theblaze--2020-01-23--GOP senators unimpressed with Schiff team's impeachment arguments, say case is being made to call Hu

GOP senators unimpressed with Schiff team's impeachment arguments, say case is being made to call Hunter Biden as a witness

GOP senators unimpressed with Schiff team 's impeachment arguments , say case is being made to call Hunter Biden as @ @ @ @ @ not really hearing much new information '

Instead of convincing Republicans of his case for impeaching President Donald Trump, lead House impeachment manager Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) is making more of a case to call Hunter Biden as a trial witness, Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah) said Thursday.
When asked whether or not House impeachment managers were changing any minds among Senate Republicans, Lee told Blaze Media in a statement, "The only thing Schiff is convincing Republican Senators of is that if we do hear from witnesses, we absolutely must hear from Hunter Biden."
And Lee isn't alone in his belief that the House's impeachment team hasn't done that much to sway Republican opinion in the upper chamber so far.
On Wednesday, House Democrats' team of impeachment managers began giving their opening arguments in the Senate's trial, having 24 hours over a three-day period to make their case. On Thursday, Sen. Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) told the Washington Times that her GOP colleagues were wondering when the House Democrats would get around to showing them the "overwhelming evidence" they supposedly had.
"It's like it is on repeat," Ersnt told the newspaper. "I keep hearing the same message coming from the House members and I am still waiting to hear their overwhelming evidence."
Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.) concurred with Ernst in the same story, saying, "I'm looking for a bombshell, I just haven't heard it."
When asked about whether or not the House managers arguments were changing any minds, Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) had a similar response to Ernst's and Scott's.
"I can't speak for anybody else but I'm not really hearing much new information," Johnson told a small group of reporters in the basement of the Capitol Building. "There's a little bit more detail, but not a lot of new information."
When asked about Schiff's ability to sell an impeachment message to Republicans in particular, Sen. Mike Braun (R-Ind.) said that he might possible be able to convince some on questions of process — i.e., whether or not witnesses needed to be called later — but that Schiff's partisan image might get in the way of him being able to do much else in that regard.
"I think Adam Schiff would be part and parcel of the group that has been so traumatized by President Trump making it through in '16 and clearly that's what motivates him," Braun said.
In somewhat of a contrast to his colleagues' critiques, Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) said at a Thursday news conference that he thought that the impeachment managers had done "a good job of taking bits and pieces of the evidence and creating a quilt of it."
He cautioned, however, that "the other side gets to talk and see if they can pull a thread here and pull a thread there and see if it holds up."
Over on the other side of the aisle, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) took issue with Republicans' criticisms about not hearing new information during the arguments, saying that they could have voted with Democrats earlier in the week on resolutions to ensure new witnesses and documents to be brought into the trial as evidence.
"If they want new stuff," Schumer contended, "there's plenty of it."


theblaze--2020-01-23--Megyn Kelly has egg on her face after criticizing Robert Downey Jr.'s use of blackface in 'Tropic Th

Megyn Kelly has egg on her face after criticizing Robert Downey Jr.'s use of blackface in 'Tropic Thunder'

Megyn Kelly has egg on her face after criticizing Robert Downey Jr. 's use of blackface in 'Tropic Thunder '

Editor's note: The piece that was originally contained here rested on the erroneous assertion that Universal Studios was not involved in the production or release of the movie "Tropic Thunder." Although Paramount was the principal United States production company for the movie, Universal was involved in the international distribution of the film and part of the film was filmed at Universal Studios. We have accordingly removed this piece and apologize to Ms. Kelly for the error.


theblaze--2020-01-23--CNN analyst completely fabricates story about GOP senators being ‘up s**t’s creek’ over Schiff impea

CNN analyst completely fabricates story about GOP senators being ‘up s**t’s creek’ over Schiff impeachment evidence

CNN analyst completely fabricates story about GOP senators being ‘ up s**t ’ s creek ’ over Schiff impeachment evidence

WTF MSM!? is a newsletter that puts a dose of sunlight on the mainstream media and exposes how the media twist facts, selectively report, and outright lie to advance their left-wing agenda. You can sign up for the WTF MSM!? newsletter here.
Former Clinton White House press secretary and current CNN paid contributor Joe Lockhart completely fabricated a story about overhearing GOP senators lamenting impeachment evidence from Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) Wednesday. Once again, someone with CNN has been caught making something up out of thin air.
The Daily Caller reported on Lockhart's tweet describing an "overheard convo between two Republican Senators who only watch Fox News." Lockhart continued with a fictional quote from the completely fabricated conversation, "'is this stuff real? I haven't heard any of this before. I thought it was all about a server. If half the stuff Schiff is saying is true, we're up shit's creek. Hope the White House has exculpatory evidence.'"
That tweet has received 10,000 retweets as of early Thursday afternoon. Lockhart fessed up less than 10 minutes later, tweeting, "Ok maybe I made up the convo, but you know that's exactly what they're thinking."
That tweet has received 1,200 retweets as of Thursday afternoon.
This is a textbook example of people associated with the media making things up out of thin air. This goes beyond fake news; it's fabricated news of the type former CBS anchor Dan Rather was fired for after the 2004 presidential election.
Which brings us to Rather fanboy and CNN media critic/cheerleader Brian Stelter. For a person so concerned about fake news that he's leading an HBO documentary on it, Stelter has been quiet about his colleague's fabrication.
Nothing people associated with CNN do is surprising any more.
Links …
You can sign up to receive the WTF MSM!? newsletter here.


theblaze--2020-01-23--Pigs, squirrels, and other alleged 'emotional support' animals may be getting the official boot from

Pigs, squirrels, and other alleged 'emotional support' animals may be getting the official boot from airplane passenger cabins — finally

Pigs , squirrels , and other alleged 'emotional support ' animals may be getting the official boot from airplane passenger @ @ @ @ @ of Noah 's Ark in the air are hopefully coming to an end '

The oddball stories have been hitting the news with regularity over the last few years: "Emotional support" animals — everything from squirrels to pigs — find their way aboard airline flights and inevitably cause chaos, delays, and even injuries.
But that all may be officially coming to an end, NBC News reported.
What are the details?
The Transportation Department has proposed rules that would prohibit all manner of creatures that certain passengers carry aboard flights as service animals or emotional-support animals, often to skirt around a $125 pet fee, the network noted.
Instead only specially trained dogs would be allowed to fly under the "service animal" designation, NBC News said.
More from the network:
While insisting that it "recognizes the integral role that service animals play in the lives of many individuals with disabilities," the Transportation Department said in a statement that its proposed rule is aimed at "reducing the likelihood that passengers wishing to travel with their pets on aircraft will be able to falsely claim their pets are service animals."
An approved service animal would be defined as a "dog that is individually trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of a person with a disability."
In addition, NBC News said the proposed new rules would let airlines prohibit travelers from flying with emotional-support cats, pigs, and rabbits — as well as limit the number of service animals traveling with a single person to two and require that an animal "fit within its handler's foot space."
'The days of Noah's Ark in the air are hopefully coming to an end'
Sara Nelson, president of the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA, welcomed the proposed new rules, telling NBC News that flight attendants have been injured by pets let "loose in the cabin."
"The days of Noah's Ark in the air are hopefully coming to an end," she noted to the network. "Passengers claiming pets as emotional support animals have threatened the safety and health of passengers and crew in recent years while this practice skyrocketed. Untrained pets should never roam free in the aircraft cabin."
More from NBC News:
In recent years, the Transportation Department has seen the number of passenger complaints about unruly service animals on domestic and foreign airlines skyrocket from 719 in 2013 to 3,065 in 2018.
But there was little the Transportation Department could do, because, under the current rules, airlines are required to "recognize service animals regardless of species with exceptions for certain unusual species of service animals such as snakes, other reptiles, ferrets, rodents, and spiders."
The station said United, Southwest, Delta, and American have reportedly already limited emotional-support animals in cabins to dogs and cats in most cases after passengers complained. In 2018, Jet Blue banned animals with tusks, spiders, rodents, insects, reptiles, hedgehogs, snakes, ferrets, and sugar gliders from its planes under an emotional-support animal policy.
Anything else?
You may remember way back in 2014 when an airline passenger was allowed to bring an emotional-support pig aboard a flight — until the pig began squealing and defecating in the aisle.
"We could smell it and it was a pig on a leash," a fellow passenger aboard the U.S. Airways flight said. "She tethered it to the armrest next to me and started to deal with her stuff, but the pig was walking back and forth."
Another passenger remarked about the pig: "I was terrified."
Flight attendants eventually asked the animal's owner to exit the cabin, and the owner reportedly did so before takeoff without incident.


theblaze--2020-01-23--Feminist writer complains that men who refuse to date 'woke' women contribute to the radicalization

Feminist writer complains that men who refuse to date 'woke' women contribute to the radicalization of terrorists

Feminist writer complains that men who refuse to date 'woke ' women contribute to the radicalization of terrorists

Feminist writer Vicky Spratt says that men avoiding a romantic interest in "woke" women is helping to usher in the radicalization of terrorists.
Indulge us, please
In an article published on Refinery29, Spratt voices her concern over British actor Laurence Fox, who caught the ire of many feminists and leftists after saying that there is no such thing as "white privilege," and that the United Kingdom was not an inherently racist nation.
In one of Fox's most recent interviews, he discussed dating and revealed that he will not date "woke" women who want nothing more than to affect justice in the social sector.
In an article titled, "The Dangerous Rise Of Men Who Won't Date 'Woke' Women" Spratt says that Fox's ideals are dangerous, and part of a larger, more insidious trend that is bent on radicalizing terrorists across the globe.
"[Fox] ... does not date 'woke' women who he believes are being taught that they are 'victims,' irrespective of whether they are right or not," she complains.
Spratt later adds, "There's nothing funny about the things Fox — or 'Wokey McWokeface' as he know wants to be known — is saying. It's also not particularly sad. It's dangerous. He is just one very privileged man, and as a result of said privilege, has been given a platform."
She continued, "He has used that platform to legitimize a bigger backlash against diversity and progress, which is unfolding every single day in less public corners of the internet."
Spratt's examples for how such behaviors manifest in men around the world? The El Paso, Texas, and Christchurch, New Zealand, mass killings.
"Spend an afternoon on any major dating app and you'll come across (generally white) men saying openly sexist and misogynistic things," Spratt complains.
What else?
Spratt also points out that online dating is just one arena that also highlights a "hostility towards feminism is feeding directly into far-right movements online."
Spratt says the far right is "capitalizing" on Fox's sentiments and "turning him into an icon."
"He has added to their backlash and given it oxygen," she says. "Every time he is invited onto a TV or radio show to talk about it, that oxygen will cause the backlash to burn hotter and faster, irrespective of whether we're watching or not. It's important not to trivialize this anti-woke, anti-women backlash. In the end, it's only by paying attention to it that we can understand it and do something about it."


theblaze--2020-01-23--Billy Graham's daughter shares how she finds 'triumph in ... the darkest places'

Billy Graham 's daughter shares how she finds 'triumph in ... the darkest places '

Anne Graham Lotz has faced a difficult journey over the past few years. After losing her husband in 2015 and then her father — the famed evangelist Billy Graham — in 2018, she was diagnosed with breast cancer.
It was a harrowing journey filled with painful treatments that left Lotz, author of the new book, "Jesus In Me: Experiencing the Holy Spirit as a Constant Companion," with spiritual and physical challenges — and life-altering lessons.
(Read also: Watch Thousands of TV Shows and Movies With Your Free Trial)
"I have experienced triumph in some of the darkest places," she recently told "The Pure Flix Podcast." "And I know it's because of the Holy Spirit."
Listen to Lotz share her cancer journey and her incredible faith:
Lotz, who recently completed cancer treatments, recounted learning about her diagnosis and how she initially struggled to tell her family.
The Bible teacher, who has inspired millions, suddenly found herself face-to-face with a battle that held the power to deeply challenge her faith, but she persisted.
"It was my next assignment so to speak, but I didn't know how to tell my family," she said. "I felt like God had this in his hands too — that it was part of His purpose for me."
Lotz found a way to tell her family what was going on and started treatments. Along the way, she said it was her faith in God, Jesus — and the Holy Spirit that sustained her.
(Read also: Billy Graham's Grandson Breaks Down The Best 'Proof Of God')
"Every day God blessed me," she said, noting that she profoundly struggled with chemo treatments. "I felt lifted and carried through this whole experience. I sense the presence of the Lord."
And she has a message for anyone else who might not currently have a close relationship with God.
"Don't wait until you have a crisis to establish [a] relationship with God," she said, urging people to "come to the cross by faith." "When a crisis happens, there's no time for that."
As for her own journey, Lotz said she believes she's been healed by God, but no matter what happens in the future, her faith rests in Him.
"I'm not afraid to die," she said.
(Read also: Top 12 Christian Movies: Must-See Films About Famous Christians)
Lotz also spoke about her book, "Jesus in Me" and the power of the Holy Spirit — something that might not be overtly discussed in some churches and Christian circles.
"The Holy Spirit is Jesus invisible — He's present in us," she said. "When we put our faith in Jesus ... he comes in in the person of the Holy Spirit [and is] ... Jesus living inside of me in spirit form."
Read more about "Jesus In Me: Experiencing the Holy Spirit as a Constant Companion."
This article was originally published on Pure Flix Insider. Visit Pure Flix for access to thousands of faith and family-friendly movies and TV shows. You can get a free trial here.


theblaze--2020-01-23--Aaron Rodgers' family reportedly very unhappy with star quarterback's remarks about religion

Aaron Rodgers ' family reportedly very unhappy with star quarterback 's remarks about religion

The family of Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers is reportedly "dismayed" over remarks their son made during a recent podcast.
The podcast, hosted by Rodgers' girlfriend, former race car driver Danika Patrick, heard Rodgers, 36, hit out against religion and God.
What are the details?
The family, which is described as deeply Christian, are reportedly unhappy with the NFL player's remarks.
During an exchange on Patrick's "Pretty Intense" podcast, Rodgers said, "I don't know how you can believe in a God who wants to condemn most of the planet to a fiery hell. What type of loving, sensitive, omnipresent, omnipotent being wants to condemn his beautiful creation to a fiery hell at the end of all this?"
Rodgers explained that religion can be a "crutch," and pointed it out as a tool that some people use in order to "make themselves feel better."
"Because it's set up binary — it's us and them, saved and unsaved, heaven and hell — it's enlightened and heathen, it's holy and righteous ... that makes a lot of people feel better about themselves," he reasoned.
As for Rodgers, he says that he leans on a "different type of spirituality," but did not elaborate on that particular remark.
www.youtube.com
According to People, the Rodgers family was "dismayed" over their family member's remarks.
The New York Times reports that Rodgers has been estranged from his family for at least five years. You can read more on the allegations about the Rodgers' family's background here.
"The family is very dedicated to their Christian faith," a source told the outlet. "To them, his comments are basically a slap in the face to the fundamentals of who they are. It's basically him turning his back on everything they taught him. The feeling is that Aaron has really turned his back on them. There's clearly a lot more to it, but that's how he is perceived by his family."
Calling Rodgers' remarks as "very hurtful to the family," the source added that there will always be love for the NFL star.
The source pointed out that the family has "times where things start to thaw out, but then something like this happens, and then it's back to square one."


theblaze--2020-01-23--Debunked ‘by who’? Graham pushes back on Democrats' talking points about Biden-Ukraine allegations i

Debunked ‘by who’? Graham pushes back on Democrats' talking points about Biden-Ukraine allegations in impeachment trial

Debunked ‘ by who ’ ?
Graham pushes back on Democrats ' talking points about Biden-Ukraine allegations in impeachment trial @ @ @ @ @ test to me '

Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) pushed back against Democrats' claims that the concerns of corruption surrounding the Bidens and the Ukrainian energy company Burisma have somehow been debunked, despite a number of questions that still remain unanswered.
"I don't know how many times it was said by the managers that the Biden conflict-of-interest allegations has been debunked and has been, there's no scintilla of evidence in terms of conflicts of interest and potential wrongdoing," Graham told reporters on Thursday.
"I know a lot about the Trump family and their dealings in Russia," the senator continued. "I don't know anything about the Biden connection to the Ukraine. So when the managers tell me this has been looked at and debunked — by who?"
In a break from the trial the day before, Graham tweeted critically about impeachment manager Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) claiming that the Biden-Burisma concerns had been debunked.
Graham explained that the issue was "becoming relevant" amid the Senate's trial because the House impeachment managers "talked about it almost 50 times that the president had no reason to believe that anything improper occurred in the Ukraine with the Bidens and he was just out to create a political advantage."
Graham questioned whether or not those talking points would hold up to scrutiny.
"The point of fact is that nobody, particularly in your business, has done much looking at what happened in the Ukraine with Hunter Biden," Graham said to the media, adding that they would "hear more about that and I'll tell you more tomorrow."
Graham then went through a brief chronology of events in the Ukraine, which included the timeline of how Hunter Biden came to work as a board member at Burisma while his father, then-Vice President Joe Biden, was handling Ukraine policy for the Obama administration, and how a top prosecutor investigating the case was fired. In 2018, the elder Biden described how he pressured the former Ukrainian president to fire the prosecutor.
The series of events "doesn't pass the smell test to me" Graham said. "Why are you paying Hunter Biden? You can say they're corrupt, but they're not stupid."
Graham explained that he made the remarks in order to get the public "to understand that the claims they're making — that there's no 'there' there in the Bidens" that "nobody's looked; somebody should."
Graham — who heads up the Senate Judiciary Committee — is one of a trio of Senate committee chairman who have been looking into the questions of Hunter Biden's Ukrainian business dealings since late last year.
And after looking into the matter himself, the South Carolina senator said that he has "a lot of questions." For example, "Were they buying insurance by hiring Hunter Biden? Because they sure as hell weren't buying expertise."
However, despite his stated desire to get to the bottom of what really went on in the Biden-Burisma matter, Graham said he would not vote to call Hunter Biden as an impeachment trial witness.
"There are a bunch of people on my side who want to call Joe Biden and Hunter Biden" to testify in the trial, Graham said. "I want to end this thing sooner rather than later; I don't want to turn it into a circus."


theblaze--2020-01-23--Bank calls cops on black man who tried to deposit checks from racial discrimination lawsuit settleme

Bank calls cops on black man who tried to deposit checks from racial discrimination lawsuit settlement Now he 's suing @ @ @ @

A black man went to his bank to deposit settlement checks from a recent racial discrimination lawsuit against his former employer. But a bank employee thought the checks were fraudulent and called the police on him, according to the Detroit Free Press.
Sauntore Thomas received three checks from Enterprise Leasing Company of Detroit. The amounts were $59,000, $27,000, and $13,000. He wanted to deposit the two larger ones, and cash the third, smaller check.
When Thomas arrived at the TCF Bank in Livonia, Michigan, he was helped by assistant branch manager Erika Mack. He made his request to deposit the checks, get some cash, and open a new savings account.
Mack asked where he got the money, and he told her about the lawsuit settlement. She then went to a back room of the bank, supposedly to call and verify the validity of the checks. In reality, she was calling the police and reporting Thomas for attempting to deposit fraudulent checks.
Four officers arrived at the bank to handle the situation. Two came into the lobby, two stayed by the entrance. Thomas explained the situation to them and put them in contact with his lawyer. The bank refused to process the transactions still, even when presented with documentation of the lawsuit.
Thomas was not arrested or charged, although TCF Bank filed a police report. He closed his TCF accounts, then took the checks to a Chase bank, opened a new account, and deposited the checks with no issue, getting access to his money within 12 hours. He bought a 2004 Dodge truck so he would no longer have to walk to work as he had previously been doing.
He has also sued TCF Bank for racial discrimination.
"I didn't deserve treatment like that when I knew that the check was not fraudulent," Thomas told the Free Press. "I'm a United States veteran. I have an honorable discharge from the Air Force. They discriminated against me because I'm black. None of this would have happened if I were white."
TCF Bank denies any discrimination, claiming they were unable to contact Enterprise to verify the validity of the checks, and also claiming that the checks had a "void" watermark on them. Thomas and his lawyer, Deborah Gordon, challenge that claim with the fact he was easily able to deposit them at Chase.
"The checks have never been consider fraudulent, they are proceeds against a settlement written on a check from a large, United States corporation that I received from a major law firm, no one is issuing fraudulent checks," Gordon said. "This whole thing is insane."


theblaze--2020-01-23--LIVE VIDEO: Adam Schiff's team tries for a second day to make their case in the Trump impeachment tr

LIVE VIDEO: Adam Schiff's team tries for a second day to make their case in the Trump impeachment trial

LIVE VIDEO : Adam Schiff 's team tries for a second day to make their case in the Trump impeachment @ @ @ @ @ of a flop

Democratic House impeachment managers are set to begin their second day of presenting the House's case in the Senate impeachment trial of President Donald Trump. The trial resumes at 1 p.m. ET. You can watch a live feed of the proceedings below once they begin.
Lead House manager Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) and his team began laying out the case against Trump Wednesday. Democrats contend that the president abused his power by trying to have the Ukrainian government influence the U.S. 2020 elections by getting them to investigate Democratic presidential front-runner former Vice President Joe Biden and his son, Hunter Biden. They also maintain that Trump obstructed Congress by ignoring or blocking subpoenas.
No new evidence or witnesses were introduced into the presentation due to the rules governing the trial.
Under the trial's organizing resolution, the House managers will have 24 hours over three days to present their case. After that time is used, the president's team will have 24 hours to make their defense.
After both sides have made their cases, senators will have 16 hours to submit questions to both the House managers and the president's defense team.
Following the time for questions, the Senate will decide whether to seek more documents from the administration or call witnesses.
Off the Senate floor, Democrats were reportedly discussing the possibility of a witness swap. Democrats toyed with the idea of letting Republicans call Hunter Biden, or maybe even Joe Biden, as a witness if they could call former national security adviser John Bolton. However, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) put the kibosh on that potential deal Wednesday.


theblaze--2020-01-23--Dad who paid for daughter's education confronts Warren over student loan forgiveness: 'Can I have my

Dad who paid for daughter's education confronts Warren over student loan forgiveness: 'Can I have my money back?'

Dad who paid for daughter 's education confronts Warren over student loan forgiveness : 'Can I have my money back @ @

Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) has a plan to cancel some or all student loan debt for nearly all borrowers in America. That might sound good to those who can't pay the bill, but one father who worked and saved to pay for his daughter's college education wants a refund.
The father confronted Warren during a campaign event this week to call her out on the negative aspect of her plan — it rewards people who were financially irresponsible, and it punishes those who avoided racking up overwhelming student loan debt.
"My daughter is in school. I saved all my money just to pay student loans," the man tells Warren. "Can I have my money back?"
"Of course not," Warren replies quickly.
"So you're going to pay for people who didn't save any money, and those of us that did the right thing get screwed?" the dad shot back.
It's difficult to hear what Warren says in response, but it clearly doesn't satisfy the man.
"My buddy had fun, bought a car, went on vacation," the man said. "I saved my money. He made more than I did. I worked a double shift working to get extra money."
"You're laughing at me," the man accuses Warren, who denied it. "That's exactly what you're doing. We did the right thing, and we get screwed."
He then walked away from the conversation.
Warren's plan would cancel up to $50,000 in student loan debt for everyone with a household income under $100,000, and provide "substantial" debt cancellation for households earning between $100,000 and $250,000. Canceled debt would not be taxed as income.
Households earning more than $250,000 would not be eligible for any student loan debt cancellation. She plans to fund the cancellation through an "Ultra-Millionaire" tax on families with at least $50 million in net worth.


theblaze--2020-01-23--'Conservative' drag queen blasts 'woke' parents as 'extremely irresponsible' for taking their childr

'Conservative' drag queen blasts 'woke' parents as 'extremely irresponsible' for taking their children to Drag Queen Story Hours

'Conservative ' drag queen blasts 'woke ' parents as 'extremely irresponsible ' for taking their children to Drag Queen Story @ @ @ @ @ child to be just a normal , regular , everyday child without including them in @ @ @ @ @

A self-proclaimed "conservative" drag queen by the name of Kitty Demure has uttered a video declaration that just might send leftists in love with Drag Queen Story Hour phenomenon over the edge.
In short, Demure told "heterosexual women" that they are "extremely, extremely irresponsible" for taking their kids to the story hours, which feature men dressed as women with full-on glitter makeup reading stories to their kids in public libraries and bookstores. Here's a video example:
youtu.be
What else did Kitty Demure say?
"I have no idea why you want drag queens to read books to your children," he noted in the clip. "I have no idea. What in the hell has a drag queen ever done to make you have so much respect for them and admire them so much, other than put on make-up and jump on the floor and writhe around and do sexual things onstage?"
TheBlaze last year reported on photos of children lying on top of a drag queen at a "storytime" event at an Oregon public library:
Image source: Facebook, redacted
He added, "I have absolutely no idea why you would want that to influence your child. Would you want a stripper or a porn star to influence your child?"
Who can forget the drag queen teaching little kids to "twerk"?
youtu.be
Demure reminded such moms that drag queens perform in adult venues, and "there is a lot of filth that goes on, a lot of sexual stuff that goes on. And backstage there's a lot of nudity, sex, and drugs, OK? So I don't think that this is an avenue you would want your child to explore."
Underscoring his message, Demure said he realizes that such moms — and by extension dads, who also have been documented in attendance at Drag Queen Story Hours — want to come across as "with it" and "cool" and "woke" and prove that they're "not a Nazi" and "not a homophobe."
"But you can raise your child to be just a normal regular everyday child without including them in gay, sexual things," he added.
Here's the clip:
youtu.be
Harmful to the gay community
Demure also noted that such parents likely believe they're giving a hand up to the gay community by taking their children to Drag Queen Story Hours — but he said that's far from the case.
"You're not doing the gay community any favors; in fact, you're hurting us, OK?" Demure explained. "We've already had a reputation for being pedophiles and being perverts and deviants. We don't need you to bring your children around, so you keep your kids at home or take them to Disneyland or take them to Chuck E. Cheese — but if you need your child to be entertained by a big human in a costume or in make-up, take them to the circus or something."
He concluded, "Don't ruin your child's life and don't ruin us, because that's what you're doing."
More on Kitty Demure
Demure frequently speaks out on Twitter regarding her conservative stances on Drag Queen Story Hours and other topics:


theblaze--2020-01-23--Schiff claims that if President Trump is not removed from office by impeachment, Americans can't tru

Schiff claims that if President Trump is not removed from office by impeachment, Americans can't trust the results of the 2020 election

Schiff claims that if President Trump is not removed from office by impeachment , Americans ca n't trust the results @ @ @ @ @ can not be assured that the vote will be fairly won '

During opening arguments of the Senate's impeachment trial on Wednesday, lead House manager Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) said that, without impeachment, Americans would not be able to trust the outcome of the 2020 presidential election.
"The House did not take this extraordinarily step lightly," Schiff told the Senate of the decision to impeach President Donald Trump. "Impeachment exists for cases in which the conduct of the president rises beyond mere policy disputes to be decided otherwise, and without urgency at the ballot box."
Schiff then accused President Trump of "an attempt to use the powers of the presidency to cheat in an election" in the dealings with Ukrainian officials described in the House's impeachment articles.
"For precisely this reason, the president's misconduct cannot be decided at the ballot box, for we cannot be assured that the vote will be fairly won," Schiff added.
"In corruptly using his office to gain a political advantage," Schiff continued, "in abusing the powers of that office in such a way to jeopardize our national security and the integrity of our elections, in obstructing the investigation into his own wrongdoing, the president has shown that he believes that he is above the law."
Last month, the House approved two articles of impeachment against President Trump, one accusing him of abusing the power of his office with the suspension of military aid to Ukraine in order to pressure the Ukrainian government to investigate former Vice President Joe Biden and his son Hunter's business dealings in Ukraine, and the other accusing him of obstructing Congress' investigation into the former matter.
Schiff also pushed back on the idea that the House's obstruction claims — which stem from the White House's refusal to cooperate on providing witnesses and documents the investigation — should be decided in the courts because the time necessary for litigation "would provide the president with an opportunity to continue his misconduct."
Elsewhere in his remarks, Schiff said that if Trump were not convicted by the Senate and removed from office over the impeachment articles, the "abuse of his office and obstruction of Congress will permanently alter the balance of power among our branches of government."
Schiff's remarks Wednesday about the legitimacy of the upcoming election echo comments he made in December when he said, "The president's misconduct goes to the heart of whether we can conduct a free and fair election in 2020."


theblaze--2020-01-23--Ryan: Joe Biden, born to Wing Ding

Ryan: Joe Biden, born to Wing Ding

This is his scene in Iowa

Along the walkway off the dance floor of the Surf Ballroom in Clear Lake, Iowa, men in funny little black hats waved signs that said, "QUIET PLEASE." An order that nobody even tried to follow.
You know that feeling? Like when you're at a football game on a Friday night and the entire county is dark except the stadium, because everyone for miles is there. Or when your favorite team wins the greatest honor they are able to win. Or when you walk through Times Square for the first time, and all the approaching pedestrians seems like salmon leaping upstream.
For reference, I was in Spain in 2010, when Spain's men's soccer team won the World Cup for the first time in the country's history. I have gotten caught on the streets in Germany and Spain during riots. I have been to lots of concerts.
Yet I was puzzled by the energy inside the Surf Ballroom that Saturday night in early August, for the Iowa Democratic Wing Ding.
The way people's faces grimaced or fists clenched or eyes bulged, and how they skipped around the outside of the dance floor like you would at a decent skating rink, and it was the first time in the campaign that I thought, "Now what in the hell is this about?"
*
The ballroom had the muffled feel of an old comedy club, the kind of setting built for music and dancing like they did in the 1940s, or earlier. So everything, every sound, felt close. And warm, like a worn LP album through some giant old speakers. So far, it was the closest a Democratic rally had felt to electric.
Chaos. Wild. Wild! The place erupted as Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) strutted offstage. At the bottom of the stairs, former Vice President Joe Biden shifted from foot to foot, surrounded by a small entourage, all wearing "Biden 2020" T-shirts.
Nearly as wild and transfixing as a Donald Trump rally. Which is maybe why everyone was so fired up. Like they were practicing a mean face in the mirror before they use it in a fight.
For this very reason, it felt more like a high school dance than a major rally featuring 20 of the 2020 Democratic presidential candidates, all in one place for the first time in who knows how long, as they vied for their chance to rule the world. Traditionally, that dream is ended in Iowa, by forfeit or defeat or preemptive removal.
Nonetheless, these were some powerful people. And one will become the Democratic candidate for president, then possibly president, for 2020-24 — at least. Or the next one.
Any one of them could become president down the line. Or any number of indispensable positions. Five years is a long time in America, and nobody knows what's next.
But, for these candidates, future elections did not currently matter. What mattered were the media and the public. The locals.
Iowa is traditionally the Everyman State. Come to them with a solution that they can believe in, and they'll side with you.
Do they care about the middle parts of this country, all that land between the oceans? How do they shape up as a person, as a potential boss? If they get the job, will they care about rural America? Can they shake a hand? Can they look you in the eyes? Can they leave the room and you feel their absence? How are the media reacting to them? Do they have a condescending tone? Are they putting on an act?
In Iowa, the candidates bring their answers directly to the voter, like door-to-door salesmen or traveling magicians.
Spectacle? You bet.
Pageantry? Big time.
In 2015, then-candidate Trump flew above the State Fair in a private helicopter, circling the stage as Democratic front-runner Hillary Clinton gave her speech at the Political Soapbox. A lot of Iowans liked that. Many still do.
MSNBC: "A political Willy Wonka, Trump offered rides in his helicopter, which landed at a nearby baseball field, to randomly selected handfuls of Iowa children. 'Come here,' he said to the kids. 'Does anyone want to take a ride? It's nice, right? . . . Who wants to go first?' "
Trump, they reported, "was out of his element here but undoubtedly in command."
*
Most of the audience had their candidate T-shirts on. There were candidate badges, too. And lawn signs. Banners. Bumper stickers.
A Springsteen song blasted through the speakers, a little too loud, almost clipping. The song riled Biden.
In his navy blue suit he gripped the podium from each side. An American flag tassel hung limply over the top. Biden's eyes prowled for each person. A dual-frame mic stand held up two microphones. As backdrop, an American flag stretched two stories high and ran the length of the stage, nearly as big as the one at the Presidential Gun Sense forum.
Muscled and tattooed, men in bright yellow shirts that said "SECURITY" stood watch behind metal barriers. Can-lights shone down on the stage at various angles, held up by metal braces and elaborate rigging, a giant shining skeleton. At each side of the stage were six pole-mounted speakers in trapezoidal plywood cabinets.
The walls were a dark blue, like ocean at night, accented by the white pillars that divided the dance floor from the walkways and the bars and the restrooms and the museum with so many signed guitars.
Rows of booths flanked the back, on this occasion occupied by journalists, huddles of them, turning each booth into a copse of wire and plugs and paper and computers. In front of them, a pathway to the bar that was always busy, all of it was, everywhere, then a line of cameras divided by a green railing. And men in funny little hats expected people to listen?
"Presidents," Biden said, "the words they say matter."
New installments come Mondays and Thursdays. Check out my Twitter. Email me at kryan@blazemedia.com


theblaze--2020-01-23--Bernie Sanders takes heat for previous comparisons of Vermont workers to African slaves

Bernie Sanders takes heat for previous comparisons of Vermont workers to African slaves ' ... how far have we really @ @ @ @ @ slavery '

Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) continues to endure a series of unflattering reports about past words and beliefs, with the latest coming from the Daily Beast, which reported that in the 1970s, Sanders repeatedly compared Vermont workers to African slaves.
In 1976, when Sanders was the gubernatorial nominee of the Liberty Union Party in Vermont, he railed against a decision by private owners of Vermont Marble, a mining company, to sell to a Swiss conglomerate without the consent of employees.
"We believe ultimately that companies like Vermont Marble should be owned by the workers themselves and that workers — not a handful of owners — should be determining policy," Sanders said, according to media reports obtained by the Daily Beast. "If a worker at Vermont Marble has no say about who owns the company he works for and that major changes can take place without his knowledge and consent, how far have we really advanced from the days of slavery, when black people were sold to different owners without their consent?"
The next year, Sanders was the chairman of the Liberty Union Party after losing the governor's race and earning only 6 percent of the vote. He was critical of Vermont's growing service industry, and again used a slavery comparison to describe service industry workers.
"How can a worker be happy with his or her job when he or she has no control over that job?" Sanders asked in a 1977 interview. "The problem comes when we end up with an entire state of people trained to wait on other people. ... basically, today, Vermont workers remain slaves in many, many ways."
One of the primary weaknesses of Sanders' campaign in 2016 was his inability to attract support from black voters. He is regularly criticized for viewing racial inequality through a purely economic lens, rather than acknowledging the historical and cultural factors that contribute to the problem.
Sanders isn't the only Democratic front-runner with problematic racial comments from decades past. In the months before he launched his presidential campaign, Joe Biden was criticized for speaking favorably of segregationist politicians and for opposing federally-mandated busing as a way to desegregate schools.


theblaze--2020-01-24--Joe Rogan discloses who he'll 'probably' vote for in 2020, sending leftist Twitter into meltdown mod

Joe Rogan discloses who he'll 'probably' vote for in 2020, sending leftist Twitter into meltdown mode

Joe Rogan discloses who he 'll 'probably ' vote for in 2020 , sending leftist Twitter into meltdown mode 'Rogan @ @ @ @ @ and Democrats should be marginalizing him . '

Wildly popular podcaster and comedian Joe Rogan mentioned on his show, "The Joe Rogan Experience," that he will "probably" vote for Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) in the Democratic presidential primary.
The Sanders campaign posted video of Rogan's disclosure as an apparent endorsement, triggering progressives on social media — including even some Sanders supporters.
What are the details?
Joe Rogan's name began trending on Twitter Thursday after the Sanders campaign tweeted out a video from Rogan's podcast in which the host said, "I think I'll probably vote for Bernie. ... He's been insanely consistent his entire life. He's basically been saying the same thing, been for the same thing his whole life. And that in and of itself is a very powerful structure to operate from."
Several people, including known conservatives and libertarians, reacted to the posted, noting that Sanders has, indeed, been "insanely consistent" with his socialist agenda through the years, and expressed their surprise at Rogan's statements.
But it became abundantly clear that the condemnation of the Sanders campaign's promotion of Rogan's comments came from the left. Several unhappy respondents overtly supported other Democratic candidates for president, but not all.
Far-left video journalist Carlos Maza — known for attempting to de-platform conservatives — reacted to the post by tweeting, "Bernie's campaign cutting a campaign ad with Joe Rogan f***ing sucks. Rogan is an incredibly influential bigot and Democrats should be marginalizing him."
A Twitter user identifying themselves as "bernie & warren are both good" wrote, "Joe Rogan is a transphobic bigot who shills for quackery and cuddles up to dangerous racists. Appearing on his show is bad but understandable. Publicising (sic) his endorsement is indefensible."
Yet another verified user who calls herself "Jodi Optimism Bias Jacobson" tweeted to her 31,000-plus followers, "Dear @BernieSanders Please reject the endorsement of this man. It is beneath us all. It is not okay to be celebrating an endorsement from him."
Several far-left tweeters were further triggered by a message from The Intercept's D.C. bureau chief and Young Turks contributor Ryan Grim, who reasoned, "Rogan is a part of our politics and has millions of people who listen to him. Nothing you do can change that. You can either have him in the Sanders tent in conversation with people with decent values or cast him out into the arms of Trump. The latter will do far more harm."
Transgender activist Charlotte Clymer responded, "No, enabling a radio host who has called trans women 'f***ing men' is already pretty damn harmful. I can easily accept Bernie Sanders was not aware of this because Sanders has a solid record on trans rights. I cannot accept, when pointed out, that I should shut up and be happy."
The Daily Caller's Peter Hasson narrowed down the reason for a litany of accusations that Rogan — an MMA announcer — had been labelled transphobic by pointing out with a tongue-in-cheek closing, "Joe Rogan objected to Fallon Fox, a biologically male MMA fighter, beating the hell out of female fighters. Clearly Rogan is the problem here."


theblaze--2020-01-24--Migrants say they will wait out Trump's presidency in Mexico, and try to enter again once a Democrat

Migrants say they will wait out Trump's presidency in Mexico, and try to enter again once a Democrat gets into office

Migrants say they will wait out Trump 's presidency in Mexico , and try to enter again once a Democrat @ @ @ @ @ once Trump is defeated and the Democrats take over ... ''

Many prospective migrants to the U.S. say that they are adopting a strategy to wait until President Donald Trump's time in office is over and hope a Democrat opens up immigration opportunities.
In one video report from the Christian Broadcasting News, a 26-year-old Honduran deported from the U.S. said that he is stuck in Mexico and unable to get word from officials about work permits and other documentation.
"My idea is to go to Tijuana, and in Tijuana I'm gonna go ahead and try to make a living until Trump leaves the office," said the migrant, whose name was withheld.
"Once he leaves the office hopefully, everything is going to go back to normal, or the situation is going to get better for immigration laws," he added. "And we're gonna go ahead and try to get up."
Katherine Cabrera of Honduras echoed similar plans to a reporter from the Center for Immigration Studies.
"I want Trump out!" Cabrera said. "I'll wait for that because it would make things easier to get in."
Brenda Ramos from El Salvador agreed.
"A lot of people in El Salvador believe he [Trump] is the reason all this is happening, that he is selfish and cruel and doing everything he can to make us suffer," she said to CIS. "But once Trump is defeated and the Democrats take over, things are going to get better."
On Monday, hundreds of Central Americans attempted to rush into Mexico through the border from Guatemala on their way to the U.S. border. They called on the president of Mexico to allow them to travel through, but the Mexican government has resisted such efforts under pressure from Trump to stop the flow of migrants.
Here's the report from CBN News:


theblaze--2020-01-24--DOJ concludes that two FISA surveillance renewals on Carter Page were illegal

The Department of Justice concluded that two renewals of the FISA surveillance warrant against a former Trump campaign official were illegal, according to a report Thursday in the Wall Street Journal.
Carter Page was targeted by the FBI for surveillance during the Obama administration because of ties he had to Russia, but critics have accused the government of acting improperly and out of political motivation.
Two of the renewals of the warrant against Page were made in 2017, and the DOJ now believes there was "insufficient predication to establish probable cause."
The admission will undoubtedly help bolster claims against former Obama officials of politically motivated abuse of power.
"Today's unprecedented court filing represents another step on the road to recovery for America's deeply damaged judicial system," said Page in a statement responding to the report.
"I hope that this latest admission of guilt for these civil rights abuses by the Justice Department marks continued progress towards restoring justice and remedying these reputationally ruinous injuries," he continued.
Much of the contention over the surveillance warrants is over whether the FBI misled the FISA court on the veracity of the evidence of Carter's ties to Russia, most especially the infamous "Trump dossier."
The report noted that the conclusion from the DOJ did not comment on the validity of the first two warrants of surveillance against Page.
Here's a previous interview with Carter Page:
www.youtube.com
[H/T: Hot Air]


theblaze--2020-01-24--Updated: Three U.S. firefighters killed while battling Australia's wildfires identified

Updated : Three U.S. firefighters killed while battling Australia 's wildfires identified The victims were crew members on an air @ @ @ @ @ were military veterans

Note: This story has been updated to include the identities of the American heroes lost in the tragedy.
Three American firefighters were killed in Australia on Wednesday while fighting the country's ongoing wildfires, when the air tanker they were flying in crashed.
The fallen heroes have been identified as Captain Ian McBeth of Great Falls, Montana; First Officer Paul Clyde Hudson of Buckeye, Arizona; and Flight Engineer Rick DeMorgan Jr. of Navarre, Florida.
What are the details?
The victims were crew members on Tanker 134, a Lockheed C-130 Hercules that was carrying retardant when it went down in New South Wales. Canadian-based private company Coulson Aviation, the owner of the aircraft, confirmed the tragedy in a news release.
Late Thursday evening, Coulson provided an update releasing the names of the victims and expressing condolences to the loved ones of the three men.
McBeth previously served as a member of the Wyoming Air National Guard and was still a member of the Montana Air National Guard while working for Coulson. He is survived by his wife, Bowdie, and their three children, Abigail, Calvin, and Ella.
Hudson was a graduate of the Naval Academy and served 20 years in the United States Marine Corps before retiring as a decorated lieutenant colonel. He is survived by his wife, Noreen.
DeMorgan served 18 years in the United States Air Force and had racked up more than 4,000 hours as a flight engineer. Nearly half those hours were spent in a combat environment. He is survived by his two children, Lucas and Logan.
According to the Los Angeles Times, the U.S. Forest Service first confirmed the tragedy in an email on Thursday. "The wildland firefighting community is a family and when there is a loss it is felt throughout the entire organization," the email said. "We extend our deepest sympathy to the families of the fallen."
New South Wales Rural Fire Service Commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons said during a press conference, "Initial reports are that there was a large fireball associated with the impact of the plane as it hit the ground. Unfortunately, all we've been able to do is locate the wreckage and the crash site. We have not been able to locate any survivors," NBC News reported.
Coulson Aviation has contracted for several years with New South Wales to assist with battling bushfires, and Fitzsimmons said the victims of Thursday's crash were known by local firefighters as well as crews back in the U.S.
"Our hearts are with all of those who are suffering what is the loss of three remarkable, well-respected crew that have invested so many decades of their life into firefighting and fire management," Fitzsimmons added.
The office of California Gov. Gavin Newsom issued a statement saying that the state's own CAL FIRE "worked and trained with the crew of Tanker 134."


theblaze--2020-01-24--Buttigieg campaign facing criticism from LGBT lobby after dispute over stripper pole

Buttigieg campaign facing criticism from LGBT lobby after dispute over stripper pole Buttigieg is being criticized for bowing to `` @ @ @

The Buttigieg campaign is facing criticism from the gay community after it cancelled a campaign event at a gay nightclub over the presence of a stripper pole.
The owners of the nightclub said the disagreement highlights how Pete Buttigieg, who is openly gay, doesn't respect the trials and tribulations of gay rights activists who came before him.
"We guess this is what the gay candidate does to the gay community! #downonthepoles #dancersforanyoneelse," the owners said on Facebook.
"We're open, we're here, we're queer, get over it!" they added.
The campaign faced other criticism over the cancellation, including that of 2010 American Pole Fitness Champion Steven Retchless.
"The pole stigma is associated with sex work, but sex workers whether they're on a pole or not are humans, too, and shouldn't be discriminated against for providing a service as old as time," Retchless told the Washington Blade. "Get over it and support the whole gay community."
The Buttigieg campaign denied snubbing the gay community in a statement released about the cancellation.
"Our commitment to LGBTQ+ spaces is strong and we always strive to hold events in inclusive spaces," the statement read. "Pete and [his husband] Chasten know first-hand how important it is for members of the LGBTQ+ community to have a safe space to gather and our campaign would never do anything to intentionally disrespect such a space."
Here's a local news video about the controversy:
www.youtube.com
[H/T: the Free Beacon]


[UPDATED]

Editor 's note : The piece that was originally contained here rested on the erroneous assertion that Universal Studios was @ @ @ @ @ or release of the movie `` Tropic Thunder . ''
Although Paramount was the principal @ @ @ @ @ the movie , Universal was involved in the international distribution of the film and part @ @ @ @ @ at Universal Studios .
We have accordingly removed this piece and apologize to Ms. Kelly @ @ @ @

Editor's note: The piece that was originally contained here rested on the erroneous assertion that Universal Studios was not involved in the production or release of the movie "Tropic Thunder." Although Paramount was the principal United States production company for the movie, Universal was involved in the international distribution of the film and part of the film was filmed at Universal Studios. We have accordingly removed this piece and apologize to Ms. Kelly for the error.


theblaze--2020-01-25--Bill O'Reilly: Adam Schiff is in 'wonderland' during the Senate impeachment trial

Bill O'Reilly : Adam Schiff is in 'wonderland ' during the Senate impeachment trial And Americans have had ENOUGH

On the "Glenn Beck Radio Program" Friday, Bill O'Reilly gave his latest take on the Senate impeachment trial of President Donald Trump, and explained why he thinks House Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) is like "Alice in Wonderland."
Watch the video below to catch more of the conversation:
youtu.be
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theblaze--2020-01-24--President Trump unveils new US Space Force logo, and people have questions

President Trump unveils new US Space Force logo , and people have questions It looks like the Star Trek emblem @ @ @ @ @ veteran says he knows why .

President Donald Trump released the new logo for the United States Space Force on Friday, sparking a flurry of questions on social media over the origins of the design.
Observers immediately noticed the similarity between the seal and Star Trek's Starfleet Command, leading one military veteran to claim the Air Force may have ripped off the design — but provides evidence that it happened long before President Trump took office.
What are the details?
President Trump tweeted an image of the insignia with the message, "After consultation with our Great Military Leaders, designers, and others, I am pleased to present the new logo for the United States Space Force, the Sixth Branch of our Magnificent Military!"
Almost immediately, people reacted with side-by-side comparisons of the logo next to Star Trek's seal, and the word "Starfleet" began trending on Twitter as Americans commented on the familiarity and suggested the U.S. military had copied a television show's design.
According to GOP Senate staffer and self-described former Air Force "nuke guy" John Noonan, the Air Force very well may have ripped off the design, but it happened long ago.
"For those excitedly tweeting that Trump stole the Star Trek logo!!!, the patch on the left was the existing Air Force [Space] Command Logo. The same one I wore as a Lieutenant in 2005."
When asked whether the Air Force originally stole the logo from Star Trek, Noonan replied, "Well, that was certainly the joke we make 15 years ago."
Vox blogger Matthew Yglesias, in a separate thread, pointed out that "Trek homage is nothing new for government space efforts," and reminded folks "that the first space shuttle was named Enterprise."


theblaze--2020-01-24--Ted Cruz on impeachment trial: Dems just threw Joe Biden under the bus, and blasted holes in their o

Ted Cruz on impeachment trial: Dems just threw Joe Biden under the bus, and blasted holes in their own argument

Ted Cruz on impeachment trial : Dems just threw Joe Biden under the bus , and blasted holes in their @ @ @ @ @ ultimately , is why President Trump is going to be acquitted at the end of @ @ @

Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) joined Glenn Beck on the radio program Friday to discuss the latest developments in the Senate impeachment trial of President Donald Trump.
According to Cruz, Thursday was a "very consequential day" in the otherwise tedious and redundant impeachment proceedings.
"Yesterday, the House managers effectively threw Joe Biden under the bus," Cruz said. "They doubled down on what they started doing on the first day of arguments, which was making their entire case ... based on the proposition that there was zero evidence to justify investigating Burisma [the Ukrainian natural gas company that paid then-Vice President Joe Biden's son, Hunter, $50,000 a month to sit on the board]."
Cruz went on to explain that every time the Democrats, namely House Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), rehash the "zero-evidence" argument, they open the door for Republicans to present the overwhelming evidence that contradicts those claims.
"That proposition, that there's zero evidence to investigate Burisma, is utterly and completely absurd. So, I'm looking forward to Saturday when the president's lawyers will begin presenting his case. Because what the Democrats have done, is they have opened the door to this. And I hope the president's lawyers will stand up and systematically lay out the case," Cruz said.
"They've been arguing that Hunter Biden is completely irrelevant to this case. Well, the House managers have now, through their arguments, made Hunter Biden not only relevant — he was always relevant — but critical now," he continued. "They built the entire case, like a house of cards, on the proposition that there was no reasonable basis to investigate Burisma. And that's just absurd."
The two also discussed Cruz's new podcast, "Verdict with Ted Cruz," which he records with Daily Wire host Michael Knowles each night following the Senate trial.
"Last night's podcast went through systematically ... all of the overwhelming evidence of corruption from Burisma that any president, not only had the authority to investigate, but the responsibility to investigate," Cruz said. "And that, ultimately, is why President Trump is going to be acquitted at the end of this process."
Watch the video below for more details:
Use code BECK to save $10 on one year of BlazeTV.
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theblaze--2020-01-24--Homeowner armed with gun confronts apparent intruder — and stops him permanently with one shot

Homeowner armed with gun confronts apparent intruder — and stops him permanently with one shot The incident went down about @ @ @ @

A New Mexico homeowner told Albuquerque police an intruder entered his residence around midnight Saturday, KOB-TV reported.
But once again, an American citizen chose to exercise his Second Amendment rights and had a gun on hand.
With that, after a confrontation between the homeowner and the alleged intruder, the homeowner fired a single shot, the station said, citing initial remarks provided to 911.
Emergency services said the suspect was dead when they arrived at the scene, KOB reported.
Who is the suspect?
Police released the identity of the suspect — Felix Yazzie — on Wednesday, the station said.
Gilbert Gallegos, a police spokesman, said the department ruled the shooting a "likely justifiable homicide," the Albuquerque Journal reported, adding that the case was turned over to the district attorney for review.
Anything else?
A KOB reporter said he spoke to a man who remarked that he's lived in the neighborhood for about nine years and that it's relatively quiet and was surprised about the incident.
Here's a preliminary video report from KOB:


theblaze--2020-01-24--LIST: 14 DUMBEST things the 2020 Dems have said on the campaign trail so far

LIST : 14 DUMBEST things the 2020 Dems have said on the campaign trail so far

On Monday's episode of "The White House Brief," Jon Miller highlighted some of the most embarrassing things 2020 Democrats have said in their quest to seek the party nomination. Also, Rep. Ilhan Omar is under investigation by at least three agencies. Then, Keean Bexte, the Rebel News journalist who was assaulted by Jessica Yaniv, shared his updates on the investigation of the public menace. More details at YanivTrial.com.
The List
Julian Castro: ""I don't only believe only in reproductive freedom. I believe in reproductive justice. And what that means is that just because a person is a woman — and let's not forget someone in the trans community — is poor doesn't mean they should have the right to exercise that right to choose. So I absolutely would cover a woman's right to have an abortion." Kirsten Gillibrand: "So if your son is 15-years-old and smokes pot. He smokes just as much pot as the black boy and the Latino bot in his neighborhood. But that black or brown boy is more likely to be arrested. And when he is arrested, the criminal justice system is going to require him to pay $500 bail. That kid does not have $500. That is institutional racism. Your son will likely not have to deal with that because he is white." Beto O'Rourke:"...I've had advantages that others have not had."
Get the full list by watching the video below.
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theblaze--2020-01-24--LGBTQ sports outlet calls trans MMA fighter 'bravest athlete in history' for fighting women as a bio

LGBTQ sports outlet calls trans MMA fighter 'bravest athlete in history' for fighting women as a biological male

LGBTQ sports outlet calls trans MMA fighter 'bravest athlete in history ' for fighting women as a biological male

An opinion columnist for the LGBTQ sports media outlet Outsports called transgender mixed martial arts fighter Fallon Fox the "bravest athlete in history" in a recent article. Fox is a biological male who fights women.
Fox came out as transgender in 2013 and was predictably criticized for attempting to compete in violent physical combat with women as a biological male who only identifies as a woman.
The Outsports writer, Cyd Zeigler, credited Fox for persevering through the harsh criticism and continuing to pursue a fighting career.
In 2013, when Fallon Fox came out publicly as trans in professional mixed martial arts, she was the target of a torrent of hatred I have literally never seen targeting an LGBTQ athlete. While certainly some writers took thoughtful approaches to understanding this emerging dynamic of trans athletes in women's sports, still many more, like Joe Rogan, were vicious for the sake of being vicious.
Yet Fox stood strong and continued to push for, and earn, her right to compete. Except for one fateful match, she also won every time she stepped into the professional ring.
One of the women Fox defeated in a fight, Tamikka Brents, said afterward that there was a noticeable difference between fighting Fox and fighting a woman. Brents suffered a concussion and suffered several broken orbital bones during the loss.
"I've fought a lot of women and have never felt the strength that I felt in a fight as I did that night," Brents said.
Fox has undergone both hormone replacement therapy and gender transition surgery. Fox said because he no longer has testicles, he has lower testosterone than most women he fights, putting him at a disadvantage.
Rogan is facing backlash for his 2013 stance on Fox, especially in light of his sort-of endorsement of Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) for the Democratic presidential nomination.
"She calls herself a woman but I tend to disagree," Rogan said in 2013. "And she used to be a man but now she has had, she's a transgender which is (the) official term that means you've gone through it, right? And she wants to be able to fight women in MMA. I say no f***ing way.
"I say if you had a d**k at one point in time, you also have all the bone structure that comes with having a d**k," Rogan continued. "You have bigger hands, you have bigger shoulder joints. You're a f***ing man. That's a man, OK? You can't have... that's... I don't care if you don't have a d**k any more."


theblaze--2020-01-24--HS hockey team wanted to wear jerseys honoring cop shot in line of duty. But league officials nix id

HS hockey team wanted to wear jerseys honoring cop shot in line of duty. But league officials nix idea — and get called 'beyond ridiculous.'

HS hockey team wanted to wear jerseys honoring cop shot in line of duty .
But league officials nix idea @ @ @ @ @ ridiculous . '

A Minnesota high school hockey team planned to wear jerseys throughout the season honoring a local police officer shot in the line of duty, along with the officer's department, the Star-Tribune reported.
And this week the Waseca High School Bluejays received their donated jerseys: They include the words "Waseca Police" and Officer Arik Matson's badge number "222" on the front and his last name above each player's number on the back, the paper said.
Matson was shot in the head earlier this month while responding to a call, the Star-Tribune reported, adding that Caring Bridge indicated he's showing signs of recovery.
"He's able to slightly nod 'yes' or shake his head 'no' to questions but it's easier for him to give us a thumbs up or down," said the latest post, the paper said.
A GoFundMe page for Matson has raised more than $191,000 as of Friday afternoon.
Stop right there
But soon after receiving their special jerseys, the Minnesota State High School League said it can't allow Waseca to wear them during games since their attire doesn't comply with rules for special recognition or commemorative or memorial patches, the Star-Tribune reported.
Let the backlash begin
Upon hearing the news, a number of Twitter users took league officials to task for nixing the Waseca jerseys:
"That's very disappointing to hear! I'm sure the opponent would have no issues with this. I think we all need to show a little compassion don't ya think!!!"
"The [MSHSL] is beyond ridiculous with making common sense exceptions/decisions. Yet, they continue to ignore shrinking participation, lack of officials and illegal recruiting of HS athletes."
"Well that is absolutely pathetic and heartless."
"Wear them anyway and tell the [MSHSL] to get bent."
"What is [MSHSL] thinking. That officer's family needs help & that's a very nice way for those kids to help."
"They just need to get off their high horse. What a lack of compassion and common sense on their part."
The paper said an MSHSL official couldn't be reached for comment Thursday regarding the jerseys.
The next best thing
Instead of wearing the jerseys during games, the Waseca Bluejays will do so just during their pregame warm-ups, the paper said, adding that the boys and girls hockey teams will auction their jerseys to raise money for the officer's family.
What did the coach have to say about the league's decision?
Minutes before his team took to the ice for Thursday's game, Waseca hockey coach Chris Storey told the Star-Tribune, "I don't know if there's a fight to be had. It's in [the league's] bylaws. … We're just trying to comply the best we can."
He added to the paper that "we would like to wear them for a game. If not, it's not going to stop us from raising awareness and supporting this officer. It's the best we can do right now."
Republican state lawmaker has his say
GOP state Sen. John Jasinski on Friday asked the league to reconsider:
(H/T: Blue Lives Matter)


theblaze--2020-01-24--Proposed rule would 'ban' federal judges from membership in top conservative legal group

Proposed rule would 'ban ' federal judges from membership in top conservative legal group 'The federal judges who review this @ @ @ @ @ '

A draft rule of the federal judicial branch's ethics body could potentially curb judges' ability to be members of one of the country's top conservative legal organization.
According to a story published Friday at RealClear Politics:
The ethical advisory arm of the federal judiciary is circulating a draft rule that would ban judges and their clerks from belonging to the Federalist Society, an organization aimed at fostering an originalist interpretation of the Constitution at law schools and through forums and debates across the country.
The proposed rules change is the latest salvo in a campaign to cast the Federalist Society as too political, and thereby politically risky, for judiciary participation. The Wall Street Journal editorial board labeled the proposal "judicial political mischief masked in high sounding rhetoric," a step that is spurring a backlash among "judges and others" who should denounce it as "undermining legal education in America and perhaps violating the First Amendment right of association."
The draft — which was put together by the Committee on Codes of Conduct of the U.S. Judicial Conference — warns that judges' "formal affiliation" with the organization "is inconsistent" with portions of the codes of conduct for federal judges. It explains that such affiliation "could convey to a reasonable person that the affiliated judge endorses the views and particular ideological perspectives advocated by the organization; call into question the affiliated judge's impartiality on subjects as to which the organization has taken a position; and generally frustrate the public's trust in the integrity and independence of the judiciary." It also says that relevant portions of the codes of conduct would "lead to similar conclusions on issues regarding outside activities, particularly for law clerks and staff attorneys."
But, as the Ethics and Public Policy Center's Ed Whelan pointed out at National Review, the draft does not give the same warning against being a member of the American Bar Association, while admitting that the group "has, at times, advocated for particular constituencies, causes, or agendas." The disparity is noteworthy given the criticisms that the ABA has faced in the past for the liberal bias in many of those views and its alleged bias against conservative-leaning legal professionals in the nomination process.
Committee Chair and 8th Circuit Court of Appeals Judge Ralph Erickson told RealClear, however, that the draft was a "proposal open to discussion" for a 120-day period that ends in late May.
The Federalist Society describes itself as "a group of conservatives and libertarians interested in the current state of the legal order" and is "founded on the principles that the state exists to preserve freedom, that the separation of governmental powers is central to our Constitution, and that it is emphatically the province and duty of the judiciary to say what the law is, not what it should be."
However, left-leaning detractors have portrayed the legal group in a far less charitable light, especially in light of the high-profile role the group's members have played in President Donald Trump's efforts to fill the federal bench with judges faithful to the Constitution.
In a speech given last March, Senate Judiciary Committee member Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.) lambasted the organization's role in the judicial confirmation process in the Trump era, describing a "vehicle for powerful interests, which seek not to simply "reorder" the judiciary, but to acquire control of the judiciary to benefit their interests."
At then-Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh's confirmation hearing, Senate Judiciary Committee member Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii) said that the organization "focuses on changing the American legal system to align with an ultraconservative interpretation of the Constitution, including the overturning of Roe v. Wade."
And while the draft opinion would give similar warnings about judges' membership in the left-leaning American Constitution Society, Judicial Crisis Network's Carrie Severino said that the comparison between the two is "inapt."
She wrote, "Placing the Federalist Society in the same category as the ACS might appear judicious, and given the left's dominance of legal academia and bar associations, a blow to the ACS would be a small price for liberals to pay for a blow to the Federalist Society."
"Despite its 'debate society' vibe, the Federalist Society's conservative predilections make the liberal legal establishment nervous, and this proposed new prohibition is the establishment's attempt to hobble the group," Quinn Hillyer wrote of the draft rule at the Washington Examiner. "The federal judges who review this proposal should reject it forthwith."


theblaze--2020-01-24--At least 34 troops suffered brain injuries as a result of Iran missile attack, Pentagon says

At least 34 troops suffered brain injuries as a result of Iran missile attack , Pentagon says The number has @ @ @

At least 34 troops have brain injuries as a result of the Iranian missile strike on al Asad air base in Iraq, according to a statement from the Pentagon.
Iran launched over 12 short-range ballistic missiles on Jan. 8, damaging two Iraqi bases that house U.S. and coalition forces. No deaths or injuries were immediately reported.
The assault took place as retaliation after a U.S. airstrike killed Iranian military leader, Maj. Gen. Qassem Soleimani.
What are the details?
Jonathan Hoffman, a spokesperson for the Pentagon, said that the Iranian missile attack resulted in traumatic brain injuries for many of the American troops stationed there.
Initial reports said at least 11 service members were injured as a result of the attack.
The New York Times reported that eight of the affected U.S. service members have returned home to the United States after spending time in a military hospital in Germany.
Seventeen of the 34 service members were initially flown by medevac to Germany. Nine service members remain hospitalized. At least one service member was taken to Kuwait for treatment, and 16 service members returned to duty.
A portion of the statement, obtained by Defense One, read:
As previously stated, while no U.S. service members were killed in the Jan. 8 Iranian attack on Al Asad air base, several were treated for concussion symptoms from the blast and are still being assessed.
Out of an abundance of caution, some service members were transported from Al Asad Air Base, Iraq to Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Germany, others were sent to Camp Arifjan, Kuwait, for follow-on screening. When deemed fit for duty, the service members are expected to return to Iraq following screening. The health and welfare of our personnel is a top priority and we will not discuss any individual's medical status.
You can read more on the statement here.


theblaze--2020-01-24--Police officers shoot, kill man who was armed with an airsoft gun — and he reportedly made statement

Police officers shoot, kill man who was armed with an airsoft gun — and he reportedly made statements about 'suicide by cop'

Police officers shoot , kill man who was armed with an airsoft gun — and he reportedly made statements about @ @ @ @

Authorities in Nevada County, Nevada, fatally shot a man who was armed with an airsoft gun on Jan. 1, according to KCRA-TV.
What are the details?
On Thursday, Nevada County investigators released 10 minutes of the video footage of the incident in Grass Valley, Nevada.
In the video, 25-year-old Gabriel Strickland was walking around the area with a shotgun slung over his shoulder. Authorities arrived at the scene and approached Strickland, who refused to drop the gun on several occasions. The suspect pointed the weapon in a variety of directions as the officers warned him to drop the gun.
Strickland apparently refused the orders, and the officers were forced to fire on the suspect. He was taken to the hospital for his injuries, but later died, according to officials.
Officers determined afterward that Strickland's weapon was, "in fact, an airsoft weapon that mimicked the appearance of a shotgun."
According to KCRA, the 10-minute video segment "represents only a portion of hours of raw video footage."
"The intent of this video is not to draw conclusions about the actions of the officers or the deputies, as this incident is still under investigation," authorities said.
The Nevada County District Attorney's Office is continuing to review the case to determine if officers were justified in using deadly force.
(Content warning: Graphic footage):
www.youtube.com
What else?
Earlier this month, KCRA reported that officers also attempted to use a taser during the encounter but were unsuccessful.
"The suspect was given multiple verbal orders to drop the weapon — a taser was deployed but was ineffective," the sheriff's office said in a statement at the time. "Officers on scene fired their duty weapons striking the subject."
Further, Strickland — who was known to officers — reportedly previously made comments about "suicide by cop."
"In previous contacts, the suspect had made statements regarding 'suicide by cop,'" the sheriff's office said in their statement. "In a previous contact, one firearm was taken for safekeeping."


theblaze--2020-01-24--Twitter put a 'sensitive content' warning on a pro-life video tweeted by the Trump campaign

'Perfect example of the left stomping on any idea they do n't like' Twitter put a 'sensitive content ' warning @ @ @ @ @ by the Trump campaign Pro-life demonstrators listen to President Donald Trump as he speaks Friday @ @ @ @ @ March for Life '' in Washington , D.C. ( OLIVIER DOULIERY / AFP ) ( @ @ @ @ @ Getty Images )

Twitter marked a pro-life video tweeted by the Trump campaign as "sensitive content," preventing it from being displayed on users' news feeds unless they bypass the warning and click "view," according to the Washington Free Beacon.
"We see it in the eyes of every new mother who cradles an innocent newborn child in her loving arms," the tweet read. "Life is the greatest miracle of all. Let us build a culture that cherishes innocent life. #ProLifeVoicesForTrump."
The video included an image of a woman looking at an ultrasound, a couple holding their baby, and several clips of President Donald Trump holding babies or children.
Underneath the video was a caption: "Defending the Very First Right: Life. Abortion means a living, feeling baby will never get to share their love and dreams with the world. It must change, but our movement can only succeed with the heart and soul and prayer of the people."
In no way did the video or the tweet meet Twitter's definition of "sensitive content."
"You may not post media that is excessively gory or share violent or adult content within live video or in profile or header images. Media depicting sexual violence and/or assault is also not permitted," Twitter guidelines read. "Our aim is to limit exposure to sensitive images and videos and to prevent the sharing of potentially disturbing types of sensitive media."
The Trump campaign accused Twitter of censorship.
"Twitter's censorship of the video launching President Trump's pro-life coalition is a perfect example of the left stomping on any idea they don't like," spokeswoman Kayleigh McEnany said. "This video shows children and families and highlights the sanctity of life. President Trump is the most pro-life President ever and his support for unborn children cannot be silenced."
A Twitter spokesman said the video had been marked as sensitive in error, promising that the settings that led to the error have been changed.


theblaze--2020-01-24--Social media attempts to 'cancel' Joe Rogan after his Bernie Sanders endorsement

Social media attempts to 'cancel ' Joe Rogan after his Bernie Sanders endorsement You can imagine how well this is @ @ @ @

Much of social media is in a tizzy over Sen. Bernie Sanders' (I-Vt.) use of comedian and podcaster Joe Rogan's political endorsement — so much so that they're apparently trying to "cancel" Rogan.
What's a brief background?
On Thursday night, Rogan revealed his plans to vote for the senator in the upcoming Democratic primary ahead of the 2020 presidential election.
In a video, Rogan said, "I think I'll probably vote for Bernie. ... He's been insanely consistent his entire life. He's basically been saying the same thing, been for the same thing his whole life. And that in and of itself is a very powerful structure to operate from."
Sanders' campaign posted video of Rogan's reveal on Thursday night, which ultimately triggered some social media users.
One such person was leftist journalist Carlos Maza, who is well-known for attempting to "cancel" conservatives on social media, responded by saying, "Bernie's campaign cutting a campaign ad with Joe Rogan f***ing sucks. Rogan is an incredibly influential bigot and Democrats should be marginalizing him."
You can read more about the outrage here.
What's happening now?
On Friday, Mediaite pointed out that a variety of social media users pointed out an old clip of Rogan jokingly making comparisons between a black neighborhood and the film, "Planet of the Apes."
The clip, featuring Rogan discussing his experience screening "Planet of the Apes" in a black neighborhood, was taken from a 2013 episode of "The Joe Rogan Experience" podcast.
"We get out, we're giggling, 'We're going to go see "Planet of the Apes,"' We walk in to 'Planet of the Apes,'" Rogan says in the clip. "We walked into Africa."
"Dude," he continued later in the clip. "We walked in the door, and there was no white people. There was no white people. 'Planet of the Apes' didn't take place in Africa, that was a racist thing for me to say."
"But you see what I'm saying," Rogan added.
Social media user KHiveQueenB dug up the clip and shared it on Twitter, writing, "Watch Joe Rogan, who endorsed Bernie, compare Black People to 'The Planet of the Apes.' Bernie's campaign sure attracts Openly Racist jerks."
At the time of this writing, the tweet has received more than 800 likes and has been retweeted more than 500 times, and is still making rounds on the internet.


theblaze--2020-01-24--'What is going on in Virginia?': Trump hits Gov. Northam’s past infanticide comments at March for Li

'What is going on in Virginia?': Trump hits Gov. Northam’s past infanticide comments at March for Life

'What is going on in Virginia ? '
: Trump hits Gov .
Northam ’ s past infanticide comments at @ @ @ @ @ called out other Democrats for 'radical and extreme ' abortion positions

During his historic, in-person remarks at the 47th annual March for Life on Friday, President Donald Trump criticized abortion comments made by Virginia Democratic Gov. Ralph Northam last year.
After going through a list of his administration's efforts to protect unborn children from abortion, the president turned his comments to Democrats, who "have embraced the most radical and extreme positions taken and seen in this country for years and decades, and you could even say for centuries."
One such example that Trump gave to back this up was Northam, who last year became the subject of national controversy — before his subsequent blackface controversy — for comments he made about post-birth abortion last January.
"We love the Commonwealth of Virginia, but what is going on in Virginia?" Trump asked the energetic, pro-life crowd. "The governor stated that he would execute a baby after birth; you remember that."
While discussing a highly controversial state-level abortion bill in a radio interview last year, Northam suggested that its provisions allowed for abortions after birth, e.g. infanticide.
"If a mother is in labor, I can tell you exactly what would happen," Northam said. "The infant would be delivered. The infant would be kept comfortable. The infant would be resuscitated if that's what the mother and the family desired, and then a discussion would ensue between the physicians and the mother."
As another example of Democrats' abortion extremism, Trump pointed to the New York state legislators who "cheered with delight" for a bill allowing abortion up until birth as well as Senate Democrats' vote to block legislation to mandate medical care for the survivors of attempted abortions, both of which also took place last year.
Following that portion of the speech, the president called on Congress to pass legislation banning "late-term abortion of children who can feel pain in their mothers womb," which has been a longtime legislative goal of pro-life advocates on Capitol Hill.
www.youtube.com
The remarks were the first given by a president in-person at the long-running pro-life event, but they weren't solely political in nature. Other portions of the president's message put forward the kind of inspirational tone that attendees have become accustomed to.
The president thanked those who "stand for life each and every day" through their efforts to help others.
"You provide housing, education, jobs, and medical care to the women that you serve," he said. "You find loving families for children in need of a forever home; you host baby showers for expecting moms; you just make it your life's mission to help spread God's grace."
The speech also included a special recognition of those who carry life into this world, i.e. moms.
"We declare that Mothers are heroes," Trump stated. "Your strength, devotion and drive is what powers our nation and because of your our country has been blessed with amazing souls that have changed the course of human history."
"We cannot know what our citizens yet unborn will achieve, the dreams they will imagine, the masterpieces they will create, the discoveries they make," the president said toward the conclusion of his speech. "But we know this: Every life brings love into this world."


theblaze--2020-01-24--Woman who survived an abortion meant to take her life reveals the moment she found out she had been

Woman who survived an abortion meant to take her life reveals the moment she found out she had been a twin

Woman who survived an abortion meant to take her life reveals the moment she found out she had been a @

Abortion is one of the most contested and debated topics in America, but there's a facet of the discussion that doesn't often get a great deal of attention: abortion survival.
The media tend not to feature abortion survivors like Claire Culwell, a woman whose story has in recent years captivated the pro-life world.
(Watch: See 8 Powerful Pro-Life Movies on PureFlix.com)
Culwell, who will soon participate in the inspirational "She Lives Out Loud" online event for women, became a pro-life speaker and advocate after learning 10 years ago that she miraculously survived abortion.
Listen to her tell her harrowing story on The Pure Flix Podcast:
"My sister and I are both adopted," Culwell told "The Pure Flix Podcast," explaining that she and her sibling always knew they wanted to meet their birth parents. "After my sister met her birth mother ... I thought, 'Well mine could be just as great. I should reach out to this woman who gave me my life and my family.'"
Culwell said she wanted to thank her birth mom for giving her a wonderful life through adoption, and she soon had the chance.
(Read also: 5 Pro-Life Bible Verses That Will Inspire You)
Culwell met her birth mom and the two started to build a relationship. About two months after their first encounter, though, Culwell learned the shock of a lifetime.
"In preparation for that second meeting I had a gift for her and it was this ring and necklace with my birthstone on it," she said.
But after she gave her birth mother these thoughtful momentos, something changed.
"There was this pain in her eyes," Culwell said. "And it's really indescribable, this pain that I saw."
Culwell's birth mother started shaking and broke into tears, before revealing the unthinkable.
"She was shaking and crying and she said, 'Claire, I had an abortion when I was pregnant with you. I was 13 years old and my mother told me there was only one choice for me,'" Culwell recounted.
On the surface, this likely seemed confusing considering Culwell very clearly survived and was given up for adoption.
But her mother explained that, at age 13, she underwent a dilation and evacuation abortion at 20 weeks of pregnancy.
(Read also: The Real History Behind Roe Vs. Wade)
After the abortion, something didn't seem quite right, so Culwell's birth mother went back to the clinic and learned that she was actually pregnant with twins.
"They told her, 'Oops you were actually pregnant with twins. We got one of the babies but this baby survived,'" Culwell recounted. "I was born a few weeks later ... at 30 weeks."
Culwell had a dislocated hip and club feet, which she said is her "daily reminder" that she's "an abortion survivor: and a "twinless twin."
After learning about these details, Culwell had to grapple with her newfound reality.
"I survived something that literally was meant to take my life," she said. "One thing that I walked away knowing was that God had a plan for my life. There was a purpose for the pain that we had experienced."
Eventually, Culwell became an advocate and has been publicly sharing her story of abortion survival — a story that has "woken a lot of people up."
It's an uphill battle, as not everyone is aware of what people like Culwell have faced, and many critics dismiss pro-life activists' staunchest arguments.
Culwell is well aware of these roadblocks.
"We're being told that our voice, our choice, our humanity, our experience with abortion doesn't matter," she said. "That the only thing that matters is that women can do what they want."
You can watch Culwell and other female Christian leaders speak out during "She Loves Out Loud," an online event slated to take place on Feb. 15. Find out more about the event and how you can take part here.
And be sure to watch some of the powerful, pro-life movies streaming right now on PureFlix.com.
This article was originally published on Pure Flix Insider. Visit Pure Flix for access to thousands of faith and family-friendly movies and TV shows. You can get a free trial here.


theblaze--2020-01-24--LIVE VIDEO: Schiff's impeachment managers offer last gasp in final day to attempt to make their case

LIVE VIDEO: Schiff's impeachment managers offer last gasp in final day to attempt to make their case against Trump. President's team prepares to strike back.

LIVE VIDEO : Schiff 's impeachment managers offer last gasp in final day to attempt to make their case against @ @ @ @ @ prepares to strike back .
Is anyone moved by what they 're claiming ?

Democratic House impeachment managers will wrap up their case Friday in the Senate impeachment trial of President Donald Trump. The trial resumes at 1 p.m. ET. You can watch a live feed of the proceedings below once they begin.
On Thursday, Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) and his team of House Democrats focused largely on the abuse of power article of impeachment. Democrats contend that the president abused his power by trying to have the Ukrainian government influence the U.S. 2020 elections when he urged Ukraine to investigate Democratic presidential front-runner former Vice President Joe Biden and his son Hunter Biden.
Most of their case Friday will focus on the charge that Trump obstructed Congress by ignoring or blocking subpoenas.
Under the trial's organizing resolution, the House managers will wrap up their 24 hours of presenting their case today. The president's team will launch its 24 hours of defense Saturday.
According to the Washington Post, the Senate might meet for only a few hours Saturday instead of spending the entire day on the trial. The outlet reported that the president doesn't want much of his case made on the weekend, when voters are likely less focused on the Senate's goings-on. Trump tweeted Friday that it's unfair to have to begin his defense on Saturday, which he called "Death Valley in T.V."
After both sides have made their cases, senators will have 16 hours to submit questions to both the House managers and the president's defense team.
Following the time for questions, the Senate will decide whether to seek more documents from the administration or call witnesses.


theblaze--2020-01-24--WATCH: 'This week in Democrats say'

WATCH: 'This week in Democrats say'

WATCH : 'This week in Democrats say '

On Friday's episode of "The Steve Deace Show," Steve Deace released the latest installment of "This Week in Democrats Say." Featured this week, Democratic presidential hopefuls Joe Biden, Elizabeth Warren, Bernie Sanders, and Pete Buttigieg campaign flubs. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez says that she wants to take away billionaire's power, not their money. And a random feminist rants about things feminists hate.
Watch the video below for more.
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