westernjournal--2020-11-25--Starbucks Has Been Borrowing Money from Its Mobile Customers – Here’s How

Imagine a customer loyalty program generating for the company hosting it , both significant revenue and interest-free funding .
This is how a financial expert at The Motley Fool says in 2019 , Starbucks earned $ 141 million in passive income , plus 10 percent interest from unused card balances — a benefit called “ breakage ” — from its mobile app customer base .
The app transforms Starbucks smartphone patrons into “ a very generous lending partner , ” according to Inc. Magazine .
Some customers are already aware of the domino effect of Starbucks ’ breakage income .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ retailers collectively reap about $ 3 billion annually off of orphaned gift cards .
Investor Neil Patel reported in The Motley Fool , Starbucks ’ smartphone customers are required to feed funds into the app to create “ basically a digital version of a Starbucks gift card.
” Additionally , when buying a regular Starbucks gift card , funds are pre-loaded before the card ’ s activation , Patel said .
Both scenarios are a win for Starbucks , Patel added , with the coffeehouse corporation garnering in the first three months of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ store value card liability and current portion of deferred revenue.
” Bryan Hinmon , a financial analyst , said the breakage income funds Starbucks ’ advertising budget .
RELATED : Bill Gates Just Lost His Spot as Second-Richest Man in the World “ Consumers love Starbucks so much that they ’ re willing to make a deposit to redeem coffee at an unknown future date and time , ” Patel said .
“ Starbucks is essentially gaining access to an interest-free line of credit , one that equates to roughly 4 % of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” he continued .
Others viewed Starbucks ’ financing strategies as only a short-term gain , stating customers may ghost the Starbucks , in lieu of refilling their cards .
Patel said a conventional financial institution doesn ’ t have the same freedom as Starbucks , with proceeds from app and gift card purchases equipping Starbucks to “ reinvest directly back into the business on expansion opportunities ” and lower its “ working capital needs.
” Breakage is another silver lining for Starbucks , Patel said , because gift card balances never expire @ @ @ @ @ @ @ since 2014 , according to Patel , breakage accounts for earnings “ rising at a 10 % clip annually.
” “ Based on the current liability balance of $ 1.4 billion at the end of Q2 2020 , previously mentioned , Starbucks actually earns interest at a rate of approximately 10 % ( meaning it borrows at an effective rate of negative 10 % ) , ” Patel explained .
One more layer in Starbucks ’ income is within its loyalty program , where participants can accrue two “ stars ” for every @ @ @ @ @ @ @ gift card , to redeem free items .
One of the program ’ s newer features connects customers ’ “ credit card , debit card , or mobile wallet ” payment methods to their rewards accounts , Inc. Magazine ’ s Justin Bariso reported .
However , using the linked or outside payment sources only qualifies a customer to earn one star per dollar , Bariso said .
Regardless , Bariso admitted to purchasing Starbucks ’ gift cards and called the app “ one of the most popular mobile apps in the world.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ 3.5 million ratings in the Apple app store alone , and an average rating of 4.8 out of 5 stars.
” “ Is there a chance that some of my friends never cashed in on those cards ?
” Bariso asked .
“ Sure .
But have I gained back multifold through rewards I ’ ve gained through the app ?
Definitely.
” “ In the end , Starbucks ’ strategy is genius because it gives the company access to cash flow and produces extra revenue , ” Bariso said , summing up @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rewards customer loyalty , so customers don ’ t get offended if they leave a little unspent cash on a gift card somewhere.
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Read our editorial standards .

Imagine a customer loyalty program generating for the company hosting it, both significant revenue and interest-free funding.
This is how a financial expert at The Motley Fool says in 2019, Starbucks earned $141 million in passive income, plus 10 percent interest from unused card balances — a benefit called “breakage” — from its mobile app customer base.
The app transforms Starbucks smartphone patrons into “a very generous lending partner,” according to Inc. Magazine.
Some customers are already aware of the domino effect of Starbucks’ breakage income.
Exactly. The total that’ll basically go unused for various reasons. $150m that’ll perpetually be accumulating interest. — Seth Sandler (@SethSandler) November 3, 2020
According to a CNBC report, U.S. retailers collectively reap about $3 billion annually off of orphaned gift cards.
Investor Neil Patel reported in The Motley Fool, Starbucks’ smartphone customers are required to feed funds into the app to create “basically a digital version of a Starbucks gift card.”
Do you like Starbucks' mobile app? 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: 3% (7 Votes) No: 97% (220 Votes)
Additionally, when buying a regular Starbucks gift card, funds are pre-loaded before the card’s activation, Patel said.
Both scenarios are a win for Starbucks, Patel added, with the coffeehouse corporation garnering in the first three months of 2020 over $1.4 billion on “store value card liability and current portion of deferred revenue.”
Bryan Hinmon, a financial analyst, said the breakage income funds Starbucks’ advertising budget.
Starbucks $SBUX realized revenue from stored value breakage of $134m (on average) each of the last three years. That interest free loan from customers paid for more than half of its annual advertising spend ($263m). — Bryan Hinmon, CFA (@BryanHinmon) March 31, 2020
“Consumers love Starbucks so much that they’re willing to make a deposit to redeem coffee at an unknown future date and time,” Patel said.
“Starbucks is essentially gaining access to an interest-free line of credit, one that equates to roughly 4% of the company’s total liabilities,” he continued.
Others viewed Starbucks’ financing strategies as only a short-term gain, stating customers may ghost the Starbucks, in lieu of refilling their cards.
The problem with breakage is it’s a short term win (free money!) long term loss (zombie customers!) those customers are unlikely to ever spend an additional dollar with Starbucks until they spend the money already in there. This was a big problem for us at Groupon. — Ryan Denehy (@DenehyXXL) September 29, 2020
Patel said a conventional financial institution doesn’t have the same freedom as Starbucks, with proceeds from app and gift card purchases equipping Starbucks to “reinvest directly back into the business on expansion opportunities” and lower its “working capital needs.”
Breakage is another silver lining for Starbucks, Patel said, because gift card balances never expire.
With prepaid customers on the rise since 2014, according to Patel, breakage accounts for earnings “rising at a 10% clip annually.”
“Based on the current liability balance of $1.4 billion at the end of Q2 2020, previously mentioned, Starbucks actually earns interest at a rate of approximately 10% (meaning it borrows at an effective rate of negative 10%),” Patel explained.
One more layer in Starbucks’ income is within its loyalty program, where participants can accrue two “stars” for every dollar spent via mobile app or traditional gift card, to redeem free items.
One of the program’s newer features connects customers’ “credit card, debit card, or mobile wallet” payment methods to their rewards accounts, Inc. Magazine’s Justin Bariso reported.
However, using the linked or outside payment sources only qualifies a customer to earn one star per dollar, Bariso said.
Customers reward benefits are not guaranteed.
i just spent $40 at starbucks and forgot to scan my rewards to earn the bonus stars???♀ — Jane? (@bubblyjjane) November 6, 2020
I haven’t ordered on the Starbucks app since Feb. So all of my stars and rewards expired ? at least today I get my free birthday drink. ❤? — Carli Bartlett (@carlijayne7) November 7, 2020
Regardless, Bariso admitted to purchasing Starbucks’ gift cards and called the app “one of the most popular mobile apps in the world.”
He said it has “over 3.5 million ratings in the Apple app store alone, and an average rating of 4.8 out of 5 stars.”
“Is there a chance that some of my friends never cashed in on those cards?” Bariso asked. “Sure. But have I gained back multifold through rewards I’ve gained through the app? Definitely.”
“In the end, Starbucks’ strategy is genius because it gives the company access to cash flow and produces extra revenue,” Bariso said, summing up the benefits. “It also generously rewards customer loyalty, so customers don’t get offended if they leave a little unspent cash on a gift card somewhere.”
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westernjournal--2020-11-25--In Stunning Interview, Obama Re-Writes History, Blames Trump for 2 of His Own Most-Hated Policies

Former President Barack Obama has once again proven himself to be arguably one of the most egotistical people in America , if not the world .
He also has the support of the establishment media to cover for him when he makes outrageous — and blatantly untrue — claims about his presidential legacy .
Obama is currently making media appearances to promote his new memoir , “ A Promised Land , ” — a 768-page tome .
And that ’ s just Part One .
This morning , Obama appeared on “ The Breakfast Club , ” where he blamed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in cages and slammed Trump ’ s views on gay marriage — two policies on which Obama himself has made 180-degree turns .
The audacity of these claims was laughable , because they require a complete re-write of history .
Obama ’ s wild claims might fool some , but Trump ’ s record — not to mention Obama ’ s — disproves them both .
While Obama opposed gay marriage when he was first elected president in 2008 , Trump came into office supporting gay marriage .
In fact , like it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the most pro-LGBT president America has ever had .
Additionally , despite the establishment media ’ s best efforts to convince the American public otherwise , the fact remains that the so-called cages holding illegal immigrants were originally constructed — and filled — during the Obama administration .
Fortunately , not everyone was buying it .
RELATED : Joe Biden Manages To Tell 3 Lies at Once with Arrogant 'America Is Back ' Claim The lies aren ’ t exactly surprising from the man who continues to promote the patently ridiculous claim he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it ’ s scary to see how easily Obama can rewrite history with barely an ounce of pushback .
The term ‘ Orwellian ‘ gets thrown around a lot these days , but there ’ s really no other word to describe it .
If the establishment media or the left blames Trump for anything , it ’ s a pretty good bet that Obama and the left are the guilty ones .
This is who Obama is , and it ’ s likely who he always will be .
But if you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Western Journal , you already know who Obama is : Four years out of office , and like a six-year-old caught with his hand in the cookie jar , he still refuses to take any responsibility for his own actions .
We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism .
Read our editorial standards .

Former President Barack Obama has once again proven himself to be arguably one of the most egotistical people in America, if not the world.
He also has the support of the establishment media to cover for him when he makes outrageous — and blatantly untrue — claims about his presidential legacy.
Obama is currently making media appearances to promote his new memoir, “A Promised Land,” — a 768-page tome.
And that’s just Part One.
This morning, Obama appeared on “The Breakfast Club,” where he blamed President Donald Trump for putting undocumented workers in cages and slammed Trump’s views on gay marriage — two policies on which Obama himself has made 180-degree turns.
Obama on @breakfastclubam: “… There’s a lot of evangelical Hispanics who, the fact that Trump says racist things about Mexicans, or puts undocumented workers in cages, they think that’s less important than the fact that he supports their views on gay marriage or abortion.” pic.twitter.com/8OpocwYrLV — The Recount (@therecount) November 25, 2020
The audacity of these claims was laughable, because they require a complete re-write of history. Obama’s wild claims might fool some, but Trump’s record — not to mention Obama’s — disproves them both.
Are you surprised by Obama's false claims about Trump? 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: 2% (103 Votes) No: 98% (4258 Votes)
While Obama opposed gay marriage when he was first elected president in 2008, Trump came into office supporting gay marriage. In fact, like it or not, Trump could possibly be the most pro-LGBT president America has ever had.
Additionally, despite the establishment media’s best efforts to convince the American public otherwise, the fact remains that the so-called cages holding illegal immigrants were originally constructed — and filled — during the Obama administration.
Fortunately, not everyone was buying it.
Barack Obama was on the #BreakfastClub today, “splainin” & babbling when asked why he didn’t do a damn thing to help Black ppl. He went right into that BS “disproportionately affected Black ppl” talk while bringing up a bunch of “lift all” policies. Obama & the Dems are liars pic.twitter.com/uM1rnYEDPE — Tariq Nasheed ?? (@tariqnasheed) November 25, 2020
Obama and Biden put kids in cages, separated immigrant families and started forced hysterectomies of immigrants before Trump ever set foot in the WH. But please, be happy that everything is going “back to normal”. — Prof Zenkus (@anthonyzenkus) November 25, 2020
The lies aren’t exactly surprising from the man who continues to promote the patently ridiculous claim he had a scandal-free presidency. Still, it’s scary to see how easily Obama can rewrite history with barely an ounce of pushback.
The term ‘Orwellian‘ gets thrown around a lot these days, but there’s really no other word to describe it. If the establishment media or the left blames Trump for anything, it’s a pretty good bet that Obama and the left are the guilty ones.
This is who Obama is, and it’s likely who he always will be.
But if you’re a regular reader of The Western Journal, you already know who Obama is:
Four years out of office, and like a six-year-old caught with his hand in the cookie jar, he still refuses to take any responsibility for his own actions.
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westernjournal--2020-11-25--Author of ‘Anti-Racism’ Book Mocks Parents Whose Kids Would Be Forced To Read It

Critical race theory might be the left ’ s worst idea to date , and that ’ s saying something .
This strange “ theoretical ” ideology , developed in leftists academia , teaches its disciples to use racial stereotypes and posits that America is systemically , irredeemably racist .
On Nov. 6 , one of the activists pushing this nonsense gleefully mocked parents who aren ’ t buying in , noting that their children will be forced to read his “ anti-racism ” book in school .
“ Knowing your children will one day be forced to read my @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tax dollars makes me so happy , ” Frederick Joseph wrote .
Joseph , author of “ The Black Friend : On Being A Better White Person , ” is a progenitor of anti-racism , another aspect of the critical race theory ideology that posits racial identity as the most important aspect of a person ’ s identity .
Anti-racism essentially teaches that people can ’ t merely be “ not racist ” ; instead , they must be fully “ anti-racist , ” which requires one to view all individuals by their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ — to treat everyone equally regardless of their group identity , to ensure that everyone is given equal access to opportunities regardless of their immutable characteristics — is deemed to be not only highly problematic by anti-racist activists , but also a tool of white supremacy .
The idea of colorblindness instead is seen as a myth that white people use to uphold their own privilege by failing to identify the unseen forces of systemic racism ( which these scholars have yet to prove exists in the modern day ) .
Essentially , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ what it says — it is teaching people to be more racist and to judge everyone by the color of their skin rather than the content of their character .
And Joseph is mocking parents because his book — due out from Candlewick Press on Dec. 1 — will be used to teach these ideas to young children in public schools .
RELATED : California School District Bans Use of Classic Books in Classroom Over Racism Complaints While many of these schools claim to be secular in nature and avoid teaching the religious @ @ @ @ @ @ @ them have no problem teaching the strange , theoretical philosophies of anti-racism and critical race theory that also are based on faith rather than evidence .
“ I don ’ t support religious indoctrination of children in public school , which is why critical race theory should be banned , ” conservative and Christian commentator Matt Walsh wrote on Twitter .
Except that while Christianity teaches followers to treat each individual as uniquely made in the image of God , anti-racism and critical race theory teaches its disciples to treat everyone differently based @ @ @ @ @ @ @ It ’ s no wonder racial tensions in America continue to boil over .
We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism .
Read our editorial standards .

Critical race theory might be the left’s worst idea to date, and that’s saying something.
This strange “theoretical” ideology, developed in leftists academia, teaches its disciples to use racial stereotypes and posits that America is systemically, irredeemably racist.
On Nov. 6, one of the activists pushing this nonsense gleefully mocked parents who aren’t buying in, noting that their children will be forced to read his “anti-racism” book in school.
“Knowing your children will one day be forced to read my book on anti-racism in school on your tax dollars makes me so happy,” Frederick Joseph wrote.
Knowing your children will one day be forced to read my book on anti-racism in school on your tax dollars makes me so happy. https://t.co/lYe3rbz4dA — Frederick Joseph (@FredTJoseph) November 6, 2020
Joseph, author of “The Black Friend: On Being A Better White Person,” is a progenitor of anti-racism, another aspect of the critical race theory ideology that posits racial identity as the most important aspect of a person’s identity.
Critical race theory should terrify anyone with children in public school or who will be attending public school. Coming soon near you: holidays are racist
punctuality is racist
being #1 is racist
respecting authority is racist and “planning for a future” is racist. — Alex Clark ????? (@yoalexrapz) September 8, 2020
Anti-racism essentially teaches that people can’t merely be “not racist”; instead, they must be fully “anti-racist,” which requires one to view all individuals by their racial identity.
Should anti-racism be taught in public schools? 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: 1% (5 Votes) No: 99% (371 Votes)
This classically liberal approach — to treat everyone equally regardless of their group identity, to ensure that everyone is given equal access to opportunities regardless of their immutable characteristics — is deemed to be not only highly problematic by anti-racist activists, but also a tool of white supremacy.
The idea of colorblindness instead is seen as a myth that white people use to uphold their own privilege by failing to identify the unseen forces of systemic racism (which these scholars have yet to prove exists in the modern day).
Essentially, the ideology is doing the opposite of what it says — it is teaching people to be more racist and to judge everyone by the color of their skin rather than the content of their character.
And Joseph is mocking parents because his book — due out from Candlewick Press on Dec. 1 — will be used to teach these ideas to young children in public schools.
While many of these schools claim to be secular in nature and avoid teaching the religious principles found in Christianity, many of them have no problem teaching the strange, theoretical philosophies of anti-racism and critical race theory that also are based on faith rather than evidence.
“I don’t support religious indoctrination of children in public school, which is why critical race theory should be banned,” conservative and Christian commentator Matt Walsh wrote on Twitter.
I don’t support religious indoctrination of children in public school, which is why critical race theory should be banned. Thanks for chiming in, Turd Murder. https://t.co/yQuKKndJF6 — Matt Walsh (@MattWalshBlog) September 23, 2020
Except that while Christianity teaches followers to treat each individual as uniquely made in the image of God, anti-racism and critical race theory teaches its disciples to treat everyone differently based on which race they belong to.
It’s no wonder racial tensions in America continue to boil over.
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westernjournal--2020-11-25--Democratic Senators Introduce National Mask Legislation

Two Senate Democrats have authored legislation that would force every American to wear a mask or other face covering amid the coronavirus pandemic .
Newsweek reported Sens .
Ed Markey of Massachusetts and Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut are pushing a bill calling for a nationwide mask mandate .
The Democratic lawmakers join presumptive president-elect Joe Biden in calling for such a mandate .
On Wednesday , the two Democrats took the first step enacting a bill toward forcing Americans to comply with wearing masks .
In the “ Encouraging Masks for All Act , ” Markey and Blumenthal argue that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to curtail the spread of the coronavirus .
A media release posted on Markey ’ s Senate website argues the legislation “ would encourage states to require the use of face masks in all public spaces and outside when one can not maintain social distance.
” “ Wearing a mask should be considered a moral and health mandate — our primary defense against the coronavirus , ” Blumenthal said in the statement .
Markey also touted the mask legislation in the statement .
“ As President-elect Biden recognizes , we need to use @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mask use , from clear communication of the need for masks , to providing masks to those who need them , to leading by example , and even to mandating mask use nationwide , ” Markey said .
“ Our legislation would move us closer to goal of ensuring universal mask adoption during these dangerous winter months .
It would also ensure that essential workers in transit , health care , and retail settings all over the country are protected with face masks , ” the Democrat added .
The legislation , if @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Social Services Emergency Fund $ 5 billion .
Those funds would be made available to states that agreed to implement mandates requiring citizens to wear masks .
Newsweek reported that states that adopt guidelines from the “ Encouraging Masks for All Act ” would also each receive $ 75 million in grants .
Markey and Blumenthal argued in the media release , citing information from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention , that science has proven wearing masks can effectively slow the spread of the coronavirus .
RELATED : Dem Mayor @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Before Flying To Visit Family “ Recent research suggests universal masking could prevent 130,000 deaths from COVID-19 , ” the release read .
Newsweek reported the senators complained that nearly one-third of states do not have mandates requiring the wearing of masks .
“ As of November 25 , Alaska , Arizona , Florida , Georgia , Idaho , Iowa , Mississippi , Missouri , Nebraska , Oklahoma , South Carolina , South Dakota , Tennessee and Wyoming do not have statewide mask orders , ” the outlet reported .
We are committed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ our journalism .
Read our editorial standards .

Two Senate Democrats have authored legislation that would force every American to wear a mask or other face covering amid the coronavirus pandemic.
Newsweek reported Sens. Ed Markey of Massachusetts and Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut are pushing a bill calling for a nationwide mask mandate.
The Democratic lawmakers join presumptive president-elect Joe Biden in calling for such a mandate.
On Wednesday, the two Democrats took the first step enacting a bill toward forcing Americans to comply with wearing masks.
In the “Encouraging Masks for All Act,” Markey and Blumenthal argue that all Americans must wear masks in order to curtail the spread of the coronavirus.
A media release posted on Markey’s Senate website argues the legislation “would encourage states to require the use of face masks in all public spaces and outside when one cannot maintain social distance.”
“Wearing a mask should be considered a moral and health mandate — our primary defense against the coronavirus,” Blumenthal said in the statement.
Markey also touted the mask legislation in the statement.
“As President-elect Biden recognizes, we need to use every technique available to us to encourage mask use, from clear communication of the need for masks, to providing masks to those who need them, to leading by example, and even to mandating mask use nationwide,” Markey said.
Do you wear a mask or other face covering when you are out in public? 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: 47% (1307 Votes) No: 53% (1491 Votes)
“Our legislation would move us closer to goal of ensuring universal mask adoption during these dangerous winter months. It would also ensure that essential workers in transit, health care, and retail settings all over the country are protected with face masks,” the Democrat added.
The legislation, if passed, would offer the Public Health and Social Services Emergency Fund $5 billion.
Those funds would be made available to states that agreed to implement mandates requiring citizens to wear masks.
Newsweek reported that states that adopt guidelines from the “Encouraging Masks for All Act” would also each receive $75 million in grants.
Markey and Blumenthal argued in the media release, citing information from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, that science has proven wearing masks can effectively slow the spread of the coronavirus.
“Recent research suggests universal masking could prevent 130,000 deaths from COVID-19,” the release read.
Newsweek reported the senators complained that nearly one-third of states do not have mandates requiring the wearing of masks.
“As of November 25, Alaska, Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Iowa, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee and Wyoming do not have statewide mask orders,” the outlet reported.
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westernjournal--2020-11-25--Home Depot Helps Once-Homeless Army Veteran Pay Off Mortgage

Earlier this month many people expressed their thankfulness for veterans around the nation .
This Thanksgiving , one veteran is especially thankful .
Anthony Burrow , 32 , had a rough time growing up .
As he , his mother and his sisters tried to escape their abusive father and husband , they stayed in a variety of shelters and homes — places that have all been torn down now .
When he was older , Burrow joined up , spending eight years in the Army and two in the Army Reserves , including a year in Iraq .
He @ @ @ @ @ @ @ housing .
When he decided to settle down , the veteran got a job at Hopkins County Jail as a deputy jailer , and he and his wife , Kara , decided to finally put down roots in Mortons Gap , Kentucky .
The house they could afford , though , was a disaster .
The issue was complicated because even as they worked to fix up the dilapidated home , their five children were at risk .
Rileigh , 15 , Noah , 8 , Mary Hannah , 6 , Oliviah , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had to make the dangerous house their home .
Floors sagged or rotted , and Noah stepped through the floor one day .
“ He was laughing , freaking out and kind of scared , ” Burrow told People .
“ It was overwhelming .
Parts of the floor were caving in and rotted.
” Kara was concerned they ’ d made the wrong choice somewhere along the way , but sensed God telling them to just wait .
“ I was frustrated because I felt like we weren ’ t providing somewhere @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tried to be patient because every time we looked for a new house , building a house or even renting , it felt like God was telling us not to do that , ” she said .
“ For some reason , God was telling us to just stay put and be patient.
” And He provided — through the Kentucky Habitat for Humanity , a group that heard about the Burrows ’ predicament .
They razed the old deathtrap of a house and built a brand-new home with five bedrooms and two @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their new digs since September , still saddled with $ 130,000 to pay off the house , but they were determined to chip away at it .
“ We ’ re fully blessed , this is the best outcome I could imagine , ” Anthony said .
“ My kids have a swing set , they have their own rooms , they ’ re not tripping in holes in the floor anymore.
” But more blessings were on the way — this time in the form of a full mortgage pay off , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ According to People , the generous gift was part of the foundation ’ s second annual Operation Surprise initiative , which is working to help veterans ease back into civilian life and to invest $ 500,000,000 in veteran causes by 2025 .
Actress Drew Barrymore delivered the good news to Anthony and Kara on her talk show Wednesday .
“ I was in shock , ” Anthony said .
“ Like , how much more blessed can you get ?
” “ I could live anywhere , even a cardboard box .
But @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for my kids and wife means everything to me.
” Now not only does Anthony finally have a permanent place to call home after decades of wandering , but it ’ s clean , new , safe and completely paid off .
We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism .
Read our editorial standards .

Earlier this month many people expressed their thankfulness for veterans around the nation. This Thanksgiving, one veteran is especially thankful.
Anthony Burrow, 32, had a rough time growing up. As he, his mother and his sisters tried to escape their abusive father and husband, they stayed in a variety of shelters and homes — places that have all been torn down now.
When he was older, Burrow joined up, spending eight years in the Army and two in the Army Reserves, including a year in Iraq. He spent a lot of time in government housing.
When he decided to settle down, the veteran got a job at Hopkins County Jail as a deputy jailer, and he and his wife, Kara, decided to finally put down roots in Mortons Gap, Kentucky.
The house they could afford, though, was a disaster. The issue was complicated because even as they worked to fix up the dilapidated home, their five children were at risk.
Rileigh, 15, Noah, 8, Mary Hannah, 6, Oliviah, 5, and Judah, 3, had to make the dangerous house their home. Floors sagged or rotted, and Noah stepped through the floor one day.
“He was laughing, freaking out and kind of scared,” Burrow told People. “It was overwhelming. Parts of the floor were caving in and rotted.”
Kara was concerned they’d made the wrong choice somewhere along the way, but sensed God telling them to just wait.
“I was frustrated because I felt like we weren’t providing somewhere safe for our kids, but we tried to be patient because every time we looked for a new house, building a house or even renting, it felt like God was telling us not to do that,” she said.
“For some reason, God was telling us to just stay put and be patient.”
And He provided — through the Kentucky Habitat for Humanity, a group that heard about the Burrows’ predicament. They razed the old deathtrap of a house and built a brand-new home with five bedrooms and two bathrooms.
The Burrows have been in their new digs since September, still saddled with $130,000 to pay off the house, but they were determined to chip away at it.
“We’re fully blessed, this is the best outcome I could imagine,” Anthony said. “My kids have a swing set, they have their own rooms, they’re not tripping in holes in the floor anymore.”
But more blessings were on the way — this time in the form of a full mortgage pay off, thanks to The Home Depot Foundation.
According to People, the generous gift was part of the foundation’s second annual Operation Surprise initiative, which is working to help veterans ease back into civilian life and to invest $500,000,000 in veteran causes by 2025.
Actress Drew Barrymore delivered the good news to Anthony and Kara on her talk show Wednesday.
“I was in shock,” Anthony said. “Like, how much more blessed can you get?”
“I could live anywhere, even a cardboard box. But to have a safe, comfortable house for my kids and wife means everything to me.”
Now not only does Anthony finally have a permanent place to call home after decades of wandering, but it’s clean, new, safe and completely paid off.
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westernjournal--2020-11-25--Mike Huckabee: Biden’s Announcing Cabinet Members – And the Anti-Semitism Has Already Started

Meet the new incompetents , same as the old incompetents .
If you ’ ve accidentally flipped past MSNBC in the past four years and been appalled to see their “ expert commentators ” spinning wild Russia collusion conspiracy theories and other claptrap , brace yourself for those loons being put in important government positions if Joe Biden becomes president .
If you wonder why I haven ’ t been commenting much on all the stories about who a potential President Biden would appoint , it ’ s because we have a policy of only writing about news that ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Cabinet picks is speculation on top of conjecture , a way to fill airtime during a holiday week , like all the yak-yak about polls back in July .
However , on Monday , Biden ’ s team did announce that he would appoint former Deputy Secretary of State Antony Blinken as his secretary of state .
And immediately , the intra-party warfare began , with “ squad ” member Rep. Rashida Tlaib making an anti-Semitic attack on the Jewish Blinken to warn him not to try to silence her attacks on Israel @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would tap former Secretary of State John Kerry as his “ Climate Czar , ” so I think it ’ s fair game to talk about that .
Liberals accuse Trump of being an egomaniac , but at least when he brags about his accomplishments , he has some worth bragging about .
The warmed-over Obama relics who seem likely to staff a Biden administration are almost all narcissistic elitists with dismal records who think their deep state backgrounds and Ivy League degrees mark them as superior examples of humanity who can look @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hicks , even though when it comes to actual abilities and accomplishments , their résumés are as empty as last year ’ s bird nests .
Among them , John Kerry probably has the largest gap between his high opinion of himself and his actual accomplishments , giving Biden a run for his money in the “ being on the wrong side of every issue ” department .
Kerry most recently made news by warning with absolute certainty that if Trump moved our embassy in Israel to Jerusalem , it would spark a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ contained .
Trump did it anyway .
There was no wave of violence , and we ’ re now seeing unprecedented peace deals being signed in the Middle East .
In fact , it seems that all Trump had to do to achieve a number of goals , from containing Iran to crushing ISIS , was to ask , “ WWKD ( What Would Kerry Do ?
” ) and then do the exact opposite .
Similar to how he supercharged the economy and job creation simply by doing the opposite of what @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : It 's Time To Smile a Little Now , continuing his streak of failing upward , Kerry would reportedly be put in charge of stopping climate change .
This despite the fact that he likes to fly around the world to various left-wing conferences in his private jet , and he recently bought a near- $ 12 million waterfront home in the tony enclave of Martha ’ s Vineyard .
Well , at least that will give him extra incentive to stop the rising ocean tides by lecturing the rest of us @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by scaling back our lavish lifestyles .
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 .
We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism .
Read our editorial standards .

Meet the new incompetents, same as the old incompetents.
If you’ve accidentally flipped past MSNBC in the past four years and been appalled to see their “expert commentators” spinning wild Russia collusion conspiracy theories and other claptrap, brace yourself for those loons being put in important government positions if Joe Biden becomes president.
If you wonder why I haven’t been commenting much on all the stories about who a potential President Biden would appoint, it’s because we have a policy of only writing about news that’s actually happened.
Discussing possible Biden Cabinet picks is speculation on top of conjecture, a way to fill airtime during a holiday week, like all the yak-yak about polls back in July.
However, on Monday, Biden’s team did announce that he would appoint former Deputy Secretary of State Antony Blinken as his secretary of state.
And immediately, the intra-party warfare began, with “squad” member Rep. Rashida Tlaib making an anti-Semitic attack on the Jewish Blinken to warn him not to try to silence her attacks on Israel.
Biden has also indicated that he would tap former Secretary of State John Kerry as his “Climate Czar,” so I think it’s fair game to talk about that.
Liberals accuse Trump of being an egomaniac, but at least when he brags about his accomplishments, he has some worth bragging about.
The warmed-over Obama relics who seem likely to staff a Biden administration are almost all narcissistic elitists with dismal records who think their deep state backgrounds and Ivy League degrees mark them as superior examples of humanity who can look down from on high at us flyover hicks, even though when it comes to actual abilities and accomplishments, their résumés are as empty as last year’s bird nests.
Do you think a potential Biden cabinet will be staffed with elitists? Yes No
Completing this poll entitles you to The Western Journal news updates free of charge. You may opt out at anytime. You also agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use Yes: 93% (90 Votes) No: 7% (7 Votes)
Among them, John Kerry probably has the largest gap between his high opinion of himself and his actual accomplishments, giving Biden a run for his money in the “being on the wrong side of every issue” department.
Kerry most recently made news by warning with absolute certainty that if Trump moved our embassy in Israel to Jerusalem, it would spark a wave of violence that could not be contained.
Trump did it anyway. There was no wave of violence, and we’re now seeing unprecedented peace deals being signed in the Middle East.
In fact, it seems that all Trump had to do to achieve a number of goals, from containing Iran to crushing ISIS, was to ask, “WWKD (What Would Kerry Do?”) and then do the exact opposite.
Similar to how he supercharged the economy and job creation simply by doing the opposite of what Obama did.
Now, continuing his streak of failing upward, Kerry would reportedly be put in charge of stopping climate change.
This despite the fact that he likes to fly around the world to various left-wing conferences in his private jet, and he recently bought a near-$12 million waterfront home in the tony enclave of Martha’s Vineyard.
Well, at least that will give him extra incentive to stop the rising ocean tides by lecturing the rest of us on how we need to reduce CO2 by scaling back our lavish lifestyles.
The views expressed in this opinion article are those of their author and are not necessarily either shared or endorsed by the owners of this website. If you are interested in contributing an Op-Ed to The Western Journal, you can learn about our submission guidelines and process here.
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westernjournal--2020-11-25--Army Vet Senator Gives Dark 2-Word Warning About Biden Foreign Policy

Republican Sen. Tom Cotton of Arkansas gave a grim warning Wednesday about what a Biden administration ’ s foreign policy might look like .
The senator made it clear that if Democrat Joe Biden wins the still-contested presidential election , his foreign policy will be very similar to that of former President Barack Obama — and that will have “ disastrous consequences ” for the nation .
Cotton , an Army veteran who served in Afghanistan and Iraq , said on Fox News ’ “ Fox & Friends ” that Biden ’ s appointments so far indicate he will embrace @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as vice president for eight years .
“ You can just look at Barack Obama ’ s memoir where he says a lot of these people were responsible , for instance , for advising him to go to war in Libya — a war that ’ s now in its 10 years , a 10-year after-party that ’ s introduced civil war and slavery and unleashed of a flood of migrants into Europe , ” the senator said .
“ As you say , look at ISIS .
The rise of ISIS happened @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Iraq .
“ This is the same group that said that you could never have a separate peace between Israel and Arab nations without resolving the Palestinian question.
” He said that “ sounds a lot like the return of the Obama administration ’ s foreign policy , and that foreign policy has disastrous consequences for our nation.
” These comments came after Biden announced some of his nominees for the top positions in intelligence and global affairs , many of whom are former Obama associates with long careers in government .
Cotton @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Biden ’ s foreign policy , especially if he tries to undo the successes that President Donald Trump has achieved while in office .
Under Trump , there has been an emphasis on decreasing the number of U.S. troops in the Middle East and brokering peace agreements between Israel and its neighbors .
The Pentagon announced last week that it plans to cut the number of troops to 2,500 in both Iraq and Afghanistan by mid-January , according to The Associated Press .
Non-interventionists view troops returning home as a long-overdue action , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ war in the region for nearly 20 years .
Trump also brought foreign leaders such as North Korea ’ s Kim Jong Un to the table for talks that would be unthinkable under any other president .
While many have criticized the president ’ s diplomacy methods as merely symbolic , these gestures have been responsible for cooling tensions with certain adversaries .
It is also important to note that deaths from terrorism abroad continue to decrease .
This might not be directly attributed to the Trump administration ’ s actions , but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ role in counterterrorism efforts since the late 1990s and early 2000s .
A Biden administration will signal a return to globalism , reversing the nationalism of the Trump era .
One can only hope that the United States will continue to be a global power without engaging in any unnecessary conflicts .
This nation and its leaders need to ask themselves : Are we ready to go back to the type of foreign policy we had before 2016 ?
We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism .
Read @ @ @ @

Republican Sen. Tom Cotton of Arkansas gave a grim warning Wednesday about what a Biden administration’s foreign policy might look like.
The senator made it clear that if Democrat Joe Biden wins the still-contested presidential election, his foreign policy will be very similar to that of former President Barack Obama — and that will have “disastrous consequences” for the nation.
Cotton, an Army veteran who served in Afghanistan and Iraq, said on Fox News’ “Fox & Friends” that Biden’s appointments so far indicate he will embrace the policies of the man he served as vice president for eight years.
“You can just look at Barack Obama’s memoir where he says a lot of these people were responsible, for instance, for advising him to go to war in Libya — a war that’s now in its 10 years, a 10-year after-party that’s introduced civil war and slavery and unleashed of a flood of migrants into Europe,” the senator said.
“As you say, look at ISIS. The rise of ISIS happened after Barack Obama rushed us out of Iraq.
“This is the same group that said that you could never have a separate peace between Israel and Arab nations without resolving the Palestinian question.”
He said that “sounds a lot like the return of the Obama administration’s foreign policy, and that foreign policy has disastrous consequences for our nation.”
These comments came after Biden announced some of his nominees for the top positions in intelligence and global affairs, many of whom are former Obama associates with long careers in government.
Today, I’m announcing the first members of my national security and foreign policy team. They will rally the world to take on our challenges like no other—challenges that no one nation can face alone. It’s time to restore American leadership. I trust this group to do just that. pic.twitter.com/uKE5JG45Ts — Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) November 23, 2020
Cotton is absolutely correct to raise concerns about Biden’s foreign policy, especially if he tries to undo the successes that President Donald Trump has achieved while in office.
Under Trump, there has been an emphasis on decreasing the number of U.S. troops in the Middle East and brokering peace agreements between Israel and its neighbors.
The Pentagon announced last week that it plans to cut the number of troops to 2,500 in both Iraq and Afghanistan by mid-January, according to The Associated Press.
Non-interventionists view troops returning home as a long-overdue action, as the United States has been at war in the region for nearly 20 years.
Trump also brought foreign leaders such as North Korea’s Kim Jong Un to the table for talks that would be unthinkable under any other president.
While many have criticized the president’s diplomacy methods as merely symbolic, these gestures have been responsible for cooling tensions with certain adversaries.
It is also important to note that deaths from terrorism abroad continue to decrease. This might not be directly attributed to the Trump administration’s actions, but the United States has played a major role in counterterrorism efforts since the late 1990s and early 2000s.
A Biden administration will signal a return to globalism, reversing the nationalism of the Trump era.
One can only hope that the United States will continue to be a global power without engaging in any unnecessary conflicts.
This nation and its leaders need to ask themselves: Are we ready to go back to the type of foreign policy we had before 2016?
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westernjournal--2020-11-25--Dem Mayor Warns Residents To ‘Avoid Travel’ Just Before Flying To Visit Family

The mayor of Denver , Colorado , is facing heavy criticism online after he advised his city ’ s residents to spend Thanksgiving alone moments before he departed on a flight to leave the state to be with his family .
Denver Mayor Michael Hancock , a Democrat , took to Twitter on Wednesday to ask his city ’ s residents to avoid traveling for the holiday .
Hancock ’ s reasoning was that by avoiding traveling and isolating away from family members , those in the city could mitigate the spread of the coronavirus .
He added people should @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you can , especially if you ’ re sick , ” and suggested “ virtual gatherings instead of in-person dinners ” for Thanksgiving .
Hancock further stated people should “ Avoid travel ” while considering ordering their meals from local restaurants.
” The mayor this week also reportedly asked his staff to take the same measures .
Hancock wrote that “ as the holidays approach , we all long to be with our families [ in ] person , but with the continued rise in cases , I ’ m urging you to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ For my family that means cancelling our traditional gathering of our extended family.
” Hancock also stated that any employee who traveled out of state for the holiday should isolate themselves for 14 days upon return .
But Hancock himself apparently had no plans to stay home and avoid family .
RELATED : Court Hears Challenge to Law Forcing Businesses To Provide Services for Gay Weddings In fact , according to KUSA-TV , just 30 minutes after Hancock advised against family gatherings on Twitter Wednesday , he boarded a connecting flight to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the outlet the mayor would be gone from Wednesday until Friday of this week , as he will spend Thanksgiving with family in Mississippi .
“ As he has shared , the Mayor is not hosting his traditional large family dinner this year , but instead traveling alone to join his wife and daughter where the three of them will celebrate Thanksgiving at [ the daughter ’ s ] residence instead of having them travel back to Denver , ” a statement from the mayor ’ s spokesperson said .
Hancock is facing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ show of hypocrisy .
The mayor ’ s representative assured critics Hancock will take measures to protect those around him after his return from Mississippi .
“ Upon return , he will follow all necessary health and safety guidance and quarantine , ” the representative added .
We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism .
Read our editorial standards .

The mayor of Denver, Colorado, is facing heavy criticism online after he advised his city’s residents to spend Thanksgiving alone moments before he departed on a flight to leave the state to be with his family.
Denver Mayor Michael Hancock, a Democrat, took to Twitter on Wednesday to ask his city’s residents to avoid traveling for the holiday.
Hancock’s reasoning was that by avoiding traveling and isolating away from family members, those in the city could mitigate the spread of the coronavirus.
“Pass the potatoes, not COVID,” Hancock tweeted.
He added people should, “Stay home as much as you can, especially if you’re sick,” and suggested “virtual gatherings instead of in-person dinners” for Thanksgiving.
Hancock further stated people should “Avoid travel” while considering ordering their meals from local restaurants.”
Pass the potatoes, not COVID. ?Stay home as much as you can, especially if you’re sick.
?Host virtual gatherings instead of in-person dinners.
❌Avoid travel, if you can.
?Order your holiday meal from a local eatery.
?Shop online with a small business for #BlackFriday. pic.twitter.com/acQpWs2Ism — Michael B. Hancock ? (@MayorHancock) November 25, 2020
The mayor this week also reportedly asked his staff to take the same measures.
Do you intend to spend Thanksgiving with family? 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: 87% (223 Votes) No: 13% (32 Votes)
A Nov. 18 email obtained by KUSA-TV shows Hancock discouraged travel for city workers.
Hancock wrote that “as the holidays approach, we all long to be with our families [in] person, but with the continued rise in cases, I’m urging you to refrain from travel this Thanksgiving holiday.”
“For my family that means cancelling our traditional gathering of our extended family.”
Hancock also stated that any employee who traveled out of state for the holiday should isolate themselves for 14 days upon return.
But Hancock himself apparently had no plans to stay home and avoid family.
In fact, according to KUSA-TV, just 30 minutes after Hancock advised against family gatherings on Twitter Wednesday, he boarded a connecting flight to Texas.
Hancock’s assistant told the outlet the mayor would be gone from Wednesday until Friday of this week, as he will spend Thanksgiving with family in Mississippi.
“As he has shared, the Mayor is not hosting his traditional large family dinner this year, but instead traveling alone to join his wife and daughter where the three of them will celebrate Thanksgiving at [the daughter’s] residence instead of having them travel back to Denver,” a statement from the mayor’s spokesperson said.
Hancock is facing a major blowback online for the apparent show of hypocrisy.
Avoid travel if you can – unless your self-important agenda says otherwise.
My mother can’t risk losing her job to see her children, yet the mayor in charge of our safety balks at the very idea.
I’m disappointed. — Bri ? (@BriBri0322) November 25, 2020
Are you following any of these suggestions? ? — Tori (@torisuemagoo) November 25, 2020
I’m not seeing my brother and sister because we are trying to stay safe. This is selfish and a terrible example for the mayor. BTW Downtown Denver has turned to a dump on your watch — Bradley Roulier (@beatportbrad) November 25, 2020
I’m not seeing my parents for Thanksgiving despite nearly losing my dad last week. A guy I sponsor cried during our last phone call because he badly wanted to spend his 1st ever sober holiday with his folks. To the many Denverites making sacrifices for Thanksgiving, thank you. — Vic Vela (@VicVela1) November 25, 2020
Your decision to flout your own guidelines is massively misguided and will only result in further erosion of public trust. You’re gonna come home to a lot of angry constituents who made sacrifices while you didn’t. — Dr. Jennifer L. Hoffman ✨? (@astroprofhoff) November 25, 2020
The mayor’s representative assured critics Hancock will take measures to protect those around him after his return from Mississippi.
“Upon return, he will follow all necessary health and safety guidance and quarantine,” the representative added.
“Mayor Michael Hancock made the personal decision to travel for Thanksgiving,” Denver City Council President Stacie Gilmore said in a statement Wednesday. “I expect the mayor will follow and comply with the directives he issued to all City of Denver employees and quarantine for 14 days upon his return.”
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westernjournal--2020-11-25--Breaking: Trump Rights Massive Wrong, Pardons General Flynn in Front of Entire World

President Donald Trump pardoned former national security adviser Michael Flynn on Wednesday , taking direct aim at the Russian collusion investigation that he has long insisted was motivated by political bias .
“ It is my Great Honor to announce that General Michael T. Flynn has been granted a Full Pardon , ” Trump tweeted .
Flynn is the second Trump associate convicted in the Russia probe to be granted clemency by the president .
Trump commuted the sentence of longtime confidant Roger Stone just days before he was to report to prison .
The action voids the criminal case @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as a federal judge was weighing whether to grant a Justice Department request to dismiss the prosecution despite Flynn ’ s guilty plea to lying to the FBI about his Russia contacts .
House Judiciary Committee Chair Jerry Nadler said the pardon was undeserved and unprincipled .
“ The President ’ s enablers have constructed an elaborate narrative in which Trump and Flynn are victims and the Constitution is subject to the whims of the president , ” the Democratic congressman said in a statement .
“ Americans soundly rejected this nonsense when @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The pardon is the final step in a case defined by twists and turns over the last year after the Justice Department moved to dismiss the case , insisting that Flynn should have never been interviewed by the FBI in the first place , only to have U.S. District Justice Emmet Sullivan refuse the request and appoint a former judge to argue against the federal government ’ s position .
In the months since , a three-judge panel ’ s decision ordering Sullivan to dismiss the case was overturned by the full appeals @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to Sullivan .
At a hearing in September , Flynn lawyer Sidney Powell told the judge that she had discussed the Flynn case with Trump but also said she did not want a pardon — presumably because she wanted him to be vindicated in the courts .
The pardon spares Flynn the possibility of any prison sentence , which Sullivan could potentially have imposed had he ultimately decided to reject the Justice Department ’ s dismissal request .
Flynn acknowledged lying during the FBI interview by saying he had not discussed with then-Russian @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had just been imposed on Russia for election interference by the outgoing Obama administration .
Last May , the Justice Department said the FBI had no basis to interview Flynn about Kislyak and that any statements he may have made were not relevant to the FBI ’ s broader counterintelligence probe .
It cited internal FBI notes showing that agents had planned to close out their investigation into Flynn weeks earlier .
Flynn was ousted from his position in February 2017 after news broke that he had indeed discussed sanctions with Kislyak and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the White House that he could be vulnerable to blackmail .
Flynn , of Middletown , Rhode Island , was among the first of the president ’ s aides to admit guilt in Mueller ’ s investigation and cooperated extensively for months .
Prosecutors did not recommend any prison time and suggested that they would be fine with probation .
But on the morning he was to have been sentenced , Flynn asked for the hearing to be cut short so that he could continue cooperating and earn credit toward a more lenient @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he hired new attorneys — including Powell , an outspoken critic of Mueller ’ s investigation — who took a far more aggressive stance .
The lawyers accused prosecutors of withholding documents and evidence they said was favorable to the case and repeatedly noted that one of the two agents who interviewed Flynn was fired from the FBI for having sent derogatory text messages about Trump during the 2016 campaign .
We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism .
Read our editorial standards .

President Donald Trump pardoned former national security adviser Michael Flynn on Wednesday, taking direct aim at the Russian collusion investigation that he has long insisted was motivated by political bias.
“It is my Great Honor to announce that General Michael T. Flynn has been granted a Full Pardon,” Trump tweeted.
It is my Great Honor to announce that General Michael T. Flynn has been granted a Full Pardon. Congratulations to @GenFlynn and his wonderful family, I know you will now have a truly fantastic Thanksgiving! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 25, 2020
Flynn is the second Trump associate convicted in the Russia probe to be granted clemency by the president. Trump commuted the sentence of longtime confidant Roger Stone just days before he was to report to prison.
The action voids the criminal case against the retired Army lieutenant general just as a federal judge was weighing whether to grant a Justice Department request to dismiss the prosecution despite Flynn’s guilty plea to lying to the FBI about his Russia contacts.
House Judiciary Committee Chair Jerry Nadler said the pardon was undeserved and unprincipled.
“The President’s enablers have constructed an elaborate narrative in which Trump and Flynn are victims and the Constitution is subject to the whims of the president,” the Democratic congressman said in a statement. “Americans soundly rejected this nonsense when they voted out President Trump. ”
The pardon is the final step in a case defined by twists and turns over the last year after the Justice Department moved to dismiss the case, insisting that Flynn should have never been interviewed by the FBI in the first place, only to have U.S. District Justice Emmet Sullivan refuse the request and appoint a former judge to argue against the federal government’s position.
Do you think Gen. Flynn was the target of a political prosecution? Yes No
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In the months since, a three-judge panel’s decision ordering Sullivan to dismiss the case was overturned by the full appeals court, which sent the matter back to Sullivan.
At a hearing in September, Flynn lawyer Sidney Powell told the judge that she had discussed the Flynn case with Trump but also said she did not want a pardon — presumably because she wanted him to be vindicated in the courts.
The pardon spares Flynn the possibility of any prison sentence, which Sullivan could potentially have imposed had he ultimately decided to reject the Justice Department’s dismissal request.
Flynn acknowledged lying during the FBI interview by saying he had not discussed with then-Russian ambassador, Sergey Kislyak, sanctions that had just been imposed on Russia for election interference by the outgoing Obama administration.
Last May, the Justice Department said the FBI had no basis to interview Flynn about Kislyak and that any statements he may have made were not relevant to the FBI’s broader counterintelligence probe.
It cited internal FBI notes showing that agents had planned to close out their investigation into Flynn weeks earlier.
Flynn was ousted from his position in February 2017 after news broke that he had indeed discussed sanctions with Kislyak and that former Obama administration officials had warned the White House that he could be vulnerable to blackmail.
Flynn, of Middletown, Rhode Island, was among the first of the president’s aides to admit guilt in Mueller’s investigation and cooperated extensively for months.
Prosecutors did not recommend any prison time and suggested that they would be fine with probation.
But on the morning he was to have been sentenced, Flynn asked for the hearing to be cut short so that he could continue cooperating and earn credit toward a more lenient sentence.
After that, though, he hired new attorneys — including Powell, an outspoken critic of Mueller’s investigation — who took a far more aggressive stance.
The lawyers accused prosecutors of withholding documents and evidence they said was favorable to the case and repeatedly noted that one of the two agents who interviewed Flynn was fired from the FBI for having sent derogatory text messages about Trump during the 2016 campaign.
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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--2020-11-25--Ouch: Trump Supporters Savage Alyssa Milano Over Massively Hypocritical ‘Olive Branch’

Hollywood actress Alyssa Milano offered an “ olive branch ” to conservatives Tuesday on Twitter , but the public gesture was warmly received by few , as the American political divide continues .
Milano , 47 , just spent the last four years using her pulpit to effectively label half of the country as racists .
The actress also pushed messaging in favor of defunding police agencies and dismissed a credible sexual assault accusation against presumptive president-elect Joe Biden , almost certainly because their politics are aligned .
Milano , apparently under the impression that Biden has defeated conservatism , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that it ’ s time to heal .
“ I ’ d like to extend an olive branch to Trump supporters , ” the actress tweeted .
“ I am ready to move # ForwardTogether .
There ’ s so much work to do to heal the nation .
Let ’ s be a part of the solution and not add to the problems we face , ” she continued .
Unsurprisingly , after Milano spent four years gaslighting conservatives , and in 2018 attempted to ruin the life of a great man @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , few Trump supporters were interested in her peace offering .
Even some on the left scorned the actress .
Milano took a better position than some leftists .
Since the establishment media crowned Biden the winner of the still-contested election , many on the left have called for Trump supporters to be put on creepy lists or re-educated , and some have even hinted at prosecuting the president ’ s “ enablers.
” But Milano ’ s oh-so-kind gesture of an “ olive branch ” shows how out of touch she truly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ attacking Trump ’ s supporters to the core , and attempted to dehumanize them by labeling them as racists and fascists .
Conservatives seem as unified as ever to fight for the country ’ s values , to fight for election integrity and to unite against the left ’ s dark vision for our future .
A peace deal on social media from a former B-list TV star is as empty and shallow as Milano ’ s # MeToo movement activism .
We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our @ @ @ @ @ @ @

Hollywood actress Alyssa Milano offered an “olive branch” to conservatives Tuesday on Twitter, but the public gesture was warmly received by few, as the American political divide continues.
Milano, 47, just spent the last four years using her pulpit to effectively label half of the country as racists.
The actress also pushed messaging in favor of defunding police agencies and dismissed a credible sexual assault accusation against presumptive president-elect Joe Biden, almost certainly because their politics are aligned.
Milano, apparently under the impression that Biden has defeated conservatism, told her 3.7 million Twitter followers Tuesday that it’s time to heal.
“I’d like to extend an olive branch to Trump supporters,” the actress tweeted.
I’d like to extend an olive branch to Trump supporters. I am ready to move #ForwardTogether. There’s so much work to do to heal the nation. Let’s be a part of the solution and not add to the problems we face. My comments are open. Please reply with #ForwardTogether. ❤ — Alyssa Milano (@Alyssa_Milano) November 24, 2020
“I am ready to move #ForwardTogether. There’s so much work to do to heal the nation. Let’s be a part of the solution and not add to the problems we face,” she continued.
“My comments are open.
“Please reply with #ForwardTogether,” she concluded.
Unsurprisingly, after Milano spent four years gaslighting conservatives, and in 2018 attempted to ruin the life of a great man by helping to smear then-Judge Brett Kavanaugh, few Trump supporters were interested in her peace offering.
No. We are at war. You want to destroy this country. You are my enemy. — President-Elect Bryson Gray (@RealBrysonGray) November 24, 2020
We aren’t “together.” You spent four years trying to destroy the president and all who support him. Now it’s our turn. — Dan Gainor (@dangainor) November 25, 2020
“Let’s be a part of the solution and not add to the problems we face.” This quite literally translates into “Agree with me or you’ll be adding to the problems we face”. This is not an olive branch, Alyssa. It’s a disguised baton of submission. — Viva Frei (@thevivafrei) November 25, 2020
Hell will freeze over first. You reap what you sow… — Robert Barnes (@Barnes_Law) November 25, 2020
You want to extend an olive branch to the 74,000,000 plus people you have demeaned, patronized, attacked, lied about, falsely called racist, etc. That’s like being shot and then the criminal comes back and says “Hey, we can still be friends, right?” Your delusion knows no end! — Jon Hollis (@hollis4congress) November 25, 2020
Even some on the left scorned the actress.
No, thanks! I won’t do that until Trump and his enablers are in jail. After that, I’ll try to forgive Trump supporters, and to educate them. — ?JonathanBWilliams (@JWANOTEDSKEPTIC) November 24, 2020
Nope. I can’t extend an olive branch to people who hate me for being part of the LGBTQ community, are racist, won’t wear a mask… — αℓℓιsση ?⚕ ?? Ⓥ◼ (@ProudVirginian) November 24, 2020
Glad you can extend an olive branch, but I have no olives or branches for racists & bigots. There can be no unity with those who want to see people that are different marginalized & oppressed honestly anyone a true ally would demand they change not accept who they are — Anthony V. Clark (@anthonyvclark20) November 25, 2020
Milano took a better position than some leftists.
Since the establishment media crowned Biden the winner of the still-contested election, many on the left have called for Trump supporters to be put on creepy lists or re-educated, and some have even hinted at prosecuting the president’s “enablers.”
But Milano’s oh-so-kind gesture of an “olive branch” shows how out of touch she truly is.
This woman just spent years attacking Trump’s supporters to the core, and attempted to dehumanize them by labeling them as racists and fascists.
Conservatives seem as unified as ever to fight for the country’s values, to fight for election integrity and to unite against the left’s dark vision for our future.
A peace deal on social media from a former B-list TV star is as empty and shallow as Milano’s #MeToo movement activism.
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westernjournal--2020-11-25--Seattle Case Worker Stabbed to Death Same Day City Council Defunded Police

A Seattle social worker was stabbed to death Monday just hours before the city ’ s council decided to partially defund the police department and potentially replace some officers with social workers .
Seattle has become a slow-motion car crash , and nobody seems intent on getting out of the way or pumping the brakes .
That ’ s what happens when the inmates are running the asylum .
In the case of Washington ’ s largest city , the crazies are the Democrats whom residents elected to run the one-time gem of a community into the ground .
After @ @ @ @ @ @ @ occupied by leftist activists in honor of George Floyd for an entire month this summer , the City Council and Mayor Jenny Durkan continued to turn their backs on police and enable lawlessness .
Democrats vowed to defund the Police Department , and this week , they partially made good on that pledge .
Jason Rantz of Seattle ’ s KTTH-AM reported the council met Monday to finalize the 2021 city budget , which included an 18 percent cut to the Police Department .
The council also decided to pursue having social workers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Rantz reported .
But shortly before that Monday meeting , a woman was stabbed to death at an apartment building .
Seattle officers arrested a 58-year-old man just before the council approved the 18 percent police budget cut .
In what is hopefully not a foreshadowing of events to come , the victim in the stabbing was herself a caseworker in Seattle , Rantz reported .
RELATED : Leftists Storm News Station for Daring To Report on Rioters Being Arrested It is doubtless that council members were horrified to learn that the woman @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , not unlike those they might have to respond to 911 calls .
Rantz reported that the Seattle Police Department is already dangerously understaffed .
An exodus of officers in recent months is expected to continue .
As was apparent in Monday ’ s stabbing death , killers don ’ t respect human life .
But many potential killers do respect the gun and badge of a police officer .
Defunding police agencies because of perceived racial bias and replacing trained and armed officers with social workers is as dumb as it sounds @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that rational people sit back and watch the slow-motion car crash continue .
The city ’ s residents might be in for a rude awakening with regard to the real-world consequences of such decisions .
We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism .
Read our editorial standards .

A Seattle social worker was stabbed to death Monday just hours before the city’s council decided to partially defund the police department and potentially replace some officers with social workers.
Seattle has become a slow-motion car crash, and nobody seems intent on getting out of the way or pumping the brakes.
That’s what happens when the inmates are running the asylum.
In the case of Washington’s largest city, the crazies are the Democrats whom residents elected to run the one-time gem of a community into the ground.
After Seattle allowed an entire neighborhood to be occupied by leftist activists in honor of George Floyd for an entire month this summer, the City Council and Mayor Jenny Durkan continued to turn their backs on police and enable lawlessness.
Democrats vowed to defund the Police Department, and this week, they partially made good on that pledge.
Jason Rantz of Seattle’s KTTH-AM reported the council met Monday to finalize the 2021 city budget, which included an 18 percent cut to the Police Department.
As homicides increase, the Seattle City Council is cutting the police budget by another 18%. https://t.co/y1AsMkzLf3 — (((Jason Rantz))) on KTTH Radio (@jasonrantz) November 25, 2020
The council also decided to pursue having social workers respond to some 911 crisis calls, Rantz reported.
But shortly before that Monday meeting, a woman was stabbed to death at an apartment building.
Seattle officers arrested a 58-year-old man just before the council approved the 18 percent police budget cut.
Another stabbing death in Seattle; suspect on loose. As police investigate, City Council debates how much more of the SPD budget they’ll cut. There was a last minute addition to cut $2 million *more* for 2021. This Council is out of touch and people will die because of it. https://t.co/39uqDVMFJN — (((Jason Rantz))) on KTTH Radio (@jasonrantz) November 23, 2020
In what is hopefully not a foreshadowing of events to come, the victim in the stabbing was herself a caseworker in Seattle, Rantz reported.
It is doubtless that council members were horrified to learn that the woman who was stabbed was a social worker, not unlike those they might have to respond to 911 calls.
Rantz reported that the Seattle Police Department is already dangerously understaffed. An exodus of officers in recent months is expected to continue.
As was apparent in Monday’s stabbing death, killers don’t respect human life. But many potential killers do respect the gun and badge of a police officer.
Defunding police agencies because of perceived racial bias and replacing trained and armed officers with social workers is as dumb as it sounds.
But leftists in Seattle are demanding that rational people sit back and watch the slow-motion car crash continue.
The city’s residents might be in for a rude awakening with regard to the real-world consequences of such decisions.
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westernjournal--2020-11-25--Op-Ed: 6 Things George Washington’s Thanksgiving Proclamation Urged Us To Be Thankful For

In the city of New York on the third day of October in the year of our Lord 1789 , George Washington presented the Thanksgiving Proclamation .
Both chambers of Congress requested him “ to recommend to the People of the United States a day of public thanksgiving and prayer to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many signal favors of Almighty God.
” But where are those grateful hearts here and now in the year of our Lord 2020 ?
Looking around the U.S. today , it seems that the mainstream media and the teaching in most @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hearts .
Rather , they have directed students to dwell exclusively on all they think is wrong with their country , with eyes and ears tightly shut to everything that is right and good within it .
Thanksgiving ’ s Focus Must Be Almighty God — Not the Almighty Providence of a Socialist State That very first Congress established Thanksgiving because “ it is the duty of all Nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God , to obey his will , to be grateful for his benefits , and humbly to implore @ @ @ @ @ @ @ many Americans today have no eye to their duty — only to their rights .
Some genuine rights , such as the right to life , have been perverted into spurious rights such as the “ right ” to abortion .
It is surely not the will of Almighty God that a mother abandon her natural duty to nurture and protect her unborn child so as to be able to commission the “ lawful ” killing of “ the infant stirring in the mother ’ s womb ” ( the Founders ’ term @ @ @ @ @ @ @ legal protection for the unborn . )
Too many people today fail to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God .
They respect only the almighty providence of a socialist government levying increased taxes to provide often dubious benefits , protections and favor .
Too many in their pride reject Almighty God , refuse to obey his will or be grateful for his benefits .
In their pride , they no longer have any capacity humbly to implore his protection and favor .
In short , they have no real understanding of the genuine @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ to be devoted by the People of these States to the service of that great and glorious Being , who is the beneficent Author of all the good that was , that is , or that will be — That we may then all unite in rendering unto him our sincere and humble thanks… ” RELATED : James Wilson : There 's an Easy Remedy for Our Oldest Sin Washington then set out some of the good things for which they , the people , were grateful : “ [ F ] @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the People of this Country previous to their becoming a Nation — for the signal and manifold mercies , and the favorable interpositions of his Providence which we experienced in the course and conclusion of the late war — for the great degree of tranquillity , union , and plenty , which we have since enjoyed — for the peaceable and rational manner , in which we have been enabled to establish constitutions of government for our safety and happiness , and particularly the national One now lately instituted — for the civil @ @ @ @ @ @ @ blessed ; and the means we have of acquiring and diffusing useful knowledge.
” Who today will make a bipartisan list of the things with which we are blessed ?
Humbleness — A Concept Accentuated Three Times in the Thanksgiving Proclamation In the short Thanksgiving Proclamation , George Washington and the first Congress were big on humbleness before God .
First came their prayer of humble petition : Recognizing “ the duty of all Nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God , ” they sought “ humbly to implore his protection and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ humble thanks : They recommended that Thanksgiving day be a day “ devoted by the People of these States ” to the service of God “ [ t ] hat we may then all unite in rendering unto him our sincere and humble thanks.
” Third came their humble prayer for pardon .
They sought to “ unite in most humbly offering our prayers and supplications to the great Lord and Ruler of Nations and beseech him to pardon our national and other transgressions.
” It takes humble hearts to ask for and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wiser from the searing tragedies , the loss of lives and the chaos of war , Washington and the Congress grasped this one very significant truth : When we humbly ask God ’ s pardon for our nation ’ s transgressions and our own personal transgressions , that pardon is given us .
It is God ’ s forgiveness that enables us to rise from the ashes of repentance and humbly to move on to do wise and good things in private life and in public for our families and for our nation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ gifted with the profound truth that it is our contrition that draws God ’ s pardon and restores our will to do good and avoid evil .
It is God ’ s forgiveness that is “ to enable us all , whether in public or private stations , to perform our several and relative duties properly and punctually — to render our national government a blessing to all the people , by constantly being a Government of wise , just , and constitutional laws , discreetly and faithfully executed and obeyed.
” Who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on grimly to resentment and bitter unforgiveness for old injustices against us or against others ?
And when God forgives us , who are we to demand or to proffer clumsy monetary “ compensations ” for the most grievous sins of the past ?
True contrition points us to righting the wrongs we are doing today .
Our sorrow and practical struggle must be concentrated on the current injustices that we can and must address right now in our hurting families and communities and in our troubled nation .
Indeed , where God @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and courage , a new incentive and ability to do good and great things in his world .
Washington and that first Congress got this right in their Thanksgiving Proclamation in which “ most humbly offering our prayers and supplications to the great Lord and Ruler of Nations , ” they beseeched him “ to protect and guide all Sovereigns and Nations ( especially such as have shewn kindness unto us ) and to bless them with good government , peace , and concord — To promote the knowledge and practice of true @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of science among them and us — and generally to grant unto all Mankind such a degree of temporal prosperity as he alone knows to be best.
” That ’ s a lot to think about .
So lift up grateful hearts and have a happy Thanksgiving !
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 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism .
Read our editorial standards .

In the city of New York on the third day of October in the year of our Lord 1789, George Washington presented the Thanksgiving Proclamation.
Both chambers of Congress requested him “to recommend to the People of the United States a day of public thanksgiving and prayer to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many signal favors of Almighty God.”
But where are those grateful hearts here and now in the year of our Lord 2020?
Looking around the U.S. today, it seems that the mainstream media and the teaching in most schools and colleges have not encouraged grateful hearts.
Rather, they have directed students to dwell exclusively on all they think is wrong with their country, with eyes and ears tightly shut to everything that is right and good within it.
Thanksgiving’s Focus Must Be Almighty God — Not the Almighty Providence of a Socialist State
That very first Congress established Thanksgiving because “it is the duty of all Nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey his will, to be grateful for his benefits, and humbly to implore his protection and favor.”
But too many Americans today have no eye to their duty — only to their rights. Some genuine rights, such as the right to life, have been perverted into spurious rights such as the “right” to abortion.
It is surely not the will of Almighty God that a mother abandon her natural duty to nurture and protect her unborn child so as to be able to commission the “lawful” killing of “the infant stirring in the mother’s womb” (the Founders’ term that was employed to recognize and explain legal protection for the unborn.)
Do you think Washington's words are important for us to hear today? Yes No
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Too many people today fail to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God. They respect only the almighty providence of a socialist government levying increased taxes to provide often dubious benefits, protections and favor.
Too many in their pride reject Almighty God, refuse to obey his will or be grateful for his benefits. In their pride, they no longer have any capacity humbly to implore his protection and favor.
In short, they have no real understanding of the genuine concept of Thanksgiving.
George Washington on Giving Thanks
Washington assigned Thanksgiving “to be devoted by the People of these States to the service of that great and glorious Being, who is the beneficent Author of all the good that was, that is, or that will be — That we may then all unite in rendering unto him our sincere and humble thanks…”
Washington then set out some of the good things for which they, the people, were grateful:
“[F]or his kind care and protection of the People of this Country previous to their becoming a Nation — for the signal and manifold mercies, and the favorable interpositions of his Providence which we experienced in the course and conclusion of the late war — for the great degree of tranquillity, union, and plenty, which we have since enjoyed — for the peaceable and rational manner, in which we have been enabled to establish constitutions of government for our safety and happiness, and particularly the national One now lately instituted — for the civil and religious liberty with which we are blessed; and the means we have of acquiring and diffusing useful knowledge.”
Who today will make a bipartisan list of the things with which we are blessed?
Humbleness — A Concept Accentuated Three Times in the Thanksgiving Proclamation
In the short Thanksgiving Proclamation, George Washington and the first Congress were big on humbleness before God.
First came their prayer of humble petition:
Recognizing “the duty of all Nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God,” they sought “humbly to implore his protection and favor.”
Second came their prayer of humble thanks:
They recommended that Thanksgiving day be a day “devoted by the People of these States” to the service of God “[t]hat we may then all unite in rendering unto him our sincere and humble thanks.”
Third came their humble prayer for pardon.
They sought to “unite in most humbly offering our prayers and supplications to the great Lord and Ruler of Nations and beseech him to pardon our national and other transgressions.”
It takes humble hearts to ask for and to accept forgiveness.
God’s Forgiveness “To Enable Us All”
Emerging shaken but wiser from the searing tragedies, the loss of lives and the chaos of war, Washington and the Congress grasped this one very significant truth: When we humbly ask God’s pardon for our nation’s transgressions and our own personal transgressions, that pardon is given us.
It is God’s forgiveness that enables us to rise from the ashes of repentance and humbly to move on to do wise and good things in private life and in public for our families and for our nation.
Washington and that first Congress were gifted with the profound truth that it is our contrition that draws God’s pardon and restores our will to do good and avoid evil.
It is God’s forgiveness that is “to enable us all, whether in public or private stations, to perform our several and relative duties properly and punctually — to render our national government a blessing to all the people, by constantly being a Government of wise, just, and constitutional laws, discreetly and faithfully executed and obeyed.”
And When God Forgives…
Who are we, then, to hold on grimly to resentment and bitter unforgiveness for old injustices against us or against others? And when God forgives us, who are we to demand or to proffer clumsy monetary “compensations” for the most grievous sins of the past?
True contrition points us to righting the wrongs we are doing today. Our sorrow and practical struggle must be concentrated on the current injustices that we can and must address right now in our hurting families and communities and in our troubled nation.
Indeed, where God has forgiven, there is new wisdom and courage, a new incentive and ability to do good and great things in his world.
Washington and that first Congress got this right in their Thanksgiving Proclamation in which “most humbly offering our prayers and supplications to the great Lord and Ruler of Nations,” they beseeched him “to protect and guide all Sovereigns and Nations (especially such as have shewn kindness unto us) and to bless them with good government, peace, and concord — To promote the knowledge and practice of true religion and virtue, and the encrease of science among them and us — and generally to grant unto all Mankind such a degree of temporal prosperity as he alone knows to be best.”
That’s a lot to think about. So lift up grateful hearts and have a happy Thanksgiving!
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
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westernjournal--2020-11-25--PA Judge Makes Major Decision That Halts Vote Certification

A Pennsylvania judge has ordered the state to temporarily stop any actions to certify its 2020 election results until Friday when the appellate court holds a hearing on a lawsuit seeking to void millions of potentially unconstitutional mail-in ballots .
Commonwealth Court Judge Patricia McCullough entered a preliminary order Wednesday granting an evidentiary hearing on a lawsuit that claims Pennsylvania ’ s October 2019 expansion of “ no-excuse ” mail-in voting “ violated the state constitution ’ s limits on who can cast an absentee ballot , ” Law360 reported .
The order said Pennsylvania should stop any further steps @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hearing is held .
“ To the extent that there remains any further action to perfect the certification of the results of the 2020 General Election ( the “ Election ” ) for the offices of President and Vice President of the United States of America , Respondents are preliminarily enjoined from doing so , pending an evidentiary hearing to be held on Friday , ” the order read .
“ Inasmuch as Respondents , based on their Press Release and briefs , have not undertaken certification of any of the other results @ @ @ @ @ @ @ enjoined from certifying the remaining results of the Election.
” The lawsuit was filed by a group of Pennsylvania Republicans , led by Rep. Mike Kelly and 2020 congressional candidate Sean Parnell , and seeks to toss out the major voting reform bill that was passed last year , according to Business Insider .
Attorneys for the state that passed the expanded voting bill argued the request to halt the certification of election results had come too late .
However , the challengers filed a supplemental application for emergency relief Tuesday night with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ help stop the certification , Law 360 reported .
“ Should it be absolutely necessary , in order for this court to be empowered to provide adequate relief , petitioners may seek for leave from this court to join the slate of presidential and vice presidential electors as additional respondents in this action , and move to enjoin them from taking certain action , ” the petition said .
“ Because the electors , by law , must perform their duties at the ‘ seat of government of this Commonwealth , ’ this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the electors to assemble at such location.
” According to Pennsylvania law , any voter can choose to vote by mail .
However , to qualify for an absentee ballot , Pennsylvania voters must provide a valid reason to request such a ballot .
Voters who qualify for an absentee ballot include college students , people whose work takes them away from the Municipality where they live , people with physical disability or illness , members of the military and people who may have a conflict due to a religious holiday .
Act @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in October 2019 , created no excuse mail-in voting for all Pennsylvania voters and a 50-day period for voters to request and submit these ballots .
According to the lawsuit , these ballots should be deemed “ unconstitutional ” because it overrides legal limitations on absentee voting .
“ Act 77 is the most expansive and fundamental change to the Pennsylvania voting code , implemented illegally , to date , ” the plaintiffs wrote .
“ [ It ] is another illegal attempt to override the limitations on absentee voting prescribed in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ necessary procedure to amend the constitution to allow for the expansion.
” We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism .
Read our editorial standards .

A Pennsylvania judge has ordered the state to temporarily stop any actions to certify its 2020 election results until Friday when the appellate court holds a hearing on a lawsuit seeking to void millions of potentially unconstitutional mail-in ballots.
Commonwealth Court Judge Patricia McCullough entered a preliminary order Wednesday granting an evidentiary hearing on a lawsuit that claims Pennsylvania’s October 2019 expansion of “no-excuse” mail-in voting “violated the state constitution’s limits on who can cast an absentee ballot,” Law360 reported.
The order said Pennsylvania should stop any further steps toward finalizing the election results until the hearing is held.
“To the extent that there remains any further action to perfect the certification of the results of the 2020 General Election (the “Election”) for the offices of President and Vice President of the United States of America, Respondents are preliminarily enjoined from doing so, pending an evidentiary hearing to be held on Friday,” the order read.
“Inasmuch as Respondents, based on their Press Release and briefs, have not undertaken certification of any of the other results of the Election, Respondents are preliminarily enjoined from certifying the remaining results of the Election.”
?BREAKING: Pennsylvania Court grants hearing in election integrity case challenging the constitutionality of Act 77 (mail-in ballots). pic.twitter.com/eHqtjnf4by — Jenna Ellis (@JennaEllisEsq) November 25, 2020
The lawsuit was filed by a group of Pennsylvania Republicans, led by Rep. Mike Kelly and 2020 congressional candidate Sean Parnell, and seeks to toss out the major voting reform bill that was passed last year, according to Business Insider.
Attorneys for the state that passed the expanded voting bill argued the request to halt the certification of election results had come too late. However, the challengers filed a supplemental application for emergency relief Tuesday night with alternative steps the court could take to help stop the certification, Law360 reported.
Do you think these ballots should be thrown out? Yes No
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“Should it be absolutely necessary, in order for this court to be empowered to provide adequate relief, petitioners may seek for leave from this court to join the slate of presidential and vice presidential electors as additional respondents in this action, and move to enjoin them from taking certain action,” the petition said.
“Because the electors, by law, must perform their duties at the ‘seat of government of this Commonwealth,’ this court may also enjoin respondents from permitting the electors to assemble at such location.”
According to Pennsylvania law, any voter can choose to vote by mail. However, to qualify for an absentee ballot, Pennsylvania voters must provide a valid reason to request such a ballot.
Voters who qualify for an absentee ballot include college students, people whose work takes them away from the Municipality where they live, people with physical disability or illness, members of the military and people who may have a conflict due to a religious holiday.
Act 77, which was signed into law in October 2019, created no excuse mail-in voting for all Pennsylvania voters and a 50-day period for voters to request and submit these ballots.
According to the lawsuit, these ballots should be deemed “unconstitutional” because it overrides legal limitations on absentee voting.
“Act 77 is the most expansive and fundamental change to the Pennsylvania voting code, implemented illegally, to date,” the plaintiffs wrote.
“[It] is another illegal attempt to override the limitations on absentee voting prescribed in the Pennsylvania Constitution, without first following the necessary procedure to amend the constitution to allow for the expansion.”
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