7 Bible Verses I Cling to When Anxiety Is Strong

Trump and Russia are reportedly near a deal to end the conflict in Ukraine, the administration is looking to overhaul SNAP, and Charlotte’s ICE presence is clearing roads and classrooms. It’s Thursday, November 20, 2025, and this is the news you need to know to start your day. Today’s edition of the Morning Wire podcast can be heard below, and the video version can be seen on The Daily Wire: Peace In Ukraine At Last? Topline: The Trump administration is crafting a plan to end the war in Ukraine. According to a new report, officials are in talks to get both sides on board with a 28-point framework. While few details of a potential deal have been made public, administration officials seem confident about it. Politico quoted one official as saying, “What we are going to present is reasonable.” The plan reportedly emerged from extensive talks between U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff and Russia envoy Kirill Dmitriev. The two ambassadors met in Miami last month and spent three days together on what a potential deal could look like. According to Axios, Dmitriev came out of that meeting feeling like “the Russian position is really being heard.” He went on to describe the negotiations as “a much broader framework” that seeks to bring “lasting security to Europe, not just Ukraine.” What’s not so clear is how far talks have moved forward with Ukraine, or with European officials who may be interested in any potential peace deal–especially one that may involve security guarantees the Europeans have to provide for Ukraine. The White House seems to think that Kiev and Europe will eventually accept the deal, though, as long as “flexibility” is shown, as one White House official put it. When? Some reports suggest a deal could be on the table as soon as the end of this week. That might sound fast, but we have seen a lot of movement lately. According to Politico, Army Secretary Dan Driscoll and other senior U.S. military officials traveled to Kyiv on Wednesday to meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who then traveled to Turkey to meet with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan about restarting peace talks with Russia. Zelensky didn’t talk more of any deal in the works, though, and it’s worth noting that there have been times in the past when Zelensky hasn’t had trouble dissenting from the White House. His buy-in is necessary before a peace plan can move forward. According to Axios, part of the Trump administration’s plan includes asking Ukraine to trade some land for security guarantees–including some land that Russia does not currently control. That alone could be a sticking point for Ukraine. Right now, DailyWire+ annual memberships are fifty percent off during our Black Friday sale. Join now at dailywire.com/blackfriday. SNAP Waste, Fraud, And Abuse Topline: Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins has announced a complete overhaul of the food stamp program, promising to rein in fraud and abuse. Rollins is changing a number of things, but most notably, her department is requiring current food stamp recipients to reapply for benefits. Currently, about 43 million people are in the SNAP program, about 12% of the population, and it costs taxpayers about $100 billion annually. The department’s logic is that reapplying will reduce fraud and abuse, ensuring that benefits go to Americans who really need assistance. Rollins said Americans know SNAP is “extremely corrupt” by the many anecdotal stories of fraud and waste. Videos have circulated on social media of people admitting to selling their benefits, or grabbing eye-popping grocery hauls for people who don’t seem very needy. But, but, but: Without hard data, it’s impossible to know how much abuse is going on and where. Rollins has asked every state to share SNAP data to track down the fraud, but only 29 states, mostly Republican-led, have complied.  “The number is closer to 186,000 deceased men and women who are receiving a check,” Rollins said, based on the data the department has compiled so far. “500,000 people getting two times the benefits, individuals getting benefits in 4, 5, 6 different states – and those are just the red states.” Rollins has said her department is suing to get SNAP data from remaining states, such as New York and California, and suggested the fraud and abuse will be even worse there. SNAP to illegals? Despite the dearth of data on SNAP benefits, some evidence exists that points to illegal aliens receiving SNAP benefits. A 2024 Survey of Income and Program Participation, analyzed by The Center for Immigration Studies (CIS), shows that, even though SNAP is restricted to applicants with legal status, potentially up to 4.5 million illegals are using SNAP. This is especially alarming since illegals are already permitted to use WIC, which is another welfare food program that’s a little more restrictive.  CIS also found that 47% of all noncitizen households receive taxpayer-funded food assistance. And generally, about 60% of illegal immigrant households use at least one major welfare program.  Charlotte Empties After ICE Raids Topline: The Trump administration’s immigration sweeps in Charlotte, North Carolina, have left schools with minimal attendance and roads free of traffic. Charlotte is a place that doesn’t seem like a traditional hotbed for illegal immigration, but immigration raids are starting to expose it as one. What we’ve seen so far is that school attendance is down. Around 30,000 students did not show up to class in Charlotte Public Schools on Monday after the sweep started over the weekend. Immigration raids have yielded about 200 arrests and put fear into other industries around the city. Traffic is down altogether, and some construction sites have been completely abandoned. Why Charlotte: The raids have revealed the city to be a major hotspot for illegal immigrants. Border Patrol and the Department of Homeland Security, more broadly, saw Charlotte as a sanctuary after the sheriff of Mecklenburg County ended its partnership with ICE in 2018. The sheriff said that he would no longer allow ICE to come into his jails to take in illegal immigrant criminals that were set to be released, effectively adopting a sanctuary policy similar to places such as New York City and Chicago, where ICE and Border Patrol have already been active. With Charlotte, federal officials say that there were 1,400 illegal immigrants sitting in jails in the city that local authorities were refusing to hand over to ICE. Officials trying to clean up the mess have effectively said, ‘If you’re not going to help us, we’re going to take matters into our own hands.’ And that’s what has happened. The commander of Border Patrol, Gregory Bovino, has said that the sweeps are yielding more collateral arrests. In other words, illegal immigrants who are with the violent illegal immigrant offenders that federal officials are targeting are being arrested alongside those violent aliens.  According to Bovino, those aliens wrapped up in collateral arrests actually have more serious criminal histories than officials have seen in other cities where raids are happening.

Kamala Harris’s reentry into Democrat campaigning spotlights the left’s ongoing efforts to regain power in red states conservatives have long defended. Harris Seeks Political Revival in Deep-Red Tennessee Former Vice President Kamala Harris made headlines Tuesday by appearing in Nashville to campaign for Aftyn Behn, the Democrat running in a high-stakes special election for Tennessee’s 7th Congressional District. This district, a pillar of conservative values and constitutional principles, was won handily by Republican Mark Green in 2024, demonstrating strong local support for the Trump administration’s America First policies. Harris’s presence signals a renewed push by national Democrats to chip away at conservative dominance, even in regions where leftist agendas have met persistent resistance. With the Biden administration’s policies still fresh in voters’ minds—particularly those that fueled frustration over illegal immigration, runaway spending, and the erosion of family values—Harris’s return to the campaign trail is seen by many as an attempt to revive the progressive platform that was soundly rejected at the ballot box last year. Spokesperson Kirsten Allen confirmed Harris’s appearance, framing it as a show of support for local Democrat efforts. However, for many in the district, this move underscores the national party’s disconnect from the everyday concerns of working Americans who have borne the brunt of inflation and social upheaval under liberal governance. BREAKING: Kamala Harris is in Nashville campaigning for Aftyn Behn tonight, hoping they can flip TN-7 and stop President Trump’s agenda. Only you can stop Kamala again — vote for our Trump-endorsed campaign EARLY this week or on Election Day, Tuesday December 2nd. President Trump… pic.twitter.com/sJeSzEeYJw — Matt Van Epps for Congress (@MattForTN) November 19, 2025 Democrats Target Conservative Strongholds Post-2024 Loss Aftyn Behn, Harris’s candidate of choice, faces an uphill battle against Republican Matt Van Epps. The 7th District’s decisive 21-point Republican margin in 2024 highlights the depth of conservative commitment in the region. Harris’s visit, her first major foray into national Democrat politics since her defeat, is being interpreted as both a test of her political viability and an effort to rally a dispirited progressive base. Yet, for Trump supporters and conservatives, the event serves as a reminder of the determination among leftist leaders to infiltrate even the most reliably red areas, leveraging national figures to sway local elections and revive policies voters have already rejected. Conservatives in Tennessee and nationwide remain vigilant against such encroachments, recognizing that efforts to shift the political balance in Congress could open the door to renewed attacks on the Constitution, gun rights, and traditional American values—issues that remain at the forefront of voters’ minds in the post-Biden era. National Implications and the Ongoing Battle for Congress This campaign stop is not an isolated event. Harris’s recent activities—including supporting redistricting efforts in California—reflect a broader Democrat strategy to reshape the political map following significant losses in the 2024 election. The special election in Tennessee is an early test for these strategies, as Democrats seek to demonstrate continued relevance and regain lost ground. For conservatives, this underscores the importance of vigilance and engagement at every level of government, ensuring that the progress made under President Trump’s renewed focus on border security, fiscal responsibility, and constitutional protections is not undermined by backdoor political maneuvers or a return to the failed policies of the past. Conservative Response: Defending Values Amid Renewed Leftist Push Many in the conservative base view Harris’s campaign appearance as a wake-up call—an unmistakable signal that the fight for America’s foundational values continues, even after a decisive shift in national leadership. The Tennessee special election stands as a crucial front in the ongoing battle to preserve the principles of limited government, individual liberty, and family values. As Democrats regroup and attempt to regain influence, conservatives remain steadfast in their commitment to pushing back against policies and agendas that threaten the nation’s constitutional integrity and social fabric. Sources: Kamala Harris returns to campaign trail, rallies for Tennessee Democratic congressional candidate – POLITICO

People often complain about the downsides of social media, but it’s equally important to recognize its benefits. Millions of people use their platforms to share their stories. Sometimes the stories aren’t warm and fuzzy, but they are raw and honest. That kind of candidness may be helping others, and the original poster doesn’t even realize it. Grammy-award-winning artist Zach Bryan recently opened up about his mental health on Instagram, and fans commended him for his honesty. “In no way is this a greater than thou sentiment and I’m aware I am one of the luckiest men alive. I pray people don’t take this as me taking my blessings for granted. I wanted to share this because I feel like a lot of people go through mental struggles at times and feel alone in them, which leads plenty to suffer in silence,” Zach wrote. “Here’s me on mental health/ I hope it helps someone struggling to find words when they’re down on their luck.” View this post on Instagram A post shared by Zach Bryan (@zachlanebryan) Zach Bryan Doesn’t Want Mental Health To Be A Taboo Subject It’s not always easy to openly admit mental health struggles, but Zach Bryan wants others to know he understands. He explained to fans that he used alcohol to numb his feelings, but that became a dangerous coping mechanism. “The anxiety I felt was paralyzing and I thought since I was successful, had the money I always longed for, and had great friends, that I could tough anything out,” Zach wrote. But instead of depending on booze to get him through, Zach chose to give it up. “I haven’t touched alcohol for nearly two months now — something I had to do for my own personal clarity,” he wrote. “I needed to see the world objectively.” Many praised Zach Bryan for his honesty. “We love you man. You have gotten a lot of us through tough times and we could never be more grateful,” a fan wrote. The message hit home for many. “I’m so hyped to see this post. being aware is one thing but taking action is what matters. god speed,” someone shared. “You are saving lives with this post. Thank you. From a psychiatrist, and a big fan,” another person praised. Congratulations, Zach, we’re all very proud of you. This story’s featured image is by Gus Stewart/Redferns. The post County Star Shares Raw Post About Mental Health And The Power Of Sobriety appeared first on InspireMore.

An experienced wildlife photographer with a penchant for marine mammals like whales recently bore witness to a lone seal miraculously surviving a hunt by 8 killer whales. Far more than just bearing witness, it was more or less the photographer’s presence that allowed for it to happen, as the seal escaped the jaws of the […] The post Seal Flops onto Photographer’s Boat to Escape Hunting Orca Pod–She Captured it All on Camera appeared first on Good News Network.

FIRST ON THE DAILY SIGNAL—Two lawmakers are working with the Trump administration to roll back a Biden-era regulation forcing taxpayers to pay for unaccompanied illegal alien children in the U.S. to travel to get abortions. Rep. Mark Harris, R-N.C., and Rep. Mary Miller, R-Ill., are leading a group of lawmakers in introducing a bill to prevent federal funds from being used to assist an illegal alien getting an abortion. “No American should ever have their tax dollars used to shuttle illegal aliens across state lines for abortions,” Harris told The Daily Signal. “That’s why we’re fighting to stop these outrageous Biden-era policies that turned federal programs into a taxpayer-funded Uber for abortions. We’re going to end it.” The legislation will codify the Trump administration’s effort to walk back the Biden rule, which was first reported by The Daily Signal. “[Former President] Joe Biden turned federal agencies into abortion traffickers by directing the Office of Refugee Resettlement to arrange and finance abortion travel for illegal alien minors,” Miller said. “President [Donald] Trump’s administration is rightfully moving to reverse this shocking abuse of taxpayer dollars, and I’m proud to partner with Congressman Mark Harris on legislation that permanently ends it.” Trump’s Department of Health and Human Services is cleaning up the Biden administration regulation so that it is in compliance with the Hyde Amendment, a 1976 law that prohibits taxpayer funding for abortions, HHS officials told The Daily Signal.  “HHS is reviewing the relevant regulations and guidance to ensure they align with all applicable laws, including the Hyde Amendment,” an HHS official told The Daily Signal in a statement. Harris and Miller’s bill prohibits taxpayer funding for travel, lodging, meals, child care, translation services, doula care, and patient education and information services that are aimed toward helping an illegal alien get an abortion. On Nov. 10, 2022, the Biden administration proposed the “Unaccompanied Children Program Foundational Rule,” which required the Office of Refugee Resettlement to “ensure unaccompanied children have access to medical care, including transportation across state lines and associated ancillary services if necessary to access appropriate medical services, including access to medical specialists, family planning services, and medical services requiring heightened ORR involvement.” The requirement applies “regardless of whether federal appropriations law prevents ORR from paying for the medical care itself,” says the guidance, which became a final rule in April 2024.  This formed the basis for the office to provide transportation for a number of minors to receive abortions. This includes out-of-state travel for minors in states where abortion is banned.  Trump’s Office of Legal Counsel issued a July memorandum of opinion saying the Biden rule violates the Hyde Amendment. “This Office concluded in 2022 that the Hyde Amendment does not bar the Department of Health and Human Services from expending covered funds to provide transportation for women seeking abortions,” the opinion says. “Having been asked to reconsider, we now conclude that the Hyde Amendment prohibits the use of federal funds to provide ancillary services necessary to receive an abortion.” As a result, Office of Legal Counsel determined the appropriate response is to withdraw its prior contrary opinion.  As HHS undergoes the task of challenging Biden’s final rule, the agency has found many partners in Congress. Co-sponsors of the Harris and Miller bill include: Reps. John Rose of Tennessee, Barry Moore of Alabama, Eli Crane of Arizona, August Pfluger of Texas, Clay Higgins of Louisiana, Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia, Robert Aderholt of Alabama, Randy Weber of Texas, Randy Fine of Texas, Marlin Stutzman of Indiana, Chip Roy of Texas, Keith Self of Texas, Eric Burlison of Missouri, Jefferson Shreve of Indiana, Glenn Grothman of Wisconsin, John McGuire of Virginia, Andy Harris of Maryland, Daniel Webster of Florida, and Warren Davidson of Ohio.Pro-life organizations Family Research Council, March for Life Action, Students for Life Action, CatholicVote, and the Center for Urban Renewal and Education all support the bill. The post EXCLUSIVE: GOP Lawmakers Move to Help Trump Walk Back Rule Forcing Taxpayers to Fund Illegal Alien Kids’ Abortions appeared first on The Daily Signal.

They were separated by over 40 million years, but what do the fossils say?

The years-long trend of American de-Christianization recently came to an end, with the Christian share of the U.S. population stabilizing at roughly six in ten Americans, according to Pew Research Center data. Of the 62% of adults who now identify as Christians, 40% are Protestants, 19% are Catholics, and 3% belong to other Christian denominations.There are signs in multiple jurisdictions pointing to something greater than a mere stabilization under way — at least where the Catholic Church is concerned.The New York Post recently found that multiple New York City Catholic parishes have not only seen a spike in conversions but their churches routinely fill to the brim. That's likely good news for the Archdiocese of New York, which was found in a recent Catholic World Report analysis to have been among the 10 least fruitful dioceses in 2023 in terms of baptism, conversion, seminarian, and wedding rates.'We've got a real booming thing happening here.'Fr. Jonah Teller, the Dominican parochial vicar at Saint Joseph's in Greenwich Village, told the Post that the number of catechumens enrolled in his parish's Order of Christian Initiation of Adults for the purposes of conversion has tripled since 2024, with around 130 people signing up.Over on the Upper East Side, St. Vincent Ferrer has seen its numbers double since last year, jumping to 90 catechumens. The Basilica of St. Patrick's Old Cathedral has reportedly also seen its numbers double, ballooning to around 100 people. The Diocese of Brooklyn doubled its 2023 numbers last year when it welcomed 538 adults into the faith and expects the numbers to remain high again this year.Attendance in New York City reportedly skyrocketed in the wake of the assassination of Charlie Kirk, who was apparently attending mass with his Catholic wife, Erika, and their children.RELATED: Charity, miracles, and high tech — here's how these monks built a massive Gothic monastery Photo by John Lamparski/Getty Images"We're out of space and exploring adding more masses," Fr. Daniel Ray, a Catholic Legionary priest in Manhattan, told the Post. "We've got a real booming thing happening here, and it's not because of some marketing campaign."While a number of catechumens cited Kirk's assassination as part of what drove them to the Catholic Church, others cited a a desire for a life- and family-strengthening relationship with God; a desire to partake in the joy observed in certain devout Catholics; a desire for community; a desire for "guardrails"; and a desire for anchorage and meaning in a chaotic world where politics has become a substitute for faith."My generation is watching things fall apart," Kiegan Lenihan, a catechumen in the OCIA at St. Joseph's told the Post. "When things all seem to be going wrong in greater society, maybe organized religion isn’t that bad."Lenihan, a 28-year-old software engineer, spent a portion of his youth reading the works of atheist intellectuals such as Christopher Hitchens and Richard Dawkins. After experiencing an anxiety-induced crisis at school, he apparently sought out something of greater substance, devouring the works of Marcus Aurelius. He found that his life still lacked greater meaning despite achieving material success.'The Catholic Church is a place of sanity.'"I realized on paper, I had everything I wanted, but I had no fulfillment in my soul," said Lenihan, who remedied the problem by turning to Christ.Liz Flynn, a 35-year-old Brooklyn carpenter who is in OCIA at Old St. Patrick's, previously sought relief for her anxiety and depression in self-help books and dabbled in "pseudo spiritualism." After finding a book about God's unconditional love for his children in a gift shop during a road-trip stop at Cracker Barrel, she began praying the rosary and developed an appreciation for Catholicism."I'm happier and calmer than I've ever been," Flynn told the Post. "Prayer has made an enormous impact on my life."New York City is hardly the only diocese enjoying an explosion in conversions.The National Catholic Register reported in April that numerous dioceses across the country were seeing substantial increases in conversions. For instance:the Diocese of Cleveland was on track to have 812 converts at Easter 2025 — 50% more than in 2024 and about 75% more than in 2023; the Diocese of San Angelo, Texas, expected 56% more converts in 2025 (607) than in 2024 (388);the Diocese of Marquette, Michigan, was expected to see a year-over-year doubling of conversions; the Diocese of Springfield, Illinois, was expected to see a 59% year-over-year increase; the Diocese of Grand Island, Nebraska, was set for a 45% increase;the Diocese of Steubenville, Ohio, was expecting a 39% increase in converts; andthe Archdiocese of Los Angeles noted a 44% increase in adult converts.Besides the Holy Spirit, the conversions were attributed to the National Eucharistic Revival, immigration, and evangelization.Pueblo Bishop Stephen Berg told the Register that people are flocking to the church because it stands as a bulwark against the madness of the age."I think the perception of the Catholic Church is changing," said Bishop Berg. "In a world of insanity, I think that people are noticing that the Catholic Church is a place of sanity.""For 2,000 years, you know, through a lot of turbulent times — and the Church has been through turbulent times — we still stand as the consistent teacher of the faith of Christ," continued Berg. "The people are intrigued by that."As of March, 20% of Americans described themselves as Catholics, putting the number of Catholic adults at around 53 million nationwide.Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!