Where to find direction for tough choices July 16 I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go;I will counsel you with my loving eye on you. Psalm 32:8 During World War II, the British Secret Service broke the Nazi code and informed Prime Minister Winston Churchill that the Germans were getting ready to bomb the city of Coventry. This presented Churchill with a very painful choice. On the one hand, he could evacuate the city and save hundreds of lives. This, however, would tip off the Germans that their code had been broken, causing them to use another one and take the upper hand away from the Allies. Or, Churchill could take no action, which would lead to more deaths but keep the information flowing and save even more lives in the long-term. With a heavy heart, Churchill took no action. Yet, his decision that day did, in fact, give the Allied Forces access to much more intelligence, a tremendous advantage moving forward, and saved more British lives overall. Not every decision is black or white, right or wrong, good or evil. If it were, there would be no difficult decisions. Yet, when we encounter these "gray areas" in life – and we will – it's crucial then we listen to the guidance of the Holy Spirit to lead us in the way God wants us to go. When life gives you hard choices, seek God's guidance. Ask Him to open your heart to His Spirit within you. Trust God, in faith, to lead you down the path that will bring about your good and His glory! Prayer Challenge Pray now and ask God to give you guidance in the difficult decisions of life. Trust Him as you step out in faith in response to His leading. Questions for Thought Think of a time when you encountered a tough decision and didn't know what to do. How did it make you feel? What are some difficult decisions you're facing today? How can you seek God's guidance for wisdom in these areas? Visit the Senior Living Ministries website The post Where to Find Direction for Tough Choices – Senior Living – July 17 appeared first on GodUpdates.

A Prayer to Forgive When the Other Person Is Not SorryBy Chris Eyte "But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.” – Luke 15:20 Most of us are familiar with the story of the prodigal son: how the son rebels, goes to a foreign country, and squanders his father's money. Then he returns and asks for forgiveness, and he is readily accepted again by his dad. We are told what the son did in the foreign country with the wild parties and easy living. But we are not given so much detail by Jesus about the father during that horrible time when his child rebels. And that's for a simple reason: he is waiting. The father is at his home, biding his time, watching for his son. His eyes search the horizon, hopefully, day after day. He knows that, at that time, the son is not sorry. But the father trusts that his boy will return to him. The situation hurts terribly, but he chooses faith, not despair. And then one day, after a long time, the young man does come home again. It is a helpful illustration for those of us who want a loved one to turn around and walk in the right direction again. It's not a quick process and can take years and years, waiting for the other person to come to their senses. Sometimes, they don't, and the problem proceeds to eternity and judgment by the Living God. Even then, we are compelled to forgive by the love of Christ-to leave it with the Lord. It is hard to bear the scars of forgiving someone who isn't interested in being forgiven. If they are still alive, there is some hope of repentance. By God's strength, we can be empowered with the gift of patience for a turnaround. Day after day, week after week, month after month, and year after year – no matter how long it takes. We must follow the example of the heavenly father and wait patiently. We get on with our daily lives, but our eyes are aware of the horizon, just as the dad with the prodigal son. And who knows? Let's have faith that one day, our patience will be rewarded. And that other person who has offended so deeply will return home. Meanwhile, we have a responsibility to cleanse our hearts in the Holy Spirit. To say (many times if necessary) "by God's strength, I forgive". At all times, we look to the example of the Messiah: "… despised and rejected by mankind, a man of suffering, and familiar with pain." (Isaiah 53:3). Rev. Anthony Thompson chose to forgive the racist killer of his wife, Myra. She was leading a Bible study at Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Charleston, SC, on June 17, 2015, when one of the attendees, Dylann Roof, fired 77 bullets, killing Myra and eight other followers of Christ. At a later court hearing, Rev. Thompson was challenged by God to forgive the unrepentant neo-Nazi. He looked at the young man and said, "Son, I forgive you. My family forgives you." Where did the church minister find such courageous strength to forgive this murderer, not sorry for his heinous crime? Rev. Thompson told Premier Christianity: "Forgiveness is a choice, and when we choose to forgive, we allow God to do the judging. We're asking him to take over, because the Bible says do not take revenge. Biblical forgiveness is followed by prayer for the offender. It's not about a feeling. In my case, it was divine intervention. It takes God to help you to forgive, even if you want to – you can't do it on your own."  We should never forget that God not only sees the pain but is personally familiar with it. He knows more than anyone the suffering involved in offering forgiveness to those who aren’t sorry. Nobody has more experience in offering a pardon to wrongdoers than the Lord. No one is more justified to judge than the Father-but he offers forgiveness. And so must we follow. God-is-love is our strength in these difficulties: "Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres." (1 Corinthians 13:4-7) It is challenging indeed to forgive when the other person is not sorry, but Jesus Christ calls us to always persevere. Let's remember that nothing is impossible through the guidance of the Holy Spirit, our wise counselor. The story of Rev. Anthony Thompson really shows that. Let's hope and not give up on the situation! Let's pray: Father God,This hurts, but you understand. I pray for them, in your strength I forgive them and I trust you that all things are possible. Convict them of truth, for you are truth. Bless them this day and help them to turn to you in this situation. Cleanse my own heart that I may represent you and be a channel of your love. I confess my own self to you and thank you that you took all my sins onto yourself on the cross. The sin, not in part but as a whole, was taken upon you, Jesus. I pray that this situation will turn around and there will be a blessing in this relationship. I look to the horizon for them to return, and I put my trust in you.In your holy name. Amen! Photo credit: ©Getty Images/Kieferpix Christopher Eyte lives with his wife Céline and three children in Swansea, Wales, UK. He has worked as a journalist for many years and writes his own blog (hislovefrees.life) encouraging others in their walk with Jesus. He became a Christian in February 2002, after a friend explained God’s amazing grace! Related Resource: Remember God’s Enduring Love for You in this Guided Meditation on Psalm 100! This guided Christian meditation from Psalm 100 will help you experience and praise God for his unending love for you. Become aware of God's presence with you, and praise God for his loyal and enduring love from the beginning of time and into the future. Listen to every episode of the So Much More Podcast on LifeAudio.com, or subscribe on Apple or Spotify so you never miss an episode! Now that you’ve prayed, are you in need of someone to pray for YOU? Click the button below! Visit iBelieve.com for more inspiring prayer content. The post A Prayer to Forgive When the Other Person Is Not Sorry – Your Daily Prayer – July 17 appeared first on GodUpdates.

Jabu and Cornelio put on an energetic performance during tonight’s episode of AGT that had the entire crowd on their feet and clapping along.  The duo, who met in Times Square and became instant friends, gave one of the most unique and talented auditions of the season.  Jabu and Cornelio danced and drummed to Gloria Estefan and Miami Sound Machine’s Conga. The performers took turns dancing and playing, switching back and forth with ease. The men were equally skilled with both talents, and the judges couldn’t contain their excitement as the audition progressed and became more challenging and more impressive. As the men showcased their skills, the audience members stood up to dance, clap, and cheer along. By the end, everyone fell in love with the performance—but not just because the two were so talented. Their charm and energy were also contagious. “I like acts like this because it reminds me of the Rat Pack,” said Simon Cowell. “You know, where people were friends, and they all had different skills. Apart from talent, your personalities are just incredible, you know? And that was a great audition.” Overall, the judges praised Jabu and Cornelio’s entire performance. “It was sexy; it was fun; it was amazing. The music, the song, you guys are great,” Sofia Vergara gushed. “I love how both of you have brought that classic style of dance and music to today,” added Howie Mandel. “It’s the next level after Stomp.” The AGT judges gave Jabu and Cornelio “four yeses,” which means they have a chance to be one of the 55 acts to perform during the live shows that begin on August 13th. Watch America’s Got Talent on NBC on Tuesday nights at 8/7 C. You can find the source of this story’s featured image here. The post “AGT”: This Brilliant Tap Dance And Drum Duet Had Everyone “On Their Feet” appeared first on InspireMore.

Nobody has more experience in offering a pardon to wrongdoers than the Lord. No one is more justified to judge than the Father—but he offers forgiveness. And so must we follow.

Sen. Marco Rubio paid tribute to the former fire chief killed Saturday afternoon in the assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump in remarks Tuesday at the Republican National Convention.   Corey Comperatore, a former fire chief in Buffalo Township in Pennsylvania, was killed at the Trump rally in Butler, Pennsylvania. He was attending the rally with his family. A bullet grazed Trump’s right ear.  Comperatore was the father of two daughters and a vocal supporter of Trump. “He was a former fire chief, a loving husband. He was described as the best dad a girl could ever ask for,” Rubio said in Milwaukee at the quadrennial GOP convention.  “As a man of God who loved Jesus fiercely, and looked after members of his church, Cory was one of the millions of everyday Americans who make our country great,” the Florida senator continued. “He wasn’t rich. He wasn’t famous. The only reason we know his name and story now is because, last Saturday, he shielded his wife and daughter from an assassin’s bullet, and lost his life the way he lived it: A hero.” Rubio was reportedly a finalist to be Trump’s vice presidential running mate. However, Trump announced Monday that he had instead chosen one of Rubio’s Senate Republican colleagues, JD Vance of Ohio. The post Rubio Pays Tribute to ‘Hero’ Slain by Sniper at Trump Rally appeared first on The Daily Signal.

MILWAUKEE—Former President Donald Trump and his running mate, Ohio Senator JD Vance, surprised the National Republican Convention with appearances Tuesday, though neither of them addressed the crowd. Nikki Haley, Trump’s longest rival in the 2024 presidential primary, also made an appearance to endorse Trump. Here are 8 key takeaways from Day 2 of the Republican National Convention in Fiserve Forum. 1. The Haley Endorsement “President Trump asked me to speak to this convention in the name of unity,” Haley said in an surprise appearance. “It was a gracious invitation, and I was happy to accept.” She said her message to Trump’s critics is this: “You don’t have to agree with Trump 100% of the time to vote for him.” “I haven’t always agreed with Trump, but we agree more often than we disagree,” Haley added. She mentioned many issues on which she agrees with the former president—among them, the border crisis, Israel, and keeping peace abroad. “We agree that Democrats have moved so far to the left that they’re putting our freedoms in danger,” she added. Nikki Haley at RNC with Trump in the audience: "President Trump asked me to speak to this convention in the name of unity." pic.twitter.com/M2PyAokz7K— Virginia Allen (@Virginia_Allen5) July 17, 2024 2. Steve Scalise’s Brush with Death House Majority Leader Steve Scalise recalled his own brush with death seven years ago in remarks at the Republican National Convention on Tuesday night, just thee days after an assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump. On June 14, 2017, while practicing in Alexandria, Va., for the annual congressional softball game, a gunman shot Scalise, seriously wounding the congressman. The gunman, who was killed by police, was later determined to be a supporter of left-wing Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt. “I need to say something about Saturday’s attempt on President Trump’s life,” Scalise, R-La., told the convention crowd in Milwaukee’s Fiserve Forum. “Many of you know I was the survivor of a politically motivated shooting in 2017,” the Louisiana lawmaker said. “Not many know that while I was fighting for my life, Donald Trump was one of the first to come and console my family in the hospital.” He said that’s the kind of leader that America needs. “That’s the kind of leader he is. Courageous under fire, compassionate toward others,” Scalise said. He concluded the remarks by saying, “May Donald Trump continue to receive God’s blessing.”  3. ‘Thorough Investigation’ House Speaker Mike Johnson pledged Tuesday night that the House of Representatives would conduct an “immediate and thorough investigation” into security failures by the Secret Service prior to the assassination attempt Saturday evening on former President Donald Trump. “We are united today as Americans in the wake of the assassination attempt on the life of Donald Trump,” Johnson said, speaking to the Republican National Convention. “Everyone, hear me clearly, and listen to me at home, and make no mistake. The House is conducting an immediate and thorough investigation of these tragic events.” On Saturday, during a Trump campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, a gunman open fire. A bullet grazed Trump’s ear. The shooter killed one of the attendees at the rally and injured two others. The House Oversight and Accountability Committee, which oversees the U.S. Secret Service, has already announced it would investigate what mistakes the agency made in its efforts to secure the rally. Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle has said she would not resign. “That work [of the investigation] has already begun,” Johnson said. “The American people deserve to know the truth, and we will ensure accountability. I promise you that. This has always been an important principle to us. We in the Republican Party are the law and order team. We always have been, and we always will be advocates for the rule of law.”  Toward the end of his remarks, Johnson added, “As President Trump raised his fist and gave a rallying cry on Saturday, now is our time to fight. And we will.”  4. Division, Exclusion, Indoctrination Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis blasted Democrats for their support of “diversity, equity, and inclusion” policies in schools, the military, and other institutions.  “They stand for DEI, which really means division, exclusion, and indoctrination, and it is wrong,” DeSantis said Tuesday at the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee. “They mandated that you show proof of a COVID vaccine to go to a restaurant, but they oppose requiring proof of citizenship to cast a vote.” DeSantis also asserted that Republicans support parents’ rights.   “We believe schools should educate, not indoctrinate,” DeSantis said. “We stand for parents rights, including universal school choice. We support law and order, not rioting and disorder.”  DeSantis unsuccessfully challenged former President Donald Trump for the 2024 Republican nomination, but dropped out of the race after finishing a distant second place in Iowa.  He quickly endorsed Trump upon dropping out, and insisted in his convention speech that President Joe Biden is not fit to run the country, referencing a 1990s comic movie “Weekend at Bernie’s” in which people are fooled into believing a corpse is alive.  “We need a commander-in-chief who can lead 24 hours a day and seven days a week. America cannot afford four more years of a ‘Weekend at Bernie’s’ presidency.” He also talked about how much Democrats and Trump’s enemies have thrown at him.  “Donald Trump stands in their way and he stands up for America,” DeSantis said of his former rival. “Donald Trump has been demonized. He’s been sued. He’s been prosecuted and he nearly lost his life. We cannot let him down and we cannot let America down.” 5. GOP Governors Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders stirred the Milwaukee audience of the Republican National Convention on Tuesday night, as she touted GOP governors nationally and asserted that former President Donald Trump survived an assassination attempt by divine providence. “Not even an assassin’s bullet could stop him. God almighty intervened because America is one nation under God, and he is certainly not finished with President Donald Trump,” she said, referring to the attempt on Trump’s life Saturday at a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, north of Pittsburgh. Sanders is a former Trump White House press secretary and the daughter of former Arkansas governor and presidential candidate Mike Huckabee. Early in her remarks, she recalled her time as White House press secretary, and joked about President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden. “I got the chance to take my four-year-old son Huck to ‘Bring Your Kid To Work Day,’ much like Jill now drags Joe to ‘Bring Your Husband To Work Day,’” Sanders quipped. She also talked about the personal attacks she endured when she was Trump’s press secretary, often from other women. “The Left doesn’t care about empowering women,” she said. “Biden and [Vice President Kamala] Harris can’t tell you what a woman is. But we have a president who believes in empowering every American and that our country is worth fighting for.”  With Biden in office, Sanders said, Republican governors had to take up Trump’s fight. “For the last four years, Republican governors have been leading that fight, and doing what Joe Biden refuses to do,” she said. “We deployed the National Guard to the border. We cracked down on crime and drugs. We cut taxes to give hardworking Americans a break from Bidenflation. And we empowered Americans with universal school choice across the country.” Trump was the first president in her lifetime “to take a hard line against China,” she said. “And I’m proud to be the first and only governor in the country to kick communist China off our farmland and out of my state.” 6. Vivek’s Message for Black Americans Former GOP presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy spoke directly to groups of Americans often considered liberal and Democratic: blacks, immigrants, millennials, and Gen Z. Speaking to the Republican National Convention at the Fiserve Forum in Milwaukee, he said he wanted to deliver a message the media didn’t want these Americans to hear. “Our message to black Americans is this: The media has tried to convince you for decades that Republicans don’t care about your neighborhoods, but we do,” entrepreneur-author Ramaswamy said. “We want for you what we want for every American: safe neighborhoods, clean streets, good jobs, a better life for your children, and a justice system that treats everyone equally, regardless of your skin color, and regardless of your political beliefs.” ?Here's @VivekGRamaswamy's message to black Americans: We want for you what we want for every American: safe neighborhoods, clean streets, good jobs, a better life for your children, & a justice system that treats everyone equally, regardless of skin color & political beliefs pic.twitter.com/8gdfjKoXwG— Tyler O'Neil (@Tyler2ONeil) July 17, 2024 He also addressed immigrants. “Our message to every legal immigrant is this: You’re like my parents,” Ramaswamy said. “You deserve the opportunity to secure a better life for your children in America.” “But our message to illegal immigrants is also this: We will return you to your country of origin, not because you’re all bad people, but because you broke the law, and the United States of America was founded on the rule of law,” he declared. ?Here's @VivekGRamaswamy's message to illegal immigrants: "We will return you to your country of origin, not because you're all bad people but because you broke the law and the United States of America was founded on the rule of law?? #RNC2024 pic.twitter.com/HZgarXzfkV— Tyler O'Neil (@Tyler2ONeil) July 17, 2024 The former presidential candidate then turned to young Americans; namely, members of the millennial generation and Gen Z. “Our message to millennials, speaking as one myself (yes, it’s true): Our government sold us a false bill of goods with the Iraq War and the 2008 financial crisis, bloating up our national debt that falls on our generation’s shoulders, telling us that if we took out college loans, we’d somehow get a head start on the American dream, when it hasn’t worked out that way,” Ramaswamy, 38, said. Yet he also urged his fellow millennials, “We can’t just be cynical about our country because the United States of America is the last, best hope that we have, and we deserve a better class of politician, one that actually tells us the truth, even if it comes with some mean tweets from time to time.” “Our message to Gen Z is this: You’re going to be the generation that actually saves this country,” Ramaswamy added. “You want to be a rebel, you want to be a hippie, you want to stick it to the man?” he asked. “Show up on your college campus and try calling yourself a conservative. Say you want to get married, have kids, teach them to believe in God and pledge allegiance to our country.” “Fear has been infectious in this country, but courage can be contagious, too,” the former candidate concluded. “That, too, is what it means to be an American.” ?Here's @VivekGRamaswamy's message to young Americans: "You want to be a rebel, you want to be a hippie, you want to stick it to the man? Show up on your college campus and try calling yourself a conservative. Say you want to get married and have kids."?? #RNC2024 pic.twitter.com/fg5Wpv6h6K— Tyler O'Neil (@Tyler2ONeil) July 17, 2024 Ramaswamy also quipped, “I achieved the impossible, which is that most of you actually know how to say my name right.” 7. Carson Quotes Isaiah Former Housing and Urban Development Secretary Ben Carson referenced the Old Testament book of Isaiah when speaking about both Democratic lawfare and an assassination attempt against former President Donald Trump.  “It says, ‘No weapon formed against you shall prosper,’” Carson, a world-renowned former neurosurgeon, said Tuesday at the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee. “Let me tell you the weapons they tried to use: First, they tried to ruin his reputation, and he’s more popular now than ever,” said Carson, who ran against Trump for the Republican presidential nomination in 2016. Trump subsequently tapped him as HUD secretary. “Then they tried to bankrupt him, and he’s got more money now than he had before,” Carson said to a roar of approval from the crowd. “Then they tried to put him in prison, and he’s freer and has made other people free with him.” After broad references to the legal cases against Trump, Carson referred to the assassination attempt on the former president Saturday at a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, north of Pittsburgh.  “Then, last weekend they tried to kill him, and there he is, over there, alive and well,” Carson said to the former president in the audience.  Carson had harsh words for the legacy media and for big government.  “The free press, a pillar of any free society, has abused the public trust and resorted to lies, deception, and disinformation,” Carson said, adding: “Our government has been no better, shredding our Constitution and upending the rule of law. We have a wide-open border, a broken education system, and chaos breaking out around the world. ” But he pointed to his own life’s story as evidence about “unlimited opportunity” in America.  “In no other country could a poor inner-city kid, raised by a single mom, make it to an Ivy League school, then to medical school, become a successful neurosurgeon, run for president, and eventually become a member of the president’s Cabinet.” 8. Trump’s Daughter-in-Law Lara Trump told delegates and others in the audience at the Republican National Convention that she initially had prepared a “very different speech” than the one she delivered Tuesday night. The daughter-in-law of former President Donald Trump and co-chairman of the Republican National Committee shared the shock of the assassination attempt on husband Eric Trump’s father late Saturday afternoon.  “Our family has faced our fair share of death threats,” she said.  “None of that prepares you as a daughter-in-law to watch in real time someone try to kill a person you love,” she said. “None of that prepares you as a mother to quickly reach for the remote and turn your young children away from the screen so that they’re not witness to something that scars the memory of their grandpa for the rest of their lives.” She was thankful for “prayers and well-wishes” in the 72 hours since.  “If Donald Trump has shown us anything, it’s that when it feels impossible to keep going, those are the times we must keep going.” 9. Haley Praises Trump on National Security Despite finishing a distant second in the Republican presidential primaries, former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley told the crowd at the Republican National Convention on Tuesday night: “Donald Trump has my strong endorsement, period.” “I had a front row seat to his national security policies. We sure could use those again,” said Haley, also a former U.S ambassador to the U.N. “When Barack Obama was president, [Russian President] Vladimir Putin invaded Crimea. With Joe Biden as president, Putin invaded all of Ukraine. When Donald Trump was president, Putin invaded nothing. No invasions, no wars. That was no accident. Putin didn’t attack Ukraine because he knew Donald Trump was tough. A strong president doesn’t start wars. A strong president prevents wars.” Trump’s former U.N. ambassador also said that the Biden administration has been weak in the Middle East, in seeking to reenter the Iranian nuclear agreement and pressuring Israel in its war with Hamas. Haley challenged Trump for the 2024 presidential nomination and was the only other GOP candidate to win a primary—in both the District of Columbia and the state of Vermont. She lost her home state of South Carolina to Trump. During her convention remarks, Haley returned to a long-standing campaign theme, which she said was backed up by Biden’s disastrous debate performance against Trump in June. “For more than a year, I said a vote for Joe Biden is a vote for President Kamala Harris,” Haley said. “After seeing the debate, everyone knows that’s true. If we have four more years of Biden or a single day of Harris, our country will be badly worse off. For the sake of our country, we have to go with Donald Trump.” Nikki Haley: "If we have 4 more years of Biden, or a single day of Harris, our country will be badly worse off. For the sake of our nation we have to go with Donald Trump." pic.twitter.com/uX3MtKxfQ7— The Post Millennial (@TPostMillennial) July 17, 2024 Haley noted that Biden had put Harris in charge of the southern border, which has been in crisis since. “Kamala Harris had one job—fix the border,” Haley said. “Now, imagine her in charge of the entire country.”  10. Rubio’s Tribute to Slain Fireman Sen. Marco Rubio paid tribute to the former fire chief killed Saturday afternoon in the assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump in remarks Tuesday at the Republican National Convention.   Corey Comperatore, a former fire chief in Buffalo Township in Pennsylvania, was killed at the Trump rally in Butler, Pennsylvania. He was attending the rally with his family. A bullet grazed Trump’s right ear.  Comperatore was the father of two daughters and a vocal supporter of Trump. “He was a former fire chief, a loving husband. He was described as the best dad a girl could ever ask for,” Rubio said in Milwaukee at the quadrennial GOP convention.  “As a man of God who loved Jesus fiercely, and looked after members of his church, Cory was one of the millions of everyday Americans who make our country great,” the Florida senator continued. “He wasn’t rich. He wasn’t famous. The only reason we know his name and story now is because, last Saturday, he shielded his wife and daughter from an assassin’s bullet, and lost his life the way he lived it: A hero.” Rubio was reportedly a finalist to be Trump’s vice presidential running mate. However, Trump announced Monday that he had instead chosen one of Rubio’s Senate Republican colleagues, Vance. The post 10 Takeaways From Day 2 of the Republican National Convention appeared first on The Daily Signal.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis blasted Democrats on Tuesday night for their support of leftist “diversity, equity, and inclusion” policies in schools, the military, and other institutions.  “They stand for DEI, which really means ‘division, exclusion, and indoctrination,’ and it is wrong,” DeSantis said in a speech in Milwaukee at the quadrennial Republican National Convention. “They mandated that you show proof of a COVID vaccine to go to a restaurant, but they oppose requiring proof of citizenship to cast a vote,” the Florida governor said. “We believe schools should educate, not indoctrinate,” DeSantis said. “We stand for parents rights, including universal school choice. We support law and order, not rioting and disorder.”  DeSantis challenged former President Donald Trump for the 2024 Republican nomination, but dropped out of the race after finishing a distant second place in the Iowa caucuses.  He quickly endorsed Trump upon dropping out, and stressed in his convention speech why President Joe Biden is not fit to run the country, referencing a 1990s comedy film “Weekend at Bernie’s,” in which people are fooled into believing a corpse is alive.  “We need a commander-in-chief who can lead 24 hours a day and seven days a week. America cannot afford four more years of a ‘Weekend at Bernie’s’ presidency,” DeSantis said. He also cited how much Democrats and Trump’s other enemies have thrown at the former president, who is seeking to return to the Oval Office.  “Donald Trump stands in their way, and he stands up for America,” DeSantis said of his former rival. “Donald Trump has been demonized. He’s been sued. He’s been prosecuted, and he nearly lost his life. We cannot let him down, and we cannot let America down.” The post DEI Stands for ‘Division, Exclusion, and Indoctrination,’ DeSantis Says appeared first on The Daily Signal.

CBS’ Tuesday night coverage of the 2024 Republican National Convention unsurprisingly included a ridiculous distraction from the prominent issue of illegal immigration and the threat it poses to the United States. Chief Washington correspondent Major Garrett filled the time leading up to a speech by Michael Morin, whose sister was murdered by an illegal immigrant, to spew a long-winded, so-called fact-check about apparent Republican inflation of immigration numbers. Garrett began with a falsely sympathetic acknowledgment of families involved in crimes committed by illegal immigrants, including the rape and murder of children which the “big three” networks (ABC, CBS, NBC) completely disregarded, before pointing out three different numbers used by speakers over the course of the night.  One of those was actually correct, but he triumphantly crowed, “It’s actual[ly] 8 million, not the inflated numbers you’ve heard from the podium tonight.”     To further clarify on that number, Garrett added that “not every single one of those undocumented immigrants represents an individual. Many of them are counted multiple times because they crossed the border many times.” While admitting that the problem had been exacerbated under the Biden administration, he insisted that former President Trump had done little to resolve the situation of “undocumented border crossers.” Co-host Norah O’Donnell interjected with an accusation of Trump’s hand in the Senate’s failure to pass a bipartisan immigration bill. Garrett agreed, stating that “Former President Trump, who said the politics of this deal would be ruinous for the Republican Party on the messaging on this, and wanted to take the issue, unresolved, to the electorate in 2024.”  Of course, just as in February, they completely omitted mentioning the real reasons for Republican rejection of the deal and settled on demonizing Trump. Garrett concluded his rant by insisting that such legislation, which had been “elusive since George W. Bush,” had no trajectory, voicing his expectation that Trump’s promises to deliver on substantial immigration laws were entirely meaningless. The transcript is below. Click "expand" to read: CBS News 7/16/2024 10:11:19 PM EST MAJOR GARRETT: And there are facts, like this case that you just mentioned, that are heartbreaking, and tragic, and real. And no discussion of immigration can overlook those hard, and brutal, and painful facts for the families involved.  However, there are some numbers worth thinking about, as they’ve been talked about from the podium tonight. We’ve heard three different numbers, Norah. Eight million undocumented immigrants crossing the border, 11 million undocumented immigrants, 10 million–what’s the actual number? It’s actual 8 million, not the inflated numbers you’ve heard from the podium tonight.  And not every single one of those undocumented immigrants represents an individual. Many of them are counted multiple times because they crossed the border many times. This is a fact. It was a fact during the Trump administration, it’s a fact under the Biden administration. Are the Biden administration numbers higher than comparison to Trump? Yes, 2.4 million undocumented immigrants in one full year, 2023 under Biden, yes. 2019 under Trump? One million undocumented border crossers.  It was a problem under Trump, it is a bigger problem under Biden. But the numbers do matter and they need to be clarified so we understand the depth and gravity of this problem, in order to deal with it.  NORAH O’DONNELL: This has been an elusive legislative goal for multiple presidents, even going back to George W. Bush and beyond. The Senate got so close, this year, on a bipartisan bill, one the Democrats did not want to vote for, agreed to a number of things that the Democrats don't like. And, yet, the bill was killed at the last minute by who? GARRETT: Former President Trump, who said the politics of this deal would be ruinous for the Republican Party on the messaging on this, and wanted to take the issue, unresolved, to the electorate in 2024.  And as you mention, Norah, it's really important. That bipartisan legislation had almost no concessions. Zero, for Democratic priorities long held on the immigration space. All the provisions were written and drafted by Republicans, still not sufficient for former President Trump to endorse. Had he, there’d actually be legislation.  Why does that matter? Because when you do immigration policy through executive action, guess what happens when an administration changes? Executive actions are rescinded. The only way to permanently deal with this problem is that legislation. It’s been elusive since George W. Bush, it may be elusive even if Donald Trump is reelected. (...)

A billion-dollar insurance company in Texas threw a “Drag Queen Bingo” event for up to 300 employees during Pride Month, and it featured a drag queen who performs for corporate giants Google and Amazon.…