'Several unanswered questions'

It’s the most wonderful tiiimmme…of the year! If, by wonderful, you mean expensive. But it doesn’t have to be that way. Here are some awesome gifts for the preppers in your life that won’t break the bank. Every single one is a good quality item that costs less than $25. Read on! Prepper gifts under $25 All prices listed are the price at the time of posting. Small binoculars: I got this pair of binoculars a few years back as a gift, and I absolutely love them. They’re the perfect size for a bugout bag or glove box. I took them with me the last time I went to Europe and I think they’re awesome for travel. They work well, and the folding/unfolding mechanism is easy to use. Keychain kubaton: These kubatons have cute designs and according to the listing are legal all over. I love them and have a couple for my daughters. (Don’t tell them!) Pointy thing for keychains: Remember the kitty cats with the pointy ears and the bulldogs that people used to get for keychains so they had something way sharper to hit with than the actual keys? The new iteration of this is really cute – it’s strawberries! I think until these become super popular like the cats did, it’s a more discreet way to weaponize your keychain. Door wedge alarms: I have one of these alarm wedges and have carried it around the world. They make it a lot harder to get into a door, and the alarm is absolutely earsplitting if someone tries. Pepper spray: I’m a huge fan of equipping people who can’t or won’t carry a gun with pepper spray. Heck, why not carry both? Here’s a two-pack of my favorite, Sabre brand. If you have a lot of people you want to arm with pepper spray, this pretty set is more than $25 but the canisters are cute and work out to just over $4 apiece. Coloring book: I made this fun coloring  book to add to my roster of calming designs with quotes that suit people like us. The Freedom Isn’t Free coloring book is just the ticket for the liberty-loving preppers on your list with pages like the ones below. We also have The Prepper’s Coloring Book and The Prepper’s Garden Coloring Book so you can get your zen on with a prepper theme. Prepper food: There are all sorts of #10 cans of dehydrated goodies to be found just under the $25 mark on this page. Consider tucking a few under the tree. Flashlight gloves: These interesting flashlight gloves are highly rated to keep your eyes on the task at hand, even when there’s no electricity. If you need to repair something or deal with a medical issue, these gloves can help you to light up the area where you’re working without you having to clench a flashlight in your teeth. Seeds: If your prepper loved one is a gardener, forget the who-knows-how-old “seed vaults. Check out the high quality offerings over on Seeds for Generations. Puzzles: Looking for some patriotic fun? Check out this line of word search puzzles I made, just for those who love America. (And they all ring up for less than $10!) A few are prepping- and self-reliance-themed. There’s one called Doomsday Dictionary Dive, and another for homesteaders. Then there are three which are just pro-America puzzle books: American Military History, America the Beautiful, and American Presidents. Multitool: This multi-tool plier set comes highly recommended by a farmer I know. It’s durable – he says he’s used it for years on the farm. Swiss Army Knife: Victorinox has a small Swiss Army knife for just under $25 that everyone on my list will love. I like it because it reminds me of my dad – he was never without a pocketknife that had scissors on it. Emergency lighters: Here’s a two-pack of waterproof emergency lighters that fit right on your keychain. Get it for about $4.50 per keychain. Books for under $25 I don’t know about you, but whenever I find a book under the tree I’m completely delighted. Whether it’s fiction or non-fiction, I’m a bookworm, and so is every member of my family. here are some recommendations for your favorite bookworms. Our entire roster of paperback books is available on Amazon for less than $25 apiece. Here are our options: My first novel came out this year. It’s called The Widow in the Woods and I marked it down for the holidays! We have Selco’s three books, which are absolutely incredible assets to your preparedness library: The Dark Secrets of SHTF Survival: The Brutal Truth About Violence, Death, & Mayhem You Must Know to Survive SHTF Survival Boot Camp: A Course for Urban and Wilderness Survival during Violent, Off-Grid, & Worst Case Scenarios SHTF Survival Stories: Memories from the Balkan War Next we have The Organic Prepper Anthologies. We’re working our way through the most useful and popular OP content and publishing it in paperback form. Here are the two that are out so far: How to Feed Your Family No Matter What: An Anthology of Self-Reliant Food Production, Acquisition, Preservation, and Preparation How to Survive During Dangerous Times: A Prepper’s Anthology of Home Security, Personal Safety, OPSEC, and Defensive Mindset And here are my books: The Prepper’s Water Survival Guide: Harvest, Treat, and Store Your Most Vital Resource The Prepper’s Canning Guide: Affordably Stockpile a Lifesaving Supply of Nutritious, Delicious, Shelf-Stable Foods Prepper’s Pantry: Build a Nutritious Stockpile to Survive Blizzards, Blackouts, Hurricanes, Pandemics, Economic Collapse, or Any Other Disasters Be Ready for Anything: How to Survive Tornadoes, Earthquakes, Pandemics, Mass Shootings, Nuclear Disasters, and Other Life-Threatening Events The Blackout Book: A Quick Start Guide to Handling a Power Outage Like a Boss How to Prep When You’re Broke: A Prepper’s Guide to Survival on a Budget Plus, if you have family members you want to break in gently to preparedness, I have two books in the frugality niche. The Ultimate Guide to Frugal Living: Save Money, Plan Ahead, Pay Off Debt & Live Well  What to Eat When You’re Broke: A Frugal Food Philosophy for Eating WELL on a Tiny Budget Other preparedness and survival titles for book lovers Here are articles with my other book recommendations for the entire family: The 10 Food Preservation Books Every Prepper Needs The Essential Prepper’s Library: 30 Books Every Prepared Family Should Own Our Top 20 Works of Fabulous Fiction to Inspire Self-Reliant, Liberty-Loving Children and Teens The Herbalist’s Bookshelf The Reader’s Choice Survival and Preparedness Library The Reader’s Choice Library: Prepper Fiction You’ve Gotta Read What about you? Do you have other suggestions for preppers for less than $25? Will you share them in the comments section? What is the best prepper gift you ever received? Let’s talk holiday giving in the comments section. About Daisy Daisy Luther is a coffee-swigging, adventure-seeking, globe-trotting blogger. She is the founder and publisher of three websites.  1) The Organic Prepper, which is about current events, preparedness, self-reliance, and the pursuit of liberty; 2)  The Frugalite, a website with thrifty tips and solutions to help people get a handle on their personal finances without feeling deprived; and 3) PreppersDailyNews.com, an aggregate site where you can find links to all the most important news for those who wish to be prepared. Her work is widely republished across alternative media and she has appeared in many interviews. Daisy is the best-selling author of 5 traditionally published books, 12 self-published books, and runs a small digital publishing company with PDF guides, printables, and courses at SelfRelianceand Survival.com You can find her on Facebook, Pinterest, Gab, MeWe, Parler, Instagram, and Twitter. The post Prepper Gifts Under $25 Just in Time for Christmas appeared first on The Organic Prepper.

Republicans are entering midterm campaign mode with an emphasis on messaging about affordability. As President Donald Trump recently kicked off a speaking tour on affordability in Pennsylvania, Republicans on the Hill are attempting to do their part to make America more affordable. The Trump Factor Last Tuesday, Trump made his first stop in a new tour of House swing districts, where he personally took on Democrats’ claims to be the party championing a lower cost of living. “I have no higher priority than making America affordable again,” Trump said at Mount Pocono, Pennsylvania, located in the state’s hotly contested 8th Congressional District, which is represented by Rep. Rob Bresnahan, R-Pa. “That’s what we’re going to do. And again, [Democrats] cause the high prices and we’re bringing them down.” Trump, however, has previously suggested that the affordability narrative pushed particularly by Democrats is a hoax. The domestic trip comes after months in which Trump has held few large campaign-style rallies, instead spending much time at his residences and travelling abroad. Vice President JD Vance also appears to be mindful of the importance of swing districts in the upcoming elections, as he is scheduled to rally in Pennsylvania’s 7th Congressional District this Tuesday, where Rep. Ryan Mackenzie, R-Pa., won by just over 4,000 votes in 2024. Historically, midterm elections take away representation from the party in the White House. With narrow majorities in both the House and Senate, Republicans will have to buck that trend to maintain their trifecta. White House chief of staff Susie Wiles has spoken about the strategy Trump will employ, saying in a recent interview that Trump will emphasize his importance in the elections in order to mobilize turnout from his base. “Typically in the midterms it’s not about who’s sitting at the White House,” Wiles said. “You localize the election, and you keep the federal officials out of it. We’re actually going to turn that on its head and put him on the ballot because so many of those low propensity voters are Trump voters.” Trump has previously proposed holding a “Midterm convention” to tout the accomplishments of his administration. His next major opportunity to speak to the American people will likely be his joint address to Congress in 2026. GOP Congress Taking Action on Affordability In Congress, Republicans have worked to advance health care legislation to counter Democrats’ claims that the GOP will allow major premium increases if President Joe Biden’s boosts to Affordable Care Act premium tax credits expire at the end of the year. The push comes after Democrats messaged heavily on health care affordability throughout the shutdown and Zohran Mamdani was elected mayor of New York City on a platform of government intervention to lower costs. Last week, Senate Republicans attempted to bring to a vote a bill from Sens. Bill Cassidy, R-La., and Mike Crapo, R-Idaho, which would put in place of premium tax credits new health savings accounts that would have funds deposited by the Department of Health and Human Services. The funds could not be used for abortion or gender-transition procedures.  In theory, the Cassidy-Crapo bill would widen plan options for consumers and prevent money from going directly to insurance companies. However, it failed by a 51-48 vote. In the House, Republicans have rolled out a health care package of their own, which will appropriate money from the Treasury for a cost-sharing reduction program. House Republican leadership aides say could lead to substantial premium reductions. The bill also includes provisions requiring pharmacy benefit managers to be more transparent with employers, as well as provisions ensuring employers “can protect themselves from catastrophic claims” through access to stop-loss insurance plans. Republicans’ success or failure in branding themselves as the party championing premium affordability could be crucial in the midterms. Elizabeth Troutman Mitchell contributed to this report. The post Make America Affordable Again: Trump, GOP Look to Lower Costs as Midterm Year Approaches appeared first on The Daily Signal.

Hey Boomers and Gen X, if You Think DEI Has Been Bad for You, Ask a Millennial or Gen Z Guy

A champion chomper.

The earliest human skulls in Eurasia show some affinity with Lucy.

MRC Watchdogs churn out breaking news on a daily basis. Don't miss Today's Highlights, where you can keep up with the top MRC content, whether it's the latest study on media bias, a glaring omission from the elitist media, or how the Big Tech companies are serving up the same leftist spin as the media.  Top Stories: 1) ‘Not Yet’: ABC, NBC Downplay ‘Extremist’ Motive in Anti-Semitic Terror Down Under 2) Look in a Mirror: The View Wonders Where All the Hate Comes From, Lie About Trump 3) Tiniest Trump Scandal of All Time? New State Department FONT Policy! 4) Media Wield Lefty Anti-Trump Group Propaganda, Claim Holiday Gift Prices Are Up 26% 5) 'The Grinch Has It Right'? When The Media Hate Christmas 6) DC Police Chief Forced Staff to Underreport Crime Counts, Subordinates Testify to House Oversight   ‘Not Yet’: ABC, NBC Downplay ‘Extremist’ Motive in Anti-Semitic Terror Down Under Avoidance of Specific Motive: ABC's Good Morning America and NBC's Today were criticized for allegedly downplaying the motive in the anti-Semitic terror attack, describing the perpetrators only as being "motivated by extremist ideology" while repeatedly stating that the motive was "not yet revealed" by authorities, despite the attack explicitly targeting the Jewish community on the first night of Hanukkah. Contrast with "Moral Clarity" from CBS: CBS Mornings as a contrast, praising it for offering "moral clarity." CBS reportedly emphasized that the gunmen "picked this site deliberately because they were targeting Jews" and allowed survivors and community leaders to articulate their deep-seated fears about the rise of anti-Semitism in Australia. Narrative Diversion and Focus Shift: The networks were accused of diverting the narrative away from anti-Semitic extremism. NBC's report allegedly ended by focusing on the need for stricter gun control laws, while ABC's coverage maintained that the motive was unknown even while discussing the need for beefed-up security for Jewish celebrations in New York City. Look in a Mirror: The View Wonders Where All the Hate Comes From, Lie About Trump Allegations of Hypocrisy and "Hate-Fueled" Commentary: The blog post argues that hosts on The View displayed "hypocrisy" by "wondering where all the hate in the world came from" while simultaneously being described as "hate-fueled talking heads" themselves. The author cites past controversial statements by host Sunny Hostin (fearing white neighbors, excusing assassination) and Sara Haines (proclaiming pro-lifers should die of cancer) to support the claim that the show is a "purveyor of hate." False Accusation Against Donald Trump: Whoopi Goldberg was criticized for making a false claim that President Trump did not offer condolences for the victims of the shootings in Australia and at Brown University, stating, "You don't find the time to say, as Americans, 'we hate what's happening?'" She was later forced to issue a "correction," which the author notes was delivered with bitterness and a refusal to say Trump's name ("You Know Who"). Misrepresentation of Conservative Support for Extremist Figures: The author claims that co-host Sara Haines falsely attempted to link the anti-Semitic attack in Australia to American conservatives by claiming there was a "divide on the right" over whether to "embrace figures like Nick Fuentes," asserting that "most prominent conservative influencers had denounced him." Tiniest Trump Scandal of All Time? New State Department FONT Policy! Media manufactures outrage over trivia: Major outlets like NBC News breathlessly framed Secretary Marco Rubio's return to the traditional Times New Roman font as "the latest casualty in the Trump administration's war on diversity and inclusion," inflating a minor administrative tweak into a supposed assault on accessibility—despite the Biden-era switch to Calibri achieving no meaningful improvements. Absurd historical comparisons reveal bias: Journalists escalated the "scandal" to ridiculous extremes, with one former Voice of America reporter likening the preference for serif fonts to the Nazis banning Fraktur in 1941 because it was "too Jewish," exposing how anti-Trump hysteria turns routine policy reversals into Godwin's Law violations. Hyping non-issues distracts from real governance: By treating a font memo titled "Return to Tradition"—which restores formality and dignity to official correspondence—as front-page controversy, the press underscores its obsession with symbolic "wars on woke" while ignoring substantive issues, proving nothing Trump does escapes exaggerated liberal scorn. Media Wield Lefty Anti-Trump Group Propaganda, Claim Holiday Gift Prices Are Up 26% Media's Soros-Fueled Propaganda Pipeline: Major outlets like Politico, the New York Post, and NPR affiliates blindly amplified a "26% holiday gift price surge" claim from the Groundwork Collaborative—a leftist group fiscally sponsored by the George Soros-backed New Venture Fund, which received over $88 million from Open Society Foundations—without disclosing its deep anti-Trump ties or the $410 million Soros network spent to defeat him in 2020, turning economic reporting into unchecked propaganda. Flawed Study Exposed: Cherry-Picked Fear Over Facts: The Groundwork report's alarmist 26% hike on 70 New York Magazine gift picks ignores Amazon's dynamic pricing that fluctuates up to 20% daily, relies on a tiny sample ignoring broader trends like the Bureau of Labor Statistics' -0.1% year-over-year apparel price drop, and contradicts expert analysis showing Trump's tariffs haven't driven inflation—yet media swallowed it whole to bash his agenda. Holiday Boom Buries the Narrative: Despite lefty fearmongering, the National Retail Federation projects $1.01–1.02 trillion in U.S. holiday sales—a 3.7–4.2% jump from 2024—with average spending hitting $890.49 (second-highest in 23 years), proving consumers aren't pinched by tariffs as claimed; this media-driven doom loop only distracts from a resilient economy under Trump. 'The Grinch Has It Right'? When The Media Hate Christmas The Media's Annual "Hate Christmas" Cavalcade: Media outlets have an aggressive, annual trend of publishing numerous negative stories about Christmas (e.g., "25 reasons why Christmas can be the worst time of year," "Why I Hate Christmas") immediately following Thanksgiving, suggesting this content is primarily used as "clickbait." Normalization of Anti-Christmas Sentiment: The constant flow of "I hate Christmas" media stories risks influencing younger generations to believe that a negative or Grinch-like view of the holiday is not only acceptable but should be their reality. Contribution to Secularization: The media negativity is connected to the holiday's religious meaning "beginning to fade," implying that the constant focus on the holiday's downsides is helping to transform Christmas into a secular "winter festival" rather than a celebration of the birth of Christ. DC Police Chief Forced Staff to Underreport Crime Counts, Subordinates Testify to House Oversight Systematic Downgrading of Serious Crimes: DC Police Chief Pamela A. Smith allegedly ordered and coerced subordinates to deliberately falsify publicly reported crime data by downgrading serious felony offenses—like assault with a dangerous weapon and burglary—to intermediate offenses. This manipulation was done to prevent them from being included in the public-facing daily crime report, thereby artificially lowering the perception of crime severity in Washington, D.C. Creation of a Culture of Fear and Retaliation: Subordinates testified that Chief Smith punished staff who refused to dishonestly manipulate statistics. The chief reportedly engaged in retribution, including retaliatory transfers and demotions, against MPD officials who did not present "favorable crime statistics" or who questioned her actions. Motive to Undermine Federal Response: The pressure to manipulate crime statistics reportedly intensified around August 2023, coinciding with President Trump's declaration of a crime emergency in D.C. and the deployment of federal law enforcement. The report suggests critics of the federal surge used the deliberately lowered crime statistics to argue the intervention was unnecessary or "misguided."    

I have lost grandparents, childhood friends, and college friends. As you age, death becomes familiar. Each loss shakes you briefly, reminds you that life is fragile, and then fades. You drift back into the illusion that tomorrow is guaranteed. That you will have time later to become a better Christian, husband, and father.That illusion shattered on September 10, the day Charlie Kirk was assassinated by a leftist.Charlie Kirk showed us how a Christian lives and how a Christian dies. His race is finished. Ours must now begin.I did not know Charlie personally. I worked as his publicist last summer for what became his second-to-last book, “Right Wing Revolution,” but we never spoke directly. Still his death devastated me in a way no other loss had.I had to understand why. Answering that question became the genesis of this book, “For Christ and Country: The Martyrdom of Charlie Kirk.”On the day Charlie was killed, I joined my wife to pick up our 2-and-a-half-year-old daughter from preschool. The day before, she had asked again and again, “Dada in car? Dada here?” This time, I wanted to be there when she came running out.As we pulled into the parking lot, my phone lit up. Charlie Kirk had been shot. My stomach dropped.I had felt that dread once before. On July 13, 2024, I was rocking my daughter to sleep when an alert flashed that President Trump had been shot in Butler, Pennsylvania. Minutes later, dread gave way to relief. Trump survived.This time, the dread did not lift.While my wife walked toward the school entrance, I sat frozen in the car, refreshing news feeds. Then I saw the video. The moment the bullet struck Charlie.One look told me no one could survive that wound.Then my daughter appeared.Her face lit up when she saw me. Pure joy. The same joy Charlie’s daughter would never experience again.As my little girl ran toward the car shouting, “Dada!” another child had just lost her father forever. His daughter. His son. His wife. They would never again live a moment like the one unfolding before me.Nothing had changed for my daughter. Everything had changed for me.That night, I slept on the floor beside my oldest daughter’s crib. I lay awake for hours, listening to her breathing and thinking of Charlie’s children and of Erika, facing the impossible task of explaining why their father would never walk through the door again.In the days that followed, I cried more than I ever had. I am not a man who cries. But something in me died with Charlie, and something else was born.I began studying Charlie’s words, speeches, debates, and sermons. Not as content but as testimony. What I saw changed me. Charlie possessed a maturity beyond his years, a steadiness most men twice his age never reach. He knew who he was and whom he served. He knew his mission and the cost of it. He accepted that cost.In Charlie, I saw the man I wanted to be. Strong yet gentle. Courageous yet humble. Unmoved by hatred because he feared God more than man. That recognition exposed an uncomfortable truth. I shared many of Charlie’s convictions but not his courage.I had spoken boldly only when it was safe. I avoided conflict when it was convenient. The wounds of losing lifelong friends in 2020 because I voted for Trump still stung, and I carried a residual fear of losing more.Charlie did not hesitate. He lived Matthew 5 and Mark 8 not as verses but as marching orders. He carried his cross onto hostile campuses and into debates before crowds that despised him, knowing exactly what it cost.When that hatred finally culminated in a sniper’s bullet, it ended his life but not the mission that made him a target.His death exposed my compromises. It forced me to confront the gap between the man I was and the man God was calling me to be. It demanded that I stop postponing courage and start living the truth now. Costly truth. Dangerous truth. Biblical truth.Charlie’s life and death were not political events. They were spiritual ones.He defended the family because God commanded it. He rejected identity politics because every person bears God’s image. He championed fathers because fatherlessness destroys nations. He defended black Americans by insisting on their dignity as individuals created by God, not as pawns of a political movement. He confronted transgender ideology because lies about human nature are lies about God Himself.For that, he was vilified, dehumanized, and finally murdered.The ideology that killed Charlie did not emerge overnight. It grew in the silence of those who knew better but feared the cost of speaking. Evil advances when good men retreat, and too many of us did.RELATED: America’s new lost generation is looking for home — and finding the wrong ones Photo by Matt Cardy/Getty ImagesCharlie did not retreat. Now none of us can afford hesitation.The man I was — cautious and hesitant — died with Charlie. In his place stands a man who understands that truth requires sacrifice, that silence is surrender, and that the only approval that matters comes from God.My daughter deserves a country where political murder is condemned, not excused. Where truth is spoken even when it is dangerous. Where courage is not outsourced to a handful of men like Charlie Kirk but lived by millions.That is why I wrote “For Christ and Country: The Martyrdom of Charlie Kirk.” Not simply to remember Charlie but because his death demanded my transformation and now demands yours.Charlie Kirk showed us how a Christian lives and how a Christian dies.His race is finished. Ours must now begin.The torch is ours to carry — for Christ, for country, and for Charlie.Editor’s note: This article is adapted from the author’s new book, “For Christ and Country: The Martyrdom of Charlie Kirk” (Bombardier Books, Post Hill Press).

James Woods Torches 'Slick Grifter' Gavin Newsom's Presidential Dreams Over Cali's 'Atrocious' Failures

Hilariously, Google's Easter egg is about to prank those people who are still confused about the term, and come to Google to search it.