Florida Rep. Byron Donalds (R) on Tuesday rebuffed Left-wing commentator and lawyer Angela Rye during an appearance on popular New York City radio show “The Breakfast Club.” Co-host Charlamagne tha God and Rye both insisted that Vice President Kamala Harris, the Democrat’s presidential nominee, has nothing to do with the struggling economy. Rye, in particular, suggested Donalds was lying about his explanation, which was factually true. “I would argue we’re not really thriving right now,” Donalds said of the current economic climate. “This inflation, which by the way was brought to us by Kamala Harris, has really slowed people down from being able to excel.” “By Kamala?” Charlamagne questioned Donalds. “She’s vice president. There’s still a president.” “Oh, Charlamagne,” Donalds responded, before explaining that Harris cast the tie-breaking vote on the near-2 trillion dollar “American Rescue Plan.” “She broke the tie that started this inflation that has hurt so many people in our country,” the representative said. Rye interjected to suggest Donalds wasn’t being honest, quietly uttering that his statement is “not true.” “You sure you want to go there?” Donalds asked Rye, before pulling out a stack of notes from his jacket pocket. “He got notes!” Charlamagne, giving off a laugh, told Rye. Am I Racist? Is In Theaters NOW — Get Your Tickets Here! Donalds told Rye that economic minds, including Larry Summers, a financial advisor to former President Barack Obama, warned that the legislation would create massive inflation. Donalds noted that he knew this, too, and therefore voted against the bill. Donalds reiterated how wages adjusted for inflation were higher under Trump, and said Harris “broke the economy” and shouldn’t be hired again to try to fix what she broke. Rye struggled to address Donalds’ arguments and replied, “I’m not going to do this, this morning.” Donalds posted the clip to X this week, captioning the post: “On Mar 4, 2021, Kamala cast the TIE-BREAKING vote on the $1.9T American Rescue Plan. Democrat economists warned her it would cause inflation. And it did.” “It caused 20+% inflation. It created a cost-of-living crisis. It crushed hardworking Americans,” he added. “Kamala broke our economy.” On Mar 4, 2021, Kamala cast the TIE-BREAKING vote on the $1.9T American Rescue Plan. Democrat economists warned her it would cause inflation. And it did.. It caused 20+% inflation. It created a cost-of-living crisis. It crushed hardworking Americans. Kamala broke our economy. pic.twitter.com/Zhu5QKLUNo — Byron Donalds (@ByronDonalds) October 1, 2024 Related: CNN Guest Claims Americans Are Better Off Now Than 4 Years Ago, And Byron Donalds Can’t Hold Back

CNN’s Jim Acosta tried to ignore damning illegal alien crime statistics during an interview with Trump campaign adviser Corey Lewandowski this week by interrupting him and taking issue with how he pronounced the name of Vice President Kamala Harris. The exchange took place on CNN’s “Newsroom” on Wednesday as Lewandowski highlighted recent statistics released by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) that showed hundreds of thousands of illegal aliens who have been convicted of crimes roaming America’s streets. “Corey, can you say that Haitian migrants are not eating pets in Springfield?” Acosta asked. Lewandowski responded: “You know what I can say, Jim? I can say that 13,099 murderers were let into this country, 16,000 rapists, 425,000 people in the last four years have been let into this country by Kamala Harris and Joe Biden’s own Customs and Border Protection that are running around this country.” Acosta said, “The other thing, too, it’s Kamala Harris. I don’t know. Is there — why do you guys say ‘Kamala’? That is, it’s Kamala Harris. I just–” Lewandowski said, “Jim, we know that they’re committing crimes against Americans. Why can’t these individuals talk about the individuals who’ve been killed by illegal immigrants? 13,099 murderers were let into this country by this administration’s own accounting, and you guys don’t want to talk about it.” Acosta continued to deflect from Lewandowski’s points by pestering him with questions about how he pronounced Harris’ name. “Jim, can you say 13,000 murderers are coming into the country?” Lewandowski asked. “Yeah, well, Corey, you know, I appreciate you coming on,” Acosta said before ending the segment. WATCH: Trump Senior Adviser @CLewandowski_: “You know what I can say, Jim, I can say that 13,099 murderers were let into this country, 16,000 rapists… that are running around this country, Jim.” Jim Acosta: Why are you mispronouncing Kamala’s name? pic.twitter.com/6CkVtsNZz0 — Trump War Room (@TrumpWarRoom) October 2, 2024

'Very severe'

Watters echoed Habba's sentiments

While millions of Americans come face-to-face with the reality that they no longer have a place to call “home,” Vice President Kamala Harris was campaigning around the country.  Hurricane Helene, a massive Category 4 hurricane, made landfall Thursday in Florida and plowed through Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Tennessee, and Kentucky. Other states, including Virginia, also have been affected.  Helene claimed the lives of over 175 people and hundreds remained missing after the storm, authorities said.  President Joe Biden and Harris finally headed to the disaster area Wednesday, nearly a week after the storm made landfall. Biden visited North Carolina and South Carolina while Harris surveyed damage in Georgia.  Biden and Harris responded to criticism by saying they didn’t want to visit affected communities until their presence wouldn’t cause risks or delay an emergency response.  Both the president and his vice president were criticized for being away from the White House over the weekend as Hurricane Helene wreaked havoc.  Biden spent the weekend at Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, rather than at the White House monitoring the hurricane.   “I was commanding it,” Biden responded Monday when asked why he didn’t command the federal response from the White House. “I was on the phone for at least two hours yesterday and the day before as well. I command it. It’s called a telephone.”   Biden did cut short his time in Delaware and returned Sunday to Washington.  Harris was on a West Coast campaign swing in the storm’s aftermath.  On Friday, the vice president visited the southern border in Arizona, posing in front of a section of former President Donald Trump’s border wall, which she once called a “medieval vanity project” and a “stupid use of money.” Harris later held a campaign event in Douglas, Arizona. Harris then headed to California and spent the weekend speaking at campaign fundraisers. Her San Francisco fundraiser, at the Palace of the Arts, raised well over $20 million. In Los Angeles, Harris raised $28 million, with some megadonors paying nearly $1 million to be there. The vice president released a statement Saturday about the hurricane. “My heart goes out to everyone impacted by the devastation unleashed by Hurricane Helene,” Harris said in the statement, issued while she was raising money in California. “As we continue to respond and as communities recover, our administration will remain in constant contact with state and local officials.”  “I have been briefed by FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell and will continue to receive regular updates,” Harris added.  Harris posted on X that she was briefed by the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s Criswell via phone Sunday night on a flight from California to Nevada. Harris continued her campaign tour, speaking at a rally in Las Vegas. Harris had two campaign events scheduled in Nevada on Monday but decided to cut her trip short and rush back to Washington to be briefed at FEMA headquarters.  In the meantime, Trump created a GoFundMe page to support victims of the hurricane; it soon raised over $3 million.  Trump was briefed by FEMA in Georgia and visited hurricane victims Sunday in their ruined neighborhoods.  The post Kamala Harris Raised Money in California as Hurricane Helene Wreaked Havoc  appeared first on The Daily Signal.

Peter Vlaming, a longtime high school French teacher in Virginia, was fired in 2018 for refusing to use a student’s preferred pronouns. On Monday, after years of litigation and a win for Vlaming at the Virginia Supreme Court, the school board finally capitulated and agreed to settle the case for $575,000. But the West Point School Board’s refusal for five years to protect Vlaming’s free speech and religious freedom rights came with an exorbitant price tag. In 2018, one of Vlaming’s female students at West Point High School began identifying as a transgender male. Although Vlaming consistently used the student’s preferred name, the French teacher carefully avoided using third-person pronouns so as not to violate his own religious beliefs. That courtesy wasn’t good enough for West Point’s school board and school administrators. When Vlaming refused to use preferred pronouns, they fired the teacher for “creating a hostile learning environment.” That’s right. Vlaming wasn’t fired for what he said. He was fired for what he didn’t—and couldn’t—say. Represented by Alliance Defending Freedom and a local attorney, Vlaming sued in state court in 2019, asserting claims under Virginia law and the Virginia Constitution. The school board didn’t flinch, but instead tried to move the case to federal court. And no wonder. If the West Point School Board succeeded, it could invoke the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals’ decision in another Virginia case called Grimm v. Gloucester School Board, which largely adopted gender ideology in its reasoning. That case—and its deeply flawed reasoning—would have mandated the use of preferred personal pronouns.   Thankfully, the school board failed in Vlaming’s case. But it took nearly two years of litigation simply to determine what court should hear it. The school board then asked the state lower court to dismiss the case. The judge agreed and tossed Vlaming’s lawsuit, ruling from the bench without an opinion. Vlaming appealed to the Virginia Supreme Court, which ruled in his favor in December 2023 and reinstated his lawsuit. The majority decision, written by Justice D. Arthur Kelsey, was a landmark victory for religious freedom and free speech. The state Supreme Court held that the Virginia Constitution protects religious exercise—not just religious speech—unless it threatens the public’s safety or order. In so ruling, the state’s highest court rejected U.S. Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia’s highly criticized majority opinion in Employment Division v. Smith. That decision gutted religious freedom when a challenged law could be considered both neutral and generally applicable to everyone. Instead, Kelsey’s opinion for the state Supreme Court relied on the Virginia Constitution’s text and its framers’ views on religious freedom. The Virginia Constitution, the court explained, protects not just beliefs but also the right to act on those beliefs in every aspect of life. The court also ruled for Vlaming on his claim of compelled speech. Merely “objectionable” or “hurtful” speech, it emphasized, poses no threat to public safety or order. Vlaming’s refusal to use preferred personal pronouns based on his Christian religious beliefs thus was protected even if others subjectively took offense to his silence, Kelsey wrote in the opinion. “[I]f liberty means anything at all,” Kelsey wrote, “it means the right to tell people what they do not want to hear. … All the more, it means the right to disagree without speaking at all.” Seeing the writing on the wall, the West Point School Board finally relented. In a settlement finalized Monday, the board agreed to pay Vlaming $575,000 in damages and attorneys’ fees. It also agreed to expunge Vlaming’s firing from his employment record. And for good measure, the school board took the initiative and changed its policies to conform to new educational policies from Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin, a Republican, which protect free speech and parental rights. The school board fought for five years to avoid respecting Vlaming’s rights to free speech and the free exercise of religion. In the end, that fight cost the board (or, more likely, its insurance provider) more than half a million dollars. That’s to say nothing of what the school board had to pay its own lawyers. It turns out that compelling a teacher’s speech carries a hefty price tag and causes quite a lot of trouble. In the end, Peter Vlaming’s courage in defending his right to remain silent is exemplary and achieved far more than money. His stand resulted in one of the clearest statements in history from the Virginia Supreme Court that religious exercise is robustly protected under the state Constitution. This is a victory that we all can celebrate. Hopefully, it also serves as a stark reminder to school boards and school administrators that mandating the use of gender-based personal pronouns just isn’t worth it. The post Teacher Wins $575K Settlement After Being Fired for Not Using Student’s Preferred Pronouns appeared first on The Daily Signal.

A kitten with her "perpetual surprised" face doesn't let anything stand in her way, charming people every day. BattyBatty, the kitten, came to the Chris Griffey Memorial Feline Foundation when her rescuers noticed her nose was a bit different and sought help for her."She has a cleft nose, which is when the nose is split, and the nostrils are spaced apart. Sometimes, they will also have a cleft palate, but Batty doesn't," Kimberly, the foster mom, shared with Love Meow.Upon arrival, Batty made quite an impression on everyone. Despite being just pint-sized, she was ready to conquer the world. Ellen CarozzaShe showed a strong will to live and was eager to learn to eat from a dish. Once she got the hang of it, she devoured her food with gusto. With a hearty appetite, she began to gain weight and strength.Batty's cleft nose doesn't affect her breathing. It is purely cosmetic and only adds to her cuteness. Ellen CarozzaShe was thrilled to be carried around in a pocket, staying close to her people while they worked or went about their day. She had tiny legs on a round body, and when she walked, she shuffled around like a furry ball of joy."She is so fluffy that she looks like a little ball. She loves playing with the other kittens, has glorious whiskers, and loves to watch Bird TV on YouTube." KimberlyBatty has a mighty personality, believes she's twice her size, and has an expressive face to match. She seems to sport a "perpetual surprised" look, enchanting anyone who encounters her."She is a very affectionate girl. She loves being held or just laying on you. When you touch her, she melts and rolls over for belly rubs." Ellen CarozzaWith a loving foster family and feline friends to play with, Batty's adventurous side is shining through.She zooms around the house, inspecting every corner, always the one to initiate an antic. One moment she's tumbling through the living room with another foster, the next they're sneaking into the bathroom, enthralled by the porcelain tub. KimberlyBatty leads her feline crew, creating wild romps and all sorts of mischief. There's never a dull moment in the house.Worn out from her playful frenzy, she seeks out affection and comfort, transforming into a snuggle bug. As much as she loves playing, cuddling with her humans trumps all else. KimberlyBatty likes to curl up on her foster mom when she's ready to nap and recharge. To her, there's no greater joy than the soft caress of her human's hand and the gentle rhythm of their heartbeat.She always gets what she wants with her fearless attitude and doesn't take no for an answer. KimberlyThree days ago, Batty accompanied her foster mom in the car to run errands. After getting everything they needed, they stopped in the drive-thru to get a pup/kitten cup as a treat for the tuxedo.Batty was so brave, demanding attention through the window as if she wanted to make the order herself. KimberlyShe has entered the boisterous kitten phase, zipping around like a blur. She stops her human for attention with her signature "surprised" face, knowing that look will get her whatever she desires. KimberlyAfter a rough start, Batty is living out her dreams and getting all the cuddles she ever wanted. KimberlyShare this story with your friends. More on Batty and Kimberly's fosters on Instagram. Chris Griffey Memorial Feline Foundation on Facebook and Instagram @thecatlvt (Ellen Carozza).Related story: Cat with a Bent Ear Comes Up to People for Help, They Get Her Indoors Just in Time for Her Kittens to Arrive

Rocktober Fest Continues in German Politics

In Nevada and Pennsylvania, Latino Voters Are Shifting Toward Trump

Every August of my childhood, the same thing happened. The first two weeks were still summer: the pool and the beach, baseball and camping. But then, sometime around August 15, my parents would start talking about school shopping. Moms are the ones who make you put on the jeans, walk out of the dressing room, and stand there on display while they get down on their knees and yank on the waist to see how much room you have. It was an ominous sign that summer was nearly over, a reminder that school was looming. Dreaded school. Hated school. After deliberation with each other, my mom and dad would settle on some day in the coming weeks. We would wake up and my parents would remind us to have a good breakfast because “we aren’t eating at the food court.” We would all pack in the car sometime after breakfast and make our yearly trip to the mall for school shopping. Nice pants Back-to-school shopping was an all-day affair. We would get there around 11a.m. We had to get jeans, a couple of boring pairs of nice pants, shirts, shoes, and winter jackets if we had grown out of them. Sometimes my brother and I would split off and go with my dad to look for clothes — the easy stuff: socks, underwear, undershirts. My dad wasn’t a clothes hound. He never spent five minutes inspecting the rise on our jeans, checking to see if they really fit well or if they were the right length. Moms are the ones who make you put on the jeans, walk out of the dressing room, and stand there on display while they get down on their knees and yank on the waist to see how much room you have. Tugging on the fabric and hiking up the jeans, embarrassing you in front of any random people who might walk by. You’ll never see them again, but you were always so embarrassed. “Mom!” Mall malaise Dads, generally, just want to get out of there. Or that’s how my dad was. He dreaded going to the mall for school shopping. I would say that walking around the mall, waiting for my mom and sister to finish whatever they were doing, was one of the things my dad detested most. But for us kids, it was a great day. School shopping at the mall was probably the only thing that made going to back to school somewhat bearable. School stinks. Who wants to go back to sitting at a desk after running around outside all summer? No kid in their right mind wants to be cooped up in some classroom while the sun is still high. Resting your head against the smooth painted concrete wall, looking forlorn, gazing out at the bright green grass calling you through the sealed window. Let me out! Carnival of shoes But getting new clothes was fun. It made going back to school worth it, kind of. It felt like you had a chance to be a new person this year. I imagined how different my life would be if I had cool new skate shirts from World Industries, real JNCO jeans (I always had off-brand knock-offs — the leg opening wasn’t ever that wide), and a pair of skate shoes that were way more expensive than what I got last year. Shoe Carnival was a highlight. Walking back and forth down the aisles, dreaming about which pair of shoes I would end up with. The really pricey ones were never an option. Eventually I learned I shouldn’t even try. I would finally select a few options. My mom would come over. I would put a pair on and she would have me walk down the aisle and then back again. She would study the way I walked like an Olympic judge. She did this all while the Shoe Carnival employee was there watching, of course. Then she would take her thumb and press down at the tip of the toe to make sure I had enough room to grow over the course of the next year. She would press down hard three or four times, manhandling the shoe in focused judgement. It was so embarrassing. But why, exactly? In what world does a 12-year-old get to pick out his own shoes without his parents taking a second look? No world. But when you are 12, you want that to be your world. Natural fit Kids are excited to get new clothes for school because they are new things and kids like to get new things. But kids also like their clothes. They might not talk openly about the clothes they like; they would rather talk about the clothes they don’t like. They don’t necessarily have the language at their disposal. Nevertheless, they have opinions about their clothes and they like when they get new clothes. True, they don’t like them like we do. They don’t care about nice quality or anything particularly advanced. They just want a cool-looking shirt. But they do care in their own way. It’s a natural thing to care about your clothes. Kids, for better and worse, exemplify us humans in a pure and natural state. But slowly over time we grow up, and many start to resent their clothes. Lots of guys end up viewing clothes as a burden rather than a blessing. They don’t really like thinking about them, and they don’t get too excited about them either. If they do get excited about them, they certainly won’t show it. In short, guys have issues with their clothes. They need clothes therapy. The natural state of man is not one of resentment toward his clothing but one of enjoyment and interest. Kids show us that. It’s funny to reminisce about those days at the mall before the first day of school, but there is a deeper lesson in these memories as well. We naturally care about how we look. We want to cultivate a personal aesthetic. Deep down, we want to enjoy our clothing. For the guys who have built up wall after wall to protect themselves from caring about their clothing, it’s okay to let go. It’s okay to remember how you were once so excited for the jeans your mom bought you before school. Or how you looked forward to wearing those cool new shoes that first day. How you were secretly excited to show them off. It’s not embarrassing. It’s natural.