If your cat just gave birth and you’re wondering what to do‚ the answer is likely not much‚ at least not right away as long as everything has gone well with the delivery and you’re looking at a bunch of happy‚ healthy kittens. Mother cats generally manage to make it through labor and delivery without human assistance‚ and most don’t need help dealing with their newborn kittens. However‚ ensuring that your cat and her babies are doing well is important. Take a look to ensure the kittens’ noses and mouths are clear of fluid and mucus and that the mother has removed the sac from the kitten completely. Contact your veterinarian immediately if you have concerns or think a kitten may need assistance. It’s also important to ensure the kittens start nursing relatively quickly after birth. If a kitten hasn’t started suckling within two hours of birth‚ reach out to your veterinarian for advice‚ as you may need to step in and try to encourage the kitten to nurse. Are There Other Things to Do Right After My Cat Gives Birth? Giving your cat a comfortable‚ warm place to stay‚ plenty of food and water and space to move around are all critical to creating a comfortable and inviting environment that supports your cat and her kittens. Warmth Make sure your cat has a nice‚ warm place to care for her kittens. Kittens don’t have the ability to regulate their temperatures for the first 2 weeks of their lives‚ so they rely on their mother and each other to stay nice and toasty. Keeping kittens warm is critical to their overall health and development‚ so try to ensure they have an environmental temperature of around 89°F to 93°F for the first few days after birth.1 This temperature can gradually be decreased over time. By the end of the fourth week of life‚ kittens will be comfortable at 75°F. Image Credit: Abessinier‚ Pixabay Quiet Provide a quiet space for your cat and her kittens to be. Reduce disturbances and loud noises as they can cause a nursing queen to become anxious. Unfamiliar surroundings‚ strangers or frequent disturbances can affect the queen’s milk production and lead to maternal neglect.  First time mothers are often particularly sensitive to environmental disruptions. Solitude Most queens prefer to be left alone entirely when their kittens are tiny and vulnerable‚ so try to give your cat and her babies a bit of space to allow nature to take its course. Some new cat mothers prefer well-loved humans to refrain from touching newborn kittens. Veterinarians often suggest limiting the amount of contact people have with kittens until they’re a few weeks old and their eyes are open. Bedding Provide clean bedding for your cat and her kittens‚ but avoid moving her or the kittens for the first few days. Once everyone has settled in‚ you can change the bedding when your cat decides to have a snack or go to the bathroom. Good options for bedding include easily washable items like old towels and pillowcases. Image Credit: Azkia A. Mardhiah‚ Pixabay Pets If you have any other pets‚ it is a good idea to keep them out of the area where the kittens are nursing to keep your cat from becoming stressed and protective. As mentioned‚ anything that makes a mother cat feel vulnerable can interfere with her natural mothering instincts and can make it more likely for her to abandon her litter. Are There Potential Post-Delivery Complications to Be Concerned About? Most cat pregnancies go off without a hitch‚ but occasionally‚ problems can pop up. Reach out to your veterinarian if your cat shows signs of vaginal bleeding or discharge‚ but remember that a small amount of post-delivery spotting is normal. Inflammation of the uterus and mammary glands can also be a problem‚ as can uterine prolapse. Metritis‚ or uterine inflammation‚ results when part of the placenta is retained in the uterus. A bacterial infection is typically also present due to the material left behind in the uterus. Signs of metritis include vaginal discharge‚ fever‚ and lethargy. Cats suffering from the condition often have trouble caring for their kittens and need veterinary attention promptly. Kittens who are crying and having difficulty settling can indicate that a queen may be suffering from a condition such as metritis. Uterine prolapse is very rare in queens but can be caused by straining during labor and delivery. Mastitis (inflamed mammary glands) is also quite rare in cats but it can occur. It is usually caused by a bacterial infection and may involve one or several glands. Signs include painful and swollen mammary glands‚ and as the inflammation progresses‚ the infected glands will become increasingly discolored (red or purple) and painful. Milk from the infected glands may contain blood and pus. The condition can usually be resolved with antibiotics‚ but depending on the severity of the infection‚ the queen may need additional supportive care and the kittens may need bottle feeding while the queen is unwell. Contact your veterinarian immediately if you see signs indicating your cat may be developing complications. Image Credit: Chaikom‚ Shutterstock Do Cats Ever Reject Kittens? Yes. Cats are usually quite affectionate with their kittens‚ often licking them and giving them loving attention‚ but sometimes things can go wrong. Cats can reject kittens for a few reasons‚ including stress and the inability to care for several babies at once. This can be particularly common in first time queens. Queens who become particularly stressed can reject and even kill kittens. It’s one of the reasons providing a quiet‚ safe place for your cat to give birth and stay with her kittens while they’re young is so important. Cats can also neglect kittens who they sense are particularly weak or ill. Some queens reject kittens who are handled too much in the first weeks after they’re born. Signs a cat may not be bonding with her kittens include not permitting newborns to nurse‚ leaving babies without supervision‚ and generally not paying attention to the litter. Reach out to your veterinarian if your cat is having issues with one or more of her kittens. How Can I Tell if The Kittens Are Doing Okay? During the first few weeks‚ kittens aren’t usually all that active; they mostly sleep and eat‚ and that’s about it. Kittens who cry when they’re awake may not be feeling well or may be having trouble getting enough food. Make arrangements for your cat and her kittens to be seen by your veterinarian if your kittens appear to be uncomfortable when eating or if there’s lots of crying. Contentment and a steady weight gain are both signs that newborn kittens are doing well. Reach out to your veterinarian if it appears that one of the kittens is losing weight‚ as healthy ones generally increase their body weights by about 10-15g a day.2 Kittens should have periods when they’re awake and trying to get on their feet by the second week‚ and they should generally be trying to explore the world outside of the nest by the time week three rolls around. Image Credit: Rashid Valitov‚ Shutterstock Do I Need to Feed the Kittens? Newborn kittens don’t require anything but their mother’s milk in their first few days and weeks of life. The first milk queens produce is called colostrum‚ which is full of antibodies and gives a kitten’s immune system an essential boost. They can generally start the weaning process (introducing solid food) when they’re between 3 to 4 weeks old. Reach out to your veterinarian if the kittens seem to be crying a lot or if you notice a kitten has lost or not gained weight in 24 hours. Weighing kittens daily is extremely important as a way of assessing their health. Do Cats Move Kittens Around? Yes. It’s usually nothing to be terribly concerned about if your cat decides to move her kittens from one location to another. It’s relatively common for cats to look for places that feel less exposed or provide more warmth. Image Credit: Biamillah Jaya‚ Shutterstock Do Cats Sometimes Avoid People After Giving Birth? Yes. Queens can be less interested in interacting with their favorite people in the period immediately after giving birth‚ but things usually get back to normal within a few weeks. Do I Need to Worry About Socializing the Kittens? Yes‚ but not right away! Socialization is the process of exposing kittens to new experiences and getting them used to being handled by and comfortable around people. The prime kitten socialization period is generally when they’re between 2 and 7 weeks old‚ but you may need to wait longer before getting started. When Should Kittens Have Their First Veterinary Checkup? Kittens and queens should be seen by a veterinarian just to make sure everything is moving in the right direction. Give your veterinarian a call soon after your cat gives birth and advise them of the situation; they can provide you with specific advice about the best time to schedule a check up for the queen and her kittens. Conclusion There’s usually not much that owners need to do immediately after their cat has given birth. Queens take care of all their babies’ needs for the first month or so after they’re born. They provide food and warmth and help their kittens stay clean and go to the bathroom. Most mothers prefer humans to keep their distance from newborn kittens. Veterinarians advise pet parents to minimize the time spent handling kittens until they’re at least a few weeks old to prevent mother cats from becoming stressed and rejecting their kittens. Sources https://www.cats.org.uk/help-and-advice/pregnancy-and-kitten-care/after-birth https://www.cats.org.uk/help-and-advice/pregnancy-and-kitten-care/care-of-newborn-kittens https://vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/mastitis-in-cats https://vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/socialization-and-fear-prevention-in-kittens https://www.msdvetmanual.com/cat-owners/reproductive-disorders-of-cats/reproductive-disorders-of-female-cats Featured Image Credit: Akhmad Sopiyan‚ Shutterstock The post My Cat Just Had Kittens‚ What Do I Do? Vet-Approved Guide appeared first on Pet Keen.

If you’re considering adding a pet hamster to your family‚ you may wonder about the animal’s sleeping patterns. These little rodents can make excellent pets and are often a child’s first pet. Hamsters are a terrific starting point to get your child acclimated to caring for an animal‚ and you’ll need to know how to care for the hamster properly. New hamster owners generally have questions about when and how long they sleep. To answer this question‚ hamsters sleep up to 8 hours per day during the daytime. Why Do Hamsters Sleep During the Day? Hamsters in captivity are crepuscular‚ meaning they are most active from dusk to dawn and sleep during the day. Once the sun goes down‚ your hamster will come to life. However‚ they typically do not sleep straight through; hamsters have multiple sleep-wake patterns throughout the sleep cycle. You often won’t see your hamster sleeping because they do this while you’re active and going about your day. In the wild‚ hamsters are prey animals‚ and they must avoid predation. However‚ hamsters in the wild have been shown to be diurnal (awake and foraging through the early and late daylight hours)‚ which is different to their relatives in captivity.1 Scientists aren’t sure why this is‚ but it’s an interesting finding. Image Credit: IRINA ORLOVA‚ Shutterstock What if My Hamster Sleeps More Than 8 Hours a Day? If your hamster sleeps upwards of 10 to 14 hours per day‚ a trip to your veterinarian is warranted to ensure they’re not sick. Hamsters will sleep more often if in pain or generally not feeling well‚ and it’s best to have your hamster checked out. Aging hamsters will sleep more‚ but it could be an underlying medical problem‚ too. Noise and distractions like dogs barking‚ TV‚ talking and shouting‚ doorbells‚ etc. can keep your hamster up during the day‚ making them sleep more than usual. The enclosure should be kept in a quiet room‚ and it’s important not to leave the lights on at night. Just because your hamster is awake doesn’t mean they need lights to see. The enclosure should mimic nature as much as possible‚ which means keeping the room dim or dark at night when they are most active. If your hamster really is sleeping more than it usually does‚ it could be that it is entering a state of torpor. Torpor is described as “a state of lowered body temperature and metabolic activity assumed by many animals in response to adverse environmental conditions”. It is similar to hibernation‚ but the animal wakes periodically to eat and drink. Hamsters in captivity shouldn’t need to enter this state‚ so ensure you are feeding them adequately and that they aren’t too cold. If you place the cage in a warmer area (over 50℉)‚ your hamster should start to come out of torpor. How to Properly Care for a Hamster Before bringing a hamster home‚ it’s best to familiarize yourself with the essential requirements to take care of the hamster properly. They are not too demanding; as long as you feed them well-balanced commercial hamster pellets‚ timothy hay‚ and fruits and vegetables and provide an adequate enclosure with all the necessities‚ your hamster can live a healthy life. Keep in mind that hamsters have a short lifespan of 2 to 3 years with proper care. The enclosure or cage should be of adequate size so that your hamster has plenty of room to roam. In the wild‚ hamsters love to run‚ and providing an exercise wheel is an excellent way for your hamster to get exercise. Ensure you place a few hideaways in the enclosure to give your hamster somewhere to retreat to‚ a deep bed for your hamster to burrow through‚ and don’t forget to provide fresh drinking water 24/7. Image Credit: HASPhotos‚ Shutterstock Final Thoughts Hamsters are fun little rodents that can be kept as pets‚ but one thing to remember is they are active while you’re sleeping‚ and odds are you won’t see them at their most active‚ unless you’re a night owl. Here’s a bit of advice: if you want a hamster you can interact with‚ go with a Syrian hamster‚ particularly if you have children. Although they will mostly sleep through the day‚ they are much more amenable to being handled when they are awake than the dwarf breeds‚ and are not quite as quick or easily damaged as the smaller ones. Sources https://be.chewy.com/hamster-sleep-schedule/ https://www.petmd.com/exotic/care/evr_ex_hm_how-to-care-for-your-hamster https://www.britannica.com/science/torpor https://www.vets4pets.com/pet-health-advice/small-pet-advice/hamster-hibernation/ Featured Image Credit: Alex Milan‚ Shutterstock The post When &; How Long Do Hamsters Sleep For? Vet-Verified Care Facts appeared first on Pet Keen.

Beet Pickled Eggs are so easy to make and a wonderful addition to any holiday table. We especially love them for Easter! If you love these eggs you will want to try out these delicious Zucchini Refrigerator Pickles. They are so easy to make and a wonderful summer treat! ❤️WHY WE LOVE THIS RECIPE We...

As more and more Americans find ways to work for themselves‚ the government is doing everything in its power to make that nearly impossible. Under the Corporate Transparency Act‚ small-business owners with fewer than 20 employees and less than $5 million in revenue will be forced to register with FinCEN — or face fines and potential jail time. In addition to the new act‚ the U.S. Department of Labor has issued a final rule that will force companies to treat some workers as employees rather than less expensive independent contractors. The rule is expected to increase labor costs‚ which would put more than 70 million American freelancers' work in serious jeopardy. “It’s a big country‚ and there’s exceptions to every rule‚ but the number of people who were adversely affected prior to this versus the number of people who have now lost the freedom to work the way they want is mind boggling‚” Mike Rowe of "Dirty Jobs" tells Glenn Beck. “You want to set your own schedule? Forget it. You want to eat what you kill? Forget it‚” he adds. Glenn is infuriated. “There’s no opportunity‚ none‚ to actually become something because the government has you so pigeonholed‚ and people just accept it‚” Glenn says‚ adding‚ “I don’t want to live in that kind of country.” To hear more‚ watch the clip below. Want more from Glenn Beck?To enjoy more of Glenn’s masterful storytelling‚ thought-provoking analysis‚ and uncanny ability to make sense of the chaos‚ subscribe to BlazeTV — the largest multi-platform network of voices who love America‚ defend the Constitution‚ and live the American dream.

A Minnesota school district stated "there will be conflicts" in response to cellphone video showing at least two students beating up a lone student at one of its middle schools — and observers were not happy with the district's words. — (@) Libs of TikTok got the video from X channel CrimeWatchMpls‚ which stated that the physical attack took place at Eagle Ridge Middle School in the city of Savage‚ which is about 20 minutes south of Minneapolis."We're told this assault on a student by several others took place on Friday‚" CrimeWatchMpls noted in its Saturday post‚ adding that the school is part of the @ISD191 Burnsville-Eagan-Savage School District.The Daily Mail reported that it reached out to the Savage Police Department and Eagle Ridge Middle School for comment‚ noting that police confirmed they did not receive any report about the incident.As for the school district‚ a Facebook user asked a question about the attack‚ and the district had the following to say:Violent behavior is absolutely unacceptable at Eagle Ridge and all District 191 schools. When this incident occurred‚ staff intervened immediately and nearby students took appropriate actions so that the incident didn’t escalate‚ and it ended quickly. School administration has investigated‚ and will follow school policies and procedures for student behavior as outlined in the student handbook. As always‚ we can't share private student data.Unfortunately‚ in a school with hundreds of teens and pre-teens‚ there will be some conflicts. Our goal as educators is to make sure students know what's expected and that they have the skills and support to manage those conflicts peacefully and productively so everyone has the safe learning environment they deserve.'There will be some conflicts'To say folks weren't pleased about the district's response is an understatement:"How was this 'a conflict‚'" one Facebook commenter wondered."THIS. THIS is a serious red flag when coming from a SCHOOL‚" an X user stated. "If it is so bad that you're blaming the fact that teens are wild‚ then DO BETTER! Get more security‚ and make teachers and staff stand in hall doorways on between classes‚ AND make discipline quick and unpleasant.""Their definition of conflict is a lot different than mine‚" another X commenter said."This isn’t 'normal teen conflict.' We all went to high school &; saw fights. These are wild animal gang beatings &; this isn’t the 1st time‚" another X commenter stated. "Teens &; preteens have gotten the msg re: our state’s impotence in terms of [law enforcement]‚ crime‚ &; punishment. Now preteens [are] DEFIANT ...""LOL that was not conflict‚" another X commenter said. "It was a kid getting jumped. Nobody stepping in to help him.""Didn’t look like conflict to me!" another X commenter opined. "Looked like a hate crime.""Conflict??? A mob of students attacked ONE kid. That’s not conflict‚" another X commenter declared. "What a crock!!!"Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors‚ sign up for our newsletters‚ and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

Former CNN host Don Lemon sparred with owner of the X platform and entrepreneur Elon Musk over alleged hate speech on the app‚ which Lemon said is need of content moderation.Lemon launched a talk show across most social media platforms after being fired from CNN in 2023. The first episode of "The Don Lemon Show" featured and interview with Musk inside a Tesla manufacturing plant.After discussing Tesla and pressing Musk on who he will support in the 2024 presidential election‚ Lemon began a lengthy segment endorsing the idea that X is in desperate need of content moderation."These are just a handful of extremely ... anti-Semitic and racist tropes and tweets‚ and as of this morning they're still on X‚" Lemon said‚ while showing Musk printouts of offensive memes of varying degrees."We delete things if they are illegal‚" Musk replied."But these have been up there for a while‚" Lemon came back."Are they illegal?" Musk asked."They're not illegal‚ but they're hateful and they can lead to violence‚" Lemon decried‚ showcasing the crux of most of the former network anchor's argument. Lemon then cited studies purporting to show an increase in "hate speech" on X — which Musk refuted — and argued with the billionaire at length as to why the platform should have stricter controls on speech.Musk took Lemon's remarks as an advocacy for censorship."So‚ Don‚ you love censorship is what you're saying‚" Musk asserted."No‚ I don't love censorship. I believe in moderation‚ but I don't believe in censorship‚" Lemon stated."Moderation is a propaganda word for censorship. ... If something's illegal we're going to take it down‚ if it's not illegal‚ then we're putting our thumb on the scale and we're being censors‚" the SpaceX operator explained. Don Lemon wasn't interviewing Elon Musk; he was just promoting the mainstream media propaganda.\n\n\ud83d\udcf9 youtube/thedonlemonshow — (@) Lemon attempted to connect online "hate speech" to mass shooters across the world and the "great replacement theory‚" which he called a "Jewish conspiracy." Lemon complained that conspiracy theories have perpetuated on X‚ again due to a lack of content moderation.Just when it seemed the two were going to move on from the topic‚ Musk reiterated that Lemon was advocating for censorship outside United States laws."You want censorship‚ and I don't‚" Musk insisted. "No‚ I don't want censorship; I want responsibility‚" Lemon attempted to explain."You desperately want censorship‚" Musk retorted. "You want censorship so bad you can taste it. ... We have a responsibility to adhere to the law‚ and if people want the law changed‚ they should talk their elected representative and get the law changed‚ and then we will adhere to the law." "You want censorship and I don't‚" @elonmusk tells @donlemon over and over he doesn't want censorship and believes in free speech in accordance with the law -\n\nLemon continuously rewords it as 'moderation': — (@) Lemon's new show was originally supposed to be an X-backed show‚ as part of a new lineup that included sports host Jim Rome and former Democratic Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (Hawaii). However‚ Lemon reported that their deal had been squashed by Musk just hours after their sit-down was recorded.Soon thereafter‚ it was reported that Lemon had made incredible requests as part of his contract‚ which included a podcast in outer space via SpaceX‚ a Tesla Cybertruck‚ a $5 million advance on an $8 million salary‚ and equity in the X platform.Agent Jay Sures from the United Talent Agency told the New York Post that the allegations were "absolute‚ complete utter nonsense without an iota of truth to it."X declined to comment on the details of the partnership.Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors‚ sign up for our newsletters‚ and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

The U.S. Supreme Court heard oral arguments Monday concerning whether the Biden administration violated the Constitution when it ostensibly leaned on social media companies to censor and suppress Americans' protected free speech in the interest of advancing preferred narratives during the pandemic and in the years since. The Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals agreed last year with a district court's assessment that there was ample evidence of a "coordinated campaign" of unprecedented "magnitude orchestrated by federal officials that jeopardized a fundamental aspect of American life." Displeased with the courts' characterization of its censorship efforts as both problematic and unlawful‚ and altogether keen to keep it up‚ the Biden administration now seeks a favorable result from the high court. Quick overview Liberal justices were especially resistant Monday to the notion that the Biden administration had engaged in unlawful coercion. Justice Elena Kagan expressed skepticism over there being demonstrable causation between the Biden administration's pressure campaign and the clamp-down on speech that ultimately occurred online during the pandemic. Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson appeared to regard the administration's actions as a matter of persuasion contra coercion and shared hypothetical situations where censorship resulting from state pressure on private actors might supposedly be in the interest of the public good. Justice Sonia Sotomayor suggested that Louisiana Solicitor General Benjamin Aguiñaga‚ arguing on behalf of the plaintiffs‚ distorted key facts in his brief. Even nominally conservative judges did not altogether appear convinced by the arguments against the Biden administration. On the whole‚ it does not appear the chances are great that the injunction granted by the Fifth Circuit and stayed by the Supreme Court will be reinstated. Background The states of Missouri and Louisiana were joined by other plaintiffs‚ including the coauthors of the Great Barrington Declaration‚ Drs. Jay Bhattacharya and Martin Kulldorff‚ in taking legal action against President Joe Biden‚ White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre‚ Anthony Fauci‚ and various Biden administration officials. The case‚ Missouri v. Biden — now called Murthy v. Missouri before the high court — came about in response to the Democratic administration's well-documented efforts to shut down critics and questioners of its COVID-19 policies and preferred narratives during the pandemic. U.S. District Judge Terry A. Doughty issued a preliminary injunction in July 2023‚ barring Biden administration officials from engaging social media companies regarding "the removal‚ deletion‚ suppression‚ or reduction of content containing protected free speech posted on social-media platforms." Blaze News previously reported that Doughty made clear in his ruling that the Biden administration "used its power to silence the opposition. Opposition to COVID-19 vaccines; opposition to COVID-19 masking and lockdowns; opposition to the lab-leak theory of COVID-19; opposition to the validity of the 2020 election; opposition to President Biden's policies; statements that the Hunter Biden laptop story was true; and opposition to policies of the government officials in power." "All were suppressed‚" wrote Doughty. "It is quite telling that each example or category of suppressed speech was conservative in nature. This targeted suppression of conservative ideas is a perfect example of viewpoint discrimination of political speech." The Biden DOJ filed an appeal but had its hopes dashed by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit in September‚ which largely upheld Doughty's ruling. In October‚ the Fifth Circuit went a step further‚ expanding the injunction to include the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency‚ noting that "for many of the same reasons as the FBI and the CDC‚ CISA also likely violated the First Amendment." The U.S. Supreme Court stayed the Fifth Circuit's order later that month‚ allowing the Biden administration to resume its practice of having American citizens' speech online censored and suppressed. The high court granted a review of the case by writ of certiorari. The Biden administration maintains that public officials should be able to "inform‚ to persuade and to criticize" social media platforms. House Judiciary Committee Chair Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) suggested in the amicus brief he and 44 other lawmakers filed with the Supreme Court supporting the plaintiffs that "this official coercion has undermined the marketplace of ideas on issues of public importance ranging from COVID to federal elections to Biden family misdeeds." Persuasion version coercion Brian Fletcher‚ the principal deputy solicitor general for the Biden administration‚ opened up oral arguments Monday by striking a distinction between governmental coercion and persuasion. Fletcher suggested the Biden administration‚ when coordinating with social media companies to cure an approved narrative online and suppress dissenting opinions‚ was engaging in persuasion‚ not outright coercion — which he defined as "adverse government action." Justice Samuel Alito‚ who appeared uncertain the Biden administration had been on the "persuasion side" of things‚ alluded to emails‚ meetings‚ and the general appearance of collusion between Biden administration officials and social media company personnel‚ saying‚ "I cannot imagine federal officials taking that approach to the print media‚ representatives over there. If you did that to them‚ what would the reaction be?" Fletcher maintained that the back-and-forth and "language of partnership" between the Biden administration and social media platforms was not "unusual‚" insinuating the companies were big enough to resist the government's influence. He further likened the effort by the Biden administration's supposed persuasion efforts during the pandemic to the efforts by lawmakers in recent months to persuade colleges to deal with anti-Semitism on campus after the Oct. 7 Hamas terror attacks. Alito suggested that in the case of social media companies‚ the government has "Section 230 in its pocket‚" referencing a section of the Title 47 of the United States Code that protects social media companies from lawsuits over the content that appears on its sites. With "these big clubs available to it‚" Alito said the government has been "treating Facebook and these other platforms like its subordinates." Justice Neil Gorsuch similarly noted that potential threats on the part of government officials to reform Section 230‚ might constitute coercion just as accusations — such as Biden's — that social media companies' failure to change their policies are "killing people" could be interpreted in the absence of desirable outcomes on the platform as threats of imminent adverse government action. While Justice Brett Kavanaugh indicated it is "not uncommon" for government officials to caution traditional media to run with a story that may put Americans at risk‚ he added that persuasion becomes "problematic" if the state tacks on‚ "and if you publish the story we're going to pursue antitrust action against you." The discussion shifted from whether the government was coercive to whether it had in fact engaged in coercion. Justice Alito zeroed in on the case of one of the plaintiffs‚ Jill Hines‚ co-director of the conservative Health Freedom Louisiana group‚ whose criticism of mask wearing was suppressed on Facebook. Alito noted that two lower courts found that the injury in this case "was traceable to the government's actions." Fletcher agreed it amounted to an injury but suggested both courts were wrong in observing traceability to the government. Justice Elena Kagan later suggested that the case could be axed by saying the plaintiffs were not entitled to an injunction because they could not demonstrate an imminent threat of future harm. Kagan expressed a strong skepticism of causation‚ suggesting the censorship may have been solely a private decision — that Facebook and Twitter acted on their own volition‚ despite all of the Biden administration's urging. Louisiana Solicitor General Benjamin Aguiñaga countered that it is clear from the communications between the Biden administration and social media platforms that there was "unrelenting government pressure." After the White House "went nuclear" on social media platforms‚ Aguiñaga said the companies began reversing course on their own policies — "an example of platforms moving beyond what their own policies require." "Pressuring platforms in back rooms‚ shielded from public view‚ is not using a bully pulpit‚" said Aguiñaga. "That's just being a bully." Aguiñaga underscored that while the government is welcome to persuade companies‚ it "cannot induce‚ encourage or promote" private parties to do what the Constitution does not permit itself to do directly. Justice Clarence Thomas asked whether the government working with private actors to remove content would violate the First Amendment in the manner that direct coercion does. Aguiñaga responded‚ "Regardless of the means that the government tries to use to pressure the platforms to commit censorship against third parties‚ the Constitution really doesn't care about that. It's the fact that what the government is trying to accomplish is the suppression of speech." Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson suggested there were various situations in which the government could weigh in and encourage or require censorship. She provided an example of a social media challenge that's getting kids killed — a situation that is a "health emergency." Aguiñaga made the case that the government can lean on social media companies to amplify its own narrative but cannot lean on them to remove undesirable speech. "Nothing prohibits the government from going to [a social media] platform and saying‚ 'We've seen a lot of false information about election activity‚ and COVID and vaccines and the like‚'" said Aguiñaga. "Nothing prohibits the government from saying‚ 'Here's a list of everything we say is true‚ [or] that is true in our view. And you should amplify our speech‚ and anytime that false speech arises‚ you should put our post right there next to it saying this is the government's view on this issue.'" Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors‚ sign up for our newsletters‚ and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

Just when you think the world can’t possibly get any crazier‚ an article by New Scientist comes out claiming that we need to revisit the stigma surrounding cannibalism. Yes‚ cannibalism — the practice of eating the flesh of one’s own species (and the subject of many horror films‚ we’ll add). The article’s title alone is enough to send chills down your spine: “Is it time for a more subtle view on the ultimate taboo: Cannibalism?” “This push to destigmatize everything is just a result of moral relativism‚” the idea that “the only bad is saying something is bad‚” says Allie Beth Stuckey‚ adding that this is just “godless rot.” The article attempts to soften the horrors of cannibalism by citing “new archaeological evidence” suggesting that “ancient humans ate each other surprisingly often — sometimes for compassionate reasons.” “It's one thing if you were able to read the old papyrus and it said‚ ‘We are eating each other surprisingly often‚”’ laughs Allie. “Then I could see how you could deduce that ... but how is archeology showing you that?” The text also stated that “ethically‚ cannibalism poses fewer issues than you might imagine. If a body can be bequeathed with consent to medical science‚ why can’t it be left to feed the hungry?” It then went on to throw subtle shade on Western religion — “aka Christianity‚” clarifies Allie. “Perhaps it is down to the fact that‚ in Western religious traditions‚ bodies are seen as the seat of the soul and have a whiff of the sacred. Or maybe it is culturally ingrained‚ with roots in early modern colonialism‚ when racist stereotypes of the cannibal were concocted to justify subjugation.” From there‚ the article only grew in its radicalism: “Cannibalism is an important part of our story.” “These discoveries invite us to reconsider our revulsion to cannibalism in the context of our evolutionary past.” “Understanding its deep roots might shift our perspective on the few cultures that still practice cannibalism today.” To hear Allie’s biblical take on the article‚ watch the clip below. Want more from Allie Beth Stuckey?To enjoy more of Allie’s upbeat and in-depth coverage of culture‚ news‚ and theology from a Christian‚ conservative perspective‚ subscribe to BlazeTV — the largest multi-platform network of voices who love America‚ defend the Constitution‚ and live the American dream.

Make no mistake about it: The corporate media's latest stunt misrepresenting Donald Trump is an overt insult to your intelligence.At a campaign rally in Ohio last week‚ Trump dared utter the word "bloodbath." Regardless of the economic context in which Trump used the word — referring to the auto industry and jobs and what he believes will happen economically if he loses the 2024 election — the legacy media suggested in near-unison that Trump was threatening political violence.But he wasn't‚ and the media know that. — (@) Yet pearl-clutching journalists and opportunist Democrats pushed the claim anyway‚ which raises the question: Was this an instance of media malpractice or something more sinister?That the media pushed an easily disprovable narrative suggests they do not believe Americans are capable of accessing or even understanding the wider context of Trump's remarks. Even worse‚ their insistence that Trump was threatening political violence suggests they do not believe that Americans‚ most of whom are native English speakers‚ intuitively understand the semantic range of the word "bloodbath." Finally‚ using headlines to push their narrative suggests they believe Americans are easily manipulated and will believe whatever their headlines say.In sum: The media pushing a unified narrative about Trump's use of the word "bloodbath" suggests they believe you are too stupid to realize Trump was not threatening political violence.The media also conveniently ignore the fact that Trump did use "bloodbath" in a way the dictionary allows‚ MSNBC host Rachel Maddow recently used the word "bloodbath" on air‚ and President Joe Biden himself has used "bloodbath" before‚ too. Where was the outrage then?Ironically‚ the media are only helping Trump and hurting themselves.Aside from the fact that Americans most care about their pocketbooks‚ the education of their children‚ and the safety of their communities — not Trump's campaign-rally rhetoric — the media's latest lie about Trump only further erodes their relationship with the American people. It's no wonder‚ then‚ why the public trust in the legacy media remains near record lows.Importantly‚ the journalistic sin here is not only what the media did‚ but what they didn't do.Interpreting Donald Trump in the worst way possible — granting him not even a hint of charity — is one problem. But it's a totally different problem that the media refused to interact with the substance of Trump's speech‚ which included his seeming endorsement of a 100% tariff on Chinese-manufactured vehicles. Reporting on and offering analysis of that policy is the job of the media‚ and they failed to meet their task. The end result is that voters are left less informed and without the necessary context to help them analyze whether that policy would be wise or disastrous for American interests.At National Review‚ Jeff Blehar perfectly sums up the problem and what happened here:[The media] really just can’t help themselves on a fundamental level‚ can they? A school of like-minded fish smelled “bloodbath” in the water and the feeding frenzy began. It will be forgotten tomorrow. But the problem is that the media aren’t feeding on Trump‚ as they seem to believe; they’re feeding on themselves‚ eating away at their reputations and ability to persuade. Each such example makes whatever it is that they think they’re doing — advocating Biden’s reelection or‚ I don’t know‚ just reporting the truth without an obviously partisan slant — less possible. When journalists lament about the death of public trust in their profession‚ what they fail to understand is that it wasn’t a murder. It was a suicide — and a death by a thousand cuts‚ at that.Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors‚ sign up for our newsletters‚ and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

Pfizer has admitted to a chemical spill into the Kalamazoo River‚ which prompted local authorities to issue a no-contact advisory for the river in Kalamazoo‚ Michigan. Government health agencies have declared the chemical involved in the spill to be a possible carcinogen and potentially deadly in high doses. However‚ Pfizer has said that it does "not anticipate any health risks."Pfizer notified the Kalamazoo Department of Public Services about the chemical spill around 4:30 p.m. on March 12. The pharmaceutical giant revealed that it had leaked an estimated 1‚057 gallons of methylene chloride within the process area of the company's manufacturing plant in Kalamazoo. The city of Kalamazoo said in a statement‚ "An unknown amount of the colorless liquid was discharged into a dedicated sanitary sewer serving Pfizer‚ which then flows to the Kalamazoo Water Reclamation Plant (KWRP) for treatment."The city noted that the Kalamazoo Water Reclamation Plant can only treat up to 291 gallons of methylene chloride per day. Local officials issued a no-contact advisory for the Kalamazoo River. "At this time‚ the Kalamazoo County Health &; Community Services Department‚ in cooperation with the City of Kalamazoo Department of Public Services‚ are advising all persons to avoid contact with the Kalamazoo River from Paterson Street Bridge in the city of Kalamazoo to the D Ave Bridge in Cooper Township‚" said the statement from county and city officials. Jim Rutherford‚ Kalamazoo County health officer‚ said‚ "This advisory will remain in effect until further investigation‚ and sampling indicates that there is no risk to public health."Pfizer asserted‚ "Given the amount of the discharge and controls in place‚ we do not anticipate any health risks.""Pfizer will continue to work with the City of Kalamazoo and is firmly committed to assessing and minimizing any potential impacts on human health‚ the environment‚ and the communities in which it operates‚" the pharmaceutical company stated. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention‚ "Methylene chloride (CH2Cl2) is a colorless liquid that can harm the eyes‚ skin‚ liver‚ and heart. Exposure can cause drowsiness‚ dizziness‚ numbness and tingling limbs‚ and nausea. It may cause cancer. Severe exposure can cause loss of consciousness and death."Besides being used in pharmaceutical manufacturing‚ methylene chloride is found in paint strippers‚ metal cleaners‚ adhesives‚ and lubricants. According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration‚ 17 American workers died while using methylene chloride paint-stripping products to refinish bathtubs between 2000 and 2015.OSHA considers methylene chloride to be a potential occupational carcinogen.The Environmental Protection Agency classifies methylene chloride as a "toxic waste when a discarded commercial chemical product or manufacturing chemical intermediate or an off-specification commercial chemical product or manufacturing chemical intermediate."The Kalamazoo location is Pfizer's largest pharmaceutical manufacturing plant‚ according to the company.The 1‚300-acre facility manufactures active pharmaceutical ingredients‚ drug products‚ and medical devices. Each year‚ the Kalamazoo facility produces 1‚200 metric tons of products. Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors‚ sign up for our newsletters‚ and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here! Pfizer assures no health risks after methylene chloride spill in Kalamazoo www.youtube.com