Democrats in the Virginia General Assembly insist that Gov. Glenn Youngkin illegally appointed his director of the state’s renamed Office of Diversity‚ Opportunity‚ and Inclusion.   The Virginia office used to be called the Office of Diversity‚ Equity‚ and Inclusion‚ a concept popularized by the Left and commonly known as DEI. However‚ in his second week as governor‚ Youngkin signed an executive order Jan. 19‚ 2022‚ removing the term “equity” from the office’s name and replacing it with “opportunity. “  In November 2022‚ the Republican governor appointed Martin Brown‚ who is black‚ as Virginia’s chief diversity‚ opportunity officer and director of the office.  In response to Youngkin’s name change for the diversity office‚ Virginia Senate Majority Leader Scott Surovell‚ D-Fairfax‚ successfully offered an amendment to the state’s budget bill requiring that the office revert to its former name.  Youngkin has criticized the budget passed March 9 by the Democrat-majority General Assembly‚ and the spending plan awaits the Republican governor’s signature.  In a statement emailed Monday to The Daily Signal‚ Surovell said he “introduced the amendment because the governor has refused to hire a chief DEI officer which is a position created and titled in state law.”   “If the governor is going to violate state law‚ the money needs to be directed‚” the Senate majority leader added‚ apparently meaning “redirected.”  Surovell’s budget amendment requires Youngkin to change “Diversity‚ Opportunity‚ and Inclusion” back to “Diversity‚ Equity‚ and Inclusion” by June 1‚ or the diversity office’s $2.3 million funding would go to the Virginia Cannabis Equity Business Loan Fund‚ a program that helps licensed cannabis sellers in the state.  “Governor Youngkin has been clear that he doesn’t have any interest in a retail market for marijuana; instead‚ we should be working to fix a backward budget written by Democrats that has $2.6 billion in new taxes on Virginia families‚” Youngkin press secretary Christian Martinez said Monday in a written statement to The Daily Signal.   “Since the beginning of the administration‚ the governor has challenged the groupthink of the progressive Democrats’ pursuit of equity at any cost‚ instead focusing on advancing equal opportunities‚ not equal outcomes for all.”   The budget amendment requires Youngkin to restore the Office of Diversity‚ Opportunity‚ and Inclusion to the Office of Diversity‚ Equity‚ and Inclusion by June 1‚ or the department’s $2.3 million funding would go to a budget line item for the Virginia Cannabis Equity Business Loan Fund‚ a program that helps licensed cannabis sellers in the state.   Surovell didn’t respond before publication to The Daily Signal’s request for comment on why his amendment tied the sale of marijuana to the diversity office’s name change.  Last year‚ Surovell and Virginia House Speaker Don Scott‚ D-Portsmouth‚ wrote to Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares‚ a Republican‚ inquiring whether Youngkin’s name change for the office violated state law.  In the letter‚ the two Democrats argued that Youngkin illegally renamed the office‚ saying the action violated a 2020 law that established the office in the executive branch with a director of diversity‚ equity‚ and inclusion.  Here is the letter that @DonScott757 and I sent to @JasonMiyaresVA seeking an opinion regarding the Governor DEI actions – our first question is whether the Governor is bound by Virginia Law because apparently he doesn't think he is@FairfaxNAACP @charlottewords @LVozzella pic.twitter.com/E2PzbTvGL6— Senator Scott Surovell (@ssurovell) May 2‚ 2023 The Senate and House leaders argued in their letter to the attorney general that Youngkin illegally named Brown as director since the governor didn’t appoint him to the office named in state law.   In his written statement to The Daily Signal‚ Surovell said Youngkin had “hired someone for that office [and] renamed the person a diversity‚ opportunity‚ and inclusion officer who then made offensive comments regarding equity.”   “DEI is dead‚” Brown said last April in a speech at Virginia Military Institute referencing the office’s name change.  “We’re not going to bring that cow up anymore. It’s dead‚” Brown said. “It was mandated by the General Assembly‚ but this governor has a different philosophy of treating people with civility and discourse.”  The move caused an uproar in the General Assembly as many Democrats‚ joined by the Virginia chapter of the NAACP‚ demanded Brown’s resignation.  The governor’s office defended Brown‚ saying that Youngkin would “continue to advance equal opportunities—not equal outcomes—for all Virginians.”   “This is too important of an issue to succumb to those seeking to cancel Chief Brown for challenging the groupthink of the progressive Left’s pursuit of equity at any cost‚” the statement said.  The post Virginia Democrats Dig in Over Youngkin’s DEI-Deflating Deletion of ‘Equity’ in State Office appeared first on The Daily Signal.

Israeli Hostage Describes Sexual Assault and Torture During Her Time in Gaza

Israel Pulls Negotiators After Hamas Rejection‚ Blames US &; UN

WHO: Stop Eating‚ Peasants!

Looks like the last two days of on-air temper tantrums by MSNBC hosts have paid off. According to Puck News founding partner and senior correspondent Dylan Byers‚ NBC News executives already plan to remove former RNC Chair Ronna McDaniel as a paid contributor.  Just after 1 p.m. Eastern on Tuesday‚ Byers tweeted: “NBC NEWS plans to drop ex RNC-chair Ronna McDaniel as a paid contributor following on-air revolt from NBC/MSNBC talent. Execs are deliberating over details; announcement pending. Meanwhile‚ McDaniel is seeking legal representation.” By “on-air revolt‚” Byers was referring to Monday’s outpouring of sanctimony by MSNBC hosts Joy Reid‚ Mika Brzezinski‚ Nicolle Wallace‚ Rachel Maddow‚ and others. We’ve put together a compilation of the highlights from yesterday:     The unanimous outrage from on-air talent reportedly forced MSNBC head Rashida Jones to announce that the cable network’s hosts would not be required to have McDaniel on their shows. But that didn’t put a stop to the tirades. Morning Joe co-host Mika Brzezinski slammed McDaniel as “an anti-democracy election denier‚” and urged the network to “reconsider its decision.” Her co-host Joe Scarborough added: “We weren’t asked our opinion of the hiring‚ but if we were‚ we would have strongly objected to it.” Hours later on Deadline: White House‚ host Nicolle Wallace was aghast that the network would even consider allowing an “election denier” onto “our sacred airwaves.” That evening‚ Longtime MSNBC prognosticator Rachel Maddow spent several agonizing minutes listing all the reasons she objected: The fact that Ms. McDaniel is on the payroll at NBC News‚ to me‚ that is inexplicable. You wouldn’t — you wouldn’t — you wouldn’t hire‚ like‚ a wise guy. You wouldn’t hire a made man‚ like a mobster‚ to work at a DA’s office‚ right? You wouldn’t hire a pickpocket to work as a TSA screener. Apparently the mere presence of a Trump-endorsed former RNC head is all it takes to cause a riot over at MSNBC these days.

Syndicated radio host Dan Bongino scorched 60 Minutes for its latest hot take on “misinformation” before the 2024 election and pointed out that the network was not exactly reputed for being truthful. Bongino addressed a recent 60 Minutes segment on The Dan Bongino Show on Monday. The theme of the segment was that a group of “misinformation researchers” were concerned about not being able to control the narrative ahead of the 2024 election. “The bottom line is this. There is a group of people‚ it’s not a group of Spider-Man/Venom-like characters‚ and what they’re doing‚ is they’re out there trying to control‚ manipulate‚ gaslight and brainwash people‚” Bongino said of this shadowy group of researchers.    “The information nuclear war is exploding‚” Bongino told his audience. He warned that there is  an “information warfare going on right now where lefties are desperate to try and control the narrative.” Bongino had some not-too-flattering words to spare for the 60 Minutes show.  “60 Minutes‚ the goon hack commie network‚ communist network‚ I mean what I say‚” Bongino said of the television program. “It is a straight agitprop propaganda network full of bullshitters and liars‚ [they] ran an entire piece last night attacking Elon‚ attacking social media companies. Attacking it for what? For not censoring more.” Bongino not only took issue with the stance of 60 Minutes; he also pointed out the sheer hypocrisy of the network smearing dissenting views as untruths when they have spread many fibs of their own. “So 60 Minutes — the network that ran with the pee pee hoax‚ the network that refused to tell the truth when they knew the Hunter laptop was likely real — is running a segment on disinformation attacking conservatives who expose them?” Bongino asked rhetorically.  Bongino appeared offended at the intellectual dishonesty of the network‚ saying: “Folks‚ this is the biggest F.U. I have ever seen to America.”   However‚ Bongino was not simply concerned with the 60 Minutes segment. He attributed it to a much larger last-ditch effort by “the blob” or “the Deep State” to maintain control of the narrative ahead of the elections. Drawing attention to an NBC News report on the topic of misinformation‚ Bongino further scolded: “You think this is a coincidence that research universities and research groups—that have spent millions if not billions of dollars around the globe working with governments and NGOs trying to censor you—are now afraid they’re losing control before an election? So 60 Minutes does an attack on conservatives for attacking these fake groups that are trying to censor you‚ and NBC writes a piece just what? A couple days before. You think that’s a coincidence‚ right?” Conservatives are under attack. Contact your representatives and demand that Big Tech be held to account to mirror the First Amendment while providing transparency‚ clarity on so-called hate speech and equal footing for conservatives. If you have been censored‚ contact us at the Media Research Center contact form‚ and help us hold Big Tech accountable.

Hours before news broke that NBC News may be firing their newly hired Republican political analyst‚ former RNC Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel‚ NewsNation stuck it to their cable news rival. During Monday night’s Cuomo‚ correspondent at-large Geraldo Rivera called out their “pretentious bullshit‚” and host Chris Cuomo proclaimed that “the hypocrisy reeks” at the network. Cuomo led into the segment by calling out his former morning show rivals (when he co-hosted CNN’s New Day) for their rank “hypocrisy” in calling for McDaniel’s ouster when they benefitted from being pals with Donald Trump before he got elected: Look‚ I have no beef. But it was okay for you‚ Mika [Brzezinski] and Joe [Scarborough]‚ to have Trump on all the time to talk to him about what questions to ask‚ right? When it was working for you when he was running‚ right? When you guys are all pals‚ that was ok‚ right? You have any problem with that‚ right? Just because you went bad on him when it became convenient because you work at a lefty outlet. This is okay now you can be high-minded about it‚ right? The hypocrisy reeks! When asked for his take‚ the first words out of Rivera’s mouth were “Screw them!” “I mean‚ the whole idea is that they were hiring her to be the ultimate insider. And here she gets washed or she gets drowned by this tsunami of pretensions bullshit‚” he added. “Really‚ all of these people that have a stick up there behind‚ how dare they.” Rivera took on McDaniel’s most prominent naysayers: Brzezinski and Chuck Todd: “When did she become management? When did she become‚ you know‚ the arbiter of who got hired and who doesn't get hired? And Chuck Todd‚ I don't remember his years‚ his nine years at Meet The Press as being exactly triumphant.”     Continuing to focus on the Morning Joe crew‚ Cuomo pointed out “the bias at play” in how their friends in the liberal media didn’t have an issue with their buddy-buddy relationship with Trump during the 2016 election cycle: I was against them in the morning at CNN and I still beat them twice even with them having Trump on all the time. And you remember the tape that came out‚ Geraldo‚ of them in break asking Trump about what questions to ask next and how they were going to do their next segment of the town hall. And nobody got upset about it. It was there and gone because all the reporters want to be on their show iin the morning. But now they have standards about what's right and what's wrong. It's all advantage. It's all hypocrisy. Following a recounting from Rivera about a similar protest against him at ABC (you can check that out in the transcript below)‚ he defended McDaniel as “a perfect hire 8 months before the election. Who knows more about the mechanics of the Republican Party than she does?” Cuomo agreed: “Alright‚ she's coming on. I guarantee you she would have exposed things‚ she would explain things in a way that would be satisfying to that audience. You make such a huge mistake when you limit who you talk to to be the people who already agree with you.” As they were nearing the end of the segment‚ Cuomo told the NBCers that they needed to “get out of the silos‚” but warned that “their talent has come out and shown you what they're about. They are not as tolerant on voices.” “But you guys did the wrong thing with Trump when it and now you've gotten religion on it‚” he scolded Scarborough and Brzezinski. “But remember what you did‚ you're lucky to get thrown out on your ass because of it. Now‚ you not affording the same sympathies going forward. I just think it's a hypocrisy thing.” Seeming almost prophetic in hindsight‚ Rivera’s final advice for McDaniel was to wait it out and maybe have a nice payday in court: “My thought is that I hope she tells them all to screw it‚ she's sticking around‚ forces them to fire her and then sues them for millions because that they have humiliated her in a very‚ very unjust way.” Perhaps NewsNation saw the writing on the wall and were making an on-air play to appeal to McDaniel if/when NBC gave her the boot. The transcript is below. Click "expand" to read: NewsNation’s Cuomo March 25‚ 2024 8:39:29 p.m. Eastern (…) CHRIS CUOMO: NBC hires her. I'm sure other people we're trying to get her. But now everybody's mad. Now‚ this happens in the media. Somebody hire somebody that other people would have hired as well‚ but they attacked the place that hired her. But this is coming in-house; big shots inside NBC like Morning Joe co-host Mika Brzezinski. She said this. [Cuts to video] MIKA BRZEZINSKI: And we hope NBC will reconsider its decision. It goes without saying that she will not be a guest on Morning Joe in her capacity as a paid contributor. [Cuts back to live] CUOMO: Look‚ I have no beef. But it was okay for you‚ Mika and Joe‚ to have Trump on all the time to talk to him about what questions to ask‚ right? When it was working for you when he was running‚ right? When you guys are all pals‚ that was ok‚ right? You have any problem with that‚ right? Just because you went bad on him when it became convenient because you work at a lefty outlet. This is okay now you can be high-minded about it‚ right? The hypocrisy reeks!   NewsNation correspondent at-large Geraldo Rivera. Look‚ I get making the decision not to hire McDaniel‚ but the idea that NBC News‚ Chuck Todd‚ or Mika Brzezinski‚ or Joe Scarborough are offended. What do you make of it? GERALDO RIVER: Screw them! I mean‚ I like everyone you just named. I don't know Chuck Todd‚ but Mike and Joe and I heard Nicolle Wallace said something bad against the Ronna McDaniel. I mean‚ the whole idea is that they were hiring her to be the ultimate insider. And here she gets washed or she gets drowned by this tsunami of pretensions bullshit. Really‚ all of these people that have a stick up there behind‚ how dare they. And for Mika to say NBC shouldn't hire them. When did she become management? When did she become you know‚ the - the - the - the arbiter of who got hired and who doesn't get hired. And Chuck Todd‚ I don't remember his years‚ his nine years at Meet The Press as being exactly triumphant. You know‚ she is the ultimate insider and to say that they don't want to hire her now because of election denialism. Well‚ then you don't want half the country to watch your network because half country is Republican more or less. And they – they believe a lot of them or at least they've convinced themselves about election being a‚ you know‚ fraudulent or whatever it is. Now‚ I think that she's wrong. I think that the Republican Party is going off the cliff. But the fact is they hired her to be who she is‚ who she was and for them now‚ these other talent‚ you know‚ some of past their prime to – to go after her and then they won't have her. I think that's – that's baloney. CUOMO: I mean‚ look‚ I like it on one level. Okay? One is Ronna McDaniel and all the Trumpers beyond the pale from what they're used to see? Yes‚ they advanced things that go beyond questions of fact‚ unarguable questions? However‚ now you see the bias at play‚ especially when it comes to Mika and Joe. I was against them in the morning at CNN and I still beat them twice even with them having Trump on all the time. And you remember the tape that came out‚ Geraldo‚ of them in break asking Trump about what questions to ask next and how they were going to do their next segment of the town hall. And nobody got upset about it. It was there and gone because all the reporters want to be on their show iin the morning. But now they have standards about what's right and what's wrong. It's all advantage. It's all hypocrisy. RIVERA: It's also pretension and – and a bogus I’m holier than thou. I remember way in 1977. Go way back to very brief story. I was on Good Morning America and I had a show called Good Night America. Roone Arledge‚ the legendary boss of ABC got the big gig. He says to me‚ “I want you on the evening news.” It was the Son of Sam. Son of Sam was happening. “No one knows New York better than you Geraldo. I want you on it.” Ted Koppel and a bunch of guys from the Washington bureau of ABC. Ted Kopple tells this story Arledge’s eulogy. Now they want to Roone Arledge and said‚ “You can’t hire Geraldo‚ he's not one of us. He’s not professional. He’s done all this crazy stuff. And we're going to resign.” Roone Arledge said‚ “Okay. Put your resignation on the desk.” And I went on and I stayed on and screw them. And since then I all of these‚ you know‚ that holier than thou‚ lecturey‚ pompous‚ I'm going to be Walter Cronkite – You know‚ so many anchors have said to me or said to others‚ “He's a he's not fit for—“ And 54 years later‚ I'm still I'm still here‚ after I started because the American people have made a decision about me. Television’s a lie detector. You look right through it. She’s a perfect hire 8 months before the election. Who knows more about the mechanics of the Republican Party than she does? You know‚ and if you're going to find Republicans who except the 2020 results as legit‚ you know‚ good luck to you and your search. CUOMO: Look‚ I just think that you've got to get out of the silos. At least MSNBC. Their talent has come out and shown you what they're about. They are not as tolerant on voices. Now‚ you can say‚ “No‚ these people lie.” A lot of people lie. Alright‚ she's coming on. I guarantee you she would have exposed things‚ she would explain things in a way that would be satisfying to that audience. You make such a huge mistake when you limit who you talk to to be the people who already agree with you. And they're making that mistake. But at least they let you know. And I know they're going to come back at me. It's not done with animus. I wish them well. I think Mika Brzezinski cares about what she does. I think that's basically true about Joe Scarborough too. But you guys did the wrong thing with Trump when it and now you've gotten religion on it. But remember what you did‚ you're lucky to get thrown out on your ass because of it. Now‚ you not affording the same sympathies going forward. I just think it's a hypocrisy thing. I got to jump. Do you have a last button? RIVERA: My thought is that I hope she tells them all to screw it‚ she's sticking around‚ forces them to fire her and then sues them for millions because that they have humiliated her in a very‚ very unjust way. CUOMO: And also from management. I never got to decide who comes on my show and who doesn't. That was always the bosses. RIVERA: Exactly. Exactly. CUOMO: You know‚ and it is now too‚ by the way. And look‚ I'm at different level of the game‚ but if they say they want somebody on‚ they say they want me to go somewhere. I go. That's what being an employee is all about. (…)

A member of the state parole board in Illinois has resigned her position after releasing a suspect with a history of violence and stalking who then allegedly attacked his ex-girlfriend and fatally stabbed her son just hours later.On Monday‚ 63-year-old LeAnn Miller resigned her position on the Illinois Prisoner Review Board after drafting the decision to release 37-year-old Crosetti Brand back onto the streets late last month.By all accounts‚ Brand is a dangerous man who poses a serious threat to society in general and in particular to many people who have had the misfortune of crossing paths with him. According to reports‚ he has been serially stalking Laterria Smith of Chicago ever since she broke up with him in 2006. In the years following the breakup‚ Brand reportedly showed up outside Smith's home and fired a weapon‚ punched her in the face at a bus stop after she began dating someone else‚ and even made threatening phone calls to members of her family and threw rocks at their windows. Smith secured a protection order against Brand shortly thereafter.In 2015‚ Brand began a sentence for attacking another ex-girlfriend and pointing a gun at her son. He served just half of the 16-year sentence he received in that case and was out on parole last October.Once out of prison‚ Brand allegedly began stalking Smith once again. On February 1‚ Smith called police to report that Brand was outside her home once again‚ incessantly ringing her doorbell and pulling on the door handle. Though Brand initially turned himself in‚ he insisted he was in the area looking for an apartment. He was then sent to the Stateville Correctional Center on a series of charges related to parole violation.By the time his hearing rolled around on February 26‚ Brand had changed his story once again. This time‚ he denied going to her apartment entirely. "GPS would have picked up on it‚ and it didn’t‚" he said at the hearing‚ referring to his ankle monitor. Smith was not asked to testify at the hearing.Ultimately‚ Miller‚ one of five Republicans on the Prisoner Review Board‚ and two of her PRB colleagues — independent Krystal Tison and fellow Republican Kenneth Tupy — signed off on the decision to release Brand on March 12‚ claiming that there was not enough evidence to support Smith's allegations.Days before Brand's hearing‚ Smith pled with Judge Thomas Nowinski to grant her an emergency order of protection against Brand‚ citing harassing text messages and his arrival at her apartment on February 1. Once again‚ the system failed Smith‚ as Judge Nowinski ruled that since Brand was still in custody at the time‚ her case did not amount to an "emergency" and scheduled another hearing for her case on March 13.Smith never made it to that hearing. On the morning of March 13‚ Brand allegedly showed up at Smith's apartment once again‚ this time carrying a knife. He then allegedly forced his way into the apartment and began viciously stabbing Smith‚ who is pregnant. Smith‚ a 33-year-old mother of three‚ including her unborn child‚ was not alone at the time. Her two sons‚ 11-year-old Jayden Perkins and an unnamed 6-year-old boy‚ were there as well.To shield his mother from further violence‚ 11-year-old Jayden stepped in between Smith and her attacker and suffered several stab wounds as a result. Jayden and Smith were rushed to the hospital‚ and Smith and her unborn child are both expected to survive.Young Jayden did not."He's the kindest‚ trustworthy friend you could probably ever ask for‚" 12-year-old Nathaniel Vodak later said after a candlelight vigil to honor his lost friend."No one can replace him‚" added Alexis Perez‚ another friend. "No one can take his place." Smith's 6-year-old boy thankfully was not hurt during the incident. However‚ with his older brother dead and his mother and unborn sibling wounded‚ the community has demanded answers from those who allowed the suspect back on the street. In the wake of the public outcry‚ Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker (D) called Miller's resignation "the correct decision.""It is clear that evidence in this case was not given the careful consideration that victims of domestic violence deserve‚ and I am committed to ensuring additional safeguards and training are in place to prevent tragedies like this from happening again‚" Pritzker's statement added.Miller joined the board in 2021 after 20 years in the state's Department of Corrections. She also had a 35-year career in education. The Daily Mail contacted Miller and the Prisoner Review Board for comment.PRB President Donald Shelton likewise stepped down on Monday‚ though whether he did so on account of Brand's alleged violent attack is unclear‚ as Shelton was not directly involved in the decision to release him. Pritzker honored Shelton for his service. "During his time with the Champaign Police Department and with the PRB he worked diligently to keep Illinoisans safe and uphold our justice system‚" Pritzker said.Like Blaze News? 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Garth Brooks switched music genres in 1999 via his alter ego‚ Chris Gaines‚ and quickly retreated from his country roots. Aaron Lewis gained fame as the lead singer of the alternative metal band Staind. He tried country music on for size in 2010 with the song “Country Boy‚” and the genre fit like the proverbial glove. “I was around before cell phones and computers. I know what life was like before the deep state and the Democrats were given the ultimate power of the computer and power to brainwash everybody." “Doubts keep you from doing big things in life‚” Lewis tells Align. “I save my doubting stuff for times that don’t really matter that much. … Usually doubt will keep you from having great things happen.” Lewis added a twist to his makeover‚ one that may trump them all. He came out as a conservative in an industry openly hostile to that ideology. “As far as current events‚ I feel compelled to talk about them. They affect my life‚ your life‚ my childrens’ lives‚ my future grandchildren‚” Lewis says. Courtesy of The Valory Music Co. That outspoken side gets a twist on his latest album‚ “The Hill‚” out March 29. The first track‚ “Let’s Go Fishing‚” suggests the problems facing the country today but doesn’t offer solutions or specifics. Lewis serves up anger and solace‚ letting listeners connect the dots. You got to work two jobs and rob a bank To put food on the table and gas in your tank And everybody knows who's to blame But I ain't gonna worry about none of that s*** today So let's go fishing‚ let's go wishing On a star in the dark in the middle of the night The world's gone crazy and the s*** ain't right Let's go running a little backwoods-hiding It's all so f***ed up I can't stand it Let's go Karen‚ let's go Brandon And let's go fishing There’s a deeper meaning in the track‚ one that might get lost in that “Let's Go Brandon” energy. “People are expecting things to be instantaneous‚ some sort of instant gratification accountability for everything that’s going on right now‚” he says. “Let’s Go Fishing” asks us to “take a pause for a second. Let’s check out and be able to look at this from a 10‚000-foot view for a bit.” Another track‚ “Made in China‚” drops more references you won’t find on most modern songs. I ain't made by Uyghur kids For pennies on the dollar I'm made in the USA It says so on my collar Tried and true‚ red‚ white‚ and blue My roots run way too thick Yeah‚ I ain't made in China 'Cause I'm American as it gets “The Hill” continues Lewis’ approach to country music: pure. Unfiltered. Raw when required. “I’ve always believed in the concept that a song stripped down like that will stand true on its own‚” he says‚ leaving just the “best‚ most honest and pure representation of a song acoustically.” That honesty spills into his live act. “I am myself up on stage. There is no show. I sit down on a stool‚ and I play songs and have conversations. … I feel it’s my responsibility to do something good with what God has been so gracious to bless me with‚” he says. “I’m very fact-based. When it comes to the things I’ll say on stage‚ I can back them up with receipts.” He’s closing in on his 52nd birthday and recalls a time far different from today’s America. “I was around before cell phones and computers. I know what life was like before the deep state and the Democrats were given the ultimate power of the computer and power to brainwash everybody‚” he says. He knows artists fearful of saying the “wrong” thing and suspects his YouTube channel has been throttled for its pro-America sentiment. Yet he still sees the positive side of our information age. “As much as they’re using the internet to create chaos and division among us‚ we’re using the internet for just the opposite‚ to find out what’s really happening. It’s a double-edged sword‚” he says. “The misinformation they keep talking about is the truth.” Being honest with his opinions hasn’t slowed his professional roll. His 2021 smash “Am I the Only One” became only the ninth song ever to debut in Billboard’s Hot Country Songs chart at number one. His Staind reunion album‚ October’s “Confessions of the Fallen‚" debuted at no. 4 on the Billboard Top Album Sales chart after a 12-year hiatus. His secret‚ beyond obvious talent? “Sticking to my morals and my values and my ability to speak my mind and have an opinion‚” he says about his 25 years atop the music business. Lewis’ reinventions are far from over. The unadulterated country heard on “The Hill” follows in the footsteps of “Confessions‚” and he has another project in the works unlike anything in his existing canon. He describes the sound as Portishead “from back in the day” or more akin to modern-day Billie Eilish. He created the rough outline for it during the pandemic but thinks the “ethereal” music has a promising future. “I look forward to coming back around to it‚” he says.

Families residing in Massachusetts overflow shelters must reapply monthly while providing evidence of their attempts to move out of the shelter and become independent‚ Democratic Gov. Maura Healey announced on Monday.According to a recent press release‚ Healey’s administration is tightening its restrictions on the state’s overflow shelters. The governor believes the additional requirements will encourage families to find alternative‚ more stable housing while the state continues to contend with an over-capacity shelter system amid the ongoing migrant crisis.Starting on May 1‚ families residing in overflow shelter sites will be required to undergo a recertification process each month to continue their stay. Their reapplication must demonstrate attempts to find a path out of the shelter. Families who do not provide this evidence may not be eligible to remain in the state’s shelter system.Families with children and pregnant women are eligible for the state’s Emergency Assistance shelter program. The state noted that “less than half” of the families utilizing the emergency services “are new arrivals to Massachusetts.”“During this recertification process‚ they will be evaluated on whether they have participated in state-provided services to help them move toward independence‚ including applying for a work authorization‚ participating in a workforce training program‚ submitting job applications‚ taking English classes‚ and engaging in a search for housing. Families will be permitted to remain at sites as long as they continue to engage these services and activities‚” read the press release from Healey’s office.Emergency Assistance Director General Scott Rice called the new measure “a responsible step” toward addressing the state’s overwhelmed shelter system.“We have said for months now that our system is at capacity‚ and we do not have the space‚ providers or funding to continue expanding‚” Rice stated. “Families will need to demonstrate that they’ve taken action to get on a path toward independence and out of shelter.”According to Healey’s office‚ the state’s shelter system has been “operating at capacity for months.” “Last fall‚ the administration announced that the system could no longer safely or responsibly expand and established a waiting list. Families who qualify for EA and are on the waiting list are eligible to stay at the state’s safety-net sites‚ which currently serve approximately 200 families‚” the press release added.Families currently utilizing the EA program and new applicants will be notified about the policy change. According to Healey’s office‚ the new measure does not affect those staying at shelter sites operated by the United Way of Massachusetts Bay.The state plans to open an additional overflow shelter site next month at the former Chelsea Soldiers’ Home facility‚ which has been vacant and was scheduled for demolition. The new facility will be able to provide shelter space to roughly 100 families. Healey told reporters on Monday‚ “It’s important as we look to manage this responsibly.”“If they don’t have a good reason for not fulfilling requirements then they will lose their spot‚” she continued. “The whole idea of this is to divert people from our emergency shelter system‚ to get them on a different path.”Paul Craney of Massachusetts Fiscal Alliance told Blaze News that Healey and the Massachusetts legislature have repeatedly voted against reforms that could have solved the state's migrant crisis."The Governor's plan utterly fails to address the underlying cause of the fiscal‚ humanitarian‚ health care‚ and housing crises we are currently facing. So long as we give people‚ anywhere in the world‚ a blank check to receive Massachusetts public benefits‚ people will continue to fight tooth and nail to get here and collect those benefits‚" he stated."No amount of reapplication requirements will fix this. The Right to Shelter law was designed to ensure the indigent and homeless of the Commonwealth had access to housing‚ not to act as a clearing house for people flooding across our open southern border‚" Craney added."If the House is actually serious about solving this crisis‚ then they need to focus on reforming the generous taxpayer funded benefits offered‚ starting with a residency requirement for the state's right-to-shelter law‚" he continued. "This will at least act as a deterrent so the entire world isn't trying to get in line for free housing in one of the most expensive housing markets on the planet."Elizabeth Sweet of the Massachusetts Immigrant and Refugee Advocacy Coalition expressed concern that the new measures will "create unnecessary red tape‚ sow confusion‚ and ultimately‚ place more families on the street."Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors‚ sign up for our newsletters‚ and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!