Former President Bill Clinton gave a rambling assessment of President Joe Biden’s decision to pardon his son, Hunter Biden — and argued that it was not at all the same as the pardon he’d issued to his brother, Roger Clinton. The former president joined host Andrew Ross Sorkin on the stage at the 2024 Dealbook Summit, where the first question focused on the Hunter Biden pardon and whether or not it was going to do any lasting damage to the Democratic Party. WATCH: Bill Clinton takes umbrage with the comparison between his pardon of his brother and Joe Biden's pardon of Hunter, because Bill's brother served his full sentence in prison:"My brother did 14 months in a federal prison." Sounds like Bill is saying 'Lock him up' pic.twitter.com/Xye8lXRtFG — Eric Abbenante (@EricAbbenante) December 5, 2024 “I want to know what you actually think of the pardon, of Biden’s pardon for his son,” Sorkin began. “This was not on my plan originally, but I thought — you know what? Everybody, we were out in that hallway, we’re all talking about that, and I said, ‘I’m going to ask the president first.'” “Well, I think that the president did have reason to believe that the nature of the offenses involved were likely to produce far stronger adverse consequences for his son than they would for any normal person under the same circumstances,” Clinton began, saying that people needed to look at all the facts and the context before they compared Biden to him and the pardon he issued to his younger brother. CHECK OUT THE DAILY WIRE HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE “Someone said, ‘Well, this is just like when Bill Clinton pardoned his brother,'” Clinton continued. “Well, it’s not. My brother did 14 months in federal prison for something he did when he was 20. And I supported it. He testified, told the truth about what he’d done when he had a drug problem and helped to bring down a larger enterprise. And then they sentenced him and he served 14 months and then he got out.” Clinton went on to say that his concern was obviously not in protecting his brother from the consequences of his actions, but in assuring him a more normal life going forward. The questions on his mind at the time were: “Will he ever be able to vote again? Will he ever be able to have normal citizenship responsibilities?” When asked whether Hunter’s pardon — which Biden said repeatedly would never happen — would damage the party when Democrats claimed to be the ones supporting and following the rule of law, Clinton did not seem bothered. “We had a lot better record than Republicans did, didn’t we?” he asked. “And what good did it do us? I mean, nobody believes anybody anymore.”

Senator Roger Marshall (R-KS) introduced a bill Wednesday that would ban doctors from performing life-altering and irreversible transgender procedures on kids across the country. Marshall put forth the “Safeguarding The Overall Protection of Minors Act’’ to block doctors from giving kids puberty blockers and cross-sex hormones, which can cause infertility, reduce bone density, and damage heart health. The legislation would also ban transgender surgeries for kids, including genital surgeries and removing the breasts of girls who identify as boys. According to the text of the bill, doctors could be assessed a civil fine of up to $100,000 if they “knowingly perform, attempt to perform, conspire to perform, or provide a referral for any gender transition procedure on a minor.” “Americans resoundingly rejected the Left’s dangerous transgender agenda. Let’s call it exactly what it is: child abuse,” Marshall, a doctor, said in a statement. “The days of demented doctors and activists getting rich off of mutilating, sterilizing, and castrating children are over.” “Our legislation keeps children’s safety paramount by prohibiting anyone from performing, facilitating, or even conspiring to give these irreversible therapies and procedures to minors,” Marshall added. “This bill is just the beginning of what’s to come with President Trump at the helm and our unwavering commitment to protecting children from transgender activists’ twisted and criminal agenda.” The proposed legislation would also allow anyone on whom a gender procedure was performed to sue in United States district court for proper relief. Additionally, the bill would authorize the attorney general to set up a grant program for individuals attempting to undo the impacts of transgender procedures. CHECK OUT THE DAILY WIRE HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE Marshall has been an opponent of transgender ideology, previously introducing bills to define male and female in biology and pushing back on the World Health Organization’s embrace of transgender activists. His bill was introduced the same day that Tennessee defended its ban on transgender procedures for minors before the Supreme Court. While over two dozen states across the country have moved to protect kids from transgender medical procedures, Republicans in Kansas have so far failed. Earlier this year, they came just two votes short in the state House of overriding Democratic Governor Laura Kelly’s veto of their legislation. Stop the Harm, a database that tracks where transgender procedures have been done on children across the country, records that there have been 71 puberty and cross-sex hormone child patients in Kansas and 22 surgery patients since 2019.

"What’s good for workers is good for business."

'A big reason is that dock unions stop innovation'

'Democrats, grow a spine! Trans rights are on the line'

One of the best parts about owning a home as an adult is that you can do whatever you want with it. You get to make every design decision, and you can take on all the projects you want. The problem is, not every design decision is going to be a good one and not every project is going to be as great in reality as it was in theory. Some designs should have stayed in the hypothetical and never been... Source

Senators, yes, it’s the holiday season and a lame-duck session, but don’t get distracted from the reason you’re in Washington—namely, to improve Americans’ lives.  Unfortunately, some Republican senators are failing to show up for votes to block outgoing President Joe Biden’s nominees, allowing Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., to easily shepherd eight federal Biden judicial nominees since the Nov. 5 elections.  Republican senators’ blowing off voting on one particularly important Biden nomination would adversely affect workers and families financially. It would also empower a sworn enemy of Elon Musk’s free speech rights. Biden wants Lauren McFerran to serve another term as chair of the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB). Her current term expires on Dec. 16. The vote being pushed by the Biden administration seeks to control the board well into President-elect Donald Trump’s second term. The Independent Women’s Forum has joined more than 50 manufacturing groups, trade associations, small businesses, and other organizations—representing millions of workers and employers—to send a letter to senators on Tuesday flagging this important issue.  The letter, under the banner of the Coalition for a Democratic Workplace, outlines how McFerran is grossly unqualified due to her mismanagement of the NLRB—as made clear by federal court rulings and the NLRB’s own Office of the Inspector General (OIG), not to mention her extreme policy agenda. It’s telling that Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., chairman of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee, refused to hold a confirmation hearing on McFerran’s nomination to thwart the opposition. Our letter argues that McFerran’s judgment is so poor that the board’s decisions and flawed interpretations of the National Labor Relations Act have been invalidated and even condemned by the Supreme Court and other federal courts.  For example, in a recent Tesla case, McFerran’s board infringed on Musk’s free speech rights by forcing him to delete a post on X that it argued threatened employees, but that decision was invalidated by the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, four judges of which said the decision violated Musk’s First Amendment rights and was “light on law and facts.”  Our coalition noted that many courts have questioned the legitimacy of the NLRB’s interpretations of federal law under McFerran’s leadership. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit said the board grounded its decisions “in a skewed or ‘clipped view’ of the record” in Absolute Healthcare v. NLRB (a case where the feds alleged a chain of medical marijuana dispensaries unlawfully fired an employee for trying to unionize), while its Tesla decision knocking Musk “rest[ed] on erroneous legal foundations.”  In partially reversing the NLRB’s judgment, the 5th Circuit called the NLRB’s Thryv Inc. decision “the epitome of arbitrary” for forcing a small business software firm to make extra payments to terminated employees. It also wrote that NLRB’s Stern Produce decision was “nonsense” and “cannot be squared with any reasonable understanding” of the National Labor Relations Act after two employees of a produce distributor were punished for their unethical behavior in the workplace.  The 8th Circuit said the NLRB relied on “unreasonable inferences” in Strategic Technology Institute, a case where McFerran’s board falsely claimed that a defense contractor fired workers for attempting to unionize. The 11th Circuit said the NLRB “did not engage in reasoned decision making” this year in a dispute around UPS’ labor practices for seasonal package-delivery workers in New York.  Such repeated condemnations from the judicial branch should give pause to the Senate on this controversial nominee. McFerran’s extreme policies do not end there, however. The NLRB under McFerran also opened up workers to bullying by moving to eliminate secret ballots in union representation elections and instead use openly signed authorization cards to determine workers’ desire for unionization. As our coalition letter pointed out: “The Supreme Court and numerous Courts of Appeals have consistently recognized that these types of “card checks” are “admittedly inferior to the election process” and are subject to “abuses” and “misrepresentations.” Our letter further notes that McFerran’s board also infringed on employer speech rights during union organizing efforts, including banning employer-sponsored meetings at which employers shared their views on unionization. The NLRB prevented employers from explaining to employees how unionization will affect their relationship. That overrules precedent in place since 1948. Employer speech rights during union organizing drives have been protected by Congress, the Supreme Court, and the board itself for decades, but McFerran’s decisions directly undermine those protections.  On McFerran’s watch, House and Senate labor committees have conducted hearings criticizing the board’s actions and sent numerous letters to the NLRB, questioning the agency on its expansive policies and allegations of wrongdoing. That’s on top of the Office of the Inspector General releasing multiple reports on the board’s mail-ballot election procedures under McFerran’s leadership.  The Office of the Inspector General’s report found the board guilty of “gross mismanagement” and a “lack of candor” that “created the risk of great reputational harm that could negatively impact the ability of the Agency to carry out [its] mission.”  Democrats still control the Senate, but with a slim margin of 51 votes to Republicans’ 49. There are enough Democratic defectors with independent streaks who could block this terrible nomination.  Fortunately, outgoing Sens. Joe Manchin of West Virginia and Kyrsten Sinema of Arizona, along with Angus King of Maine—all of them independents who caucus with Democrats—showed a willingness to vote on principle over party. They joined Republicans to rescind the destructive, McFerran-backed joint-employer rule on franchisors and franchisees. Though Biden vetoed the bill, his rule was struck down by a federal court in March, leading the NLRB to withdraw its appeal and allow a more friendly Trump-era rule to stand. That was a massive win for small businesses and franchises, with implications for independent contractors—not to mention employees and customers who were shielded from further Biden-fueled inflationary price hikes resulting from regulatory bloat.  Senators should not allow other circumstances to distract them from their duties. They should reject the McFerran nomination. Carrie Sheffield is a senior policy analyst at Independent Women’s Voice and sister organization, Independent Women’s Forum. We publish a variety of perspectives. Nothing written here is to be construed as representing the views of The Daily Signal. The post Radical NLRB Chief Should Be Replaced, Not Reappointed appeared first on The Daily Signal.

DAILY CALLER NEWS FOUNDATION—Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy’s plans to cut waste, fraud, and abuse within the federal government’s nearly $7 trillion budget through President-elect Donald Trump’s Department of Government Efficiency is beginning to attract support from a notable group: Democratic lawmakers. Democratic Florida Rep. Jared Moskowitz is the first Democratic lawmaker to join the House’s Department of Government Efficiency Caucus helmed by Republican Reps. Aaron Bean of Florida and Pete Sessions of Texas, according to a Tuesday press release. “Today. I will join the Congressional DOGE [Department of Government Efficiency] Caucus, because I believe that streamlining government processes and reducing ineffective government spending should not be a partisan issue,” Moskowitz wrote. “I’ve been clear that there are ways we can reorganize our government to make it work better for the American people.” The Florida Democrat is asking the Department of Government Efficiency to examine the Department of Homeland Security’s budget and has suggested that the commission recommend establishing the Secret Service and the Federal Emergency Management Agency—currently under DHS control—as independent agencies, according to Moskowitz’s press release. “For the people at DOGE, if Vivek and Elon are listening, you need to look at Homeland [Security Department],” Moskowitz said during a House Oversight Committee hearing on the Federal Emergency Management Agency on Nov. 19, where the Florida Democrat advocated for DHS reform. Moskowitz’s Democratic colleague California Rep. Ro Khanna has also voiced support for the Department of Government Efficiency, particularly regarding the commission’s potential to trim the Department of Defense’s nearly $900 billion budget. “Let me provide an area where there could be bipartisan collaboration. I mean—the defense budget which is nearly a trillion dollars,” Khanna told CNN’s Jim Acosta on Nov. 25 in an apparent endorsement of the efficiency department. “There has been tremendous reporting about the waste, fraud and abuse within that budget. The Pentagon hasn’t passed an audit—it has failed the last six or seven audits.” “If they find areas of truly wasteful spending across the government, they would get support,” Khanna added. On the other side of the Capitol, independent Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders echoed Khanna’s support for the Department of Government Efficiency reforming the DOD’s budget. “Elon Musk is right,” Sanders wrote in a post on X on Sunday. “The Pentagon, with a budget of $886 billion, just failed its seventh audit in a row. It’s lost track of billions. Last year, only 13 senators voted against the Military Industrial Complex and a defense budget full of waste and fraud. That must change.” The Republicans who joined Sanders in voting against the fiscal year 2024 national defense authorization act included Vice President-elect JD Vance and Sens. Mike Lee of Utah, Rand Paul of Kentucky, Josh Hawley of Missouri, Cynthia Lummis of Wyoming and Mike Braun of Indiana. Most Republican lawmakers, including Republican Sen. Roger Wicker, incoming chair of the Senate Armed Services Committee, advocate for increased military spending. The Senate Department of Government Efficiency Caucus, led by Iowa Republican Sen. Joni Ernst, currently contains no Democratic members. The Department of Government Efficiency has no statutory authority to reform the government’s budget and is planning to collaborate with the White House Office of Management and Budget to provide cost-cutting recommendations, according to an op-ed published by Vivek and Ramaswamy in the Wall Street Journal on Nov. 20. Given that Congress appropriates the money that constitutes the president’s budget, the Department of Government Efficiency will likely need congressional support to accomplish the commission’s efforts to reduce the size of the federal government and eliminate wasteful spending. Sanders and Khanna’s offices did not immediately respond to the Daily Caller News Foundation’s inquiries about whether the two plan to join the House and Senate Department of Government Efficiency caucuses. The post Trump’s Efficiency Department Secures Support From Dem Lawmakers appeared first on The Daily Signal.

Our canine companions, “man’s best friend”, are part of the family! They are there at our side no matter what so, naturally, they deserve the very best in pet care. Caring for our fur babies is, at times, time consuming. Between cleaning up dog hair, cleaning up a pee stain, or protecting them during storms…it’s something that is up to us. And we do it all with love! In today’s article I will cover dog care hacks to make caring for our fur babies go a little smoother and perhaps a little quicker. These hacks will save you time and that extra time we can spend with our lovable canines! Let’s take a quick look at some of the hacks I’ll be covering: Easy ways to pick up dog hair How to cure bad doggie breath How to protect their paws in extreme weather A DIY “no chew” spray ….And much more! Let’s get started! Dog Care Hacks That Every Dog Owner Should Know 2 Easy Ways To Pick Up Dog Hair On Furniture Constantly cleaning dog hair off the furniture comes with the territory! Here are 2 easy ways to make it go a little quicker. Dryer sheet: Run a dryer sheet over the dog hair and it comes off with ease. It’ll also help keep your furniture static free, which is why dog hair clings to fabric so easily in the first place. Rubber Gloves: Simply wearing a rubber glove and running your hand across the hair helps to collect the hair much easier. Easy Way To Grab Dog Hair Off Your Carpet Of course vacuuming is the best way to remove dog hair from the carpet. However, did you know you can use a window squeegee to grab dog hair? Just simply scrape the squeegee along the carpet and you’ll be surprised how much hair comes up! Clean Up Pee Spots On The Carpet With Baking Soda Cleaning up pee spots on the carpet is a cinch with baking soda! All you have to do is pour baking soda over the urine and allow the baking soda to completely soak it up. Next, vacuum over the area and you’re all set! Baking soda can be toxic to some pets so make sure to keep pets away during the cleaning process. How To Protect Their Paws In Winter Weather You can use paw balm or doggie boots to protect their paws in winter weather. However, If you do not have any paw balm and/or your dog simply refuses to wear boots, smear vaseline over their paw pads as a great alternative. How To Protect Their Paws In Hot Summer Temps If you walk your dog on pavement in the summer, there’s a simple test to see if the pavement is too hot for them. Hold the back side of your hand on the pavement for 5 seconds. If it’s too hot for you then, it’s too hot for them. Try walking them on grassy areas during the hot part of the day. Easy Method To Test For Fleas If you suspect your dog may have fleas, here is a simple test to check. Lay your dog on a white towel to brush them. Look for flea dirt or fleas on the towel. If your dog does have fleas, please check out my article 5 Natural Remedies to Get Rid of Fleas In and Around Your Home for all natural remedies for your pet and your home. How To Get Rid Of Skunk Smell Did your curious canine get skunked? No worries! You can remove the odor with soap, hydrogen peroxide, and baking soda. Check out this article for detailed instructions. Easy Way To Remove A Stinger Removing a stinger from a dog’s skin can be tricky. Here’s an easy and quick way to remove a stinger. Scrape the stinger with something that has a firm straight edge like a credit card. The stinger will come with ease! How To Cure Bad Breath Does your fur baby have bad breath? Here’s an easy way to remedy that. Add small amounts of parsley to their food once or twice a week. Do not give them parsley in large amounts or on consecutive days as doing so can upset their stomachs. How To Stop Nail Bleeding Cutting a dog’s nails too short can cause their nails to bleed. Applying a paste made with equal parts of white flour, cornstarch, and water to their nails with light pressure for 3-5 minutes will stop the bleeding. Easy Way To Train Your Dog To Stay Calm During A Storm So many dogs (and cats) are afraid of thunderstorms! An easy way to train them to be less afraid is to play a sound recording of storms while going about your normal daily routine. Over time they will get used to the ‘sound’ and when the real storm comes along they may just shrug it off as ‘normal’, therefore, staying calm. DIY Spray To Eliminate Pet Odors Pet odors are no problem with this effective odor eliminating spray! Combine 5 tablespoons of baking and 4-6 ounces of water into a spray bottle. Next, add 5 drops of your favorite essential oil and shake well. Spray on carpets and cloth furniture to eliminate pet odors. DIY “No Chew” Spray Does your canine companion love to chew? Try this DIY “no chew” spray! This spray works really well due to the fact that dogs despise the taste of bitter apple. Mix together 2 parts of apple cider vinegar and 1 part white vinegar in a spray bottle and shake well. Spray on all their favorite “chew spots”! First Aid Kit For Your Loyal Canine We have first aid kits for ourselves but, we can’t forget that our loyal canines should have one of their own as well. Check out my article, Dog First Aid Kit For Your Canine Companion to learn how you can make the perfect first aid just for them! **Information within this article is for informational purposes only. Read our full disclaimer here. Do you have a dog care hack to share with us? Share with us in the comment section below. Check out our other great articles on pet care: Smart Fire and Electrical Tips To Keep Your Pets Safe Basic Home Remedies For Fleas (Protect Your Pets) 15 Pet Projects & Recipes  

Green Grift Dollars Flying Out D.C. Door in Last Minute Spending Spree