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.    

Kate Micucci announced in a video on social media that she has undergone lung cancer surgery.In her announcement‚ she quipped that her video was "a sick tok‚" rather than a TikTok. She noted that she has never smoked cigarettes.In response to someone who commented on her post‚ Micucci explained‚ "I had one thing in my bloodwork that came back really high. So I went to a preventative doc who did a few scans." She noted that a heart scan is "where the spot in my lung was noticed."According to IMDb‚ Micucci acted in multiple episodes of "The Big Bang Theory" and in one episode of "Psych." She has also done voice acting‚ including serving as the voice for the character Velma in "Scooby-Doo!" content.In addition to acting‚ Micucci has also created art and music. "I found a lost dog while I was walking to school. And that inspired the first song I ever wrote. Brandy‚ Lost Dog in the City. It's on my album MY HAT! I love you Brandy!" Micucci wrote when sharing a video in which she performed the song. @katiemicucci I found a lost dog as I was walking to school. Her tag said BRANDY. This song is on my album My Hat! I love you Brandy. ❤️ 🐶 #lostdog #fyp #foryoupage #katemicucci #firstsong #fypã‚·ã‚šviral #dog In the description on YouTube of another song titled "You Got a Bike‚" Micucci noted‚ "I wrote this Christmas song while loopy on painkillers after getting 5 wisdom teeth out. Unlike my teeth‚ this song will get stuck in your head. Sing along!"Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors‚ sign up for our newsletters‚ and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

A year of painstaking micro-excavations of soil blocks recovered from the 7th century bed burial unearthed near the village of Harpole‚ Northamptonshire‚ in April 2022‚ has revealed new details about the burial and its exceptional furnishings. The gold‚ glass and gemstone necklace with its 30 pendants has been cleaned‚ uncovering the intricacy of the goldsmithing and the brilliant colors of the glass and gems. The central pendant is a large square inlaid garnet and gold spirals‚ reminiscent of many of the pieces in the Staffordshire Hoard. Here are photographs of the necklace before and after cleaning: Comparing the after photograph to the digital reconstruction made in 2022‚ I’d say they were pretty much dead-on. The unique silver pectoral cross is still in the process of being liberated from its soil enclosure. Archaeologists are excavating it extremely slowly because of its complexity and fragility. A central cross is decorated with a smaller gold cross‚ which has a large garnet and four smaller garnets. At the end of each arm are smaller circular crosses made of silver‚ with garnet and gold centres. These are very similar to the pectoral crosses found in other high status female burials from this time‚ including the Trumpington burial. The use of these crosses within one larger cross‚ however‚ is unique and suggests the individual may have held a very special position within the Christian community. Through micro-excavating the feature‚ our conservators have revealed it is mostly made of extremely thin sheets of silver attached to wood‚ its corroded surface barely distinguishable from the surrounding soil. We hope to identify the type of wood used‚ and better understand how the cross was constructed. The laboratory excavation has also found more skeletal remains of the high-status woman buried in the grave. In the initial in situ excavation‚ only a few partial teeth were discovered‚ but one of the soil blocks recovered from the dig turned out to contain more parts of the skeleton: an upper femur‚ a piece of the pelvic bone‚ vertebrae‚ part of a hand and wrist. The bones were pinned under a crushed copper dish that had been buried with the deceased. The copper prevented the usual decomposition process of the organic remains. Our specialists are continuing to analyse and piece together the story of the Harpole Burial. As well as getting a better understanding of the items recovered and individual buried‚ it is hoped that scientific techniques may reveal more about funerary rituals at the time. This potentially includes studying tiny fragments of organic matter‚ which may hold clues as to what the person was wearing and the types of materials they were lying on.

It comes as a surprise to most Americans that the federal government owns nearly one-third of the nation’s land mass‚ in excess of 640 million acres. (It also owns 1.7 billion acres of the Outer…

We are shook.

Another reason to keep your cat inside.

It just... vanished.

On Tuesday‚ Volodymyr Zelensky was in Washington with his hand out‚ and specifically he’s interested in another $60 billion of your money on top of the $100 billion he and his people already have. So far‚ Zelensky’s asks haven’t received much in the way of answers. It’s almost like Uncle Sam isn’t interested in playing Uncle Santa — or worse‚ Uncle Santa has checked his list and found Zelensky naughty this Christmas. The real problem Ukraine has in getting that $60 billion in military and intragovernmental aid from the U.S. Congress isn’t Zelensky’s pitch‚ and it isn’t the weariness of the American people over an inconclusive war nearly two years in duration at this point. The problem Zelensky has is Joe Biden — to the extent that Joe Biden even truly exists anymore. The kind of money we’re talking about here is over the top‚ after all. Spending $160 billion in less than two years on Ukraine would be more lavish than even the money we spent on allies in World War II. For example‚ the massive aid we gave to the Soviet Union from 1941–45 under the Lend-Lease program totaled $11.3 billion‚ or about $180 billion in today’s money. All of Lend-Lease‚ which included aid to 30 different countries‚ was $50 billion over four years. The Marshall Plan rebuilt Western Europe for $13.2 billion‚ or close to $200 billion in today’s money‚ and that was over four years from 1948–52. And what do we have to show for the $100 billion we’ve already spent? Well‚ we’ve attrited the Russian Army to a significant extent‚ though the Russians have rearmed and might be better equipped now than they previously were because of the new gear they’re supplying their forces. They’ve suffered massive personnel losses‚ which is something. Meanwhile‚ Ukraine has been decimated both militarily and with respect to its civilian population. Millions of Ukrainians are refugees all over Europe and elsewhere in the world‚ and many of that country’s cities have been pummeled into dust. And we have a stalemate‚ with the Russians holding much of the Donbas region‚ which was disputed territory in the first place‚ plus a chunk of southwestern Ukraine and Crimea‚ which Russia had already taken from Ukraine nearly a decade ago. This past spring‚ the Ukrainians were supposed to clear the Russians out of their territory with a major offensive. That didn’t happen. It now seems largely impossible for Ukraine to gain back those territories without the war escalating into World War III. Which is something in the interest neither of the United States nor anyone else in NATO. It’s also not in Russia’s interest‚ but we’re two years into listening to the fantastical promises of our ruling class that Vladimir Putin will suddenly lose his taste for blood and scurry back within his own borders due to threats from Washington or Brussels. Everybody knows those are the contours of the situation. Everybody also knows this is going to be settled at the peace table. Now‚ you might believe that we should continue bankrolling the Ukrainian side of the conflict until the Russians are driven out of that country. At this point‚ what you have to articulate is how exactly that will happen. Not specifically. Generally. Is it going to happen as a function of military victories that push the Russian army out? Or will it happen through peace negotiations? If it’s the former‚ are you suggesting that we send in American forces? You’re going to have to recognize that American boots on the ground in Ukraine is a nonstarter with both the American people and Congress‚ so that suggestion isn’t realistic‚ and regardless of the dumb statements of Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin last week‚ deploying Americans for combat in Ukraine is not a viable threat to squeeze that $60 billion out of Congress. Further‚ right now‚ it doesn’t seem as though the Ukrainians are capable of much in the way of offensive action that would produce a restoration of the 1991 borders. Does that change with another $60 billion? How does that work? And in the latter case‚ meaning peace negotiations to restore those borders‚ will $60 billion in new aid to Ukraine scare Putin into giving up his current gains at the peace table? Nobody really believes that. Offering up some other guarantee or consideration might do that‚ or it might not‚ but simply committing to fund a stalemate indefinitely wouldn’t seem to change the situation in a positive way. We’re going through this mental exercise‚ some of which you might not agree with‚ and that’s fine‚ because the president of the United States clearly will not. We are getting nothing from Joe Biden or any of his people — not Lloyd Austin‚ not Jake Sullivan‚ not Antony Blinken‚ and not Chuck Schumer or Hakeem Jeffries — to indicate they’ve even contemplated what benefit that $60 billion will be to the war effort or what an endgame looks like. Biden certainly didn’t bring any of that to the table on Tuesday. I can’t even say what he offers; the man was utterly insensate during that press conference. To wit: Biden‚ reading directly from a pre-written notecard‚ says if Republicans don't drop their push for border security‚ it'd be "the greatest Christmas gift they could possibly give" Putin pic.twitter.com/yZRn80547t — RNC Research (@RNCResearch) December 12‚ 2023 What does that mean? If the Ukrainians don’t get the $60 billion‚ their front will collapse before Christmas and Putin will march into Kyiv? If that’s true‚ then why are we just finding out about it now? Maybe the situation really is serious. After all‚ Biden noted that he’s raiding the Pentagon’s munition stockpile for another $200 million in missiles and other hardware to give to Zelensky: Biden tells the press to "hush up‚" announces he "just signed another $200 million drawdown from the Department of Defense for Ukraine‚" then sits and stares as his handlers remove the press from the room pic.twitter.com/pKto8y4KMt — RNC Research (@RNCResearch) December 12‚ 2023 And if it really is this dire‚ then shouldn’t Biden be willing to give in on border security measures that House Republicans have made clear are far more important to them than more billions to fund a stalemate in Ukraine? If I was Joe Biden‚ I would damned sure be willing to give in to a partisan demand for something the American people overwhelmingly want‚ something that is contributing to my atrocious approval rating‚ in order to prevent presiding over losing not just one war (Afghanistan) but two. It seems like a no-brainer‚ and yet Biden comes off as a no-brainer in his own right. This was not a good moment: Biden says securing our border is an "extreme Republican partisan agenda" pic.twitter.com/PkaxfLzxAO — RNC Research (@RNCResearch) December 12‚ 2023 That’s gibberish. He’s trying to convince the American people to support $60 billion in funding to restore Ukraine’s eastern border instead of some likely smaller figure to preserve our southern border — which has been invaded by exponentially more people than have invaded Ukraine. Who is this supposed to persuade? And who is this supposed to persuade? Joe Biden says "a host of a Kremlin-run-show" praised Republicans for blocking Ukraine aid. pic.twitter.com/EBcsDGvmwJ — Townhall.com (@townhallcom) December 12‚ 2023 It’s hard to imagine that our foreign policy priorities have descended to the point that we’re aiming to make Russian talk show hosts sad. Whatever happened to the idea of making a deal with your own countrymen to get a consensus for what you want? Perhaps the real question is whether Biden is capable of making such a deal. Or whether he’s capable of much of anything. This isn’t very encouraging: BIDEN: "We also need Ukraine to make changes to fix the broken immigration system here—" pic.twitter.com/LQh6xJrMS9 — RNC Research (@RNCResearch) December 12‚ 2023 Nor is this: Biden gets lost reading his pre-written script pic.twitter.com/NLezUCIP3i — RNC Research (@RNCResearch) December 12‚ 2023 He doesn’t know what he’s talking about‚ and this is with a script he’s reading from. It looks like our Ukraine policy‚ like our Israel policy and our border policy‚ is rudderless. Know why? Because it is. Joe Biden isn’t in charge. That’s obvious. So who is? As I note in Racism‚ Revenge and Ruin: It’s All Obama (which‚ by the way‚ makes a splendiforous holiday gift)‚ the most likely figure is Biden’s old boss Barack Obama. After all‚ virtually everything that happens in the Biden administration is simply the logical extension of things Obama put in place. And that includes Ukraine — whether it’s making an American puppet of the government of that country while agitating the Russians‚ turning Ukraine into a money-laundering outfit for defense contractors and other ruling-class fatcats and presiding over the loss of Ukrainian territory when Putin smelled American weakness behind all of that bluster. Obama never made a case to the American people on behalf of the Ukrainians‚ either. And he never made a case to Republicans for anything. Remember Obamacare‚ and how simply forcing things down the throats of his political enemies was Obama’s brand? That’s the real telltale sign from Tuesday’s abysmal press conference — and some proof that this is an Obama redux administration. Do you really think a Joe Biden of sound mind would have much difficulty agreeing to Republican demands for border security to save his Eastern European laundromat? Biden‚ the most transactional politician in America (that’s not meant as a compliment‚ by the way) over the last half-century? The younger Biden would blow that money out of the treasury to stop up the border in no time flat — in the knowledge that‚ as soon as he was reelected (on the strength of a “successful” Ukraine war effort and “getting control” of the border)‚ he could throw the whole thing open again and let in even more illegals with nobody to stop him for the next four years. You’d think he would be happy as a pig in slop to run that bait-and-switch on the electorate while boasting of his ability to work across the aisle. But he’s not doing that. Instead‚ he’s playing chicken with the Republicans — and they’ve clearly got the better vehicle. That kind of intransigence? It’s pure Obama. It isn’t Biden. In fact‚ as Tuesday showed‚ there isn’t a Biden anymore. He’s just an avatar‚ a shill. And until somebody makes an honest case for what that money for Ukraine buys us and where this thing is going‚ rather than berating us with threats and insults‚ not a dime more should be spent on this war. READ MORE: The Further Ridiculous Lies of Joseph Robinette Biden On Foreign Policy‚ Dirty Joe Piles Up the Ls Biden Is Bankrolling the Ayatollahs The post It’s Joe Biden’s Fault He Can’t Get the Ukraine Funding appeared first on The American Spectator | USA News and Politics.