Like an umpire in baseball or the referee in football, Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell strode to the podium and recited the “rules to this game.” He does this every time he gives a press conference or speech. “My colleagues and I are squarely focused on achieving our dual mandate goals of maximum employment and […] The post The Real Reason The Fed Lowered Interest Rates appeared first on www.independentsentinel.com.

President-elect Donald Trump slammed President Joe Biden on Tuesday after Biden commuted the sentences of 37 convicted killers on death row, including a man who murdered a police officer and a man who kidnapped and murdered a 12-year-old girl. Biden announced the commutations on Monday, two days before Christmas, saying in a statement that he has “dedicated [his] career to reducing violent crime and ensuring a fair and effective justice system.” “Joe Biden just commuted the Death Sentence on 37 of the worst killers in our Country,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. “When you hear the acts of each, you won’t believe that he did this. Makes no sense. Relatives and friends are further devastated. They can’t believe this is happening!” Biden was also blasted by Republicans in Congress while some Democrats defended his move. “Joe Biden is using his last days in office to spare the worst monsters in America. These killers were sentenced to death by a jury of their peers and then had a lengthy and burdensome appeals process,” said Sen. Tom Cotton. “Thomas Sanders killed Suellen Roberts in front of her 12-year-old daughter Lexis. Sanders then kidnapped Lexis, drove her across the country before torturing and killing her,” Cotton added. “Kaboni Savage, is a mass-murdering drug lord whose victims included small children. A jury sentenced Savage to 13 death sentences, but Joe Biden thinks he knows better. Jorge Torrez is a serial rapist and murderer. His victims include an 8-year-old, a 9-year-old, and a 20-year-old Naval officer named Amanda Jean Snell. She was strangled in her barracks. Daniel Troya and Ricardo Sanchez executed an entire family of four, including two young boys, on the side of a Florida highway.” Rep. Chip Roy (R-TX) added, “It’s unconscionable. The President’s pardon power is being abused by @JoeBiden to carry out a miscarriage of justice. The rule of law depends on our faith in it. @JoeBiden isn’t the only problem… it’s the radical leftists destroying the rule of law. This is ending.” CHECK OUT THE DAILY WIRE HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE Democrats, such as Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Rep. Ayanna Pressley (D-MA), applauded Biden’s commutations. “The President’s decision today provides accountability with a term of life imprisonment without the possibility of parole and ensures that these individuals never again pose a threat to public safety, but without implicating the myriad issues associated with capital punishment,” Durbin said. Pressley, a far-Left member of the “Squad,” argued that the death penalty is “racist, flawed, and fundamentally unjust.” “By taking this historic action, President Biden is demonstrating the type of moral leadership this moment demands,” she added. Leif Le Mahieu contributed to this report. 

A criminal case against actor Alec Baldwin related to the fatal shooting on the set of his movie “Rust” ended Monday when a prosecutor dropped her appeal of the case’s dismissal. Special Prosecutor Kari Morrissey withdrew the appeal, per Reuters, effectively ending the criminal proceedings that have been ongoing since the incident occurred in 2021 in New Mexico. The decision was made after the state attorney general’s office said that it “did not intend to exhaustively pursue the appeal on behalf of the prosecution,” Morrissey said. Baldwin was accused of involuntary manslaughter in October 2021. Cinematographer Halyna Hutchins was killed when a gun Baldwin was holding discharged on set, but the actor has maintained all along that he never pulled the trigger. The prosecution argued last July that Baldwin was reckless and criminally negligent for firing the gun, while the defense maintained that as an actor, their client was not responsible for gun safety on set. Judge Mary Marlowe Sommer dismissed the case on the third day of the trial after learning that the prosecution did not reveal a cache of bullets to the defense, per Variety, and that this evidence was potentially crucial. But Morrissey later appealed that decision, saying the bullets were irrelevant to the case.  Baldwin’s lawyers Luke Nikas and Alex Spiro made a statement on this most recent development, saying: “Today’s decision to dismiss the appeal is the final vindication of what Alec Baldwin and his attorneys have said from the beginning — this was an unspeakable tragedy but Alec Baldwin committed no crime. The rule of law remains intact in New Mexico.” The film’s armorer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, who was accused of loading the gun, was convicted of involuntary manslaughter in March. She appealed her conviction after the charges against Baldwin were dismissed, but her appeal was denied. Rust’s safety coordinator David Halls pleaded no contest to negligent use of a firearm. He was sentenced to six months of unsupervised parole. Baldwin previously settled a civil lawsuit filed by loved ones of Hutchins in 2022. “I have no interest in engaging in recriminations or attribution of blame (to the producers or Mr. Baldwin),” the cinematographer’s husband Matthew said in a statement at the time. “All of us believe Halyna’s death was a terrible accident. I am grateful that the producers and the entertainment community have come together to pay tribute to Halyna’s final work,” the widower said. Meanwhile, Hutchins’ mother Olga Solovey boycotted the premiere of the movie in Poland last month, saying she sees the film’s release as an opportunity for Baldwin to “unjustly profit” from her daughter’s death.

Two Congressional California Democrat House members are being targeted by anti-Israel groups after they voted for $26.38 billion in military aid to Israel last April. Some residents of Northern California have filed a lawsuit targeting Democrat Reps. Mike Thompson and Jared Huffman, alleging the plaintiffs caused “moral and emotional/psychic injury” to taxpayers by their vote. The lawsuit attempts to bar the two congressmen from approving future military aid to Israel. Last January, U.S. District Judge Jeffrey White of Oakland, who in 2012 ruled against the Defense of Marriage Act,  dismissed a lawsuit by anti-Israel forces who wanted to force the Biden administration to withdraw support for Israel’s war against Hamas. But he also contended, “It is plausible that Israel’s conduct amounts to genocide,” and declared that Israel’s efforts were “intended to eradicate a whole people and therefore plausibly falls within the international prohibition against genocide.” Last month, a courageous woman from Kenya who serves as the United Nations Special Advisor on the Prevention of Genocide was fired after she stood up to the Israel-haters in the U.N. and refused to declare that Israel has committed “genocide” in its war against Hamas, according to The Wall Street Journal. “Alice Nderitu said Israel’s campaign in Gaza doesn’t meet the definition of genocide. She was fired,” The Wall Street Journal editorial board wrote. “On Wednesday the U.N. will refuse to renew the contract of Alice Wairimu Nderitu, the Kenyan who is the Special Advisor on the Prevention of Genocide.” “As a legal matter, establishing a pattern of violence as a genocide requires demonstrating intent,” WSJ explained, adding, “Israel’s campaign of self-defense doesn’t qualify. The war against Hamas has had many deaths, but Israel’s strategy is intended to dismantle a terrorist regime, not eliminate an ethnic group. The Jewish state has gone to great lengths to minimize Palestinian civilian casualties, even as Hamas uses civilians as shields so their deaths can be used as propaganda.” CHECK OUT THE DAILY WIRE HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE Within weeks after the Hamas massacre of more than 1200 Israelis, Thompson issued a statement in which he said, “Israel has a right to defend itself and its people from terrorism like we saw on October 7, but they must do so while prioritizing the safety of civilians. President Biden is correct in reminding Israel that its military response must respect international law. Notwithstanding Hamas’ well-documented strategy of using innocent Palestinians as human shields, every effort must be made to minimize non-combatant civilian casualties and avoid any form of collective punishment.” Thompson’s office also has issued a statement apparently designed to pacify anti-Israel forces, saying, “Congressman Thompson understands that it has been the civilian population that has paid the cost of Hamas’ terrorist attack on Israel and he remains gravely concerned about the scale of civilian loss in this war. That’s why he has advocated and continues to advocate for the Biden Administration to work with the State Department and our allies to help secure a negotiated bilateral ceasefire, the immediate release of all hostages, and the establishment of a two-state solution to ensure peace and self-determination for the Palestinian and Israeli people.”

The men and woman of the United States military put their lives on the line to protect our freedom. Serving is among the most selfless and noble professions, and some service members make the ultimate sacrifice for their country. Sadly, many of the fallen leave spouses and children behind who miss them terribly. The Gary Sinise Foundation understands the sacrifices of military families. Every December, The Snowball Express program welcomes more than 1,700 children of fallen military and their parents or guardians to Walt Disney World for an incredible five-day experience. This year, as families arrived in Dallas en route to Orlando, they received a very special greeting from Santa Claus and friends. Families of fallen military personnel receive a special welcome in Dallas, Texas, ahead of a trip to @WaltDisneyWorld! https://t.co/oCp3u8QBIv pic.twitter.com/cBVG1LZXCS— Good Morning America (@GMA) December 20, 2024 The Snowball Express Wants Children Of Fallen Military Members To Enjoy The Holidays Good Morning America shared video of the special welcome on X. Not only was Santa waiting, but active military, first responders and volunteers gave the families all a warm welcome as the deboarded the plane. The emotional video will touch your heart. The Gary Sinise Foundation shared a photo on Instagram of Gary with many of the children at Disney work with the caption, “This past week, we were honored to host over 1,700 children and surviving spouses/guardians of our nation’s fallen military heroes. These brave individuals shared their stories, created lasting memories, and found comfort in knowing their loved ones are never forgotten. We’re incredibly thankful for our presenting sponsor, @AmericanAir, and the American people, whose generosity makes this week of healing and joy possible. “ View this post on Instagram A post shared by Gary Sinise Foundation (@garysinisefoundation) Families of fallen military members thanked Gary and the foundation in the comments. One wrote, “It was the first time for my daughter and I. I cannot even put into words how special this opportunity was for us. We have never felt so loved and so special. We came home with our cups running over with thanks and appreciation to all who made this happen. Thank you is a complete understatement. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts. -Charity & Heaven.” This person agreed, “It was an amazing time!! Thank you so much Uncle Gary and to everyone on your team!! You guys are life changers!” As did this family, “First-time attendee. So much love and understanding of missing our heroes. Amazing event.” This story’s featured image is by Mark Ashman/Disney Parks via Getty Images. The post Families Of Fallen Military Personnel Get A Trip To Disney World—And A Surprise Greeting  appeared first on InspireMore.

The Red Hot Chili Peppers, a renowned American rock band, were formed in Los Angeles in 1983. The founding members included Anthony Kiedis (vocals), Flea (bass), Hillel Slovak (guitar), and Jack Irons (drums). Over the years, the band’s lineup has changed multiple times, with Flea and Kiedis being the consistent core members. Notably, guitarist John Frusciante and drummer Chad Smith became key contributors to the band’s signature sound, which blends funk, rock, punk, and psychedelic influences. The Red Hot Chili Peppers have released thirteen studio albums, beginning with their self-titled debut in 1984. Their breakthrough came with Blood Sugar Sex The post Complete List Of Red Hot Chili Peppers Songs From A to Z appeared first on ClassicRockHistory.com.

When Whoopi Goldberg Is the Voice of Reason...

Insanity: CA Judge Orders Victims to Use Rapist's Preferred Pronouns

If you’ve ever wondered how many ants there are on Earth, look no further. In this episode, we break down the estimated number of ants on Earth and their biomass.