The Supreme Court found that the Constitution grants Presidents absolute immunity for official acts as president but not for unofficial acts. After that decision, President Donald Trump’s legal team filed a motion with Manhattan trial judge Juan Merchan to dismiss the charges. This is the judge who presided over the misnamed “hush money” case. According […] The post Judge Merchan: Trump Sentencing Is 9/18 “If Necessary” appeared first on www.independentsentinel.com.

A significantly higher percentage of Republicans say they are “extremely proud” to be American compared to Democrats and independents, according to survey results released just two days before Independence Day. The Gallup poll, which surveyed U.S. adults from June 3-23, shows that 59% of Republicans say they are “extremely proud” of their national identity, which remains near record-low numbers. Only 34% of Democrats and 36% of independents said the same, which is up slightly from last year for both demographics, according to Gallup. The gap between Republicans and Democrats in expressing pride in America has closed in the past five years. Republicans’ pride in their country has dropped from 76% to 59%, while Democrats’ pride in America has risen from 22% in 2019 to 34% in 2024. The Gallup results show that that gap began to close toward the end of former President Donald Trump’s term in office and throughout President Joe Biden’s first term. A majority of U.S. adults (67%) are extremely or very proud to be an American. Republicans are uniquely patriotic, with 59% versus 36% of independents and 34% of Democrats reporting they are extremely proud to be American. Full story: https://t.co/cwbRVLEZPJ pic.twitter.com/FnzK85wcVz — Gallup (@Gallup) July 4, 2024 Gallup’s latest survey results show a stark contrast in how Republicans, Democrats, and independents felt about being American 20 years ago. In 2004, 82% of Republicans, 65% of independents, and 60% of Democrats said they were “extremely proud” to be American. Republicans have maintained a higher sense of pride in their national identity than Democrats and independents since the turn of the century. “Americans’ national pride was highest after the 9/11 terrorist attacks in 2001, when patriotism surged in the U.S.,” Gallup wrote. “Extreme pride has been trending downward since 2015.” “While the percentage of U.S. adults who say they are extremely proud to be American is near the lowest point on record, about two-thirds continue to be at least very proud,” Gallup added. “Republicans’ national pride, though near its lowest point, remains high compared with Democrats’ and independents’, although all party groups are significantly less proud than they were 20 years ago.” According to the survey, 18% of U.S. adults say they are “moderately proud” to be American, 10% say they are “only a little” proud, and 5% say they are “not at all” proud. Another Gallup survey taken over the same time period showed that Americans have an overall negative view of the current economic conditions. Forty-eight percent of respondents said economic conditions in the U.S. are “poor,” 28% said they are “only fair,” and only 25% said they are “excellent/good.” Nearly 70% of Americans said they believe the economy is “getting worse,” and 26% said it’s “getting better.” 25% of Americans describe current U.S. economic conditions as “excellent” or “good,” up three points from May. However, the percentage rating conditions “poor,” now 48%, also increased slightly, blunting positive movement in the index ECI update: https://t.co/8vEW9AFKKk pic.twitter.com/FMdkqFphCf — Gallup (@Gallup) July 3, 2024

Last July 4th seemed like the least patriotic birthday America has ever had. In many cities, parades were dismal or non-existent, fireworks were banned, and the American flag was hard to find. Once the world’s most powerful symbol of triumph, it has been torn down by Americans who believe it is instead a bigoted reminder of a hateful history. With the immense power that 2024 holds on the future of this national divide, it is imperative to remind each American citizen why the colors of our flag are still worth celebrating. America has defined freedom for 248 years. She has fought against oppression and regulation, against tyranny and evil. She has defended the liberties of speech and religion, the gifts of open trade and innovation, the rights of life and innocence, and the ability to not only pursue happiness, but to define it for oneself. America has sent her own men to fight for not only the freedom of her citizens, but also for that of strangers. Freedom is the American identity. It is the pride in this identity which wraps itself in another word: Patriotism. This spirit has endured every challenge of our nation’s lifetime. Patriotism fortifies delicate liberty. “A republic, if you can keep it;” her strength must be ceaselessly reinforced. But patriotism, it seems, has gone out of style. In its place has emerged a form of tyranny disguised in a quintessentially American shade of blue. A record low number of Americans are proud to be American. The so-called ‘fight for freedom’ has begun to rot its own definition. The misuse of these words is changing our national identity. A fight for freedom is not a fight for rights, as the Left has decided to define it. Many aspects of the American life are freedoms, not rights. Education is a freedom, not a right. The ability to choose which doctor to go to is a freedom, not a right. When the government tries to make something a right, it steals whatever freedom it began with. Forcing businesses to hire people based on their skin color takes away the mechanisms which allow them to thrive and grow. No one has a right to be hired. Rather, everyone has the freedom to seek out employment and do whatever is so required to be a desirable employee. The excellence of America lies where these freedoms meet. The freedom to pursue excellence is what it means to be an American. To risk true freedom in an effort to establish the rights of some is a step proven dangerous by history. French philosopher and judge Montesquieu declared that “the liberty of one citizen is of greater importance to the public than the ease or prosperity of another.” If we preserve special treatment for some, we take it away from others. Montesquieu reminds us that the only true freedom comes from liberty. No one has a right to success or special privilege, but true freedom provides everyone with the chance to try. Patriotism has always been the glue of America, and it still comes in all three colors. Neither red, nor white, nor blue is more important than the others. Together, they preserve freedom. Divided, they cannot stand. Today, our flag is still flying. That is enough to invoke celebration and pride. Every casket it has ever draped demands as much. America is the only country in the world to which people choose to move. They risk their lives and leave their families in a bid to buy into the world’s greatest pursuit of liberty. To live as an American is to live with the freedom to become anything. That is a freedom worth celebrating. For all the talk about privilege in this country — white privilege, male privilege, hetero-privilege — let us not forget that being an American is the greatest privilege of all. * * * Elsie Halvorsen is a recent graduate of Harvard College, class of 2024. The views expressed in this piece are those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of The Daily Wire.

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Television was formed in New York City in 1973 by Tom Verlaine and Richard Lloyd on guitars, Richard Hell on bass, and Billy Ficca on drums. The band quickly became a staple of the burgeoning punk rock scene at CBGB, although their music was more complex and influenced by jazz and the Velvet Underground. After Richard Hell left the band in 1975, he was replaced by Fred Smith. Television’s lineup stabilized with Verlaine, Lloyd, Smith, and Ficca, and they released their debut album Marquee Moon in 1977. The album, known for its intricate guitar work and extended solos, received critical The post Complete List Of Television Albums And Songs appeared first on ClassicRockHistory.com.

The U.S. Marshals Service (USMS), along with federal, state, and local agencies led a six-week national operation that resulted in finding 200 critically missing children, which includes endangered runaways and those abducted by noncustodial persons. This is the second rendition of this coordinated effort, and so it was called Operation We Will Find You 2 […] The post U.S. Marshals Find 200 Missing Children Across the Nation During 6-Week Special Operation appeared first on Good News Network.