'Kowtowing to climate activists'

Before freshman Rep. Pat Harrigan, R-N.C., came to Washington in January, no one seemed to notice that a Chinese Communist Party-linked company had stores that sold health products to our troops. Though it was once an American-owned company, the vitamin store GNC was purchased by the CCP-linked Harbin Pharmaceuticals in 2020 after GNC filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. Even prior to the sale, the CCP-linked company held a 40% stake in GNC. Harrigan, 37, joined “The Signal Sitdown” to discuss his legislation to kick CCP-linked entities off military bases as well as the great power competition between China and the United States. Shortly after being sworn in, Harrigan introduced the Military Installation Retail Security Act, or MIRSA for short. “It’s like MRSA,” Harrigan told me, “it’s like this infectious disease we just have to rid ourselves of, which is the Chinese Communist Party or other adversarial nations owning companies that are operating on our military bases.” (MRSA stands for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, a strain of bacteria responsible for several difficult-to-treat infections in humans.) The legislation “requires the Department of Defense to do a broad investigation into all of the federal contractors that are working on our military bases and make sure that they aren’t owned by our foreign adversaries,” Harrigan said. China, Russia, North Korea, and Iran all make the list. “When a military base or installation wants to have private contractors come in and actually operate on the base, they sign what’s called a concession contract, and these are contracts that are really not very well vetted, which is a problem in and of itself, but it forces a broad-based review of all of that,” Harrigan explained. But the “teeth” of the legislation, Harrigan told me, is “to kick any private contractor that has lied … to the federal government.”  The North Carolina congressman added that GNC already has a record of downplaying its ties to Harbin or the CCP in their previous government disclosures. The risk of GNC stores on military bases is simply “too high to tolerate,” Harrigan contended. “We have risks associated with the potential information that they could collect from our service members.” The CCP could “know what products they’re purchasing, they know what physical ailments they might be having or trying to correct. GNC even offers free supplement consultations so that they can kind of do a deep dive into your health,” Harrigan explained. “We don’t need foreign-owned cash registers taking the credit cards of our military servicemen and servicewomen, having access to their data.” The problem is larger than you’d think. GNC has “83 different facilities on our military installations across the country, and they’re wholly owned by the Chinese Communist Party,” Harrigan said. On a previous visit to Fort Bragg, Harrigan found four GNC stores. Fort Bragg is the largest Army base in the country, home to about 55,000 Army troops, which represents about 10% of the Army. Add their families and civilians employed by the bases, and more than 250,000 people have access to Bragg and its four GNCs. I asked Harrigan if he thought something more nefarious was afoot or if this issue had been simply overlooked by Congress. “It was just overlooked,” he replied. GNC was “initially a U.S.-owned—wholly owned—company. And through a multiyear transition process and a bankruptcy, they became wholly owned by Harbin Pharmaceuticals, aka the Chinese Communist Party.” That’s a familiar story in the era of America’s growing trade deficit with China: U.S. capital funds the inflow of inexpensive Chinese goods, only to return when Chinese firms acquire American businesses. But the concern becomes especially stark when those firms establish operations on or near U.S. military bases. The post CCP-Linked Stores on Military Bases? This Congressman Is Trying to Close Them Down appeared first on The Daily Signal.

Editor’s note: This is a lightly edited transcript of today’s video from Daily Signal Senior Contributor Victor Davis Hanson. Subscribe to our YouTube channel to see more of his videos. Hello, this is Victor Davis Hanson for The Daily Signal. At the end of the 100 days of the Trump administration, let’s just review for a moment the opposition to it. And it’s actually, if you think about it, a tripartite, a threefold opposition: pollsters, the media, and the Democratic Party and the institutionalized Left. The pollsters have President Donald Trump down four or five points. But when you actually look at the Rasmussen poll or Mark Penn’s poll, a Democratic centrist, Trump is almost even. And then when you look with greater clarity at The New York Times poll that has him way down, you see that only 37% of the people polled voted for Donald Trump. But Donald Trump won by almost a point and a half. Don’t you think it should have been, I don’t know, 51%-49%? So, they were deliberately, in the case of The New York Times, under-polling Trump supporters. The same was true with The Washington Post. They polled over 2,000 people, but only 840 were identified as Trump voters. Shouldn’t that have been half? So, what am I getting at? We’re getting right back to what happened in 2016 when the polls were completely wrong. The same thing happened in 2020 when they overestimated former President Joe Biden’s strength by four or five points. And then, even in 2024, the NPR poll had—on the last day of the election—they had then-Vice President Kamala Harris winning by four points. The Des Moines Register had Iowa lost to Trump by three points. He won it by 12. So, what the pollsters are doing—not that Trump hasn’t lost some to the controversy over the trade wars—but the pollsters are trying to create momentum, fundraising, and jazz up opposition. Then we turn to the media. The media’s in a fight with the Democratic Left now because of the scandal of Joe Biden. The Democratic Left is saying, “Well, you were a journalist. If you thought he was demented or cognitively challenged, why didn’t you report it?” But the journalists are saying, “We couldn’t get close to him. He looked OK for us because you had him in such a guarded environment.” In truth, they’re both guilty. Do you remember those press conferences by then-White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre? Did anyone ever hear one question on those daily or three or four times a week press conferences? “Miss Jean-Pierre, is Joe Biden cognitively able to navigate himself to the podium? What is the nature of his cue cards? Have you had a Montreal Cognitive Assessment of him?” There was nothing. It was a combination of the Democratic Party, the Biden insiders, and the media. And here’s another point, very quickly. The media has gained a lot of influence and power in the opposition because there is no opposition on the Democratic Party. So, in lieu of an alternate agenda, the media has taken it upon themselves to use the only strategy that the Democratic Party can come up with. And that is to attack Donald Trump. Now, what do I mean by that? If you look at the Democratic Party and the Left in general, they have boxed themselves in. On the one hand, they have no institutional power; no ability to pass legislation, losing the House and the Senate; no presidency, White House; no executive orders. Ultimately, all of the cherry-picked district and circuit judges will be overturned by a largely conservative Supreme Court. In lieu of actual power, then you look at what is the alternative. Maybe the alternative is a 1994 Newt Gingrich Contract with America, an alternate agenda: Yes, we can do better on the border than you can. Yes, we have a better foreign policy with Iran. There’s nothing. There’s no shadow government. There’s not a young Bill Clinton ascendant. There’s no young Barack Obama. There’s nobody. There’s no leaders. There’s no agenda. Nothing. It’s nihilism. And so, let’s look at the third element. Do they have a good old days? Can they say, “Donald Trump ruined things”? “They were so good under Biden. The border was—we liked it open. Twelve million, we could have got 20 million illegal aliens. Let’s go back to that. We had a wonderful retreat from Afghanistan. Picture perfect. We can do it again. The Iran—the theater war in Ukraine and Iran, that wasn’t our fault. Maybe it was inevitable. We had a really good inflation—we had a little hyperinflation of 9%.” So, there is no alternative good old days. They can’t say Donald Trump wrecked something because they had wrecked the country. So, what are we left with? We’re left with Donald Trump wore a blue suit at the Vatican funeral. Donald Trump is a fascist. No. According to Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker, he is a Nazi. No. According to former Vice President Al Gore, he is a Nazi. No. According to members of the Congress, is he deserving a polite conversation? You have to use the F-word. Or maybe it’s the S-word. It’s smutty mouth, potty mouth video. What is the one principle that ties them all together? We’re gonna talk about that in the next video. But it’s about fear that Donald Trump’s first 100 days are not as chaotic and bad as they tell us. But we might be on the cusp of something that will be very, very successful and will ensure Donald Trump has a successful presidency. We publish a variety of perspectives. Nothing written here is to be construed as representing the views of The Daily Signal. The post President Trump’s Threefold Opposition appeared first on The Daily Signal.

A kitten, though mostly fur, has the heart of a lion, from being taken in alone to now ruling the house like a boss. Rani (aka Molly McBeans)Lori WhiteEarlier this year, a tiny kitten arrived at ARPO (Alliance for Responsible Pet Ownership) in need of a bottle feeder.The palm-sized wonder had already grown a fluffy coat and displayed an incredible will to live. Thanks to the round-the-clock care of a devoted foster volunteer, she blossomed, never short on love or attention.She might be small, but she proved to be a mighty force, determined to grow big and strong. ARPOAfter a few weeks of bottle-feeding, the kitten, Rani, grew in size and fluff. With newfound energy and curiosity, her personality started to shine. To ensure the best socialization, she was placed in a new foster home with other kittens to play with."She's 95% floof and right now has more interest in playing and exploring versus wanting to join the cuddle pile," Lori White, a foster volunteer with ARPO, shared. Lori WhiteAt just 22 ounces, she was the tiniest kitten there, but her strength and zest more than made up for it. She was always ready to play and loved hopping onto her foster mom's lap for cuddles.She insisted on eating from the same plate as other kittens and made sure she was always part of the action. Lori WhiteOver time, she developed a glorious coat that resembled a dandelion puff. Her fur seemed to burst in every direction as if held together by static electricity and sheer cattitude.She zipped around the room, leaping onto furniture and inspecting every corner like a true detective. Lori WhiteWhen she followed the other kittens upstairs, she discovered the perfect spot to curl up—inside a dog bowl. The bowl belonged to Ben, an eight-month-old Bernese Mountain Dog, who is a gentle giant to his feline friends.Noticing the oversized bowls, she sprang onto the stand and nestled into one, claiming it as her throne. Lori White"She liked it so much she fell asleep in it."Though the dog bowl stood taller than Rani, she was unstoppable in her quest to reach her goals. She snoozed peacefully until another kitten woke her up, eager to try the new "bed." Lori WhiteBen, who has a soft spot for kittens, greeted the new arrivals with the gentlest sniffs. Rani, the tiniest of them all, strutted up to him as if she were in charge, rubbing against Ben before flopping down on him."This little moment between Rani and Ben just melted my heart." Ben and RaniLori WhiteRani wanted to be the boss among her feline friends, but she was especially drawn to the dogs who towered over her. She was constantly on the move, wearing out other kittens with her unbridled energy.When she was finally big enough for adoption, Lori and her team hoped to find her a loving home with a cat-friendly canine companion. Lori WhiteLast week, Rani's dream came true. "I just knew there was a perfect home out there for her that had a dog she could love and would love her back."The kitten, now named Molly McBeans, has bonded with her canine buddy, Ludo. "She's such a joy. They have decided to gang up against us and spread all their toys across the living room anytime we're both not home," the adopter shared. Rani (now Molly) and LudoARPO"I thought it might take her a few days to warm up to a new environment and to our dog—it took her one afternoon. She came in and owned the place. She has multiple napping spots but goes to bed next to me every night."In Molly's eyes, whatever belongs to Ludo belongs to her, too. They have grown inseparable, spending every day together, side by side. Lori WhiteShare this story with your friends. More on Lori's fosters on Instagram and ARPO on Instagram.Related story: Kitten Follows Other Cats to a Home for Some Food and Soon His Life Transforms

Oklahoma, Where The Court Comes Sweepin' Down The Plains

Michelle Obama: 'That Warms My Heart as a Black Man'

An embarrassing phone prank on a prominent football player during the National Football League's draft led to a large fine against the Atlanta team and one of their coaches.The football player draft picks were overshadowed by the drama surrounding Shedeur Sanders, the son of the former superstar athlete Deion Sanders. He was projected by some to go early in the first round, but his jubilation turned to dread as he was overlooked until the sixth round on the third day. 'We were proactive in addressing the situation internally and cooperated fully with the league throughout the process.' Video then surfaced on social media that showed a group of college students pranking Sanders by calling him and pretending to be the coach of the New Orleans Saints. Sanders was led to believe that he was being drafted on the second day, before they hung up and admitted the prank. Many wondered how the students were able to obtain Sanders' phone number on such a pivotal day. On Wednesday, the NFL said that Jeff Ulbrich, the Falcons' defensive coordinator, was being fined $100,000 over his involvement in the incident, and the team was fined $250,000. The team had admitted on Sunday that Sanders' number had been obtained by Ulbrich's son, a 21-year-old college student, after he saw the contact information on his father's iPad. He provided it to a friend and was seen in the background of the video of the prank. The team responded to the fines with a brief statement. “We appreciate the NFL’s swift and thorough review of last week’s data exposure and the event that transpired due to it,” read the statement from the Falcons. “We were proactive in addressing the situation internally and cooperated fully with the league throughout the process, and accept the discipline levied to Coach Jeff Ulbrich and the organization.”Jax Ulbrich also publicly apologized to Sanders in a post on Instagram. “I’m so sorry I took away from your moment, it was selfish and childish,” he wrote. “I could never imagine getting ready to celebrate one of the greatest moments of your life and I made a terrible mistake and messed with that moment. Thank you for accepting my call earlier today, I hope you can find it in your heart to forgive me.”Sanders was chosen 144th overall by the Cleveland Browns. Even President Donald Trump jumped into the debate and called the owners of the NFL teams "stupid" for snubbing the player despite his "PHENOMENAL GENES." Sanders had been ridiculed by many online for organizing a lavish party, along with his personal branding and a ritzy handmade diamond-studded necklace in anticipation that he would be picked far earlier in the draft. Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

A heroic 10-year-old girl in Oregon thwarted a possible family massacre by her father after he had already slit the throat of the mother of his children, according to authorities. The Multnomah County District Attorney's Office said in a statement that police responded to multiple reports that there was a disturbance at a home in Gresham, Oregon, on June 7, 2021.'The victim’s young daughter showed bravery and resilience that truly inspires us to work hard every day to interrupt the cycle of abuse and to keep families safe.'Police said Jesus Huchin-Interian began fighting with the mother of his children after accusing her of cheating on him. The daughter told police that her father threatened the mother that he was going to "finish her" and then "finish the kids."Huchin-Interian then physically attack his wife and slit her throat, according to police. The 10-year-old daughter jumped into action to protect herself and her younger siblings. "The 10-year-old reported that she grabbed a knife herself and tried to stab the defendant, but the knife was too dull, so she dropped it and ran to her room with her little siblings and locked the door," according to the press release from the Multnomah County District Attorney's Office.Once barricaded in the bedroom, the young girl called 911 for help.The father reportedly fled the crime scene after the daughter notified the police. Once the father left the home, the daughter allegedly emerged from her room and began giving life-saving aid to her mother, who survived her horrific injuries. "When police arrived, they found the victim 'lifeless,' face down in a pool of blood, with a deep 8-inch cut to her neck," according to the Multnomah County District Attorney's Office.Meanwhile, Huchin-Interian was on the lam for years after the alleged attempted murder. Law enforcement did not track down and arrest Huchin-Interian until March 2024, when he was located in San Francisco, California. Huchin-Interian accepted a plea deal from prosecutors just days before his trial was set to begin.On April 18, Huchin-Interian pleaded guilty to a charge of assault in the second degree constituting domestic violence.The father will serve a prison sentence of at least 70 months, followed by three years of supervised release.Huchin-Interian will be sentenced on April 28.Multnomah County Senior Deputy District Attorney Robin Beck Skarstad — who prosecuted the case for the state — said, "This case underscores the devastating impact domestic violence has on children in the home. The victim’s young daughter showed bravery and resilience that truly inspires us to work hard every day to interrupt the cycle of abuse and to keep families safe."Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up!

The Georgia high school student who punched a teacher in the face last week — an incident that was captured on a viral cellphone video — as well as two other brawling students seen in the clip should not be "criminalized," the school district superintendent said Tuesday.DeKalb County School District Superintendent Devon Horton said each of the three students who were charged with battery and disrupting public school has a story and there is “more to it than meets the eye," Decaturish reported.'This was not as cut and dry as the video showed.'“I am going to be honest. From what I’ve known as a superintendent regarding the situation, I do not support them being criminalized. I do not," Horton told listeners at a news conference. "Every student deserves an opportunity ... and there are some factors that we are aware of that could have prevented this, and so we're looking into that right now.”The fight took place last Tuesday at Martin Luther King Jr. High School in Lithonia, which is about 20 minutes southeast of Atlanta.What happened prior to the on-camera violence isn't clear, but the video begins with a male wearing a dark hoodie running up to a teacher wearing a jacket and tie and punching him in the face. As you might expect, onlookers in the hallway let out an approving holler in unison.A security guard who's right next to the teacher puts the attacker in a bear hug and attempts to move him away, but the angry teacher hits his attacker with a punch of his own, which the crowd doesn't like one bit.With that, two other males — one wearing a gray hoodie and the other wearing a white hoodie — go after the teacher and knock him to the floor. By this point, the frenzied students are behaving as if they're watching a UFC match.The teacher gets up again, and there's a little bit of pushing and shoving, but that's where the 45-second clip ends. You can view it here.The district said in a statement that several students reportedly initiated the physical fight with the teacher, WXIA-TV reported. The teacher in question is on paid administrative leave, Decaturish said.Horton said at least one of the students involved in the fight had been at the school for less than a month.“To be honest, this was not as cut and dry as the video showed,” Horton added during the news conference, according to Decaturish. “There were some things that, as a system, that we could have done better.”Horton said challenges and stressors that students and teachers face in and out of school combine to create “the perfect storm for an incident like that," the outlet added.Decaturish said Horton and other officials brought up a number of recently implemented restorative practice programs in the district that they say have resulted in better attendance and graduation rates, as well as fewer disciplinary incidents and suspensions at the high school.You can view a video here showing school district officials discussing the incident at the news conference.Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

The New York Times reported that the prevalence of Christian crosses as necklaces had grown in recent months, and many on social media responded with baffled mockery. The Times report cited many different examples of prominent figures wearing crosses in public and added a history of the meaning of the cross, even prior to the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. 'Good editing means avoiding publishing things which will embarrass your publication and everybody who works there.' "Lately, the cross necklaces flash across cable news screens several times a week, suspended between the collarbones of Karoline Leavitt, the White House press secretary, and Attorney General Pam Bondi," reads the article by Misty White Sidell. Not surprisingly, the Times got slapped with brutal ridicule online. "This is real. People wear crosses and the NYT is ON IT," responded commentator Mary Katharine Ham. "So new that everybody's nana has worn one since forever... Also every Italian guy I know," replied education activist Erika Sanzi. "The fact that this piece got through the Times's editorial process without anyone saying, 'um ... guys?' shows exactly why the press always seems so clueless about the country it is supposed to cover," said Charles C.W. Cooke of National Review. "When it comes to investigative reporting can anything top the New York Times discovery that people wear crosses around their necks," asked former columnist Patrick Goldstein. "The author probably doesn't know a single person who wears one, which is why it's treated as a novelty," said Tom Bevan of RealClearPolitics. "Good editing means avoiding publishing things which will embarrass your publication and everybody who works there," said another critic. "In certain bizarrely isolated contexts, public displays of religiosity (even something as common as cross necklaces) are so *uncommon* that they become successful pitches for New York Times stories," responded professor Charlie Camosy. While the Times has been ridiculed many times over the years, one article explaining that women experience "poop shame" in the workplace was especially celebrated in 2019. Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!