"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

Republican Sen. Joni Ernst of Iowa is actively lobbying against military veteran and Fox host Pete Hegseth's nomination to head the Department of Defense, sources confirmed to Blaze News. Hegseth was nominated by President-elect Donald Trump in November and has since been at the center of swirling rumors ranging from accusations of sexual abuse to anonymous allegations surrounding his drinking habits. Despite his fervent denial of the allegations and unwavering support from Trump, Ernst is proving to be a significant roadblock f his confirmation, sources close to the Senate told Blaze News. In addition to Ernst's concerns about Hegseth's past, other underlying motivations may be driving the conflict. Hegseth met with Ernst, a fellow veteran, on Wednesday amid the raging reports about his past conduct. Following the meeting, Ernst said that the two had a "frank and thorough conversation" and notably withheld any formal endorsement. Ernst doubled down on the non-answer this morning during an interview with Fox News, saying that she will be continuing a "thorough vetting process" for Hegseth. "I think for a number of our senators they want to make sure that any allegations have been cleared, and that's why we have to have a very thorough vetting process," Ernst said. Ernst declined to explicitly endorse Hegseth during the interview, to which the host said, "Doesn't sound in your answer that you've gotten to a yes." "I think you are right," Ernst responded.There are several reasons for her hesitation to back Hegseth. For one, a focal point of Ernst's career has been advocating against sexual abuse toward women, particularly in the military. This advocacy seems to be incompatible with a Hegseth endorsement given the allegations surrounding him, sources told Blaze News. In addition to Ernst's concerns about Hegseth's past, other underlying motivations may be driving the conflict. Ernst has the opportunity to make concessions with Hegseth to, for instance, crack down on sexual assault against women in the military in exchange for her vote. Rather than paving the way for her advocacy to become actual policy, Ernst has instead been acting as a "useful proxy" for old guard Senate Republicans like former leader Mitch McConnell, one source told Blaze News. Ernst, alongside Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis of Florida, has also been floated as a potential replacement in the event the Hegseth nomination falls through. Although she may not be explicitly vying for the position, one source told Blaze News that she would likely take it if she could.Given this hypothetical, Ernst's confirmation following the Hegseth debacle would be one to watch. On one hand, her resistance against a candidate who has wholeheartedly been endorsed by the party's revered president-elect may be a hard selling point for her Republican colleagues. On the other hand, one source pointed out that senators usually don't have a difficulty confirming other senators.For example, Republican Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida, who was tapped by Trump to serve as secretary of state, will likely coast through his Senate confirmation process. One source told Blaze News that this would likely be the same case for Ernst were she to replace Hegseth, calling confirmations for fellow senators a "courtesy." Hypotheticals aside, a nominee can afford to lose only three Republican votes going into the 119th Congress, assuming Vice President-elect JD Vance votes as a tie-breaker.As things stand, Hegseth is committed to his nomination, and so is Trump. Ernst, however, will continue to be a thorn in Hegseth's side. Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

Donald Trump’s election revealed plenty about those who voted against him, and Pastor John Piper was no exception. The pastor reacted to the win in a post on X, writing, “Having delivered us from one evil, God now tests us with another.” While Allie Beth Stuckey of “Relatable” was disappointed in Piper’s response, the pastor has quickly earned himself a place back in her good graces after showing that while he might not like Trump, he doesn’t buy into the left-wing insanity either. This was made crystal clear in a recent episode of “Ask Pastor John,” in which the pastor was asked what to do when confronted with the question of using “gender pronoun hospitality” on a local campus. Allie says John Piper stated that “the entire idea of ‘gender pronoun hospitality’ is a misleading slogan" and that "connecting the beautiful biblical word ‘hospitality’ with the unbiblical concept of gender pronouns is unhelpful.” “We ought to be hospitable, but we ought not to be affirming of pronouns that designate a destructive choice and a false view of reality. It is possible to be hospitable and honest,” he continued, before listing ten clear reasons he disagrees with “pronoun politeness.” “It defies God. … Self-conception as male or female should be defined by God’s holy purposes in creation,” he began. “It involves living a lie. A woman cannot become a man nor a man a woman.” “Being a man or a woman is not like being left-handed or right-handed. It goes far deeper and touches the depths of our created nature,” and “it regularly leads to destructive and irreversible surgeries and treatments” — which “destroys the God-designed potential of procreation and will bring sooner or later profound and sometimes suicidal regret.” Piper went on to say that so-called transgenderism “expresses the deeply anti-God commitment to human autonomy over against the will of God” and that it “contributes to the cultural disorder of sexuality that tends to undermine God’s pattern from male and female and confuses and destabilizes our young people.” Pronoun hospitality also “overlooks alternative ways forward that take seriously a person’s sexual confusion or rebellion,” “is the prelude to future perversions,” and “therefore, the greatest possible care should be taken before one gives any impression of approving or even being mildly disagreeable toward so-called transgenderism.” “I think that is a perfect response, and I am so grateful for his clarity,” Stuckey says, adding, “Clarity is kindness.” Want more from Allie Beth Stuckey?To enjoy more of Allie’s upbeat and in-depth coverage of culture, news, and theology from a Christian, conservative perspective, subscribe to BlazeTV — the largest multi-platform network of voices who love America, defend the Constitution, and live the American dream.