The Senate on Thursday passed a short-term spending bill that punts this weekend’s shutdown threat to later in the month‚ but leaves questions about how Congress will fund the government through the rest of the year. Senators voted 77-13 to send the funding measure to President Biden’s desk for his signature‚ just hours after the House voted overwhelmingly to pass the bill 320-99 and just a day before a tranche of government funding was set to expire.

If there’s one thing human beings all have in common‚ it’s our shared impermanence. No matter our race‚ gender‚ social class‚ wealth status‚ health regimen‚ moral code‚ political leaning‚ or any other divisive element‚ we all get one life. One life to hopefully fill with as many memorable‚ soul nourishing‚ expansive experiences as possible. But let’s face it‚ there are more experiences available that there are days and hours in which to do them. Therefore‚ we have to use discernment. So‚ which experiences are truly must-haves in our all-too-limited time on this planet?The answers to this question are undoubtedly personal‚ but perhaps some things‚ just like the inevitable exit of mortal coil‚ are universal.According to a recent discussion on Ask Reddit‚ here are things one must absolutely “experience at least once in their lifetime”:"Living Alone"“People should know how it feels to live alone. Go out to eat alone. Do things alone. Not depend on others for your happiness but find it alone. It is a true under valued life skill‚” one person wrote.Others chimed in:“I agree. I've lived alone like 3 times as an adult‚ and while I prefer companionship‚ being alone can be nice too. Everything is always where you put it. The place is a mess? My fault. The place looks good and is comfortable? My fault.”“After a while the silence becomes a beautiful reprieve from the world. I used to hate being alone and now I love silence and only being responsible for myself.”“Being comforted without having to ask for it.”This one inspired two to share their own touching stories unexpected comfort in a time of need:“Our newborn went to ICU straight after birth‚ long story‚ but he was teetering on life and death. What should've been a joyous occasion turned out to be the most emotionally painful experience of my life.”“The barista in the hospital coffee shop saw that I wasn't doing well‚ and made a note on my coffee saying ‘you'll make it.’ Writing this brings me to tears 2 years later‚ but he was right.”“A best friend who sees you through thick and thin.”Oy‚ this one. Romantic partnerships are absolutely wonderful‚ but platonic friendships are just as important. Many would agree that they’re more important than relationships. And while making friendships as an adult can get a little challenging‚ the immense benefits these bonds bestow onto our lives make it worth the effort.One person shared‚ “I consider my wife my best friend‚ and it's true…That being said‚ there is a part of me that will always feel a little hollow: I have no pure friendships…I've always had an easy time meeting people and even starting new friendships but God am I poor at keeping it going. Now that I'm older it's a real regret of mine and I envy those with tight knit friends.”“I’m glad you and your wife have such a strong friendship connection! But yes pure friendships are special too‚ and hard to maintain‚” another responded. “I’m lucky that I met my best friend of 22 years in kindergarten and we’re still incredibly close. I’ll be her maid of honor in her wedding🥲I’ll be forever grateful of the space she’s given me to grow and change throughout our lives and stuck by me the whole time.”"A deep bond with an animal."This comment says it all:“Nothing like it. It truly blows my mind how much my dogs love my wife and I. Were their whole world. Anytime I hear of someone having to put their animal down. I can’t help but get choked up and sad for them.The worst part about the whole thing is them not being able to truly understand in words what they mean to you.”“See a solar eclipse”Luckily‚ the next opportunity for this is coming up on April 8th! Especially for those who live in Texas‚ Illinois‚ New York‚ Arkansas‚ Ohio‚ Maine and some parts of Michigan and Tennessee“A soul crushing customer service job”“Not because it builds character‚ but because it’ll foster a sense of empathy for and camaraderie with people who serve you when you’re the customer.”Yes. That.“Walking the beach at night. Ocean breeze and crashing waves are life changing.”“Showering with a shaved head.”“Skydiving! It's so freeing and amazing.”“Waking up next to their partner and being overcome with love and emotion for them. Watching them sleep for a few moments and then going back to sleep.” And of course‚ everyone needs to go to the Grand Canyon. Or at least some national park. There are so many gorgeous‚ otherworldly ones to choose from.Interesting enough‚ someone previously posted this question to Reddit‚ and got an entirely different set of answers. Again‚ goes to show that everyone is bound to have a different view on this‚ based on their own lifetime of experiences.Which brings up the most important question of all: What do you want to experience in your lifetime?

May we all have a best friend like Ally Lothman. Lothman had just given birth to her first child (according to Today.com) and was unable to make it to the wedding of her lifelong best friend Michelle Levenson. But Lothman’s Maid of Honor duties were still gloriously fulfilled.A now-viral video‚ posted to TikTok by wedding photography and videography company Woodell Productions‚ shows that even though Lothman couldn’t celebrate in person‚ her FaceTimed wedding toast managed to bring everyone at the reception—along with everyone who watched online—to tears."You didn’t think a little bit of childbirth was going to keep me from giving the maid-of-honor speech at my best friend's wedding‚ did you?" Lothman begins. Already a pretty epic start. She continued by sharing one of her favorite memories with the bride. “There were endless memories to choose from. We would be here all night if I wrote about them all ... but I'll never forget my first evening in Cortona‚ Italy‚” she said.Lothman seamlessly painted a picture of their adventure together. "In true Michelle fashion‚ she had whisked me up and down the incredibly steep winding roads that Tuscan city was perched upon. She had planned my first day to a tee. She showed me an ancient mummy preserved in a church — and I think that may have been the day I was hit by the car and then promptly asked out on a date by the Italian man inside the car.""If I remember correctly‚” Lothman continued‚ “it was that late summer sunset that we spent alone in the kind of bar bistro you would see in a life insurance commercial. We drank dry white wine and I remember we were moved to tears together for how beautiful it was." Lothman then recalled‚ whether it was due to the ambiance or the alcohol‚ that the two friends “had a moment‚ like the culmination of a lifetime of friendship had brought us to this one special place in time‚ 5‚000 miles from where we grew up." But wait‚ it gets better. Lothman remarked that their “deep‚ insightful understanding” of each other made them more than friends. "This was our sisterhood. In fact‚ I believe it was at this moment that we decided we needed to become sister wives." It was at this point that Lothman addressed Levenson’s new husband. And perhaps Lothman’s new husband as well. "So Matt‚ I hope you understand: Michelle and I made a pact in 2014 that we would find husbands someday but it would always be sister wives first‚" she quipped. "I'm pretty sure this means we all have to live together now — I'll be bringing a baby so I hope that's OK." This is just the nuts and bolts of it. In truth‚ the video is full of other gems‚ including but not limited to a 10 ft long charcuterie board and “the world's spiciest Bloody Mary.” Watch: @woodellproductions Ally couldnt be at her best friends wedding because she just gave birth‚ so instead she dropped the greatest toast ever and made everyone sob over facetime #georgiaweddingvideographer #atlantaweddingvideographer #2024wedding #2025wedding #weddingvows #weddingtoast #maidofhonorspeech ♬ original sound - Woodell Films The video has amassed over 2.5 million views‚ with tons of people sharing how impressed they were with Lothman’s flair for words. “‘Maybe it was the way the golden light reflected off the landscape and bathed us in its holiness’ like are you KIDDING me? This is incredible‚” one person commented. “This was the most beautiful MOH speech I’ve ever heard‚” wrote another. But even more than that‚ people were inspired by how Lothman showed up for her friend. “The epitome of ‘if they wanted to they would.’”

The immaculate voice behind rock and roll. The post Roger Daltrey’s 10 greatest vocal performances first appeared on Far Out Magazine.

“Death solves all problems. No man‚ no problem.” So declared Joseph Stalin‚ the murderous tyrant whose own death arrived on March 5‚ 1953‚ five months after the birth of Vladimir Putin. Stalin’s death solved a great problem for his vast nation’s countless suffering citizens. His ultimate successor‚ Nikita Khrushchev‚ would denounce old “Uncle Joe” (as Franklin D. Roosevelt called him) in his crucial February 1956 “Crimes of Stalin” speech. READ MORE from Paul Kengor: Russian Dissident Alexei Navalny Dies in Brutal Arctic Gulag Speaking of crimes‚ it’s difficult to find a worst criminal in today’s Russia than Vladimir Putin. Putin clearly subscribes to Stalin’s death recipe. Back in July‚ he had his old friend‚ Yevgeny Prigozhin‚ the Wagner Group leader who led a rebellion against him‚ blown out of the sky with a conveniently timed airplane explosion. Two weeks ago‚ he had his main political rival‚ Alexei Navalny‚ eliminated in a Siberian gulag. Death solves all problems. No man‚ no problem. One person who doesn’t feel so glib about death is Yulia Navalnaya‚ Alexei’s widow and the mother of his two children. Last week‚ both Yulia and Alexei’s own mother received reports that their loved one’s corpse showed significant “signs of bruising‚” even as Kremlin officials told them that he had died of something called “sudden death syndrome.” They insisted that Alexei’s body cannot be sent home until an “official investigation” is completed‚ one of an unknown duration. How Stalin-esque. How Putin-esque. Yulia is‚ of course‚ outraged. She accuses Putin of being downright “demonic” in his mistreatment of her husband. Choice words indeed. Her words ought to be a wake-up call to the weird American Putinists who find reasons to defend and sometimes even praise the despot. Among their reasons‚ they see Putin as a faithful Russian traditionalist and Christian. (For the record‚ Stalin had once attended seminary.) From Yulia’s vantage‚ however‚ she discerns quite the opposite. “We already knew that Putin’s faith was fake‚ but now we see it more clearly than ever before‚” said Yulia. “No true Christian could ever do what Putin is now doing with Alexei’s body.” That and then some. Putin is refusing Navalny anything but a decent burial. He wants no one to see that corpse.  “Give us back the body of my husband‚” Yulia pleads the dictator in a videotaped message on YouTube. “We want to hold a funeral service and bury him in a humane way‚ in the ground‚ as is customary in Orthodox Christianity.” In an interesting juxtaposition‚ Yulia notes that her husband actually was a devout Christian whose faith inspired his views and his courage. He not only went to church‚ but in the gulag‚ he was actually fasting during the Lenten season. Yes‚ even while in prison. Alexei Navalny made sacrifices. Putin‚ in turn‚ sacrificed Alexei.  But more to the point‚ Alexei Navalny’s elimination helps Mad Dog Putin solve another problem‚ namely‚ that Navalny no longer exists to challenge Vlad’s next presidential election this coming March. And that election is the next key episode to watch closely in the deadly authoritarian rule of Vladimir Putin‚ which has taken the following winding road. On Dec. 31‚ 1999‚ Boris Yeltsin‚ Russia’s first freely elected president ever in the country’s long history‚ announced that he was resigning the presidency‚ which at that point in his two terms had only several months remaining. Yeltsin was worn out. He turned over the reins to his prime minister‚ Vladimir Putin. Putin then duly stood for election in March 2000. He won easily and fairly. Four years later‚ he won handily again and‚ at that point‚ was a popular president. Putin liked the job so much that he found a way after March 2008 to exceed the two four-year term limits on the president. First‚ he became prime minister to his handpicked puppet presidential successor‚ Dimitri Medvedev‚ the one to whom President Barack Obama pledged his “flexibility” after the November 2012 election — that is‚ the flexibility to backstab our NATO allies Poland and Czechoslovakia on joint missile defense. “Very good‚” replied a pleased Medvedev in an open-mic moment to Obama. “I tell Vladimir.” Soon enough‚ Putin schemed a way to return himself to the presidency and ensconce himself as dictator. Furthermore‚ in 2020 and 2021‚ through a referendum and a new Russian law‚ he created a way to allow himself to run for two more presidential terms — this time‚ six-year terms — potentially extending his rule into 2030 and even up to 2036. News alert to Putin’s strange American defenders on the right: According to the original Russian democratic constitution‚ which the post-communist nation had fought so hard to secure‚ former KGB Lt. Col. Vladimir Putin’s reign should have ended in 2008. It’s now up to 2024 and will continue as long as the now-71-year-old desires to stay in power. The next two elections (read: rubber-stamp coronations) for Putin will occur in 2024 and 2030. The first will take place this March from the 15th to the 17th. That’s only two weeks away. And you can bet a billion rubles that Vladimir Putin will win. To quote another line from Stalin‚ it isn’t the votes that count‚ but he “who will count the votes.” When Alexei Navalny was alive‚ Putin had a viable‚ popular competitor‚ even as Navalny had no chance in a rigged game. But now with Navalny altogether eliminated‚ Putin will run virtually uncontested. Should anyone emerge as Vlad’s new challenger‚ he might want to bow out right away or get himself a food-taster or flunky to start his car every morning. After all‚ death solves all problems. No man‚ no problem. The post Putin’s Latest Deadly Antics: What to Watch appeared first on The American Spectator | USA News and Politics.

I brought this up earlier in the week while doing Steven Gardner’s podcast‚ and in a little more than a day‚ it garnered over 100‚000 views on YouTube. You can see the episode here‚ and the topic of this column comes up just before the 30-minute mark. The gist of it is my explanation that the border invasion is a very telltale sign that Barack Obama is the guy running America and not Biden‚ because if the unprincipled hack politician Biden was actually running his own administration‚ he would have rolled back the open-border policies that made this mess in the first place weeks or months ago so as to prevent massive political damage to his reelection prospects. This is an issue that is 80-20 or worse against the Democrats now. And Biden will be badly hurt by it. The only way the current reality makes sense is if whoever is making the calls in this administration really doesn’t care about his prospects for reelection. But why wouldn’t that person want to see Biden reelected? Democrats hate the thought of losing power‚ don’t they? Absolutely. But the thing about Obama that hit me pretty hard while I was doing the research for Racism‚ Revenge and Ruin‚ my bestselling book about his effect on this country (it actually sold out at Amazon and Barnes &; Noble this week thanks to the exposure the Tucker Carlson interview brought it‚ but there are copies available and at a discount at Calamo Press’ website)‚ is how hard-core ideological and long-term-oriented he was and is. Obamacare‚ for example‚ wasn’t designed to fix health insurance in America. It was designed to destroy private-sector health care — not immediately‚ but over time. And look around: the government gobbles up an ever larger share of the health market all the time. Inexorably‚ it seems‚ because today’s Republican Party lacks the stones to roll back the key features of what Obama did. His effect on the culture? All incremental‚ but like a cascade. When Obama got elected‚ the big cultural debate was about civil unions for gay couples. Now‚ it’s about trans-ing kids and normalizing pedophilia. All along the way‚ there were little steps‚ mostly imperceptible at first‚ that got the water flowing through the canyon. And now it’s the border — but more specifically‚ it’s that your government is doing everything it can to assimilate those migrant invaders‚ using programs Obama set in motion when he was president and that are now being weaponized against taxpayers and citizens. Those migrants come across our border and they’re processed and given an asylum hearing years and years down the road‚ and then they’re brought somewhere and dropped off with a phone and a check card. You say yes‚ but they don’t speak the language‚ they know nothing about American civics‚ they don’t know how our economy and culture work‚ they don’t know the laws‚ they don’t have a driver’s license or a job or a place to live‚ and so on. All of that is true. None of it matters. What matters is that phone and that check card. They’re being assimilated alright — they’ve already been put on the welfare rolls with that phone and that check card. Those immigrants of old got off the boat at Ellis Island and they were checked for disease‚ vetted to an extent for criminal or radical backgrounds‚ and then they were cut loose to make their own way in the world. There were nonprofits attempting to cater to them‚ particularly churches‚ and there was a burgeoning economy desperate for labor and particularly marketable skills. And that burgeoning economy was what attracted them. Many were half-assimilated the minute they got here because they’d bought into the idea that America was the land of opportunity‚ that a man could change his stars here with a little pluck‚ a bit of luck‚ and a whole lot of hard work. Yes‚ that’s still true of some of the “newcomers‚” as the Biden administration is now calling them in a creepy unintentional reference to the 1988 cult classic Alien Nation‚ but more and more it’s something else. More and more it’s this: SHOCK REPORT: Illegal migrant shares video explaining how his baby is a GOLD MINE AND PROVIDER because the United States government pays for everything.. “That’s why I DON’T WORK..because she is an American citizen.” “I have NO NEED to work because‚ we’ll guys..this… pic.twitter.com/tB8aImsXXg — Chuck Callesto (@ChuckCallesto) February 25‚ 2024 That guy doesn’t speak a word of English‚ from the looks of it‚ but his attitude is virtually indistinguishable from the welfare underclass that has been here for generations. And that kid‚ the mino de oro‚ will grow up as part of that welfare underclass. And will vote as the welfare underclass votes. Like it or not‚ that’s assimilation. That next generation‚ who will be voters in 15 to 20 years‚ will be fully assimilated into the American welfare underclass‚ with all of the behavioral pathologies‚ victimization‚ and demoralization attendant in that station. And it’s the reason the border invasion continues‚ regardless of what effect it’s having on Biden’s reelection prospects. The post Don’t Call Them Unassimilated appeared first on The American Spectator | USA News and Politics.

Well of course. If there is anything Americans have learned over the last few years‚ it is that Democrats run around accusing Republicans and Trump supporters of being “anti-democracy” — but then go out of their way to shut down democracy themselves. The latest example of this exercise in straight-up fascism comes from an Illinois Democrat “judge” named Tracie Porter. Here’s but one of the headlines she has generated‚ this one from Politico: Illinois becomes third state to kick Trump off the ballot over Jan. 6 The Supreme Court heard arguments earlier this month on a Colorado ruling that deemed Trump ineligible. Politico opens its report as follows:  Illinois on Wednesday became the third state to declare former President Donald Trump ineligible to run for the presidency because of his involvement in the Jan. 6‚ 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol. Chicago-based Judge Tracie Porter‚ an elected Democrat‚ ruled that Trump was not qualified for the presidency under an interpretation of a provision of the 14th Amendment that bars from office those who engaged in an insurrection after previously taking an oath to support the Constitution.  But she put the decision on hold until Friday‚ leaving Trump on the March 19 primary ballot to allow for an appeal in the case in state court.  Porter’s decision may not stand for long. The Supreme Court heard arguments earlier this month on a Colorado ruling that deemed Trump ineligible‚ and justices across the ideological spectrum seemed skeptical that states have the authority to disqualify presidential candidates under the so-called insurrection clause. The Supreme Court‚ however‚ has not yet issued its decision.  The Illinois decision on Wednesday overturns the decision of the bipartisan state board of elections‚ which voted last month to keep Trump on the ballot because it said it lacked the authority to make constitutional determinations. For those paying attention‚ the irony of Porter’s decision could not be missed. Over at the website of the Cook County Democratic Party‚ there is a bio of Porter that says this:  She is a graduate of Whitney M. Young High School‚ where she graduated in the top ten percent of her class. Say again‚ “She is a graduate of Whitney M. Young High School…” Well now. For those of us old enough to remember‚ the late Whitney Young was one of the premier civil rights leaders of his day — in the 1960s and more. He was‚ among other things‚ the longtime president of the National Urban League. And one of the many pro-civil rights activities of Whitney Young’s group was‚ you guessed it‚ the fight for voting rights. Today‚ the Urban League that was painstakingly built by Whitney Young has this to say‚ bold print for emphasis supplied: National Urban League’s Reclaim Your Vote campaign is a national effort to promote voter registration‚ voter education‚ and voter activation with the power of the Urban League Affiliate and Volunteer movement and our strategic partners. We prioritize civic engagement and protecting voting rights because the people we elect matter. Our vote is our voice; it decides our future and shapes the world around us. In order to Defend Democracy‚ Demand Diversity‚ and Defeat poverty- we must vote. The work is led by our Equitable Justice &; Strategic Initiatives (EJSI) division which works to increase voter engagement and registration through grassroots initiatives and partners with our Washington Bureau and advocacy partners to protect the right to vote for all Americans regardless of their racial‚ gender‚ ethnic‚ or socioeconomic background. So‚ in other words? There is Judge Tracie Porter — a graduate of a high school named for Whitney Young‚ one of the most important voting rights advocates of his day — going out of her way to suppress the right to vote by keeping a totally legitimate‚ decidedly legal former president of the United States off the ballot. All because she doesn’t like Trump. Well now.  What happens if somewhere else in the land‚ with a nod to Porter’s precedent‚ yet another state official decides to keep some Democrat off the ballot? Or keep someone off the ballot because he or she is black? That is exactly what Whitney Young fought against. One suspects that wherever in Heaven Mr. Young may be‚ he is shaking his head that a graduate of a high school bearing his name is engaged in exactly the kind of voter suppression Young and so many others put their lives on the line to end for good. It’s safe to say that Judge Tracie Porter should be ashamed.  But‚ one suspects‚ in the fashion similar to the anti-black segregationists that Whitney Young fought against for so long ago to get the right to vote‚ Tracie Porter has no shame. The post Tracie Porter‚ the Anti-Democracy Illinois Judge‚ Has No Shame appeared first on The American Spectator | USA News and Politics.

Only 18 when she released her debut album‚ Olivia Rodrigo quickly established herself as the voice of Gen Z. Mega-hits from SOUR‚ like “drivers license” and “good 4 u‚” topped the charts‚ and Rodrigo received numerous awards for the album. But during the summer when she shot to stardom‚ the star quickly pivoted from pop to politics. From vaccines to abortion‚ she’s pushed progressive politics to her fanbase‚ which mostly consists of young women.  Olivia Rodrigo was hardly a nobody before her hit album SOUR turned her into a pop sensation in 2021. The latest product of the Disney Channel star pipeline‚ Rodrigo starred in the Disney+ mockumentary High School Musical: The Musical: The Series since 2019 and previously acted in the Disney Channel show Bizaardvark. But the teen star took the plunge into true stardom with the release of SOUR‚ an angsty album that‚ as a friend of mine says‚ “sounds exactly how being in high school felt.”  Rodrigo Pushes COVID-19 Vaccine  In July 2021‚ Rodrigo made a pilgrimage to the White House — a trip that then–White House press secretary Jen Psaki said happened of Rodrigo’s own initiative — to meet with Dr. Anthony Fauci and President Joe Biden. Her goal? Convince the kids to get the shot.  From the White House press briefing room‚ Rodrigo read talking points crafted by White House officials‚ exhorting her fellow teenagers to get vaccinated. “It doesn’t matter if you’re young and healthy‚” she said in a video posted after her appearance‚ “Let’s get vaccinated!”  Olivia Rodrigo is at the White House today to meet with President Biden and Dr. Fauci and discuss the importance of young Americans getting vaccinated. pic.twitter.com/s95KtOkrsF — The White House (@WhiteHouse) July 14‚ 2021 Democrats were‚ of course‚ thrilled to have a young pop star act as their mouthpiece to her millions of social media followers. Rodrigo’s trip was part of the Biden administration’s strategy to convince unvaccinated Americans to get the jab by tapping into influencer marketing. The administration “recruited YouTube stars‚ social media influencers and celebrities … and highlighted efforts by popular dating apps to encourage young singles to promote their vaccination status‚” the New York Times reported. Abortion Activism Takes Center Stage The following summer‚ Rodrigo made a splash during her performance in Glastonbury‚ England‚ the day after the U.S. Supreme Court released the Dobbs decision‚ which overturned Roe v. Wade. The then-20-year-old singer prefaced her duet with British singer-songwriter Lily Allen by dedicating Allen’s song “F*** You” to the court’s conservative justices.  “So many woman and so many girls are going to die because of [the Dobbs decision]‚” Rodrigo claimed. “I wanted to dedicate this next song to the five members of the supreme court who have showed us that at the end of the day‚ they truly don’t give a sh*t about freedom.… We hate you! We hate you!” Now‚ a year and half — and one new album — later‚ Rodrigo is putting her money where her mouth is. On the first night of the tour for her 2023 album‚ GUTS‚ Rodrigo announced the launch of the Fund 4 Good‚ which will support “girls’ education‚ support reproductive rights‚ and prevent gender based violence.” A portion of proceeds from the tour’s ticket sales will be directed toward Fund 4 Good‚ named after her hit song “good 4 you.”  Additionally‚ Rodrigo has partnered with the National Network of Abortion Funds (NNAF)‚ a network of more than 100 independent abortion funds. According to the NNAF website‚ these abortion funds “directly support people seeking abortions” and “provide money for abortion procedures.” The NNAF will host a booth at each stop of Rodrigo’s North American tour for fans to “learn more information about the partnership.”  “Thank you so much for supporting this cause that I care so deeply about‚” Rodrigo told her fans.  Spokeswoman for Gen Z?  Unlike many earlier Disney Channel actresses who made a messy transition to stardom‚ Rodrigo has navigated the change rather smoothly — and has faced considerably less micromanagement from Disney. Stars like Lindsay Lohan‚ Miley Cyrus‚ and Demi Lovato spiraled into chaos and controversy after finding freedom from Disney’s public relations bubble. But Rodrigo is charting a different path. Despite having an active contract with Disney when she released SOUR‚ Rodrigo embraced the edgy side of being a teenager without blowing up her life‚ swearing a few times on the album while getting good grades in her homeschool AP classes. Even as a Disney star‚ Rodrigo enjoyed relative freedom to share political opinions.  “I didn’t really pay attention to [kickback] or let it affect me‚” she told the Guardian. “Being a puppet … ‘doesn’t work any more.’”  She’s never really been a puppet for Disney‚ but Rodrigo’s views of power and influence are a bit myopic if she considers herself a nonconformist. Tally her vaccine promotion with her vocal support for abortion‚ and it’s clear who serves to profit from her activism. Gen Z votes are ripe for picking in the upcoming election. As the political gender gap grows‚ with young women becoming more liberal as young men lean conservative‚ Democrats have a chance to shore up support by reaching out to Gen Z women. And with‚ as the New York Times reports‚ “a third of adults under 30 regularly get[ting] their news from TikTok‚” it’s hard to think of a better ally than Olivia Rodrigo — especially after Biden’s geriatric attempts at generational pandering fell flat.   And though Taylor Swift holds the premium celebrity endorsement‚ she only voices her political beliefs on occasion. Rodrigo‚ on the other hand‚ is branding herself as an angry feminist for a new generation even as she makes a name in pop music. She’ll sing about teenage love while promoting abortion funds. For all the recent debate about whether conservatives are duty-bound to hate Taylor Swift‚ Rodrigo’s activism makes Swift’s younger years seem like long-lost days of innocence.  Mary Frances Myler is a writer from Northern Michigan now living in Washington‚ D.C. She graduated from the University of Notre Dame in 2022.  READ MORE from Mary Frances Myler: Can the Pro-Life Movement Rally Behind the Alabama Supreme Court’s IVF Ruling? A Battle Between History and Modernity at Notre Dame Cathedral Polish Prime Minister Pushes Unconstitutional Abortion Bill The post Gen Z Pop Star Olivia Rodrigo Shills for Democrats (Again) appeared first on The American Spectator | USA News and Politics.

If you think that what we are witnessing is “normal”‚ I honestly don’t know what to say.  Over the past few years‚ the United States has been getting pummeled by one major natural disaster after another.  The number of billion dollar natural disasters in 2023 established a new all-time record high for a single year‚ and 2024 is certainly off to a roaring start.  It seems like each new week brings multiple new disasters‚ and right now we are watching a couple of whoppers.  The blizzard that has started to hammer the state of California is so immense that it is difficult to believe that it is actually real‚ and the Stonehouse Creek Fire in the panhandle of Texas has officially become the largest fire in the entire history of that state… The Smokehouse Creek Fire is officially the largest and most devastating fire in Texas’ history – with the killer inferno burning through over 1.1 million acres of land. As of Thursday‚ the record-breaking wildfire has scorched through 1‚075‚000 acres and is three percent contained‚ with thousands of people evacuating their homes. Ghastly winds coupled with the raging flames have charred huge swathes of the Panhandle – and the wildfire is now the equivalent size of the whole of Rhode Island. This fire has already burned more than a million acres‚ but it still only 3 percent contained. How is that even possible? According to CBS News‚ throughout the region “lampposts are now melted‚ power line posts are split in half and homes and properties have been reduced to charred remains”.  It is already the second largest fire in the entire history of our country‚ and even if the fire was put out now the recovery would take many years because there has been so much devastation. The Turkey Track Ranch is one of the oldest and most historic ranches in the state of Texas‚ and it has been almost completely obliterated… The fire also destroyed most of the historic $180 million Turkey Track Ranch‚ which was home to “one of the largest and bloodiest battles of the Great Plains” near the end of the Civil War‚ and the site of the Red River War that started in 1874. The property‚ one of the oldest ranches in the state that covers roughly 80‚000 acres‚ has seen an estimated 80% of its pastures‚ plains and creek bottom burned in the fire‚ CBS affiliate KHOU-TV reports. “The loss of livestock‚ crops and wildlife‚ as well as ranch fencing and other infrastructure throughout our property as well as other ranches and homes across the region is‚ we believe‚ unparalleled in our history‚” the owners said in a statement. “…We are all completely devastated and personally heartbroken by the magnitude of this horrific event.” I cannot even comprehend what the owners are going through right now. Just try to imagine what it must be like to have your life’s work burned to the ground in a single day. And this fire is going to have a huge impact on all the rest of us too. 85 percent of the cattle in the state of Texas are in the panhandle.  Video footage of cattle that have been burned to death is being shared all over social media‚ and Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller is estimating that “tens of thousands” have already been killed… Reuters spoke with state Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller‚ who warned the wildfire has likely killed tens of thousands of livestock and destroyed grain in storage bins. “It’s almost like gasoline when it goes up‚” Miller said‚ adding‚ “We have now lost over a million acres. Beef prices have already risen to absolutely insane levels all over the country. So what is going to happen now? Miller is also warning that for the cattle that survive there won’t be anything left to eat… “Feed supplies are scarce for surviving cattle because the fire destroyed grazing lands and bins holding crops like wheat and corn‚” he said. Miller continued: “There’s absolutely zero vegetation. The cattle that do survive‚ they have absolutely nothing to eat.” If you love beef‚ stock up now‚ because prices are about to go a lot higher. Meanwhile‚ the state of California is being hit by yet another historic storm. A “crippling blizzard” has already begun‚ and by the time the weekend is over some areas will literally be buried under 10 feet of snow… A crippling blizzard is expected to pummel the mountains in California and Nevada late this week and into the weekend‚ dumping the biggest snow of the season so far. By the time it’s all over‚ the highest elevations could be buried under 10-plus feet of snow. The worst of the storm will be felt across the Sierra Nevada mountain range. The event is now getting underway Thursday but will hit its peak starting Friday and last through the weekend. With a major winter storm like this‚ wind gusts over the Sierra ridges will easily exceed 100 mph‚ creating intense blizzard conditions that could last for days. “It’s just all weekend‚” FOX Weather Meteorologist Britta Merwin said. “That’s all you need to know. It is literally all weekend.” It is being reported that a wind gust of 120 mph was recorded on Ward Mountain on Thursday‚ and extremely powerful winds will continue throughout the weekend as snow falls at a staggering pace. If you can believe it‚ it is being projected that “snowfall rates of up to 5 inches an hour are possible”… Extremely heavy snowfall rates of up to 5 inches an hour are possible‚ said Brittany Whitlam‚ a forecaster with the weather service’s Reno office. Snowfall accumulations across three days will generally range from 50 to 100 inches across the Sierra‚ with locally higher amounts at higher elevations‚ UCLA climate scientist Daniel Swain said in a forecast discussion on YouTube on Thursday “This will be another snowstorm probably for the record books in some places‚” Swain said. I can’t even imagine what a storm of that magnitude would be like‚ because I have never experienced anything like it. Local residents are being told that some communities may be isolated for an extended period of time‚ and snowfall totals in the worst hit locations could actually reach “15 feet or 180 inches”… AccuWeather is projecting that 6-10 feet of snow will fall at Donner Pass or up to 120 inches‚ spanning several days. Similar snowfall is likely at many of the ski resorts in the Sierra Nevada‚ with an AccuWeather Local StormMax snowfall of 15 feet or 180 inches. Drifts from the storm will reach as high as several stories. Now that is a storm! For years‚ I have been warning in my books that we would see natural disasters increase in frequency and intensity. And actually what we are experiencing right now is just the beginning. Much more is on the horizon‚ and most people in the general population have no idea… Michael’s new book entitled “Chaos” is available in paperback and for the Kindle on Amazon.com‚ and you can check out his new Substack newsletter right here. About the Author: Michael Snyder’s extremely controversial new book entitled “Chaos” is available in paperback and for the Kindle on Amazon.com.  He has also written seven other books that are available on Amazon.com including “End Times”‚ “7 Year Apocalypse”‚ “Lost Prophecies Of The Future Of America”‚ “The Beginning Of The End”‚ and “Living A Life That Really Matters”. (#CommissionsEarned)  When you purchase any of Michael’s books you help to support the work that he is doing.  You can also get his articles by email as soon as he publishes them by subscribing to his Substack newsletter.  Michael has published thousands of articles on The Economic Collapse Blog‚ End Of The American Dream and The Most Important News‚ and he always freely and happily allows others to republish those articles on their own websites.  You can connect with Michael on YouTube‚ Facebook and Twitter‚ and sharing his articles on your own social media accounts is definitely a great help.  These are such troubled times‚ and people need hope.  John 3:16 tells us about the hope that God has given us through Jesus Christ: “For God so loved the world‚ that he gave his only begotten Son‚ that whosoever believeth in him should not perish‚ but have everlasting life.”  If you have not already done so‚ we strongly urge you to invite Jesus Christ to be your Lord and Savior today. The post The Record-Breaking Natural Disasters That We Are Witnessing In Texas And California Right Now Are Truly Historic appeared first on End Of The American Dream.