Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., is making good on his word to “argu[e] more with [some Republicans] probably than the Democrats.” The former Senate GOP leader’s opposition to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s confirmation could be a sign of what’s to come as the upper chamber aims to confirm Trump’s Cabinet and enact his agenda through the budget reconciliation process. McConnell justified his vote Friday night against Hegseth by stating that “Effective management of nearly 3 million military and civilian personnel, an annual budget of nearly $1 trillion, and alliances and partnerships around the world is a daily test with staggering consequences for the security of the American people and our global interests.” “Mr. Hegseth has failed, as yet, to demonstrate that he will pass this test. But as he assumes office, the consequences of failure are as high as they have ever been,” McConnell continued. The Senate confirmed Hegseth notwithstanding opposition from McConnell as well as Sens. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, and Susan Collins, R-Maine. They joined all Democrats in opposition, requiring Vice President JD Vance to cast the tie-breaking vote. Murkowski and Collins were unsurprising, not only given their announcements before the vote but also because of their frequent opposition to Trump dating to his first term. McConnell’s vote drew special ire. After Hegseth’s confirmation vote, Sen. Rick Scott, R-Fla., criticized his colleague from Kentucky: “[McConnell] doesn’t support Donald Trump and he doesn’t support an America First agenda. He never has. It’s why I ran against him for leader and why I’ll continue to fight for President Trump and his agenda.” In 2022, Scott became the first Republican senator to challenge McConnell for GOP leader during his 18-year tenure in the job. Though McConnell is out of leadership, he remains a powerful player in the defense space. He chairs the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense, which oversees the allocation of more than $800 billion of the annual defense budget spending.  McConnell views continued support for Ukraine as paramount to American foreign policy.  “Providing assistance for the Ukrainians to defeat the Russians, that’s the number one priority for the United States right now, according to most Republicans,” McConnell said in a press conference.  A July 2024 poll from Pew Research Center found that 62% of Republicans think the United States does not have a responsibility to help Ukraine defend itself from the Russian invasion. Nevertheless, McConnell appears enthusiastic about his more interventionist approach in foreign policy proclaiming that he would make the late Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., “sound like a dove.”  For his part, Hegseth is widely seen as a threat to the establishment that governs the Defense Department and its related industries. Or as Vance put it in a recent interview, “I think Pete is a disrupter, and a lot of people don’t like that disruption, but … that disruption is incredibly necessary.”  One area where Hegseth is expected to carry out President Donald Trump’s mandate for reform is weapons procurement. Policy analysts have already pointed out items in the department’s budget that could be cut for just that purpose. The Pentagon routinely faces bipartisan criticism for wasteful spending. It has failed to pass an audit since the government was obligated to begin carrying them out in 2018.  “If you look at where we are with the rise of artificial intelligence, with the rise of drone technology and drone warfare, we have to really, top to bottom, change the way that we fund the procurement of weapons, the way that we arm our troops,” Vance said when explaining what the administration hoped Hegseth would accomplish. McConnell told attendees last month at the Reagan National Defense Forum that “At both ends of our politics, a dangerous fiction is taking hold—that America’s primacy and the fruits of our leadership are self-sustaining. Even as allies across NATO and the Indo-Pacific renew their own commitments to hard power, to interoperability, and to collective defense, some now question America’s own role at the center of these force-multiplying institutions and partnerships.” McConnell’s opposition to Trump’s agenda appears a bit out of touch with Kentuckians who voted for the new president at a nearly two-to-one margin in last year’s presidential election. Writing for Fox Digital, David Marcus said the three Republican senators who opposed Hegseth were looking for the wrong type of experience in a defense secretary. “The problem for these senators was that Hegseth lacks the traditional credential of having worked for a defense contractor, the very type that have been captured over the past two decades by the woke agenda Hegseth has vowed to eliminate,” Marcus wrote.  Steve Krakauer, executive producer of the popular “Megyn Kelly Show,” told followers on X that “We shouldn’t minimize what Mitch McConnell did last night by forcing the tie on Hegseth. This is war—an out-in-the-open fight between the MAGA wing and the establishment wing of the GOP. McConnell vs. Trump will be the showdown of 2025—and makes next week with RFK and Tulsi very intriguing.” Hegseth could just be the start. McConnell has declined to publicly support Gabbard, whose confirmation hearing is set for Thursday. Then, of course, there’s budget reconciliation. The post McConnell-Trump Divide Deepens, Setting Stage for GOP Battle appeared first on The Daily Signal.

If you're tired of censorship and dystopian threats against civil liberties, subscribe to Reclaim The Net. The EU Commission and the Board for Digital Services have announced the revised Code of Conduct on Countering Illegal Hate Speech Online, which has been integrated into the EU’s online censorship law, the Digital Services Act (DSA) regulatory framework (as one of the voluntary instruments). Forbes reported, the code was signed by Dailymotion, Facebook, Instagram, Jeuxvideo.com, LinkedIn, Microsoft-hosted consumer services, Snapchat, Rakuten Viber, TikTok, Twitch, X, and YouTube, the Commission announced. The document has its roots in 2016, when Facebook, Microsoft, Twitter and YouTube agreed to join, which was two years later followed by Instagram, Snapchat and Dailymotion, and then through 2021 by others. The content that’s to be targeted is that which either the EU or member countries criminalize as hate speech. A number of organizations (“Monitoring Reporters” – non-profits) in different EU member-countries are tasked with evaluating how these tech companies implement the code and live up to the commitments from it. Brussels describes the code as “facilitating” compliance with the DSA. At the same time, it “may be considered as an appropriate risk mitigation measure” for those tech companies that the DSA designates as Very Large Online Platforms (VLOPs) and Search Engines (VLOSEs). The Commission and the Board now have recommendations for the signatories of the revised voluntary code, in order to implement it to the EU’s satisfaction: one is to include information about the outcome of the measures they take in the companies’ reporting. Next, they are expected to provide additional data regarding “hate speech” on their platforms, and this is supposed to go into the recommendation algorithms and how they affected the spread of content before it was removed. The reports are also expected to have data concerning countries individually that explains how “hate speech” is internally classified, relating to categories like race, religion, gender equality, etc. The Commission made sure to stress that while participating in voluntary instruments under the DSA and implementing these codes can play a role – this “nonetheless does not in itself presume compliance with the DSA and is without prejudice to the Commission’s assessment on a case-by-case basis.” In other words, the EU reserves the right to continue to try to tighten the screws on social media it dislikes, regardless of their participation in schemes like this one. Currently, some of those under various types of investigation are X, Meta, and TikTok. If you're tired of censorship and dystopian threats against civil liberties, subscribe to Reclaim The Net. The post EU Updates “Hate Speech” Code Under Censorship Law, Big Tech Signs On appeared first on Reclaim The Net.

Homemade cultured goat cheese is so easy to make. When cheese is made from goat’s milk, it is called Chevre. Find out how you can make this delicious homemade goat cheese by following just a few steps. Easy To Make Delectable Homemade Goat Cheese Goat cheese is so simple to make and can be substituted in all ways for cream cheese. Use it in cooking, baking, or spread it on crackers. Season and flavor it any way you like – the possibilities are endless!   Ingredients To Make Homemade Goat Cheese: 1 gallon of milk – personally, I use raw goat's milk from my farm Liquid rennet – 3 drops dissolved in 1/4 cup of cool water 1/8tsp Chevre culture Supplies: Large stock pot Digital thermometer Slotted spoon Cheesecloth Colander   How To Make Homemade Goat Cheese: Step 1: Heat Milk Heat your milk to 80 degrees Fahrenheit. Do not over heat!   Step 2: Sprinkle Dried Culture On Milk Sprinkle your dried culture on top of the milk. Allow it to sit for a couple of minutes and then stir thoroughly.   #Homemade hot pockets are all you need after a long and product day of #homesteading! https://t.co/Sy1RffAOPR — Homesteading (@HomesteadingUSA) May 7, 2017   Step 3: Add Diluted Rennet To Milk Take 2 tbsp of your prepared diluted rennet and add it to the milk. Stir well. Now leave the milk to sit somewhere for 8-12 hours. I usually do this step before I go to bed and let it sit overnight. You can leave the pot on the countertop with a dish towel over it, and then drain the curds in the morning.   Step 4: Drained Curds You will find, after 8-12 hours, that the curds have set and are ready to be drained. With a slotted spoon, carefully scoop the curds out into a colander lined with cheesecloth.   Step: 5 Drain Cheese Take the corners of the cheesecloth, and hang the cheese in a bundle somewhere it can drain for the rest of the day. If your house is warm, hang it in the fridge to drain. It may take longer to drain when it is chilled.   Want to see how it’s made? Then watch this video from WholeFoodies: That’s it! You have Chevre / cultured soft cheese! Transfer into a container and refrigerate. You can also make soft cheese with cow’s milk if you do not want to use goat’s milk. Start milking those goats and let’s get started on making this homemade goat cheese. Don’t forget to tell me how it went in the comments below! Want more homemade goat cheese recipe? Check out here 10 Goat Cheese Recipes to Make For National Cheese Lover’s Day! Follow us on Instagram, twitter, pinterest, and facebook! This post was originally published in July 2016 and has been updated for quality and relevancy.

To Crush Your Enemies, See Them Driven Before You, and Hear the Lamentations of Their Women

CNN Analyst on Deportations: Just You Republicans Wait Until Women Can't Get Smoothies!

The potential impact with asteroid 2024 YR4 takes place on December 22, 2032.

The authors believe this could be a powerful diagnostic tool, but some have raised concerns.

“It just blows my mind every time. It never gets old.”

When it comes to MSNBC’s constant cries of impending fascism under President Donald Trump, even Jon Stewart had to laugh. On Monday’s edition of The Daily Show on Comedy Central, Stewart had to ask “Do I not understand what fascism is?” That wasn’t to say Stewart has become a fan of Trump, but he was concerned his fellow liberals were at risk of crying wolf, “Look, we are facing a deluge of these executive actions and certainly, we must be prepared for those most vulnerable to the consequences of these actions. But the "This is all fascist" argument has become almost a reflex for the left.”     Stewart then played a quartet of clips, three of which were from MSNBC, the only exception was Rep. Jason Crow on CBS’s Face The Nation: NORM EISEN: Donald Trump promised to be a dictator on day one, and he's carried that forward through the entire week. REP. JASON CROW: Five days into this administration, the abuse is already rampant. JEN RUBIN: Throughout the rest of the week, shredding the Constitution as he went. KATIE PHANG: On a fascism scale of one to ten, with ten being peak fascism, how would you rate Trump's first week?  Katie Phang is an MSNBC legal analyst and Saturday host. On this occasional, she was guest-hosting The Beat and it was she, who Stewart focused on. After taking a moment to laugh at the clip, he mocked Phang’s eagerness, “On a scale of Mussolini to the Holocaust. You know, I would say it is not fascism. Do I not understand what fascism is?” Continuing to mock the idea of fascist analogies, Stewart then mocked Phang’s guest, former Clinton operative James Carville, “And also, if I may -- this may be petty -- why are we asking someone who, at the end of January, still has his [bleep] Christmas tree up? Why are we asking him anything? You know who used to leave their Christmas tree up all the time? Hitler!” Whatever Carville’s other sins, a love for Christmas trees isn’t one of them. As for Katie Phang, when Jon Stewart thinks you’ve gone too far, maybe it is time to reevaluate your life. Here is a transcript for the January 27 show: Comedy Central The Daily Show 11:12 PM ET 1/27/2025 JON STEWART: Look, we are facing a deluge of these executive actions, and certainly, we must be prepared for those most vulnerable to the consequences of these actions. But the "This is all fascist" argument has become almost a reflex for the left. NORM EISEN: Donald Trump promised to be a dictator on day one, and he's carried that forward through the entire week. REP. JASON CROW: Five days into this administration, the abuse is already rampant. JEN RUBIN: Throughout the rest of the week, shredding the Constitution as he went. KATIE PHANG: On a fascism scale of one to ten, with ten being peak fascism, how would you rate Trump's first week?  STEWART: On a scale of Mussolini to the Holocaust. You know, I would say it is not fascism. Do I not understand what fascism is? And also, if I may — this may be petty — why are we asking someone who, at the end of January, still has his [bleep] Christmas tree up? Why are we asking him anything? You know who used to leave their Christmas tree up all the time? Hitler! 

“It’s not OK for the government to break the law,” Kash Patel explained. As President Trump’s nominee for FBI director, Patel’s words to me carry significant weight. His career proves his unwavering commitment to the rule of law, accountability, and, above all, the American people.We were talking on a Friday evening in July 2018, just as we wrapped up a long week in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building next to the White House. At the time, I was the special assistant to the president for counterterrorism and transnational threats on the National Security Council. Patel was my deputy. We had worked together closely since his hiring by National Security Adviser John Bolton.Patel represents the American dream. Most importantly, Patel delivers when it matters.We were deep in the Russiagate investigation, and new evidence had just emerged from the Justice Department inspector general. The findings confirmed severe FBI misconduct in handling the “election interference” probe. At the center of uncovering this scandal stood Patel.More than anyone, Patel sought the truth. He remained committed to his work, driven not by politics or ambition but by integrity and good faith. As senior counsel for the House Intelligence Committee, he led one of the most consequential investigations in modern political history. He never sought self-promotion, career advancement, or approval from Washington’s entrenched bureaucracy.That kind of dedication is rare in Washington, D.C. Many enter public service only to advance their own ambitions, putting political gains above the facts and the fair application of the law. Patel, however, remains focused on preserving the rule of law and holding power centers accountable.Ironically, this mission makes him a threat to the political establishment — including within the FBI.His commitment to restoring the FBI’s true purpose makes his nomination more important than ever. On that evening in July 2018, his words were not complex, but they were powerful. They embodied everything he stood for.A skeptic becomes an advocateI admit I was skeptical of Patel when we first met. Our paths crossed when he took over oversight of international counterterrorism organizations at the NSC. As a former Army Green Beret and mid-level government bureaucrat on loan from the Department of Defense, I prided myself on being aggressively apolitical.Before working with him, I had only seen Patel through the lens of internet coverage, which painted him as a divisive partisan figure. The media labeled him a “right-wing operative,” accusing him of trying to “punish” the FBI with the infamous “Nunes Memo.”But those claims were false.Patel represents the American dream. His sharp legal acumen and relentless work ethic propelled him to nearly every corner of the legal landscape. That tenacity quickly earned him the trust of President Trump, his closest advisers, and even career national security officials.Most importantly, Patel delivers when it matters.Leadership under pressureDuring the Trump administration, we had an opportunity to dismantle al-Qaeda’s remaining leadership, an achievement once thought impossible. I made it my top priority. However, my efforts faced resistance from Pentagon and CIA leadership. Their reluctance — whether due to bureaucracy or outright hostility — stood in the way.I knew the only way to get the job done required direct presidential intervention, something beyond my reach. Patel stepped in without hesitation. “I got it,” he said. “I’ll talk to the president.”That was Patel’s strength — he knew how to cut through bureaucracy and drive real action. We became close confidants. When I needed a deputy, I knew Patel was the right person to step up.He was a leader — professional, polite, and decent to everyone around him. But he never sacrificed his core beliefs or love for the country just to maintain the status quo. He complemented my often haphazard approach with sharp discernment, cutting through complex situations to offer clear, concise guidance.Though his detractors labeled him a “heartless, sycophantic fundamentalist,” Patel proved to be the exact opposite. He understood government intricacies and navigated them with empathy, a sharp mind, and total professionalism.And let’s be clear — our work was not political. Patel and I were part of a 20-person team, all career civil servants or military officers from both parties. The exception was Patel. Yet his effectiveness and integrity earned him the respect of those around him.A defining moment: The Philip Walton rescuePatel’s leadership extended beyond policy and intelligence work. One of the greatest displays of moral courage I ever witnessed was his commitment to rescuing Philip Walton.On October 26, 2020, militants kidnapped Walton from his farm in Niger, intending to sell him to a regional terrorist group. The captors made a fatal mistake by staying in the same location for three nights in a row. Intelligence reports confirmed their whereabouts, but time was running out.Patel was with President Trump at a hostage rescue operations unit when the intelligence came in. He understood the kidnappers’ strategy, recalling the 2016 case of American missionary Jeffrey Woodke, who was kidnapped in Niger and sold to an al-Qaeda faction. Woodke remained in captivity for years before French commandos finally rescued him.Patel knew immediate action was necessary. If the kidnappers moved, Walton could disappear into a terror network, possibly forever. Patel briefed the president, who immediately ordered military forces to act.U.S. Navy SEALs, supported by Air Force special operations teams, launched one of the most complex hostage rescue missions in history. Patel and I monitored the operation from the White House Situation Room.This was not his first time leading in high-pressure situations. Just months earlier, we had advised President Trump during the operation to eliminate ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi. Yet unlike that mission, where top officials — including Mike Pompeo and Gina Haspel — actively participated, they sent lower-level staffers this time. Pentagon officials Mark Esper and General Mark Milley resisted Patel’s request to conduct the briefing at the Pentagon, despite the logistical advantages.Nevertheless, the operation succeeded. Walton was rescued, and three of his four captors were killed.The mission underscored Patel’s moral clarity and operational expertise. When America needed action, he delivered. Meanwhile, career bureaucrats in Washington prioritized politics over results.The right choice for the FBIA few days later, on Nov. 9, 2020, President Trump fired Esper, and I stepped in as acting secretary of defense. I accepted the role only because Patel agreed to serve as my chief of staff. Together, we executed Trump’s directives, winding down the War on Terror, bringing troops home from unnecessary conflicts, and ensuring that service members and their families had a voice.In December 2020, Patel and I visited the Navy SEALs who rescued Philip Walton. As we stood among those heroes, I was reminded why America remains the ultimate meritocracy. Patel, the son of immigrants, rose through the ranks by studying, working hard, and making difficult decisions. He demonstrated that integrity and courage still have a place in public service.Now, as Trump’s nominee for FBI director, Patel represents exactly what the American people need. The rank-and-file agents of the FBI deserve leadership that empowers them to carry out their mission — protecting the country, not serving political interests.Patel will demand the highest standards of conduct while treating FBI agents with respect and dignity. He will enforce the Constitution without bias, something the agency desperately needs.America needs a strong, principled FBI director. Kash Patel is the right man for the job.