'This statement 4 years later is pathetic.'

Is Bernie Sanders … right? He just might be when it comes to the skilled labor immigration debate, adding insult to injury to some high-profile allies on the right who still don’t seem to get it. But conservatives must tread carefully: just because you can find common ground with a hardcore leftist on one issue […]

'Do an insurrection on Donald Trump'

'She brought so much joy and happiness to people everywhere during her time on Earth'

THE CENTER SQUARE—San Francisco started its ban on county-funded cash assistance for individuals with substance abuse disorders who refuse to engage in treatment. Measure F, approved by voters in March 2024, applies to the $714 per month payments to housed low-income adults, and $109 per month to homeless individuals who have been in San Francisco for more than 30 days.  Under outgoing Mayor London Breed, San Francisco has significantly cracked down on homelessness, using a new Supreme Court ruling to begin enforcing anti-camping ordinances. As a result, the number of homeless tents has declined by 60% since peaking in 2023. Critics said that while homeless are leaving their tents, they’re still staying in the city.  With 75% of unsheltered homeless surveyed in a California Policy Lab analysis saying they have a drug or alcohol addiction, and 78% saying they have a severe mental illness, San Francisco’s program of requiring individuals with substance abuse orders to get treatment could be a major step forward in helping get people off the streets.  “San Francisco is a city of compassion, but also a city that demands accountability,” Breed said in a statement. “We fund a wide range of treatment and recovery services that are helping people every day, but it can be difficult to get everyone to accept the help they so badly need.” Breed’s office noted homeless individuals who get the lower $109 per month payment also receive “guaranteed shelter and meals.” The new Treatment Pathway Initiative program will require individuals who are even suspected of a substance abuse disorder to continue receiving cash payments.  San Francisco is partnering with Westside Community Services to roll out the new, intensive program, which will include a substance abuse treatment assessment and “high touch, ongoing treatment engagement support for clients, including transportation assistance, warm referrals and removing barriers to treatment.”  “The new Treatment Pathway Initiative supports people with substance use disorder in crisis by meeting them where they are in their recovery journey and providing tangible support and essential resources to improve their lives,” said Westside Community Services Forensic Director Cedric Akbar in a statement. According to San Francisco City Controller Ben Rosenfield, the program could save the city up to $2 million per year in discontinued benefits to individuals with substance abuse disorders, but treatment costs could exceed savings “if existing treatment capacity is not sufficient to meet the increased needs under this ordinance.” San Francisco’s $1.6 million two-year contract with Westside Community Services is for completing at least 320 substance abuse treatment assessments, 285 individualized treatment plans, and care coordination and reporting for 390 clients in the first year, and doubling each category in the second year.  San Francisco reports that about 20% or 1,100 of the 5,500 individuals receiving county-funded cash assistance are homeless. Should 75% of those individuals have a substance abuse disorder, care coordinated by Westside Community Services could end up providing treatment to 96% of homeless individuals with substance abuse disorders who are enrolled in the cash welfare program. Originally published by The Center Square The post San Francisco Starts Ban on Cash Welfare for Drug Addicts Who Refuse Treatment appeared first on The Daily Signal.

The grapple for the speaker’s gavel is headed to round two after three Republicans withheld their votes from House Speaker Mike Johnson, potentially pushing Johnson’s speakership to the brink of collapse. Three Republican lawmakers defected from the party leadership choosing to endorse three alternative candidates. They include Rep. Ralph Norman, R-S.C., who voted for Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio; Rep. Keith Self, R-Texas, who voted for Rep. Byron Donalds, R-Fla.; and Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky. who voted for Rep. Tom Emmer, R-Minn. The cohort of Johnson’s objectors come from Johnson’s rightward flank. Johnson announced earlier today certain commitments in a bid to appeal to undecided House members. The American people have demanded an end to the status quo, and a return to fiscal sanity. That’s why the citizens of our great country gave President Trump the White House and Republican control of both chambers of Congress. If we don’t follow through on our campaign promise for…— Speaker Mike Johnson (@SpeakerJohnson) January 3, 2025 Johnson’s supporters anticipated the potential for a prolonged speakership fight. “None of us will get exactly what we want.” Rep. Lisa McClain, R-Mich., chair of the House Republican Caucus, declared when she introduced Mike Johnson in his bid to lead the House of Representatives for the 199th Congress. In her nominating speech, McClain articulated her vision for the next Congress’s agenda. Much of it resounded with the message of President-elect Trump. “We have the opportunity to put America first again,” and “We should be making it easier for people to achieve the American dream.” McClain explicitly highlighted helping veterans of the United States’s armed forces. McClain described Johnson as “an honest broker” who “shows you his true beliefs at face value.” McClain’s speech tied Johnson’s leadership to a message of hope. “[Johnson] knows our brightest days are still ahead of us.”  “I know Mike will be an integral part of this country’s comeback,” McClain added.  Johnson attempted to win over some of his conservative holdouts by announcing several concessions before the first ballot on Friday. In a post on X, Johnson promised to appoint a working group to assist in DOGE’s efforts by thoroughly auditing federal agencies and entities created by Congress. Johnson added that he will, “Request House committees undertake aggressive authorizations and appropriations reviews, including providing additional resources where needed, to expose irresponsible or illegal practices and hold agencies/individuals accountable that have weaponized government against the American people.” The commitment swayed some conservative members, such as Rep. Victoria Spartz, R-Ind. “I appreciate @SpeakerJohnson’s public commitment to the American people to deliver on President Trump’s agenda and drain the swamp,” she said in reply to Johnson’s concessions. For Johnson to maintain the speakership, he’ll need to do more to appease his conservative holdouts. These concessions could come in the form of increased representation on certain House committees or through legislative priority commitments, the latter of which greatly contributed to the downfall of former Rep. Kevin McCarthy’s speakership. The post Mike Johnson Loses First Ballot for House Speaker. Is His Speakership on the Brink of Collapse? appeared first on The Daily Signal.

Want to make amazing dinner rolls at home? Some of the best recipes are those passed down from generation to generation and this is one of those.  I have grown up eating these as well as making them. A neighbor taught my mother how to make them before I was born, and I learned how to make them when I was a very young sous chef… There is a certain wow factor to homemade rolls. People are always impressed, appreciative, and asking when you will be making them again. I do not know why people think it is so difficult or complicated to make bread or rolls. Homemade bread and homemade rolls are not nearly as hard to make as you might think. I guess I am lucky, because I grew up in the kitchen with a mother who is an incredible baker and cook, so my training was hands on. How To Make Homemade Rolls From Scratch The main thing rolls require is time, but the process itself is pretty simple. The only ingredient you need to have on hand that you might not ordinarily keep is dry yeast, and I just keep packets on hand just to make rolls. The other ingredients are simple and you probably keep them on hand. The two parts that scare people are not knowing how much flour to add to the dough, and not knowing how to properly shaped roll. (Do improperly shaped rolls taste different from properly shaped rolls?) Once you make these and see how easy they are to make, and especially how popular they are, you will want to make homemade rolls on every occasion you can. You will be asked, even if you don't. Trust me. They really are some of the best things I know how to make, even though they are admittedly pretty simple. I've probably made them 200 times, so this recipe has been well tested and tried (and this does not count the ones my mother makes) You can also make homemade hamburger buns (or awesome chicken sandwich buns) and homemade cinnamon rolls using this base recipe. I hope to add a post soon with the cinnamon roll recipe. My kids will assure you they are equally, if not more, amazing. Supplies and Ingredients You Need To Make Homemade Rolls: Ingredients/Recipe for Homemade Rolls: 3/4 cup warm water 2 Tablespoons sugar 2 packages yeast (rapid rise is fine, just cuts rising times) 1/2 cup butter 1/2 cup sugar 2 eggs 2 cups very warm water 1 teaspoon salt 8 to 9 cups flour Cooking oil 2 Tablespoons butter, softened, or shortening Supplies: Mixing Bowl Electric mixer or whisk plus some patience 2 Cookie Sheets or large rectangular baking dish Measuring Cups Measuring Spoons Pastry Brush (optional) Step One: Mix 3/4 cups water, 2 tablespoons of sugar and 2 packages of yeast in a container that will hold at least double that amount. Set aside. How To Make Homemade Rolls: Step One – Add yeast, water and sugar, then set aside Step Two: Cream butter and sugar. Add 2 eggs, 2 cups of water, salt and 3 1/2 cups flour. Beat at low speed until mixed, then at high speed for 3 minutes. Add yeast mixture and 2 more cups of flour. Mix for 2 more minutes. Add one more cup of flour if needed for workable dough. (This just means the dough needs not to be too sticky. If it still sticks to your hands more than a little bit, add more flour) Knead for five minutes, adding flour to working surface as needed to prevent sticking. How To Make Homemade Rolls- Step Two: Cream butter and sugar. Add 3 1/2 cups flour. How To Make Homemade Rolls- Step Two: Add two cups of water How to Make Homemade Rolls- Step 2: Beat at low speed until mixed, then at high speed for 3 minutes. Note: Your yeast will look like this after it has been set aside. The yeast mixture should foam up like this and double in volume. How To Make Homemade Rolls- Step 2: Add the yeast mixture and 2 more cups of flour. Add one more cup of flour if needed for workable dough. Now, I know workable dough is not something everyone is familiar with. Don't be afraid. This recipe is a little bit forgiving here. You will know if the dough is too sticky, and you will learn to get it just right. Meanwhile, the rolls will taste about the same if you add a little too much or not quite enough. Step 3: Oil large mixing bowl. Make a ball with the dough and roll it in the oil in the bowl to coat. Cover with plastic wrap and warm, damp, dish towel. Set on pilot light or in warm spot. If you have a larger bowl, you can fill it with warm water and place this bowl inside. Filling the sink with warm water and setting the bowl in there will also work great. Let rise one hour. How to Make Homemade Rolls- Step 3: Oil large mixing bowl. Make a ball with the dough and roll it in the oil in the bowl to coat. How to Make Homemade Rolls- Step 3: Cover with plastic wrap and warm, damp, dish towel. Set on pilot light or in warm spot. If you have a larger bowl, you can fill it with warm water and place this bowl inside. Filling the sink with warm water and setting the bowl in there will also work great. How to Make Homemade Rolls- Step 3: Let Rise One hour. Your dough will double in volume like this. Step 4: Grease cookie sheets with your softened butter or shortening. Cut dough with scissors for the desired shape of rolls or buns. If the dough is stretched over fingers and tucked under the roll, the tops will be smooth. Use softened butter or Crisco to grease a cookie sheet.   Using kitchen shears, clip off a piece of dough about this size. You can use a smaller piece or a larger one for buns, but this size will make the rolls that are pictured. Pick up the piece you just cut. It is helpful here if you still have some of the butter on your hands from when you greased the cookie sheet. You are going to use one hand to hold the cut piece of dough. Ue your other hand to tuck two opposite side under. (I am using one only so I could photograph this) Then, tuck the other two opposite sides under. Your roll should be round or at least somewhat round. Smooth tops will make smooth rolls, but they will taste just as good if they are not perfectly shaped. (Imperfectly shaped rolls make the best testers when they come out of the oven) Place the somewhat perfectly shaped rolls on the greased cookie sheet and space them a bit, as they will rise and get bigger.   Cover your pan with the shaped rolls, spacing them out so they can rise. If they are a bit close, it will be fine. They pull apart easily and will still look and taste great. Step 5: Cover with plastic wrap. Let rise for 45 minutes to 1 hour.   Cover you rolls loosely with plastic wrap.Let them rise for 45 minutes to one hour. After they have risen, they will look something like this. Step 6: Bake at 400 degrees for 18 minutes. While rolls are still warm, brush tops with melted butter, using a pastry brush. For homemade wheat dinner rolls, substitute 2 cups whole wheat flour for 2 of the cups of flour. Not recommended to use all wheat flour.   Want to see how to make your own homemade dinner rolls at home? Then watch this video tutorial from Laura in the Kitchen:     How did yours turn out? Share with us in the comments! What's your favorite way to eat them? We want to know! LIKE this? I'm sure you'll LOVE: Homemade French Toast Recipe Best Recipe for Homemade Cinnamon Rolls Grandma’s Homemade Biscuits Recipe

Politico's Take on Dems' Immigration Battle with Trump is Just Wrong

Psychologists have often explored the power of stories, but not storytelling.

Many would say that Deion Sanders’ Colorado Buffaloes had a successful 2024 season. The team won nine games, ranked in the AP top 25, and made it to a bowl game. Star cornerback and wide receiver Travis Hunter even won the Heisman Trophy. Outwardly, it appears that the Buffs have a bright future. Jason Whitlock, however, has a source — “someone who’s in the know,” he says — who claims that “the situation is ripe and right for Deion Sanders to exit Colorado after their 36-14 Alamo Bowl loss to BYU.” According to Jason’s source, “Going into the Alamo Bowl, Colorado [was] out of NIL money” and was forced to “do everything on a strict budget.” Apparently, “The players were frustrated” that their bowl game experience was subpar due to budget constraints, which is why the team “didn't take the bowl game that seriously.” Jason’s source also told him that “the Buffaloes spent two nights in a strip club that they basically rented out” on Christmas Day and the day after. This escapade, however, did not involve Travis Hunter, who does not go to clubs. “Money wasn’t there, so their focus wasn’t there,” says Jason. While his source predicts that a Deion exit is on the horizon, Jason isn’t so sure. “I think Colorado is going to pony up,” he says. “They got some five-star quarterback; they got some other good recruits. It appears to me that Deion plans to stay.” However, Deion has claimed that he got involved in coaching to develop his kids — Shedeur and Shilo — and now that both are graduating, perhaps Deion will consider his work finished. On top of that, “Deion has positioned himself to be a candidate for an NFL job,” says Jason. “If Deion bounces, [then his time at Colorado] was a disaster, and it was not worth it,” he adds. To hear more of the story, watch the clip above. Want more from Jason Whitlock?To enjoy more fearless conversations at the crossroads of culture, faith, sports, and comedy with Jason Whitlock, subscribe to BlazeTV — the largest multi-platform network of voices who love America, defend the Constitution, and live the American dream.