'Fox in the hen house'

Hey, Republicans. The sky will not fall if there’s a government shutdown. The government was shut down six times during Ronald Reagan’s presidency. Over 20 times since 1974. Yet, recent presidents have avoided it like the plague. The nation survived, Reagan won massive landslides, and, in the end, the public didn’t give a damn despite all the media-Democratic Party hype at the time. The bureaucrats wound up getting their money. Social Security checks and Medicare payments continued without a hitch. So did veterans’ benefits. The active military was unaffected. That is, truly essential government services were funded because they are specifically excluded from government shutdowns. Indeed, taxes keep rolling into the government’s treasury. That never shuts down. There is plenty of revenue for basic government operations. But a shutdown does draw a line on what they call “discretionary spending”—the government itself calls it non-essential spending—much of which, but not all, funds ideologically driven projects. And, yes, it can cause temporary inconveniences for those visiting, let’s say, national parks, etc. Seems like a small sacrifice. In fact, it is a very, very small sacrifice. Many years ago on my radio show, budget guru and now never-Trumper Paul Ryan told me that the government never really shuts down. Indeed, he said when there is a so-called government shutdown, about 17% of the government actually shuts down. When you think of it, since the biggest entitlements are unaffected and they make up the overwhelming majority of government spending, it makes sense. And, by the way, no one, and I mean no one, will discuss reforming any of the big entitlement programs. Not even the self-anointed fiscal conservatives. We are talking about a pittance in relative terms. Nonetheless, the Republicans need to take a stand somewhere. At least it’ll be a beginning. And they should explain to the people that the Democrats (and too many of their fellow Republicans) spend, borrow, and steal like pirates—which will bankrupt the country for their children and grandchildren; further drive up inflation, including the cost of food, clothing, and energy; destroy the value of their paychecks and pension checks; eventually collapse the government altogether—and that this drug-like spending addiction must be broken before it’s too late, which it already may be. The Republicans shouldn’t act defensively or out of fear but boldly and proudly. They should speak up and speak to the people. In a way, this is like the abortion issue. What, you ask? The Democrats and their D.C.-based media lied about abortion and exploited it and fearmongered it in the last election in the belief they would ride it to victory. Their propaganda became more extreme and insane the closer to the election. They truly believed they had an issue that would drive them to victory. It was pounded and pounded and pushed and pushed. But the people didn’t buy it. Even more, there were much bigger issues about which the public cared. Well, the Democrats and their media lost in a landslide, didn’t they? And it turned out that the tactics were of no consequence. The economy was the No. 1 issue. Do the right thing, Republicans. It also happens to be good politics. You might actually get used to it. And stop destroying each other. Just get your collective act together and fight. This continuing resolution is just a baby step. This piece originally appeared on Mark Levin’s X account. The post No, the Sky Won’t Fall if There’s a Government Shutdown appeared first on The Daily Signal.

Say hello to your new favorite sourdough chocolate chip cookie recipe! It’s easy, flexible, and downright delicious. As a unique twist, we love to add optional warm spices to the batter along with a sprinkle of flaky sea salt on top. Can you say, sugar and spice and everything nice? Yet if you prefer classic sourdough chocolate chip cookies, keep it simple and skip the spices. Either way, these soft and chewy cookies are divine!Note: This post was originally published in December 2020. Disclosure: Homestead and Chill is reader-supported. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Same Day vs OvernightThe timing for this sourdough chocolate chip cookie recipe is very flexible. You can bake the cookies an hour after you mix the dough, several hours later, or the next day. The longer the dough is allowed to rest and thereby ferment, the more gut-healthy and easy to digest the cookies will be!You could probably even refrigerate the dough for two to three days before baking – though we’ve never waited quite that long, so I can’t personally vouch for how it may impact the texture. See tips for freezing cookies and dough at the end of this post.Using Active vs Discard StarterYou can make sourdough chocolate chip cookies using discard or active starter. Since the recipe also calls for baking soda, the starter won’t play a huge role in the rise. However, keep in mind that using very old, neglected starter will make the cookies exceptionally sour-tasting, and could also impact the final texture. Therefore, I recommend using discard that was fed within the last few weeks – not months ago. RELATED: Looking for more sourdough discard recipes? Don’t miss our easy sourdough discard crackers or this delicious chunky sourdough granola.IngredientsThis recipe makes approximately 30 sourdough chocolate chip cookies (2 to 3 dozen) depending on the size cookie balls you make.1 ¾ cup flour (all-purpose or bread flour, see flour notes below) ¾ cup sourdough starter, discard or active (100% hydration) ½ cup granulated white cane sugar ½ cup brown sugar. We love to use dark brown sugar for its deeper, robust molasses flavor! If you use light brown sugar instead, add an additional tsp of vanilla extract (use 1 Tbsp instead of 2 tsp vanilla) 1 large egg, room temperature 13 Tbsp butter, unsalted and softened 2 tsp vanilla extract 1 tsp kosher salt or sea salt 1 tsp baking soda 2 cups (16 ounces) of chocolate chips. We’re huge dark chocolate lovers, and like to use organic dark chocolate chips in the 63-75% cocoa content range. Optional ingredients to make spiced sourdough chocolate chip cookies:1.5 tsp cinnamon 1/2 to 1 tsp ground ginger (sliding scale based on your affinity for ginger) A pinch of nutmeg Coarse sea salt to sprinkle on topAll Purpose Vs Bread Flour You can use either all-purpose flour or bread flour to make sourdough chocolate chip cookies. If you happen to have both, I suggest using 1 cup all-purpose and ¾ cup bread flour. Comparison baking trials show that using all-purpose flour will result in a slightly flatter cookie with a soft, chewy center and crisp outer edges. Higher in protein, bread flour creates a taller, fluffier, more cake-like cookie with less spread and crunch.Instructions1) Mix Wet IngredientsFirst combine both types of sugar and the softened butter in a bowl. For the best results, use butter that has softened at room temperature or is otherwise barely melted, but not liquid. Mix well. In a small separate bowl, whisk the egg. Then add the egg and vanilla to the butter and sugar mixture. Beat until thoroughly combined. Finally, add the sourdough starter to the wet ingredients and mix well.2) Dry IngredientsIn a separate bowl, combine all of the dry ingredients: the flour, salt, baking soda, and optional spices. Mix well. Next, add the dry ingredients into the wet ingredient bowl. Fold and stir until everything is just incorporated, but do not over mix! Last but not least, mix in the chocolate chips.3) Chill DoughNow, chill your sourdough chocolate chip cookie dough in the refrigerator for at least one hour, or until the next day. If you plan to let it chill for more than an hour, cover the bowl to prevent the dough from drying out – such as with a damp tea towel, DIY beeswax wrap, or plastic wrap.4) Portion on Cookie Sheet Preheat the oven to 350°F. Scoop or pinch about 2 to 3 tablespoons of cookie dough and roughly form into balls. I don’t measure, but shoot for ping pong ball to golf ball size. Place them about 3 inches apart on an un-greased baking sheet, or one lined with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat (one dozen per sheet). Do not grease your baking sheet! Optional: Sprinkle a pinch of coarse flaky sea salt on the top of each raw cookie before they go into the oven. The salt will spread out as the cookie does too.5) BakeBake for approximately 10 to 12 minutes, or until the top has set and they turn golden brown around the edges. You could also bake for a shorter time (8-9 minutes) for extra soft, gooey sourdough chocolate chip cookies. The longer they bake, the more fluffy and cake-like they will become. If the cookies look a tad gooey right out of the oven, keep in mind they will continue to set up and cook slightly on the pan after baking. Allow the cookies to cool for several minutes on the baking pan, and then transfer them to a wire cooling rack. Now dig in and enjoy your delicious fresh sourdough chocolate chip cookies!Storage and FreezingStore leftover cookies at room temperature in an airtight container, such as a glass food storage container with lid. They’ll have the best texture if consumed within 4 to 5 days. Otherwise, you could also freeze excess cookies to enjoy within a few months. The Kitchn shares some great tips on freezing whole baked cookies.FAQ: Can I freeze sourdough chocolate chip cookie dough? Absolutely! Raw sourdough cookie dough will last for about 3 months in the freezer when wrapped in a sealed, air-tight package or container. Before baking, simply allow the dough to sit at room temperature for 15 to 30 minutes before portioning it onto cookie sheets to bake. I hope you love this spiced sourdough chocolate chip cookie recipe as much we do, and I can’t wait to see y’all make your own! Please come back to leave a review, and tag me on Instagram (@deannacat3) to share your creations. Let me know if you have any questions, and feel free to spread the cookie love by sharing or pinning this article. Thanks for tuning in!Don’t miss these related recipes:Simple Sourdough Focaccia Bread Sourdough Cornbread Recipe (vegan and GF options) Healthy Sourdough Spiced Pumpkin Bread (or muffins) Delicious Sourdough Zucchini Bread (or muffins) with optional nuts, seeds, chocolate or dried fruit Simple No-Knead Sourdough Bread Recipe Cast Iron Whole Wheat Sourdough Pizza Crust Print Sourdough Chocolate Chip Cookies (Optional Cinnamon Spices) Please enjoy our easy sourdough chocolate chip cookies (discard or active starter) with optional spiced cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and flaky sea salt. Bake them the same day or as an overnight sourdough discard recipe! Course Dessert, SourdoughKeyword sourdough chocolate chip cookies, Sourdough cookies, spiced sourdough chocolate chip cookies Prep Time 20 minutes minutesCook Time 12 minutes minutesChill Time 1 hour hour Servings 30 cookies (approximately) EquipmentMixing bowlsBaking sheetsOptional: parchment paper or silicone cookie sheet liner Ingredients1 3/4 cups flour (all-purpose or bread flour, or a combination – see notes below*)1/2 cup white granulated cane sugar1/2 cup brown sugar (dark preferred, if using light brown sugar add 1 extra tsp of vanilla)3/4 cup 100% hydration sourdough starter, discard or active1 large egg, room temperature13 Tbsp unsalted butter, soft at room temperature 2 tsp vanilla extract (3 if using light brown sugar)1 tsp kosher salt or sea salt1 tsp baking soda2 cups chocolate chips, dark chocolate preferred (16 ounces)Optional "Spiced" Ingredients 1.5 tsp ground cinnamon.5 tsp ground ginger (up to 1 tsp)1 pinch nutmegcoarse flaky sea salt, to top cookies before baking InstructionsFirst combine both sugars and the slightly softened butter. Mix well in a bowl.In a small separate bowl, whisk the egg. Then add the egg and vanilla to the butter and sugar mixture. Beat until thoroughly combined.Add the sourdough starter to the wet ingredients and mix well. In a separate bowl, combine all of the dry ingredients: the flour, salt, baking soda, and optional spices. Add the dry ingredients into the wet ingredient bowl. Fold and stir until everything is just incorporated, but do not over mix!Stir in the chocolate chips. Chill dough in the refrigerator for at least one hour, or until the next day. Cove the bowl to prevent the dough from drying out. Preheat the oven to 350F.Scoop or pinch about 2 tablespoons of cookie dough and roughly form into balls (about golf ball size). Place them 2 to 3 inches apart on an un-greased baking sheet, or one lined with parchment paper. Sprinkle a pinch of flaky sea salt on the top of each raw cookie before they go into the oven.Bake for approximately 10 to 12 minutes*, or until the top has set and they turn golden brown. (See "bake time" notes below)Allow the cookies to cool for several minutes on the baking pan, and then transfer them to a wire cooling rack. Enjoy!Store leftovers at room temperature in an air-tight container for several days (up to a week) or freeze extras. NotesFlour notes: Either all-purpose flour or bread flour work for this recipe. If you happen to have both, I suggest using 1 cup all-purpose and ¾ cup bread flour. Using all-purpose flour will result in a slightly flatter cookie with a soft, chewy center and crisp outer edges. Bread flour creates a taller, fluffier, and more chewy cookie with less spread and crunch. Baking time notes: Bake for a shorter time (8-9 minutes) for extra soft, gooey spiced sourdough chocolate chip cookies. The longer they bake, the more fluffy and cake-like they will become. If the cookies look a tad gooey right out of the oven, keep in mind they will continue to cook and set up slightly on the pan even after they come out of the oven. Did you enjoy this article? Want to hear more? Stay in touch! Sign up below to receive weekly updates on new posts from Homestead and Chill. The post Sourdough Chocolate Chip Cookies (Optional Cinnamon Spices) appeared first on Homestead and Chill.

The Real Lie of the Year

Trump to Johnson: If You Want to Remain Speaker ...

Snakes can disarticulate their mouths, making an opening up to five times larger than their own heads to accommodate unusual prey – but where does it all go once it's digested?

Bubble butt is caused by air trapped in the shell, which makes swimming difficult.

"I want to just find secrets and go through all the rooms and tombs and that kind of stuff."

Giant rivers in the sky seem to be associated with hot weather, as well as rain and snow.

Leave it to a show as woke as CBS’s FBI: Most Wanted to come up with a fall finale where an entire “sundown town’s” police force is a “racist” “gang” of murderers out killing innocent black people to supposedly clean up the county’s drug problem. But it gets even worse. The episode was titled “The Electric Company” because the police are using tasers to murder their victims and proudly call themselves by that name. Yes, seriously. The episode opens in fictional Archer County, Maryland, where two, white intruders attack a black man, Emanuel “Manny” Birdsong (Apollo Levine) in front of his wife and child and tase him to death when he won’t tell them where his supposed drug stash is. They dump his body in a Virginia swamp where other bodies from the same county end up being found. When FBI Agent Ray Cannon (Edwin Hodge), who is black, learns the victim is from Archer County, he remarks, “Archer County was once referred to as a ‘sundown town.’ Probably still is. It's home to the Eastern Shores' most rabid bigots. My father said they were burning crosses there till the early '70s.” The team sets out to investigate and first attempts to question Manny’s wife, who is white, but she flees. When Ray catches her and asks why she ran, she tells him, “I don’t like cops.” “I get that,” he replies. The team eventually learns Manny was killed with a Taser which they trace to Archer County Deputy Eli Nelson (Andy Favreau). They interview Sheriff Blake (John Bedford Lloyd) who turns out to be a perfect caricature of a corrupt, racist cop covering for his team of equally corrupt officers: Sheriff: Look, we got a lot of bad actors in this county who would like nothing more than to pin a charge on one of my boys. Nina: Well, let's just take a look at your Taser logs, then. You know, I'd like to see if Eli used his device on the night that's in question. Sheriff: We don't keep logs on our Tasers. Nina: How come? Sheriff: Because I trust the men who work for me. Nina: Convenient. Remy: Electric Company. What's this? Sheriff: Well, that's kind of an inside joke around here. That's my anti-crime unit. They collared a murderer who, you know, eventually got the chair. Nina: So, who's everyone in the picture with you? Sheriff: That's Dobbs, Harvey, and Eli Nelson. So, now that we have cracked the case of the missing Taser cartridges, I'll be taking over this murder investigation. We like to clean up our own garbage here in Archer County, so you guys can just go home. Remy: Take a look at these faces, because we're sticking around here for a while. Sheriff Blake can barely stand being in the same room with us. That means we're onto something. Nina: Yeah, but it wasn't his department that requested our assistance. It was Virginia. So, do we need to run this by Isobel? Remy: Already did. By the way, no one's ever gotten the chair in Maryland. That whole "Electric Company" story? Bunch of caca. Nina: Okay. Update from Quantico Forensic Lab. All three victims in the Virginia swamp died of cardiac arrest. Remy: Consistent with being lethally tased by the Electric Company. Nina: There's also evidence of blunt-force trauma on all three victims, and Manny Birdsong had fractured ribs and a broken jaw. Remy: They roughed him up and electrocuted him before they dumped him in that swamp. This profiles as renegade cops who believe they're doing the right thing by taking matters into their own hands- judge, jury, and executioner. Let's deconflict with the county D.A. before we track them down. I don't want this dumbass sheriff mucking things up. The county D.A., also white, ends up defending the cops because the county’s lowered drug crime rate reflects well on her. Meanwhile Eli and his partner, Deputy Logan Dobbs (Shane Patrick) boldly plant the Taser used in Manny’s murder in the car of another innocent black man, Ronnie, who they refer to as “a real piece of trash.” They then force a black, male teen to call in a “tip” about the Taser’s location by threatening to arrest him for the pot he’s smoking. Logan chastises the teen’s white, female friend, who was also smoking pot, for hanging out with a “loser.” “You should know better,” he admonishes her. FBI agents Sheryll Barnes (Roxy Sternberg) and Ray Cannon (Edwin Hodge), both black, are pulled over in the county for speeding, and the scene is astoundingly absurd, even for a woke Hollywood drama: Ray: Is there a problem, Officer? Sheriff: Hands on the wheel, son. Ray: First of all, I'm not your son. Sheryll: Ray. Just so you know, we're both FBI agents, and we're here on official business, and we're both carrying sidearms. Sheriff: Is that so? Does that give you the right to do 80 on a 45? Ray: This is an emergency vehicle. I'm authorized. Sheriff: Not in Archer County, you don't. Ray: Right. Look, we'll slow it down, all right? Sheriff: All right. Why don't you exit the vehicle? You too, ma'am. Sheryll: Is that really necessary? Deputy: Are you telling us how to do our jobs? Sheryll: No, I'm not telling you how to do your job. Deputy: Get out of the car! Ray: Well, I need you to de-escalate. Sheryll: Ray, let's get out the car. Ray: I'm not getting out the car, Sheryll. Sheryll: Let's get out the car. Ray: I'm not getting out the car. Sheryll: Ray, let's get out the car. Come on. Deputy: Move. Ray: What is this really about? Sheryll: I am moving. Don't tell me to move. Ray: We've already identified ourselves, all right? Sheryll: I'm moving, okay? So, you don't need to tell me to move. Ray: This ain't right. Deputy: Turn around. Ray: Don't tell me to turn around, man. Sheryll: I don't need to turn around. I didn't do anything. Deputy: You really wanna do this right now? Sheryll: Do I wanna do what? Deputy: Turn around! Ray: Get your hands off of her! Deputy: Stay back! Sheryll: Hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey! Hey, what the hell are you doing? He didn't do anything! Deputy: Stay down! Stay down! Sheryll: He didn't do anything! Deputy: Stay down! Sheryll: He didn't do anything! Sheriff: Welcome to Archer County. I mean, technically, they weren’t following orders and Ray lunged at the officer, but yeah, it was obviously targeted racism knowing they were FBI agents. Agents Remy (Dylan McDermott) and Nina (Shantel VanSanten) meanwhile interview Ronnie’s son James (Denzel Rodriquez) who warns how deep the county’s corruption runs: James: All right, the night that guy Manny got killed, I was at home with my pop watching the Wizards play on the West Coast. Remy: Wizards fan. Woof. That's rough. James: Not as rough as being framed for murder. Thing is, I crashed out on the sofa after the game. My pop never left the house. Nina: So, that's a strong alibi. Does his public defender know? James: Yeah, I told him, but that doesn't matter. Nobody's gonna believe us. Nina: Why not? James: It's just the way it is out here. Remy: Why are you so worried, James? James: My father wouldn't do something like this. Never. Everybody I know thinks that Manny was killed by the Electric Company. Remy: And? James: Word on the street was that Manny was dealing. Whether that's true or not, I can't say. But Sheriff Blake and his Electric Company crew, that's how they roll with that situation- Tasers and beat-downs. They say that they're cleaning up the drug problem in this county? Yeah, maybe. But there's a trail of dead and broken bodies along the way. Last year, I got stopped by Nelson and Dobbs. Said they were looking for meth. They tore apart my car and they tased me. Nina: Did you tell anybody about this? James: You kidding me? The last person to complain to Sheriff Blake disappeared. Yeah, that was him sending a message. You open your mouth, The Electric Company crew will bust down your door in the middle of the night on some anonymous tip. Remy: Like what happened to Manny. James: Yeah. I know five, six people. Same thing. Look, I can't talk to you anymore. I gotta get back to work. Remy: This whole damn county is going to the dark side. We need to talk to the U.S. Attorney in Baltimore. As the episode’s end nears, the U.S. Attorney thankfully believes the FBI’s suspicions and takes them seriously: Attorney: I’ve heard rumors of law enforcement corruption in Archer County from time to time, but nothing we could verify. Remy: Corruption is one thing, but this is a systematic policy of intimidation, brutality, and murder. There's an entire community living in fear of a handful of deputies who operate like a street gang. Hana: And a county DA who turns a blind eye in the name of a drug war. Attorney: Other than the case you're working, is there any criminal activity you could substantiate? Remy: We just spoke with someone who might be willing to break the ice. He has a list of other victims. Nina: Plus, we may have eyewitnesses and medical records to corroborate his story. Attorney: And why might this brave soul be willing to come forward now? Remy: His father is being framed for murder committed by these cops. Attorney: So, he has a bone to pick? Remy: No, no, no. This young man is absolutely credible. Attorney: If that's the case, I'm on board. Give me the name of your targets, and I'll have arrest warrants within the hour. Then I'll need to talk to your informant myself. Remy: It's not gonna be easy to round up these hooligans in their own back yard. They have a network of co-conspirators and nothing to lose. Nina: We need to speak with James Mccaffrey. We need to make sure that he's willing to cooperate with us before things get ugly. Remy: Barnes and Ray will scoop him up at his job and bring him here. The FBI attempts to persuade James into becoming a witness, but as he steps into his car, it immediately explodes. You can probably figure out who the culprit was: Ray: This has the Electric Company written all over it, Remy. Look, he was innocent, and they lynched him! Nina: Look, somebody had to have found out that he was talking with us, Remy. Hana: We can use this to get justice for James McCaffrey's father. Sheryll: Well, how's that gonna work now that they murdered his son? Remy: We still have the arrest warrants, and the U.S. Attorney can convene a grand jury. Let's go round up these sons of bitches. Hana: I've got bolos on their personal vehicles. Sheryll: What the hell does he want? What the hell does he want? Sheriff: Hey! Why wasn't I notified about this? Remy: You know exactly why. Sheriff: Oh, you think I had a hand in this? Remy: Damn right, I do. Sheriff: Oh, I should have put down your candy ass when I had the chance. Now, clear your people off of my crime scene so I can get to work here. Remy: Your deputies murdered a witness in a federal prosecution. They have 24 hours to surrender. In the meantime, if you don't turn around and get back in your vehicle, I'm gonna arrest you for obstruction, you racist pig. That's right. You heard me. Get him out of here! Deputy: Come on, boss. Sheriff: Let's go home! Remy: We're not waiting until tomorrow. Let's split up and get these dirtbags before they rack up even more bodies to cover their tracks. In the end, the FBI gets enough evidence against The Electric Company to take them all into custody, minus one who shot himself. It seems quite unfair that one hit CBS procedural drama that always respected blue lives just aired their series finale after being canceled by the network while this woke garbage of a show gets to continue on. But sadly, that’s Hollywood’s priorities for you.