Committee on House Administration’s Subcommittee on Oversight Chairman Barry Loudermilk (GA-11) wrote United States Capitol Police (USCP) Chief J. Thomas Manger to request records and information relating to USCP’s investigation into the gallows assembled on the Capitol Grounds on January 6, 2021. That was a major tool of the J6 panel. It was constantly used […] The post No One Knows Where the J6 Gallows Came From appeared first on www.independentsentinel.com.

U.S. Park Police were woefully understaffed as they faced a large mob of violent far-Left extremists on Wednesday who attacked law enforcement and destroyed property during a riot. The pro-Hamas extremists tore down American flags and burned them while chanting “Allahu Akbar” and waving Hamas terrorist flags. Numerous videos posted online also showed them attacking law enforcement officials. They also vandalized statues and fountains, police said. Kenneth Spencer, the Chairman of the United States Park Police Fraternal Order of Police (USPP FOP), said that U.S. Park Police on the ground “did everything they could to protect life and property.” “In fact, despite having only 29 officers available to mitigate damage – 29! – with no additional help from the Department of the Interior, we processed several arrests for charges ranging from assault on a police officer to destruction of government property,” he said. “That’s why it’s so disheartening to hear some Members of Congress and members of the media, many of whom describe themselves as ‘champions’ of law enforcement, suggesting that officers gave protesters a ‘pass’ or that insufficient arrests were made.” “Nothing could be further from the truth – anyone who truly cares to understand the problem would see that our officer staffing crisis is at the root of our agency’s mission readiness,” he continued. “A small unit of 29 officers arrested 10 individuals while being assaulted by a mob of thousands. We simply did not have the staffing or resources to accomplish a mass arrest operation.” He pointed the finger directly at the Biden-Harris administration for standing “in the way of congressional action on the U.S. Park Police Modernization Act which would solve many of these issues for decades to come.” New: U.S. Park Police (@1791FOP) explain why few arrests were made outside of Union Station yesterday, they only had 29 officers for crowd control and they did everything they could. “We simply did not have the staffing or resources to accomplish a mass arrest operation.” pic.twitter.com/bGjdwmnBUY — Julio Rosas (@Julio_Rosas11) July 25, 2024 The 15-year veteran told the New York Post that the agency is “primarily alone” after the federal government has failed to beef up the agency. CLICK HERE TO GET THE DAILYWIRE+ APP “Especially in the DC area, everybody’s so understaffed just like we are,” he explained. “We have a huge mission. We’re the agency that protects First Amendment rights when people come to visit DC.” Related: ‘Allahu Akbar’: Protesters Burn American Flag, Rage Outside Netanyahu Speech

Whether you’ve been a Taylor Swift fan since the days of shedding teardrops on her guitar or you became a Swiftie in the Lover Era, it’s tough to shake Taylor off your radar completely. With millions of fans worldwide, her Eras Tour has proven to be an unparalleled success, with the singer packing sold-out stadiums night after night with screaming, crying, and singing fans. Though Taylor appeals to a wide demographic, she’s particularly popular among young girls. They listened to her music, pinned her posters to their walls, and had their parents going crazy to score tickets to the Eras Tour. The concert is said to be the event of a lifetime if you can snag a seat LOOK AT HER GO! SO WELL DESERVED! #HamburgTSTheErasTour #TSTheErasTour https://t.co/8StZouD1bx— Taylor Nation (@taylornation13) July 23, 2024 During her performances of 22 during the Red Era, Taylor’s been known to interact with her fans and give some a very special souvenir. This week, on her first night in Hamburg, Germany, on July 23, that fan was an incredibly lucky little girl. The blonde Swiftie was dancing her heart out near the stage and caught Taylor Swift’s eye. Taylor made her way across the floor, got down low, and hugged her fan. The pair can be seen exchanging sweet glances and an “I love you” before Taylor removes her signature black hat and places it on the sobbing tween’s head. And While The Haters Gonna Hate, Hate, Hate, It’s Hard Not To Love This Moment The footage went viral on X, with Swifties flocking to the comments. This person felt like the tiny dancer represented all the Swifties, “She is all of us, her big giant. I LOVE YOU!!!!! I felt that in my soul.” Fans were giving this girl all the props, “This is adorable. I love confident kids!! The way she made sure she got another hug in.” This is certainly going to be a core memory for this very lucky girl, “This is precious! She will never forget this for as long as she lives!” You can find the source of this story’s featured image here. The post Taylor Swift Spots Young Swiftie Dancing Her Heart Out & Gives Her Special Gift! appeared first on InspireMore.

BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM The fear of dying alone is one of the most powerful and agonizing feelings that many harbor, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. For some, this fear sadly becomes a reality. To address this issue, the No One Dies Alone (NODA) initiative trains and supports volunteers who provide companionship to people in their final hours.  The history and evolution of NODA The NODA concept began in 1986 in Oregon, United States. Sandra Clarke, a nurse, was devastated when she was unable to provide an elderly patient’s last yearning for companionship. This experience inspired Clarke to create the first NODA program in 2001, which gathered volunteers from hospital staff to sit with patients dying alone. Her project immediately gained traction, with Clarke distributing NODA guides around the world, sparking a movement. Alison Bunce, a Scottish nurse, played a crucial role in bringing NODA to the UK. Bunce was inspired by Clarke’s work and the ‘compassionate communities’ approach championed by Australian sociologist Allan Kellehear. Her quest began with a simple but profound goal: to ensure that no one in her community dies alone. Her aim now includes addressing social isolation and loneliness at all phases of life. A vision of compassionate communities “Being present and accompanying someone as they’re dying is such a privilege—it’s a profound, unique moment,” Bunce says. However, she quickly recognized that the need for friendship and care went beyond the end of life. “Over the years, people were speaking to me about social isolation and loneliness, and I realized this was about life as well as death. We’ve gone from helping people at the end of their lives to supporting them at the very beginning.” Bunce proceeded to Ohio, inspired by Kellehear’s work, to meet with nurses implementing a NODA program. Kellehear’s approach emphasizes that caring for one another is a shared obligation, not only that of healthcare professionals.”I was absolutely inspired,” she says. “I knew I wanted to do something similar in the UK.” The birth of Compassionate Inverclyde Bunce founded Compassionate Inverclyde (CI) in 2016 as an Ardgowan Hospice-funded project, where she worked as director of care. Starting with 20 volunteers, CI sought to sit with people who were dying alone, initially in hospices and local hospitals before extending to private homes. Today, CI has grown substantially, with over 100 volunteers available to provide companionship at a moment’s notice. “It’s been really rewarding: they’re grateful that they’re able to have the opportunity to give something back to the community,” says Bunce, who was named Nurse of the Year 2022 by the Royal College of Nursing. “We’ve seen a real positive impact where families are just not able to be there, or they can’t because it’s too painful, and with nurses too: they desperately want to sit with people but often can’t because of their workload.” Moving beyond end-of-life care Bunce recognized the potential of her volunteer network and began creating a variety of community care services. “Our very ethos is about being kind, and how ordinary people can make a difference together,” she explains. CI volunteers now help new mothers, make ‘back home parcels’ for hospital leavers, visit socially isolated neighbors, and run a grieving café. These activities have allowed CI to expand beyond the initial scope of Ardgowan Hospice’s palliative care focus. Bunce has relaunched CI as a registered charity with fresh Lottery funds, commencing on a quest to encourage compassion and neighborliness on a broader scale. “We need to have courage in our communities,” she urges. “If you think about the people who live in your street, we all have skills and experience. No matter who we are, we have something to offer. I think people are inherently kind: let’s empower people and give them the opportunity to do something good, something that makes a difference.” A model for communities everywhere Under Bunce’s leadership, the NODA movement has evolved into a paradigm for how communities should support their members from birth to death. By empowering everyday citizens to contribute, NODA ensures that no one faces life’s most difficult moments alone. The success of CI demonstrates how a small group of determined volunteers can make a significant impact on their neighborhood. Bunce’s work demonstrates a universal truth: compassion and kindness are effective instruments for building strong, supportive communities. As NODA grows, it serves as a beacon of hope and humanity, reminding us all of our collective responsibility to care for one another.The post No One Dies Alone: a movement against isolation and loneliness in the final hours first appeared on The Optimist Daily: Making Solutions the News.

BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM Your summer vacation was pure bliss: sunny beach mornings, spontaneous ice cream stops, and afternoons spent buried in a good book. But now you’re back at your desk, drowning in Slack messages and emails, and the vacation glow is swiftly fading. The post-vacation blues are real, but don’t panic — there are techniques to help you regain momentum and rediscover the joy of your work. Understanding the post-vacation paradox It may seem contradictory, but returning from a vacation can often leave you feeling more exhausted than rejuvenated. Ayelet Fishbach, a professor at the University of Chicago’s Booth School of Business, notes that this behavior is typical. “Travel itself can be exhausting,” she says. If your vacation wasn’t fully relaxing — whether you had to accept work calls or were preoccupied with family activities — you may feel as if you didn’t receive a true break. Furthermore, the dramatic contrast between vacation leisure and the daily grind might be unsettling, to say the least. Prepare yourself for re-entry Returning to work is a “gigantic shock to the system,” according to Tessa West, an NYU psychology professor. The abrupt change in routine can be taxing on both your body and mind. West recommends having reasonable expectations for your re-entry time. “Those first couple of days you’re still pretty fried,” she says. Plan accordingly by allotting additional time for your commute and being strategic about scheduling meetings with coworkers who may boost your stress levels. The initial adjustment is the most difficult phase, but it becomes easier: “Monday feels brutal, but Tuesday is a bit better, and Wednesday is smoother still,” Fishbach says. Start slow and small Jumping right into the most demanding tasks when you return might be overwhelming. To generate momentum, West recommends starting with easier, more achievable duties. “You’re plunging into an acute stressor the moment you get back,” she explains. Instead, view your return as an onboarding process, gradually easing back into your responsibilities. This strategy keeps the tension from affecting your coworkers and allows you to restore your footing at a steady pace. Focus on what you enjoy about your job Intrinsic motivation, which comes from having a real passion and purpose in your work, is critical to job happiness. Fishbach recommends reminding yourself of what you appreciate and find rewarding about your career. “When you’re feeling the opposite of eager to be there, think about why you chose your job in the first place, what it offers, and who you get to connect with,” she says. By focusing on the areas of your career that you enjoy, you can rekindle your excitement and motivation. Change your perspective Returning from vacation can feel like an internal battle between work and leisure. Fishbach argues that this perceived contradiction might bring on a sense of guilt. However, productivity and fun are not incompatible. She suggests viewing your employment as a complement to your free time. “Being productive and successful is not the opposite of enjoying life and having time for rejuvenation,” she insists. Remember that employment provides the financial means to enjoy vacations and live a meaningful life. Reassess, if necessary If you’re still trying to find your groove after a few weeks, it may be time to reconsider. Vacations can provide wonderful opportunities for self-reflection. West recommends taking this time to gauge your job satisfaction. “Maybe you realize that you still love your job, but it doesn’t love you back,” she says. While it is critical to avoid making rash decisions, such as resigning on a whim, it is also critical to acknowledge persistent sentiments of unhappiness. Begin researching various employment options and responsibilities that may better match your interests and strengths. The post-vacation blues can be a challenging but temporary phase. Setting reasonable expectations, starting slowly, focusing on what you enjoy about your job, altering your perception, and reassessing as needed will allow you to return to work as painlessly as possible and may even help you discover renewed motivation and happiness. Remember, balancing work and relaxation is essential for a fulfilling existence.The post How to revive your work mojo after a vacation first appeared on The Optimist Daily: Making Solutions the News.

This has the potential to be great ... if done right

With President Biden out of the 2024 presidential race, the media have had an opportunity to collectively exhale before returning to their normal task, which is to fawn over every word uttered by the Democrats. Vice president Kamala Harris's entry into the presidential race is the latest example. Watch as NBC’s Tom Llamas introduces Peter Alexander’s report on the beginnings of the Harris campaign: TOM LLAMAS: And good evening tonight from Paris. I'm Tom Llamas in for Lester. As this city gets ready for the world to focus on the Olympics with the opening ceremony, less than 24 hours away, in the U.S., the sprint to November is on. Vice President Harris telling former President Donald Trump she wants a debate, saying "I'm ready, let's go. Former President Trump saying he won't be nice, and painting her as a radical liberal. Joining the fray, Beyonce, or at least her music, and former President Obama, set to endorse. All of it coming after President Biden's historic Oval Office address, saying his decision not to run is about the very future of democracy. It’s all there, really. There is the adversarial quote of former President Donald Trump, there is the gushing over Vice President Harris‘s combat of posture, there is the swooning over the eventual endorsement by former President Barack Obama, and there is even the goofy reference to the Harris campaign use of Beyoncé‘s “Freedom“ as her campaign fight song. It only gets worse from there. Chief White House correspondent Peter Alexander closed out his report by going off into a tangent about memes and Harris‘s ability to engage younger voters.  PETER ALEXANDER: Yeah, that's right, Tom. I think in both style and strategy, stylistically, the vice president of course, as a younger candidate embracing pop culture, memes, and appealing to younger voters who have been less enthusiastic about President Biden, but also perhaps strategically a different electoral map. The Harris campaign now hoping that her candidacy will mobilize different demographics, including Southern black voters in states like Georgia, where Vice President Harris will head early next week. Alexander also hyped the NYT/Siena poll showing the race as a virtual dead heat, as did also ABC’s Selina Wang: WANG: And David, new polling out tonight from "The New York Times" shows just how much this race has tightened since president Biden dropped out. It is now a virtual tie, showing that Harris and Trump are now separated by just one point among likely voters nationwide. And this is just one of several major polls all showing just how much closer this race has gotten since Harris became the presumptive Democratic nominee. David. Incredibly, there was restraint from ABC, which was traditionally the most Biden-sycophantic network newscast. Perhaps they, too, need time to adjust to Harris. Over at CBS, an eager Norah O’Donnell oversold Harris’s speech before the American Federation of Teachers, and also hyped the poll: NORAH O’DONNELL: Turning now to a consequential day on the campaign trail. CBS News has learned Barack Obama is planning on backing Vice President Kamala Harris, quote: "soon." That's according to a source who also says Obama has been in regular touch with Harris and believes the vice president is off to an impressive start. There’s a new national poll out today that has Harris significantly narrowing what had been a Trump lead, with Trump now ahead by just one point. That's among likely voters. We’re not even a week in, and the media’s collective sycophancy is off the charts. Between this and the Orwelian retconning of Harris’s record, this campaign coverage may dwarf the worst elements of how the media covered both Obama and Hillary Clinton. Combined.  The Regime Media are back with a vengeance, and have already assimilated into the K-Hive. Click “expand” to view the full transcripts of the aforementioned reports as aired on their respective evening network newscasts on Thursday, July 25th, 2024: ABC WORLD NEWS TONIGHT: ABC WORLD NEWS TONIGHT 7/25/24 6:38 PM DAVID MUIR: In the race for The White House, Vice President Harris was also in Texas earlier today. The American Federation of Teachers endorsing her, and Harris pushing back against Donald Trump's insults, telling him to “bring it on”. Tonight, Donald Trump already telling his supporters, “I'm not going to be nice”. And Trump’s running mate, Senator JD Vance tonight, under new scrutiny for past comments about people who don't have children. Here’s Selina Wang. SELINA WANG: Tonight, Vice President Kamala Harris accepting the endorsement of the American Federation of Teachers in Houston. Sounding her campaign’s defining theme that this election is a fight for freedom. KAMALA HARRIS: In this moment, we are in a fight for our most fundamental freedoms and to this room of leaders I say, bring it on. WANG: Harris sharpening her attacks on Donald Trump as an enemy of the middle class. HARRIS: Donald Trump and his extreme allies want to take our nation back to failed trickle-down economic policies. Back to union-busting. Back to tax breaks for billionaires. WANG: Trump, who had counted on running against Joe Biden, now testing new attack lines on Harris, whose name he continues to mispronounce. TRUMP: This November, the American people are going to tell her, “no thanks, Kamala, you've done a terrible job”.  WANG: Trump abandoning his pledge post-assassination attempt to unite the country. TRUMP: When you're dealing with these people, they're very dangerous people. When you're dealing with them, you can't be too nice. You really can't be. So if you don't mind, I'm not going to be nice. Is that okay? WANG: But tonight, new scrutiny for Trump's running mate. Ohio Senator JD Vance and his 2021 comments disparaging Harris for not having children. JD VANCE: We're effectively run in this country, via the Democrats, via our corporate oligarchs, by a bunch of childless cat ladies who are miserable at their own lives and the choices that they’ve made, and so they want to make the rest of the country miserable, too. And it's just a basic fact. You look at Kamala Harris. Pete Buttigieg. AOC. The entire future of the Democrats is controlled by people without children. WANG: Tonight, actress Jennifer Aniston sharing Vance’s comments with her 44 million Instagram followers, writing: “I truly can't believe this is coming from a potential VP of the United States.” And the former wife of Harris’s husband Doug Emhoff coming to her defense, noting that Harris co-parents their two children. Kerstin Emhoff writing, For over ten years ,since Cole and Ella were teenagers, Kamala has been a coparent with Doug and I. She is loving, nurturing, fiercely protective and always present. I love our blended family and am grateful to have her in it.” Ella Emhoff adding, “how can you be childless when you have cutie pie kids like Cole and I. I love my three parents.” And tonight, the Harris campaign highlighting Vance's statements suggesting that parents be given extra votes in elections. VANCE: When you go to the polls in this country as a parent, you should have more power. You should have more of an ability to speak your voice in our democratic republic than people who don't have kids. Let’s face the consequences and the reality. If you don't have as much of an investment in the future of this country, maybe you shouldn't get nearly the same voice. Doesn't this mean that non-parents don't have as much of a voice as parents? Doesn't this mean that non-parents don’t have as much of a voice as parents? Doesn’t this mean that parents get a bigger say in how our democracy functions? Yes. Absolutely. WANG: Tonight, Trump standing by Vance. TRUMP: He's for the worker. No, he’s great. He’s doing a great job and he’s been very well received. WANG: Harris says she's ready to meet Trump face-to-face, accepting the September 10th debate on ABC News that Trump and president Biden had already agreed to. HARRIS: I'm ready. And I think the voters deserve to see the split screen that exists in this race on a debate stage and so I'm ready. Let's go. WANG: And David, new polling out tonight from "The New York Times" shows just how much this race has tightened since president Biden dropped out. It is now a virtual tie, showing that Harris and Trump are now separated by just one point among likely voters nationwide. And this is just one of several major polls all showing just how much closer this race has gotten since Harris became the presumptive Democratic nominee. David. MUIR: Selina Wang tonight with us as well. Thank you, Selina. CBS EVENING NEWS: CBS EVENING NEWS 7/25/24 NORAH O’DONNELL: Turning now to a consequential day on the campaign trail. CBS News has learned Barack Obama is planning on backing Vice President Kamala Harris, quote: "soon." That's according to a source who also says Obama has been in regular touch with Harris and believes the vice president is off to an impressive start. There’s a new national poll out today that has Harris significantly narrowing what had been a Trump lead, with Trump now ahead by just one point. That's among likely voters. And as CBS's Robert Costa reports, both candidates are sharpening their attacks. ROBERT COSTA: Vice President Harris back on the trail today in Houston, rallying educators at the American Federation of Teachers. KAMALA HARRIS Donald Trump and his allies want to cut Medicare and Social Security. To stop student loan forgiveness for teachers and other public servants. COSTA: In the near future, former President Obama's expected nod, which sources say has been held out of respect for President Biden and his Oval Office address last night, will come as Harris is working fast to define her message on her terms, before former President trump and Republicans do it on theirs. HARRIS: There are some people who think we should be a country of chaos. We choose freedom. COSTA: Harris says she’s ready to rumble on the debate stage. HARRIS: Yeah, I’m ready to debate Donald Trump. Now it appears he’s backpedaling, but I’m ready. COSTA: Today, Trump advisors told CBS News Trump is ready and willing to have several debates with Harris. Meanwhile, the vice president is pushing to focus her campaign speeches on policies she championed as part of the Biden administration, such as reproductive rights and gun control. HARRIS: We want to ban assault weapons, and they want to ban books. Can you imagine? COSTA: But a bruising political battle is ahead, as Trump casts her as a liberal Democrat who is out of step on the border, abortion, health care, and the economy. TRUMP: She's worse than him. Because he's a fake liberal. You know, he wasn't that liberal. He was fake. She's a real liberal. COSTA: Meanwhile, the clock is ticking on Harris' decision on a running mate, with more than a dozen names being considered, including Arizona Senator Mark Kelly. MARK KELLY: It's not about me. But I've always, always, when I've had, you know, the chance to serve, I think that’s very important, too. COSTA: Top Democrats privately tell me senator Kelly is near the top of the list because they believe he comes from a key state, plus they say his service in the Navy and at NASA would square up well Senator JD Vance, a Marine veteran. Norah. O’DONNELL: All right, Robert Costa, thank you very much. NBC NIGHTLY NEWS: NBC NIGHTLY NEWS 7/25/24 6:31 PM TOM LLAMAS: And good evening tonight from Paris. I'm Tom Llamas in for Lester. As this city gets ready for the world to focus on the Olympics with the opening ceremony, less than 24 hours away, in the U.S., the sprint to November is on. Vice President Harris telling former President Donald Trump she wants a debate, saying "I'm ready, let's go. Former president Trump saying he won't be nice, and painting her as a radical liberal. Joining the fray, Beyonce, or at least her music, and former President Obama, set to endorse. All of it coming after President Biden's historic Oval Office address, saying his decision not to run is about the very future of democracy. It's where we start tonight with Chief White House Correspondent Peter Alexander. PETER ALEXANDER: Tonight, Vice President Harris welcoming an onstage showdown with former President Trump, accusing him of backpedaling from his previous comment to a September debate. KAMALA HARRIS: I'm ready to debate Donald Trump. I think the voters deserve to see the split screen that exists in this race on a debate stage. And so I'm ready. Let's go. TRUMP: Just this week, Mr. Trump said he'd be willing to do more than one debate with Ms. Harris, but appeared to balk at the current plan. DONALD TRUMP: I agreed to a debate with Joe Biden. But I want to debate her. And she’ll be no different, because they have the same policies. ALEXANDER: Their head-to-head is quickly heating up. New polls show the vice president has narrowed Mr. Trump's advantage over President Biden, the race effectively a toss-up. On the economy, Harris today slamming the former president's proposals as tax breaks for billionaires. ALEXANDER: America has tried these failed economic policies before. But we are not going back. We are not going back. ALEXANDER: Mr. Trump today attacking the vice president. TRUMP: She's the most radical person probably that we've had in office, let alone the office of the presidency. ALEXANDER: In Charlotte last night, casting aside his promise from last week's Republican convention that he'd strike a more unifying tone. TRUMP: We can't be too nice. We really can't be. So, if you don't mind, I'm not going to be nice. Is that okay? ALEXANDER: It comes as President Biden detailed his decision to drop out of the race. JOE BIDEN: I revere this office, but I love my country more. ALEXANDER: Discussing his desire to unite the country by passing the torch to a new generation. BIDEN: This is also the time and a place for new voices, fresh voices, yes, younger voices. And that time and place is now. ALEXANDER: The vice president soon to receive a major boost. The endorsement of former President Obama, according to people familiar with their discussions, who say the two have been in close touch since she announced her plans to run. HARRIS:  In this election, we each face a question. ALEXANDER: The Harris team now running with its first campaign video. ALEXANDER: Set to the Beyoncé song "Freedom." Meanwhile, Mr. Trump's running mate JD Vance is facing new backlash for his past criticism of Democratic leaders, including Ms. Harris, for not having children. JD VANCE: We're effectively run in this country via the Democrats, via our corporate oligarchs by a bunch of childless cat ladies. ALEXANDER: Hollywood star Jennifer Aniston posting, “All I can say is, Mr. Vance, I pray that your daughter is fortunate enough to bear children of her own one day.” And the Second Gentleman’s first wife, Kerstin Emhoff, praising the vice president as a coparent to the Emhoff children. “I love our blended family and am grateful to have her in it.” LLAMAS: And Peter, we are in the very early days of the Harris campaign. But they're already embracing a different approach. Tom. LLAMAS: The new race is underway. All right, Peter, we thank you for that.