I must begin with a confession: I’m guilty. I’m a misuser of authority. Jonathan Leeman’s book Authority: How Godly Rule Protects the Vulnerable‚ Strengthens Communities‚ and Promotes Human Flourishing begins with a similar confession. Leeman writes‚ “Here is an unassailable fact: To some degree‚ you and I have misused our authority by lording it over others” (xvi). He confesses not only that has he misused authority but that apart from the grace of God‚ he’ll continue to do so. We’ve all used our authority to serve ourselves for our own purposes and gain. Here’s another unassailable fact: to some degree‚ you and I have been sinned against when others have lorded their authority over us. What hope is there for those of us who have misused authority or had it misused against us? This is an important question for our day. Leeman is a man under authority who seeks to steward authority well as he manages several roles. He’s editorial director for 9Marks‚ cohost of the Pastors Talk podcast‚ an elder at Cheverly Baptist Church‚ a husband‚ and a father. In Authority‚ Leeman gives an understanding of both good and bad authority. He seeks to equip those in various domains to carefully steward their gifts of authority. His work reflects a strong biblical argument for what God-given authority is and gives numerous illustrations from his experiences in these realms. Good and Bad Authority Leeman defines authority as a “moral license to make decisions or give commands” (27). But what is good authority? It’s life-giving. For those who are under it and those who exercise it‚ it pushes both to mature in the Lord. It creates groups with a purpose. Good authority teaches about God’s immanence and his transcendence because of the healthy boundaries it sets. Fundamentally‚ good authority is submitted to God. It’s sacrificial‚ truthful‚ just‚ merciful‚ and compassionate. Good authority is sacrificial‚ truthful‚ just‚ merciful‚ and compassionate. In reading Leeman’s description of good authority‚ I longed to experience it and to share it with others. I had to stop and consider‚ Where do I see this in my own life? Do I recognize it when I live under it? Unfortunately‚ experiencing good authority is probably more of an exception than a norm in the post-fall world. Bad authority longs to be “like God‚” ruling next to him or replacing him instead of submitting to him (Gen. 3:5). Leeman describes bad authority as playing God in his omniscience‚ omnipotence‚ righteousness‚ and glory. Good authority can quickly turn into bad authority. For example‚ complementarian theology describes differences in authority; the temptation exists for those with greater authority—pastors‚ husbands‚ parents‚ and so on—to use those differences for their own selfish ends. Using Leeman’s approach‚ we should be asking ourselves‚ “Am I avoiding counsel? Am I seeking control? Am I trusting in myself? Am I demanding to be honored?” None of these qualities should be present in an authority that seeks to complement those in their care. If we use Leeman’s approach as a tool for self-reflection it offers guardrails against abuses. Limits of Authority The other side of authority is submission to authority. Leeman writes that submission involves “deferring by moral constraint to another person’s judgment and deploying your resources for the sake of fulfilling that person’s judgments” (65). The world sometimes recoils at the idea of submission because it’s conceived as nothing short of being a doormat. But Leeman argues submission isn’t dehumanizing or infantilizing—it doesn’t remove agency but rather trains toward growth. Submission isn’t demeaning‚ because human authority isn’t absolute. There are boundaries that preserve our dignity as image-bearers. Leeman outlines three situations where we’re not required to submit: (1) when an authority figure requires us to sin‚ (2) when an authority figure requires us to do something God has not authorized that particular authority figure to require‚ and (3) when an authority is acting to wrongly harm us (see 77–79). These limits offer a strong defense against the abuse of authority. Leeman also provides a taxonomy to encourage much-needed nuance when discussing authority. Authority comes in two distinct types: authority of command and authority of counsel. Both have the “right to issue directives that bind the conscience‚” but only the authority of command has the right to enforce it (156). Submission isn’t demeaning‚ because human authority isn’t absolute. There are boundaries that preserve our dignity as image-bearers. Leeman limits the authority of command to parents‚ the state‚ and the church. Though the type of authority may be common‚ parents‚ the state‚ and the church each have different spheres of authority and permissible means of enforcement. For example‚ a local congregation may use exclusion as a means of spiritual discipline but not physical coercion. And the authority of parents transitions to counsel as children mature. Leeman carefully explains each aspect of authority‚ with emphasis on the limits of authority and the appropriate attitude for enforcing commands. Husbands and pastors‚ though‚ are only given the authority to counsel. The authority of counsel “follows a gospel logic. . . . It doesn’t use force‚ but renounces force because doing so displays the beauty of whatever compels . . . new desires” (164). This is an important distinction in light of the real and potential abuses that occur when husbands and pastors take up the authority of command that isn’t theirs to wield. Pastors‚ for example‚ are given the authority to teach Scripture and oversee the congregation; they have no right to extend their authority where Scripture is silent. Submission and Equality God has placed us in a world where we are called to submit to governing authorities (Rom. 13:1)‚ human institutions (1 Pet. 2:13)‚ and the leaders of our churches (Heb. 13:17)‚ among others. The weak tend to suffer most in a world that lacks suitable authority and where that authority is abused. The world is a better place when authority is in place and is exercised within appropriate limits. There are fierce debates raging within churches‚ denominations‚ and our nation about these limits especially as they relate to the concept of equality. “Equality” has largely positive connotations in our culture. But Leeman proposes that‚ just as there are good and bad versions of authority‚ there are good and bad versions of equality. Bad equality “seeks to level all hierarchies because the self’s sense of the self is rooted in the self and can therefore tolerate few externally imposed limitations” (258). In contrast‚ good equality “delights in difference‚ trusting that every God-assigned distinction possesses purpose and contributes to the countless refractions of his glory” (259). Differences can exist in authority because all serve God who holds all authorities accountable. Leeman’s arguments about equality challenge us to think about areas where we may be demanding sameness under the guise of justice. In some cases‚ we may be pushing back against God-ordained authority structures. Simply by existing in this world‚ we have responsibilities to exercise authority and to submit to others. We don’t have the option to ignore the debates. Authority offers wisdom to navigate through them. In a world dominated by stories of abuse of authority‚ Leeman offers a reflective‚ balanced approach to a challenging topic. He helps show how distinctions between types of authority and the roles of those who have it are necessary to encourage flourishing relationships.

I won a new iPhone. Well‚ that’s what I thought when I opened up TikTok one night and saw MrBeast‚ the most popular YouTuber in history‚ saying I was one of 10‚000 lucky winners. Sound like a scam? That’s because it is. And yet‚ since MrBeast is known for giving money away‚ it’s just real enough to be believable. According to MrBeast‚ this was a scam seen by “lots of people.” Someone created a realistic deepfake video of MrBeast without his consent and ran it as a TikTok ad to scam tens of thousands of people. This has also happened to celebrities Tom Hanks and Gayle King‚ as well as political figures like Barack Obama. Deepfakes have been around for a while‚ but this is likely the first time that multiple deepfakes were created with the explicit intention to deceive and served by a social media algorithm to mass audiences. Unfortunately‚ AI-powered deepfake technology will only become more convincing with time. This trend should be of particular concern for Christians and the church. However‚ the embodied community of the local church offers a ready solution to this growing problem. Eroding Digital Trust What if someone wanted to harm your church by having a pastor or a prominent Christian say something outrageous and out of character? Or what if you’re a business leader or a parent and someone wants to put words in your mouth to ruin your career or your relationship with your child? The embodied community of the local church offers a ready solution to this growing problem of deepfake technology. Many pastors post their sermons online for the benefit of their congregations and as a means of outreach. Though few pastors have as large a digital footprint as an online influencer like MrBeast‚ many have enough videos and podcasts to train AI to create a believable fake. It’s already easy to edit videos to take comments out of context and unfairly reframe what someone is saying. Deepfake technology could make it seem like someone is teaching heresy or supporting a position he abhors. The inverse problem is also troubling: What if a pastor or Christian teacher says something awful online that disqualifies him from ministry‚ but he denies the charge by calling it a deepfake or altering the footage? Everything we post online becomes data that makes it possible to create more accurate deepfakes. Meanwhile‚ the technology used to create realistic fakes is only getting better and less expensive––and harder to detect. Until recently‚ video was one of the most reliable ways to know if something was real or not. You couldn’t fake or deny video footage. But the world is quickly changing. After enough high-profile deepfake stories‚ our epistemic crisis will get even worse. We’re losing one of the last verifiable sources of information‚ which means we’re losing another way to build societal trust. Focus on Epistemic Discipleship “How do I know something?” has always been a philosophically challenging question‚ but until now‚ most people were happy to leave it to the philosophers. We must actively instill a Christian approach to knowledge if we want to resist the twin pitfalls of naivety and cynicism. A society that can’t trust what they see or read on the internet––the ubiquitous source of information and opinions––may become suspicious of everything. Doubt will become easier to sustain than belief in the trustworthiness of the Bible or the historical doctrines of Christianity. We’re already seeing younger generations‚ flooded with more information and opinions than they can evaluate‚ becoming increasingly suspicious of authority. On the surface‚ deepfakes might seem like just another way to scam folks out of a few dollars. But as this technology develops‚ we’ll see the little trust we have left in each other erode. One response is to withdraw further and further into isolation‚ retreating from the world and becoming trapped in an ever-greater individualism. A better solution is found in authentic Christian community. The author of Hebrews closely associates confidence in the faith and unwavering confession of hope in Christ with gathering together as the body of Christ. As trust in digital relationships crumbles‚ we mustn’t neglect to meet together in our local congregations to encourage each other all the more (Heb. 10:19–25). Invest in Meaningful Community With institutional trust at a historic low‚ individualism at an all-time high‚ and the counterfeit institution of social media being drained of the little trust it has‚ what does this mean for the church? It means we’re going back to the future. The church must remember that the most verifiably trustworthy thing we have outside of God and his Word is the flesh-and-blood relationships we share. Deepfakes will bring new challenges to the church. They’ll also bring incredible opportunities to our doorsteps. Many things won’t be considered trustworthy if we can’t see them with our own unmediated eyes. The value of trustworthy‚ personal relationships will skyrocket. As trust in digital relationships crumbles‚ we mustn’t neglect to meet together in our local congregations to encourage each other all the more. We need to invest in the health and longevity of our local churches. We need thick relational webs that digital refugees‚ removed from their communities by algorithmically incentivized individualism‚ can step into and find a home where they’re seen‚ cared for‚ and equipped for life. We need pastors who are involved in caring for their congregants. And we need congregants who develop meaningful communities and invite others into them. In the next decade‚ our greatest apologetic may not be the arguments we make but the relationships we form. Maybe they always were.

Read “And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying‚ “Glory to God in the highest‚ and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!” (Luke 2:12–14) Reflect Between 1914 and 1918‚ Europe was decimated by the worst war in human history. So horrific was it that people wistfully referred to it as “the war to end all wars.” Little did they know that‚ within a few decades‚ this period of carnage would have to be renamed “World War I” to distinguish it from an even bloodier conflict. Ever since sin entered the world‚ peace has been fleeting. Fallen men are so prone to violence that a righteous sword is required to restrain them (Rom. 13:1–7). And yet our hearts yearn for paradise lost‚ where the lion ate straw like an ox and there was nothing to hurt or destroy in all God’s holy mountain (Isa. 65:25; cf. Gen. 1:30). Thankfully‚ God’s prophets have promised us a new and better Eden is coming‚ where “nation shall not lift up sword against nation‚ neither shall they learn war anymore” (Isa. 2:4; Mic. 4:3; cf. Isa. 11:6–9). A quick glance at the newspaper should convince us that this prophecy belongs to the “not yet” aspect of the kingdom. And yet meditating on passages like Luke 2:14 should also convince us that God is already restoring peace to the earth in some measure. There is a group of people “with whom [God] is pleased‚” among whom true shalom exists. We call them the church—all those who by faith have embraced the “Prince of Peace” as their Savior (Isa. 9:6). As those justified by faith‚ we now have peace with God (Rom. 5:1). Our reconciliation to God reconciles us to each other—Christ has “broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility . . . that he might create in himself one new man . . . so making peace” (Eph. 2:14–15). His peace toward us allows us to extend peace to others. As those justified by faith‚ we now have peace with God. Our reconciliation to God reconciles us to each other. This doesn’t make peace automatic or easy. If it did‚ many of the exhortations in Paul’s epistles would never have been written. But it’s who we are. Our task as Christians is to increasingly become like Christ‚ to walk worthy of our calling‚ and to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace (Eph. 4:3). By the Spirit‚ we pursue peace with our enemies and make war on the passions that cause quarrels among us (Gal. 5:16; James 4:1). However‚ the “war to end all wars” has already been fought. It was launched on Christmas‚ won on Good Friday‚ and proclaimed on Easter morning. And though it awaits its full consummation‚ we see tiny previews of it every time we forgive one another‚ or baptize a new convert‚ or commune around the Lord’s Table. May these glimpses of his grace awaken our hearts in praise: “Glory to God in the highest‚ and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!” (Luke 2:14). Respond In what practical ways can you seek to maintain peace among the Christians in your local church? Does peace characterize your life online in the way you relate to others? Rejoice Hark! the herald angels sing “Glory to the newborn King Peace on earth and mercy mild‚ God and sinners reconciled!” – Charles Wesley‚ “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing”

I lost a bet because of THIS

Prepare to embark on a wild culinary journey! We’re about to explore some bizarre food combinations that‚ against all odds‚ taste surprisingly good. These are the weird duos that’ll make your taste buds do a double-take and then applaud your adventurous spirit. Here are ten strange food combinations that actually taste pretty good. Related: Top […] The post 10 Strange Food Combinations That Actually Taste Pretty Good appeared first on Listverse.

The world contains about 900‚000 official islands—both continental and oceanic islands. Some countries only have a few‚ while others are formed of numerous. The Philippines has the most‚ with over 7‚000 islands and islets. While most are commonplace‚ there are islands where things are not quite normal. From a rock that horrifies scientists to a […] The post 10 Exceptionally Rare Oddities Found on Islands appeared first on Listverse.

White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre doesn’t often call on James Rosen to ask questions at her briefings. But when Newsmax’s chief White House correspondent gets an opportunity‚ he makes the most of it. “If you can do it well‚ you can make news‚” Rosen explains on “The Daily Signal Podcast.” The veteran reporter‚ who got his start in local news before becoming a national correspondent‚ has covered his share of press conferences in the nation’s capital—from the State Department to Congress and now the White House. Just days before Thanksgiving‚ at the Nov. 20 press briefing‚ Rosen was pleasantly surprised that Jean-Pierre called his name. “I might regret it‚ but go ahead‚” she said with a laugh. He retorted‚ “I assure you‚ you will not.” Rosen proceeded to ask about President Joe Biden’s “dismal job approval ratings.” Jean-Pierre’s answer surprised members of the White House press corps‚ Rosen recalls‚ because she admitted that “we’re not going to change the minds of Americans.” The revelation wasn’t something he expected to hear from the White House press secretary. “It was almost an acknowledgement of defeat. Here is the face of the vaunted White House communications apparatus‚” Rosen says‚ “basically saying‚ ‘We don’t have the ability to persuade anymore.’” During our interview‚ Rosen shares what it’s like to cover Biden and the biggest stories dominating the headlines. We also discuss the House’s plans for an impeachment inquiry of Biden‚ and how the move would affect the White House in the weeks and months to come. Rosen also offers his take on Biden’s age and mental acuity—and shares his thoughts on why the president won’t subject himself to tough questions like his predecessors did. All that and more is available on today’s episode of “The Daily Signal Podcast.” Listen to the recording or watch the video below. The post The Art of Asking Newsworthy Questions‚ According to Newsmax’s James Rosen appeared first on The Daily Signal.

As you may already know‚ Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy visited Washington‚ at President Joe Biden’s request‚ in order to lobby for additional U.S. military assistance (shorthand: taxpayer money) in its ongoing war against Russia. The GOP’s attachment of border reforms as a precondition to any further outlays of taxpayer dollars in Ukraine seems to have infuriated the media‚ if this ABC World News tonight report on Zelenskyy’s visit is any indication. Watch as anchor David Muir delivers not a tease or an intro‚ but a whole monologue prior to Mary Bruce’s reporting on Zelenskyy’s visit to the White House and meetings with congressional leaders:  DAVID MUIR: There is also breaking news here in the U.S. Ukraine's President Zelenskyy just moments ago‚ before the cameras in Washington with President Biden‚ with his urgent plea for help from the U.S. in trying to fight off Russia. But that funding is being blocked by Republicans and their demands tonight. President Biden promising the American people will not walk away from Ukraine‚ but the reality is‚ that funding is being blocked. Republican leaders listening to Zelenskyy's pleas during meetings on the Hill today‚ but not moved to act. The president tonight saying those who stand in the way of this urgent help are giving Putin the greatest Christmas gift they can possibly give him. Zelenskyy late today saying‚ “we are fighting for us and for you”‚ trying to remind anyone listening of the stakes up against Russia. The Republicans blocking this are saying‚ “no more money until the White House does what we want on the border”. President Biden arguing help for Ukraine should not be held hostage. That was a mouthful‚ even in this weird shorthand that these TV news types speak (what’s up with that?). But within this recitation‚ there is a complete parroting of the White House’s talking points on the ongoing negotiations with Republicans over the assistance it wishes to send to Ukraine. Republican demands for significant border reforms as part of any assistance package to Ukraine are regarded as a petulant demand rather than a reasonable national security request. Biden’s “Christmas gift to Putin” smear‚ intended to evoke the Trump-era Russian collusion fever dream‚ is parroted mindlessly. If the border continues to be unenforced‚ so be it. Mary Bruce’s video package was more of the same. The report closes with Muir hammering the points yet again. If it weren’t for blatantly partisan media‚ we’d have no media at all. Click “expand” to view the full transcript of the aforementioned report as aired on ABC World News Tonight on Tuesday‚ December 13th‚ 2023: DAVID MUIR: There is also breaking news here in the U.S. Ukraine's President Zelenskyy just moments ago‚ before the cameras in Washington with President Biden‚ with his urgent plea for help from the U.S. in trying to fight off Russia. But that funding is being blocked by Republicans and their demands tonight. President Biden promising the American people will not walk away from Ukraine‚ but the reality is‚ that funding is being blocked. Republican leaders listening to Zelenskyy's pleas during meetings on the Hill today‚ but not moved to act. The president tonight saying those who stand in the way of this urgent help are giving Putin the greatest Christmas gift they can possibly give him. Zelenskyy late today saying‚ “we are fighting for us and for you‚ trying to remind anyone listening of the stakes up against Russia”. The Republicans blocking this are saying‚ “no more money until the White House does what we want on the border”. President Biden arguing help for Ukraine should not be held hostage. Our chief White House correspondent Mary Bruce‚ leading us off from Washington tonight.  MARY BRUCE: It's a far cry from the hero's welcome he received a year ago‚ addressing a joint session of Congress. Tonight‚ Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy behind closed doors with lawmakers‚ pleading for more help against Russia.  PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN: Well‚ Mr. President‚ welcome back. BRUCE: In the Oval Office‚ a warm embrace from President Biden. Biden warning unless Congress approves his request for another $61 billion in aid by the end of the year‚ Ukraine will run out of money and Russia could win this war.  BIDEN: Putin is banking on the United States failing to deliver for Ukraine. We must -- we must -- we must prove him wrong. It's stunning that we've gotten to this point.  BRUCE: The president pointing the finger squarely at Republicans.  BIDEN: The host of a Kremlin-run show literally said‚ and I quote‚ well done‚ Republicans. That's good for us.  BRUCE: Zelenskyy with this plea.  PRESIDENT VOLODYMYR ZELENSKYY (UKR): In Ukraine‚ we are fighting for our country and freedom‚ and also in Europe‚ we say‚ "for our freedom and yours."  BRUCE: But Republicans won't approve the new aid package unless the president agrees to tough new immigration restrictions.  SPEAKER MIKE JOHNSON: Our first condition on any national security supplemental spending package is about our own national security first. The border is an absolute catastrophe.  BRUCE: The president says he's willing to compromise‚ but adding this --  BIDEN: Compromise is how democracy works‚ and I'm ready and offered compromise already. Holding Ukraine funding hostage in an attempt to force through an extreme Republican partisan agenda on the border is not how it works.  MUIR: But it does appear to be working at least for now. Mary Bruce with us live from the White House. And Mary‚ as you pointed out‚ what a difference from a year ago when Zelenskyy was welcomed as a hero‚ addressing a joint session of congress. Instead‚ his visit this time‚ he held meetings‚ pleading for more help against Russia. Tonight‚ it would appear‚ no help before the end of the year‚ perhaps even longer. The Republicans who are blocking this appear to be digging in here.  BRUCE: David‚ they are not backing down. And tonight‚ there is no clear path forward. It is not clear what is going to satisfy Republicans' immigration demands‚ or where the president is willing to compromise. Biden is warning‚ they have to get this done before the holiday‚ but senate Republican leader Mitch Mcconnell says that is practically impossible. David. MUIR: Mary Bruce‚ leading us off tonight here. Mary‚ thank you.  

To the hammer‚ everything looks like a nail. If you are a conspiracy-theorizing MSNBC anchor‚ everything is going to look like the Russia Hoax. Case in point‚ Chris Hayes’ weird Russia Hoax tie-in towards the end of his rant on the GOP’s insistence that border security reforms be a part of any aid package to Ukraine.   Watch the unhingement towards the end of his rant. Lest you feel inclined to empathize with those of us who watch this nonsense‚ I remind you‚ as did Hyman Roth to Michael Corleone: this is the business we’ve chosen: CHRIS HAYES: As of right now‚ there’s no deal in sight because House Republicans want to start their holiday recess on Friday. It is that time of year. Today‚ President Biden made it clear what he thinks of the Republicans' attitude.  PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN: Russian loyalists in Moscow celebrated when Republicans voted to block Ukraine aid last week. The host of a Kremlin-run show literally said‚ and I quote‚ “well done‚ Republicans. That's good for us.”  If you are being celebrated by Russian propagandists‚ it might be time to rethink what you are doing.  HAYES: Now‚ Vladimir Putin already enacted the most audacious criminal election sabotage in recent memory back in 2016‚ famously. When he looks at his prospects in the war in Ukraine and American politics‚ it is obvious that it is in his best interest to do whatever he can to help elect Republicans again. The guys who will assist his goals by cutting off aid to Ukraine‚ forcing it into some settlement under conditions of surrender. Just think about the message that’s being sent by Republicans right now about what Vladimir Putin should do in the 2024 elections.   Hayes‚ who towards the end of the segment appears to perform what I am reliably told is a white supremacy‚ takes the easy way out by manufacturing a conspiracy out of whole cloth. On that planet‚ American national security is a boon to Vladimir Putin.  There is no visualization of the possibility of doing both things- of walking and chewing gum. Or‚ in this case‚ of Biden coming to the table on immigration. There is only a bad-faith argument built upon debunked conspiracy theories disguised as “news analysis”.  Click “expand” to view the full transcript of the aforementioned segment as aired on MSNBC’s All In With Chris Hayes on Tuesday‚ December 13th‚ 2023: CHRIS HAYES: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy was in Washington today to make a direct and personal appeal for additional military aid‚ as Russia's invasion of its country enters its third year.  PRESIDENT VOLODYMYR ZELENSKYY (UKR): Ukraine is gradually becoming less dependent on aid. We are moving in the right‚ I think‚ in the right direction and I want to discuss with the president how to strengthen it -- especially enhancing our air defense and ability to destroy Russia's logistics. Our goals for ‘24 are clear. Take away Russia’s superiority and disrupt the offensive operations.  HAYES: Congressional Republicans‚ especially those in the House‚ have signaled they don't want to keep supporting Ukraine and its war against Russia. Ahead of Zelenskyy's visit‚ Florida congressman‚ Matt Gaetz‚ one of the MAGA Republicans leading the charge against additional aid put it plainly‚ quote‚ “America has sent enough money to Ukraine.” On the Senate side‚ Punchbowl News reports‚ quote‚ “Senate Republicans indicated they don't even really want to hear from Zelenskyy.” That's because Republicans have decided that if they are going to keep sending aid to Ukraine‚ they're going to charge Democrats a price for it. Specifically‚ they want a complete transformation of the policy around the U.S.-Mexico border to fit Donald Trump's desires.  SPEAKER MIKE JOHNSON: What the Biden administration seems to be asking for is billions of additional dollars with no appropriate oversight‚ no clear strategy to win‚ and none of the answers that I think the American people are owed. I've also made very clear‚ from day one‚ that our first condition on any national security supplemental spending package is about our own security first.  HAYES: As of right now‚ there’s no deal in sight because House Republicans want to start their holiday recess on Friday. It is that time of year. Today‚ President Biden made it clear what he thinks of the Republicans' attitude.  PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN: Russian loyalists in Moscow celebrated when Republicans voted to block Ukraine aid last week. The host of a Kremlin-run show literally said‚ and I quote‚ “well done‚ Republicans. That's good for us.”  If you are being celebrated by Russian propagandists‚ it might be time to rethink what you are doing.  HAYES: Now‚ Vladimir Putin already enacted the most audacious criminal election sabotage in recent memory back in 2016‚ famously. When he looks at his prospects in the war in Ukraine and American politics‚ it is obvious that it is in his best interest to do whatever he can to help elect Republicans again. The guys who will assist his goals by cutting off aid to Ukraine‚ forcing it into some settlement under conditions of surrender. Just think about the message that’s being sent by Republicans right now about what Vladimir Putin should do in the 2024 elections.