westernjournal--2020-12-29--ATF Backpedals, Says It Won’t Issue ‘Guidance’ on Special AR-15s

The Bureau of Alcohol , Tobacco , Firearms and Explosives has withdrawn its proposed guidance on AR-15 pistol braces .
According to the Washington Examiner , the ATF wanted to possibly regulate stabilizing braces , which allow people more ease when using their firearms .
Regulating AR-15s with stabilizing braces would impact roughly 3-4 million gun owners , the Examiner reported .
“ Upon further consultation with the Department of Justice and the Office of the Deputy Attorney General , ATF is withdrawing , pending further Department of Justice review , the notice and request for comments entitled ‘ Objective @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Braces ” , ’ that was published on December 18 , 2020 , ” ATF Associate Deputy Director Marvin Richardson said in a statement .
“ As explained in the notice , the proposed guidance was not a regulation , ” he continued .
“ The notice informed and invited comment from the industry and public on a proposed guidance prior to issuing a final guidance document .
The withdrawal of the guidance does not change any law , regulation , or other legally binding requirement.
” Last week , 90 members of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Hudson of North Carolina , signed a letter to the ATF expressing concerns about the guidance .
“ The guidance claims to lay out several ‘ objective ’ criteria for the design features of which the ATF will use to deem these firearms subject to classification under the National Firearms Act and could turn law-abiding gun owners into criminals overnight , ” the letter said .
The National Rifle Association praised the reversal and thanked Republican leadership for the change .
This is a major victory for Second Amendment activists , especially as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ push for gun control legislation under the Biden administration .
Some argue , however , that the open-ended language used by the ATF could be cause for concern .
RELATED : Former SEAL Sets Dem Reverend Straight After He Mocked Armed Churchgoers Bearing Arms editor Cam Edwards noted that “ the agency says [ the guidance ] could return ” after the ATF works with a Biden administration ’ s DOJ .
Ramping up guidance and regulation makes little sense in this scenario , as the vast majority of gun owners are properly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ firearm responsibly .
The solution to stopping gun violence will not come from a government agency and certainly will not come from cracking down on responsible gun owners .
The Second Amendment may seem irrelevant for many , but it is a fundamental freedom in the United States .
We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism .
Read our editorial standards .

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives has withdrawn its proposed guidance on AR-15 pistol braces.
According to the Washington Examiner, the ATF wanted to possibly regulate stabilizing braces, which allow people more ease when using their firearms.
Regulating AR-15s with stabilizing braces would impact roughly 3-4 million gun owners, the Examiner reported.
“Upon further consultation with the Department of Justice and the Office of the Deputy Attorney General, ATF is withdrawing, pending further Department of Justice review, the notice and request for comments entitled ‘Objective Factors for Classifying Weapons with “Stabilizing Braces”,’ that was published on December 18, 2020,” ATF Associate Deputy Director Marvin Richardson said in a statement.
“As explained in the notice, the proposed guidance was not a regulation,” he continued. “The notice informed and invited comment from the industry and public on a proposed guidance prior to issuing a final guidance document. The withdrawal of the guidance does not change any law, regulation, or other legally binding requirement.”
Last week, 90 members of Congress, lead by Republican Rep. Richard Hudson of North Carolina, signed a letter to the ATF expressing concerns about the guidance.
“The guidance claims to lay out several ‘objective’ criteria for the design features of which the ATF will use to deem these firearms subject to classification under the National Firearms Act and could turn law-abiding gun owners into criminals overnight,” the letter said.
?89 colleagues joined my letter urging the ATF to reverse its proposed rule on stabilizing braces that jeopardizes law-abiding gun owners across the country. Comment period on this overreaching regulation ends Jan. 4 – make your voice heard! #2A https://t.co/E1sSDbo6lA pic.twitter.com/2JXX0v1Bf0 — Richard Hudson (@RepRichHudson) December 23, 2020
The National Rifle Association praised the reversal and thanked Republican leadership for the change.
JUST IN: The ATF withdrew its guidance on pistol stabilizing braces. Thank you to all @NRA members, gun owners, pro-2A members of Congress, @SenateMajLdr McConnell, @RepRichHudson, and all who helped strike down the @ATFHQ’s unsuccessful overreach. — NRA (@NRA) December 24, 2020
This is a major victory for Second Amendment activists, especially as there is expected to be an increased push for gun control legislation under the Biden administration.
Some argue, however, that the open-ended language used by the ATF could be cause for concern.
Bearing Arms editor Cam Edwards noted that “the agency says [the guidance] could return” after the ATF works with a Biden administration’s DOJ.
Sorry, should have put “further review” instead of “consultations.” A distinction without difference, but that’s the actual language from the ATF document. — Cam Edwards (@CamEdwards) December 24, 2020
Ramping up guidance and regulation makes little sense in this scenario, as the vast majority of gun owners are properly trained and know how to use a firearm responsibly.
The solution to stopping gun violence will not come from a government agency and certainly will not come from cracking down on responsible gun owners.
The Second Amendment may seem irrelevant for many, but it is a fundamental freedom in the United States.
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westernjournal--2020-12-28--Preschool Director Who Works Extra Job To Buy Gifts for Students Receives Heartwarming Surprise

Those who give the most are often the people who expect the least .
Preschool director Renee Dixon is like that .
Working at Lynhurst Baptist Church Preschool Ministry in Indianapolis , Dixon says she knows what it ’ s like to just barely get by .
“ When I was a kid , we didn ’ t have much , ” she told KENS-TV .
Christmas is also very important to Dixon , who admitted she turns up the festive tunes in October .
This year , she knew the state of the world would mean even fewer of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Christmas presents .
The preschool has a food pantry , and Dixon is working to get clothes for needy families , but that ’ s not what kids are thinking about on the 25th .
“ A lot of the parents were telling me they can ’ t buy their kids anything , ” Dixon told Good Morning America .
“ I know how that feels , and I never want a child to ever feel that things you dream about never , ever come true , or that things you pray about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ world isn ’ t fair because of their living situation.
” Dixon also knew that kids might not really understand why there were no presents , so she decided to take care of that problem and vowed to personally provide a gift for each of the 50 children at the preschool .
“ [ E ] very child needs a merry Christmas , ” she said to KENS , adding , “ just to give them a little bit of love , just for even one day because since COVID , their world @ @ @ @ @ @ @ This isn ’ t the first year she ’ s done this , but this year she had to pick up extra work driving for Uber and Lyft .
That job did end up providing many Christmas gifts — and not in the way she ’ d suspected .
One passenger she chatted with got the ball rolling on her behalf .
“ He said he works for Wheeler Mission , and he was like , ‘ I like what you ’ re doing , ' ” Dixon said .
“ And I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s nothing .
This is what you ’ re supposed to do.
’ “ So he recorded me and him talking , and Emily Longnecker contacted me and said she ’ s seen it .
And we did an interview with her .
And then The Washington Post did an article.
” RELATED : Watch : 'World 's Fastest Amputee ' Cheers on Little Boy Taking First Steps with Prosthetic Leg More than just her passenger liked what she was doing , and the donated presents for her kids came pouring in — @ @ @ @ @ @ @ siblings , so she started donating the gifts to other area preschools .
“ All 50 kids and their siblings was able to get Christmas presents this year , ” she announced .
“ We had so many people donate that I actually gave other preschools books and Legos.
” “ I don ’ t like a big deal made about this , because this is something everyone should be doing , ” she told GMA .
“ Taking care of kids and making sure people ’ s needs are met and kids @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s something everybody should be doing , and all year-round , not just at Christmas.
” But the giving wasn ’ t quite over yet .
Dixon had had her heart set on a Nissan Armada for some time , but she hadn ’ t been able to pull it off .
Thankfully , someone who could make it happen did .
“ We saw that she wanted a Nissan Armada as her Christmas gift , ” Pat Hurst , the local dealership ’ s general manager , told KENS .
“ We @ @ @ @ @ @ @ provide her with her Christmas gift.
” Though she had helped make dozens of children ’ s wishes come true , Dixon was shocked when the giving was focused on her .
“ I ’ m like , ‘ Are you really serious ? '
” she recalled saying .
“ I had tears in my eyes .
I ’ m still in shock .
“ I needed something in my life … my uncle , he died from COVID , his son , my cousin , died from COVID and he was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ him die in front of my eyes , so I — you know , like everybody else , you need that little spark and knowing that people out there that still cares.
” We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism .
Read our editorial standards .

Those who give the most are often the people who expect the least. Preschool director Renee Dixon is like that.
Working at Lynhurst Baptist Church Preschool Ministry in Indianapolis, Dixon says she knows what it’s like to just barely get by.
“When I was a kid, we didn’t have much,” she told KENS-TV.
Christmas is also very important to Dixon, who admitted she turns up the festive tunes in October.
This year, she knew the state of the world would mean even fewer of the children in her preschool would get Christmas presents. The preschool has a food pantry, and Dixon is working to get clothes for needy families, but that’s not what kids are thinking about on the 25th.
“A lot of the parents were telling me they can’t buy their kids anything,” Dixon told Good Morning America. “I know how that feels, and I never want a child to ever feel that things you dream about never, ever come true, or that things you pray about never come true, or that the world isn’t fair because of their living situation.”
Dixon also knew that kids might not really understand why there were no presents, so she decided to take care of that problem and vowed to personally provide a gift for each of the 50 children at the preschool.
“[E]very child needs a merry Christmas,” she said to KENS, adding, “just to give them a little bit of love, just for even one day because since COVID, their world’s been turned upside down.”
This isn’t the first year she’s done this, but this year she had to pick up extra work driving for Uber and Lyft. That job did end up providing many Christmas gifts — and not in the way she’d suspected.
One passenger she chatted with got the ball rolling on her behalf.
“He said he works for Wheeler Mission, and he was like, ‘I like what you’re doing,'” Dixon said. “And I’m like, ‘It’s nothing. This is what you’re supposed to do.’
“So he recorded me and him talking, and Emily Longnecker contacted me and said she’s seen it. And we did an interview with her. And then The Washington Post did an article.”
More than just her passenger liked what she was doing, and the donated presents for her kids came pouring in — more than she needed for all their siblings, so she started donating the gifts to other area preschools.
“All 50 kids and their siblings was able to get Christmas presents this year,” she announced. “We had so many people donate that I actually gave other preschools books and Legos.”
“I don’t like a big deal made about this, because this is something everyone should be doing,” she told GMA. “Taking care of kids and making sure people’s needs are met and kids’ needs are met, that’s something everybody should be doing, and all year-round, not just at Christmas.”
But the giving wasn’t quite over yet. Dixon had had her heart set on a Nissan Armada for some time, but she hadn’t been able to pull it off. Thankfully, someone who could make it happen did.
“We saw that she wanted a Nissan Armada as her Christmas gift,” Pat Hurst, the local dealership’s general manager, told KENS. “We couldn’t be more happy to provide her with her Christmas gift.”
Though she had helped make dozens of children’s wishes come true, Dixon was shocked when the giving was focused on her.
“I’m like, ‘Are you really serious?'” she recalled saying. “I had tears in my eyes. I’m still in shock.
“I needed something in my life … my uncle, he died from COVID, his son, my cousin, died from COVID and he was my best friend, and I saw him die in front of my eyes, so I — you know, like everybody else, you need that little spark and knowing that people out there that still cares.”
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westernjournal--2020-12-28--Trump Puts Congress on Notice, Announces Surprise Move To Cut Waste from ‘Stimulus’ Bill

After signing Congress ’ coronavirus relief package and annual spending bill , President Donald Trump released a statement Sunday evening about wasteful spending in the bill .
By signing the bill , Trump averted a government shutdown and restored federal unemployment benefits that had expired .
The president originally threatened to veto the bill last week , but immense pressure from both parties prompted his final decision .
“ As President of the United States it is my responsibility to protect the people of our country , ” Trump said in the statement .
“ I will sign the Omnibus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that makes clear to Congress that wasteful items need to be removed .
“ I will send back to Congress a redlined version , item by item , accompanied by the formal rescission request to Congress insisting that those funds be removed from the bill.
” He cited the Impoundment Control Act of 1974 as a way for him to request certain spending cuts , but the requests are highly unlikely to successfully go through Congress .
Trump also made it clear that he is still pushing for $ 2,000 stimulus checks and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the House will vote to increase payments to individuals from $ 600 to $ 2,000 .
Therefore , a family of four would receive $ 5,200 .
Additionally , Congress has promised that Section 230 , which so unfairly benefits Big Tech at the expense of the American people , will be reviewed and either be terminated or substantially reformed , ” the president said .
While the House voted Monday to increase the payments to $ 2,000 per person , the measure is unlikely to pass the Republican-controlled Senate , according to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not have been complete without his addressing allegations of widespread voter fraud , of which courts have yet to determine there is evidence .
“ Likewise , the House and Senate have agreed to focus strongly on the very substantial voter fraud which took place in the November 3 Presidential election , ” Trump said .
While the legislation passed the House and Senate by overwhelming margins , its questionable expenditures on foreign aid , frivolous scientific studies and public funding of museums and concerts halls raised eyebrows on both sides of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Hawaii called the $ 600 stimulus checks “ a slap in the face.
” “ $ 600 is a slap in the face to every American struggling due to the pandemic .
You deserve better .
I voted against the 5,593-page spending bill that gave billions to corporate interests , the military industrial complex & other countries , leaving crumbs for you who need help most , ” she tweeted on Dec. 21 .
RELATED : Press Sec Kayleigh McEnany Always Wears a Visible Cross , Now She 's Finally Explaining Why @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of six Republican senators to vote against the bill , listed several reasons why many items seemed pointless .
“ Why I voted Against The Bloated COVID Bill : Unconscionable Spending , Billions for NY Public Transport , Endless Lawsuits for Businesses , Grants for Prisoners , Illegal Immigrant Benefits , Energy Market Interference , Liberal Agenda-Driven Foreign Aid , ” Blackburn tweeted Tuesday .
Ideally , Trump should have vetoed the bill and demanded Congress put forward a separate coronavirus relief bill that only had stimulus checks and other basic economic relief @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to put pressure on Congress to follow through with cutting wasteful spending .
We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism .
Read our editorial standards .

After signing Congress’ coronavirus relief package and annual spending bill, President Donald Trump released a statement Sunday evening about wasteful spending in the bill.
By signing the bill, Trump averted a government shutdown and restored federal unemployment benefits that had expired.
The president originally threatened to veto the bill last week, but immense pressure from both parties prompted his final decision.
“As President of the United States it is my responsibility to protect the people of our country,” Trump said in the statement. “I will sign the Omnibus and Covid package with a strong message that makes clear to Congress that wasteful items need to be removed.
“I will send back to Congress a redlined version, item by item, accompanied by the formal rescission request to Congress insisting that those funds be removed from the bill.”
He cited the Impoundment Control Act of 1974 as a way for him to request certain spending cuts, but the requests are highly unlikely to successfully go through Congress.
Trump also made it clear that he is still pushing for $2,000 stimulus checks and Section 230 reforms.
“On Monday the House will vote to increase payments to individuals from $600 to $2,000. Therefore, a family of four would receive $5,200. Additionally, Congress has promised that Section 230, which so unfairly benefits Big Tech at the expense of the American people, will be reviewed and either be terminated or substantially reformed,” the president said.
While the House voted Monday to increase the payments to $2,000 per person, the measure is unlikely to pass the Republican-controlled Senate, according to Axios.
Do you think Trump should have signed the stimulus bill? 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: 27% (1071 Votes) No: 73% (2953 Votes)
Trump’s statement would not have been complete without his addressing allegations of widespread voter fraud, of which courts have yet to determine there is evidence.
“Likewise, the House and Senate have agreed to focus strongly on the very substantial voter fraud which took place in the November 3 Presidential election,” Trump said.
While the legislation passed the House and Senate by overwhelming margins, its questionable expenditures on foreign aid, frivolous scientific studies and public funding of museums and concerts halls raised eyebrows on both sides of the aisle.
Outgoing Democratic Rep. Tulsi Gabbard of Hawaii called the $600 stimulus checks “a slap in the face.”
“$600 is a slap in the face to every American struggling due to the pandemic. You deserve better. I voted against the 5,593-page spending bill that gave billions to corporate interests, the military industrial complex & other countries, leaving crumbs for you who need help most,” she tweeted on Dec. 21.
$600 is a slap in the face to every American struggling due to the pandemic. You deserve better. I voted against the 5,593-page spending bill that gave billions to corporate interests, the military industrial complex & other countries, leaving crumbs for you who need help most. pic.twitter.com/82F1HYF43T — Tulsi Gabbard ? (@TulsiGabbard) December 22, 2020
Tennessee Republican Sen. Marsha Blackburn, one of six Republican senators to vote against the bill, listed several reasons why many items seemed pointless.
“Why I voted Against The Bloated COVID Bill: Unconscionable Spending, Billions for NY Public Transport, Endless Lawsuits for Businesses, Grants for Prisoners, Illegal Immigrant Benefits, Energy Market Interference, Liberal Agenda-Driven Foreign Aid,” Blackburn tweeted Tuesday.
Why I voted Against The Bloated COVID Bill: ❌Unconscionable Spending
❌Billions for NY Public Transport
❌Endless Lawsuits for Businesses
❌Grants for Prisoners
❌Illegal Immigrant Benefits
❌Energy Market Interference
❌Liberal Agenda-Driven Foreign Aid — Sen. Marsha Blackburn (@MarshaBlackburn) December 22, 2020
Ideally, Trump should have vetoed the bill and demanded Congress put forward a separate coronavirus relief bill that only had stimulus checks and other basic economic relief. Let’s hope he continues to put pressure on Congress to follow through with cutting wasteful spending.
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westernjournal--2020-12-28--Watch: ‘World’s Fastest Amputee’ Cheers on Little Boy Taking First Steps with Prosthetic Leg

When we face monumental trials in our lives , seeing others who have faced similar challenges and have come through stronger can be a priceless inspiration .
KJ Dyer of Oklahoma City , Oklahoma , is only 2 years old — but he and his family are already facing struggles with his health after an accident .
According to a Facebook post by journalist Karl Torp , Dyer was at Scott Sabolich Prosthetics & Research on Dec. 9 , getting his first prosthesis .
“ We recently delivered KJ ’ s first prosthesis and what a day full of excitement @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Scott Sabolich Prosthetics posted on Dec. 18 .
Video shows the adorable little boy figuring out how to maneuver using his new leg with the help of a walker .
“ He can ’ t wait to show everyone next week how great he is doing walking on his own !
” mom Chelsea Dyer commented on the post .
But there ’ s something else KJ got while he was at Scott Sabolich that has been an encouragement to many .
The same day KJ was there for his prosthesis , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ there for an appointment as well .
Leeper is a double amputee , but that hasn ’ t stopped him from making strides in the athletic world .
“ Blake Leeper , the world ’ s fastest amputee came to us about 4 years ago , and after we made his new running prostheses , he broke world records , ” Randy Titony , who works at Scott Sabolich Prosthetics , told Storyful , according to KSAZ-TV .
“ He returned a few weeks ago for some new legs in his quest to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” Titony continued .
“ While at our facility , he met KJ , a little boy receiving his first prosthesis following an accident.
” RELATED : Teens Form Human Chain To Save Lives of Two Children Who Had Fallen Into Icy Pond The video that has since gone viral not only shows KJ walking on his own , but being coached by an enthusiastic Leeper , who shows off his prosthetics and does his best to make KJ feel at ease .
“ I ’ m ready !
I ’ m @ @ @ @ @ @ @ doing great !
” Leeper said to KJ in one video .
“ You ’ re doing awesome !
” “ Are you ready ?
Let ’ s go !
Step … by step … by step … by step , ” he said , encouraging the little boy every step of the way .
Little KJ may not remember this heartwarming interaction , but he can look back on the video in the future .
For now , the athlete ’ s kindness no doubt warmed the parents ’ hearts , which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ care for their son .
We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism .
Read our editorial standards .

When we face monumental trials in our lives, seeing others who have faced similar challenges and have come through stronger can be a priceless inspiration.
KJ Dyer of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, is only 2 years old — but he and his family are already facing struggles with his health after an accident.
According to a Facebook post by journalist Karl Torp, Dyer was at Scott Sabolich Prosthetics & Research on Dec. 9, getting his first prosthesis.
“We recently delivered KJ’s first prosthesis and what a day full of excitement, fun and gratitude it was!” Scott Sabolich Prosthetics posted on Dec. 18.
Video shows the adorable little boy figuring out how to maneuver using his new leg with the help of a walker.
“He can’t wait to show everyone next week how great he is doing walking on his own!” mom Chelsea Dyer commented on the post.
But there’s something else KJ got while he was at Scott Sabolich that has been an encouragement to many. The same day KJ was there for his prosthesis, 8-time Paralympic international medalist Blake Leeper was there for an appointment as well.
Leeper is a double amputee, but that hasn’t stopped him from making strides in the athletic world.
“Blake Leeper, the world’s fastest amputee came to us about 4 years ago, and after we made his new running prostheses, he broke world records,” Randy Titony, who works at Scott Sabolich Prosthetics, told Storyful, according to KSAZ-TV.
“He returned a few weeks ago for some new legs in his quest to run in the Tokyo Olympic or Paralympics,” Titony continued.
“While at our facility, he met KJ, a little boy receiving his first prosthesis following an accident.”
The video that has since gone viral not only shows KJ walking on his own, but being coached by an enthusiastic Leeper, who shows off his prosthetics and does his best to make KJ feel at ease.
“I’m ready! I’m ready for you! You’re doing great!” Leeper said to KJ in one video. “You’re doing awesome!”
“Are you ready? Let’s go! Step … by step … by step … by step,” he said, encouraging the little boy every step of the way.
Little KJ may not remember this heartwarming interaction, but he can look back on the video in the future. For now, the athlete’s kindness no doubt warmed the parents’ hearts, which will encourage them as they continue to care for their son.
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westernjournal--2020-12-28--Lawmaker, Other Republicans Sue Pence To Stop Biden from Taking Office

Rep. Louie Gohmert of Texas on Monday sued Vice President Mike Pence in federal court in an effort to force him to block votes from swing states when he presides over the Jan. 6 congressional certification of the 2020 Electoral College winner .
Right now , Democrat Joe Biden is slated to be certified as the election winner in that meeting , setting him up for inauguration on Jan. 20 .
According to reports , though , Gohmert and other Republicans are seeking to compel the vice president into refusing to accept votes from several swing states , thus allowing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The Hill described the effort as a “ far-fetched.
” “ The lawsuit focuses on Pence ’ s role in an upcoming Jan. 6 meeting of Congress to count states ’ electoral votes and finalize Biden ’ s victory over President Trump .
Typically , the vice president ’ s role in presiding over the meeting is a largely ceremonial one governed by an 1887 federal law known as the Electoral Count Act , ” the outlet reported .
“ But the Republican lawsuit , which was filed against Pence in his official @ @ @ @ @ @ @ federal judge in Texas to strike down the law as unconstitutional .
The GOP plaintiffs go further : They ask the court to grant Pence the authority on Jan. 6 to effectively overturn Trump ’ s defeat in key battleground states.
” Alex Salvi of One America News shared an image of the top of the legal filing on Twitter .
The suit shows that Arizona GOP chair Kelli Ward and others have joined Gohmert as plaintiffs .
The suit , which was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Kernodle to award Pence the sole authority to decide which Electoral College votes to count when Congress meets .
KLTV-TV reported the lawsuit seeks to declare actions taken by Pence to declare Biden as the winner of the election are fraudulent .
“ This civil action seeks an expedited declaratory judgment finding that the elector dispute resolution provisions in Section 15 of the Electoral Count Act , 3 U.S.C .
§§ 5 and 15 , are unconstitutional because these provisions violate the Electors Clause and the Twelfth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ KLTV .
“ Under the Twelfth Amendment , Defendant Pence alone has the exclusive authority and sole discretion to open and permit the counting of the electoral votes for a given state , and where there are competing slates of electors , or where there is objection to any single slate of electors , to determine which electors ’ votes , or whether none , shall be counted , ” the suit further reads , Politico reported .
RELATED : Democratic Lawmakers Could End Up with GOP House Speaker Thanks to COVID-19 Rules @ @ @ @ @ @ @ College met to certify the election , the Republicans in the states in question sent alternate “ electors ” as an apparent play to potentially have their votes used at a later date .
Politico reported that if the suit is successful , those alternate and unofficial Trump electors from states such as Pennsylvania , Michigan and Wisconsin would come into play .
Gohmert ’ s suit essentially asks that Pence be given the discretion to choose those alternate electors .
It is unclear if the court will hear the case , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism .
Read our editorial standards .

Rep. Louie Gohmert of Texas on Monday sued Vice President Mike Pence in federal court in an effort to force him to block votes from swing states when he presides over the Jan. 6 congressional certification of the 2020 Electoral College winner.
Right now, Democrat Joe Biden is slated to be certified as the election winner in that meeting, setting him up for inauguration on Jan. 20.
According to reports, though, Gohmert and other Republicans are seeking to compel the vice president into refusing to accept votes from several swing states, thus allowing President Donald Trump to declare victory.
The Hill described the effort as a “far-fetched.”
“The lawsuit focuses on Pence’s role in an upcoming Jan. 6 meeting of Congress to count states’ electoral votes and finalize Biden’s victory over President Trump. Typically, the vice president’s role in presiding over the meeting is a largely ceremonial one governed by an 1887 federal law known as the Electoral Count Act,” the outlet reported.
“But the Republican lawsuit, which was filed against Pence in his official capacity as vice president, asks a federal judge in Texas to strike down the law as unconstitutional. The GOP plaintiffs go further: They ask the court to grant Pence the authority on Jan. 6 to effectively overturn Trump’s defeat in key battleground states.”
Alex Salvi of One America News shared an image of the top of the legal filing on Twitter.
A group of Republicans—including Rep. Louie Gohmert and Kelli Ward—is suing VP Mike Pence in a last-ditch Hail Marry attempt to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election. pic.twitter.com/Arf0PEHt4c — Alex Salvi (@alexsalvinews) December 28, 2020
The suit shows that Arizona GOP chair Kelli Ward and others have joined Gohmert as plaintiffs.
The suit, which was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas, essentially asks Judge Jeremy Kernodle to award Pence the sole authority to decide which Electoral College votes to count when Congress meets.
KLTV-TV reported the lawsuit seeks to declare actions taken by Pence to declare Biden as the winner of the election are fraudulent.
“This civil action seeks an expedited declaratory judgment finding that the elector dispute resolution provisions in Section 15 of the Electoral Count Act, 3 U.S.C. §§ 5 and 15, are unconstitutional because these provisions violate the Electors Clause and the Twelfth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution,” the suit reads, according to KLTV.
“Under the Twelfth Amendment, Defendant Pence alone has the exclusive authority and sole discretion to open and permit the counting of the electoral votes for a given state, and where there are competing slates of electors, or where there is objection to any single slate of electors, to determine which electors’ votes, or whether none, shall be counted,” the suit further reads, Politico reported.
Earlier this month, as the Electoral College met to certify the election, the Republicans in the states in question sent alternate “electors” as an apparent play to potentially have their votes used at a later date.
Politico reported that if the suit is successful, those alternate and unofficial Trump electors from states such as Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin would come into play.
Gohmert’s suit essentially asks that Pence be given the discretion to choose those alternate electors.
It is unclear if the court will hear the case, and Pence has not yet commented on it.
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westernjournal--2020-12-28--GA Dems Sound Alarm in Senate Race: Running Out of Cash

The two Democratic candidates for Senate in Georgia ’ s Jan. 5 Senate runoff elections have raised more than $ 100 million each in the past two months , but their campaign managers were appealing on Monday for even more money — with a dire warning for liberals if it doesn ’ t come through , according to NBC News .
That should be a dire warning for the rest of America of what could happen if they win .
According to NBC , the campaign managers for Democrats Jon Ossoff and the Rev .
Raphael Warnock sent a memo @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” about the current state of the financial race .
“ To win this election in 8 days , we need to continue our historic efforts to turn out every single voter — but we won ’ t be able to do that if our fundraising revenue continues to fall , ” Ossoff campaign manager Ellen Foster and Warnock campaign manager Jerid Kurtz wrote .
Seriously .
This comes after Ossoff raised $ 106.8 million between Oct. 15 and Dec. 16 , according to Politico .
The haul made Ossoff the best-funded Senate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ New York Times .
That should trouble any American who cares about the failed congressional candidate ’ s history , including disturbing ties to a Chinese company that supports the Chinese Communist Party in Hong Kong .
Warnock raised $ 103.4 in the same period , Politico reported .
And that should be equally troubling for Americans uneasy with the kind of clergyman who supports abortion and mocks Christians who believe in armed self-defense .
The candidates ’ spending in the two months was $ 93.5 million for Ossoff and $ 86.1 million @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is challenging incumbent Sen. David Perdue , who is seeking his second term .
Warnock is challenging Sen. Kelly Loeffler , who was appointed to the Senate in 2019 to replace Sen. Johnny Isakson .
Neither incumbent came close to matching the Democrats ’ fundraising since Oct. 15 .
Perdue brought in about $ 68 million , according to CNN , while Loeffler collected about $ 64 million .
But in the race ’ s final week , the Republicans each have more than $ 20 million on hand , according to CNN @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Ossoff has about $ 17.5 million , CNN reported ; Warnock about $ 16 million .
Perdue and Loeffler are also getting a boost from outside groups that back the Republicans in an effort to keep the Senate from falling into Democratic hands .
If Democrats won both runoff races , the upper chamber would be tied between Republicans and Democrats and independents who caucus with Democrats .
That would put tie-breaking power in the hands of the party that controls the vice presidency , which could well mean Kamala Harris ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ position of power no sane American should want .
RELATED : Biden Turns His Back Against Those Banking on Student Loan Forgiveness Order : ' I 'd Be Unlikely To Do That' According to CNN , three Republican PACs have spent more than $ 137 million in advertising in the races .
And that has the two Democratic candidates — who took in a breathtaking combined total of more than $ 210 million in two months — crying poormouth .
Hard as it is to believe , they ’ re apparently running out @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the air war of television advertising and the ground game of actually reaching voters .
“ Our Republican counterparts don ’ t have to spend as much of their precious resources on TV and can invest in the area that is most important at this stage : direct voter contact , ” the memo to donors stated , according to NBC .
Well , direct voter contact , as it turns out , is where Democrats have come up short in Senate and House races across the country .
This is the party @ @ @ @ @ @ @ expand its House majority in the November election and ended up losing at least 12 seats , barely retaining House Speaker Nancy Pelosi ’ s hold on power .
Likewise in the Senate , incredible sums of money poured in from Democrats in New York and California to defeat Republican incumbents like South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham , Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and Maine Sen. Susan Collins .
Graham ’ s opponent , Democrat Jaime Harrison raised more than $ 108 million , McConnell ’ s opponent more than $ 90 million @ @ @ @ @ @ @ million .
But neither vast sums of money from coastal elites nor endless , nauseating support from a mainstream media that ’ s supposed to be reporting news rather than shaping it could sway the general election enough to create the Democratic House majority of liberal dreams or the Democratic-run Senate of conservative nightmares .
The fact that that effort was such an expensive failure , NBC reported , has left Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer “ pessimistic ” about his party ’ s prospects in the Georgia runoff .
“ Outside Democrat @ @ @ @ @ @ @ try and help Democrats regain control of the Senate in the last election — pouring in hundreds of millions of dollars in the weeks leading up to November 3rd , ” NBC reported .
“ Now , after the party performed poorly in down-ballot races , Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer , D-N.Y. , is no longer meeting with donors , a source familiar with the matter told NBC News.
” Just for the record , a Schumer spokesman is on record in the report denying the New York Democrat has lost faith @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his other failings — and they are legion — Schumer is not a stupid man .
He knows what happened nationally in November , it ’ s not too far of a leap to see what could be coming in the Peach State in January .
But it ’ s no time to get complacent about the GOP prospects for victory a week hence .
Throughout President Donald Trump ’ s time in office , Democrats have shown they have no limits in their # Resistance .
Since taking over the House in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the coronavirus pandemic , they have shown they have no limits in their willingness to spend public money to advance the progressive agenda .
( The fact that Pelosi held up a coronavirus stimulus package until after the election was intended to hurt Trump , not save the nation ’ s finances . )
Now , as the rest of the country watches , Georgia Democratic Senate candidates are raising an unreal amount of money and spending it at an unreal pace in an effort to get control of the American government @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the endless , increasing taxation of a Democratic government .
Imagine the Democratic candidates ’ campaign spending as the party in power dumping public funds into the bottomless maw of the progressive agenda — and dumping the country ’ s future with it .
If their spending looks disturbing now , imagine what a nightmare it would be if that money was yours — and Democrats were in total power .
We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism .
Read our editorial standards .

Imagine how fast they’d spend your money.
The two Democratic candidates for Senate in Georgia’s Jan. 5 Senate runoff elections have raised more than $100 million each in the past two months, but their campaign managers were appealing on Monday for even more money — with a dire warning for liberals if it doesn’t come through, according to NBC News.
That should be a dire warning for the rest of America of what could happen if they win.
According to NBC, the campaign managers for Democrats Jon Ossoff and the Rev. Raphael Warnock sent a memo to potential donors “sounding the alarm” about the current state of the financial race.
“To win this election in 8 days, we need to continue our historic efforts to turn out every single voter — but we won’t be able to do that if our fundraising revenue continues to fall,” Ossoff campaign manager Ellen Foster and Warnock campaign manager Jerid Kurtz wrote.
Seriously. This comes after Ossoff raised $106.8 million between Oct. 15 and Dec. 16, according to Politico.
The haul made Ossoff the best-funded Senate candidate in history, according to The New York Times. That should trouble any American who cares about the failed congressional candidate’s history, including disturbing ties to a Chinese company that supports the Chinese Communist Party in Hong Kong.
Warnock raised $103.4 in the same period, Politico reported. And that should be equally troubling for Americans uneasy with the kind of clergyman who supports abortion and mocks Christians who believe in armed self-defense.
The candidates’ spending in the two months was $93.5 million for Ossoff and $86.1 million for Warnock, Politico reported.
Do you think Democrats will be defeated in Georgia? 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% (2831 Votes) No: 6% (195 Votes)
Ossoff is challenging incumbent Sen. David Perdue, who is seeking his second term. Warnock is challenging Sen. Kelly Loeffler, who was appointed to the Senate in 2019 to replace Sen. Johnny Isakson.
Neither incumbent came close to matching the Democrats’ fundraising since Oct. 15. Perdue brought in about $68 million, according to CNN, while Loeffler collected about $64 million.
But in the race’s final week, the Republicans each have more than $20 million on hand, according to CNN, more than either of the Democrats. Ossoff has about $17.5 million, CNN reported; Warnock about $16 million.
Perdue and Loeffler are also getting a boost from outside groups that back the Republicans in an effort to keep the Senate from falling into Democratic hands. If Democrats won both runoff races, the upper chamber would be tied between Republicans and Democrats and independents who caucus with Democrats.
That would put tie-breaking power in the hands of the party that controls the vice presidency, which could well mean Kamala Harris’ ultra-liberal partisan politics could be in a position of power no sane American should want.
According to CNN, three Republican PACs have spent more than $137 million in advertising in the races.
And that has the two Democratic candidates — who took in a breathtaking combined total of more than $210 million in two months — crying poormouth. Hard as it is to believe, they’re apparently running out of enough cash to spend on both the air war of television advertising and the ground game of actually reaching voters.
“Our Republican counterparts don’t have to spend as much of their precious resources on TV and can invest in the area that is most important at this stage: direct voter contact,” the memo to donors stated, according to NBC.
Well, direct voter contact, as it turns out, is where Democrats have come up short in Senate and House races across the country.
This is the party, remember, that was predicted to expand its House majority in the November election and ended up losing at least 12 seats, barely retaining House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s hold on power.
Likewise in the Senate, incredible sums of money poured in from Democrats in New York and California to defeat Republican incumbents like South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and Maine Sen. Susan Collins.
Graham’s opponent, Democrat Jaime Harrison raised more than $108 million, McConnell’s opponent more than $90 million and Collins’ opponent almost $70 million.
But neither vast sums of money from coastal elites nor endless, nauseating support from a mainstream media that’s supposed to be reporting news rather than shaping it could sway the general election enough to create the Democratic House majority of liberal dreams or the Democratic-run Senate of conservative nightmares.
The fact that that effort was such an expensive failure, NBC reported, has left Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer “pessimistic” about his party’s prospects in the Georgia runoff.
“Outside Democrat groups and high-dollar donors spent big to try and help Democrats regain control of the Senate in the last election — pouring in hundreds of millions of dollars in the weeks leading up to November 3rd,” NBC reported. “Now, after the party performed poorly in down-ballot races, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., is no longer meeting with donors, a source familiar with the matter told NBC News.”
Just for the record, a Schumer spokesman is on record in the report denying the New York Democrat has lost faith in his Georgia counterparts. But whatever his other failings — and they are legion — Schumer is not a stupid man. He knows what happened nationally in November, it’s not too far of a leap to see what could be coming in the Peach State in January.
But it’s no time to get complacent about the GOP prospects for victory a week hence.
Throughout President Donald Trump’s time in office, Democrats have shown they have no limits in their #Resistance. Since taking over the House in the 2018 midterms and after the onset of the coronavirus pandemic, they have shown they have no limits in their willingness to spend public money to advance the progressive agenda. (The fact that Pelosi held up a coronavirus stimulus package until after the election was intended to hurt Trump, not save the nation’s finances.)
Now, as the rest of the country watches, Georgia Democratic Senate candidates are raising an unreal amount of money and spending it at an unreal pace in an effort to get control of the American government.
Imagine the endless campaign fundraising as the endless, increasing taxation of a Democratic government.
Imagine the Democratic candidates’ campaign spending as the party in power dumping public funds into the bottomless maw of the progressive agenda — and dumping the country’s future with it.
If their spending looks disturbing now, imagine what a nightmare it would be if that money was yours — and Democrats were in total power.
Truth and Accuracy Submit a Correction → * Name
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westernjournal--2020-12-28--Expecting a Biden Presidency, Democrats Plan to Explosively Increase Number of Abortions

Democrats are working to ramp up taxpayer-funded abortions if Joe Biden gets installed as president .
Democratic Rep. Rosa DeLauro of Connecticut , who ’ s set to chair the House Appropriations Committee in January , vowed to eliminate the Hyde Amendment , which bans federal funding for abortions .
“ This is the last year , ” DeLauro said at a Dec. 8 hearing of the House Appropriations Committee .
She insisted that the government should pay for the murders of unborn babies and that not doing so is “ discriminatory ” to minorities .
“ The Hyde Amendment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
“ For more than 40 years , [ the Hyde Amendment ] has been routinely extended every year as a legislative rider , but the time has come in this current moment to reckon with the norm , with the status quo , view it through the lens of how it impacts communities of color … More than half , 58 percent , of the women affected by the Hyde Amendment are women of color.
” DeLauro further claimed that promoting easy , free access to abortions empowers women .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ women to make deeply personal life decisions without politicians inserting themselves into the doctor ’ s office , ” she said .
Republican Sen. Richard Shelby of Alabama , who chairs the Senate Appropriations Committee , said he will fight to block the Democrats ’ efforts to scrap Hyde .
“ The Republican caucus would resist it , ” Shelby told NBC News .
“ We ’ ve had the Hyde Amendment a long time .
“ And I think it ’ s pretty clearly embedded in the fabric of our legislation .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ author and commentator Candace Owens has repeatedly slammed Democrats for cavalierly using the race card to champion mass abortions .
“ Murdering 800 black babies every single day is now considered ‘ healthcare , ' ” she tweeted .
RELATED : AOC Complains About Abortion Law , NFL Star Steps In and Shuts Her Down with Lesson About 'Simple Biology' Owens has also repeatedly pointed out that leftists who mindlessly screech “ black lives matter !
” hypocritically ignore that more blacks are murdered by abortion every year than are killed by “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pledged to appoint pro-abortion politicians to major positions in his administration if he gets installed in the White House .
But as a senator , he opposed abortion for decades and supported the Hyde Amendment .
However , Biden opportunistically flip-flopped in 2019 during the Democratic primary race in a bid to pander to the vocal , left-wing faction of his party .
He now endorses eliminating the Hyde Amendment and making taxpayer-funded abortion available on-demand and convenient .
We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism .
Read @ @ @ @

Democrats are working to ramp up taxpayer-funded abortions if Joe Biden gets installed as president.
Democratic Rep. Rosa DeLauro of Connecticut, who’s set to chair the House Appropriations Committee in January, vowed to eliminate the Hyde Amendment, which bans federal funding for abortions.
“This is the last year,” DeLauro said at a Dec. 8 hearing of the House Appropriations Committee.
She insisted that the government should pay for the murders of unborn babies and that not doing so is “discriminatory” to minorities.
“The Hyde Amendment is a discriminatory policy,” she said.
“For more than 40 years, [the Hyde Amendment] has been routinely extended every year as a legislative rider, but the time has come in this current moment to reckon with the norm, with the status quo, view it through the lens of how it impacts communities of color … More than half, 58 percent, of the women affected by the Hyde Amendment are women of color.”
DeLauro further claimed that promoting easy, free access to abortions empowers women.
“Now is the time to empower all women to make deeply personal life decisions without politicians inserting themselves into the doctor’s office,” she said.
Republican Sen. Richard Shelby of Alabama, who chairs the Senate Appropriations Committee, said he will fight to block the Democrats’ efforts to scrap Hyde.
Do you think the Hyde Amendment will be eliminated? 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: 33% (102 Votes) No: 67% (206 Votes)
“The Republican caucus would resist it,” Shelby told NBC News. “We’ve had the Hyde Amendment a long time.
“And I think it’s pretty clearly embedded in the fabric of our legislation. I support the Hyde Amendment.”
Conservative author and commentator Candace Owens has repeatedly slammed Democrats for cavalierly using the race card to champion mass abortions.
“Murdering 800 black babies every single day is now considered ‘healthcare,'” she tweeted.
This just in: murdering 800 black babies every single day is now considered “healthcare”. https://t.co/vQ9PA6xzbz — Candace Owens (@RealCandaceO) May 8, 2018
Owens has also repeatedly pointed out that leftists who mindlessly screech “black lives matter!” hypocritically ignore that more blacks are murdered by abortion every year than are killed by “racist” white cops.
Here is @RealCandaceO on abortion: * Black women represent 6-7% of the population but we account for 40% of the abortions
* In New York City more black babies are aborted than born alivepic.twitter.com/jvL5NTCNjm — LifeNews.com (@LifeNewsHQ) March 6, 2019
Dear Republicans: the next time Dems try to get you to say black lives matter, please say
“Black Lives Matter especially in the womb, and it’s a tragedy that in many cities more black children are being aborted than born alive thanks to Democrat policies” That’ll shut them up. https://t.co/hVhpHYus7l — Candace Owens (@RealCandaceO) June 20, 2020
Biden has pledged to appoint pro-abortion politicians to major positions in his administration if he gets installed in the White House. But as a senator, he opposed abortion for decades and supported the Hyde Amendment.
However, Biden opportunistically flip-flopped in 2019 during the Democratic primary race in a bid to pander to the vocal, left-wing faction of his party.
He now endorses eliminating the Hyde Amendment and making taxpayer-funded abortion available on-demand and convenient.
Truth and Accuracy Submit a Correction → * Name
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westernjournal--2020-12-28--Judge Rejects Second Lucrative Bid for Ghislaine Maxwell Bail

A judge on Monday rejected a $ 28.5 million proposed bail package for Jeffrey Epstein ’ s former girlfriend , saying her incarceration is necessary to ensure she faces trial on charges she recruited teenage girls for the late financier to sexually abuse .
U.S. District Judge Alison J. Nathan rejected the proposed bail for Ghislaine Maxwell in an order .
Defense lawyers for Maxwell , who had lost a bail request shortly after her July arrest , recently offered the new bail package , saying Maxwell and her husband were offering all of their wealth — $ 22.5 million @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of friends and family to secure bail .
Maxwell ’ s husband has not been publicly identified .
Her attorneys said Maxwell would remain in a New York City residence under 24-hour guard and would submit to electronic monitoring if the judge accepted the bail package .
A message seeking comment was sent to Maxwell ’ s lawyers after Nathan ruled .
Prosecutors said Maxwell still retained access to significant wealth and was a high flight risk because of her connections abroad — in addition to U.S. citizenship , she holds citizenship in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Maxwell , 59 , was arrested in July at a secluded New Hampshire home and was brought to New York City .
She was charged with recruiting three teenagers as young as age 14 for Epstein to sexually abuse between 1994 and 1997 .
She also was accused of sometimes participating in the abuse .
She pleaded not guilty to an indictment .
She has remained at a federal prison in Brooklyn after Nathan concluded shortly after her arrest that there were no bail conditions that would ensure she would not flee .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Court determined that detention was warranted in the initial bail hearing , the Court again concludes that no conditions of release can reasonably assure the Defendant ’ s appearance at future proceedings , ” Nathan wrote Monday .
“ In reaching that conclusion , the Court considers the nature and circumstances of the offenses charged , the weight of the evidence against the Defendant , the history and characteristics of the Defendant , and the nature and seriousness of the danger that the Defendant ’ s release would pose , ” the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in August 2019 at a Manhattan federal jail as he awaited a sex trafficking trial .
RELATED : Man Who Was Last To Share Cell with Epstein Is Dead We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism .
Read our editorial standards .

A judge on Monday rejected a $28.5 million proposed bail package for Jeffrey Epstein’s former girlfriend, saying her incarceration is necessary to ensure she faces trial on charges she recruited teenage girls for the late financier to sexually abuse.
U.S. District Judge Alison J. Nathan rejected the proposed bail for Ghislaine Maxwell in an order.
Defense lawyers for Maxwell, who had lost a bail request shortly after her July arrest, recently offered the new bail package, saying Maxwell and her husband were offering all of their wealth — $22.5 million — and millions more in the assets of friends and family to secure bail.
Maxwell’s husband has not been publicly identified.
Her attorneys said Maxwell would remain in a New York City residence under 24-hour guard and would submit to electronic monitoring if the judge accepted the bail package.
A message seeking comment was sent to Maxwell’s lawyers after Nathan ruled.
Prosecutors said Maxwell still retained access to significant wealth and was a high flight risk because of her connections abroad — in addition to U.S. citizenship, she holds citizenship in her native United Kingdom and France.
Maxwell, 59, was arrested in July at a secluded New Hampshire home and was brought to New York City.
She was charged with recruiting three teenagers as young as age 14 for Epstein to sexually abuse between 1994 and 1997. She also was accused of sometimes participating in the abuse.
Do you agree that Maxwell should remain in prison until trial? 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: 86% (76 Votes) No: 14% (12 Votes)
She pleaded not guilty to an indictment.
She has remained at a federal prison in Brooklyn after Nathan concluded shortly after her arrest that there were no bail conditions that would ensure she would not flee.
“For substantially the same reasons as the Court determined that detention was warranted in the initial bail hearing, the Court again concludes that no conditions of release can reasonably assure the Defendant’s appearance at future proceedings,” Nathan wrote Monday.
“In reaching that conclusion, the Court considers the nature and circumstances of the offenses charged, the weight of the evidence against the Defendant, the history and characteristics of the Defendant, and the nature and seriousness of the danger that the Defendant’s release would pose,” the judge added.
Epstein reportedly killed himself in August 2019 at a Manhattan federal jail as he awaited a sex trafficking trial.
[jwplayer rE4QCmlw]
The Western Journal has reviewed this Associated Press story and may have altered it prior to publication to ensure that it meets our editorial standards.
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westernjournal--2020-12-28--‘I Literally Heard God’: Nashville Police Officer Says God Spoke to Him Seconds Before Explosion

One Nashville police officer is crediting God with directing him away from the Christmas Day bomb blast that could have taken his life .
Officer James Wells recounted to reporters on Sunday that he was among the officers clearing people out of buildings , based on the bomb threats coming over a loudspeaker from an RV parked in downtown Nashville early Christmas morning .
When a three-minute warning was broadcast , Wells went back to his squad car to put on his “ heavy plates ” body armor , just in case .
Music continued to emanate from the RV @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s “ Downtown , ” NBC News reported .
It was a surreal scene , according to officers ’ accounts .
As Wells was getting ready to walk back in the direction of the RV and some of his fellow officers , he felt God spoke instructing him to change course and check on Officer Amanda Topping .
“ This might not be politically correct , but this is my truth , ” Wells said .
“ I literally heard God tell me to turn around and go check on Topping , who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ As I turned around , ” the officer continued with emotion now in his voice , “ for me it felt like I only took three steps and then the music stopped .
And as I ’ m walking back toward Topping now I just see orange and then I hear a loud boom .
“ As I ’ m stumbling because it rocked me that hard .
I started stumbling .
I just told myself , ‘ Stay on your feet , stay alive.
’ ” Wells explained why he will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ preserving his life .
“ I ’ m not going to shy away from that , because that ’ s what saved my life , ” the officer said , according to NBC .
“ That ’ s what got me to see my kids and my wife on Christmas .
And ‘ good to see you ’ has a completely different meaning for me now.
” Topping had a similar experience , with something telling her she needed to change direction right before the bomb detonated .
“ I don ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
It was really weird , but I decided to change my direction and go on the other side of the road and start walking towards Wells .
So as I started walking towards him , you know , he started walking towards me , ” she said .
RELATED : Mike Pompeo Posts Pic of Himself Enjoying 'Two Things That the CCP Does Not Allow , ' Can You See His Secret Message ?
Topping has no idea how she kept her footing after the bomb blast , as she witnessed a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ face and Wells stumbling .
“ I couldn ’ t see him for a second .
I just lost it , and I just took off in a sprint towards him , ” she recalled .
“ And , like he said , I ’ ve never grabbed somebody so hard in my life .
I grabbed him .
He grabbed me and we just ducked into a doorway , because we didn ’ t know what was coming afterwards.
” The Bible is replete with examples of God speaking directly to people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ loved ones from physical harm , including to Jesus ’ father Joseph after the baby ’ s birth .
“ [ A ] n angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said , ‘ Rise , take the child and his mother , and flee to Egypt , and remain there till I tell you ; for [ King ] Herod is about to search for the child , to destroy him , ’ according to Matthew 2 .
Herod in fact ordered the killing of male children under @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ birth .
Of course in the famous 23rd Psalm , King David , who had faced death on many occasions in battle and otherwise , wrote , “ Yea , though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death , I will fear no evil ; For You are with me ; Your rod and Your staff , they comfort me.
” Shepherds use their rods and staffs to guide and protect their flocks from danger .
David also related that God , in his divine providence , knows the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ even before we are born .
In other words , the Almighty is able to prevent anything from taking us out before our assigned time .
“ Your eyes saw my substance , being yet unformed .
And in Your book they all were written , the days fashioned for me , when as yet there were none of them , ” he wrote .
The Apostle Paul also taught about God ’ s Holy Spirit being able to speak to humans ’ spirits giving specific words of wisdom or knowledge to address @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Praise God for the Christmas miracle , that God preserved Wells ’ and Topping ’ s lives and that no one but the bomber was killed .
It is reassuring to hear testimonies of God remaining active on the earth and more than able to save people from evil plots .
We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism .
Read our editorial standards .

One Nashville police officer is crediting God with directing him away from the Christmas Day bomb blast that could have taken his life.
Officer James Wells recounted to reporters on Sunday that he was among the officers clearing people out of buildings, based on the bomb threats coming over a loudspeaker from an RV parked in downtown Nashville early Christmas morning.
When a three-minute warning was broadcast, Wells went back to his squad car to put on his “heavy plates” body armor, just in case.
Music continued to emanate from the RV as well, including Petula Clark’s “Downtown,” NBC News reported.
It was a surreal scene, according to officers’ accounts.
As Wells was getting ready to walk back in the direction of the RV and some of his fellow officers, he felt God spoke instructing him to change course and check on Officer Amanda Topping.
“This might not be politically correct, but this is my truth,” Wells said. “I literally heard God tell me to turn around and go check on Topping, who was by herself down on Broadway.”
“As I turned around,” the officer continued with emotion now in his voice, “for me it felt like I only took three steps and then the music stopped. And as I’m walking back toward Topping now I just see orange and then I hear a loud boom.
“As I’m stumbling because it rocked me that hard. I started stumbling. I just told myself, ‘Stay on your feet, stay alive.’”
Wells explained why he will not cower from giving God credit for preserving his life.
“I’m not going to shy away from that, because that’s what saved my life,” the officer said, according to NBC. “That’s what got me to see my kids and my wife on Christmas. And ‘good to see you’ has a completely different meaning for me now.”
Topping had a similar experience, with something telling her she needed to change direction right before the bomb detonated.
“I don’t know what told me to do this. It was really weird, but I decided to change my direction and go on the other side of the road and start walking towards Wells. So as I started walking towards him, you know, he started walking towards me,” she said.
Topping has no idea how she kept her footing after the bomb blast, as she witnessed a huge plume of orange ignite before her face and Wells stumbling.
“I couldn’t see him for a second. I just lost it, and I just took off in a sprint towards him,” she recalled. “And, like he said, I’ve never grabbed somebody so hard in my life. I grabbed him. He grabbed me and we just ducked into a doorway, because we didn’t know what was coming afterwards.”
The Bible is replete with examples of God speaking directly to people in order to save them or their loved ones from physical harm, including to Jesus’ father Joseph after the baby’s birth.
“[A]n angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, ‘Rise, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt, and remain there till I tell you; for [King] Herod is about to search for the child, to destroy him,’ according to Matthew 2.
Herod in fact ordered the killing of male children under two years old in Bethlehem following Jesus’ birth.
Of course in the famous 23rd Psalm, King David, who had faced death on many occasions in battle and otherwise, wrote, “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.”
Shepherds use their rods and staffs to guide and protect their flocks from danger.
David also related that God, in his divine providence, knows the number of our days on this earth even before we are born.
In other words, the Almighty is able to prevent anything from taking us out before our assigned time.
“Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed. And in Your book they all were written, the days fashioned for me, when as yet there were none of them,” he wrote.
The Apostle Paul also taught about God’s Holy Spirit being able to speak to humans’ spirits giving specific words of wisdom or knowledge to address various situations we face on earth.
Praise God for the Christmas miracle, that God preserved Wells’ and Topping’s lives and that no one but the bomber was killed.
It is reassuring to hear testimonies of God remaining active on the earth and more than able to save people from evil plots.
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westernjournal--2020-12-28--The End of ‘Jackass’ Franchise? Stars Hospitalized After Treadmill Stunt Only 2 Days Into Filming

In 2010 , as part of its release blitz , “ Jackass 3D ” was screened at the Museum of Modern Art in New York City .
For those of you unfamiliar with “ Jackass , ” it involves a rotating series of individuals of questionable mental stability and/or IQ who abuse themselves as if they were useless globs of carbon created for nothing except perpetual abasement , all for our entertainment .
Originally an MTV show , the “ Jackass ” franchise spawned several TV seasons and three movies that allowed you , the viewer at home , to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ engage in not-so-merry pranks like an eggnog-drinking contest where the winner was the one who could keep all of it in his stomach .
Or perhaps the prank where they took a rental car to a demolition derby was more your speed .
But the third film was the coup de grace , especially since it was in three dimensions .
Director Jeff Tremaine said the movie involved “ thinking of the dumbest things we could do with the most expensive cameras ever made , ” according to The New York Times .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ it perfectly qualifies as artistic brilliance , “ Jackass 3D ” doubtlessly belonged in MoMA .
In one segment , Steve-O ( who is actually a Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Clown College graduate named Stephen Gilchrist Glover ) was launched in the air via a catapult while inside a portable toilet filled with excrement .
In another segment , a random “ Jackass ” crew member ( I can ’ t remember which one and they ’ re pretty much interchangeable ) had his tooth pulled by affixing it , via @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the back of a Lamborghini , which promptly sped away with the offending incisor .
You get the idea .
MoMA , by the way , is the permanent home of Vincent Van Gogh ’ s “ Starry Night ” and Andy Warhol ’ s famous Campbell ’ s soup work .
“ Jackass 3D , ” at least for one night , belonged with stuff like this : So at this point , you ’ ve pretty much figured out that I ’ m a ) familiar with the basic premise @ @ @ @ @ @ @ disgusted by it .
That said , the millenial generation seemed perfectly willing to watch these mental adolescents abuse themselves for our entertainment — in 2010 .
It ’ s now 2020 , a full decade later , and these people are in the process of making “ Jackass 4.
” They ’ re finding out that it ’ s a lot more difficult to be a “ Jackass ” cast member when you ’ re well into middle age , like Johnny Knoxville ( who also starred in the 2005 movie version @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ) .
According to ScreenRant , production was stopped on its second day earlier this month because the two breakout stars of the franchise , such as it is , had to be hospitalized .
Knoxville and Steve-O , according to a video update from fellow cast member Bam Margera , managed to hurt themselves during a stunt where “ the two were jumping on a full-speed treadmill while wearing ‘ band equipment , ’ i.e .
: tubas.
” Neither was seriously injured , for what it ’ s worth .
For @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Steve-O is 46 .
Let that bit of knowledge marinate in your consciousness for a second and then re-read how they injured themselves .
RELATED : Children Terrified as Morbid Ad Shows Doctors Trying To Save a COVID-Stricken Santa “ One of the biggest concerns for many over ‘ Jackass 4 ’ is that its cast members – while not exactly old , are far from the carefree years of their twenties .
Injuries can now happen more frequently , and the risk of serious injury is arguably higher than ever before , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Dec. 14 .
“ This has not been an issue for Knoxville , who has previously stated that being older just makes the stunts and the inevitable pain involved all the more hilarious .
Whether or not Knoxville still feels that way now , after being hospitalized so early on , remains to be seen , but given everything that the Jackass pioneer has been through over the years , he ’ s likely still laughing through the pain.
” You may not be surprised he ’ s not alone , at least @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Matthew Thomas at celebrity gossip site TheThings did a fairly comprehensive wrap-up of what we know about the upcoming movie , if its cast members survive .
While we don ’ t know what ’ ll happen in the film , here ’ s a bit of what the crew has been up to in the interim : “ If you are looking for proof that ‘ Jackass 4 ’ won ’ t be for the faint of heart , all you have to do is look at the amazing stunt Steve-O @ @ @ @ @ @ @ promote a special he was releasing , Steve-O had himself taped to a billboard that was attached to a truck .
Steve-O then had Johnny Knoxville hit baseballs at him with a bat and then remained taped to the billboard as it was driven at high speeds on a highway.
” All of this , oddly enough , took me back to a religious retreat I attended as a 17-year-old .
If you ’ ve never been to a Catholic teenage religious retreat , it usually involves two things : speeches by priests @ @ @ @ @ @ @ small discussion groups that aren ’ t dissimilar to “ The Breakfast Club.
” Our spiritual problems , such as they were , usually had to deal with our parents , particularly if their relationships were dysfunctional .
We all swore we wouldn ’ t end up like them .
At the end of this specific retreat , I remember our group leader closing our prayer with this bromide : “ Growing old is mandatory .
Growing up is optional.
” In short : We weren ’ t going to be like them @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to our youth .
Aside from being wholly irreligious , this wasn ’ t a unique thought .
Since the Baby Boom , that ’ s what every generation says .
Every generation usually fails .
The endurance of “ Jackass , ” however , is a sign we ’ re beginning to succeed .
We ’ ve found a way to mentally persist in immaturity — even though we weren ’ t designed , either spiritually or physically , to exist in stasis .
Millennials like me belong to a generation that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a pejorative for doing anything remotely mature .
Cleaning one ’ s apartment — something other generations took for granted as something you had to do — suddenly became “ adulting.
” Setting a budget : “ adulting.
” Cooking something remotely healthy for yourself instead of ordering out for an entire weekend : “ adulting.
” We created a separate sphere for doing regular tasks mature adults should be doing and we avoided them like the plague when we didn ’ t have to do them , preferring to spend our time @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and aesthetic immaturity .
We won .
Growing up was suddenly optional .
Johnny Knoxville and Steve-O are extreme examples of this phenomenon .
Most of us don ’ t spend our youth walking on a tightrope over an enclosure full of alligators or putting rockets on our rollerblades to see if we could handle that kind of propulsion .
That ’ s what Steve-O and Knoxville , respectively , did in “ Jackass : The Movie ” in 2002 .
Fine .
Whatever .
It ’ s 18 years later and both @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in a hospital because they were — I can ’ t believe I ’ m typing these words — jumping on treadmills while trying to play tubas .
Knoxville , having lived almost a half-century on this planet , has three children and is still debasing himself for money long past the point , presumably , where he needs it .
And yet , here we are .
Steve-O , in all fairness , has struggled with psychiatric and addiction problems — which means that behind the scenes , there are people enabling @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by allowing him to go forward with stunts like these .
Doing that job day in and day out seems a bit like slowly filling out paperwork for a long-term visa to Hell , but I ’ m assuming that ’ s just how showbiz works .
And it ’ s not just the fact that these guys are doing these stunts in their late-40s with bodies clearly not made to comply with the rigors of their stupidity .
The sad fact is , there ’ s an audience for “ Jackass 4 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an audience for “ Jackass 3D.
” Seeing Van Gogh ’ s “ Starry Night ” is a stirring experience .
His works are unique in an ineffable way ; witnessing them in person and seeing the artistic vision and technique of a master and a genius is a stirring experience words can ’ t capture .
For many of the people who were at MoMA that night in 2010 , their first experience in the museum was watching a man in a port-a-potty launched from a catapult , among other “ Jackass @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it turns out , isn ’ t so optional .
Going back to that religious retreat , our group leader should probably have been familiar with 1 Corinthians 13:11 : “ When I was a child , I spoke like a child , I thought like a child , I reasoned like a child .
When I became a man , I gave up childish ways.
” If the on-set disaster of mid-December doesn ’ t spell the end of the franchise , it ’ s obvious the clock is ticking .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ time for us to all do some “ adulting ” and let “ Jackass ” go .
The prospect of 40-something men injuring themselves with tuba/treadmill idiocy to get laughs is pathetic .
The prospect of 30-something people watching them doing it is even worse .
Grow up and go to MoMA for the paintings .
We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism .
Read our editorial standards .

In 2010, as part of its release blitz, “Jackass 3D” was screened at the Museum of Modern Art in New York City.
For those of you unfamiliar with “Jackass,” it involves a rotating series of individuals of questionable mental stability and/or IQ who abuse themselves as if they were useless globs of carbon created for nothing except perpetual abasement, all for our entertainment.
Originally an MTV show, the “Jackass” franchise spawned several TV seasons and three movies that allowed you, the viewer at home, to see individuals like Johnny Knoxville and Steve-O engage in not-so-merry pranks like an eggnog-drinking contest where the winner was the one who could keep all of it in his stomach. Or perhaps the prank where they took a rental car to a demolition derby was more your speed.
But the third film was the coup de grace, especially since it was in three dimensions. Director Jeff Tremaine said the movie involved “thinking of the dumbest things we could do with the most expensive cameras ever made,” according to The New York Times. If having a specific vision and executing it perfectly qualifies as artistic brilliance, “Jackass 3D” doubtlessly belonged in MoMA.
In one segment, Steve-O (who is actually a Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Clown College graduate named Stephen Gilchrist Glover) was launched in the air via a catapult while inside a portable toilet filled with excrement.
In another segment, a random “Jackass” crew member (I can’t remember which one and they’re pretty much interchangeable) had his tooth pulled by affixing it, via a piece of extra-strength dental floss, to the back of a Lamborghini, which promptly sped away with the offending incisor. You get the idea.
MoMA, by the way, is the permanent home of Vincent Van Gogh’s “Starry Night” and Andy Warhol’s famous Campbell’s soup work. “Jackass 3D,” at least for one night, belonged with stuff like this:
Merry Christmas ??☃ Van Gogh – Starry Night (1889) pic.twitter.com/Fz8nBxWszZ — Ziggypop (@BlackstarCorne1) December 24, 2020
So at this point, you’ve pretty much figured out that I’m a) familiar with the basic premise of the series and b) thoroughly disgusted by it. That said, the millennial generation seemed perfectly willing to watch these mental adolescents abuse themselves for our entertainment — in 2010. It’s now 2020, a full decade later, and these people are in the process of making “Jackass 4.”
They’re finding out that it’s a lot more difficult to be a “Jackass” cast member when you’re well into middle age, like Johnny Knoxville (who also starred in the 2005 movie version of “The Dukes of Hazzard“).
According to ScreenRant, production was stopped on its second day earlier this month because the two breakout stars of the franchise, such as it is, had to be hospitalized.
Knoxville and Steve-O, according to a video update from fellow cast member Bam Margera, managed to hurt themselves during a stunt where “the two were jumping on a full-speed treadmill while wearing ‘band equipment,’ i.e.: tubas.” Neither was seriously injured, for what it’s worth.
For the curious, Knoxville is 49. Steve-O is 46. Let that bit of knowledge marinate in your consciousness for a second and then re-read how they injured themselves.
Is 'Jackass' juvenile? Yes No
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“One of the biggest concerns for many over ‘Jackass 4’ is that its cast members – while not exactly old, are far from the carefree years of their twenties. Injuries can now happen more frequently, and the risk of serious injury is arguably higher than ever before,” ScreenRant writer Mike Jones reported on Dec. 14.
“This has not been an issue for Knoxville, who has previously stated that being older just makes the stunts and the inevitable pain involved all the more hilarious. Whether or not Knoxville still feels that way now, after being hospitalized so early on, remains to be seen, but given everything that the Jackass pioneer has been through over the years, he’s likely still laughing through the pain.”
You may not be surprised he’s not alone, at least among the cast members.
On Sunday, Matthew Thomas at celebrity gossip site TheThings did a fairly comprehensive wrap-up of what we know about the upcoming movie, if its cast members survive.
While we don’t know what’ll happen in the film, here’s a bit of what the crew has been up to in the interim: “If you are looking for proof that ‘Jackass 4’ won’t be for the faint of heart, all you have to do is look at the amazing stunt Steve-O pulled off in 2020. Wanting to promote a special he was releasing, Steve-O had himself taped to a billboard that was attached to a truck. Steve-O then had Johnny Knoxville hit baseballs at him with a bat and then remained taped to the billboard as it was driven at high speeds on a highway.”
All of this, oddly enough, took me back to a religious retreat I attended as a 17-year-old.
If you’ve never been to a Catholic teenage religious retreat, it usually involves two things: speeches by priests and youth group leaders, followed by small discussion groups that aren’t dissimilar to “The Breakfast Club.” Our spiritual problems, such as they were, usually had to deal with our parents, particularly if their relationships were dysfunctional. We all swore we wouldn’t end up like them.
At the end of this specific retreat, I remember our group leader closing our prayer with this bromide: “Growing old is mandatory. Growing up is optional.” In short: We weren’t going to be like them. We were going to hold on to our youth.
Aside from being wholly irreligious, this wasn’t a unique thought. Since the Baby Boom, that’s what every generation says. Every generation usually fails. The endurance of “Jackass,” however, is a sign we’re beginning to succeed. We’ve found a way to mentally persist in immaturity — even though we weren’t designed, either spiritually or physically, to exist in stasis.
Millennials like me belong to a generation that invented the word “adulting” as a pejorative for doing anything remotely mature. Cleaning one’s apartment — something other generations took for granted as something you had to do — suddenly became “adulting.” Setting a budget: “adulting.” Cooking something remotely healthy for yourself instead of ordering out for an entire weekend: “adulting.”
We created a separate sphere for doing regular tasks mature adults should be doing and we avoided them like the plague when we didn’t have to do them, preferring to spend our time wallowing in our hard-won spiritual, emotional and aesthetic immaturity.
We won. Growing up was suddenly optional.
Johnny Knoxville and Steve-O are extreme examples of this phenomenon. Most of us don’t spend our youth walking on a tightrope over an enclosure full of alligators or putting rockets on our rollerblades to see if we could handle that kind of propulsion. That’s what Steve-O and Knoxville, respectively, did in “Jackass: The Movie” in 2002.
Fine. Whatever. It’s 18 years later and both men spent part of the holiday season in a hospital because they were — I can’t believe I’m typing these words — jumping on treadmills while trying to play tubas.
Knoxville, having lived almost a half-century on this planet, has three children and is still debasing himself for money long past the point, presumably, where he needs it. And yet, here we are.
Steve-O, in all fairness, has struggled with psychiatric and addiction problems — which means that behind the scenes, there are people enabling someone with a history of those issues by allowing him to go forward with stunts like these. Doing that job day in and day out seems a bit like slowly filling out paperwork for a long-term visa to Hell, but I’m assuming that’s just how showbiz works.
And it’s not just the fact that these guys are doing these stunts in their late-40s with bodies clearly not made to comply with the rigors of their stupidity. The sad fact is, there’s an audience for “Jackass 4” — the same way there was an audience for “Jackass 3D.”
Seeing Van Gogh’s “Starry Night” is a stirring experience. His works are unique in an ineffable way; witnessing them in person and seeing the artistic vision and technique of a master and a genius is a stirring experience words can’t capture.
For many of the people who were at MoMA that night in 2010, their first experience in the museum was watching a man in a port-a-potty launched from a catapult, among other “Jackass 3D” hijinks.
Growing up, it turns out, isn’t so optional. Going back to that religious retreat, our group leader should probably have been familiar with 1 Corinthians 13:11: “When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I gave up childish ways.”
If the on-set disaster of mid-December doesn’t spell the end of the franchise, it’s obvious the clock is ticking. The end is coming.
It’s time for us to all do some “adulting” and let “Jackass” go. The prospect of 40-something men injuring themselves with tuba/treadmill idiocy to get laughs is pathetic. The prospect of 30-something people watching them doing it is even worse. Grow up and go to MoMA for the paintings.
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westernjournal--2020-12-28--Dan Calabrese: A Few Ideas To Keep the Country from Fiscal Ruin

One of the few silver linings of Joe Biden winning the presidency is this : Republican elected officials will no longer feel duty-bound to defend absurd policy positions so as not to find themselves in conflict with Donald Trump .
Trump espoused many excellent policy positions , including tax cuts , deregulation , domestic energy production , support for Israel and much else .
My purpose here is not to indict Trump on his policy positions .
But on some issues he revealed himself to be more of a Ross Perot-style populist than a Ronald Reagan-style conservative .
And this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ entitlements .
Whether he sensed it was a political necessity or he sincerely saw himself as sticking up for old and sick people , Trump made it clear during his 2016 campaign : He had no interest in touching Social Security , Medicare and Medicaid .
This is the safe position most American politicians prefer to embrace .
Seniors vote , and when you mess with Social Security and Medicare , there ’ s every reason to believe they ’ ll vote for someone other than you .
This is why , no @ @ @ @ @ @ @ entitlement programs become , it ’ s almost impossible to find an American politician of either party who will say what needs to happen .
Instead , they ’ ll wax eloquently about how Social Security , Medicare and Medicaid are “ sacred trusts ” between the government and its people , and that nothing and no one must ever be allowed to change the slightest pen stroke of the current structure of these programs .
But if we don ’ t change them , the country will collapse fiscally .
In 2021 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2.5 trillion just on payments to beneficiaries of Social Security , Medicare and Medicaid .
That ’ s nearly 70 percent of all federal outlays .
That number is growing quickly .
In 2018 , the trustees of the Social Security Trust Fund told Congress that , on its current trajectory , the program will become insolvent no later than 2034 .
Medicare already costs $ 900 billion a year , and that ’ s with fewer than 60 million enrollees .
By 2030 , it is expected to have 79 million enrollees @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a trajectory to run out of money in 2026 .
Medicaid costs the federal government “ only ” about $ 400 billion a year , but its recent expansion under Obamacare will set Medicaid on the same suicidal trajectory as its entitlement siblings .
We can ’ t continue this .
And there are things we can do .
Some of them are so simple that they would probably not be all that controversial .
One is simple means-testing .
People with assets of several million dollars at the time they retire do @ @ @ @ @ @ @ thousand dollars from the government .
That would be a simple and reasonable way to control the growth of the program .
A more controversial , but also more effective idea , is to replace the federal guarantee of benefits with market-based investment products .
This would not deliver positive results to everyone , but it would to most people , and those who need help would be far less numerous than who we ’ re helping now – which is everyone , regardless of whether they need it or not .
RELATED @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Make Sure 2021 Is n't the Horror Show That 2020 Was Medicare and Medicaid should be completely restructured .
Instead of the government defining the benefit packages and paying the medical bills , the government could simply provide premium support for the elderly and the poor to purchase coverage in the private insurance market .
The government could also provide tax credits to large corporations to cover retiree health insurance , which would help allay the cost to employers but also eliminate the need for many to rely on the government for their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ These are just a few ideas .
There are many others worth consideration .
But if we don ’ t fundamentally restructure these programs , they will lead to the fiscal ruin of this country .
If Republicans stand for anything , they are supposed to stand for limited government .
There was a time when Ronald Reagan would declare , “ Government is too big and spends too much , ” and not a Republican from sea to shining sea would disagree with him .
If the Republican Party stands by now @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bankrupt the nation – refusing to say anything for fear of angry seniors and critical journalists – then it will demonstrate that it never really believed Reagan ’ s words .
The American experiment has always been based largely on the idea that we are people who can take care of ourselves and that we only need our government to do a few basic things while leaving us to otherwise meet our own needs and run our own lives .
The explosive growth of entitlement programs are a direct assault on that ideal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 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 .
We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism .
Read our editorial standards .

One of the few silver linings of Joe Biden winning the presidency is this: Republican elected officials will no longer feel duty-bound to defend absurd policy positions so as not to find themselves in conflict with Donald Trump.
Trump espoused many excellent policy positions, including tax cuts, deregulation, domestic energy production, support for Israel and much else. My purpose here is not to indict Trump on his policy positions.
But on some issues he revealed himself to be more of a Ross Perot-style populist than a Ronald Reagan-style conservative. And this was especially true on the issue of entitlements.
Whether he sensed it was a political necessity or he sincerely saw himself as sticking up for old and sick people, Trump made it clear during his 2016 campaign: He had no interest in touching Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid.
This is the safe position most American politicians prefer to embrace. Seniors vote, and when you mess with Social Security and Medicare, there’s every reason to believe they’ll vote for someone other than you.
This is why, no matter how serious a fiscal crisis these entitlement programs become, it’s almost impossible to find an American politician of either party who will say what needs to happen.
Instead, they’ll wax eloquently about how Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid are “sacred trusts” between the government and its people, and that nothing and no one must ever be allowed to change the slightest pen stroke of the current structure of these programs.
But if we don’t change them, the country will collapse fiscally.
In 2021, the federal government will spend $2.5 trillion just on payments to beneficiaries of Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid. That’s nearly 70 percent of all federal outlays. That number is growing quickly.
In 2018, the trustees of the Social Security Trust Fund told Congress that, on its current trajectory, the program will become insolvent no later than 2034.
Medicare already costs $900 billion a year, and that’s with fewer than 60 million enrollees. By 2030, it is expected to have 79 million enrollees. The Medicare Trust Fund is on a trajectory to run out of money in 2026.
Medicaid costs the federal government “only” about $400 billion a year, but its recent expansion under Obamacare will set Medicaid on the same suicidal trajectory as its entitlement siblings.
We can’t continue this. And there are things we can do. Some of them are so simple that they would probably not be all that controversial.
One is simple means-testing. People with assets of several million dollars at the time they retire do not need monthly checks of a few thousand dollars from the government. That would be a simple and reasonable way to control the growth of the program.
A more controversial, but also more effective idea, is to replace the federal guarantee of benefits with market-based investment products. This would not deliver positive results to everyone, but it would to most people, and those who need help would be far less numerous than who we’re helping now – which is everyone, regardless of whether they need it or not.
Medicare and Medicaid should be completely restructured. Instead of the government defining the benefit packages and paying the medical bills, the government could simply provide premium support for the elderly and the poor to purchase coverage in the private insurance market.
The government could also provide tax credits to large corporations to cover retiree health insurance, which would help allay the cost to employers but also eliminate the need for many to rely on the government for their health care bills to be paid.
These are just a few ideas. There are many others worth consideration. But if we don’t fundamentally restructure these programs, they will lead to the fiscal ruin of this country.
Do you think the Republican Party should recommit to entitlement reform? 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: 86% (19 Votes) No: 14% (3 Votes)
If Republicans stand for anything, they are supposed to stand for limited government. There was a time when Ronald Reagan would declare, “Government is too big and spends too much,” and not a Republican from sea to shining sea would disagree with him.
If the Republican Party stands by now and allows these mutating social programs to bankrupt the nation – refusing to say anything for fear of angry seniors and critical journalists – then it will demonstrate that it never really believed Reagan’s words.
The American experiment has always been based largely on the idea that we are people who can take care of ourselves and that we only need our government to do a few basic things while leaving us to otherwise meet our own needs and run our own lives. The explosive growth of entitlement programs are a direct assault on that ideal.
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.
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.