President-elect Donald Trump on Christmas day nominated a Miami-Dade County commissioner to serve as the next ambassador to Panama. Trump announced his nomination of Kevin Cabrera in a post on Truth Social. The nomination comes as Trump and Panama’s president trade barbs over Trump’s call to reduce prices for U.S. ships traveling through the Panama Canal. “I am pleased to announce that Kevin Marino Cabrera will serve as the United States Ambassador to the Republic of Panama, a Country that is ripping us off on the Panama Canal, far beyond their wildest dreams,” Trump wrote. “Few understand Latin American politics as well as Kevin – He will do a FANTASTIC job representing our Nation’s interests in Panama!” Cabrera, the son of Cuban immigrants, has been a staunch Trump ally. He won the Miami-Dade County District 6 commissioner’s seat on the back of a Trump endorsement. Trump won District 6 by 33 points in the 2024 presidential election. Cabrera was the first GOP commissioner in Florida to back Trump in the 2024 Republican primary against Florida Governor Ron DeSantis. Cabrera served as Trump’s 2020 campaign director and, later, as the Florida director of the America First Policy Institute, a Trump-aligned think tank. He also serves as vice chairman of Miami-Dade County’s International Trade Consortium. Cabrera accepted the nomination in a Wednesday statement. He did not address Trump’s recent spat with the Panamanian government or give his thoughts on the future of the Panama Canal. “I am committed to supporting President Trump’s America First vision and will work tirelessly every day to uphold his bold approach to international diplomacy,” Cabrera said in a statement, according to the Miami Herald. “Representing the United States abroad is a duty I take with the utmost pride.” If confirmed by the Senate, Cabrera will likely serve underneath another Florida native, Sen. Marco Rubio, Trump’s nominee to be the next head of the State Department. Last week, Trump said that the U.S. could retake control of the Panama Canal unless rates for U.S. shipping passing through it are reduced. “Our Navy and Commerce have been treated in a very unfair and injudicious way. The fees being charged by Panama are ridiculous, especially knowing the extraordinary generosity that has been bestowed to Panama by the U.S. This complete ‘rip-off’ of our Country will immediately stop,” Trump said in a statement. Panama’s president, José Raúl Mulino, addressed Trump’s comments in a statement a day later. The statement, which did mention Trump by name, promised that “every square meter of the Panama Canal and its adjacent area belong to PANAMA, and will continue to be.” “The sovereignty and independence of our country are not negotiable,” Mulino said.

A body was found in the wheel well of a United Airlines flight that landed in Maui after taking off from Chicago on Christmas Eve. The body was found when a Boeing 787-10 from United Airlines arrived in Hawaii at 2:12 p.m. local time on Tuesday after taking off from Chicago O’Hare International Airport at 9:31 a.m., The New York Times reported. United said in a statement that the body was found “in the wheel well of one of the main landing gears on a United aircraft.” The Maui Police Department said the person, who has not been identified, was discovered dead. “The wheel well was only accessible from outside of the aircraft,” United Airlines added, according to CNN. “At this time, it is not clear how or when the person accessed the wheel well.” The wheel well is a compartment under an aircraft that stores the landing gear and is usually a tight space — often smaller than the trunk of a car. In the past, people attempting to hitch a ride on an airplane have been crushed in the wheel well when the landing gear retracts, CNN reported. 50% OFF ALL DAILY WIRE ANNUAL MEMBERSHIPS FOR A LIMITED TIME! It remains unclear how the person on the United flight to Maui got onto the tarmac and into the wheel well. Dozens of stowaways have attempted to hitch illegal rides on airplanes by climbing into the wheel well, but multiple factors make it nearly impossible for a stowaway to survive a ride in the wheel well. As a plane reaches higher altitudes, oxygen levels drop and stowaways lose consciousness. Temperatures can also reach 75 degrees below zero. Nearly 80% of the roughly 130 people who have attempted to catch a ride on the outside of an airplane since 1947 have died, according to the Federal Aviation Administration. Some people have survived the extreme conditions after hitching a ride on an airplane, and one person survived a brutal journey sitting in the wheel well of a plane that took off from the continental U.S. and landed in Hawaii. In 2014, a 15-year-old boy was found alive in the wheel well of a Boeing 767 after a five-hour flight from San Jose to Maui. The FBI said the teen’s survival was a “miracle.”

Media outlets around the world reported Thursday that five Palestinian journalists were killed in Gaza by Israel, even though those “journalists” were members of a terrorist group. The BBC’s headline declared, “Five Gaza journalists killed in Israeli strike targeting armed group,” and began its coverage by citing Quds TV, a Palestinian TV channel that is affiliated with the terrorist group Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ). The PIJ is described by the BBC merely as “an armed group that took part in 7 October 2023 Hamas-led attack on Israel.” The BBC also, early in its report, mentioned that the wife of one of the “journalists” was about to give birth. The outlet waited until the fourth paragraph to mention that the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said it had targeted “Islamic Jihad operatives posing as journalists” and that steps were taken to avoid harming civilians.” But immediately after, the BBC included a comment from the Committee to Protect Journalists saying it was “devastated by the reports” and that “Journalists are civilians and must always be protected.” The outlet spends most of the article claiming that Israel has been killing “journalists” in Gaza. The five men killed were Ibrahim Jamal Ibrahim Al-Sheikh Ali, Faisal Abdallah Muhammad Abu Qamsan, Mohammed Ayad Khamis al-Ladaa, Ayman Nihad Abd Alrahman Jadi, and Fadi Ihab Muhammad Ramadan Hassouna, all of whom the IDF labels as PIJ operatives. Other outlets also followed the framing that the men were merely journalists. The Associated Press, for example, cited the notoriously unreliable Gaza Health Ministry as its source that the men were journalists. Only after claiming they were journalists did the AP acknowledge that the Israeli military says the men were posing as journalists and were actually Islamic militants. CNN also used this framing, citing Gaza authorities. Eitan Fischberger, a former staff sergeant for the IDF, posted a thread on X identifying each of the men as terrorists, including their public postings, which include pro-terrorism statements. Faisel likes to indoctrinate children into a life of terrorism, because “journalism” pic.twitter.com/C3S9iiQ3ZN — Eitan Fischberger (@EFischberger) December 26, 2024 Media outlets routinely present stories from the side of the Palestinians over Israel. In August, more than 80 outlets had to issue a correction after republishing an article from the AP that falsely stated the civilian death toll in Gaza had “exceeded 40,000,” The Daily Wire reported at the time. But “not even Hamas has alleged that more than 40,000 Palestinian civilians in Gaza have been killed in the war between Israel and the terror organization,” the Committee for Accuracy in Middle East Reporting and Analysis (CAMERA), which monitors Arab media, reported at the time. “While the Hamas-controlled Ministry of Health in Gaza has reported over 40,000 total deaths among Gaza’s residents, its data does not distinguish between civilians and combatants. Israeli sources, meanwhile, estimate that over 17,000 of those killed are Hamas combatants,” the organization added. Media outlets have also repeatedly cited the Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry, even though it routinely lies about civilian casualties, The Daily Wire reported.

Photos from 2013, released by the National Archives, reveal meetings between the Biden family and high-ranking Chinese officials, stirring controversy over potential conflicts of interest. These images, obtained by America First Legal, show Joe and Hunter Biden with Chinese President Xi Jinping and others, prompting questions about the true nature of these interactions. 2013 Photos: Unveiling Critical Connections The National Archives’ release includes images showing Joe and Hunter Biden’s encounters with key Chinese figures, including President Xi Jinping. America First Legal, a conservative legal foundation, obtained these photos, drawing renewed scrutiny over the Bidens’ ties with China. Pictured engagements with Jonathan Li and Ming Xue of BHR Partners raise questions about potential entanglement in Hunter’s business ventures. Joe Biden, who has consistently denied involvement in his son’s foreign dealings, appears in photos with BHR leaders. These revelations intensify ongoing discussions of the family’s international business connections. The timing of these photos holds particular significance following Hunter Biden’s full and unconditional pardon for various offenses on December 1. BOMBSHELL Photos Expose Biden Family’s Long Denied China Connections These newly uncovered images, obtained through litigation with the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), paint a startling picture of then-Vice President Biden’s close ties to Hunter Biden’s… pic.twitter.com/gk4myrJIeB — Chase Geiser (@realchasegeiser) December 23, 2024 Implications of a Presidential Pardon Joe Biden’s recent pardon of Hunter Biden includes several offenses, spanning from 2014 to 2024, such as illegal firearm acquisition and tax issues. Following the pardon, Michael Ding from America First Legal declared that the legal group would tirelessly pursue the full scope of the Biden family’s alleged exploitative practices. The pardon has stirred opposition, as some view it as a tool to protect Hunter from potential judicial consequences. Representative Andy Biggs openly criticized the pardon, asserting that Hunter Biden should testify regarding these matters, as Congress still retains the right to scrutinize the Biden family’s financial maneuvers. The photographs suggest a deeper relationship during a 2013 trip endorsed by the House Oversight Committee’s findings of facilitated meetings between Hunter and his father with BHR executives. PHOTO PROOF: Then-VP Joe Biden Met Hunter Biden’s Chinese Partners in 2013https://t.co/8IyTDyMJUE — @IdaFlo (@IdaFlo) December 24, 2024 Ongoing Investigations and Future Outlook Amid these revelations, America First Legal underscores its commitment to uncovering corruption. Litigation against the National Archives led to the release of the images, despite some delays attributable to legal intervention by Biden and Obama lawyers until post-Election Day. The partial release of photographs—131 with 182 withheld by the current administration—feeds speculation about what additional information might remain concealed. These images spark important discussions about potential conflicts of interest facing current officials and emphasize the necessity of a thorough investigative process. The story, ongoing in political and legal arenas, may have profound implications for understanding how political influence potentially intersects with private gains. Sources: Newly released photos show Hunter and Joe Biden with Chinese officials in 2013 | Just The News America First Legal Obtains Photos of Joe Biden Meeting with Hunter Biden’s Chinese Business Associates and Introducing Hunter to China’s President Xi Jinping Newly released photos show Hunter and Joe Biden with Chinese officials in 2013 The post Biden Family’s 2013 China Meetings: Uncovering Impact on Foreign Relations appeared first on The Conservative Brief.

During the Christmas season, we all have the same problem. We buy a ton of wrapping paper and bags. As we’re set to wrap the last two gifts, suddenly, everything is gone. No more paper. No more gift bags. It’s Christmas Eve, and all the stores are closed. Don’t worry. You’ll be all set if you shop at Trader Joe’s and have some of their Christmas bags handy. @sarahmblow @Trader Joe’s love u for this fr #wrappinggifts #traderjoes #holiday ♬ Santa Baby – Laufey This year includes a simple design on the brown paper bags that will make you smile as you wrap. Artists have created a Trader Joe’s Christmas bag you won’t be embarrassed to use. The design incorporates a gentle blue and white that pairs nicely with the season.  @sabrina_pare @Trader Joe’s bags are extra cute this time of year lets use what we already have instead of creating extra waste!! the paper you get from packages also works great #sustainablechristmas #sustainableliving #diychristmas #giftwrapping #lowwaste #christmasgifts #christmascrafts #traderjoes #sustainableholidays #ecochristmas #mindfulchristmas ♬ original sound – sp33dsongsx There are a couple of different designs available. Motifs include cartoon cars with enormous presents attached to the roof, while the other cars appear to be wearing Santa hats. The vehicles sit next to a house decked out for the holiday. On the road is another car with a giant bow. The background includes several fir trees, each with a light dusting of snow. Background space includes traditional-style Christmas ornaments, dancing reindeer, and falling snowflakes. @mailani.c ♬ Main Title (From “Elf”) – Dominik Hauser The designs are simple but appealing. Patrons can use them, with handles, as regular gift bags. Many people remove the handles, cut the bags open, and use them like traditional wrapping paper. The bags make a nice change against all the green and red. @nataliamsmith The new TJ holiday bags are out and they make great free wrapping paper so start saving them now! #traderjoes #traderjoesfinds #vlogmas ♬ original sound – christmas sounds Trader Joe’s grocery chain has used the unique Christmas bags annually for quite some time. Given the popularity, we don’t expect them to discontinue the practice in the future. Some customers try to shop there just to get the unique bags. Please share if you enjoy this annual tradition. You can find the source of this story’s featured image here and here. The post Trader Joe’s Provides Unique Option For Shoppers To Recycle Shopping Bags appeared first on InspireMore.

'it's a community with a pathological aversion to reality'

'There are many wild cards'

'This is scary'

'four years of policies that restricted small business growth'

Is your egg basket looking empty? Try not to stress! There are a number of natural, normal reasons why your chickens may not be laying eggs, such as when they’re molting. Yet there are also a few more worrisome reasons chickens stop laying eggs, such as nutrient deficiencies or health issues. So read along to learn about normal egg production, and when to be concerned – or not.Requirements for Healthy Egg LayingLaying hens need the following things to stay healthy and safely lay eggs:A diet consisting primarily of layer feed: chicken feed specifically formulated to meet the nutritional needs of laying hens. Use caution with homemade feed mixes, and offer safe chicken treats only in moderation. Access to a free choice calcium supplement at all times (like oyster shells or crushed eggshells, separate from feed) to form nice strong eggshells A minimum of 12 to 14 hours of daylight to stimulate ovulation and egg production Clean fresh waterTIP: A chicken’s face says it all! A healthy hen that is actively laying eggs will have bright red comb and wattles. When chickens are not laying eggs (or when they’re sick), they will shrink and become more pale pink. You can tell by the comb and wattles which of these young girls has started laying eggs, or not!Disclosure: Homestead and Chill is reader-supported. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.6 Reasons Chickens Stop Laying Eggs1) AgeOn average, chickens start laying eggs around 22 to 24 weeks old (6 months) though some start sooner, and some can take much longer. We’ve had a few late bloomers wait until they were over 40 weeks, or 9 to 10 months old! So if your young chicken is not laying eggs yet, just be patient with her.As they age, older chickens will lay fewer eggs and eventually stop altogether. A number of factors influence how long chickens will lay eggs including their breed, health, usual egg-laying frequency, and if you artificially light their coop over winter or not (discussed more below).Most laying hens start to slow down by 4 or 5 years old, but every chicken is different. High “production” breeds often lay hard and fast, only to fizzle out younger. Our Barred Rock stopped laying around 6 years old, yet we currently have an 11 year old Easter Egger who still lays a couple dozen eggs each spring!TIP: Many chicken keepers introduce new chickens to the flock every few years to help create a natural cycle of young, robust layers mixed with older, slower gals. Younger chickens will also often lay through their first winter.Our eldest gal Hennifer on her 10th birthday. She still laid a couple dozen eggs that spring!2) Winter BreakThe decreased sunlight in the shorter, darker days of winter will trigger most chickens to stop laying eggs (or drastically reduce in frequency). It’s a natural defense mechanism, since chicks born in the middle of winter likely wouldn’t survive in most places. It’s also a time for them to rest and recharge – just like us!Some backyard chicken keepers add artificial lights to the coop to boost wintertime egg production. However, hacking nature comes with one significant drawback: it makes the chickens stop laying eggs sooner in life! That’s because every chicken carries a set number of eggs inside them, so if you force them to keep laying over winter, they’ll simply “run out” of eggs faster.As the days start to get longer and brighter again in spring, your hens should resume laying.3) MoltingChickens also stop laying eggs while they’re molting: the natural process where chickens lose feathers to grow fresh new ones. Chickens usually molt in the fall, and stop laying to conserve precious nutrients and energy. Growing new feathers is hard work!Keep in mind that chickens will often stop laying eggs several weeks before they’re visibly molting, and not resume laying for several weeks after they’re done. That means they can easily go a few months without laying eggs… and if winter is right around the corner, you may not see many until spring!RELATED: Learn more about molting chickens here, including how to give them the extra special care they need!4) BroodyA “broody” hen is one that’s persistently sitting on eggs with the intention of hatching them. Once she’s laid a clutch and starts actively incubating the eggs, she won’t add any new ones to the nest. Then after being broody (whether she hatched chicks or not), most chickens will not lay eggs again for several weeks while their hormones regain balance.RELATED: Learn how to break a broody hen here, including tips for prevention too!5) Egg-BoundA number of reproductive issues can cause chickens to stop laying eggs. One such issue is egg-binding, which is when an egg gets stuck in their reproductive track. Being egg-bound can also prevent the chicken from going to the bathroom normally, and can quickly become life-threatening if she cannot pass the egg. Egg binding is especially common in new young layers.Similarly, soft-shelled eggs or egg yolks that aren’t passed normally can get stuck inside and eventually cause infection, also known as internal laying or egg peritonitis.These reproductive issues usually accompany other physical symptoms such as lethargy, lack of appetite, pale comb, and irregular or strained bowel movements. A sick hen will often stand hunched and still, with her wings drooped, tail down, feathers fluffed up, and eyes closed. When a chicken is egg-bound, you may also feel a hard mass (the egg) near her back end.Over the years, we’ve helped a number of chickens pass a bound egg. I’ve even had to manually extract one, which I don’t necessarily recommend (it was a last-ditch effort to save her after bringing her to the vet!) Usually, a 20-minute soak in warm water in a calming location along with calcium supplements and a little lube can help them pass it. I will write a more detailed guide about treatment soon, but here is a good resource in the meantime.TIP: Providing laying hens with a constant source of free choice calcium is KEY to preventing egg-binding! Learn more about feeding chickens oyster shells or eggshells for calcium here.Olive became egg bound with soft-shelled eggs several times when she first started laying eggs. Here she’s soaking in a tub of warm water in the bathroom. Make sure it’s deep enough to submerge their vent and abdomen. Also never put a wet chicken back out when it’s cold outside. They usually love a gentle warm blow dry after!She naturally passed the soft shell egg after a blow dry, a little lube on her vent, and some time to relax in the quiet bathroom.6) Other Health IssuesBeyond reproductive issues, chickens may not lay eggs when they have other health issues going on – such as impacted crop or sour crop, cancer or other diseases, nutritional deficiencies, or parasites including mites, lice, or worms. These conditions cause stress and malnutrition to the chicken, leading to less egg production.If you suspect your chicken is sick, it is best to consult with a veterinarian for a proper diagnosis and treatment options.What to do with chickens once they stop laying eggs? Once our older chickens are not laying eggs, we simply let them retire and live out the rest of their lives as happy freeloaders! For us, chickens are beloved pets and part of the family. The eggs are just a perk. Don’t miss these related posts:How to Store & Wash Fresh Eggs: Best Practices for Backyard Chicken Eggs How to Ferment Chicken Feed for Better Hen Health & Eggs What Can Chickens Eat? Healthy Treat Ideas + Toxic Foods List 500+ Best Chicken Names: Funny, Cute, Unique, Puns and More  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 Chickens Not Laying Eggs? 6 Possible Reasons Why appeared first on Homestead and Chill.