General Dan Caine, dropped a line at the Reagan National Defense Forum that set Washington ablaze:“If you look back over the arc of our deployment history over the last few years, we haven't had a lot of American combat power in our own neighborhood. ... I suspect that's probably going to change.”Left-leaning critics immediately accused President Trump of heralding reckless isolationism and abandoning allies. A few even spun it as “war coming to American soil,” but Glenn Beck says we should all be celebrating this.On this episode of “The Glenn Beck Program,” Glenn breaks down why President Trump “deserves a round of applause” for this brilliant America-first military strategy. “The reason why everybody hates it,” says Glenn, is because “it is the exact opposite of what they've told us for 100 years we should be doing” — namely sending our troops overseas to be a global police force instead of keeping them at home.But “America is standing in this doorway right now,” he continues. “Behind us is the chaos that we've just lived through ... and just ahead, at least according to the National Security Strategy, is a course correction so sweeping that honestly it reads like a rediscovery of the American civilization itself.”In short, the strategy is this: America is done hollowing herself out to police the world and is finally coming home to rebuild a safe, sovereign republic with strong borders, industry, families, energy, and unapologetic national pride.This plan is brilliant, says Glenn, because it’s not just about building the strongest military; it’s also about developing the world’s strongest economy and spirit via ending mass migration, targeting cartels, protecting God-given rights, holding allies accountable, reindustrializing the country, and becoming energy dominant.It also outlines plans to “compete with China economically, technologically, and militarily” and calls for a sovereign Europe, which “is dying” due to “declining birth rates, uncontrolled migration, censorship, loss of identity, [and] regulatory suffocation.”But the strategy also smartly accounts for Europe’s demise should it happen. It asserts that America is “not going to honor NATO for any country that falls,” Glenn explains. “You become a Muslim country, you're not a NATO country. ... We're not defending you.”Then the plans address the Middle East, declaring the “forever wars” official “over” — “not because the region suddenly became peaceful,” says Glenn, “but because America is finally strong enough strategically, diplomatically, militarily to shift from a constant crisis management to long-term stabilization.”And finally, the strategy looks to Africa, where historically the U.S. has “[exported] ideology instead of opportunity” to the continent’s detriment, says Glenn. But this new plan essentially says, “No more lectures, no more nation-building, no more endless aid with no accountability.”Overall, this is a “commonsense” strategy that allows America “to love itself again and to be who she should be and let everyone else be who they should be.”“In short, it's a blueprint for a country that wants to live again — really live again,” says Glenn.But even though nothing about this plan is controversial, “None of the elites want [it],” he says. They’d rather continue pursuing global institutions that outrank the Constitution, border security for everyone but America, and American workers forever paying the tab for the rest of the world.The question that needs to be answered is not whether we can get elites on board (we know the answer to that), but rather can we get the American people on board?“Is the president reflecting the national spirit? Do we want to live again? Do we want to be relegated to the dustbin of history, or does America have other great work to do?” Glenn asks.To hear more of his commentary, watch the clip above.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.

You know who else loves awesome Christmas gifts? My mom! As Christmas approaches, keep these gift ideas in mind if you want to leave a lasting impression and give your mom a gift she'll cherish for many years to come. Here are Align's nine Christmas gift ideas for your mom this year. 1. R. RiveterGet a grip on this all-purpose stashing sample, a veritable holy grail of versatility. R. Riveter’s genuine, full-grain leather Otto handbag is your constant companion in waiting, ready for the office, a day out, or that elusive spur-of-the-moment weekender. Balancing size, elegance, and practicality, it gobbles essentials without looking overstuffed. Think tablets, phones, keys, and of course — speaking of overstuffed — your wallet. All from a company that stands with military families, which means each purchase helps support families who serve our country. MSRP: $268.00.2. Oberon Design Oberon DesignBased in Northern California, Oberon Design has a rich history of local partnerships with a focus on American craftsmanship. Founded by Brendan Smith in 1967, his company has expanded under his careful eye for more than 40 years. The team today is composed of a small group of passionate craftsmen devoted to their art and committed to producing the highest-quality leather goods. The Olivia crossbody purse features an elegant pinstripe design and the occasional “perfect imperfection” in the leather, showing the life of the cow. It offers a luxurious amount of exterior and interior space as well as a metal lock — also made in-house. MSRP: $272.00.3. Lejon Leather Goods Lejon Leather GoodsFounded in 1968 as Lejon Inc. by the current owner’s grandfather and father, Lejon Leather Goods has since come to be known as the premier belt manufacturer on the West Coast. John W. Shirinian, the third-generation owner of Lejon, carries on the family legacy to this day. With an emphasis on sourcing and crafting all of its products in the USA, Lejon has produced over 32 million belts in its history. The Texas, for example, sourced from American bison leather and handcrafted in Lejon's Corona, California, factory, features a Longhorn buckle and is built to withstand the test of time. MSRP: $134.00.4. Shamma Sandals Shamma SandalsIn 2013, the founder of Shamma Sandals, Josh Stiles, wanted to create a company that produced minimalist sandals designed for running and other outdoor activities. Surmounting challenges over the past decade, Shamma Sandals has become the go-to sandal shop for many, including competitors in extreme sports like slack linking, Warrior Races, mountain climbing, and even marathons. Based in Santa Cruz, California, these sandals are handcrafted, sewn, and tailored to customers’ needs. The Pacific Avenue is Shamma’s minimalist rendition of the classic flip-flop. It is built to last with premium leather. MSRP: $119.95.5. Fisher Space Pen Company Fisher Space Pen Co. Sitting at the intersection of NASA, the New York Museum of Modern Art, and "Seinfeld" is a humble, family-owned company with a history-making legacy. Founded in 1948 by Paul Fisher, Fisher Space Pen Company’s legacy continues to this day with Paul’s son Cary Fisher as president. The innovative sealed and pressurized ink cartridge, an impressive engineering feat, earned Fisher’s pens a spot on the NASA Apollo 7 mission in 1966. This design allows for a seamless writing experience in almost every condition — extreme temperatures, underwater, upside-down, and, of course, in space. Plus its clever Cartridge models make for a great gift. MSRP: $49.00.6. Bend Soap USACheap soaps no longer mean you’re tough and practical. All too often, they’re loaded with microplastics and chemicals. Bend’s USA-made, goat-milk offering delivers pure and creamy simplicity that won’t pollute your cells. Sustainably sourced and all natural, it boasts vitamins and nutrients that nourish even sensitive skin, instead of essential oils and other irritating chemicals. The soap leaves you smelling human-being fresh, instead of like a factory’s idea of a trending flower. MSRP: $2.15 to $5.95.7. LMNTYou’re probably not getting enough electrolytes. And if you are, LMNT (pronounced “element”) offers some of the best. Manufactured in America, they’re free from sugar, gluten, and other fillers. Friendly to vegans and paleo or keto dieters, LMNT’s easy-dissolve, pocket- or purse-ready packets deliver the goods — good salts, that is — on the go. But the proof is in the flavors: In addition to the original citrus, which hits like the perfect margarita, LMNT’s palate pleasers span the spicy, the sweet, and the savory. Our favorites? Grapefruit, watermelon, and mango chili. Collect them all. MSRP: $45.00.8. NouriIf your gut isn’t healthy, you’re not either — your gastrointestinal microbiome impacts everything from immunity and hormonal function to your skin, liver, brain, and heart. Look past the pills that quietly source their “good bacteria” from somewhere overseas, and score top-quality, American-made probiotics from Nouri. The company offers a full line of precision products ranging from anti-stress and digestion to weight management, women's health, and prenatal support — all at half the price of comparable premium brands. MSRP: $19.99.9. Frankenmuth Woolen Mill Frankenmuth Woolen MillStanding on its same 1894 foundations, Frankenmuth Woolen Mill goes above and beyond to deliver on its promise of providing premium woolen bedding for a good night’s sleep. Manufactured in Frankenmuth, Michigan, this woolen bedding is promised to offer superior quality, comfort, and durability. Why wool? On top of being all-natural, wool helps regulate your body temperature and has hypoallergenic qualities. Frankenmuth's woolen comforter is great for those with sensitive skin and regulates the temperature at night throughout all of the seasons — perfect for a good night’s sleep. MSRP: $199.00.Bonus: R. Riveter's Patton R. RiveterR. Riveter, named after Rosie the Riveter, was founded by two military wives who bonded over their shared frustration of lacking meaningful employment opportunities due to the transitory nature of military life. Now R. Riveter creates flexible employment opportunities for women facing the same challenges, allowing military spouses to craft handbags from wherever they’re stationed. Each bag journeys across the country, connecting makers in a nationwide support network for military families. The Patton, named after George S. Patton’s wife, combines a classic look with a modern eye for functionality. MSRP: $178.00.