While America’s attention has been focused on the presidential election, one of the greatest challenges facing the nation has continued to worsen. On Friday, the gross federal debt hit $35 trillion. For perspective, that amounts to about $267,000 for every household in the country. Unfortunately, not only has the debt soared to such an incredibly large number, but it will continue to climb by trillions of dollars per year unless officials in Washington finally take their jobs seriously. Decades of short-term thinking and political opportunism from both parties has caused the federal budget to go completely out of whack. During fiscal year 2023, ending Sept. 30, 2023, the federal government raked in more than $4.4 trillion in revenue—or more than $13,500 for every man, woman, and child in the country. That was more than enough to fund core governmental functions. However, unending bureaucratic bloat and out-of-control entitlement programs led to $6.1 trillion in spending—more than $18,000 per person. Examples of swampy excess in 2023 include funding “diversity and inclusion” in Myanmar, corporate welfare schemes for electric vehicles and broadband internet, a trolley museum in Connecticut, doomed rail projects in California, millions of COVID-19 vaccine shots for children, student-loan write-offs that primarily benefit the wealthy, and more., corporate welfare schemes for electric vehicles and broadband internet, a trolley museum in Connecticut, doomed rail projects in California, millions of COVID-19 vaccine shots for children, student-loan write-offs that primarily benefit the wealthy, and more. As a result of excessive spending, the deficit was $1.7 trillion. Such high spending and yawning deficits put significant upward pressure on inflation. Regrettably, deficits will steadily climb in the years to come. There are several reasons for this: Most spending grows on autopilot, interest costs are surging, and legislation coming down the pike will only make things worse. Even if America avoids a recession or a major war, the deficit is on pace to approach $3 trillion per year by 2034. It wasn’t long ago that a $1 trillion deficit was worrisome. While the budget outlook has been negative for many years, the Biden-Harris administration has made things much worse. Coming off a glut of spending in 2020 in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, there was a dire need for Washington to put Uncle Sam on a diet. Instead, President Joe Biden pushed an enormous spending spree, helping to fuel the worst inflation in decades. This included gigantic handouts for a variety of left-wing interest groups, such as teachers unions, environmental activists, bureaucracies at all levels of government, and more. It even extended to administrative decisions, with hundreds of billions of dollars in extra spending on welfare and a still-unknown volume of canceled student-loan debt. As a result, the budget window that Biden inherited is now more than $7 trillion deeper in the red. While there will be opportunities to reduce the deficits starting in 2025, even bringing them back to the pre-Biden levels will be incredibly difficult. Despite the $4.4 trillion tax haul in 2023, the Left thinks the main budget problem is Washington not shaking Americans down hard enough. The narrative pushed by the likes of Vice President Kamala Harris is that tax rates on individuals and businesses should go up because those at the top supposedly aren’t paying their “fair share.” That’s malarkey. In calendar year 2021, the most recent year for which there is complete data, the top 1% of households paid 46% of income taxes. In contrast, the bottom 95% of households paid a combined 31% of income taxes. Contrary to claims from the Left, America’s federal tax system is far more progressive than most other developed nations. What separates the U.S. and Europe is the punishingly high taxes that European states impose on lower- and middle-class families. Rather than throwing more hard-earned money into the gaping maw of the federal behemoth, policymakers should focus on reducing spending. Top targets for cuts and reforms should include: Eliminating expensive and ineffective “green” subsidies passed by Democrats in 2022. Ending loopholes that plow enormous amounts of public resources to health care providers without benefiting patients. Reining in the increasingly radical institutions of academia and federal science agencies. Stopping handouts to state and local governments and corporations. The $35 trillion national debt is a grim milestone, but there’s still time to avoid the greatest bankruptcy in human history if the nation’s leaders are willing to stand up to special interests. The post 4 Charts Provide Crucial Context as America’s Debt Hits $35 Trillion appeared first on The Daily Signal.

DAILY CALLER NEWS FOUNDATION—U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said during a speech in Belem, Brazil, on Saturday that the price tag for a global transition to a low-carbon economy amounts to $78 trillion in financing through 2050. Yellen said that in order to achieve the goal of net-zero global carbon emissions, there would need to be $3 trillion globally in annual financing for the cause, which she said is a top priority for the Biden administration, according to the speech. In order to contribute to this, Yellen vowed to finance green initiatives in developing countries through multilateral development banks and develop “clean energy technologies.” “The transition will require no less than $3 trillion in new capital from many sources each year between now and 2050,” Yellen said during the speech. “This can be leveraged to support pathways to sustainable and inclusive growth, including for countries that have historically received less investment.” “Neglecting to address climate change and the loss of nature and biodiversity is not just bad environmental policy,” Yellen said during the speech. “It is bad economic policy.” Yellen boasted in her speech about the commitments the Biden administration has put forth toward forwarding these green initiatives to achieve their “climate goals.” “At home, we are implementing the Inflation Reduction Act, the most significant climate legislation in our nation’s history,” Yellen said during the speech. “It is driving hundreds of billions of dollars of investments in the clean energy technologies and industries that will propel us toward our climate goals and fuel our economic growth.” The Inflation Reduction Act allocated $370 billion to subsidize climate initiatives like electric vehicles and other technologies that are essential to President Joe Biden’s green agenda. “Climate change is literally an existential threat to our nation and to the world,” Biden said during a speech addressing climate change in July of 2022. “As president, I’ll use my executive powers to combat climate—the climate crisis in the absence of congressional actions, notwithstanding their incredible action.” During her speech, Yellen advocated for these climate initiatives to be implemented “beyond our borders.” “Our ambitions at home are matched by our ambitions abroad,” Yellen said during the speech. “We know that we can only achieve our climate and economic goals—from reducing global emissions to adapting and building resilience, from strengthening markets to bolstering supply chains—if we also lead efforts far beyond our borders.” The Treasury Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment from the Daily Caller News Foundation. Originally published by the Daily Caller News Foundation The post Treasury Secretary Calls for $78 Trillion to Tackle Climate Change appeared first on The Daily Signal.

On the latest episode of “The Tony Kinnett Cast,” we examine the media’s exceptionally awkward honeymoon with Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris, and how overplaying its hand by obscuring videos and policies from the current vice president’s previous campaigns may cut the celebration short. Voters probably retain a longer memory than many in the media find comfortable. Show producer Lou Scataglia drops by to talk probable vice presidential candidates to run with Harris. Will it be Gov. Andy Beshear of Kentucky? Gov. Wes Moore of Maryland? Gov. Josh Shapiro of Pennsylvania? Where is the hopeful Democrat vice presidential nominee going to fit into a race so few can define, and does the choice matter? We take two steps back to observe the weird triple standards on the Olympics, culture, and elections in Venezuela from the right and left in the U.S. and, unfortunately, the French. Finally, it’s time we had a heart-to-heart chat on why liberals calling Sen. JD Vance, R-Ohio, “weird” may be the most embarrassing, middle-school student council campaign move since Hillary Clinton told millennials to “Pokémon GO to the polls.” Catch the live radio show and livestream weeknights at 7 p.m. EDT on The Daily Signal’s YouTube, X, or Facebook. The post WATCH: ‘Operation WEIRD’ appeared first on The Daily Signal.

This Matt Gaetz Race Is Getting Pretty Spicy

On Monday morning, all three broadcast networks (ABC, CBS, and NBC) reported on President Biden’s moves toward a new constitutional amendment on presidential immunity targeting former President Donald Trump, and calling on Congress to enact Supreme Court term limits. The Supreme Court has been a major target of the Democratic Party, especially in the wake of overturning Roe v. Wade. As the media has been a part of the major push in delegitimizing the Court, the target has become even more obvious. The lengths to which the party will now go seems to be near ridiculous. Biden’s plan, which he called on Congress to establish, included an enforceable code of ethics which would, “require justices to disclose any major gifts they receive and recuse themselves from cases in which their spouses may have a financial or other conflict of interest.”     What was not covered by the media, was the absolute hypocrisy of Biden’s push for Supreme Court term limits. Both CBS and ABC discussed the limits being 18 years long, with new judges appointed every two years. There was uncertainty in CBS senior White House correspondent Ed O’Keefe’s report as he stated, “It's unclear exactly how this would work and what it would mean for current nine justices who have lifetime appointments.” Yet, what was not mentioned was the fact that for the 47 years prior to winning the presidency, Biden benefited from never facing term limits. None of these networks offered a second of rebuttal or critique from Republicans or legal scholars. ABC chief White House correspondent Mary Bruce admitted “There's almost little chance of this being approved by this deeply divided congress, with just 99 days left until the election.” But Biden’s trying to sway voters. Once again it was networks like ABC, CBS, and NBC which lead the charge with such inadequate reporting. Following Biden dropping out of the presidential race, the media went on a days-long spree of gratitude and glorification, and now his lame-duck tactics are promoted. Transcripts below: NBC's Today 29/2024 07:12:43 AM EST (...) HODA KOTB: President Biden today is set to call for an overall of the Supreme Court. The President wants Congress to create term limits for the high court. He is set to favor an 18-year term for the justices. The President will also call on Congress to make the Supreme Court subject to ethics requirements, regarding gifts and financial dealings. In addition, President Biden will also call for a constitutional amendment saying former Presidents do not have any immunity from federal criminal indictments or convictions. (...)   CBS Mornings  7/29/2024 07:12:04 AM EST (...) NATE BURLESON: Today President Biden is proposing major reforms affecting the presidency and the U.S. Supreme Court. Ed O'Keefe is at the Presidential library of Lyndon B. Johnson in Austin where Biden is commemorating the 60th anniversary of the Civil Rights Act. Ed, so what is the President proposing? ED O’KEEFE: Well Nate, good morning. First up, President Biden is proposing a constitutional amendment that would make clear any former President could face prosecution for crimes committed while in office. It's designed to reverse that recent Supreme Court ruling that said former Presidents enjoy at least partial immunity from things they may have done while in office. A ruling that Donald Trump is now using to try to get state and federal cases against him dismissed.  The second proposal, a enforceable code of ethics that would require justices to disclose any major gifts they receive and recuse themselves from cases in which their spouses may have a financial or other conflict of interest. It's designed to address recent news reports about the past travel of some justices and the political activity of their spouses. But the boldest proposal from the President would establish 18-year term limits for justices and require a President to nominate a new justice every two years. It's unclear exactly how this would work and what it would mean for current nine justices who have lifetime appointments. Also important to remember these are just proposals that would require congressional approval, and as long as Republicans control any part of Congress, it's unlikely they would pass. This was designed to be introduced while President Biden was still running for office to juice his progressive base that's been increasingly concerned about the actions of Supreme Court justices and many of their rulings. Michelle? MICHELLE MILLER: Ed, thank you. (...)   ABC's Good Morning America 7/29/2024  08:03:33 AM EST (...) ROBIN ROBERTS: We are going to turn now to President Biden, with a new call for  Supreme Court reforms. Also a proposal to limit presidential immunity. Our chief White House correspondent Mary Bruce, she has those details for us. Good morning to you, Mary. MARY BRUCE: Good morning, Robin. Well the President is calling for an overhaul to the Supreme Court, writing in an op Ed this morning, “That it is time to prevent the abuse of Presidential power and restore the public's faith in our judicial system.” The President saying what is happening now is simply not normal and that we stand in a breach. The President is calling on congress to establish term limits, arguing the current lifetime appointments give a President undue influence. Instead he's proposing that a President appoint a justice every two years for 18 year terms. He all wants to create an enforceable code of conduct on justices and he is calling for a constitutional amendment to limit the broad Presidential immunity the court’s conservative  backed last month. The President saying that decision means there are virtually no limits on what a President can do. Now the political reality here is that it is going to be very difficult. There's almost little chance of this being approved by this deeply divided congress, with just 99 days left until the election. But the White House is hoping that this will shine a spotlight on recent decisions and will inform voters as they make their decision. And we are told this morning that the Vice President, Kamala Harris, is supportive of these changes. Rebecca? ROBERTS: All right. Mary, thank you. (...)

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President Donald J. Trump took the stage in Nashville on Saturday and gave an impassioned speech to thousands of raucous attendees. This was a historic moment in the history of Bitcoin and potentially international finance. For the first time, a leading presidential candidate (apologies to RFK Jr., who spoke on Friday) gave a full-throated defense of crypto and Bitcoin. The security to get into the event with two presidential candidates speaking was intense and with good cause. The attempted assassination of the GOP nominee hung in the air like an ominous cloud. Secret Service required journalists to arrive at 9 p.m. the evening before to drop off our bags and cameras in the auditorium. They tore apart our bags in the security line, and the agents scanned the journalists with the intense gaze of predators. As Trump's speech approached, the crowd grew more restless and excited, and shouts of “Trump, Trump, Trump” began to fill the venue. The attendees were an intellectually and culturally diverse group of out-of-the-box thinkers who distrust most institutions, especially the central banks. After years of quantitative easing and printing money out of thin air, much of the fundamental critique Bitcoiners have leveled at the Fed has been borne out. Inflation is out of control, and Bitcoin presents a deflationary alternative to the fiat money supply. There were rumors of RFK Jr. dropping out or Elon Musk introducing the president, but when the time came, it was just Trump who came on stage to a standing ovation. It’s hard to overstate what an incredible and historic moment this was. Bitcoin began as a very niche network that only a small corner of the internet understood or cared about. When I wrote my first magazine feature about it in 2014, it took hours to explain to the editors of a tech magazine what it even was. For most of Bitcoin’s history, politicians viewed it with contempt or simply ignored it. Why get involved with some weird, fake internet currency that everyone predicted would collapse into oblivion? Unfortunately for the naysayers, the doom predictions never came true; even Donald Trump had tweeted about how he didn't trust it. — (@) Instead, Bitcoin went on a growth curve never seen before in history. When COVID-19 struck and the price went to the moon, it was clear that the Bitcoin moment had arrived and it wasn’t going anywhere. Even with the explosive financial gains, politicians wanted to keep a safe distance. Undoubtedly, the Sam Bankman-Fried FTX debacle spooked people, although his con really had nothing to do with the fundamentals of Bitcoin. Elizabeth Warren has been on a one-woman warpath to regulate Bitcoin into oblivion, with most Democrats painting Bitcoin as some right-wing-adjacent scam. But on Friday and Saturday in Nashville, it was clear that Bitcoin was having a political moment and Republicans were ready to embrace it. Senators Tim Scott (R-S.C.), Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.), Bill Haggerty (R-Tenn.), and Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) were all there to express their support. When Donald Trump finally walked out, a vibe shift occurred, and Bitcoin will probably never be viewed the same ever again. — (@) He wasted no time in praising the crowd and the possibility that Bitcoin represents. “You are the modern-day Edisons and Wright brothers and Carnegies and Henry Fords. And what you do in your lifetime stands a chance to outlive us all and inspire humanity for generations to come. This will go down as a very important day in the history of your industry,” Trump said to the crowd. He also promised to fire Gary Gensler, the head of the SEC, and roll back the regulatory war Biden’s administration has waged against Bitcoin. “As president, I will immediately shut down Operation Choke Point 2.0. They want to choke you out of business. We're not going to let that happen. And no longer will your government sit by and watch as Bitcoin jobs and businesses move to other countries because America's laws are too unclear, too tough, too angry, and too stiff,” he explained to the crowd. It’s clear Trump and the GOP were there to speak to the very wealthy people who have created this new industry. Regardless of why they were there, the change has occurred, and there will be no going back to the status quo. Bitcoin has arrived. How exactly it shakes up the American political landscape remains to be seen. President Trump ended with a call to rebuild our economy, as only he can say it. “With your help, we will save our nation, we will restore our republic, and we will make America and Bitcoin bigger, better, stronger, richer, freer, and greater than ever before.”

When it comes to used cars, it's still a seller's market. Inventory is thin, which means that vehicle you're getting tired of could fetch a nice price. But don't rush off to the dealership unprepared. Follow these steps to boost your car’s trade-in value and negotiate the best price. 1. Do your homework Knowing the current trade-in value your car is obviously important. You can find it using sources like Kelley Blue Book, True Car, and Edmunds. Remember, however, that this is just a benchmark; you should also be honest with yourself about repairs and your vehicle’s condition. You likely won’t get the current value as a car trade-in unless the car is in truly pristine condition. Also keep in mind that you’ll get less for your trade-in than you would if you sell your car on your own. Many people think they are going to get the top value, but dealers taking in the trade need a margin of profit and will offer you less than the trade-in price listed on these sites. 2. Take care of known mechanical problems The mechanical and physical conditions of your car are big drivers of value. So it’s best to resolve any issues that are relatively simple to fix. In general, minor repairs that don’t cost much out of pocket are still likely to increase the resale value of your vehicle. This might include small cosmetic fixes such as dents and scratches or replacing lights that are blown out. Of the repairs that could increase the resale value of your car, you'll want to research which are most cost-effective. Sites like Repair Pal can give you a good idea of what a given repair will run you. You should also check with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration database for any vehicle recalls affecting your car. Recalled parts can be fixed free of charge, and the extra effort may also increase your car’s resale value. Keep receipts for repairs and maintenance. These can prove to the dealer or buyer that you cared for the vehicle. 3. Make sure that your car looks its best A clean and well-maintained car is most likely to get the highest trade-in value. This may sound obvious, but many people bring cars in for trade without bothering to do a simple cleanup. Detail your car the way you'd stage your home — curb appeal matters. 4. Shop around for trade-in value It’s important to shop around for trade-in potential. Don't go to the dealer you plan to buy your next car from until you've gotten a few competitive quotes from CarMax as well as any major used car dealers in your area. 5. Negotiate trade-in value and purchase price separately Negotiating your trade-in and purchasing separately ensures that you get the best trade-in value possible and the best price on the new vehicle you’re buying. Watch out for dealerships that try to combine the two transactions into one deal. They do this because there are more opportunities for a dealer to generate profits when working on two transactions at once. It’s also a good idea to get the trade-in offer in writing separately. This protects you from the dealer changing or going back on the offer for any reason. A formal offer is especially important if you leave the dealership to shop around further and return to the same dealer later. 6. Time your trade-in Trading in your car to buy another vehicle may work better some times of the year than others, depending on the year, make, and model of your vehicle. Weather conditions and other factors could also affect the offer you receive. Timing is everything. All-wheel-drive SUVs would be in high demand during winter, and convertibles are best to sell in spring and summer weather. The first two quarters of the year can also be a good time to trade in a vehicle because buyer demand tends to be higher. Dealers need more vehicles on their lots to meet the demand and may offer a higher price for your trade-in. Timing also matters when it comes to your current car payments. Trading in your car may not be the right choice if you’re still paying off your car, particularly if you owe more than your car is worth. You may want to postpone your next car purchase or sell the car on your own to earn a higher price. It's important to remember that any negative equity is rolled into the subsequent car loan, which will make your monthly payment higher. The Federal Trade Commission cautions against using a dealership that promises to “pay off your loan no matter how much you owe.” While a dealership might pay off your old loan, it must make up the difference somewhere — and that “somewhere” will eventually catch up with you. The bottom line Ensuring you get the best trade-in value can help you get a lower price and monthly payment on the new or used vehicle you want. It’s well worth it to research, make much-needed repairs, spruce up your ride, and secure multiple quotes. When it’s time to buy, use the same research skills to compare auto loans. A dealership you’re working with might offer in-house financing, but that doesn’t mean it’s the best deal. You may be able to get pre-approved for an auto loan online with better terms and use the loan offer as leverage when negotiating a deal on your next car purchase.

Democratic California Gov. Gavin Newsom expressed outrage after Elon Musk posted a video ad with manipulated speech against Vice President Kamala Harris, but the billionaire responded with mockery. The video includes scenes with Harris while a voice sounding like hers goes through a set of talking points meant to deride her political past. 'This is the final straw.'"I, Kamala Harris, am your Democrat candidate for president because Joe Biden finally exposed his senility at the debate," said the video. "I was selected because I am the ultimate diversity hire, I'm both a woman and a person of color, so if you criticize anything I say, you're both sexist and racist!" Newsom reacted by saying that ads with voice manipulation should be illegal. "Manipulating a voice in an 'ad' like this one should be illegal. I’ll be signing a bill in a matter of weeks to make sure it is," he wrote on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter. Musk responded by ridiculing Newsom with a popular insult. "I checked with renowned world authority, Professor Suggon Deeznutz, and he said parody is legal in America," he responded from his official X account. The video racked up nearly 19 million views after being amplified by Musk and Newsom. Others criticized Musk, who owns X, for posting the video with manipulated audio that appeared to be contrary to the platform's terms of use. "If ⁦@elonmusk⁩ and X let this go and don’t label it as altered AI content, they will not only be violating X’s own rules, they’ll be unleashing an entire election season of fake AI voice and image-altered content with no limits, regardless of party," responded Democratic Sen. Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota. Musk had previously criticized California Democrats after they passed a law banning schools from informing parents about changes in their children's gender and sexual orientation choices. The billionaire said he would be moving his companies X and Starlink out of California to Texas over the controversial law. "Because of this law and the many others that preceded it, attacking both families and companies," said Musk. "This is the final straw." Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

Kyle Seraphin is a recovering FBI agent and whistleblower — and he has a theory as to what might have really driven Thomas Crooks, Trump’s would-be assassin, to pull the trigger on July 13. “There is a thing that we refer to as the ‘playbook,’” Seraphin tells Sara Gonzales of “Sara Gonzales Unfiltered.” “The ‘playbook’ essentially is this: ‘I found you online, and you’ve got a lot of really dumb ideas, and some of them are violent. And I’m going to encourage all of those dumb and violent ideas. I am either a CHS, a confidential human informant for the FBI, or what’s called a UCE, I’m an online undercover employee,’” Seraphin explains. “'We’re going to encourage you to do all your dumbest ideas. And not only that, but we’re also going to help you do it for the amount of money that you have. Oh you need a thermal sight belt fed weapon and you only have $940? Luckily for you my friend, $88.99 today only, my buddy will help you get it. He’s a weapons expert,'” Seraphin says, noting that the gun would likely be a dud. As the agents continue to groom the subject, the subject begins to solidify his plan. “That person says, 'You know what, I’ve been told to do a terrorism, and I’ve been told to do a terrorism, I’m going to do the terrorism. But I’m not going to wait for my new friend who’s going to give me a thing, I’m just going to steal my dad’s rifle ‘cause it’s right there,'” he says. “‘So, I didn’t wait for the neutered gun that the government safed and sent me with no firing pin or a shaved-down firing pin,'” Seraphin says. “Now you got a live gun in the situation that should have otherwise been a smooth takedown. I’ve seen these takedowns. I’ve seen a lot of them.” Seraphin calls these “set-up jobs” and “morally equivalent to entrapment even if they are not legally equivalent.” “If you want to put on the tin foil hat, that’s the one that I’d put on,” he adds. Gonzales is intrigued. “So we know that they do it. We know that it seems weird that this 20-year-old loner was even able to get onto the building,” she says. “I don’t think they’re morally above trying to set someone onto that path,” Seraphin says. “The goal is to interdict that thing, and then you get all the stats and the praise and you get to tell everybody how we saved the world, even though we created the terrorism. We also stopped the terrorism. That’s kind of the move of the FBI.” Want more from Sara Gonzales?To enjoy more of Sara's no-holds-barred take to news and culture, subscribe to BlazeTV — the largest multi-platform network of voices who love America, defend the Constitution, and live the American dream.