The post Are You Too Concerned About Your Cat’s Health? Worrying About Olga by Christopher Bays appeared first on Catster. Copying over entire articles infringes on copyright laws. You may not be aware of it, but all of these articles were assigned, contracted and paid for, so they aren't considered public domain. However, we appreciate that you like the article and would love it if you continued sharing just the first paragraph of an article, then linking out to the rest of the piece on Catster.com. Hi, I’m Christopher! Read my introduction to learn more about me and my silly Russian Blue cat, Olga. Cats are survivors, and some almost seem invulnerable. Although they’re solitary hunters, like their ancestors, they can form small, feral colonies to survive life on the streets. The older adult males usually leave after mating, but the females and offspring stick together. It’s not unusual for a feral female to care for a mother’s kittens’ when she’s away. Feline Health Concerns Even though they have nine lives, pet cats, whether indoor or outdoor, are vulnerable to several diseases and infections. Some felines are more susceptible to severe health conditions, and it’s depressing when your cat is on the list of the “breeds most at risk.” I’m glad it’s much easier to find accurate information about my cat’s health, but I’m guilty of expecting the worst and obsessing over the details. I had a more carefree attitude until my Siamese cat, who never had a problem until he was 17, was diagnosed with chronic kidney disease. He passed away two months before his 20th birthday, and several months later, I adopted Olga. After about a week, the rescue center called me and asked if Olga was feeling okay. The “loaf” is my preferred position when I’m sitting on the couch. Disturbing News They said her sister had died after suffering from a gastrointestinal infection and wondered if she had diarrhea or was vomiting. Luckily, she was fine, but I didn’t sleep for a while, and I annoyed Olga by hovering over her; she wasn’t as friendly as a kitten and needed more alone time. She was treated for ear mites before I adopted her and has never had problems with them again, but she has had several ear infections. Besides that, she was treated for a bad case of diarrhea and, more recently, idiopathic vomiting. A few weeks ago, Olga kept throwing up shortly after eating her food, but she didn’t display other worrying signs and seemed normal. The veterinarian examined her and ran several tests, including a comprehensive blood test, urinalysis, and radiograph to check for obstructions. Yes, I’m giving you the evil eye! Relief and Worry I was relieved they said she was healthy, and all her results looked good, but the “idiopathic” part of the diagnosis doesn’t ease a worried mind. My memory of the phone call about her sister came flooding back, and I had trouble keeping kidney disease, liver disease, pancreatitis, cancer, and hyperthyroidism out of my mind. Even with my veterinarian’s assurance and good blood test results, it took me a few days to become more optimistic about Olga’s health. She was back to normal, running around the house like a maniac, but I was anxious. In previous articles, I’ve criticized her odd behavior and violent ways, but I can’t ignore how much she has improved my life. Whether she’s shredding the back of my legs or playing soccer with my contacts case, it’s hard for me to get upset. She cracks me up even when she attacks me, but when she’s sick, my brain is a useless mass. Eliminating or blocking the bad thoughts in my mind is difficult, but watching a few hours of Monty Python’s Flying Circus usually helps. With so many social engagements, I relish the times I can relax on the floor. This article is a part of Christopher and Olga's series. Read his previous article: When Cats Are Terrified of the Outside World: Olga’s Fears The post Are You Too Concerned About Your Cat’s Health? Worrying About Olga by Christopher Bays appeared first on Catster. Copying over entire articles infringes on copyright laws. You may not be aware of it, but all of these articles were assigned, contracted and paid for, so they aren't considered public domain. However, we appreciate that you like the article and would love it if you continued sharing just the first paragraph of an article, then linking out to the rest of the piece on Catster.com.

Column SFF Bestiary The Myth Goes On: Boogeymen Investigates the Ogopogo (2015) Further investigations into the mysterious Ogopogo… By Judith Tarr | Published on December 2, 2024 Comment 0 Share New Share I could swear I’ve seen an episode on the monster of Lake Okanagan somewhere among the usual suspects. But according to the episode lists for Expedition X (and its parent shows Expedition Unknown and Destination Truth) and MonsterQuest, that’s a nope. Unsolved Mysteries did a segment on it in its second season, with references to Loch Ness among others. I found a show I hadn’t known before under that title, Boogeymen, though I’ve seen it as Monsters Among Us. That’s not quite it, but it has some interesting things to say about the creature that’s known as the Ogopogo. Lake Okanagan, like Loch Ness, is a long (130 km/70 miles), very deep (230m/760ft), cold lake that once connected to the ocean but is now cut off from it. (But cryptid enthusiasts speculate that it might still be connected through underground tunnels or channels.) It’s exactly the kind of lake that supposedly harbors monsters. General searches on “Canada’s Nessie” turn up summaries about a very long, serpentine, dark-green creature, which is what you’ll see in art and advertising if you happen to be touristing around Lake Okanagan and particularly in the city of Kelowna. The show however presents a different picture, which looks familiar after our explorations of Nessie and Champ. It’s anywhere from ten to fifty feet long or more. There’s a head like a horse, some say. Others say it has flippers, and some of those declare that it can maneuver around on land. It’s black and shiny, or brown, and only sometimes green. Some even say it’s orange. This episode of Boogeymen sums up the history and notes that First Nations peoples told tales of the monster long before the age of colonization, and drew pictures of it on rocks near the lake. They called it Nhaatik according to the show, and believed that it was a spirit of the water, lairing off what’s now known as Rattlesnake Island. It fed on kokanee salmon, a subspecies of sockeye that are unique to the lake and its tributaries. People who wanted to stay safe around the lake made offerings to propitiate the monster; if they failed to do so, the consequences could be violent. The first settlers in the area were so alarmed by the stories that they posted armed guards along the shore. Yet there don’t seem to have been any actual attacks on humans. As with Nessie, most of the witnesses tell of sighting something on or in the water, usually at a distance. By the twentieth century, the deadly spirit of the waters transformed into a tourist attraction. In 1989 it came under the protection of the Canadian government—though there had never been physical evidence of its existence. Nor has there been since, in spite of the usual range of investigations (with sonar) and expeditions. Even its name changed in the direction of the friendly and the funny. “Ogo-Pogo” is a British dance-hall song, subtitled “The Funny Fox-Trot”. It’s cute, it’s silly, it’s designed to sell fuzzy green plushies.  Photo and video evidence tends to show what look like long, undulating coils of something in the water. Occasionally there’s an eruption of spray in the middle of the lake, or something zooming along rapidly like a speedboat but with no boat in sight. Some claim to have seen a long neck and a reptilian head, à la Nessie. The episode devotes some time to a man who maintains that not only has he photographed the Ogopogo, he’s found a nesting site and seen its young. What this skeptical viewer sees are photos of logs underwater, with branches and knots that he insists are monster heads and eyes. The “nest” could be anything from a moose bed to a turtle nest, and the “babies” look like orange salamanders. The other evidence, the serpents in the water, could be anything from floating logs to rogue waves. Scientists interviewed on the show point out that temperature differentials in the water of a lake that large and deep can give rise to isolated waves, which will surge along the surface and look as if something big is swimming down the lake. Another option is bubbles of methane rising from the bottom and erupting into the air. To this, Unsolved Mysteries adds the possibility of seals or otters playing in the water. Ultimately, Lake Okanagan’s monster is a boon to the local economy and a bit of fun for the tourists. It gives people a reason to visit the area, which is known for its pleasant summers and its natural beauty. It’s safe; it’s friendly. It’s long since lost the edge of danger that made it a legend among the First Nations peoples.[end-mark] The post The Myth Goes On: <i>Boogeymen</i> Investigates the Ogopogo (2015) appeared first on Reactor.

‘Tis the season, friends. I often do most of my holiday gift shopping on Cyber Monday, and I also buy preps that are too expensive during the rest of the year. If you are shopping on Amazon, please use our link to get there. (Even better, bookmark it!) We get a small commission for each purchase you make at no additional cost to you! I hope that you have a wonderful day and find some goodies you need! Self-Reliance and Survival We have some great deals on our education site, SelfRelianceandSurvival.com, including things that aren’t always available the rest of the year. These items are marked down by up to 75%! The Conspiracy Files: Volume 1 This product is out of print and will be available TODAY only. Want to get ahold of all the conspiracies we’ve written about on The OP over the first ten years? This document discusses propaganda, censorship, Covid-19, the Ukraine war, the election, the Great Reset, dangerous technology, and much more. If you are a conspiracy theorist like me, you’ll find it very interesting how many of these “crazy conspiracy theories” turned out to be true. The Conspiracy Files: Volume 2 It’s only been two years since the limited release of the first volume of The Conspiracy files, but here we are with a second volume almost as long. This says a lot about the way the rhetoric and propaganda are ramping up. The document discusses propaganda, censorship, Covid-19, the election, world events, dangerous technology, evil plans, lies about Biden, the rebranding of Kamala Harris, and much more. 40 DIYs for Preppers Prepping gear is expensive, but what if I told you that often, you could DIY many of the things that will make your life easier in the event of an emergency? While they might not be as fancy-looking as the store-bought items, the ability to make your own gear can be even better. Here are 40 items you can make yourself, along with instructions. The Organic Prepper USB Archive Every year on Black Friday, we offer our Organic Prepper USB archive. It contains every single article we’ve published since the site opened back in 2012. In February, those purchasing today will get a free download containing 2024’s content. We’re living in a Brave New World in which we can be silenced at any point in time. Twelve years of our work could potentially disappear at the click of a mouse. If you’d asked me before 2021 whether that would be possible, I’d scoff and say, “Not any time soon!” But if you asked me that today, I’d tell you something entirely different. I’d tell you that it’s definitely of concern. We’ve put our entire archive on a 32g USB! You’ll get more than 3000 articles, illustrations, and footnotes in case you want to dig deeper into our sources. It’s a goldmine of information. It will be searchable by topic, keyword, author, and year. It works on any device that accepts USBs, so all you’d need is a tablet of some sort and a solar charger to be able to access everything from the website in the future. Deals from Amazon Check out some of the deals I found for CyberMonday on Amazon! Books The Ultimate Survival Medicine Guide by Joe and Amy Alton The Complete Guide to Smoking and Salt Curing: How to Preserve Meat, Fish, and Game by Monte Burch Root Cellaring: Natural Cold Storage of Fruits & Vegetables by Mike and Nancy Bubel The Prepper’s Ultimate Food-Storage Guide: Your Complete Resource to Create a Long-Term, Lifesaving Supply of Nutritious, Shelf-Stable Meals, Snacks, and More Four complete books in one flexi-bound package! Back to Basics: A Complete Guide to Traditional Skills by Abigail Gehring The Official U.S. Army Survival Manual Department of  Defense Survival food Mountain House Pork Sausage Nutristore Diced Beef Readywise Butter Powder Nutristore Pulled Pork Readywise Ground Beef Crumbles High Energy Emergency Food Bars You can find other freeze-dried survival foods on sale for CyberMonday at this link. Gear 4-pack of AA-Powered Emergency Lanterns Waterdrop Camping Gravity Water Filtration System (be sure to check the box in the description for an additional 10% off!) Mossy Oak Stainless Steel Multi-Tool Sharpal Pocket Knife Sharpener Baofeng Handheld Long-Range Ham Radio Set Ferro Rod (be sure to check the box in the description for an additional 10% off!) 100 Feet of 1000 Pound Paracord 20000 mAh Solar Charger Jackery Solar Generator with Panels Emergency Medical Kit Rhino Rescue Emergency Splint Diclofenac Pain Relief Gel  Ohm Omeprazole Tablets, Delayed-Release Tablets, Acid Reducer Tylenol Severe Cold and Flu Medicine Diphenhydramine Antihistamine (Generic Benadryl) Kitchen Tools Rubbermaid Instant Read Meat Thermometer Manual Meat Grinder Jar Opener Tool for People with Arthritis Herb Stripper Gorilla Grip Heavy Duty Can Manual Opener Kitchen Shears Miscellaneous Stuff (not necessarily prepper stuff) Collapsible Wagon 330-Pound Capacity Car Jump Starter Stainless Steel Low-Smoke Fire Pit The Wellness Company For a fantastic deal on emergency medications, memberships, and supplements, don’t miss The Wellness Company’s CyberMonday sale! This is their only major sale of the year, so don’t miss it. Click HERE to check out the offers! Have a great day! Please note that these items were on sale at the time of posting this article. Quantities may run out and sale prices may end. If you find any other cool prepper stuff, share the link in the comments section. The post CyberMonday Deals for Preppers appeared first on The Organic Prepper.

A dog who was left for dead in the trunk of a car last year was reunited with her foster mom on Wednesday, November 20. The Humane Society of the Pikes Peak Region shared the heartwarming story and reunion on Thursday, November 21. “Last year, our Animal Law Enforcement (ALE) officers received a call notifying them about an unknown number of dogs left in the trunk of a car,” the Humane Society of the Pikes Peak Region explained. “When they arrived on the scene, the sound of desperate cries for help echoed from the trunk. Nothing could prepare them for what they saw that day.” The animal shelter painted the picture of what their ALE officers found inside the trunk explaining, “There were ten severely neglected puppies in the trunk of the car and only three were still alive. All the animals were critically underweight, and with no muscle mass or fat, their bones were visible through the skin. The living puppies were dehydrated, hypothermic, and covered in urine and feces.” The animal shelter reveals that among the three living puppies they rescued, only one survived, and they named her Griselda. “Through round-the-clock care and unyielding hope, Griselda began to show signs of recovery,” the animal shelter reveals. “She was placed with one of our staff members, Allison, who became her foster mom and cared for her with patience and devotion.” The animal shelter reveals that months later, Griselda was renamed to Bits and found her forever family. “The joy of seeing her healthy and thriving was overwhelming, and we celebrated this beautiful triumph of life over tragedy.” And a year later, the animal shelter staff members, along with Bits’ former foster mom Allison, were reunited with the pooch. “She came to our wellness center for her vaccines and a check-up, and we watched in awe as she bounded into the room, eager to reunite with her foster mom, Allison,” the animal shelter reveals. “The two shared a tender moment, their bond as strong as ever.” The post about Bits’ reunion with her foster mom and the staff at the Humane Society of the Pikes Peak Region included a photo of baby Bits and another photo of Allison hugging the big, beautiful girl. “We are grateful to our ALE officers who rescued her, our veterinary team who healed her, our foster family who offered their home to her, and the family who adopted her and gave her a wonderful life,” the animal shelter wrote. Additionally, Bits’ new mom, Katie Barlow, left a comment on the post, sharing what life is with Bits today. She wrote, “Today, she’s thriving in the mountains with her three rescued canine siblings, living the wonderful life she deserves. We’re so thankful she found her forever home with us.”

Wow! They HATE Kash Patel

Researchers have uncovered a striking anomaly that sets the Milky Way apart from other galaxies of similar mass. According to three recent papers published in The Astrophysical Journal, the Milky Way has significantly fewer smaller satellite galaxies than its peers—and many of these satellites have mysteriously stopped forming stars. “Now we have a puzzle,” said Stanford astrophysics professor Risa Wechsler, cofounder of the Satellites Around Galactic Analogs (SAGA) survey. “What in the Milky Way caused these small, lower-mass satellites to have their star formation quenched?” The findings, based on data from 101 galaxies, suggest that the Milky Way’s evolutionary path is highly unusual. Researchers say this discovery challenges existing models of galaxy formation. “We cannot constrain models of galaxy formation just to the Milky Way,” Wechsler explained. “We have to look at the full distribution of similar galaxies across the universe.” At the heart of this research lies dark matter, the invisible substance believed to make up 85% of the universe’s matter. Dark matter creates massive halos, whose gravitational forces allow galaxies to form. The unique composition of the Milky Way’s dark matter halo could explain the unusual inactivity of its satellite galaxies. “Perhaps, unlike a typical host galaxy, the Milky Way has a unique combination of older satellites that have ceased star formation and newer, active ones… that only recently fell into the Milky Way’s dark matter halo,” Wechsler suggested. When comparing 378 satellite galaxies across the surveyed galaxies, the team found that most galaxies host satellites that are still forming stars. In contrast, half of the Milky Way’s satellites are dormant. These findings leave scientists questioning what makes our galaxy so different. “To me, the frontier is figuring out what dark matter is doing on scales smaller than the Milky Way,” Wechsler added. The post New Research Reveals the Unique Nature of Our Galaxy appeared first on Anomalien.com.

Joe Biden has made history — not as a unifier or a statesman, but as the architect of a bold act of corruption in modern American politics. With a single stroke of his pen, Biden pardoned his son, Hunter, covering any wrongdoing from 2014 through December 1, 2024.This act isn’t a pardon; it’s a blanket immunity deal drafted in the Oval Office.Joe Biden just spit in the face of every American who believes in the rule of law.Consider what this means. Tax evasion? Covered. Foreign influence peddling? Covered. Lying on a gun form? Covered. Bribes from China and Ukraine? Covered. Every crime the Biden family faces accusations for and those still unanswered have now been erased. The same justice system that harshly punishes ordinary Americans for such offenses has granted Hunter Biden immunity, courtesy of his father.This decision isn’t just a slap at the rule of law; it’s a blow to every American who values fairness and accountability.Let’s be clear: This is a corrupt dynasty shielding itself at all costs. Hunter Biden isn’t just a troubled son; he’s the weakest link in the Biden family empire. Evidence, including Hunter’s infamous laptop and congressional testimony, doesn’t merely implicate him. It points directly to Joe Biden, the “Big Guy” who allegedly received 10% of Hunter’s shady foreign deals.It’s fair to say Joe Biden didn’t pardon Hunter out of love or moral duty. He did it to protect himself.Imagine for a moment if Donald Trump had done this. If Trump had issued a sweeping pardon for Don Jr. or Eric, absolving them of past crimes and shielding them from future investigations, Democrats likely would have rioted in the streets. CNN would air round-the-clock coverage of the “death of democracy.” Rachel Maddow might need a fainting couch. The New York Times would call for impeachment before the ink dried.But when Biden does it? The media shrugs. Where are the op-eds condemning this abuse of power? Where is the outrage from self-proclaimed defenders of democracy?This isn’t just hypocrisy; it’s complicity. The media, the Democratic Party, and every so-called “independent” institution have revealed themselves as enablers of a corrupt regime.Let’s not forget what Hunter Biden did. This is a man who failed to pay hundreds of thousands in taxes while profiting from shady foreign deals under the Biden name. He lied on a federal gun application. His laptop — dismissed by Democrats and media allies as “Russian disinformation” — exposed a life of drugs, prostitutes, and influence-peddling.And yet, thanks to Joe Biden, Hunter won’t spend a single day in jail. In fact, he won’t need to defend himself again in court. Why? Because his father just declared that the rules don’t apply to his family.But this pardon goes beyond Hunter Biden. It sets a precedent that will haunt this country for generations. Joe Biden has sent a clear message: If you’re politically connected, the law doesn’t matter. If you’re part of the elite, you get a free pass. Meanwhile, the rest of us are expected to follow every rule, pay every tax, and accept every consequence.It’s a mockery of justice.The timing of this pardon is no coincidence. Biden knows congressional investigations into his family’s corrupt dealings are closing in. He knows Hunter’s scandals could bring him down. This pardon isn’t just a shield for Hunter; it’s a firewall for Joe. By issuing this sweeping pardon, Joe has effectively blocked any future accountability for his family’s crimes.But the American people aren’t blind. They see the charade. They recognize the two-tiered justice system that punishes ordinary Americans while allowing elites like Hunter Biden to walk free. And they’re fed up.The Biden family members believe they’ve secured victory. They think this pardon will shield them from consequences. But they’re mistaken. This isn’t the end — it’s the beginning.Republicans in Congress must act decisively and without delay. This is no time for half measures. They need to issue subpoenas, hold hearings, and file criminal referrals. The Biden family’s corruption must be fully exposed — not just to achieve justice, but to safeguard the country’s future.This moment is a turning point. It’s proof that the Democratic Party is beyond corrupt — it’s irredeemably broken. The same party that preaches about equity and fairness has revealed itself as a party of elites, by elites, and for elites.Joe Biden just spit in the face of every American who believes in the rule of law. He’s dared us to hold him accountable. And if we don’t, the very idea of justice in this country will be little more than a memory.

President Joe Biden and other elements of his administration have managed to evade the legal consequences meted out to Americans of other political stripes. Biden apparently figures his son should be afforded the same luxury. After repeatedly vowing he would not do so, and just months after declaring without qualification, "No one is above the law," Biden issued a "full and unconditional" pardon for son Hunter Biden. The pardon gives Hunter Biden a pass on any crimes committed between Jan. 1, 2014, and Dec. 1, 2024. This 10-year window of clemency not only lets him off the hook for his felony conviction on gun charges and for his felony tax offenses, but also conveniently overlaps with the Bidens' scandalous dealings with the Ukrainian company Burisma, where Hunter was appointed director in 2014, as well as with the communist state-linked organization CEFC China Energy and other questionable foreign entities. The brazenness and breadth of the pardon has stunned critics and fellow travelers alike, prompting even CNN and Politico to admit its "extraordinary" and "unprecedented" nature. 'The most lawless administration in history.' "I am satisfied that I'm not going to do anything," Biden told reporters in June, following Hunter's conviction on federal gun charges. "I said I'd abide by the jury decision. I will do that. And I will not pardon him." On Sunday — a day after President-elect Donald Trump indicated he would nominate Kash Patel as FBI director Christopher Wray's replacement — Biden signed the pardon for Hunter Biden, suggesting that his son was "treated differently" than other criminals. "The charges in his cases came about only after several of my political opponents in Congress instigated them to attack me and oppose my election," wrote Biden. "No reasonable person who looks at the facts of Hunter's cases can reach any other conclusion than Hunter was singled out only because he is my son — and that is wrong. There has been an effort to break Hunter — who has been five and a half years sober, even in the face of unrelenting attacks and selective prosecution. In trying to break Hunter, they've tried to break me — and there's no reason to believe it will stop here. Enough is enough." According to Biden, his son — who had an affair with his dead brother's wife; initially refused to acknowledge then attempted to avoid paying child support for the daughter he sired with a former stripper; used illicit substances that would land other Americans in prison; enriched himself abroad using his family brand; and allegedly engaged in an international influence-peddling scheme with his father — is a victim of a "miscarriage of justice." The pardon clears Hunter Biden for all offenses against the U.S. that he has committed or may have committed, "including but not limited to all offenses charged or prosecuted (including any that have resulted in convictions)," in the 10-year period. Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) responded to the pardon on X, writing, "Democrats said there was nothing to our impeachment inquiry. If that's the case, why did Joe Biden just issue Hunter Biden a pardon for the very things we were inquiring about?" "The most lawless administration in history," wrote Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.). Trump wrote, "Such an abuse and miscarriage of Justice!" Liz Wheeler, BlazeTV host of "The Liz Wheeler Show," tweeted, "I'm surprised anyone believed Joe Biden when he claimed he wouldn’t pardon Hunter. Obviously that was a lie. Joe was always gonna pardon Hunter. Not because Joe is a 'good father.' Because Hunter was the bagman who collected corrupt money for Joe. I thought everyone knew this." Politico admitted the pardon is "an extraordinary political act with extraordinary legal breadth" that is "deliberately vague." 'This is a bad precedent.' Former U.S. pardon attorney Margaret Love told the publication, "I have never seen language like this in a pardon document that purports to pardon offenses that have not apparently even been charged, with the exception of the Nixon pardon," referring to President Gerald Ford's blanket pardon of President Richard Nixon in 1974. Love added, "Even the broadest Trump pardons were specific as to what was being pardoned." Samuel Morrison, an attorney who similarly worked in the Office of the Pardon Attorney for over a decade, told Politico, "It is an extraordinarily broad grant." Morrison suggested that Biden has effectively cleared Trump to go the distance with his own pardons, noting, "It gives him some political cover. I think some January 6 pardons are probably coming — at least some, maybe all." CNN indicated that the pardon "deepened an entanglement of politics and the rule of law that has tarnished faith in American justice" and "may be seen as a stain on his legacy and his credibility." The New York Times indicated that Hunter Biden would most likely not have qualified for a pardon recommendation under the criteria used by the Department of Justice's Office of the Pardon Attorney. Some Democrats and fellow travelers have similarly acknowledged that the play to insulate Hunter Biden from consequence was a grave error. "I am disappointed that he put his family ahead of the country," wrote Colorado Gov. Jared Polis (D). "This is a bad precedent that could be abused by later Presidents and will sadly tarnish his reputation. When you become President, your role is Pater familias of the nation. Hunter brought the legal trouble he faced on himself, and one can sympathize with his struggles while also acknowledging that no one is above the law, not a President and not a President's son." "A selfish and senile old man," tweeted FiveThirtyEight pollster Nate Silver. "Why do you think Trump(ism) gains a following? Well, actually, that's complicated. But part of it is because elites of all political stripes are absolutely out for themselves and complete moral hypocrites. And Democrats stake a claim to moral superiority when Trump does not." Silver added, "Don't vote for any Democrat in 2028 who doesn't repudiate the pardon within 48 hours." By pardoning his felonious son, Biden may have done more than just nuke his remaining credibility. He may have transformed into a courtroom foe. Former U.S. ambassador to Israel David Friedman noted that the "pardon is extremely broad and covers activities while Joe was vice president. This means that Hunter cannot plead the Fifth if asked about his business dealings with Ukraine and China, including his Dad's involvement, because, with his pardon, he has no risk of criminal jeopardy." Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

Democratic challenger Derek Tran unseated Republican incumbent Rep. Michelle Steel in California's 45th congressional district on Thursday, narrowing the GOP's already slim House majority. Tran defeated Steel by fewer than 600 votes, making this one of the closest House races in the 2024 election cycle. Republicans now hold 220 seats while Democrats have 214 seats. California's 45th congressional district was also one of 19 House districts that President Joe Biden won in 2020 and that had a Republican incumbent in 2024. "From the moment I came to the United States, I knew that giving back to the country that welcomed me with open arms would be part of my future," Steel said in a Thursday post on X. "Because of the opportunities offered by this great country, and God’s great blessings, I was able to go to college, start a family, and build my own American Dream.""I embarked on a mission to assist First Generation Americans, stand up to our adversaries, and defend human rights," Steel continued. "The journey to work on behalf of legal immigrants and struggling families took me somewhere I never could have imagined — and for which I will always be grateful — the United States Congress." Steel was first elected to serve in California's 45th congressional district in 2022 after the state underwent redistricting, replacing Democratic Rep. Katie Porter, who now represents California's 47th congressional district. Steel also served California's 48th congressional district for one term in 2020 prior to the redistricting. "I will never stop fighting for you," Steel said. California's 45th congressional district was also one of 19 House districts that President Joe Biden won in 2020 and that had a Republican incumbent in 2024. "Just a short while ago, Congresswoman Michelle Steel called me to concede, and I expressed my appreciation to her for her service," Tran said in a Thursday post on X. "I plan to work closely with her office over the next month to ensure a smooth transition and handover of constituent casework, so my team hits the ground running in early January." "I look forward to once again taking the oath to support and defend our Constitution and beginning this next chapter of public service so we can put people first," Tran continued. Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

In 1935, dozens of rhesus macaques absconded from Frank Buck's Long Island menagerie. Nearly a century later, 43 members of the same species broke out of a South Carolina research facility