To borrow from an old saying‚ nothing can be certain except for death and taxpayer funding for the abortion industry. At the request of pro-life members of Congress‚ the Government Accountability Office released the latest round of data detailing how much taxpayer funding goes to Planned Parenthood and other international abortion organizations. From 2019 through 2021‚ Planned Parenthood in the U.S. received $1.7 billion in taxpayer subsidies. Congress has been requesting GAO reports on Planned Parenthood’s public financing dating back to 1994. Over the last 29 years‚ American taxpayers have been on the hook for at least $7.9 billion in subsidies for Planned Parenthood’s dominance in the abortion industry. This all while the number of Planned Parenthood facilities has been declining yet its share of the abortion market has been increasing. When the GAO began publishing these reports in 1994‚ Planned Parenthood was receiving $163 million a year while performing around 9% of all abortions in the U.S. Now‚ as the federal government continues to increase the amount of taxpayer funding Planned Parenthood receives‚ it is now performing over 40% of all abortions in the U.S. The American Life League publishes annual surveys of the amount and kind of Planned Parenthood facilities in operation. The total number has been declining since 1995; however‚ the share of facilities that perform abortions is increasing. In 2021‚ Planned Parenthood had 567 facilities‚ of which 391 performed abortions. Most notable is the increase in chemical abortion-only (abortion pill) facilities‚ which now outnumber the facilities that perform surgical abortions. In 2021‚ American taxpayers paid an average of $1.4 million to each Planned Parenthood facility that performs abortions. Despite many positive executive actions to curb federal funding for the abortion industry under the Trump administration‚ Planned Parenthood still hauled in over $550 million each year from 2019-2021. One of the signature policy victories for the Trump administration was the Protect Life Rule‚ which properly interpreted the Title X Family Planning statute to require complete physical and financial separation between Title X clinics and abortion facilities. Planned Parenthood and other organizations receive Title X dollars specifically for the distribution of contraceptives and other family planning‚ not for abortions. After a lengthy court battle‚ this new rule went into effect in 2019. Rather than comply with the new standards and separate its business into abortion facilities and family planning clinics‚ Planned Parenthood chose abortion over helping women in need of family planning services and backed out of the Title X program altogether. In doing so‚ it sacrificed an estimated $60 million a year. Many abortion-friendly states stepped in to help make up the lost federal funds‚ and as this GAO report shows‚ Planned Parenthood more than made up the difference in Medicaid funds. In 2018‚ according to a previous GAO report‚ Planned Parenthood received $467 million from Medicaid. Its Medicaid funding jumped dramatically to around $530 million in both 2020 and 2021‚ an increase of $63 million each year. Medicaid funds to Planned Parenthood are not an annual grant like the Title X program‚ but rather as individual Planned Parenthood facilities perform Medicaid-eligible services like sexually transmitted disease tests or contraception prescriptions for individuals‚ they are reimbursed through Medicaid. This figure is constantly changing‚ depending on how many people on Medicaid use Planned Parenthood and what services they use it for. In the last few years‚ Medicaid reimbursements to the abortion giant have been trending upward. Interestingly‚ in November 2020‚ the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals upheld actions from Texas and Louisiana that prohibited Planned Parenthood from being a Medicaid-eligible provider after it was revealed it bought and sold aborted fetal tissue for profit. This was the first time that any state was able to successfully cut out Planned Parenthood completely from the Medicaid program. Despite this‚ the abortion chain was still able to haul in $530 million from Medicaid in 2021. This shows that no matter what federal or state policies are in place‚ if Planned Parenthood is still an eligible Medicaid provider in any state‚ it will continue to receive millions of dollars a year in taxpayer subsidies. This large increase in Medicaid funding starting in 2020 and 2021 could have been due to Planned Parenthood’s increased involvement in providing COVID-19 services and the increased federal match for Medicaid established in the CARES Act‚ which was a response to the pandemic. Another CARES Act program‚ the Paycheck Protection Program was yet another funding source that Planned Parenthood tapped into. That program provided taxpayer funding for businesses to keep paying their employees during the pandemic shutdowns. Despite Sen. Marco Rubio working with pro-life members in Congress to ensure the text of the CARES Act made clear that Planned Parenthood and its affiliates would not be eligible to receive Paycheck Protection Program loans‚ 38 Planned Parenthood affiliates applied for‚ received‚ and eventually were forgiven $90 million in loans. This was only possible because of a major failure by the Small Business Administration to not follow the clear intent of Congress to exclude Planned Parenthood. Planned Parenthood is an organization that has a known eugenics past‚ has proved to choose abortion ideology over serving its patients with family planning needs‚ and openly flouts federal law to receive taxpayer-guaranteed loans‚ and yet our elected representatives think it necessary to underwrite its bottom line. If only pro-life pregnancy resource centers had an ounce of the public backing and financial support as Planned Parenthood‚ they would be able to serve even more expecting mothers and their unborn children. Instead‚ the federal government has turned a blind eye to the physical threats of violence and vandalism these pro-life centers face‚ and some members of Congress openly attack them with visceral lies about the services they provide. In the end‚ no matter how many political or legislative victories the pro-life movement may have‚ the abortion industrial complex will be alive and well so long as the American taxpayer is forced to prop up this barbaric industry. 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 As Planned Parenthood’s Abortion Market Share Goes Up‚ So Does Its Taxpayer Funding appeared first on The Daily Signal.

A brewery that aims its beer at conservative consumers recently announced it will sell a 2024 calendar featuring “real” women who happen to be conservative. Models for the calendar marketed by Conservative Dad’s Ultra Right beer include former NCAA swimmer Riley Gaines‚ NRA spokeswoman Dana Loesch‚ businesswoman and former GOP congressional candidate Kimberly Klacik‚ and BlazeTV host Sara Gonzales. Conservative Dad’s Ultra Right brewery‚ founded in April during transgender TikTok personality Dylan Mulvaney’s controversial partnership with Bud Light‚ says it sells only “100% woke-free beer.” A noble and novel mission‚ yes. But Ultra Right’s new endeavor leaves much to be desired. Although I respect the tremendous work these women have done‚ and what the Ultra Right brand does to fight liberal nonsense‚ the brewery can‚ and must‚ do better. We don’t need a “conservative” version of Sports Illustrated’s celebrated swimsuit edition. In selling a calendar that includes soft porn in the name of celebrating “conservative women who are fighting woke extremists to preserve real women‚” Conservative Dad’s Ultra Right falls short.   Yes‚ conservative women are beautiful. Yes‚ “real” (and conservative) women look much different and are much easier on the eyes than a man masquerading as a woman‚ with the help of makeup‚ plastic surgeries‚ and fake body parts. But selling a collection of sexually explicit photos of women‚ even if the proceeds go to the worthiest of causes (10% of proceeds reportedly will go to the Riley Gaines Center to protect women’s sports) isn’t the way to go about it. Conservatives‚ representing a movement that is pro-life‚ pro-family‚ and pro-civil society‚ should never be inviting lust in any way‚ shape‚ or form. Yes‚ we can and should highlight the women who make our movement the strongest‚ best‚ most attractive movement in the world. But doing so by flaunting their bodies is absolutely not the way.  According to a 2014 report by Diverse: Issues in Higher Education‚ 79% of men between the ages of 18 and 30 view pornography monthly; 67% of men between 31 and 49 view it monthly; and 49% of men between 50 and 68 do so. Saddest of all‚ according to the report‚ men who say they are Christians watch pornography at work at the same rate as the national average. We live in a broken world‚ and my criticism isn’t meant to shame anyone who struggles with this issue‚ nor any of the women who chose to be part of this limited edition “calendar.” It is a call‚ however‚ to do better. Conservatives can’t expect to change our culture if we run the same plays as the Left does‚ be it to raise more money‚ get more clicks‚ grow our audience‚ or whatever. We can’t say we’re different from the woke Left if we do the same kinds of things it does‚ only with a different label. While not every photo in the “calendar” is sexually explicit‚ some are. We have become so callous as a society to the constant broadcasting of sex everywhere that we don’t even bat an eyelash anymore to sexual exploitation‚ especially if it’s “soft.” Most research indicates that boys are first exposed to pornography between ages 8 and 10. The conservative movement shouldn’t be responsible for facilitating the gateway to that exposure‚ even if it is for a good cause. Perhaps more disturbing‚ though‚ is the fact that this calendar is marketed to dads. Men should honor women‚ and fathers especially have a duty to honor the mother of their children‚ and to set an example for those children both in public and in private. Anything that invites lust is dishonoring. Conservatives who claim to love family‚ and pride themselves on being part of a movement that is going to change the culture‚ lose credibility in moments such as these. It’s hard to respect a movement that says it wants to protect women‚ build strong families‚ and change the culture when it does the same things that contribute to the downfall of the culture—but with “conservative” packaging.   The Left has no problem with sexually exploiting women to its own advantage‚ whether biological women or those who claim to “identify” as a woman. Women are sexually exploited to sell everything‚ from movies to food to clothes to alcoholic beverages—you name it‚ it’s been done. As conservatives‚ we shouldn’t stoop to that level. Women are more than their parts‚ as beautiful as they are. Why not honor them by showing off what they do‚ rather than objectifying their beauty? True masculinity honors women. We can’t say we’re trying to build a more civil society with strong families‚ strong marriage‚ and strong communities when we encourage the very thing that often destroys relationships‚ marriages‚ and families. Pornography is a “quiet family killer‚” according to research featured in the Huffington Post (of all places) that was conducted by Patrick Fagan‚ senior fellow and director of the Marriage and Religion Research Institute at The Catholic University. Although Fagan’s research found that watching pornography does indeed contribute to infidelity‚ the pornography addiction of a spouse “was a factor in 56% of divorces.” We can do better. If we truly want to change the culture‚ build strong families‚ and eliminate wokeness‚ we must. The Daily Signal publishes a variety of perspectives. Nothing written here is to be construed as representing the views of The Heritage Foundation. 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 Conservative Women Shouldn’t Be Calendar Girls for a Beer Company. We Can Do Better. appeared first on The Daily Signal.

A cute kitten showed everyone she was perfect and wanted to be held all day when she arrived at an animal rescue. Goji the kittentheOddCatSanctuaryWhen Goji the kitten and her siblings came to an animal rescue‚ staff noticed she looked a bit different. She was much smaller and had a nose shaped like a butterfly.They soon realized that Goji needed specialized care and reached out to the Odd Cat Sanctuary for help. "They asked us if we would be interested in taking her on. She required more care than her siblings‚ and they knew we would do anything for our odd cats‚" the Odd Cat Sanctuary shared with Love Meow."Without hesitation‚ we said yes. The moment we met her‚ she was a larger-than-life personality that wanted to be held and loved." She immediately demanded cuddles from peopletheOddCatSanctuaryUpon arrival‚ Goji was an instant cuddle bug‚ demanding attention from everyone around her. She produced the cutest squeaky meows and the softest purrs that no one could resist.Despite being pint-sized‚ Goji was a force of nature and immediately settled into her new space. Goji loved her food and quickly settled in her new spacetheOddCatSanctuaryShe went straight to her food bowl and filled her belly to the brim. When she was ready for a nap‚ she lay down beside her faux mama (a snuggle toy with a heartbeat) and purred herself to sleep.Goji was six weeks old and very small for her age‚ but what she lacked in size‚ she made up for in personality. She's never met a stranger and wants attention and cuddles all the timetheOddCatSanctuaryAt her initial vet appointment‚ Goji captivated the hearts of the entire veterinary staff and indulged in their cuddles. "Everyone that met her at the appointment was so taken with her. She's so cute‚ and it's hard to put into words."Goji has hydrocephalus and congenital abnormalities‚ which give her the butterfly-shaped nose. She walks with an endearing‚ wobbly gait and can hold a conversation. Goji prefers doing everything while being heldtheOddCatSanctuaryAt this time‚ the little tuxedo requires no additional treatments. "The neurologist feels she has a great prognosis. We are thrilled with this news."Goji insists on sleeping‚ playing‚ grooming‚ and cruising around the house in her carer's arms. She would stay cuddled all day if she could. theOddCatSanctuaryShe enjoys being cradled like a baby‚ even when she bats at a toy. After each meal‚ Goji demands to be picked up so she can wash her face while being held.Loud‚ playful‚ and utterly irresistible‚ Goji is a tiny firecracker‚ lighting up the room with every meow. She is very small for her age but loves to eat and playtheOddCatSanctuary"She is the sweetest soul and determined to show the world that different is okay. She loves to be held‚ play‚ and eat snacks. She's super vocal and will let you know when she wants attention." She may be tiny but has a big personalitytheOddCatSanctuaryWith proper care and plenty of love‚ Goji is thriving as a rambunctious bundle of joy. She may be tiny‚ but her personality is mighty. Goji likes to be babied constantlytheOddCatSanctuaryGoji still has much growing to do and feline skills to hone. She tackles food with her voracious appetite and is determined to do everything just like other kittens. Goji is thriving in foster care‚ living each day to the fullesttheOddCatSanctuaryShare this story with your friends. More on Goji the kitten and the Odd Cat Sanctuary on Instagram and Facebook.Related story: Stray Cat Comes Up to People Asking for Attention‚ Now He's a 'Giant Bear' Obsessed with Face Rubs

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Three members of a Muslim family in Tennessee have been arrested after they allegedly attacked a minor family member for converting to Christianity.On December 11‚ police went to a Nashville-area residence to conduct a welfare check after an employer had called to report concerns about an employee‚ a boy who was still a minor. When police arrived‚ they reportedly found the boy "trembling and wide eyed" and his hair "disheveled."The boy told the authorities that his parents — 57-year-old Nick Kadum and 46-year-old Rawaa Khawaji — and his older brother‚ 29-year-old John Kadum‚ had physically assaulted him for converting to Christianity. The boy claimed all three "repeatedly punched him and spat in his face‚" an arrest report said.The boy also accused his mother of having cut him with a knife. "He stated his mother then took a knife and scratched the back of his right hand with it‚" the arrest report said. Police also noted that the boy appeared to have been "cut haphazardly" and had lumps on his face‚ though it is unclear which suspect may have inflicted those wounds.The boy‚ clearly shaken‚ indicated to police that the assault had continued almost until the moment law enforcement arrived at the home."He stated his family‚ including his mother‚ demanded he recant and say he was a Muslim‚" the arrest report read. The parents and the older son were arrested without incident. Nick and John Kadum were charged with domestic assault‚ while Khawaji was charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. All three have since been released. When they are next scheduled to appear in court is unclear.The boy had been taken to a nearby hospital for treatment for his injuries. His current condition is unknown. No reports have indicated whether the boy has been removed from the home and‚ if so‚ with whom he might be staying.Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors‚ sign up for our newsletters‚ and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

Some motorists on Los Angeles' southbound 110 Freeway weren't about to put up with a line of pro-Palestinian protesters blocking them in the middle of Wednesday morning's rush — and angry drivers exited their cars and got physical with the leftists.In the below video‚ motorists are seen grabbing protesters' signs and tossing them away‚ dragging them from the line they formed stretching across the freeway lanes — and one driver is seen wrestling a protester on the hood of a car before knocking him to the freeway surface.Content warning: Language: — (@) Here's another angle: A frustrated 110 Freeway driver fights with protestors as rush hour traffic is stopped on the roadwa youtu.be KNBC-TV reported that the actions of the protesters — calling for an Israel-Hamas war ceasefire in Gaza — brought morning traffic to a halt for more than an hour after they linked arms around 9 a.m.Backups extended to nearby streets and freeways‚ the station said‚ adding that traffic on the southbound 110 was jammed for miles‚ well past Interstate 5.California Highway Patrol officers began taking people into custody just before 10 a.m.‚ KNBC said‚ adding that most of the protesters were removed by 10:30 a.m.The station said several cars appeared to have stalled due to mechanical problems‚ which added to "traffic headaches." Tow trucks removed the vehicles‚ KNBC noted.Police said 75 people were arrested‚ but it wasn't immediately clear whether all of them were protesters‚ the station said.The 110 Freeway connects downtown Los Angeles with Long Beach to the south and San Gabriel Valley communities to the northeast‚ KNBC explained.The Los Angeles Times in its report on the protest called the 110 "one of the most notoriously congested thoroughfares in Los Angeles."Pro-Palestinian protesters pulled the same stunt last month up north on the Bay Bridge — which connects San Francisco and Oakland — then proceeded to throw their car keys into the water below‚ forcing their vehicles to be towed. Protesters block 110 Freeway in downtown L.A. demanding cease-fire in Gaza youtu.be Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors‚ sign up for our newsletters‚ and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

Dramatic police bodycam video shows a Florida man fighting off being tased and dragging a deputy nearly 50 feet while the suspect and officer were handcuffed. Around 7:15 p.m. On Dec. 11‚ police attempted to serve an active warrant to Keon Hodge in Tampa‚ Florida. Hodge fiercely resisted being arrested‚ but officers were able to get a handcuff on one of his hands. While resisting‚ deputies with the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office tased Hodge‚ but they did not affect the suspect. Bodycam footage shows Hodge dragging a female deputy approximately 50 feet by his handcuffed wrist. Hodge fled the crime scene and was able to outrun the female officer. The 28-year-old suspect managed to hide in a building on a car lot. The manhunt quickly intensified when the aviation unit with the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office was called in to locate the runaway suspect. The police helicopter operator was able to spot Hodge.Deputies with a K-9 unit were directed by the aviation unit to the building where Hodge was hiding. The police dog located Hodge hiding behind a hot water heater. Hodge was arrested and hit with nine charges. He was charged with three counts of resisting an officer with violence‚ battery on a law enforcement officer‚ prisoner escape or attempt to escape‚ criminal mischief $1‚000 or more‚ burglary of an unoccupied structure‚ trespass on property other than structure or conveyance‚ and failure to obey written promise to appear.Hodge's bond was set at $17‚500. Sheriff Chad Chronister said in a statement‚ "When it comes to teamwork‚ it couldn’t be better displayed than what these deputies showed. After this man violently rejected the first attempt at his arrest‚ he now will face additional consequences for his despicable actions."Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors‚ sign up for our newsletters‚ and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here! Battery on LEO December 11‚ 2023 www.youtube.com

A stunning video showed what happened when a gang of thugs tried a smash-and-grab robbery at a California store where an armed elderly man worked. Surveillance video showed the group running into the Estates Consignments on Contra Costa Boulevard in Pleasant Hill before the man appears in frame with his .38-caliber revolver. 73-year-old Albert Marcu told KTVU-TV that he believes a woman who came into the store prior to the group was a scout for them. She was seen trying to keep a security guard from shutting a door in order to let the group inside. The video shows the gang of young males running into the store‚ one of whom was carrying a sledgehammer. As soon as Marcu pulled out his gun‚ the thieves fell to the floor and ran out of the store. "I showed them my gun‚ and I told them to stop it‚ I have a gun‚" said Marcu‚ who manages the store. One of the thugs tripped after plowing into a chair on the way out. The would-be thieves rushed into two Infiniti Q50 vehicles‚ one black and one white‚ but they were immediately confronted by police. They were alerted to their presence by a license plate reader that reported the presence of a stolen vehicle. Although police had responded quickly‚ the two vehicles were able to drive off and escape. Marcu said he was absolutely prepared to use lethal force to protect himself and the other employees of the store. "If they threaten my life or the life of my employees‚ I'll use the gun‚ hundred percent‚" he said. He said that other stores have been hit in the area‚ and he wanted to make an example of the thugs. "I didn’t want to shoot anybody‚ but I have to make a statement. Too many bad things have happened. Stores get robbed left and right‚" he added. "I have a message for all business owners‚ to take example and fight for themselves‚ because if you don’t fight for yourself‚ nobody will." Pleasant Hill is a suburb of Oakland with a population of about 34‚000 people. Here's the video of the incident: Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors‚ sign up for our newsletters‚ and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!