The specifics of the modern altar call may not be biblical‚ but certain general principles are themes of the New Testament: holding meetings‚ declaring the Gospel in creative ways‚ showing compassion alongside the Good News‚ and offering a chance to make a decision.

Happy Tax Return Deadline Day to all who celebrate&;#33; Such an empathetic guy‚ that Jim Acosta&;#33; As NewsBusters has documented‚ Acosta is a hard-left &;quot;journalist&;quot; and a Trump antagonist to the bitter end. On today's CNN This Morning‚ Acosta expressed a touching concern for the prosecutors in Trump's hush money trial. In particular‚ Acosta fretted over the tough job the prosecutors face in selecting jurors. After all‚ he said‚ it would take only one juror refusing to vote for conviction to cause a hung jury and thus a mistrial. True. But that possibility is something prosecutors face in every trial in every locale across the country. And if there's one place in all America where that could be the least likely to happen‚ it's the site of this trial—the liberal hotbed of Manhattan&;#33; As CNN legal analyst Elie Honig pointed out: &;quot;It's gonna be a challenge both ways. First of all‚ from Trump's perspective‚ this is not a great jury pool for him‚ right&;#63; This is Manhattan-only. No Bronx‚ no Brooklyn‚ no Queens‚ no Staten Island. Manhattan only. A borough‚ a county where Donald Trump got 12% of the vote in 2020. So he's worried about that.&;quot; Exactly. Biden carried Manhattan by 87% to 12%. It's a dream jury pool for prosecutors. In contrast‚ how would you like to be a Trump defense lawyer trying to get 12 impartial jurors in Manhattan's seething‚ anti-Trump political environment&;#63; Naturally‚ Acosta's solicitous concern was only extended to the prosecution&;#33; Note: Honig‚ a former assistant US attorney‚ has a history of diverging at times from CNN's liberal line.  For example we've noted him arguing that the charges against him in this case are either misdemeanors akin to a shoplifting crime‚ or the lowest level of felony‚ which wouldn't result in prison time. On another occasion‚ Honig ripped into Stacey Abrams when she claimed that Fani Willis's investigation of Trump was &;quot;meticulous and very thoughtful.&;quot; Here's the transcript. CNN This Morning 4/15/24 6:06 am EDT JIM ACOSTA: Guys‚ busy morning‚ busy day.  Elie‚ we got a look last week at the jury questionnaire. How are they looking to root out the candidates&;#63; I mean‚ this is gonna be a challenge‚ I mean‚ for these prosecutors. It just takes one person to‚ to grind this to a halt. ELIE HONIG: It's gonna be a challenge both ways. First of all‚ from Trump's perspective‚ this is not a great jury pool for him‚ right&;#63; This is Manhattan only. No Bronx‚ no Brooklyn‚ no Queens‚ no Staten Island. Manhattan only. A borough‚ a county where Donald Trump got 12% of the vote in 2020. So he's worried about that. But you're right‚ prosecutors—I've been in this situation—are terrified about one lone juror sneaking through who could hang a jury. You need all 12 in order to convict.  The questionnaire is really interesting‚ because what the questionnaire is trying to do is get at is‚ first of all‚ which way do you lean. It doesn't come out and just ask it. I kinda wish it did‚ just say like‚ did you vote for A or B or are you Republican or Democrat&;#63;  But there's all these other proxies for that. Have you ever participated in political activity for or against Trump&;#63; Have you ever contributed&;#63; That kind of thing. But it asks a couple of important questions. It says‚ wherever what you lean‚ can you still be impartial in this case&;#63; Now‚ some people are going to say‚ I can't be impartial. I just lean too strongly. That's it. And they're going to be out. But then there's gonna be a lot of people who say‚ I do have feelings‚ but I can put those aside and still be impartial. And that's where the instinct kicks in. That's where the judge is going to have to ask‚ do I believe this person&;#63; And more importantly‚ the parties‚ who have a limited number‚ ten each‚ ten strikes each. They're going to have to make the decision‚ do we use one of those ten precious strikes to remove this particular person&;#63; It's a guessing game. 

On his Real Time show on HBO‚ Bill Maher bluntly agreed that abortion is murder‚ and he favors it‚ since there are eight million people on Earth already. As they brought up Arizona and how that’s going to be a disaster for Republicans‚ Maher described pro-life Americans this way: “They think it’s murder‚ and it kind of is. I’m just okay with that. I am. There [are] 8 billion people in the world‚ I’m sorry‚ we won’t miss you. That’s my position on that.” British journalists Gillian Tett and Piers Morgan told Maher his view was &;quot;harsh.&;quot; They agree on the principle‚ but wish he'd be less honest. Journalists and comedians scream &;quot;False&;quot; when people tell the truth about Democrats favoring abortion until birth. Our abortion debate constantly obsesses over what we might call the pro-life extreme‚ that abortion is murder‚ whatever the reason‚ at whichever month it occurs. So the establishment can NOT focus the debate on the pro-abortion extreme – when is it too late for an abortion&;#63; Jake Tapper and Kristen Welker and even Saturday Night Live fake-news anchor Colin Jost insisted it was &;quot;false&;quot; that Democrats support abortion up until birth‚ and that an abortion late in pregnancy never‚ ever happens. This avoids the obvious point: what limits do Democrats support&;#63; None. Cue the Democrat platform of 2020: Democrats are committed to protecting and advancing reproductive health‚ rights‚ and justice. We believe unequivocally‚ like the majority of Americans‚ that every woman should be able to access high-quality reproductive health care services‚ including safe and legal abortion. We will repeal the Title X domestic gag rule and restore federal funding for Planned Parenthood‚ which provides vital preventive and reproductive health care for millions of people‚ especially low-income people‚ and people of color‚ and LGBTQ+ people‚ including in underserved areas. Democrats oppose and will fight to overturn federal and state laws that create barriers to reproductive health and rights. We will repeal the Hyde Amendment‚ and protect and codify the right to reproductive freedom. [We condemn acts of violence‚ harassment‚ and intimidation of reproductive health providers‚ patients‚ and staff.] We will address the discrimination and barriers that inhibit meaningful access to reproductive health care services‚ including those based on gender‚ sexual orientation‚ gender identity‚ race‚ income‚ disability‚ geography‚ and other factors. Democrats oppose restrictions on medication abortion care that are inconsistent with the most recent medical and scientific evidence and that do not protect public health. And NPR's new CEO sends a love note to staff -- you're just the best&;#33; -- without engaging with insider Uri Berliner's eye-opening account of an utter lack of viewpoint diversity and any unwillingness to consider any offering of a conservative counterpoint in so-called &;quot;public&;quot; radio. It makes it easy to mock their silly nightly insistence they're about All Things Considered. Enjoy the podcast below‚ or wherever you listen to podcasts.

The United States Supreme Court today lifted an injunction against Idaho’s ban on so-called “gender-affirming care” for minors‚ which includes cross-sex hormones and sex-change surgeries. The removal of the injunction allows Idaho to begin enforcing the law immediately. Only one of the major corporate networks even pretended to cover the story on their evening newscast. I say “pretend” because CBS gave us a whole 13 seconds on the ruling itself. Here it is‚ in its entirety as aired on CBS Evening News:  NORAH O’DONNELL: Now to some breaking news from the U.S. Supreme Court. The high court is allowing Idaho to largely enforce its ban on gender-affirming care for transgender children under 18‚ while lawsuits over the law go forward. Justice Clarence Thomas was not in court today‚ and did not participate remotely in arguments. There was no explanation given for his absence.  This tiniest of briefs‚ about 21 seconds total‚ was the entirety of coverage across the corporate network dial. And 8 of those seconds were dedicated to baseless speculation over the health of Justice Clarence Thomas. The report makes no effort to clue the viewer in on what these treatments might entail for children‚ or any of the rationale behind why the duly elected legislature of the state of Idaho banned these irreversible “treatments” in the first place. In the absence of any meaningful information‚ it is as if the report were little more than a narrative device for anchor Norah O’Donnell to utter “gender-affirming care” and “transgender minors”. Even so‚ this milquetoast brief is 21 seconds more than ABC or NBC were able to muster for the ruling.  Taxpayer-funded PBS NewsHour‚ not to be outdone by CBS‚ packed as many pro-trans agenda talking points into its 22 seconds: GEOFF BENNETT: In a separate ruling‚ the justices decided to allow Idaho to enforce a ban on gender-affirming care for trans youth. The order lets the state put in place a 2023 law that means doctors could face up to 10 years in prison if they provide hormones‚ puberty blockers or such services to minors. Opponents have warned that the law could increase suicide rates among teens. To be crystal clear‚ the “such” in “such services” is “surgical”‚ per the statute. In fairness‚ Bennett isn’t alone in trying to paper over the surgical components of “gender-affirming care”. Per the American Pravda’s writeup of the ruling: WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court is allowing Idaho to enforce its ban on gender-affirming care for transgender youth while lawsuits over the law proceed‚ reversing lower courts. The justices’ order Monday allows the state to put in a place a 2023 law that subjects physicians to up to 10 years in prison if they provide hormones‚ puberty blockers or other gender-affirming care to people under age 18.  One thing is clear: the media prefer to talk about these irreversible therapies in such opaque terms as “gender-affirming care”‚ and will do anything to avoid talking about kids’ body parts being chopped off or about irreversible changes brought about by hormonal treatments. But they can’t omit this part of the equation forever‚ especially as these treatments continue to be exposed for what they really are: child mutilation.  

Nikki Haley is joining the Hudson Institute as Walter P. Stern chair‚ the organization announced.Haley‚ who served as U.S. ambassador to the United Nations during a portion of former President Donald Trump's White House tenure‚ performed poorly while seeking the 2024 Republican presidential nomination. Trump wiped out his field of competitors and is now the presumptive 2024 Republican presidential nominee.&;quot;When our policymakers fail to call out our enemies or acknowledge the importance of our alliances‚ the world is less safe. That is why Hudson's work is so critical‚&;quot; Haley said‚ according to a press release. &;quot;They believe the American people should have the facts and policymakers should have the solutions to support a secure‚ free‚ and prosperous future. I look forward to partnering with them to defend the principles that make America the greatest country in the world.&;quot;According to the organization's website‚ &;quot;Hudson seeks to guide policymakers and global leaders in government and business through a robust program of publications‚ conferences‚ policy briefings‚ and recommendations.&;quot;Separately‚ Grove City College has announced the creation of a Center for Faith &; Public Life and revealed that former Vice President Mike Pence will serve as Distinguished Visiting Fellow for Faith &; Public Life. Pence‚ who served alongside Trump‚ mounted a GOP presidential primary bid last year but ultimately dropped it months later.&;quot;In addition to providing thought leadership through speaking and writing‚ Pence will be a presence on campus‚ participating in events‚ interacting with students‚ and teaching a course with [Grove City College President] McNulty next year‚&;quot; the school noted.Like Blaze News&;#63; Bypass the censors‚ sign up for our newsletters‚ and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here&;#33;

House Speaker Mike Johnson has announced a plan for the congressional chamber to vote on measures that would provide U.S. aid for countries such as Israel and Ukraine.Johnson said there will be votes on the &;quot;measures separately in four different pieces&;quot; that will cover assistance for Israel‚ Ukraine‚ the Indo-Pacific‚ and issues pertaining to &;quot;national security priorities.&;quot; GOP Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia said she believes this is the &;quot;wrong direction.&;quot; &;quot;Our border is the number one policy issue that voters care about all across the country‚&;quot; she said. — (@) Republican Rep. Byron Donalds of Florida also emphasized the issue of U.S. border security‚ calling it &;quot;atrocious&;quot; for D.C. to remain focused on Ukraine while ignoring America's southern border.&;quot;Closing the Southern Border is nowhere to be found‚&;quot; GOP Rep. Lauren Boebert of Colorado tweeted in response to a post on the @SpeakerJohnson X account regarding the speaker's plan for votes on the various measures.The post on Johnson's account indicated that &;quot;this week‚ we will consider separate bills&;quot; that would &;quot;fund our ally Israel‚&;quot; &;quot;support Ukraine in its war against Russian aggression‚&;quot; &;quot;strengthen our allies in the Indo-Pacific‚&;quot; and &;quot;pass additional measures to counter our adversaries and strengthen our national security.&;quot; — (@) The House Freedom Caucus had issued a statement on Monday expressing support for the prospect of Israel aid while declaring that it would not &;quot;abide using the emergency situation in Israel as a bogus justification to ram through Ukraine aid with no offset and no security for our own wide-open borders.&;quot;The U.S. national debt currently stands at more than $34.5 trillion.Like Blaze News&;#63; Bypass the censors‚ sign up for our newsletters‚ and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here&;#33;

The following article‚ “A Declaration Of War”: How The Conflict Between Israel And Iran Fits Into The Bigger Picture (Video)‚ was first published on Conservative Firing Line. Iran’s attack on Israel is being called “a declaration of war”‚ and that is precisely what it was.  Shooting more than 300 drones and missiles at another country is definitely an act of war‚ and the Iranian parliament was loudly chanting “death to Israel” as it was happening.  Many are shocked that a full-blown war between Israel … Continue reading “A Declaration Of War”: How The Conflict Between Israel And Iran Fits Into The Bigger Picture (Video) ...