westernjournal--2020-12-29--Georgia GOP Senators Join Push for $2,000 Stimulus Checks

Georgia GOP Sens .
Kelly Loeffler and David Perdue , who are both facing Democratic challengers in next week ’ s Senate runoffs , said Tuesday they support $ 2,000 direct payments to Americans .
CBS News reported the House voted Monday to pass legislation to bolster previously agreed-upon $ 600 coronavirus stimulus payments to $ 2,000 .
The fate of those payments remains to be seen , however , as Republican Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell blocked an attempt from Democratic Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer of New York to increase the payments by a unanimous vote Tuesday afternoon @ @ @ @ @ @ @ larger payments is now bipartisan after President Donald Trump said last week that $ 600 per person was not enough .
Fox News reported that democratic socialist Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont intends to keep the Senate in its current session by filibustering until the chamber takes up the issue of the larger payments .
Tensions are running high this week as the Senate may also be looking to override Trump ’ s veto on the defense spending bill ( the same bill Sanders has said he will filibuster ) , after the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
A report from Politico suggested Sanders might be partially motivated to take that route to keep Loeffler and Perdue off of the campaign trail before the Georgia runoffs on Jan. 5 .
If both senators lose their races , and if presumptive President-elect Joe Biden is sworn in later this month , the GOP will lose its Senate majority by virtue of presumptive Vice President-elect Kamala Harris being the potential tie-breaking vote .
But both Loeffler and Perdue signaled they were in agreement with Democrats , the president and several GOP colleagues @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Raphael Warnock and Jon Ossoff , both support the larger sum for Americans , according to Newsweek .
Loeffler and Warnock are neck and neck in the polls , as are Perdue and Ossoff , according to each race ’ s RealClearPolitics polling aggregate .
Perdue told Fox News on Tuesday he is in complete agreement with Trump on the issue of the $ 2,000 direct payments .
“ I think with the vaccine coming , I think this is absolutely appropriate , so I fully support what the president ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Perdue also retweeted Trump and commented , “ President @ realdonaldtrump is right — I support this push for $ 2,000 in direct relief for the American people.
” Also on Tuesday , Loeffler took to social media to call for the larger payments for Americans .
“ I agree with @ realDonaldTrump — we need to deliver $ 2,000 direct relief checks to the American people , ” she wrote .
Support to amend the relief bill to include $ 2,000 direct payments continues to grow among GOP senators .
Sen. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on his website Monday calling for the $ 2,000 amount , and effectively asked his colleagues to suspend their concerns about the national debt .
“ I share many of my colleagues ’ concern about the long-term effects of additional spending , but we can not ignore the fact that millions of working class families across the nation are still in dire need of relief , ” he said .
“ Congress should quickly pass legislation to increase direct payments to Americans to $ 2,000.
” Sen. Josh Hawley of Missouri , who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reiterated his support Tuesday for bolstering financial relief for Americans .
“ Working Americans have borne the brunt of this pandemic .
They ’ ve been hammered , through no fault of their own .
They deserve $ 2000 in # covid relief — a fraction of what the banks & big business got .
Let ’ s vote now , ” Hawley tweeted .
Trump first called for $ 600 payments to be increased last week after the sum was initially agreed upon by Congress .
“ I am asking Congress to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ low $ 600 to $ 2,000 or $ 4,000 for a couple , ” he said .
Trump referred to the $ 600 payments included in the bill as a “ disgrace.
” We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism .
Read our editorial standards .

Georgia GOP Sens. Kelly Loeffler and David Perdue, who are both facing Democratic challengers in next week’s Senate runoffs, said Tuesday they support $2,000 direct payments to Americans.
CBS News reported the House voted Monday to pass legislation to bolster previously agreed-upon $600 coronavirus stimulus payments to $2,000.
The fate of those payments remains to be seen, however, as Republican Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell blocked an attempt from Democratic Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer of New York to increase the payments by a unanimous vote Tuesday afternoon, CNBC reported.
Support for the larger payments is now bipartisan after President Donald Trump said last week that $600 per person was not enough. Fox News reported that democratic socialist Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont intends to keep the Senate in its current session by filibustering until the chamber takes up the issue of the larger payments.
Tensions are running high this week as the Senate may also be looking to override Trump’s veto on the defense spending bill (the same bill Sanders has said he will filibuster), after the House opted to do so on Monday.
A report from Politico suggested Sanders might be partially motivated to take that route to keep Loeffler and Perdue off of the campaign trail before the Georgia runoffs on Jan. 5. If both senators lose their races, and if presumptive President-elect Joe Biden is sworn in later this month, the GOP will lose its Senate majority by virtue of presumptive Vice President-elect Kamala Harris being the potential tie-breaking vote.
But both Loeffler and Perdue signaled they were in agreement with Democrats, the president and several GOP colleagues on Tuesday. Their respective Democratic opponents, Raphael Warnock and Jon Ossoff, both support the larger sum for Americans, according to Newsweek.
Loeffler and Warnock are neck and neck in the polls, as are Perdue and Ossoff, according to each race’s RealClearPolitics polling aggregate.
Perdue told Fox News on Tuesday he is in complete agreement with Trump on the issue of the $2,000 direct payments.
“I think with the vaccine coming, I think this is absolutely appropriate, so I fully support what the president’s doing right now,” he said.
Perdue also retweeted Trump and commented, “President @realdonaldtrump is right — I support this push for $2,000 in direct relief for the American people.”
President @realdonaldtrump is right — I support this push for $2,000 in direct relief for the American people. https://t.co/Al3USM7zPr — David Perdue (@Perduesenate) December 29, 2020
Also on Tuesday, Loeffler took to social media to call for the larger payments for Americans.
“I agree with @realDonaldTrump — we need to deliver $2,000 direct relief checks to the American people,” she wrote.
I agree with @realDonaldTrump — we need to deliver $2,000 direct relief checks to the American people. — Kelly Loeffler (@KLoeffler) December 29, 2020
Support to amend the relief bill to include $2,000 direct payments continues to grow among GOP senators.
Do you support $2,000 direct relief payments for Americans? Yes No
Completing this poll entitles you to The Western Journal news updates free of charge. You may opt out at anytime. You also agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use Yes: 89% (91 Votes) No: 11% (11 Votes)
Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida issued a statement on his website Monday calling for the $2,000 amount, and effectively asked his colleagues to suspend their concerns about the national debt.
“I share many of my colleagues’ concern about the long-term effects of additional spending, but we cannot ignore the fact that millions of working class families across the nation are still in dire need of relief,” he said.
“Congress should quickly pass legislation to increase direct payments to Americans to $2,000.”
Sen. Josh Hawley of Missouri, who has long supported large direct payments, reiterated his support Tuesday for bolstering financial relief for Americans.
“Working Americans have borne the brunt of this pandemic. They’ve been hammered, through no fault of their own. They deserve $2000 in #covid relief — a fraction of what the banks & big business got. Let’s vote now,” Hawley tweeted.
Working Americans have borne the brunt of this pandemic. They’ve been hammered, through no fault of their own. They deserve $2000 in #covid relief – a fraction of what the banks & big business got. Let’s vote now — Josh Hawley (@HawleyMO) December 29, 2020
Trump first called for $600 payments to be increased last week after the sum was initially agreed upon by Congress.
“I am asking Congress to amend this bill and increase the ridiculously low $600 to $2,000 or $4,000 for a couple,” he said. Trump referred to the $600 payments included in the bill as a “disgrace.”
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westernjournal--2020-12-29--A Century After Prohibition, Owners Makes Huge Discovery Behind Their Home’s Walls

Two men who moved into a century-old old home in upstate New York a little more than a year ago got a physical reminder of the country ’ s past while doing renovation work in the fall .
And it held a lesson for the country ’ s present and future , too .
Nick Drummond and his partner , Patrick Bakker , knew their fixer-upper in Ames , New York , was thought to have belonged to a German bootlegger .
But when they discovered more than 60 bottles labeled “ Old Smuggler Gaelic whisky ” while revamping the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and full of the liquid — the men knew the stories were true .
The discovery confirmed the tale Drummond and Bakker were told when they purchased the house .
“ OUR WALLS ARE BUILT OF BOOZE !
I can ’ t believe the rumors are true !
He was actually a bootlegger !
I mean I thought it was a cute story , but the builder of our house was ACTUALLY a bootlegger !
” Drummond wrote on Instagram .
Their Instagram page ( @ bootleggerbungalow ) has been showing not only @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but also a glimpse of what some of the bottles look like .
Of 66 bottles found , 13 were full , the page states ; of those , nine are probably a condition where the contents are suitable for drinking .
“ I ’ m like holy crap .
This is like a whiskey stash .
And this is like , all of a sudden , the whole story of the bootlegger , ” Drummond told CNN .
The original owner was known as Count Adolph Humpfner and was known locally as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ several properties in New York and New Jersey , according to CNN .
RELATED : Chilling Revelation : Our Lockdowns Would n't Have Happened Without Help from the Chinese Prohibition was the result of the 18th Amendment , which outlawed the sale of alcoholic beverages in the United States starting in 1919 .
It was fired by the temperance movement , which was itself part of the Progressive Era in the early 20th century .
Ultimately , of course , the effort by progressives to use the national government to try to wipe @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the face of widespread opposition .
Speakeasies began emerging throughout the United States , and sales of illegal booze were common .
The era was even responsible for the establishment of the American Mafia , as organized crime operations in major cities used illegal alcohol trafficking to grow their underground business .
Alcohol sales later became a state issue in 1933 , with the 21st Amendment .
This historical find serves as a lesson for the United States in the future : Making something illegal does not mean it will not happen @ @ @ @ @ @ @ awesome powers of the government into the service of a cause that does not have popular support , as modern progressives demand on causes ranging from climate change and the Green New Deal to gun control laws that infringe on the Second Amendment is going to mean problems down the road .
And that could mean some unintended , very unpleasant , consequences .
We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism .
Read our editorial standards .

Two men who moved into a century-old old home in upstate New York a little more than a year ago got a physical reminder of the country’s past while doing renovation work in the fall.
And it held a lesson for the country’s present and future, too.
Nick Drummond and his partner, Patrick Bakker, knew their fixer-upper in Ames, New York, was thought to have belonged to a German bootlegger. But when they discovered more than 60 bottles labeled “Old Smuggler Gaelic whisky” while revamping the house — some of them still intact and full of the liquid — the men knew the stories were true.
View this post on Instagram A post shared by Nick Drummond (@bootleggerbungalow)
The discovery confirmed the tale Drummond and Bakker were told when they purchased the house.
“OUR WALLS ARE BUILT OF BOOZE! I can’t believe the rumors are true! He was actually a bootlegger! I mean I thought it was a cute story, but the builder of our house was ACTUALLY a bootlegger!” Drummond wrote on Instagram.
View this post on Instagram A post shared by Nick Drummond (@bootleggerbungalow)
Their Instagram page (@bootleggerbungalow) has been showing not only the process of renovating the home, but also a glimpse of what some of the bottles look like.
Of 66 bottles found, 13 were full, the page states; of those, nine are probably a condition where the contents are suitable for drinking.
View this post on Instagram A post shared by Nick Drummond (@bootleggerbungalow)
“I’m like holy crap. This is like a whiskey stash. And this is like, all of a sudden, the whole story of the bootlegger,” Drummond told CNN.
The original owner was known as Count Adolph Humpfner and was known locally as a “mystery man” who owned several properties in New York and New Jersey, according to CNN.
View this post on Instagram A post shared by Nick Drummond (@bootleggerbungalow)
Prohibition was the result of the 18th Amendment, which outlawed the sale of alcoholic beverages in the United States starting in 1919.
It was fired by the temperance movement, which was itself part of the Progressive Era in the early 20th century.
Ultimately, of course, the effort by progressives to use the national government to try to wipe out part of the culture ultimately backfired in the face of widespread opposition.
Upstate New York Couple Finds Dozens Of Bottles Of Whiskey Hidden In Walls Of Home https://t.co/dd4hlD6HYy — CBS New York (@CBSNewYork) November 27, 2020
Speakeasies began emerging throughout the United States, and sales of illegal booze were common.
The era was even responsible for the establishment of the American Mafia, as organized crime operations in major cities used illegal alcohol trafficking to grow their underground business.
Alcohol sales later became a state issue in 1933, with the 21st Amendment.
This historical find serves as a lesson for the United States in the future: Making something illegal does not mean it will not happen behind closed doors.
Does Prohibition have a lesson for liberals of the modern era? Yes No
Completing this poll entitles you to The Western Journal news updates free of charge. You may opt out at anytime. You also agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use Yes: 95% (266 Votes) No: 5% (14 Votes)
And putting the awesome powers of the government into the service of a cause that does not have popular support, as modern progressives demand on causes ranging from climate change and the Green New Deal to gun control laws that infringe on the Second Amendment is going to mean problems down the road.
And that could mean some unintended, very unpleasant, consequences.
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westernjournal--2020-12-29--Georgia Dems Can’t Fund Ossoff, So Calif. Dems Send Jaw-Dropping Amount To Steal Seat

During his time campaigning in Pennsylvania this election season , Joe Biden used to remind voters he was once called “ Pennsylvania ’ s third senator.
” Delaware is practically a Philadelphia suburb , after all , and his interests were closely aligned with those in the Keystone State , so there wasn ’ t anything unnatural about this relationship — even if it did diminish Delaware a bit .
In Georgia , Jon Ossoff seems to be running to be “ California ’ s third senator.
” He ’ s beloved by Hollywood culture and the state ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ filmmaker , after all — that ’ s his most recent expertise coming into this job , aside from losing a 2017 runoff for a U.S. House of Representatives seat .
That doesn ’ t quite make as much sense as Biden being Pennsylvania ’ s third senator , mind you .
California ’ s on the opposite coast from Georgia .
It shares little in common in terms of culture , cuisine or really anything aside from the same language and Constitution .
However , if the Democrats want the Senate , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the other Democrat Georgia runoff challenger — to win .
And Hollywood is going to prop them up like nothing else , so much so that Ossoff has collected more than five times as much in itemizable donations from the Golden State as he has from his own state .
According to The New York Times , both Ossoff and Warnock have broken Federal Election Commission records by each netting over $ 100 million between Oct. 16 and Dec. 16 as they approach the Jan. 5 runoffs against GOP Sens .
David @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Perdue has raised $ 68 million and Loeffler $ 64 million .
The Times focused on the fact that small donors were driving the Democrats ’ cash haul .
“ The Democrats ’ haul was powered in large part by a flurry of smaller donations collected from across the country , filings show , with nearly half of the funds coming from people who donated less than $ 200 , ” The Times reported .
“ For Mr. Perdue and Ms. Loeffler , the smaller donations accounted for less than 30 percent of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Times also mentioned these record-breaking quarterly hauls broke a record just set by another Democrat , Jaime Harrison of South Carolina .
You may remember Harrison , who was quickly hurried off stage on Nov. 4 ; he took in $ 57 million in one quarter in a race that polls showed was close , and proceeded to lose by 10 points to GOP Sen. Lindsey Graham .
What the newspaper didn ’ t spend as much time mentioning is where much of Ossoff ’ s money was coming from , however @ @ @ @ @ @ @ records by Breitbart and confirmed by the New York Post , Ossoff raised $ 14,731,746 of that haul from the state of California .
That ’ s 26.43 percent of his total in itemized contributions ( which exceed $ 200 and , as the Post noted , are “ able to be traced ” ) that quarter .
As for Georgia ?
He ’ s taken in just $ 2,550,267 , or 4.57 percent of his total in itemized donations , from there .
This was actually true during the general election , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ analysis by the Washington Free Beacon , 87 percent of his third-quarter itemized donations came from outside Georgia and twice as much came from California as from the state Ossoff is seeking to represent .
And it isn ’ t even as if the Democrats are pretending , either .
It ’ s just that no one is looking .
One of the first major fundraising shindigs that Ossoff and Warnock made in the runoff campaign was a “ Save the Senate ” virtual Zoom event hosted not in Georgia but at Manny @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that prides itself on being located in “ a historic hub of activism and progressive action.
” The Hill , meanwhile , reported that Hollywood stars Patton Oswalt , Sarah Silverman , Sarah Cooper and Dulcé Sloan held a Dec. 18 fundraiser for the candidates .
For all those predicting dire things , well , one hopes that history repeats itself .
Ossoff has found himself in this position before — in a 2017 House runoff against Republican Karen Handel in the first federal race after President Donald Trump ’ s election .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ race , about 98 percent of the money his campaign received was from outside the state , and he got plenty of it .
The fact that he doesn ’ t have a Rep. before his name should tell you all you need to know about how that ended up , however .
The strategy can backfire , too .
At an event earlier this month with Vice President Mike Pence in Georgia to support Perdue and Loeffler , GOP Georgia Rep. Rick Allen slammed “ limousine liberals ” trying to dictate to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I am sick and tired of these limousine liberals from California and New York deciding who our next two senators are going to be in the state of Georgia .
Ossoff and Warnock couldn ’ t raise a dime in the state of Georgia , ” Allen said , according to Breitbart .
“ Y ’ all , this money is coming from California and New York , that is dead wrong !
And it turns my stomach and I am tired of it and they tried to do the same thing to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
We ’ re sick of it , go home to California and New York !
” They ’ re not going to .
However , Ossoff does have a documentary company based in London .
He can always go back there — which would be , after all , a much better ending to this whole tale than his becoming California ’ s third senator .
We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism .
Read our editorial standards .

During his time campaigning in Pennsylvania this election season, Joe Biden used to remind voters he was once called “Pennsylvania’s third senator.”
Delaware is practically a Philadelphia suburb, after all, and his interests were closely aligned with those in the Keystone State, so there wasn’t anything unnatural about this relationship — even if it did diminish Delaware a bit.
In Georgia, Jon Ossoff seems to be running to be “California’s third senator.” He’s beloved by Hollywood culture and the state’s liberals. He’s a documentary filmmaker, after all — that’s his most recent expertise coming into this job, aside from losing a 2017 runoff for a U.S. House of Representatives seat.
That doesn’t quite make as much sense as Biden being Pennsylvania’s third senator, mind you. California’s on the opposite coast from Georgia. It shares little in common in terms of culture, cuisine or really anything aside from the same language and Constitution.
However, if the Democrats want the Senate, they need Ossoff — and Raphael Warnock, the other Democrat Georgia runoff challenger — to win.
And Hollywood is going to prop them up like nothing else, so much so that Ossoff has collected more than five times as much in itemizable donations from the Golden State as he has from his own state.
According to The New York Times, both Ossoff and Warnock have broken Federal Election Commission records by each netting over $100 million between Oct. 16 and Dec. 16 as they approach the Jan. 5 runoffs against GOP Sens. David Perdue and Kelly Loeffler, respectively. Perdue has raised $68 million and Loeffler $64 million.
The Times focused on the fact that small donors were driving the Democrats’ cash haul.
“The Democrats’ haul was powered in large part by a flurry of smaller donations collected from across the country, filings show, with nearly half of the funds coming from people who donated less than $200,” The Times reported.
Will Jon Ossoff win the Georgia runoff election? Yes No
Completing this poll entitles you to The Western Journal news updates free of charge. You may opt out at anytime. You also agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use Yes: 5% (60 Votes) No: 95% (1073 Votes)
“For Mr. Perdue and Ms. Loeffler, the smaller donations accounted for less than 30 percent of what they raised.”
Of course, the Times also mentioned these record-breaking quarterly hauls broke a record just set by another Democrat, Jaime Harrison of South Carolina. You may remember Harrison, who was quickly hurried off stage on Nov. 4; he took in $57 million in one quarter in a race that polls showed was close, and proceeded to lose by 10 points to GOP Sen. Lindsey Graham.
What the newspaper didn’t spend as much time mentioning is where much of Ossoff’s money was coming from, however.
According to an analysis of FEC records by Breitbart and confirmed by the New York Post, Ossoff raised $14,731,746 of that haul from the state of California. That’s 26.43 percent of his total in itemized contributions (which exceed $200 and, as the Post noted, are “able to be traced”) that quarter.
As for Georgia? He’s taken in just $2,550,267, or 4.57 percent of his total in itemized donations, from there.
This was actually true during the general election, as well. According to an October analysis by the Washington Free Beacon, 87 percent of his third-quarter itemized donations came from outside Georgia and twice as much came from California as from the state Ossoff is seeking to represent.
And it isn’t even as if the Democrats are pretending, either. It’s just that no one is looking.
One of the first major fundraising shindigs that Ossoff and Warnock made in the runoff campaign was a “Save the Senate” virtual Zoom event hosted not in Georgia but at Manny’s — a San Francisco-based restaurant that prides itself on being located in “a historic hub of activism and progressive action.”
The Hill, meanwhile, reported that Hollywood stars Patton Oswalt, Sarah Silverman, Sarah Cooper and Dulcé Sloan held a Dec. 18 fundraiser for the candidates.
For all those predicting dire things, well, one hopes that history repeats itself. Ossoff has found himself in this position before — in a 2017 House runoff against Republican Karen Handel in the first federal race after President Donald Trump’s election.
In the final two months of the race, about 98 percent of the money his campaign received was from outside the state, and he got plenty of it. The fact that he doesn’t have a Rep. before his name should tell you all you need to know about how that ended up, however.
The strategy can backfire, too. At an event earlier this month with Vice President Mike Pence in Georgia to support Perdue and Loeffler, GOP Georgia Rep. Rick Allen slammed “limousine liberals” trying to dictate to Georgians how they should vote.
“I am sick and tired of these limousine liberals from California and New York deciding who our next two senators are going to be in the state of Georgia. Ossoff and Warnock couldn’t raise a dime in the state of Georgia,” Allen said, according to Breitbart.
“Y’all, this money is coming from California and New York, that is dead wrong! And it turns my stomach and I am tired of it and they tried to do the same thing to my buddy Lindsey Graham in South Carolina. We’re sick of it, go home to California and New York!”
They’re not going to.
However, Ossoff does have a documentary company based in London. He can always go back there — which would be, after all, a much better ending to this whole tale than his becoming California’s third senator.
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westernjournal--2020-12-29--John Stossel: The Good News from 2020 That Nobody Even Knows About

Was 2020 the worst year ever ?
The media keeps saying that .
We did have the pandemic , a bitter election , unemployment , riots and a soaring national debt .
But wait , look at the good news , says historian Johan Norberg .
His new book , “ Open : The Story of Human Progress , ” points out how life keeps getting better , even if people just don ’ t realize it .
2020 was “ the best year in human history to face a pandemic , ” he says .
Had the pandemic happened @ @ @ @ @ @ @ t have the technology to create mRNA vaccines.
” “ In 1990 , ” he continues , “ we wouldn ’ t have a worldwide web .
If we had had this pandemic in 1976 , we wouldn ’ t have been able to read the genome of the virus .
And … in 1950 , we wouldn ’ t have had a single ventilator.
” These last 20 years , Norberg adds , have been especially good .
“ Mankind has attained more wealth than ever.
” I push back : “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wealth !
And a lot of this money went to the top 1 percent .
Ordinary people think they ’ re doing worse.
” “ If you look at specifics like global poverty , child mortality , chronic undernourishment and illiteracy , ” Norberg replies , “ they all declined faster than ever.
” Those things : global poverty , child mortality , undernourishment and illiteracy are pretty good measures of quality of life .
“ Literacy might be the most important skill , ” Norberg says .
“ It ’ s the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ other skills .
We ’ ve never seen literacy at these high levels ever before .
[ Even ] in the most problematic countries around the world , it ’ s better than it was in the richest countries 50 , 60 years ago .
That ’ s most important for those who have the least.
” Of course , there were bad trends in 2020 .
Murder rose in the United States .
Social media algorithms divided us further .
“ Suicide is up , ” I tell Norberg .
“ I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he replies , “ but once upon a time , if you ended up in the wrong school or neighborhood , you had nowhere to go — no other community available to you .
Now there is , and that opens up a world of opportunity .
Some awful things as well , but some beautiful things.
” That meant that even during this pandemic , people found new ways to help others .
RELATED : Bob Ehrlich : The Media Are in for a Nasty Surprise from a Biden Presidency Volunteers used @ @ @ @ @ @ @ donate their time .
Young people brought food to the elderly .
Zoom and Slack taught us that not being in the office sometimes works as well , or better .
Businesses had new tools with which to adapt .
Restaurants moved to takeout and delivery , aided by apps like UberEats and Grubhub .
Such healthy adaptation rarely makes news , because reporters seek out problems .
Many worry loudly about climate change .
Some claim the environment keeps getting worse .
A dismayed CBS correspondent mourned , “ Biodiversity is reportedly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Even if that were true , says Norberg , “ We have never made this much progress against pollution .
The six leading pollutants , the ones that used to pollute our lungs and forests and rivers , they ’ ve declined by some 70 percent !
” In January of this year , when President Donald Trump announced the assassination of Iranian Maj. Gen. Qassem Soleimani , “ World War III ” trended on Twitter .
The Selective Service website crashed for fear there would be a draft .
“ People think @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I say to Norberg .
“ But we ’ ve forgotten the wars that we had in the past !
When I grew up in the 1980s , there were more wars , and battle death rates were four times higher.
” Less war is one reason people keep living longer .
After COVID-19 , that trend will continue .
“ We have this tendency , for good reasons , to focus on problems , because that ’ s our way of solving problems , ” Norberg says .
“ But then there @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ll just despair and think it ’ s hopeless and we give up .
That ’ s not the solution to our problems .
“ Just cheer up and be happy ?
” I ask .
He answers , “ Be a little bit grateful for what we have.
” The views expressed in this opinion article are those of their author and are not necessarily either shared or endorsed by the owners of this website .
If you are interested in contributing an Op-Ed to The Western Journal , you can learn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism .
Read our editorial standards .

Was 2020 the worst year ever? The media keeps saying that.
We did have the pandemic, a bitter election, unemployment, riots and a soaring national debt.
But wait, look at the good news, says historian Johan Norberg. His new book, “Open: The Story of Human Progress,” points out how life keeps getting better, even if people just don’t realize it.
2020 was “the best year in human history to face a pandemic,” he says.
Had the pandemic happened in 2005, “You wouldn’t have the technology to create mRNA vaccines.”
“In 1990,” he continues, “we wouldn’t have a worldwide web. If we had had this pandemic in 1976, we wouldn’t have been able to read the genome of the virus. And … in 1950, we wouldn’t have had a single ventilator.”
These last 20 years, Norberg adds, have been especially good. “Mankind has attained more wealth than ever.”
I push back: “There’s more to life than wealth! And a lot of this money went to the top 1 percent. Ordinary people think they’re doing worse.”
“If you look at specifics like global poverty, child mortality, chronic undernourishment and illiteracy,” Norberg replies, “they all declined faster than ever.”
Do you think 2020 has been the worst year ever? Yes No
Completing this poll entitles you to The Western Journal news updates free of charge. You may opt out at anytime. You also agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use Yes: 41% (71 Votes) No: 59% (104 Votes)
Those things: global poverty, child mortality, undernourishment and illiteracy are pretty good measures of quality of life.
“Literacy might be the most important skill,” Norberg says. “It’s the skill that makes it possible to acquire other skills. We’ve never seen literacy at these high levels ever before. [Even] in the most problematic countries around the world, it’s better than it was in the richest countries 50, 60 years ago. That’s most important for those who have the least.”
Of course, there were bad trends in 2020. Murder rose in the United States. Social media algorithms divided us further. “Suicide is up,” I tell Norberg.
“I can definitely see the problems,” he replies, “but once upon a time, if you ended up in the wrong school or neighborhood, you had nowhere to go — no other community available to you. Now there is, and that opens up a world of opportunity. Some awful things as well, but some beautiful things.”
That meant that even during this pandemic, people found new ways to help others.
Volunteers used the internet to find better ways to donate their time. Young people brought food to the elderly.
Zoom and Slack taught us that not being in the office sometimes works as well, or better.
Businesses had new tools with which to adapt.
Restaurants moved to takeout and delivery, aided by apps like UberEats and Grubhub.
Such healthy adaptation rarely makes news, because reporters seek out problems.
Many worry loudly about climate change. Some claim the environment keeps getting worse. A dismayed CBS correspondent mourned, “Biodiversity is reportedly declining faster than any time!”
Even if that were true, says Norberg, “We have never made this much progress against pollution. The six leading pollutants, the ones that used to pollute our lungs and forests and rivers, they’ve declined by some 70 percent!”
In January of this year, when President Donald Trump announced the assassination of Iranian Maj. Gen. Qassem Soleimani, “World War III” trended on Twitter. The Selective Service website crashed for fear there would be a draft.
“People think there’s more war,” I say to Norberg.
“But we’ve forgotten the wars that we had in the past! When I grew up in the 1980s, there were more wars, and battle death rates were four times higher.”
Less war is one reason people keep living longer. After COVID-19, that trend will continue.
“We have this tendency, for good reasons, to focus on problems, because that’s our way of solving problems,” Norberg says. “But then there’s the risk that we’ll just despair and think it’s hopeless and we give up. That’s not the solution to our problems.
“Just cheer up and be happy?” I ask.
He answers, “Be a little bit grateful for what we have.”
© 2020 CREATORS.COM
The views expressed in this opinion article are those of their author and are not necessarily either shared or endorsed by the owners of this website. If you are interested in contributing an Op-Ed to The Western Journal, you can learn about our submission guidelines and process here.
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westernjournal--2020-12-29--Homeless Man Risks Life by Rushing Into Blazing Fire To Save Shelter Animals

Grace Hamlin has been through a lot in her life .
Adopted at a young age , she moved to America to be with her adoptive family .
She was in the Army for several years and then when she moved to Atlanta she got into a major accident that left her injured .
As she told Mike Rowe in her episode of “ Returning the Favor “ , the neighborhood she landed in was a little rough , but it wasn ’ t until she saw a group of adults urging young children to fight at a local park @ @ @ @ @ @ @ issue .
So she took her love for animals , her concern for children , her experience growing up in poverty and then being adopted , and her military training and created W-Underdogs .
W-Underdogs addresses two major needs in Hamlin ’ s community by pairing at-risk children with rescue dogs .
The organization helps dogs get off the street and into loving homes and helps keep kids off the street and involved in the development of lifelong skills .
Hamlin gives it her all , and has provided a sanctuary for kids @ @ @ @ @ @ @ love — but that was almost lost in December when a fire broke out at her home and the location of the organization .
Thankfully , a homeless man named Keith Walker was in the right place at the right time and managed to save the animals on site .
Walker , 53 , has been homeless since he was 13 .
He ’ s no stranger to the streets , but has his trusty four-legged companion , Bravo , to keep him company .
He ’ s done odd jobs for W-Underdogs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that allows him to keep Bravo in her kennels .
He was visiting to take Bravo for a walk on Dec. 18 when he noticed the fire .
“ Tonight we thank our guardian angels , ” W-Underdogs posted .
“ The homeless man that ran into our burning house and rescued our animals .
The fire department and @ fultonanimalservices officers MJ and Joan for quick action .
“ Our animals are safe and thanks to the incredible response from the community , everyone is settled and safe warm and secure .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ to all our friends and volunteers for coming to our immediate aide .
We will need you in the next couple days and weeks as we recover .
But we are in your good hands… we definitely have angels among us .
We are all safe .
@ ginnymillner @ victoriastilwell for always being there for us.
” “ I was nervous as hell , I ’ m not going to lie , ” Walker told CNN .
“ I was really scared to go in there with all that smoke .
But @ @ @ @ @ @ @ animals .
If you love a dog , you can love anyone in the world .
My dog is my best friend , and I wouldn ’ t be here without him , so I knew I had to save all those other dogs.
” Walker managed to rescue the 10 cats and six dogs on the premises .
Firefighters were able to stop the fire — which was determined to have started in the kitchen and was electrical in nature — before it destroyed the whole building , but the house is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ t all that bad , though , as W-Underdogs was poised to move to a new location and the lease on the new property and building began the day after the fire broke out at the old location .
“ While the new facility is not exactly ‘ move-in ready ’ we were able to move the animals safely into the new facility for the night , ” the organization posted .
“ They are all happy , warm , safe , and comfortable in their new temporary home.
” A GoFundMe has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to replenish the donations and supplies lost in the fire .
People have also started a GoFundMe to thank Walker , and many have suggested that W-Underdogs give him a full-time job .
However , because it ’ s a youth organization , Hamlin has explained in a Facebook post that “ there are constraints on the kinds of jobs we are able to offer him , ” but “ in the end , we will do our best to ensure that Mr. Walker is cared for , always with consideration and respect @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to receive.
” Still , the fundraiser started with a $ 5,000 goal and has secured over $ 40,000 for the hero so far , and W-Underdogs will continue to offer shelter and food to Bravo , should Walker need it .
“ He is my guardian angel , ” Hamlin told CNN .
“ Even the firefighters didn ’ t want to handle the dogs .
They called animal control , but Keith was already in the building pulling out the cats and dogs until they were all safe.
” We are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of our journalism .
Read our editorial standards .

Grace Hamlin has been through a lot in her life. Adopted at a young age, she moved to America to be with her adoptive family. She was in the Army for several years and then when she moved to Atlanta she got into a major accident that left her injured.
As she told Mike Rowe in her episode of “Returning the Favor“, the neighborhood she landed in was a little rough, but it wasn’t until she saw a group of adults urging young children to fight at a local park that she understood the extent of the issue.
So she took her love for animals, her concern for children, her experience growing up in poverty and then being adopted, and her military training and created W-Underdogs.
W-Underdogs addresses two major needs in Hamlin’s community by pairing at-risk children with rescue dogs. The organization helps dogs get off the street and into loving homes and helps keep kids off the street and involved in the development of lifelong skills.
Hamlin gives it her all, and has provided a sanctuary for kids and dogs to experience responsibility and unconditional love — but that was almost lost in December when a fire broke out at her home and the location of the organization.
Thankfully, a homeless man named Keith Walker was in the right place at the right time and managed to save the animals on site.
Walker, 53, has been homeless since he was 13. He’s no stranger to the streets, but has his trusty four-legged companion, Bravo, to keep him company. He’s done odd jobs for W-Underdogs, and has an arrangement with Hamlin that allows him to keep Bravo in her kennels.
He was visiting to take Bravo for a walk on Dec. 18 when he noticed the fire.
“Tonight we thank our guardian angels,” W-Underdogs posted. “The homeless man that ran into our burning house and rescued our animals. The fire department and @fultonanimalservices officers MJ and Joan for quick action.
“Our animals are safe and thanks to the incredible response from the community, everyone is settled and safe warm and secure. We just wanted to say THANK YOU to all our friends and volunteers for coming to our immediate aide. We will need you in the next couple days and weeks as we recover. But we are in your good hands… we definitely have angels among us. We are all safe. @ginnymillner @victoriastilwell for always being there for us.”
“I was nervous as hell, I’m not going to lie,” Walker told CNN. “I was really scared to go in there with all that smoke. But God put me there to save those animals. If you love a dog, you can love anyone in the world. My dog is my best friend, and I wouldn’t be here without him, so I knew I had to save all those other dogs.”
Walker managed to rescue the 10 cats and six dogs on the premises. Firefighters were able to stop the fire — which was determined to have started in the kitchen and was electrical in nature — before it destroyed the whole building, but the house is currently uninhabitable.
The timing wasn’t all that bad, though, as W-Underdogs was poised to move to a new location and the lease on the new property and building began the day after the fire broke out at the old location.
“While the new facility is not exactly ‘move-in ready’ we were able to move the animals safely into the new facility for the night,” the organization posted. “They are all happy, warm, safe, and comfortable in their new temporary home.”
A GoFundMe has been set up to help W-Underdogs and to replenish the donations and supplies lost in the fire.
People have also started a GoFundMe to thank Walker, and many have suggested that W-Underdogs give him a full-time job. However, because it’s a youth organization, Hamlin has explained in a Facebook post that “there are constraints on the kinds of jobs we are able to offer him,” but “in the end, we will do our best to ensure that Mr. Walker is cared for, always with consideration and respect as to how much help he wishes to receive.”
Still, the fundraiser started with a $5,000 goal and has secured over $40,000 for the hero so far, and W-Underdogs will continue to offer shelter and food to Bravo, should Walker need it.
“He is my guardian angel,” Hamlin told CNN. “Even the firefighters didn’t want to handle the dogs. They called animal control, but Keith was already in the building pulling out the cats and dogs until they were all safe.”
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westernjournal--2020-12-29--Stimulus Checks Approved: Here’s Who’s Getting $1,200 or More and When the Checks Are Coming

The wheels of the United States government are turning to get COVID-19 relief checks into the hands of Americans , even as debate rages over the size of the payments .
President Donald Trump called for $ 2,000 checks to be sent to eligible Americans last week , calling the spending bill passed by Congress that offered individuals $ 600 a “ disgrace ” and arguing the bill had “ almost nothing to do with COVID.
” In light of the crucial timeline for Americans to receive federal aid , however , Trump signed the bill on Sunday night .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ down from his original demand to increase payments for individual Americans .
Trump ’ s indignation over the billions granted to foreign aid in the relief bill and the limits of its help for American families prompted reconsideration of the bill in the House of Representatives .
After deliberation on Monday , the Democratic-controlled House approved a revised relief bill that would raise the ante to the $ 2,000 level proposed by Trump .
However , its future is up to the Senate .
Several Republicans in the Senate majority have voiced their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to $ 2,000 , including Sens .
Josh Hawley of Missouri , Kelly Loeffler of Georgia and Marco Rubio of Florida .
Although the amount may change , the process for these checks is pretty well determined , according to the New York Post .
Individuals who earn $ 75,000 or less can get the full amount of the payment approved by Congress .
Couples who file jointly can claim two checks — if the stimulus amount remains at $ 600 , couples who filed jointly will receive $ 1,200 .
Families are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for every dependent under the age of 17 .
However , families with dependents over 17-years-old will not receive a stipend for them , neither will the dependents receive a check on their own .
Eligibility is based on individuals ’ 2019 tax returns , but taxpayers who made less money in 2020 than 2019 will be able to claim a refundable tax credit when they file , according to the Post .
Payments decrease for individuals who made more than $ 75,000 in a year .
At the $ 600-per-person level , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ every $ 100 in income over the limit .
Individuals who earned more than $ 87,000 in 2019 , or couples that earned more than twice that amount , will not be eligible for a check .
Once Congress has come to its final decision on how much Americans will receive in relief , the money should start showing up in bank accounts through direct deposit in about two weeks , the Post reported .
As with the stimulus money sent earlier in the year , taxpayers who have given the Internal Revenue @ @ @ @ @ @ @ first in line for the new round of payments .
According to CBS , families of American citizens who married immigrants who do not have green cards will also qualify under the payments for dependents .
The proposed update to the COVID-19 relief bill — checks in the amount of $ 2,000 and less consideration of Big Tech companies — is opposed by Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell .
On Tuesday , according to USA Today , McConnell blocked immediate approval of the revised bill , according to USA Today .
It ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ take it up , the newspaper reported .
We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism .
Read our editorial standards .

The wheels of the United States government are turning to get COVID-19 relief checks into the hands of Americans, even as debate rages over the size of the payments.
President Donald Trump called for $2,000 checks to be sent to eligible Americans last week, calling the spending bill passed by Congress that offered individuals $600 a “disgrace” and arguing the bill had “almost nothing to do with COVID.”
In light of the crucial timeline for Americans to receive federal aid, however, Trump signed the bill on Sunday night.
Still, the president did not back down from his original demand to increase payments for individual Americans.
Trump’s indignation over the billions granted to foreign aid in the relief bill and the limits of its help for American families prompted reconsideration of the bill in the House of Representatives.
After deliberation on Monday, the Democratic-controlled House approved a revised relief bill that would raise the ante to the $2,000 level proposed by Trump. However, its future is up to the Senate.
Several Republicans in the Senate majority have voiced their support for raising the relief check amount to $2,000, including Sens. Josh Hawley of Missouri, Kelly Loeffler of Georgia and Marco Rubio of Florida.
Working Americans have borne the brunt of this pandemic. They’ve been hammered, through no fault of their own. They deserve $2000 in #covid relief – a fraction of what the banks & big business got. Let’s vote now — Josh Hawley (@HawleyMO) December 29, 2020
I agree with @realDonaldTrump — we need to deliver $2,000 direct relief checks to the American people. — Kelly Loeffler (@KLoeffler) December 29, 2020
I am concerned about the debt, but working families have been hurt badly by the pandemic This is why I supported $600 direct payments to working families & if given the chance will vote to increase the amount https://t.co/EciB6TszTY — Marco Rubio (@marcorubio) December 28, 2020
Although the amount may change, the process for these checks is pretty well determined, according to the New York Post.
Individuals who earn $75,000 or less can get the full amount of the payment approved by Congress. Couples who file jointly can claim two checks — if the stimulus amount remains at $600, couples who filed jointly will receive $1,200.
Families are eligible to receive an additional $600 for every dependent under the age of 17. However, families with dependents over 17 years old will not receive a stipend for them; neither will those dependents receive a check of their own.
Eligibility is based on individuals’ 2019 tax returns, but taxpayers who made less money in 2020 than 2019 will be able to claim a refundable tax credit when they file, according to the Post.
Payments decrease for individuals who made more than $75,000 in a year. At the $600-per-person level, checks will drop by $5 for every $100 in income over the limit.
Do you agree with President Trump that Americans should be given more than $600? Yes No
Completing this poll entitles you to The Western Journal news updates free of charge. You may opt out at anytime. You also agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use Yes: 97% (5036 Votes) No: 3% (155 Votes)
Individuals who earned more than $87,000 in 2019, or couples that earned more than twice that amount, will not be eligible for a check.
Once Congress has come to its final decision on how much Americans will receive in relief, the money should start showing up in bank accounts through direct deposit in about two weeks, the Post reported.
As with the stimulus money sent earlier in the year, taxpayers who have given the Internal Revenue Service their banking information will likely be first in line for the new round of payments.
According to CBS, families of American citizens who married immigrants who do not have green cards will also qualify under the payments for dependents.
The proposed update to the COVID-19 relief bill — checks in the amount of $2,000 and less consideration of Big Tech companies — is opposed by Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell.
On Tuesday, according to USA Today, McConnell blocked immediate approval of the revised bill, according to USA Today.
It’s unclear if the Senate will even take it up, the newspaper reported.
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westernjournal--2020-12-29--Marco Rubio Supports $2,000 Stimulus Checks, Urges Congress To Act Quickly

Republican Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida issued a statement on Monday in support of $ 2,000 direct payments to Americans , an idea first floated last week by President Donald Trump .
Rubio took to social media to share his support for larger payments for Americans who are suffering due to the coronavirus pandemic .
“ I am concerned about the debt , but working families have been hurt badly by the pandemic , ” Rubio tweeted .
“ This is why I supported $ 600 direct payments to working families & if given the chance will vote to increase @ @ @ @ @ @ @ link to a media release on his Senate website in which he expounded on his thoughts about a larger direct relief amount .
The Republican also took a shot at Democrats in the release .
“ I agree with the President that millions of working class families are in dire need of additional relief , which is why I support $ 2,000 in direct payments to Americans struggling due to the pandemic , ” Rubio stated .
“ For months , Republicans tried to pass additional relief for workers , families , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by Democrats at every turn.
” “ Remember , months ago Speaker Pelosi and Democrats rejected the Administration ’ s previous offer of $ 1,200 per adult and $ 1,000 per child .
Thankfully , she ’ s finally stopped holding working families hostage.
” “ I share many of my colleagues ’ concern about the long-term effects of additional spending , but we can not ignore the fact that millions of working class families across the nation are still in dire need of relief … Congress should quickly pass legislation to increase @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” the senator continued .
“ I also stand ready to work with my colleagues to make much-needed changes to Section 230 and take steps to ensure the American people can once again have confidence in our elections.
” The House on Tuesday voted to pass legislation to increase the $ 600 stimulus checks to $ 2,000 .
Two Democrats joined 130 House Republicans in opposing the bill , The New York Times reported .
CBS News reported that the bill would need the support of two-thirds of those in the upper @ @ @ @ @ @ @ those larger payments is in doubt .
Support for the payments is now largely bipartisan after Present Donald Trump stated last week that $ 600 was not enough , but Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell blocked an attempt to increase the payments by a unanimous vote from Democratic Sen. Chuck Schumer of New York Tuesday afternoon , CNBC reported .
Trump urged support for the payments in a succinct Tuesday morning tweet .
“ $ 2000 for our great people , not $ 600 !
They have suffered enough from the China Virus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Rubio is joined by a number of other Republicans in the Senate in supporting $ 2,000 in direct payments for Americans .
Georgia Republican Sens .
Kelly Loeffler and David Perdue both tweeted Tuesday they would vote for the larger payments .
Both lawmakers are still making their respective cases for re-election in next week ’ s runoff races .
GOP Sen. Josh Hawley of Missouri also stated his strong support for passing the larger payments .
“ Working Americans have borne the brunt of this pandemic .
They ’ ve been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ own .
They deserve $ 2000 in # covid relief – a fraction of what the banks & big business got .
Let ’ s vote now , ” Hawley tweeted .
We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism .
Read our editorial standards .

Republican Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida issued a statement on Monday in support of $2,000 direct payments to Americans, an idea first floated last week by President Donald Trump.
Rubio took to social media to share his support for larger payments for Americans who are suffering due to the coronavirus pandemic.
“I am concerned about the debt, but working families have been hurt badly by the pandemic,” Rubio tweeted. “This is why I supported $600 direct payments to working families & if given the chance will vote to increase the amount.”
I am concerned about the debt, but working families have been hurt badly by the pandemic This is why I supported $600 direct payments to working families & if given the chance will vote to increase the amount https://t.co/EciB6TszTY — Marco Rubio (@marcorubio) December 28, 2020
Rubio also shared a link to a media release on his Senate website in which he expounded on his thoughts about a larger direct relief amount. The Republican also took a shot at Democrats in the release.
“I agree with the President that millions of working class families are in dire need of additional relief, which is why I support $2,000 in direct payments to Americans struggling due to the pandemic,” Rubio stated. “For months, Republicans tried to pass additional relief for workers, families, and small businesses — only to be rejected by Democrats at every turn.”
“Remember, months ago Speaker Pelosi and Democrats rejected the Administration’s previous offer of $1,200 per adult and $1,000 per child. Thankfully, she’s finally stopped holding working families hostage.”
“I share many of my colleagues’ concern about the long-term effects of additional spending, but we cannot ignore the fact that millions of working class families across the nation are still in dire need of relief … Congress should quickly pass legislation to increase direct payments to Americans to $2,000,” the senator continued.
Do you support $2,000 direct relief payments for Americans? Yes No
Completing this poll entitles you to The Western Journal news updates free of charge. You may opt out at anytime. You also agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use Yes: 98% (115 Votes) No: 2% (2 Votes)
“I also stand ready to work with my colleagues to make much-needed changes to Section 230 and take steps to ensure the American people can once again have confidence in our elections.”
The House on Tuesday voted to pass legislation to increase the $600 stimulus checks to $2,000. Two Democrats joined 130 House Republicans in opposing the bill, The New York Times reported.
CBS News reported that the bill would need the support of two-thirds of those in the upper chamber.
Now, the fate of those larger payments is in doubt. Support for the payments is now largely bipartisan after Present Donald Trump stated last week that $600 was not enough, but Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell blocked an attempt to increase the payments by a unanimous vote from Democratic Sen. Chuck Schumer of New York Tuesday afternoon, CNBC reported.
Trump urged support for the payments in a succinct Tuesday morning tweet.
“$2000 for our great people, not $600! They have suffered enough from the China Virus!!!” the president wrote.
$2000 for our great people, not $600! They have suffered enough from the China Virus!!! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 29, 2020
Rubio is joined by a number of other Republicans in the Senate in supporting $2,000 in direct payments for Americans. Georgia Republican Sens. Kelly Loeffler and David Perdue both tweeted Tuesday they would vote for the larger payments. Both lawmakers are still making their respective cases for re-election in next week’s runoff races.
I agree with @realDonaldTrump — we need to deliver $2,000 direct relief checks to the American people. — Kelly Loeffler (@KLoeffler) December 29, 2020
President @realdonaldtrump is right — I support this push for $2,000 in direct relief for the American people. https://t.co/Al3USM7zPr — David Perdue (@Perduesenate) December 29, 2020
GOP Sen. Josh Hawley of Missouri also stated his strong support for passing the larger payments.
Working Americans have borne the brunt of this pandemic. They’ve been hammered, through no fault of their own. They deserve $2000 in #covid relief – a fraction of what the banks & big business got. Let’s vote now — Josh Hawley (@HawleyMO) December 29, 2020
“Working Americans have borne the brunt of this pandemic. They’ve been hammered, through no fault of their own. They deserve $2000 in #covid relief – a fraction of what the banks & big business got. Let’s vote now,” Hawley tweeted.
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westernjournal--2020-12-29--2020, the Year of ‘Defund the Police,’ Was NYC’s Bloodiest Year in Nearly a Decade

Heralded as the safest big city in America in recent years , New York City is closing out its bloodiest year in nearly a decade , grappling with a surge in homicides and a pandemic authorities say has helped fuel violence .
The city had recorded 447 killings as of Tuesday , a 41 percent increase over last year and the largest number since 2011 .
The number of people shot has more than doubled last year ’ s total , nearing a 14-year high .
Among the victims : a 1-year-old boy sitting in his stroller at a summer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dog ; and a 43-year-old mother looking out the window of her child ’ s third-floor bedroom .
All three were killed by stray bullets .
The carnage , however startling , pales in comparison to the bullet-riddled years of the early 1990s .
Still , 2020 marked the third consecutive year of rising homicides after New York City recorded a modern-era low of 292 killings in 2017 .
Police leaders are eagerly anticipating the turn of the calendar , pointing to unprecedented challenges officers faced as COVID-19 brought the city to its @ @ @ @ @ @ @ complicated by everything from budget cuts to the ubiquity of mask wearing .
Clearance rates fell as detective squads were stricken by the virus , and faith in law enforcement faltered amid police killings of black people .
“ We ’ re definitely coming out of that dark period , ” Police Commissioner Dermot Shea said at police headquarters on Tuesday .
“ The confluence of COVID into the protests into all of the debate about defunding the police — I can ’ t imagine a darker period.
” The spike in violence @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lives and shuttering businesses , and it reached a crescendo over the summer , as the city recorded an average 57 killings per month in July , August and September .
By comparison , each of those months averaged 33 homicides in 2019 .
The surge caught the attention of President Donald Trump , who threatened in August to send federal agents to his hometown if local authorities couldn ’ t stop the bloodshed .
But New York ’ s crime spike paralleled an uptick in violence across the U.S. in a year @ @ @ @ @ @ @ against perceived police brutality in the wake of George Floyd ’ s death in Minneapolis .
“ The coronavirus has had a devastating impact on society in low-income communities , and it just adds to the social disorganization that exists , ” said Samuel Walker , a policing expert and professor emeritus at the University of Nebraska at Omaha .
In New York , police officials have blamed bail reforms that went into effect at the start of the year for putting offenders back on the streets .
At the same time , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a wave of retirements that Shea said “ couldn ’ t go any higher , ” fewer recruits because of budget cuts and a mid-year upheaval in how it roots out gun violence .
RELATED : Nashville Police Release Footage from Before and After Christmas Bombing In July , after a “ Defund the Police ” protest became a full-blown occupation outside City Hall , the city shifted $ 1 billion out of the police budget by moving school security functions back to the city ’ s school system , cutting overtime and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The NYPD in June disbanded its plainclothes anti-crime units , which focused primarily on seizing illegal guns , amid criticism of their aggressive tactics and involvement in a number of police shootings and complaints .
The change came amid what Shea described as “ an endless supply of guns.
” Still , New York remains far safer than in the early 1990s , when there were more than 2,000 killings per year .
It ’ s also statistically safer than many of the other big cities also seeing an increase in killings .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ with about 8.3 million residents , New York City has a homicide rate of about 5.2 per 100,000 .
Los Angeles , which has 4 million residents , had 322 homicides as of Dec. 12 — up 30.4 percent from 247 at the same point last year — for a rate of about 8 per 100,000 .
Killings in Chicago , meanwhile , are up about 56 percent this year .
We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism .
Read our editorial standards .

Heralded as the safest big city in America in recent years, New York City is closing out its bloodiest year in nearly a decade, grappling with a surge in homicides and a pandemic authorities say has helped fuel violence.
The city had recorded 447 killings as of Tuesday, a 41 percent increase over last year and the largest number since 2011. The number of people shot has more than doubled last year’s total, nearing a 14-year high.
Among the victims: a 1-year-old boy sitting in his stroller at a summer cookout; a 53-year-old teacher walking his dog; and a 43-year-old mother looking out the window of her child’s third-floor bedroom. All three were killed by stray bullets.
The carnage, however startling, pales in comparison to the bullet-riddled years of the early 1990s. Still, 2020 marked the third consecutive year of rising homicides after New York City recorded a modern-era low of 292 killings in 2017.
Police leaders are eagerly anticipating the turn of the calendar, pointing to unprecedented challenges officers faced as COVID-19 brought the city to its knees.
Crimefighting this year has been complicated by everything from budget cuts to the ubiquity of mask wearing. Clearance rates fell as detective squads were stricken by the virus, and faith in law enforcement faltered amid police killings of black people.
“We’re definitely coming out of that dark period,” Police Commissioner Dermot Shea said at police headquarters on Tuesday. “The confluence of COVID into the protests into all of the debate about defunding the police — I can’t imagine a darker period.”
The spike in violence started just as coronavirus policies began disrupting lives and shuttering businesses, and it reached a crescendo over the summer, as the city recorded an average 57 killings per month in July, August and September.
By comparison, each of those months averaged 33 homicides in 2019.
The surge caught the attention of President Donald Trump, who threatened in August to send federal agents to his hometown if local authorities couldn’t stop the bloodshed.
But New York’s crime spike paralleled an uptick in violence across the U.S. in a year shaped by pandemic-related restrictions and street protests against perceived police brutality in the wake of George Floyd’s death in Minneapolis.
Did the movement to defund police have an effect on the rising murder rate? Yes No
Completing this poll entitles you to The Western Journal news updates free of charge. You may opt out at anytime. You also agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use Yes: 93% (13 Votes) No: 7% (1 Votes)
“The coronavirus has had a devastating impact on society in low-income communities, and it just adds to the social disorganization that exists,” said Samuel Walker, a policing expert and professor emeritus at the University of Nebraska at Omaha.
In New York, police officials have blamed bail reforms that went into effect at the start of the year for putting offenders back on the streets.
At the same time, the police department has been dealing with a wave of retirements that Shea said “couldn’t go any higher,” fewer recruits because of budget cuts and a mid-year upheaval in how it roots out gun violence.
In July, after a “Defund the Police” protest became a full-blown occupation outside City Hall, the city shifted $1 billion out of the police budget by moving school security functions back to the city’s school system, cutting overtime and eliminating a nearly 1,200-person recruiting class.
The NYPD in June disbanded its plainclothes anti-crime units, which focused primarily on seizing illegal guns, amid criticism of their aggressive tactics and involvement in a number of police shootings and complaints.
The change came amid what Shea described as “an endless supply of guns.”
Still, New York remains far safer than in the early 1990s, when there were more than 2,000 killings per year.
It’s also statistically safer than many of the other big cities also seeing an increase in killings. The nation’s largest city, with about 8.3 million residents, New York City has a homicide rate of about 5.2 per 100,000.
Los Angeles, which has 4 million residents, had 322 homicides as of Dec. 12 — up 30.4 percent from 247 at the same point last year — for a rate of about 8 per 100,000.
Killings in Chicago, meanwhile, are up about 56 percent this year.
[jwplayer KGMrPl7i]
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westernjournal--2020-12-29--Gallup: Trump ‘Most Admired Man’ in America, Ends Obama’s 12-Year Reign

President Donald Trump ended former President Barack Obama ’ s 12-year run as the nation ’ s “ most admired man ’ in a newly released Gallup survey .
Trump tied Obama in 2019 for the distinction , but edged him out this year .
Overall , 18 percent listed Trump , compared to 15 percent for Obama , 6 percent for Joe Biden and 3 percent for Dr. Anthony Fauci .
Obama ’ s 12 years at the top of the most admired list matched former President Dwight Eisenhower ’ s all-time record .
The incumbent president is usually @ @ @ @ @ @ @ annual survey that asks Americans which “ man living anywhere in the world they admire most , ” the polling company reported .
In fact , the president has topped the list 60 of the 74 times since the survey began in 1946 .
Forty-eight percent of Republicans surveyed listed Trump as their most admired man compared with 32 percent of Democrats saying the same regarding Obama .
Former first lady Michelle Obama was this year ’ s most admired woman with 10 percent backing , followed by Sen. Kamala Harris of California @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump at 4 percent .
President Trump has finished among the top 10 most admired men 10 times , including four instances before he entered the political arena : 1988-1990 , and 2011 .
The late Rev .
Billy Graham earned the most top-ten finishes during his lifetime with 61 .
He ’ s followed by former President Ronald Reagan ( 31 ) , former President Jimmy Carter ( 29 ) , Pope John Paul II ( 27 ) , former President Bill Clinton ( 26 ) , Bill Gates ( 21 ) @ @ @ @ @ @ @ only men who were not future , current or former presidents to place first on Gallup ’ s list were World War II Gen. Douglas MacArthur in 1946 , 1947 and 1951 ; former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger from 1973 to 1975 ; and Pope John Paul II in 1980 .
On the women ’ s side , Queen Elizabeth II holds the title for the most top-ten finishes at 52 , followed by former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher ( 34 ) , Oprah Winfrey ( 33 ) , former Secretary @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and former first lady Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis ( 28 ) .
The bottom line , as Gallup reported , “ Past , present and future White House occupants , whether presidents or first ladies , have figured prominently when Gallup has asked Americans to name the man and woman they admire most .
“ As such , Barack Obama , Donald Trump and Joe Biden are likely to remain strong contenders for the most admired man title in the coming years.
” We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our @ @ @ @ @ @ @

President Donald Trump ended former President Barack Obama’s 12-year run as the nation’s “most admired man’ in a newly released Gallup survey.
Trump tied Obama in 2019 for the distinction, but edged him out this year.
Overall, 18 percent listed Trump, compared to 15 percent for Obama, 6 percent for Joe Biden and 3 percent for Dr. Anthony Fauci.
Obama’s 12 years at the top of the most admired list matched former President Dwight Eisenhower’s all-time record.
The incumbent president is usually at the top of Gallup’s annual survey that asks Americans which “man living anywhere in the world they admire most,” the polling company reported.
In fact, the president has topped the list 60 of the 74 times since the survey began in 1946.
Donald Trump and Michelle Obama are the most admired man and woman in Gallup’s 2020 survey. https://t.co/YGCFgrChql — GallupNews (@GallupNews) December 29, 2020
Exceptions included Harry Truman (1946-1947 and 1950-1952), Lyndon Johnson (1967-1968), Richard Nixon (1973), Gerald Ford (1974-1975), Jimmy Carter (1980), George W. Bush (2008) and Trump (2017-2018).
Is Donald Trump the man you admire the most? Yes No
Completing this poll entitles you to The Western Journal news updates free of charge. You may opt out at anytime. You also agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use Yes: 94% (808 Votes) No: 6% (49 Votes)
Forty-eight percent of Republicans surveyed listed Trump as their most admired man compared with 32 percent of Democrats saying the same regarding Obama.
Former first lady Michelle Obama was this year’s most admired woman with 10 percent backing, followed by Sen. Kamala Harris of California at 6 percent and first lady Melania Trump at 4 percent.
President Trump has finished among the top 10 most admired men 10 times, including four instances before he entered the political arena: 1988-1990, and 2011.
The late Rev. Billy Graham earned the most top-ten finishes during his lifetime with 61.
He’s followed by former President Ronald Reagan (31), former President Jimmy Carter (29), Pope John Paul II (27), former President Bill Clinton (26), Bill Gates (21) and Eisenhower (21).
The only men who were not future, current or former presidents to place first on Gallup’s list were World War II Gen. Douglas MacArthur in 1946, 1947 and 1951; former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger from 1973 to 1975; and Pope John Paul II in 1980.
On the women’s side, Queen Elizabeth II holds the title for the most top-ten finishes at 52, followed by former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher (34), Oprah Winfrey (33), former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton (29) and former first lady Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis (28).
The bottom line, as Gallup reported, “Past, present and future White House occupants, whether presidents or first ladies, have figured prominently when Gallup has asked Americans to name the man and woman they admire most.
“As such, Barack Obama, Donald Trump and Joe Biden are likely to remain strong contenders for the most admired man title in the coming years.”
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westernjournal--2020-12-29--Transgender Movement Becomes Pro-Abortion Movement’s Worst Nightmare

In another slap in the face to biological women , a Harvard Medical School Twitter account trivialized pregnancy by insisting that women are not the only people who can give birth .
Harvard Med School ’ s Postgraduate and Continuing Education program performed the mental contortions while playing both the race and gender cards to infantilize minorities by claiming that pregnancy and childbirth are more traumatic for them than for whites .
“ Globally , ethnic minority pregnant and birthing people suffer worse outcomes and experiences during and after pregnancy and childbirth , ” according to a tweet posted in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Twitter account explained that it had used the term “ birthing person ” instead of “ pregnant women ” so the definition could be expanded to include “ those who identify as non-binary or transgender because not all who give birth identify as ‘ women ’ or ‘ girls . '
” The Harvard program then claimed that its unscientific , misogynistic new definition was not meant “ to erase or dehumanize women.
” Even though it does .
Basically , the tweet suggested that men can also give birth .
This @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of women to get pregnant , gestate and have babies .
Ironically , this radical new stance undercuts the left ’ s position on abortion , which states , among other things , that men have no right to oppose abortion because they ’ re not the ones who have babies .
If leftist orthodoxy has now shifted to claim that men can also give birth , that means the old feminist argument that men don ’ t get a say in what happens to women ’ s bodies doesn ’ t hold @ @ @ @ @ @ @ if men can give birth , then men do get a say in abortions , and their opinions should be given the same weight and authority as women ’ s .
This is a Catch-22 for man-hating feminists .
Left-wing lemmings in academia , Big Tech , Hollywood and the media repeatedly claim that Democrats champion women .
In reality , they have been waging an ongoing war on women by championing and elevating transgenders at the expense of biological females .
RELATED : Judge Rules Ohio Must Allow 'Corrections ' on Birth @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , for example .
The left has been rabidly howling to allow transgender “ females ” to compete against natural women in athletic competitions .
Not surprisingly , men competing against women in contests of physical strength have annihilated females in sporting events since this trend has taken off .
Take Fallon Fox , a former MMA fighter who , as Breitbart reported , was born a man but competed as a “ woman.
” In an interview with 2013 interview with CNN , Fallon said men competing as women had “ no @ @ @ @ @ @ @ woman ’ s skull during a fight and then bragged about it on Twitter .
Does that sound fair to anyone ?
If this destructive trend continues , it ’ s only a matter of time before biological women are chased out of female sports altogether because they won ’ t be able to compete against rival athletes who are by nature stronger and faster , simply because they are men .
In a 2019 video , a British rapper who goes by the name of Zuby mocked the idea of men competing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they are not really men .
Naturally , the video infuriated transgender activists , but the point was incontestable .
Transgender activists claim their movement is about equality , while its effects are anti-women .
But as the Harvard Twitter post showed , its twisted logic can destroy progressive arguments too .
We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism .
Read our editorial standards .

In another slap in the face to biological women, a Harvard Medical School Twitter account trivialized pregnancy by insisting that women are not the only people who can give birth.
Harvard Med School’s Postgraduate and Continuing Education program performed the mental contortions while playing both the race and gender cards to infantilize minorities by claiming that pregnancy and childbirth are more traumatic for them than for whites.
“Globally, ethnic minority pregnant and birthing people suffer worse outcomes and experiences during and after pregnancy and childbirth,” according to a tweet posted in November.
Globally, ethnic minority pregnant and birthing people suffer worse outcomes and experiences during and after pregnancy and childbirth. These inequities have been further highlighted by #COVID19. Watch this panel discussion on #MaternalJustice. https://t.co/RcflQQapQo pic.twitter.com/N5m2s2SRdi — Harvard Med Postgraduate and Continuing Education (@HMSPostgradCE) November 8, 2020
In a follow-up post, the Twitter account explained that it had used the term “birthing person” instead of “pregnant women” so the definition could be expanded to include “those who identify as non-binary or transgender because not all who give birth identify as ‘women’ or ‘girls.'”
The Harvard program then claimed that its unscientific, misogynistic new definition was not meant “to erase or dehumanize women.” Even though it does.
The webinar panelists used the term “birthing person” to include those who identify as non-binary or transgender because not all who give birth identify as “women” or “girls.” We understand the reactions to this terminology and in no way meant for it to erase or dehumanize women. — Harvard Med Postgraduate and Continuing Education (@HMSPostgradCE) November 9, 2020
Basically, the tweet suggested that men can also give birth. This statement minimizes the sacred and unique capacity of women to get pregnant, gestate and have babies.
Ironically, this radical new stance undercuts the left’s position on abortion, which states, among other things, that men have no right to oppose abortion because they’re not the ones who have babies.
If leftist orthodoxy has now shifted to claim that men can also give birth, that means the old feminist argument that men don’t get a say in what happens to women’s bodies doesn’t hold water anymore.
In other words, if men can give birth, then men do get a say in abortions, and their opinions should be given the same weight and authority as women’s. This is a Catch-22 for man-hating feminists.
Left-wing lemmings in academia, Big Tech, Hollywood and the media repeatedly claim that Democrats champion women. In reality, they have been waging an ongoing war on women by championing and elevating transgenders at the expense of biological females.
Is the transgender movement backfiring on feminism? Yes No
Completing this poll entitles you to The Western Journal news updates free of charge. You may opt out at anytime. You also agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use Yes: 98% (300 Votes) No: 2% (6 Votes)
Take sports, for example. The left has been rabidly howling to allow transgender “females” to compete against natural women in athletic competitions.
Not surprisingly, men competing against women in contests of physical strength have annihilated females in sporting events since this trend has taken off.
Take Fallon Fox, a former MMA fighter who, as Breitbart reported, was born a man but competed as a “woman.” In an interview with 2013 interview with CNN, Fallon said men competing as women had “no unfair competitive advantages.”
Fallon fractured a woman’s skull during a fight and then bragged about it on Twitter.
Does that sound fair to anyone?
Hi Daniel, when a biological male brags about fracturing a woman’s skull, is it merely brave, or is it brave AND stunning? #fallonfox #AskDanielRadcliffe pic.twitter.com/8aPaeOCpz4 — GoodyRavenclaw⚡?? (@GoodyCorvid) June 16, 2020
If this destructive trend continues, it’s only a matter of time before biological women are chased out of female sports altogether because they won’t be able to compete against rival athletes who are by nature stronger and faster, simply because they are men.
In a 2019 video, a British rapper who goes by the name of Zuby mocked the idea of men competing fairly with women simply because they claim they are not really men.
I keep hearing about how biological men don’t have any physical strength advantage over women in 2019… So watch me DESTROY the British Women’s deadlift record without trying. P.S. I identified as a woman whilst lifting the weight. Don’t be a bigot. ? pic.twitter.com/dYRraHCB42 — ZUBY: (@ZubyMusic) February 26, 2019
Naturally, the video infuriated transgender activists, but the point was incontestable.
Transgender activists claim their movement is about equality, while its effects are anti-women.
But as the Harvard Twitter post showed, its twisted logic can destroy progressive arguments too.
Truth and Accuracy Submit a Correction → * Name
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westernjournal--2020-12-29--Star Bullied Into Apologizing for Posting This Family Christmas Picture

A TV actress and influential social media starlet was bullied into apologizing after she posted a photo online of her spending Christmas gathered around her family .
Chrishell Stause , who stars on the Netflix reality program “ Selling Sunset , ” has quite a footprint on social media .
The 39-year-old brags two million followers on Instagram .
Stause began dating “ Dancing with the Stars ” performer Keo Motsepe recenly , People magazine reported .
The TV star even brought the new boyfriend home for Christmas , which drew the ire of the online COVID mob .
It @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for Stause , but the left ’ s coronavirus restrictions on Christmas apparently applied everywhere — even on Instagram .
So , when she posted an image of her and the boyfriend with seven other people in matching pajamas , it was problematic .
People shared an image of the snap on Twitter : “ Introduced @ keo_motsepe to the fam .
He fit right in … Merry Christmas everyone from mine to yours !
!
!
Sending you all so much love , ” Stause captioned the photo which included nine people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Naturally , the image triggered those who follow these coronavirus mandates , which have ravaged the country ’ s collective mental health while arguably not slowing the spread of infections .
The top comment on Stause ’ s post was one that was void of Christmas cheer and filled with scorn .
“ Please be mindful of your platform .
It ’ s not good to show large family gatherings .
It makes others think it ’ s okay , ” wrote one Grinch .
Sadly , other comments were very similar @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is more evidence that those in government and public health who are using the coronavirus pandemic to fundamentally alter human behavior no longer need mandates to stifle spirited gatherings .
They have an army of human sheep cruising through online comments sections doing their dirty work for them .
Stause was apparently inundated with so much negativity that she actually apologized for the photo .
She edited the post ’ s caption to include a lengthy explanation and apology for having the audacity to not spend Christmas alone .
“ To those bringing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ agree this was not a good use of my platform .
I normally always try to be socially responsible with my posts because I am naturally a compassionate person .
I can see how this does not show that to some .
I understand you won ’ t agree , but at least so you can see where I am coming from , ” she wrote .
“ This is my immediate family and we all are able to test before and after .
This is the first Christmas without our mom we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ other in a tough year .
Keo brought such welcomed happiness and selfishly I posted in a very happy moment .
Please be safe and I am sending all my love to my supporters & critics .
I hear all of you and can appreciate feedback from both sides , ” the comment concluded .
RELATED : Chilling Revelation : Our Lockdowns Would n't Have Happened Without Help from the Chinese The painful non-apology/apology seemed to signal Stause knew she ’ d done nothing wrong , but felt compelled to appease the online @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shows where we are culturally .
The leftist establishment media and many Democrats spent weeks pushing to cancel Thanksgiving , which didn ’ t exactly pan out for them .
Thanksgiving gatherings occurred all over the country , despite the efforts of public health officials and other hedonist leftists to discourage them .
Those obsessed with imposing COVID restrictions came for Christmas .
That didn ’ t work out either .
USA Today , citing data from the Transportation Security Administration , reported 1,284,599 people were screened in American airports on Sunday alone @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of non-compliance , which of course you love to see at a point when government recommendations are no longer even in the same ballpark as science .
California , for example , has some of the most draconian COVID mandates in the country , and the place is a super spreader event , despite all the masks and lockdowns , which obviously don ’ t work .
KGO-TV reported the Golden State now has the second-highest coronavirus infection rate in the country , per 100,000 people .
But Stause ’ s story is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of people around us living in fear .
Democrats and activist reporters spent 2020 trying to cancel everything .
Now , those who would gleefully surrender their liberties to feel safe are doing all the dirty work through some old fashioned public shaming .
We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism .
Read our editorial standards .

A TV actress and influential social media starlet was bullied into apologizing after she posted a photo online of her spending Christmas gathered around her family.
Chrishell Stause, who stars on the Netflix reality program “Selling Sunset,” has quite a footprint on social media. The 39-year-old brags two million followers on Instagram.
Stause began dating “Dancing with the Stars” performer Keo Motsepe recenly, People magazine reported. The TV star even brought the new boyfriend home for Christmas, which drew the ire of the online COVID mob.
It’s not clear where home is for Stause, but the left’s coronavirus restrictions on Christmas apparently applied everywhere — even on Instagram. So, when she posted an image of her and the boyfriend with seven other people in matching pajamas, it was problematic.
People shared an image of the snap on Twitter:
Chrishell Stause Responds to Criticism Over Her Family’s Holiday Gathering amid COVID-19 Pandemic https://t.co/3To1xjvdB3 — People (@people) December 27, 2020
“Introduced @keo_motsepe to the fam. He fit right in … Merry Christmas everyone from mine to yours!!! Sending you all so much love,” Stause captioned the photo which included nine people, three dogs and a Christmas tree.
Naturally, the image triggered those who follow these coronavirus mandates, which have ravaged the country’s collective mental health while arguably not slowing the spread of infections. The top comment on Stause’s post was one that was void of Christmas cheer and filled with scorn.
Did you spend Christmas with your family this year? Yes No
Completing this poll entitles you to The Western Journal news updates free of charge. You may opt out at anytime. You also agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use Yes: 76% (312 Votes) No: 24% (96 Votes)
“Please be mindful of your platform. It’s not good to show large family gatherings. It makes others think it’s okay,” wrote one Grinch. Sadly, other comments were very similar in tone.
Of course, this is more evidence that those in government and public health who are using the coronavirus pandemic to fundamentally alter human behavior no longer need mandates to stifle spirited gatherings. They have an army of human sheep cruising through online comments sections doing their dirty work for them.
Stause was apparently inundated with so much negativity that she actually apologized for the photo. She edited the post’s caption to include a lengthy explanation and apology for having the audacity to not spend Christmas alone.
“To those bringing up Covid concerns, I understand and agree this was not a good use of my platform. I normally always try to be socially responsible with my posts because I am naturally a compassionate person. I can see how this does not show that to some. I understand you won’t agree, but at least so you can see where I am coming from,” she wrote.
“This is my immediate family and we all are able to test before and after. This is the first Christmas without our mom we felt important to be there for each other in a tough year. Keo brought such welcomed happiness and selfishly I posted in a very happy moment. Please be safe and I am sending all my love to my supporters & critics. I hear all of you and can appreciate feedback from both sides,” the comment concluded.
The painful non-apology/apology seemed to signal Stause knew she’d done nothing wrong, but felt compelled to appease the online mob with something. The saga definitely shows where we are culturally.
The leftist establishment media and many Democrats spent weeks pushing to cancel Thanksgiving, which didn’t exactly pan out for them. Thanksgiving gatherings occurred all over the country, despite the efforts of public health officials and other hedonist leftists to discourage them.
Those obsessed with imposing COVID restrictions came for Christmas. That didn’t work out either.
USA Today, citing data from the Transportation Security Administration, reported 1,284,599 people were screened in American airports on Sunday alone. That’s a great deal of non-compliance, which of course you love to see at a point when government recommendations are no longer even in the same ballpark as science.
California, for example, has some of the most draconian COVID mandates in the country, and the place is a super spreader event, despite all the masks and lockdowns, which obviously don’t work. KGO-TV reported the Golden State now has the second-highest coronavirus infection rate in the country, per 100,000 people.
But Stause’s story is a sad reminder that there are millions of people around us living in fear. Democrats and activist reporters spent 2020 trying to cancel everything. Now, those who would gleefully surrender their liberties to feel safe are doing all the dirty work through some old fashioned public shaming.
Truth and Accuracy Submit a Correction → * Name
* Email
* Message
* All fields are required. Success! We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism. Read our editorial standards.


In a Handbasket

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Branco cartoons , go to WesternJournal.com/cartoons .
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Bradley Cooper's latest role has not gone down well with everyone, particularly with regard to his use of a prosthetic nose.