Economic issues dominate the list of top concerns for Pennsylvania voters ahead of the Nov. 5 presidential election, a new poll finds. A quarter of voters in the swing state ranked “inflation/cost of living” as the No. 1 issue facing Pennsylvanians in a survey released Tuesday from the Commonwealth Foundation, a conservative-libertarian think tank in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. The voters who chose inflation comprise 29% of independents, 28% of Republicans, and 19% of Democrats, according to the poll.  Another 7% of respondents ranked Pennsylvania’s “general” economy as the top issue.  “Four of the Top 5 most important issues facing Pennsylvania have to do with economic matters, as Pennsylvanians see inflation, the [state’s] economy, taxes, and poverty/homelessness as major issues facing our state,” the Commonwealth Foundation said in its analysis of the data.  Additionally, 20% or one-fifth of those surveyed ranked inflation as the biggest problem facing America as a whole, followed by “immigration/border security” at 10%. Voters’ concerns spotlight the economy as a weak spot for President Joe Biden’s reelection campaign in Pennsylvania, as shown by other recent polling that indicates most of the state’s voters trust former President Donald Trump more than Biden on the issue.   Trump and Biden are nearly neck and neck in the Commonwealth Foundation’s poll, scoring 44% and 45%, respectively, among Pennsylvania voters. This signals an improvement for Trump since the foundation’s March poll, which put Biden ahead by seven percentage points.  However, most respondents said they were “dissatisfied” with the top two choices for president in November, including about 25% who said they are “total[ly] dissatisfied.” Voters’ financial worries extended to Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, a Democrat who has proposed a $3 billion increase in state spending that would require raising taxes by $2,000 per family of four, the Commonwealth Foundation said.  More than half of respondents said they opposed Shapiro’s budget plan after the survey explained the consequences for taxes.  “Nearly one-third of survey participants say Pennsylvania’s high tax burden led them to consider moving to another state,” the foundation noted in a press release, the foundation noted. “These numbers could directly impact the state’s ability to maintain a strong workforce.” The Commonwealth Foundation surveyed 800 registered state voters from June 14 to 19. Its poll has a margin of error of plus or minus 3.46 percentage points.  The post Poll: Economic Issues Top Voter Concerns in This Swing State appeared first on The Daily Signal.

A Tennessee judge ruled Tuesday that pro-life activist Paul Vaughn will not serve time in prison for trying to stop abortions from taking place at a Tennessee abortion clinic. President Joe Biden’s Justice Department had sought a year in prison for the pro-life activist, the Daily Wire reported, noting that the judge instead gave Vaughn merely three years supervised release.  “We rejoice in God’s plans,” said Vaughn in a statement issued by his legal firm, the Thomas More Society. “Because this is at the heart a spiritual battle, we are thankful to have a strong advocate in the Thomas More Society. Not only are they experts at law, but they deeply understand the spiritual battle raging across our land.” “We will appeal to have this unlawful use of the law overturned,” he added. “We must stand and fight for what is right. We cannot bow down to the lie. Laws have to be grounded in truth. They have to align with the ultimate lawgiver, who is Christ our Lord. “The false narratives plaguing our nation will fall when we stand up to them. That is what this case is about, and I’m ever thankful to have a legal team who understands that truth and who is willing to fight for it all the way to the Supreme Court, if necessary.” The FBI arrested Vaughn, a pro-life father of 11 children, in October 2022 and charged him with “conspiracy against rights secured by the FACE Act, and committing FACE Act violations.” Vaughn and 10 other activists were charged in connection to their 2021 “blockade” of an abortion clinic in Mount Juliet, Tennessee. “These defendants are being held accountable for unlawfully obstructing access to reproductive health services,” DOJ Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke said at the time of their January 2024 conviction. “The Justice Department will continue to enforce the FACE Act to protect the rights of those who provide and those who seek access to such services.” Paul Vaughn prays with his family 10 minutes before his sentencing over FACE Act convictions. He faces 10 years in prison. pic.twitter.com/BjUZqk6mxd— Leif Le Mahieu (@leif_lemahieu) July 2, 2024 Vaughn previously told The Daily Signal that the FBI came to the door of his home, “guns pointed at the door, banging on the house, yelling and screaming, ‘Open up. FBI,’ that kind of thing.” “When I opened the door and saw the guns pointed at me, I asked them what they wanted, who they were looking for, and they said they wanted me,” he explained. “I had kids in the yard walking out to get in the car to go to school. I was about to take them to school, and other kids in the house. So, seeing that the easiest path to de-escalation was me in handcuffs, I stepped outside and put an end to the ranting and the banging and the yelling.” After the FBI handcuffed him and put him in their vehicle, he said, his wife came outside. She had been in the back of their home with their 18-month-old baby. Video provided to The Daily Signal by Vaughn, taken by his wife, shows FBI agents outside the family’s home. Vaughn’s wife follows them, videotaping their conversation. “I want to know why you were banging on my door with a gun,” she said. “Are you not going to tell me anything?” “No, we are not,” one agent replied, while another added, “I tried.” “No, you didn’t!” she shouted back. “You did not try.” Video of the FBI's arrest of Paul Vaughn of Centerville, Tennessee. DOJ charged him with “conspiracy against rights secured by the FACE Act, and committing FACE Act violations" for blocking the entrance to an abortion clinic. Paul tells me the footage was taken by his wife. pic.twitter.com/KSDvLRSrlF— Mary Margaret Olohan (@MaryMargOlohan) October 7, 2022 In a statement Tuesday afternoon, Thomas More Society senior counsel Steve Crampton said he was pleased that the judge showed leniency toward Vaughn, but emphasized that “it remains the case that his conviction is a deep injustice.” “On the anniversary of our nation’s charter declaring such rights ‘inalienable,’ Paul Vaughn and his co-defendants stand convicted of defending the inalienable right to life,” Crampton continued. “The weaponized and evidence-free charges brought here by the Biden Department of Justice against peaceful pro-lifers should have never been filed.” He emphasized that the incident for which the Biden DOJ targeted Vaughn and his fellow pro-life activists was peaceful, “filled with prayer, hymn-singing, and worship.” “For his witness to life, the FBI raided Paul’s home at gunpoint in front of his wife and children, then brought down the full weight of United States government to prosecute Paul,” Crampton said. “We will continue to advocate tirelessly for pro-lifers like Paul, to make sure that the FACE Act is never again weaponized by the Department of Justice against its ideological opponents.” The post Pro-Life Father of 11 Avoids Prison Time Sought by Biden DOJ appeared first on The Daily Signal.

NYT: Insiders Have Seen Biden Declining For 'Months'

'Freaking the F*** Out': White House Has Blame-Game Meltdown Over Biden Crisis

A year ago at this time, Eugene Robinson embarrassed himself. Pushing back at suggestions that Biden was badly showing his age, we caught the Washington Post columnist and MSNBC analyst claiming that Biden is not merely sharp, but "sharp as a tack." But the truth has finally caught up with Robinson. Biden's disastrous debate performance left him and other members of the liberal media with no place to hide. And so, on today's Morning Joe, Robinson sang a very different tune: "I have been coming on this show for a long time. I am a long-time critic of Democratic bedwetting. I think it's crazy a lot of the time. I think this is different ... I think a lot of Democrats were shocked by what they saw Thursday night. I think this is potentially a really big problem for the Democratic party, for Biden's re-election campaign. And I think Democrats are right to send up the alarm." Question for Robinson: Were you shocked by what you saw? You owe it to your readers and viewers to address having vouched for Biden being "sharp as a tack." The mea culpa window is now open. Robinson wondered: "Why isn't [Biden] doing some sort of unscripted appearance that shows -- that erases the impression that was very clearly left Thursday night?" The answer is obvious: because Biden is probably incapable of doing that. Far from erasing the catastrophic impression, there's a strong possibility he would reinforce it. And that would likely put the final, um, tack in Biden's political career. Bonus Coverage: Dem Hack Actually Suggests This The Week Trump Might Have LOST The Election Speaking of Democrat hacks, there are still some Biden bitter-enders out there. Over on CNN This Morning, Karen Finney, spokesperson for Hillary's 2016 campaign, said that, contrary to what host Kasie Hunt said at the top of segment, this may not be the week that Trump won the election, but to the contrary, "the week Trump lost the election." She claimed that Dems are "galvanized" by fear of a Trump presidency. Finney's wishcasting was too much for Hunt, who interjected: "that seems like a stretch."  Video here. Here's the transcript of the Morning Joe segment. MSNBC Morning Joe 7/2/24 6:26 am EDT MIKA BRZEZINSKI: Gene, we'll start with you, andy our new piece entitled "Biden's 2024 survival requires a lot more than hope."  What does he need to do, and do you think he knows that? EUGENE ROBINSON: Well, look, I think he needs to do everything he can to reverse the impression, the clear impression, that was left by that debate five days ago, that debate on Thursday.  Because, you know, I have, I've been coming on this show for a long time. I am a long-time critic of Democratic bedwetting. I don't -- you know, I think it's crazy a lot of the time. I think this is different. I think a lot of Democrats were shocked by what they saw Thursday night. And I think the sort of hunkering down and saying, you know, nothing to see here, you know, the polling is unchanged.  They sent out that memo over the weekend, saying polling is unchanged, so it didn't really hurt us. But that's internal polling focusing on the swing states, that actually shows him trailing Donald Trump by a slight margin. You know, within the margin of error. But nonetheless, it shows him behind Trump in these states. And so, sending out a memo saying, look, we're still behind, but we're not behind any worse, is not exactly the best ad for your campaign. And so why, why isn't he calling Schumer and Jeffries? And why isn't he doing some sort of unscripted appearance that shows -- that erases the impression that was very clearly left Thursday night?  I think this is, this is potentially a really big problem for the Democratic party, for Biden's re-election campaign. And I think, you know, I think Democrats are right to send up the alarm.

President Joe Biden is hunkering down and consulting with the people he trusts the most: his family. That includes convicted felon and son Hunter Biden, much to the bewilderment of White House staff.After Biden's appalling performance in his debate against former President Donald Trump, the current president went back to Camp David to consult with his family on what to do next. It was reported that first lady Jill Biden and Hunter were among those who passionately told the president to stay in the race. The family placed the blame of the bad debate on the team that prepped Biden for six days.NBC News revealed on Tuesday that Hunter is still sitting in on meetings at the White House after the family's return from Camp David."While he is regularly at the White House residence and events, it is unusual for Hunter Biden to be in and around meetings that his father is having with his team, these people said. They said the president’s aides were struck by his presence during their discussions," NBC reported. "One of the people familiar with the matter said Hunter Biden has been closely advising his father since the family gathered this past weekend at Camp David after Thursday’s debate. This person said Hunter Biden has 'popped into' a couple of meetings and phone calls the president has had with some of his advisers."The dam for elected Democrats to call for Biden to step aside from the election appeared to finally break.“What the hell is happening?” is what high-level White House staffers have said about Hunter's presence.At the White House press conference on Tuesday, press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre confirmed the report. — (@) Former press secretary Jen Psaki defended the advisers, Ronald Klain, former White House chief of staff, and adviser Anita Dunn, who prepared Biden for last Thursday's debate. Psaki said the person at fault was Biden."It was a bad debate. I have no doubt they were tough, strategic and direct. (Believe me I have seen them in action) but prep does not always determine the outcome. Biden was bad. Important convos about what happens next. But if you are directing your ire at 'prep' you are not talking about the right things," she said.The dam for elected Democrats to call for Biden to step aside from the election appeared to finally break after Rep. Lloyd Doggett, who represents Austin, Texas, issued a statement on Tuesday saying Biden needs to withdraw in order for Democrats to have a chance at beating Trump.The man himself, Biden, says he may not be as clear as he used to be but he is staying in the race.Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

Pakistani dissenters rallied Tuesday for a Christian sentenced to death on blasphemy charges — specifically sharing "hateful content" against Muslims on social media, the Associated Press reported.Dozens with the country's civil society rallied in the southern port city of Karachi against the sentence nearly a year after one of the worst mob attacks on Christians in the country, the AP added. Civil society groups stand up for human rights in Pakistan.The outlet said blasphemy accusations are common in Pakistan and that under the country’s blasphemy laws, anyone found guilty of insulting Islam or Islamic religious figures can be sentenced to death.The outlet said several Christians also joined the rally, which was held one day after a court in Sahiwal in the Punjab province announced the death sentence against Ehsan Shan. Khurram Shahzad, Shan’s lawyer, on Monday said Shan will appeal the verdict, the AP said.More from the outlet:He was arrested in August 2023 after groups of Muslim men burned dozens of homes and churches in the city of Jaranwala in Punjab after some residents claimed they saw two Christian men desecrating pages from Islam’s holy book, the Quran. The two men were later arrested.Though Shan was not party to the desecration, he was accused of reposting the defaced pages of the Quran on his TikTok account. Pakistan minority rights campaigners in Karachi protest the sentencing of a Christian man to death for sharing an allegedly blasphemous TikTok post, July 2, 2024. In an order released on July 1, a Christian man was sentenced by an anti-terror court for reposting an image of a torn and defaced Koran alongside online accusation against two Christian brothers who were originally arrested for blasphemy but released after investigators believed they were framed over a personal grudge, according to domestic media.Photo by RIZWAN TABASSUM/AFP via Getty ImagesChristian leader Luke Victor called for Shah’s release at Tuesday’s rally in Karachi, the AP said, adding that Victor also demanded action against those who were involved in burning churches and homes of Christians in Jaranwala.The outlet said blasphemy accusations are common in Pakistan and that under the country’s blasphemy laws, anyone found guilty of insulting Islam or Islamic religious figures can be sentenced to death.The AP added that while authorities haven't yet carried out a death sentence for blasphemy, riots, lynchings, killings, and other violence can follow mere accusations of blasphemy.How are observers reacting?Several hundred comments have appeared underneath the AP story on the death sentence as published by Yahoo News. A number of them invoked the recent pro-Palestinian protests on U.S. college campuses:"I'm sure the college kids will be protesting this," one commenter noted sarcastically. "(Not really...they wont care).""Ah, the religion of peace. Where is the outrage on college campuses, where is the UN, the [International Criminal Court], [the] other 'protectors' of human rights???" another commenter wondered. "Dead silence from them all!""This is the people that the Squad and the university protesters are trying to help. The nicest people on earth!" another commenter stated with sarcasm. "(I had to say this or else they'd come after me!)""Wonder how many of those pro-Palestinian protesters will react to what happens here, or if their myopic worldview only extends to Gaza," another commenter asked.Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

Jason Whitlock has defended basketball superstar Caitlin Clark through all the controversy she was embroiled in during her college career at the University of Iowa. And even though he’s not the biggest fan of the WNBA, he’s still got Clark’s back as she navigates the highly political terrain of women’s professional basketball. “The WNBA has a problem with box office; they want to focus everyone's attention on box score because they don't like the person who's bringing the box office … bringing the crowd, selling tickets, driving television ratings,” he tells Steve Kim. “Caitlin Clark is box office. The WNBA has suffered from a lack of box office. Caitlin Clark is clearly the most valuable player in the history of the WNBA,” Jason concludes, adding that she should obviously win Rookie of the Year. However, the WNBA’s prioritization of box score (and perhaps certain political factors) have led to its promotion of the Chicago Sky’s Angel Reese above Clark. WNBA Launches Anti-Caitlin Clark Propaganda Campaign youtu.be “Angel Reese — she's making history! She's got 10 straight double doubles. This is a new record,” says Jason, mocking the WNBA for drawing attention to Reese. “Who has the record even in the NBA?” he continues, pointing out that “no one cares” about double doubles stats, as “it’s a distinction, not a record.” According to Steve, it’s crystal clear what’s happening here. “There is an agenda to make sure that [Caitlin Clark] does not get that award.” “They’re going to try,” agrees Jason. However, chances are “Indiana is going to have five to eight more victories than the Chicago Sky. That's going to be hard to overcome.” And more importantly, “there's one thing the WNBA has needed: box office.” “The only numbers that count [are the] sellout crowds everywhere [and] the TV ratings,” and the fact of the matter is, “people want to see Caitlin Clark.” Want more from Jason Whitlock?To enjoy more fearless conversations at the crossroads of culture, faith, sports, and comedy with Jason Whitlock, subscribe to BlazeTV — the largest multi-platform network of voices who love America, defend the Constitution, and live the American dream.

Archaeologists digging inside Cloggs Cave found ceremonial sticks smeared with animal or human fat that were once used in Gunaikurnai rituals to cure illness. The post 12,000-Year-Old Aboriginal Artifacts Used In Prehistoric Rituals Found Inside A Cave In Southeastern Australia appeared first on All That's Interesting.

Wild Thang, an eight-year-old Pekingese from Oregon, finally won first place in the World's Ugliest Dog contest after competing for five years and coming in second three times. The post This Eight-Year-Old Pekingese Has Just Been Named The World’s Ugliest Dog appeared first on All That's Interesting.