Charles Higgins II is in 9th grade now, but once upon a time, he was a shy 3rd grader performing in a talent show. After singing the popular Maroon 5 song Sugar in 2018, Charles surprised his mom in 2022 by singing a solo during a group performance of “This Is Me.” The song is from The Greatest Showman. After a shy and shaky start, Charles let his angelic voice stretch its wings. This shy boy singing the short solo takes the audience by surprise. @jlrogers87 When your son surprises you and has a solo…..and blows you away….along with the crowd. Please help my son reach some singing scout. @Greatest Showman #HaloSilverTeam #charleslloyd #hesonly13 #proudmomma #heartstringspulled #blowthisvideoup ♬ original sound – jlrogers87 The audio isn’t great, and Charles has a bit of an accent, but the words he sings so angelically are: “When the sharpest words wanna cut me down; I’m gonna send a flood, gonna drown ’em out; This is brave, this is bruised; This is who I’m meant to be, this is me.” The bearded lady sings this movie song as she stands proud and declares, “This is me.” When Charles begins, he is quiet but quickly finds his voice for a strong finish. The above video was first posted when he was 13. It’s two years later, and his mom just posted a new clip. Be prepared — his voice changed and is quite a bit lower. He no longer has that high, shy boy voice, but his solo of “Can’t Fight This Feeling” from REO Speedwagon is still just as impressive. @jlrogers87 Y’all have been asking for more videos of Charles singing…well I can finally say after almost 2 years of waiting, your wish has been granted. Its crazy how much he had changed since the first solo in 3rd grade….nows hes in 9th and growing stronger with every song. Solo mode activated for @Charles Higgins II Give him a follow please! #solo #charleslloyd #glee #gleetok #singing #gleeconcert #ninthgrade #startthemyoung #spreadlove #singing #singingtok #love #proudmom #icantfightthisfeelinganymore @Justin Bieber @The Voice @The Voice Global @Katy Perry @Luke Bryan @Reba McEntire @Home Free @morganwallen @Kane Brown @American Idol Official ♬ original sound – jlrogers87 Charles still starts like a shy boy when he sings this newer solo, which becomes all the more exciting as his voice steadies and strengthens. There is no doubt that this young man has some talent. He is 15 and in high school. Hopefully, he will continue to sing. We might see him on The Voice or America’s Got Talent! You can find the source of this story’s featured image here. The post Shy Boy Comes Out Of His Shell With Unexpectedly Angelic Solo appeared first on InspireMore.

'Technically possible, and extremely unlikely'

It is safe to say no presidential nominee has ever been as focused on energy as Donald Trump is today

'Both sides will be able to come together and negotiate a deal'

Editor’s note: The following is a lightly edited transcript of the accompanying video from professor Peter St. Onge. Joe Biden’s handlers, desperate to take the spotlight off their candidate’s cognitive dumpster fire—as well as countering Donald Trump’s Matrix-level heroics—announced one of their dumbest plans yet: nationwide rent control. Biden appears to be proposing a 5% cap on rents nationwide, although it’s not entirely clear from his rambling announcement declaring, “It’s time, for example, if I’m reelected, we’re going to make sure that rents are kept at 5% increase for corporate rents, for corporate apartments, and the like, and homes are limited to 5%.” I guess you had to be there. According to the Washington Post, the plan would strip tax benefits from landlords who increase rent more than 5%. Given current inflation, that means just 2% after inflation. Price controls are one of the most destructive phenomena in economics, well known for centuries to cause shortages and make products crappy, in the lingo. They reduce both quantity and quality. Price controls in housing are particularly destructive. In left-wing utopias like New York or San Francisco, they actually worsen housing shortages and increase prices while consigning the poor to housing barely fit for humans. One survey of the American Economic Association found that fully 93% of economists agree that rent control is harmful—epic consensus from economists who rarely agree on anything. Keep in mind that the vast majority of AEA members are actually left-wing. Why is rent control so bad? Because by taking the profit out of renting, it decimates new construction and it chases landlords out of the business—they might convert that duplex back into a single-family home. Many landlords walk away altogether. New York has fully 47,000 abandoned residential properties. Studies in Massachusetts and California found rent control reduced rental units by between 8% and 14%, respectively, in the first decade alone. In the U.K., which has had rent control since 1950, the share of housing provided by private rental units dropped from 53% to just 8%. Over time, these housing shortages can actually push prices up. For example, MNS Realty reports the average rent of a one-bedroom unit in rent-controlled Manhattan is $3,806. Meanwhile, what housing does exist deteriorates fast once you get rent control. After all, if the landlord’s barely breaking even and there’s a housing shortage, they won’t keep the place up. They actually want you to leave so they can reset the rent. We’ve seen this for decades in New York: eye-watering rents for apartments that are falling apart with bare light bulbs, no dishwasher or garbage disposal, and wiring from the 1920s. Whatever you do, don’t plug in the microwave while the TV is on. So, what’s next? Nationwide, rent control would never pass Congress. Meaning Biden’s handlers’ best shot is imposing it through government-owned Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, who own most mortgages in the U.S. and could, in theory, dictate terms on those properties. Thankfully, such a clear end-run around Congress would likely be struck down by the Supreme Court in the wake of its Loper vs. Raimondo decision limiting regulations. Zooming out, as Biden falls in the polls, expect more harebrained schemes from his brain trust of White House interns, scribbling out Hail Mary’s to bribe some new voter constituency, whether college students with loans or renters savaged by Washington’s money printers. We publish a variety of perspectives. Nothing written here is to be construed as representing the views of The Daily Signal. The post Biden Proposes Nationwide Rent Control appeared first on The Daily Signal.

On Wednesday, Dale ran down a list of fact-checks from the night’s speakers. One of which was, “A Florida congressman, Mike Waltz, mocked Biden for allegedly being focused on building electric tanks. That is pure fiction. Biden has made no push for electric tanks, though the army does want some other vehicles to be electrified.” Fast forward to Thursday, and Waltz was eager to rebut Dale’s claim, but Sanchez slowed him down in order to set the scene, “So, there was a CNN fact check of your speech. You mentioned that one point, I want to get this right, you said that Biden was focused on building electric tanks. Apparently that comes from this army climate strategy that said that they wanted to make tactical vehicles electric.”     Waltz jumped in, “Wrong. Let me fact-check your fact-checker.” Bringing the receipts, Waltz proceeded, “I have here Bloomberg reporting, the U.S. Army putting its electric tanks on hold, because they have to further invest in and develop the battery technology. I have testimony with the Secretary of the Army, this issue, I have the budget where they're investing in research and development on electric fighting vehicles, in addition to the non-tactical vehicles mentioned in that climate strategy.” Waltz was just getting started, “So, I would just suggest that Daniel Dale sit down with the chairman of the Readiness Committee, who reviews and approves these budgets, and has the testimony and has the actual facts, before he questioned someone's credibility on national television.” Sanchez feebly tried to mediate, “I'm sure that he would be more than happy to sit down—” Waltz insisted Dale should have thought about that before going on the air, “Well, he should do that before he publicly puts it. I mean, it's forever on the internet. He set it on air. And when we talk about misleading, he's misleading the public. And so, if he's misleading on, 'I have all the facts', if he's misleading on that, what else is he misleading—?” Again, Sanchez tried to defend Dale, “I think you're getting an opportunity to respond to them now. And as you know, congressman, getting to the truth is a process. It's not as cut and dry as it may seem sometimes.” Sanchez isn’t wrong, but that is precisely why having someone like Dale claim to be the personification of truth is so problematic. Facts are important, so is checking them, but if the fact-checkers can’t do that, then they shouldn’t be criticizing others, as Waltz explained, “But, literally minutes after my speech, he's telling the world I'm misleading. There's no way he could review the Army's budget, the research and development, the testimony that I personally received under oath, or how about just Google it and get the facts.” Dale is not alone in trying to debunk the idea that Biden is pushing electric tanks. Indeed, it is something the fact-checkers love to claim is not true, but defending Democrats on their misplaced defense priorities is a time-honored tradition for the fact-checkers. Here is a transcript for the July 17 and 18 shows: CNN Republican National Convention 7/17/2024 11:37 PM ET DANIEL DALE: A Florida congressman, Mike Waltz, mocked Biden for allegedly being focused on building electric tanks. That is pure fiction. Biden has made no push for electric tanks, though the army does want some other vehicles to be electrified. *** CNN News Central 7/18/2024 1:09 PM ET MIKE WALTZ: And just while we're talking that – BORIS SANCHEZ: Sure. WALTZ: I do want to talk Daniel Dale, the CNN lead fact-checker— SANCHEZ: I was going to get to that, yeah. WALTZ: — who, I mean, directly, got on air last night and spoke to my speech where I talked about Biden's military, and his misguided priorities. SANCHEZ: Let's get to that. WALTZ: Yeah. SANCHEZ: So, there was a CNN fact check of your speech. You mentioned that one point, I want to get this right, you said that Biden was focused on building electric tanks. WALTZ: Yup. SANCHEZ: Apparently that comes from this army climate strategy that said that they wanted to make tactical vehicles electric. WALTZ: Wrong. Let me fact check your fact checker. SANCHEZ: Sure. Go ahead. WALTZ: I have here Bloomberg reporting, the US Army putting its electric tanks on hold, because they have to further invest in and develop the battery technology. I have testimony with the Secretary of the Army, this issue, I have the budget where they're investing in research and development on electric fighting vehicles, in addition to the non-tactical vehicles mentioned in that climate strategy. So, I would just suggest that Daniel Dale sit down with the chairman of the Readiness Committee, who reviews and approves these budgets, and has the testimony and has the actual facts, before he questioned someone's credibility on national television. SANCHEZ: I'm sure that he would be more than happy to sit down – WALTZ: Well, he should do that before he publicly puts it. I mean, it's forever on the internet. He set it on air. And when we talk about misleading, he's misleading the public. And so, if he's misleading on, ‘I have all the facts,’ if he's misleading on that, what else is he misleading—? SANCHEZ: I think you're getting an opportunity to respond to them now. WALTZ: Thank you and I appreciate that. SANCHEZ: And as you know, congressman, getting to the truth is a process. It's not as cut and dry as it may seem sometimes. WALTZ: But, literally minutes after my speech, he's telling the world I'm misleading. There's no way he could review the Army's budget, the research and development, the testimony that I personally received under oath, or how about just Google it and get the facts. SANCHEZ: As I said, it's a process, I'm sure he did some research. I would love to have you both on to discuss it at the same time. WALTZ: Let’s go with this afternoon.

Dr. Steven Greer is a man on a mission. From his early days as an emergency physician to his current role as a prominent advocate for UFO disclosure, Greer's journey has been defined by a pursuit of truth in the face of secrecy, resistance, and threats to his very existence. Disclosure Greer's foray into the world of UFOs began decades ago with the inception of the Disclosure Project. "Our program began in the 1990s, identifying individuals with top-secret clearances who possessed critical information about UFOs," Greer told me. 'I remind people that if you were to take the worst aspects of the heyday of the Mafia, the organization running these covert projects would make those guys look like choirboys.' This initiative, initially known as Project Starlight, operated discreetly, reflecting the sensitivity of its mission. As he noted, the program officially started “when we began to identify people with top-secret clearances who had information about the UFO/UAP issue." Greer elaborated: The reason we created it, by the way — and this is a little more difficult for the public to appreciate — is that in 1993 and forward, having had meetings with various folks such as the director of the CIA and senior officers in the Pentagon and elsewhere, it became quite clear to me that highly secretive and compartmentalized programs were being run without the consent or knowledge not only of the president but also key members of Congress [as well as] senior generals and admirals in the Pentagon." Unsurprisingly, those in power, the invisible forces that operate in the shadows, are not impressed with Greer's bold initiative In his own words: "We've encountered significant resistance from within government and corporate circles.” "The latest developments include inquiries from Senate Intelligence and Armed Services Committees," Greer said, highlighting persistent efforts to engage policymakers despite historical reluctance to openly address UFO-related issues. The culmination of his efforts occurred at the National Press Club in 2001, where over 20 whistleblowers joined Greer to disclose their experiences to a global audience. Over the years, Greer and his team have compiled a database of over 700 whistleblowers, though only a fraction have chosen to go public. The reason why is simple: Many of these people are terrified of the consequences. Suspicious circumstances And who can blame them? Greer's journey has been fraught with danger. "Several colleagues have died under suspicious circumstances," he disclosed, revealing the risks associated with attempting to lift the veil of secrecy shrouding UFO information. Greer has also faced numerous attempts on his own life. As he put it, "I remind people that if you were to take the worst aspects of the heyday of the Mafia, the organization running these covert projects would make those guys look like choirboys." He wasn't exaggerating. At the heart of Greer's advocacy is his criticism of the much-talked-about "deep state," a hidden network of interests that operates beyond regular oversight "There's a subrosa operation abusing state power, both in the U.S. and globally," he stated, pointing out the widespread impact of undisclosed, even unholy, agendas. The concept of the "deep state" often conjures images of unhinged lunatics in dark corners, whispering about shady figures controlling the levers of power. Yet history has repeatedly shown that one needn't wear a tin-foil hat to acknowledge the existence of hidden forces shaping political landscapes. Consider John F. Kennedy, whose assassination in 1963 remains one of the most debated events in American history. While official narratives point to Lee Harvey Oswald as the lone gunman, many questions linger about the potential involvement of other parties. Decades of investigations, documentaries, and whistleblowers have uncovered layers of conflicting narratives, suggesting a deeper story that the official report intentionally ignored. Then there's Watergate, the 1972 scandal that unraveled the Nixon administration. What began as a botched burglary at the Democratic National Committee headquarters revealed a web of covert operations and illegal surveillance conducted by intelligence agencies. The revelation of tapes exposing Nixon's complicity underscored how far-reaching and clandestine governmental operations could be. And what about the Iran-Contra affair of the 1980s, where covert arms deals and illegal funding mechanisms were eventually exposed through investigative journalism and congressional hearings? These revelations shocked the public. Today, some might argue that the Iran-Contra affair appears quaint. These events illustrate not merely isolated incidents but a pattern of secrecy and manipulation that persists across decades. The deep state isn't a monolithic entity but rather a network of entrenched interests within the military, intelligence, and bureaucratic apparatuses. Their actions transcend electoral cycles, shaping policies and outcomes beyond public scrutiny. Presidents come and go. The deep state remains. Deep state danger During a recent interview with Patrick Bet-David, Greer emphasized this very point. He suggested that contrary to conventional thought, the president isn't the most influential figure in America; in fact, he doesn't rank among the top 100 most influential people in the country. While it's a bold assertion, one doesn't need to be a “Hillary eats babies” nut to subscribe. One of the defining characteristics of the deep state is its ability to conceal actions and motives for years, if not indefinitely. Classified documents, redacted reports, and weaponization of specific branches of government have all served as barriers to transparency. Even when information does emerge, it's often long after the events in question, leaving gaps in public understanding and trust. Considering the inherent dangers associated with his profession, it seemed appropriate to ask Greer if he believes in God. The North Carolina native maintains a spiritual perspective that informs his worldview. “I would say I'm a spiritual person with a spiritual perspective and understanding regarding a supreme being, an afterlife, the soul, and so forth.” “But,” he was quick to add, “I wouldn't call myself religious in the sense of wanting to be associated with any particular sect or organization.” Greer, a workaholic in his 60s with the drive of a man half his age, remains steadfastly focused on advancing the goals of the Disclosure Project. His primary strategy involves engaging directly with policymakers — a painful task full of bureaucratic obstacles and political maneuvering. In truth, a day in the life of Greer appears to be a cross between a Kafka novel and "The Bourne Identity." Rather remarkably, Greer handles it all with impressive composure. "We're actively engaging with the White House and Congress to push for hearings and protections for whistleblowers," he affirmed, signaling ongoing efforts to promote transparency and accountability in UFO disclosures. "We're also in discussions with people at the House Oversight Committee about having open hearings — not with secondhand witnesses." Greer's journey from the world of medicine to UFO disclosure advocate has been a roller coaster of uplifting highs and devastating lows. As history has shown with his predecessors, the dangers he faces are all too real. Will Greer live to see the full realization of his efforts, or will he, like so many before him, meet an untimely end under mysterious circumstances? The answer may lie in how society confronts the truths he seeks to expose.

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