Maybe you call him St. Nicholas‚ but have you wondered whether he's a real saint?

God is saying‚ “Submit yourself to Me‚ and I will tell you. First‚ give yourself over to Me.” Mary did that. She submitted her will to God. Have you surrendered your heart to Jesus Christ?

Recently I had the rare treat of grabbing dinner with some of my closest girlfriends. We began discussing our upcoming holiday plans. Within minutes the topic of in-laws‚ family tension‚ and general dread over getting together with relatives in the upcoming weeks was brought up.

The post FixNation’s Ongoing Crusade for Feline Wellness Reaches a Milestone: 250‚000th Fixed Feline! by Catster Editorial Team appeared first on Catster. Copying over entire articles infringes on copyright laws. You may not be aware of it‚ but all of these articles were assigned‚ contracted and paid for‚ so they aren't considered public domain. However‚ we appreciate that you like the article and would love it if you continued sharing just the first paragraph of an article‚ then linking out to the rest of the piece on Catster.com. On a sunny Wednesday in late November 2023‚ FixNation‚ a groundbreaking non-profit based in Los Angeles‚ celebrated the sterilization of its 250‚000th cat. With a mission to provide free spay/neuter services for community cats (feral‚ abandoned‚ and free-roaming felines) and affordable services for companion cats‚ FixNation has played a pivotal role in reducing feline overpopulation in Southern California with its high-volume/high-quality clinics and Trap-Neuter-Release (TNR) program. Given its pleasant climate and urban sprawl‚ Los Angeles is home to a persistent and uncountable stray cat community. Emphasizing the importance of sterilization‚ FixNation executive director Karn Myers said‚ “Of those 250‚000 cats‚ our efforts prevented each female from giving birth to multiple litters of kittens‚ as well as the generations of offspring that unneutered males would have fathered.” She added‚ “Over time‚ that adds up to a massive‚ mind-boggling number—millions of cats that otherwise would have been born and struggling to survive on the streets.” A Mission of Compassion Jaquie‚ Karn‚ and Jackson‚ proud to be posing with Cloud. Founded in 2007 by Karn Myers and her late husband Mark Dodge‚ FixNation started as an all-volunteer program in 1999‚ sterilizing six cats on opening day. Currently‚ the clinic performs over 100 surgeries daily‚ sparing millions of cats from a life of hardship. Meet Cloud‚ the 250‚000th Cat To honor this milestone‚ a friendly female community cat named Cloud was chosen as the 250‚000th cat spayed or neutered at FixNation. Dr. Kiyoko Ishiwata performed the surgery. Luxe Paws founder Jacquie Navratil‚ the trapper who brought in Cloud‚ was presented with cat-themed merchandise donated by FixNation board members Jackson Galaxy and Kimberlie Hamilton‚ and a supply of food to aid street cats in downtown L.A. “Shelter Me” Episode Earlier in 2023‚ FixNation welcomed two-time Emmy-winning producer/director Steven Latham‚ who brought a film crew and spent the day filming for an upcoming “Shelter Me” episode on PBS. The episode documented the sterilization of 222 cats in a single day‚ and captured the dedication of FixNation’s team. “While other groups are decreasing funding for spay/neuter‚” Latham said‚ “FixNation is running into the burning building to help…. The love‚ compassion and respect that every single person at FixNation gives to these cats will restore your faith in humanity.” Funding Setbacks vs. High Demand With anywhere from 50 to 100 million stray cats roaming the streets and neighborhoods in the US‚ every major city has a feral cat population. The crisis will continue as long as our communities struggle to allocate the resources for animal control programs. “It’s a frustrating situation‚ as the clear solution for the cat population boom is mass sterilization. There simply aren’t enough homes out there for all the kitties that need them. Los Angeles will never adopt its way out of this crisis‚” Myers explained. Despite the organization’s staunch commitment to its mission‚ FixNation is currently facing serious funding obstacles. The clinic is expecting to fix over 17‚000 cats this year‚ and is experiencing a surge of appointment requests. This funding crisis has been exacerbated by economic challenges and a pivot in donor preferences toward foster and adoption programs. “Grants and private donations enabled us to fix 250‚000 cats thus far‚ yet now—at a time when our services are needed more than ever—our funding has plummeted‚” said Myers. “Only with adequate funding will we be able to continue our compassionate mission using the most natural means of population control‚ sterilization‚ the only humane and effective alternative to mass euthanasia.” Looking Forward Dr. Kiyoko Ishiwata DVM and Karn Myers of Fixnation FixNation’s pioneering Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) program stands firm at the frontlines of the battle against feline overpopulation. Based on the principles of high-volume/high-quality spay/neuter services‚ free TNR training‚ and loaning humane traps to the public‚ the organization will continue its mission one way or another. If you are interested in contributing toward their cause‚ visit www.fixnation.org The post FixNation’s Ongoing Crusade for Feline Wellness Reaches a Milestone: 250‚000th Fixed Feline! by Catster Editorial Team appeared first on Catster. Copying over entire articles infringes on copyright laws. You may not be aware of it‚ but all of these articles were assigned‚ contracted and paid for‚ so they aren't considered public domain. However‚ we appreciate that you like the article and would love it if you continued sharing just the first paragraph of an article‚ then linking out to the rest of the piece on Catster.com.

Former President Donald Trump revealed his strategy to pay down the national debt without touching entitlements‚ the global consequences of President Joe Biden’s exit from Afghanistan and other issues Tuesday night.  Trump had a live town hall with Fox News host Sean Hannity Tuesday night in Davenport‚ Iowa less than a month before the Iowa caucuses on Jan. 15.  The Trump town hall occurred one night before other Republican presidential candidates were set to square off in the fourth debate on Wednesday.  Here are the key highlights from the town hall event.  1. ‘You’re Not Going to be a Dictator‚ Are You?’ Hannity sited several left-leaning media outlets and Democrat politicians that claimed Trump sought to become a dictator if elected to a second term.  “They want to call you a dictator‚” Hannity said.  “To be clear‚ do you in any way have any plans whatsoever if reelected president to abuse power‚ to break the law‚ to use the government to go after people?” Hannity asked.  Trump responded by saying that is what the Biden administration is doing to him.  “Like they’re doing right now?” Trump said. “In the history of our country what’s happened to us‚ again‚ has never happened before over nonsense‚ over nothing‚ made up charges.” He noted that mob boss Al Capone was only indicted once.  “I got indicted four times. I wonder what my father and mother would say looking down‚” Trump said.  Trump talked about green energy schemes the Biden administration is pushing and pledged to make the U.S. energy independent.  “We are going to do things. We will close the border‚ day one. The border gets closed‚” Trump said. “Day one and a half we drill. Drill‚ baby‚ drill. Drill‚ drill‚ drill. And probably on day two we will get rid of this ridiculous electric car mandate.”  Hannity asked again‚ “You are not going to be a dictator‚ are you?” Trump joked: “I love this guy. He says‚ ‘You’re not going to be a dictator‚ are you? I say no‚ no‚ no‚ other than day one. We are closing the border and drilling‚ drilling‚ drilling. Other than that I am not a dictator.” The Biden campaign in an X post reposted by the Democratic National Committee‚ capitalized‚ asserting that Trump would be a dictator on day one. Trump: I will be a dictator on day one pic.twitter.com/d0otie4H6C— Biden-Harris HQ (@BidenHQ) December 6‚ 2023 2. Drilling Down the Debt Trump said drilling and energy independence would help pay down the national debt.  “We were doing energy‚ taking our liquid gold out of the ground at a rate that has never been seen before.” He said under his administration‚ the United States was producing as much oil as Saudi Arabia. Trump added‚ “We would have been paying off debt.” “We’ve never seen anything like it. We were starting to get along and then we got hit with the China virus‚” Trump said of the economy before the COVID-19 pandemic. “Some people think purposely. I don’t. I think it was incompetence. We were doing so much better than any other country ever and we got hit. I will tell you we would be paying that debt off now at levels never seen before. It’s a beautiful thing.” Hannity sought clarity.  “You are saying that you in a second term‚ you will push America to be the most energy dominant country on earth and that you can pay down that $34 trillion in debt and we won’t have a trillion dollar interest payment every year?” the host asked.  Trump said this would prevent needing to address Social Security. Entitlement spending is currently the largest driver of the national debt.  “You don’t have to touch Social Security‚” Trump said. “We have money laying in the ground far greater than anything we can do by hurting senior citizens with their Social Security.” 3. Afghanistan Consequences Trump blasted the Biden administration’s botched withdrawal from Afghanistan.  “We are a declining country. We are laughed at all over the world. People respected us three years ago and  you wouldn’t have Ukraine and Russia‚” Trump said. “You wouldn’t have had the attack on Israel. You wouldn’t have had that withdrawal.” Trump noted his administration would have exited Afghanistan differently.  “You would have withdrawn but we would have withdrawn from Afghanistan with tremendous strength and power. That’s the way I had it set up‚” Trump said. “In Afghanistan we didn’t lose a soldier. Many soldiers were being killed by snipers and others during the Obama administration and Biden was there. I guess he wasn’t doing so much other than collecting cash probably.” Trump noted that the Taliban had access to $85 billion in U.S. military equipment. He said this encouraged Russian President Vladimir Putin to invade Ukraine. “They have Americans that we didn’t even get out. It was like a surrender. After that Russia said‚ you know‚ these people are incompetent. They are overrated‚” Trump said. “They went in and attacked Ukraine. That never would have happened. I use to speak to Vladimir Putin. I was the apple of his eye. Ukraine‚ I said don’t do it. Don’t do it. I won’t tell you exactly‚ but it was tough. He said you wouldn’t do that. I said‚ yes‚ I will. No‚ you won’t do it. He didn’t believe me but he believe me 10%. That’s all he had to believe me and he didn’t do anything. He never did anything.” 4. Biden Corruption Allegations Hannity asked about the allegations of Biden family influence peddling. The House Oversight and Accountability Committee released bank records showing direct payments to Joe Biden before he was president linked to family business ventures.  The committee released bank records that showed at least $20 million went from foreign individual and entities to shell companies owned by Biden family members. Three House committees are conducting an impeachment inquiry into the Biden.  White House spokesman Ian Sams posted earlier Tuesday on X‚ formerly known as Twitter‚ that House Republicans are only seeking a Biden impeachment to have a win‚ as he linked to news coverage.  The Constitution: Impeachment is for high crimes and misdemeanors‚ bribery‚ and treason‚ reserved as a severe punishment of last resortToday’s extreme House Republicans: Impeachment is for us to “put a GOP win on the table for the base”per @FoxNews https://t.co/BZtW4bGSCs pic.twitter.com/dziAzfzZ5h— Ian Sams (@IanSams46) December 5‚ 2023 Hannity talked about the testimony of first son Hunter Biden’s business partner Devon Archer about Biden’s actions while he was vice president.  “We know according to Devon Archer he was on phone calls‚” Hannity said. “We know he was meeting with oligarchs like the former first lady of Moscow at Café Milano. It doesn’t seem to get the attention in the media that anything involving you gets. What is your reaction to both?” Trump talked about a double standard.  “Someone said you must be the most honest guy in the world. After all these years they saw my tax returns‚ they saw everything‚” Trump said.  Trump told Hannity that former Massachusetts Sen. Ted Kennedy‚ a Democrat who died in 2009‚ once told him that Biden was the dumbest of his colleagues.  Trump went on to talk about a double standard by media coverage of himself and Biden‚ and referenced the 2020 presidential debate.  “The media is fake. I came up with that term a long time ago and they won’t talk about it‚” Trump said. “If I did some of the things that he did‚ they would reinstitute the death penalty. OK. They don’t want to talk about it. When he gets paid $3.5 million from the mayor of Moscow’s wife. When I brought it up at a debate and Chris Wallace was moderating. How is he doing by the way? Not too good. What happened to Chris Wallace? I said why is he getting $3.5 million? I want to ask him that question. Chris Wallace interceded.” Trump added: “Now it’s a big subject. I talked about it literally three years ago. Why does all this money come in from China?” In February 2014‚ Russian billionaire Yelena Baturina transferred $3.5 million to Rosemont Seneca Thornton‚ a shell company with ties to Hunter Biden and his partner Devon Archer. Part of that was used to initially fund a new company account‚ Rosemont Seneca Bohai. In July‚ Archer testified to the House committee that while Biden was vice president‚ he showed up for a dinner with Hunter Biden’s business associates that included Baturina.  “During Joe Biden’s vice presidency‚ Hunter Biden sold him as ‘the brand’ to reap millions from oligarchs in Kazakhstan‚ Russia‚ and Ukraine‚” House Oversight and Accountability Chairman James Comer‚ R-Ky.‚ said in a public statement about the new bank records. “It appears no real services were provided other than access to the Biden network‚ including Joe Biden himself.” The Russian billionaire attended the dinner at Café Milano along with then-Vice President Joe Biden. George Mesires‚ a lawyer for Hunter Biden‚ told CNN that‚ “Hunter Biden had no interest in and was not a ‘co-founder’ of Rosemont Seneca Thornton‚ so the claim that he was paid $3.5 million is false.” Have an opinion about this article? To sound off‚ please email letters@DailySignal.com and we’ll consider publishing your edited remarks in our regular “We Hear You” feature. Remember to include the URL or headline of the article plus your name and town and/or state.   The post 4 Big Moments From Trump-Hannity Town Hall Event appeared first on The Daily Signal.

Western Happy Talk Is a Dangerous Business

Over the years‚ we've often singled out Willie Geist as a favorite member of the Morning Joe cast. Not only for his amiable personality‚ but also for his approach to politics that is more even-handed than the decidedly Dem tilt of Joe Scarborough and Mika Brzezinski.  There was even that moment in 2012 when Willie ventured into Manhattan's ultra-liberal West Side to "campaign" for John McCain. Sure‚ it was a light-hearted stunt‚ but it did say something about Geist's more open-minded approach to politics.  In more recent times‚ Geist has firmly made himself part of Morning Joe's anti-Trump movement. But we've viewed that as more a matter of Willie's reaction to Trump's persona‚ rather than of Geist's views on particular issues. But that seemed to change this morning. The show had on John Della Volpe‚ the director of polling at the Harvard Institute of Politics‚ to discuss the Institute's recent poll of young voters. A notable finding was strong support for abortion rights and for referenda establishing those rights in law‚ post-Dobbs. That's when Geist made his disappointing statement: "We talked about the issue of abortion. One of your key findings‚ pro-choice Americans more likely to vote on abortion ballot measures. If there is something on the ballot in their state‚ they'll go out and vote‚ ideally‚ for candidates‚ as well." So Willie wants young people not only to support pro-choice referenda‚ but pro-choice "candidates" as well. Sad. We can only hope that in saying that supporters of abortion-rights referenda will "ideally" also vote for "pro-choice" candidates‚ Geist‚ rather than expressing his personal view‚ was putting himself in the mindset of Democrat activists. It's true that Democrats have sought to put abortion referenda on the ballot in many states as a tactic to drive Dem-friendly voters to the polls.  Note: Della Volpe is hardly an objective observer‚ given that he worked on Biden's 2020 campaign. So his findings might be taken with a "liberal" grain of salt. Here's the transcript. MSNBC Morning Joe 12/5/23 6:49 am ET MIKA BRZEZINSKI: The Harvard youth poll shares several key findings‚ including fewer young Americans plan to vote in 2024. With most of the decline coming from young Republicans and independents.  President Biden's advantage with younger voters narrows when potential independent candidates are introduced‚ like RFK Jr.‚ Joe Manchin‚ and Cornell West. And with support for abortion access increasing over the last decade‚ Americans who support a woman's right to choose are more likely to vote on abortion ballot measures.  Joining us now‚ the director of polling at the Institute of Politics at Harvard University‚ John Della Volpe‚ he's an MSNBC contributor. . . .  JOHN DELLA VOLPE: This is an opportunity we had to speak to a couple of thousand young Americans. There's been a lot of conversation the last month or so looking at cross-tabs of a couple of hundred young Americans.  . . .  President Biden is in solid shape‚ I'd say‚ in a two-way matchup against President Trump today‚ one. The second thing is‚ as you can see‚ it gets much more complicated with multiple candidates‚ independent candidates in the field‚ specifically Bobby Kennedy‚ two. And the third thing is‚ as you can see‚ as you just noted‚ abortion continues to be an incredibly important issue in the post-Dobbs environment. And we see that folks who align with the pro-choice movement are far more likely to engage. Not just politically‚ but actually deriving where they choose to live when they grow up -- when they are ready to move and settle down in a career. . . .  WILLIE GEIST: We talked about the issue of abortion. One of your key findings here: pro-choice Americans more likely to vote on abortion ballot measures. If there's something on the ballot in their state‚ they'll go out and then vote‚ ideally‚ ideally vote for candidates as well. DELLA VOLPE: Yeah‚  we had a series of‚ we updated a series of questions on abortion generally. All this is available on ourwebsite‚ of course. We see an eight-point increase over the last four‚ five years in terms of overall support of abortion access generally. And when we asked people‚ if there were a referendum or a ballot measure in your state‚ how likely would you be to participate? You can see that the pro-choice group is far more likely than other people to say they'll turn out on a local issue. GEIST: Yeah‚ so about two-thirds‚ nearly two-thirds of young Americans say legal access to reproductive health care‚ including abortion‚ is important when choosing where they live. So obviously‚ the issue of abortion is going to be important here.

It was one thing to hear our friend Curtis Houck refer to MSNBC’s Deadline White House as “Rich Liberal Wine Mom Story Hour” but hoo boy‚ it’s entirely another to actually sit through an episode of this dreck. Beyond dreck‚ today's episode featured extremely dangerous rhetoric.  Today’s episode featured Nicolle Wallace hosting A HALF HOUR of Liz Cheney’s book tour: just a couple of Bush alumni doing the “look at us” meme‚ comparing the Capitol riot of January 6th‚ 2021 to the Al-Qaeda terrorist attack on September 11th‚ 2001‚ and as you’ll see in this clip below- bemoaning the lack of a domestic equivalent of the Patriot Act with which to persecute domestic political opponents. Click "expand" to view the transcript of this segment‚ as aired on MSNBC’s Deadline: White House on Tuesday‚ December 5th‚ 2023: https://www.mrctv.org/node/584245 NICOLLE WALLACE: Do you think -- I’ve asked people that study democracies the same question. And do you think that the violence is ahead or behind?  LIZ CHENEY: I think that it may well still be ahead. I think the fact that- that‚ you know‚ you begin with former President Trump and the extent to which he continues to make actually even more aggressive and more extreme attacks and claims‚ the kinds of things he knows caused violence on January 6th‚ you see- even if you look‚ for example‚ at what was going on in the Speaker's race‚ when Members of the House Republican conference were receiving threats if they weren't saying that they would vote for Jim Jordan‚ and in one of the most chilling reported episodes‚ and I talked to a member who was in this meeting‚ when members were saying to Jim Jordan‚ look‚ we're getting threats of violence if we don't support you. Warren Davidson of Ohio‚ a Jim Jordan supporter‚ reportedly responded and said “well‚ that's not Jim Jordan's fault. That's your fault.” And think about‚ you know‚ what that means. That acceptance of violence in our political system.  WALLACE: Well‚ I want to ask you what it means because I don't know if I read it and felt it- obviously‚ I read it and felt all of the parallels to this time of great threat to the country that we served in government at the same time‚ and that was post 9/11. But what's so disorienting about this chapter is not just that we have fewer tools to address this threat‚ but that it masquerades and it burrows in under legitimate functions: as Speaker of the House‚ the front runner for the Republican nomination. And I wonder if you can talk a little bit about what you see as the way forward.  CHENEY: Yeah. Um‚ you know‚ part of the challenge is that it is‚ as you point out‚ is very disorienting. You remember after 9/11‚ Republicans and Democrats together stood on the steps of the Capitol and sang "God Bless America." After the attack… WALLACE: And voted 100-0 or 99-0 on the Patriot Act. I mean‚ the tools were passed. Everyone agreed on them‚ and the enemy was clear. This is the opposite.  CHENEY: Well‚ and I think this is a situation where you have the Republican Party actively trying to ensure that people- actively trying to ensure- to whitewash what happened on the 6th. And to collaborate with the former president‚ I think that's a really important point. Because the threat that he poses wouldn’t be so significant if people had done the right thing‚ had said “no‚ he’s not…that’s not who we are.” But instead there’s obviously‚ there’s this embrace of him‚ and this collaboration with the very damaging efforts he’s undertaking.  The rhetoric advanced here is extremely dangerous‚ and the talk of violence will actually beget violence. It wasn’t that long ago that a deranged‚ MSNBC-binging Sandernista shot up a baseball field full of GOP congressmen‚ nearly killing Rep. Steve Scalise. The constant threat of violence and demonization of half the country as dangerous extremists may very well end up creating a permission structure for political violence towards conservatives.  Look very closely at the transcript. The proposal to emerge from this exchange is “tools” with which to “address the threat” from “enemies”‚ and “enemies” is defined as those who “collaborate with the former president”. That’s half the country. In very short order‚ we’ve gone from “bucket of deplorables” to denouncing half the country as domestic terrorists. Small wonder Cheney didn’t propose sending Trump voters to Gitmo. Authoritarianism is already here‚ under the guise of “protecting democracy”. Chilling.   

During a congressional hearing on Tuesday‚ Riley Gaines spoke out against allowing biological males to compete in women's sports‚ concluding her opening statement by calling out Democratic Rep. Summer Lee of Pennsylvania. Gaines said that if her testimony makes her "transphobic‚" then she thinks Lee's opening remarks make her a "misogynist."Shortly after the next witness began delivering remarks‚ Lee interrupted‚ and in what was apparently a reference to Gaines' comments‚ moved to get "the gentlewoman's words taken down." But shortly thereafter‚ Lee moved to withdraw the point of order.Lee had said during her opening statement that she expected to hear "transphobic bigotry" during the hearing.Gaines said that a school that knowingly permits a male to take a space on a women's team or to play in a women's game is denying an opportunity to a female and running afoul of Title IX. "Inclusion cannot be prioritized over safety and fairness‚" she said. Subcommittee on Health Care and Financial Services Hearing www.youtube.com Gaines is urging women to refuse to compete in events against biological males and offering to financially compensate those who miss out on money for taking such a stand. "Any woman who doesn't compete and loses out on prize money‚ I will happily pay the fee out of my own pocket. In any sport. Stop. Playing. Their. Game‚" she wrote when sharing an OutKick tweet about two transgender cyclists taking the top two finishes in women's races. — (@) Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors‚ sign up for our newsletters‚ and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

Republican Rep. Patrick McHenry of North Carolina has announced plans to retire from Congress after finishing his current term. By the time his term ends in early 2025‚ McHenry will have been serving in the House for two decades."I will be retiring from Congress at the end of my current term. This is not a decision I come to lightly‚ but I believe there is a season for everything and—for me—this season has come to an end‚" McHenry said in a statement. "I look forward to what the next season brings for my family and me."The lawmaker expressed optimism about the future of the House of Representatives."There has been a great deal of handwringing and ink spilled about the future of this institution because some—like me—have decided to leave. Those concerns are exaggerated‚" he asserted. "I've seen a lot of change over twenty years. I truly feel this institution is on the verge of the next great turn. Whether it's 1974‚ 1994‚ or 2010‚ we’ve seen the House evolve over time. Evolutions are often lumpy and disjointed‚ but at each stage‚ new leaders emerge. There are many smart and capable members who remain‚ and others are on their way. I'm confident the House is in good hands."Earlier this year‚ after Rep. Kevin McCarthy was ousted from his post as House speaker‚ McHenry acted as speaker pro tempore. Weeks after the removal of McCarthy‚ Rep. Mike Johnson (R-La.) was selected as the new House speaker. Former Green Beret Pat Harrigan has announced a bid to fill the congressional seat. "Harrigan brings seven-figure resources and has hired Congressman McHenry's former campaign Manager‚ Eduardo Andrade‚ to manage his campaign‚" a press release notes. — (@) Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors‚ sign up for our newsletters‚ and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!