We all know that getting a good night's sleep is a vital part of a healthy lifestyle, but someone might want to explain that to people's bladders. It's one thing to be woken up by a loud siren or your child crying or your cats tussling, but when your own body wakes you up to perform a basic function, it can feel like a betrayal. Having to wake up to pee at night is a phenomenon known as "nocturia," and it's incredibly common, affecting some 50 million Americans. However, according to physical therapist and pelvic floor rehabilitation specialist Dr. Amanda Olson, only a small fraction of those affected by nocturia actually receive specialized treatment for it. “Nocturia isn’t just a minor inconvenience," says Olson, who serves as President and Chief Clinical Officer of women's health product provider Intimate Rose. "Waking up multiple times in one night to use the bathroom significantly disrupts your sleep cycle, which, in turn, negatively impacts your physical and mental well-being. Beyond the immediate frustration of interrupted sleep, links have been found between nocturia and heightened risks for more serious health issues, including falls particularly among older adults." She points out that nocturia can impact mental well-being as well, "causing drowsiness, mood shifts, and diminished focus throughout the day." And if you sleep with a partner, they tend to experience disrupted sleep as well. Nobody wants to be woken up at 2:00 a.m.Photo credit: CanvaMany people, including some healthcare providers, see nocturia as a normal sign of aging, but Olson explains that people don't need to just accept it. "We need to start treating nocturia not just as an inevitable nuisance but as a condition that can be addressed and managed," she says. Here are Dr. Olson's tips for things people can do themselves at home to reduce or eliminate nighttime trips to the bathroom: 1. Limit Evening Fluid Intake Managing your fluid intake, especially in the evening, can have a big impact on nocturia. “Try to avoid consuming large amounts of liquids within two hours of bedtime,” Dr. Olson advises. “Drinks containing caffeine, sparkling water, alcohol, and tea are all diuretics or bladder irritants that should be avoided, as they increase urine production and stimulate your bladder, making nighttime bathroom trips more likely.” 2. Empty Your Bladder Completely Before BedtimeCreate a bedtime routine that includes a final bathroom trip. Even if you don’t feel the urge to go, emptying your bladder before sleeping may reduce the chance of waking up at night. “A useful technique is to rock back and forth or gently sway side to side once you’ve finished,” says Dr. Olson. “This movement helps ensure your bladder is fully emptied, decreasing the chances of needing to go again later.”3. Elevate Your Legs To Reduce Fluid RetentionIf you suffer from fluid retention in your legs, try elevating them in the evening. Sitting or lying down with your legs propped up for an hour or so before bed can help move the fluid back into your bloodstream, where it can be processed and eliminated before you sleep. A pillow can help elevate your legs before bed.Photo credit: Canva4. Strengthen Your Pelvic Floor Muscles With Kegel ExercisesStrengthening your pelvic floor muscles through Kegel exercises can improve bladder control and reduce the urge to urinate at night. Performing these exercises regularly builds muscle strength in the pelvic area, which can help manage bladder urgency. “Using Kegel weights or resistance tools can make these exercises more effective, helping you see improvements sooner,” says Dr. Olson. “Make sure you follow a guide to pick up the right technique, however.”5. Train Your Bladder During The DayBladder training is a gradual process that involves spacing out the time between daytime bathroom visits. By holding off on urinating a bit longer each time, you can work on expanding your bladder’s capacity, which may reduce the frequency of nighttime urges. This gradual approach helps prevent your bladder from becoming too sensitive, potentially reducing the likelihood of waking up frequently at night.6. Avoid Bladder-Irritating Foods In The EveningCertain foods and drinks, such as spicy dishes, caffeinated beverages, alcohol, carbonated drinks, and artificial sweeteners, can irritate the bladder, increasing the frequency of urination. To minimize nighttime disruptions, try avoiding these triggers in the late afternoon and evening. “Instead, opt for bladder-friendly options such as water closer to bedtime,” says Dr. Olson. 7. Create A Restful Sleep EnvironmentSetting up a calm, comfortable sleep environment can make it easier to fall back asleep if nocturia does wake you. Try keeping your room dark, quiet, and cool; blackout curtains, earplugs, and a comfortable temperature can all promote better sleep quality. Good sleep hygiene can help reduce the impact of nocturia-driven sleep deprivation.Photo credit: CanvaAdditionally, reducing screen time before bed and creating a pre-sleep wind-down routine can help your body transition to a restful state, making it easier to drift back to sleep after interruptions. “This will reduce the impact of the sleep deprivation often associated with nocturia,” says Dr. Olson.Always consult your doctor if you have health concerns, especially if habits like these don't seem to make a difference. You can learn more about how to manage frequent urination and other pelvic health issues on the Intimate Rose website.

Czech photographer Jan Langer's portrait series "Faces of Century" shows them in a different light: as human beings aged by years of experience, but at their deepest level, unchanged by the passing of time. In the series, Langer juxtaposes his portraits with another portrait of the subject from decades earlier. He recreates the original pose and lighting as closely as he can — he wants us to see them not just as they are now, but how they have and haven't changed over time. That is the key to the series.These are the rare faces of people who have lived through two world wars, a cavalcade of regimes, and the rush of advancements in modern life. These photos, and the stories of the lives lived by the people in them, show not only the beauty of aging, but how even as we age, we still remain essentially ourselves.1. Prokop Vejdělek, at age 22 and 101All photos by Jan Langer.Vejdělek is a former metallurgical engineer who will never forget the taste of warm fresh goat's milk.2. Bedřiška Köhlerová, at age 26 and 103Originally born in Merano, Italy, Köhlerová wishes to visit Italy one more time.3. Ludvík Chybík, at age 20 and 102Chybík is a former postal carrier and says he will never forget the route he worked every day.4. Vincenc Jetelina, at age 30 and 105Jetelina spent eight years in prison after World War II. Now, he just wants to live the rest of his life in peace.5. Marie Fejfarová, at age 101Fejfarová burned all her material memories, including old photographs, when she decided to move to a long-term care facility. She lived a dramatic life, hiding from the Nazis and then the Russians, but eventually she was able to travel the world with her husband. Her experiences show there's no such thing as too late in life to start a new chapter.6. Antonín Kovář, at age 25 and 102Kovář is a former musician whose daughter comes to visit him every day. He wishes to play the clarinet once more.7. Anna Vašinová, at age 22 and 102Vašinová will always remember the day her husband was taken away by the Nazis. She wishes to be reunited with him after death.8. Stanislav Spáčil, at age 17 and 102Spáčil was an electrical engineer throughout his life and thinks that it's too early in his life to think about the past.9. Anna Pochobradská, at age 30 and 100Pochobradská was a farmer. She now lives a quiet life and is thankful that her daughter visits her every weekend.10. Antonín Baldrman, at age 17 and 101Baldrman was a clerk early in life and keeps up with current events by reading the newspaper.11. Marie Burešová, at age 23 and 101Burešová loves talking to her family and wishes to have them all together again.12. Vlasta Čížková, at age 23 and 101Čížková cooked in the dining room at the airport in the small village of Vodochody. She'll never forget reciting her own poetry at wedding ceremonies.13. Ludmila Vysloužilová, at age 23 and 101Vysloužilová stays active every day by chopping wood, shoveling snow, and doing work around her house.The photographer Langer was initially inspired to document the lives of elderly people because of what he saw as the media's lack of coverage of them. He decided to focus on people over the age of 100 — a very rare demographic indeed. The 2010 U.S. Census reported only 53,364 centenarians, which is only 0.19% of the population of people 70 years or older.“One should live every single moment according to their best knowledge and conscience because one day we will see clearly what has a real value," Langer says of what he learned from his subjects while photographing them.The series was originally part of a story that Langer did for the Czech news outlet aktuálně.cz. You can see more photos from the portrait sessions by following the link.This article originally appeared seven years ago.

Bill Gates sure is strict on how his children use the very technology he helped bring to the masses. In a recent interview with the Mirror, the tech mogul said his children were not allowed to own their own cellphone until the age of 14. "We often set a time after which there is no screen time, and in their case that helps them get to sleep at a reasonable hour," he said. Gates added that the children are not allowed to have cellphones at the table, but are allowed to use them for homework or studying.The Gates children, now 20, 17 and 14, are all above the minimum age requirement to own a phone, but they are still banned from having any Apple products in the house—thanks to Gates' longtime rivalry with Apple founder Steve Jobs.While the parenting choice may seem harsh, the Gates may be onto something with delaying childhood smartphone ownership. According to the 2016 "Kids & Tech: The Evolution of Today's Digital Natives" report, the average age that a child gets their first smartphone is now 10.3 years."I think that age is going to trend even younger, because parents are getting tired of handing their smartphones to their kids," Stacy DeBroff, chief executive of Influence Central, told The New York Times.James P. Steyer, chief executive of Common Sense Media, a nonprofit organization that reviews content and products for families, additionally told the Times that he too has one strict rule for his children when it comes to cellphones: They get one when they start high school and only when they've proven they have restraint. "No two kids are the same, and there's no magic number," he said. "A kid's age is not as important as his or her own responsibility or maturity level."PBS Parents also provided a list of questions parents should answer before giving their child their first phone. Check out the entire list below:How independent are your kids?Do your children "need" to be in touch for safety reasons—or social ones?How responsible are they?Can they get behind the concept of limits for minutes talked and apps downloaded?Can they be trusted not to text during class, disturb others with their conversations, and to use the text, photo, and video functions responsibly (and not to embarrass or harass others)?Do they really need a smartphone that is also their music device, a portable movie and game player, and portal to the internet?Do they need something that gives their location information to their friends—and maybe some strangers, too—as some of the new apps allow?And do you want to add all the expenses of new data plans? (Try keeping your temper when they announce that their new smartphone got dropped in the toilet...)This article originally appeared seven years ago.

Rats are an animal that people either love or hate, though it's safe to assume that most people would probably hate to come across the rodents in their home. But all rats aren't created equal, some were born to be...well, lab rats. While people may not like the critters, rats are extremely smart, which is why many of them end up in a lab but they're not always confined to the brightly lit sterile environment. Sure some lab rats are destined to spend their time solving puzzles for treats, but some get to explore nature as part of their official duties. African giant pouched rats are getting a cute little vest, a backpack and a ball that signals their handlers to go work as rodent detectives. These furry guys are learning how to exercise their extreme sense of smell to help detect the scent of exotic animals being smuggled out of Africa. Poaching and smuggling has been a problem that countries in Africa have been trying to address for a while. Poachers hunt animals like elephants for their ivory tusks, and rhinoceroses for their horns, often killing the animal in order to take their tusks and horns to sell them. But those aren't the only things getting smuggled off of the continent. adult elephant standing in wheat field Photo by Carlos Torres on Unsplash Pangolins, a small scaled mammal is one of the most trafficked mammals in the world according to APOPO, the Tanzanian nonprofit training the rats. In addition to the pangolins, elephant tusks and rhinoceros horns, the rats are also being trained to detect African Blackwood which is illegally logged. The rats are trained using target training and reinforced with treats before being introduced to items that they should not be targeting as a method of "discrimination training." Essentially discrimination training is teaching the rats to not respond to things that aren't on the list. Now, while it would be adorable for the little vests the rats wear to say something like "detective" or "rat police," they don't. Their vests aren't for identification, they serve a practical nature. brown and white spotted bird Photo by Studio Crevettes on Unsplash The snug little vest the African giant rats wear have a little ball on them that looks like a bell you'd find on a cat collar. The rats are trained to pull on the ball when they detect a forbidden item. Once the ball is pulled, it sends a beeping sound to their handlers to alert them that something is being smuggled. Right now research is still in the trial stages, but the smart rats have shown great progress being able to identify the target items against over 150 non-target items like socks, or a watch. Soon the detective rats will take on their biggest test yet, the airport in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Once the rats show they can correctly identify this exotic contraband in a large setting with lots of different competing smells, their job will move to the final stage–airport security. Well...sort of. The clever rats will be "operational" in the next couple of years in travel spaces like airports hoping to stop exotic traffickers in their tracks. Who knew police dogs would face competition of giant rats the size of cats in the near future? There's plenty of room for all types of working furry creatures so long as one of the rats doesn't try to hitch a ride instead of reporting back to it's handlers.

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Watch The X22 Report On Video 2 videos found Ep 3509b – Rats Running, Trump Is In The Process Of Breaking The [DS] System Of Control Ep 3509a – Trump Is Preparing The Country For The Biggest Economic Move, Power Shift Click On Picture To See Larger PictureThe German people have had it, more layoffs headed their way. UK pushing green new scam, this is going to backfire. Macy’s has a financial error. Trump is getting ready to do a power shift. He is setting up everything to move the economy and the creation of currency away from the [CB] system. The [DS] players are panicking. The rats are running out of DC and other places. Trump is in the process of breaking the [DS] system of control. The [DS] is pushing for a nuclear war out in Ukraine. The [DS] is struggling, they need the war, without they are exposed. Trump will expose everything they have done with declassification and transparency. The clock is ticking.   Economy   Macy's revealed Monday that a single employee's intentional misreporting of up to $154 million in expenses over nearly three years forced the company to delay its quarterly earnings report. An independent forensic investigation is underway. pic.twitter.com/kObmQmkVQ6 — Breaking911 (@Breaking911) November 25, 2024 Grocery bills for Thanksgiving dinner hits 40 year low A new study found that a standard Thanksgiving dinner is cheaper than ever, despite record price jumps in the grocery store since the COVID-19 pandemic. The cost of this year’s feast was estimated to be $58.08 for ten people, or $5.81 per person, according to a nationwide survey of grocery prices by the American Farm Bureau Federation, a lobbying group that represents millions of farmers. That’s a five percent drop from last year but still a 19 percent increase since 2019, pointing to stark realities of inflation over the last five years. However, when adjusted for inflation, this year’s Thanksgiving will be more friendly to Americans’ wallets than it has been for decades. +2 Pumpkin Pie Mix: 22.4 percent increase. Milk, 1 Gallon: 4.2 percent increase. Carrots and Celery: 15 percent increase. Rolls: 56.4 percent increase. Pie Shells: 40 percent increase. Green Peas: 18.5 percent increase. Whipping Cream: 4 percent increase. Cubed Stuffing: 45.2 percent increase. Source: dailymail.co.uk 2/ The system enabling the nonsense: GASB, which sets government accounting rules. Unlike strict business standards, GASB lets states:– Report loans as "revenue"– Hide most pension debt– Use asset sales to fake balanced budgets — Joe Lonsdale (@JTLonsdale) November 24, 2024 4/ Or CA's managed-care tax scam: They tax health plans, use that to get federal Medicaid matching funds, then quietly return the money to plans. Result: $19.4B taken from federal taxpayers. — Joe Lonsdale (@JTLonsdale) November 24, 2024 6/ State/local govts spend trillions every year. When they hide true costs at the behest of plundering special interests, we get teacher layoffs, crumbling infrastructure, and surprise tax hikes — and a big bill coming due for our kids. — Joe Lonsdale (@JTLonsdale) November 24, 2024 8/ These two changes would expose trillions in hidden debt. That's why many bureaucrats, corrupt government unions, and other government cronies will fight so hard against reform. We can’t let them win! I love seeing smart friends like Scott Bessent at Treasury; let’s fix this. — Joe Lonsdale (@JTLonsdale) November 24, 2024 BREAKING JANET YALLEN JUST RESIGNED !! SOMETHING BIG WILL GET EXPOSEDIN U.S POLITICAL SYSTEM VERY SOON pic.twitter.com/aIxiYXxZ2y — Ash Crypto (@Ashcryptoreal) November 24, 2024   Most Americans favor imposing tariffs on imported goods. This widely touted proposal is a key cornerstone of President Trump's Made in America agenda. pic.twitter.com/vV4K9jag63 — Trump War Room (@TrumpWarRoom) November 24, 2024 Bessent Bounce: Stocks and Bonds Rally On Trump’s Treasury Pick U.S. financial markets on Monday welcomed the nomination by Donald Trump of investor Scott Bessent as Treasury Secretary. St0cks moved higher on the first trading day following the Friday announcement of Trump’s pick. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 475 points, or around one percent. The S&P 500 climbed about six-tenths of a percent. The Nasdaq Composite was also up by around three-quarters of a percent. The Russell 2000 index of smaller American businesses is up 1.6 percent, signaling investor confidence that the Trump administration’s policies under Bessent will bolster the domestic economy. Source: breitbart.com Trump’s New DOGE Begins To Identify Federal Agencies For Overhaul  “Federal government agencies are using, on average, just 12% of the space in their DC headquarters,” a Thursday post reads. “The Department of Agriculture, with space for more than 7,400 people, averaged 456 workers each day (6% occupancy). Why are American taxpayer dollars being spent to maintain empty buildings?” “In FY2024, U.S. Congress provided $516 billion to programs whose authorizations previously expired under federal law. Nearly $320 billion of that $516 billion expired more a decade ago,” a The data shows that the federal government largely depends on taxpayer money to run its agencies and programs. “There are 438 federal government agencies and sub agencies,” Greene stated on X. “The federal government is the largest employer in the United States. The federal government is in debt at nearly $36 trillion dollars. And all of this is funded by American taxpayers. It’s truly shocking the American people haven’t torn down this government yet.” Source: zerohedge.com Political/Rights NEW Axios CEO melts down over @elonmusk telling ? users “You are the media now” — mounts passionate defense of dying legacy media: "My message to Elon Musk is b*llshit. You're not the media!" The MSNBC panel applauds: “Social media people lying every day, every hour, every… pic.twitter.com/SBwgI9hFfC — Western Lensman (@WesternLensman) November 25, 2024 Meltdown by Axios CEO Jim VandeHei. VandeHei goes on a rant about Elon telling X users “You are the media now”. "My message to Elon Musk is b*llshlit. You're not the media!" Two things are going on which are triggering Jim VandeHei 1) He is losing audience, his revenue is… pic.twitter.com/OlVscBYtWe — Wall Street Mav (@WallStreetMav) November 25, 2024   in decline and his business model is failing. 2) They are furious that X users (with a much larger audience) are able to so easily destroy the fake narratives the legacy “news” media pushes. People like Jim VandeHei used to be able to gatekeep on what is news and what the “facts” are. But they lost their credibility with years of lying, Now with people on X able to expose the lies, it is driving them crazy. Antony Blinken Mocked for Holding Therapy Cry Sessions After Trump Win Secretary of State Antony Blinken has been getting mocked for reportedly holding therapy cry sessions for White House employees upset over President-elect Donald Trump’s victory over Kamala Harris.  The Biden-Harris State Department organized an in-house therapy session for employees early Friday following Donald Trump’s election victory, four sources with knowledge of the meeting told the Washington Free Beacon. “Managing stress during change,” read an internal State Department email sent across the agency that encouraged employees to attend a one-hour session in which they could discuss their feelings about Tuesday’s election results. The department’s Employee Consultation Services in the Bureau of Medical Services hosted the session, according to a copy of the email notice described by sources to the Free Beacon. Rep. Darell Issa (R-CA), a senior member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, openly mocked the sessions and called it “unacceptable” for the State Department to tolerate this. Source: breitbart.com He belongs in prison. https://t.co/Mi0YfMan5d — Catturd (@catturd2) November 24, 2024 Trump border czar pointedly warns sanctuary cities could be prosecuted if they harbor aliens Tom Homan also says he hopes Mexico will cooperate with tougher border policies because if not, “you know President Trump’s one bad-ass president.” President-elect Donald Trump’s border czar is warning sanctuary cities of dire consequences if they refuse to turn over illegal immigrants, saying he’ll seek Justice Department authority to charge officials with obstruction and harboring if they don’t turn over illegal border crossers in their custody.“They need to be aware of a couple things. No. 1, impeding a federal law enforcement officer is a crime. No. 2, if you knowingly harbor or conceal an illegal alien from ICE, that’s a crime,” Tom Homan told Just the News in a wide-ranging interview. “So don’t cross that line!”The former acting Director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement was named earlier this month by Trump to coordinate all border security issues from the White House starting Jan. 20. He has been crafting plans already. Source: justthenews.com Americans support President Trump's plan for mass deportations of criminal illegal aliens. The policy is backed by most independent voters and strong majorities of voters across every age group — in line with other polls, which have consistently shown majority support. pic.twitter.com/heBodcKwN8 — Trump War Room (@TrumpWarRoom) November 24, 2024 Damian Williams, the high-profile U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York who prosecuted the Diddy case and hinted the possibility of more major arrests, has announced his resignation. pic.twitter.com/1Wq4ocHpVC — Shadow of Ezra (@ShadowofEzra) November 25, 2024   Geopolitical/Police State   — Elon Musk (@elonmusk) November 25, 2024 Yep. NewsGuard positions itself as the Internet’s arbiter of truth. Of course, it is nothing more than an Orwellian outfit that operates for the purpose of censoring viewpoints that fall outside an approved narrative. Its conduct has also led to collusive ad boycotts, which… — Brendan Carr (@BrendanCarrFCC) November 25, 2024 Paul Bond –  and the other questions I asked them in my second installment of a series on Big Censorship. See the email chain between @prageruand NewsGuard. What is NewsGuard’s problem with@FLSurgeonGen? And with pro-life activist @LilaGraceRos? If you cherish free speech, please read and share. And, tune in to Larry Elder’s radio show Monday where we will discuss Big Censorship and Trump’s vow to end it. These are the stories that legacy media, where I toiled for three decades, refuse to tell. Carr – which may violate antitrust and competition laws. The FTC and DOJ can examine that. At the FCC, Section 230, as relevant here, only protects “good faith” actions. Given NewsGuard’s concerning track record and the fact that it is under congressional investigation for its impact on protected First Amendment speech, I will say this for now: Any tech company that continues to rely on NewsGuard is putting its Section 230 protections in serious jeopardy. More to come on this…  FCC 101: "The FCC has stated that “rigging or slanting the news is a most heinous act against the public interest.” The Commission will investigate a station for news distortion if it receives documented evidence of rigging or slanting, such as testimony or other documentation,… https://t.co/94tLRtPCpr pic.twitter.com/70R8TlsXKw — Rasmussen Reports (@Rasmussen_Poll) November 24, 2024   from individuals with direct personal knowledge that a licensee or its management engaged in the intentional falsification of the news.” Meanwhile, LA Times Gallup: Gun Ownership Higher Among Republican Women Than Democrat Men The number of Republican women who own guns has jumped from just under one in five to more than three out of ten. Gallup divided decades of survey results into “six-year groups” and found that whereas 19 percent of Republican women owned guns from 2007-2012, now 33 percent of Republican women do. This means more Republican women own guns than do Democrat men, only 29 percent of whom own a weapon. Source: breitbart.com BREAKING: OVER 2 MILLION PEOPLE IN THE UK CALL FOR NEW ELECTIONS AS PUBLIC OPINION OF THE LABOUR PARTY DECLINES pic.twitter.com/nFeyQC8RKC — Election Wizard (@ElectionWiz) November 25, 2024 Another Nationalist Upset: Right-Wing NATO Critic Wins First Round Of Romanian Election In the continuation of well-established trend observed across Western democracies, yet another populist, nationalist, right-wing candidate has posted an election result that far exceeded what polls indicated he was capable of. The latest upset took place in Romania on Sunday, and it has positioned a NATO critic and Ukraine war skeptic to potentially take over the country’s presidency. With 99% of ballots tallied, populist Calin Georgescu led all 13 candidates with 23% of votes, edging the Save Romania Union Party’s Elena Lasconi and Prime Minister and Social Democratic Party member Marcel Ciolacu — who had 19.17% and 19.16%, respectively. Another right-winger — the Alliance for the Unity of Romanians’ George Simion — placed fourth with 13.87%. That sets the NATO- and EU-member country up for a second-round vote on Dec. 8 against either Lasconi or Ciolacu; Simion has already thrown his support behind Georgescu. Calin Georgescu  Reuters via BBC Source: zerohedge.com If EU bureaucrats thought Viktor Orbán was a problem for them and their funding for the proxy war in Ukraine, wait until they meet Romania’s future president, Călin Georgescu. Zelensky’s worshippers hate this man! pic.twitter.com/KzvGss1RSn — Gabe (@GabeZZOZZ) November 25, 2024 War CANADA HAS FALLEN Watch and share how my boss Ezra Levant was arrested in Toronto today for being Jewish while practising journalism Help him fight back at https://t.co/y0N5bzmSdJ pic.twitter.com/bFeHQwPLVm — Avi Yemini (@OzraeliAvi) November 24, 2024 JUST IN: Donald Trump is expected to kick transgender troops out of US military as early as January 20th according to a new report from The Times. The move would remove about 15,000 transgender active service members. “They would be medically discharged, which would determine… pic.twitter.com/qTHf2ee7xT — Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) November 24, 2024   that they were unfit to serve,” The Times reported. “It would also lead to a ban on trans people joining the military and would come at a time when almost all branches of the American armed forces are failing to meet recruitment targets.” During a recent podcast with Shawn Ryan, Pete Hegseth spoke out against wokeism in the military, blaming it for the recruitment drop off. Breaking: France and England threatening to send troops into Ukraine if Trump withdraws aid. Follow @ExxAlerts to learn more. https://t.co/Hk9NqoiY61 — General Mike Flynn (@GenFlynn) November 25, 2024 Top NATO official calls on business leaders to prepare for ‘wartime scenario’  A top NATO military official  urged businesses to be prepared for a wartime scenario and adjust their production and distribution lines accordingly, in order to be less vulnerable to blackmail from countries such as Russia and China. “If we can make sure that all crucial services and goods can be delivered no matter what, then that is a key part of our deterrence,” the chair of NATO’s military committee, Dutch Admiral Rob Bauer, said in Brussels. Source: reuters.com Biden Regime Discussed Giving Ukraine Nuclear Weapons Last Sunday, Joe Biden’s regime approved Ukraine’s use of US-made long-range missiles to strike deep inside Russia. On Tuesday, Ukraine fired six US-made long-range missiles inside Russia. The first Ukrainian strike targeted the border region of Bryansk in Russia. On Wednesday morning Joe Biden approved antipersonnel land mines for Ukraine – undoing his previous policy. On Thursday Russia unleashed the Oreshnik hypersonic missile on Ukraine. Russian leader Putin told reporters after the strike, “No air system can intercept Russia’s new Oreshnik hypersonic ballistic missile.” Kyle Anzalone at Antiwar reported: According to the New York Times, US and European officials have discussed a range of options they believe will deter Russia from taking more Ukrainian territory, including providing Kiev with nuclear weapons. The outlet reports that Western officials believe the Kremlin will not significantly escalate the war before Donald Trump is sworn in as President in January. Following the election of Trump earlier this month, the US and its NATO allies began taking steps to rush weapons to Ukraine and give Kiev the ability to strike targets inside Russian territory with long-range weapons.   Source: thegatewaypundit.com Pretty much. https://t.co/PgJAHbQyJq — General Mike Flynn (@GenFlynn) November 24, 2024 Cyber Attacks False Flags Here We Go Again: Bird Flu Virus Detected in California ‘Raw Milk’ Product, Prompting Urgent Recall  The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) has sounded the alarm after detecting bird flu virus in a retail sample of raw milk produced by Raw Farm, LLC in Fresno County. This urgent advisory follows the detection of the bird flu virus in a retail sample, leading the company to issue a voluntary recall for the product bearing lot code 20241109 with a Best By date of 11/27/2024. Credit: California Department of Public Health While no illnesses have been reported in connection with this contaminated batch, the CDPH is taking no chances. Consumers are advised to return any remaining product to the point of purchase immediately. Retailers have also been instructed to remove the affected raw milk from their shelves. More from the press release:  Pasteurized milk and milk products are safe to consume because the heating process kills pathogens, including bird flu, that can cause illness.    Read more: Source: thegatewaypundit.com She changed her mind when it became apparent how corrupt everything was pic.twitter.com/MPWPB2anKP — VK (@vjeannek) November 23, 2024  Georgia Public University System Bans DEI Admissions Policies, Includes Constitution in Required Learning The University System of Georgia (USG), which governs 26 public colleges and universities as well as the public library system, has adopted several changes to combat Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) ideology and to include U.S. founding documents in the curriculum. USG, which oversees institutions such as the University of Georgia, Georgia Institute of Technology, and Kennesaw State University, passed the proposals including “Equal Opportunity in Admissions” this week: Source: breitbart.com Q Pete Buttigieg will leave his post as Transportation Secretary having spent $7.5 BILLION to build 8 EV charging stations. His legacy will be squandering billions on something nobody wants, while millions struggle to afford the things they need. pic.twitter.com/iIQzvkPfTJ — Michael Rulli (@michaelrulli) November 24, 2024 Nolte: Insiders Say Kamala Harris Will Try Again in 2028  Democrat Party insiders say Kamala Harris is thinking seriously about trying again for the presidency in 2028. “Of course, she’s going to try and run again,” someone the Daily Mail describes as a “well-connected Democratic strategist,” told the outlet. The strategist added that Kamala’s ambition is only one thing driving this decision. “ Source:breitbart.com BREAKING: Jack Smith Moves to Dismiss Both Cases Against President Trump after Trump Plans to Go Scorched Earth and Fire His Entire Team of Prosecutors “In this motion, Jack Smith says that yes, ‘the Constitution requires dismissal in this context, consistent with the temporary nature of immunity afforded to a sitting president, it doesn’t require dismissal with prejudice,’” Greenberg said. “And then goes on to say, ‘immunity from prosecution for sitting president would not preclude such prosecution once the president’s term is over or he is otherwise removed from office by [resignation] or impeachment.’ So there is a possibility here that potentially he could be prosecuted down the line.”    ‘They Hate You’: RINO Susan Collins Poised to Assume Powerful Senate Role In yet another display of how establishment Republicans prioritize power and politics over their own base, RINO Susan Collins (R-ME) is set to take the reins of one of the most influential committees in Congress. Reports confirm Collins is poised to become Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, a role that wields unparalleled control over discretionary federal spending. This news comes on the heels of Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell’s announcement that he will relinquish the chairmanship, paving the way for Collins, who currently serves as vice chair, to step into the position. The Appropriations Committee oversees billions of taxpayer dollars, deciding how funds are allocated across the federal government. With Collins at the helm, conservatives are raising alarms about what this means for the Republican Party’s commitment—or lack thereof—to fiscal responsibility and its grassroots base.    Source: thegatewaypundit.com Adam Schiff Panics Over Pam Bondi and Tulsi Gabbard Nomination But Throws Full Support Behind Marco Rubio Source: thegatewaypundit.com The corporate media seem to be locked-in on the narrative that Tulsi a “Russian asset”. But none of them ever mention WHY. It’s because of what she said about the US-funded biolabs in Ukraine. The media leave out this detail, because they don’t want anyone digging further. pic.twitter.com/MTLKaOuDk4 — Clandestine (@WarClandestine) November 24, 2024 Dear @AdamSchiff: A federal grand jury in Ft. Pierce, FL must probe whether agents, prosecutors and other co-conspirators in FL, DC, NY, and AZ waged illegal lawfare and election interference against Trump, his aides, and his allies. 18 U.S.C. § 241 (conspiracy against rights). https://t.co/6TM3i4R77k — Mike Davis (@mrddmia) November 24, 2024   cause to believe Donald Trump committed crimes. That’s not a basis to go after them.” The American people who gave a mandate to Trump disagree, Adam. The people responsible for the “Get Trump” op at the Biden DOJ must be held to account. Democrats Draw Up an Entirely New Anti-Trump Battle Plan The party’s early preparations to oppose the next Trump administration are heavily focused on legal fights and consolidating state power, rather than marching in the streets. Locked out of power next year, Democrats are hatching plans to oppose President-elect Donald J. Trump that look nothing like the liberal “resistance” of 2017. Gone are the pink knit caps and homemade signs from the huge protest that convulsed blue America that year, as exhausted liberals seem more inclined to tune out Mr. Trump than fight. Washington is far different, too. The Republicans who stymied some of Mr. Trump’s first-term agenda are now dead, retired or Democrats. And the Supreme Court, with three justices appointed by the former president, has proved how far it will go in bending to his will. Democrats envision flexing their power in these states to partly block the Trump administration’s policies — for example, by refusing to enforce immigration laws — and to push forward their vision of governance by passing state laws enshrining abortion rights, funding paid leave and putting in place a laundry list of other party priorities. Some of the planning in blue states began in 2023 as a potential backstop if Mr. Trump won, according to multiple Democrats involved in different efforts. The preparations were largely kept quiet to avoid projecting public doubts about Democrats’ ability to win the election. The Democratic effort will rely on the work of hundreds of lawyers, who are being recruited to combat Trump administration policies on a range of Democratic priorities. Already, advocacy groups have begun workshopping cases and recruiting potential plaintiffs to challenge expected regulations, laws and administrative actions starting on Day 1. Source: nytimes.com The games have began! — Douglas Macgregor (@DougAMacgregor) November 24, 2024 Klobuchar says Trump nominees have ‘got to get their background checks together’   Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) said Sunday that President-elect Trump’s picks for his next administration have “got to get their background checks together.” Earlier in an interview, Klobuchar told ABC News’s Jonathan Karl that as a Senate Judiciary Committee member, she and her colleagues on the panel have a role “to look at the FBI background check and is to ask them questions to make sure they’re fulfilling the mission of the department” for Cabinet picks. “In this case, I am concerned with all these nominees … if we do not have an agreement for FBI background checks,” Klobuchar added in her “This Week” appearance. “As far as I know, the transition committee has not made that agreement yet.” Source: thehill.com The FBI began conducting background checks for presidential nominees and White House staff as a standard practice during the administration of President Dwight D. Eisenhower, which would place the start of this practice in the 1950s. Yes, Donald Trump’s transition team has opted to bypass traditional FBI background checks for some of his Cabinet picks by using private companies to conduct vetting for potential candidates. This decision reflects concerns about the speed and perceived biases of the FBI’s process, which some of Trump’s allies believe could slow down his early agenda or be used to inflict political damage. Critics argue that this move bucks a long-established Washington norm, potentially compromising the thoroughness of the security clearance process necessary for high-level government positions. However, there’s no legal requirement mandating FBI checks for these nominations, allowing for the use of private investigators or other entities as seen fit by the incoming administration. This strategy was noted in reports around November 15, 2024, indicating a significant shift from standard protocol There is no federal law that explicitly requires the President or President-elect to use the FBI for conducting background checks on their nominees. The practice of involving the FBI in background checks for presidential appointees stems from tradition, executive orders, and memorandums of understanding rather than statutory law. Here are some key points:   Executive Orders: Historically, executive orders like EO 10450 from 1953, issued by President Eisenhower, have established the framework for background investigations within the executive branch, but these do not mandate FBI involvement specifically.   Trump, like any President, has the discretion to choose how to vet his nominees, including using private firms if he prefers, which is within his executive authority. However, bypassing the FBI’s process would be a significant departure from established practice, as noted in various reports and posts on X around November 2024. There isn’t a specific Senate rule or law that mandates the Senate must review FBI background checks for presidential nominees before proceeding with the confirmation process. Here’s the breakdown: Constitutional Duty: Article II, Section 2 of the U.S. Constitution gives the Senate the power to “advise and consent” on presidential appointments, but it doesn’t specify how this advice and consent should be informed or what information must be reviewed. The Senate’s ability to request and review FBI background checks is part of its oversight and advice and consent function, but it’s more about established practice than legal obligation. Senators can decide to press for these checks or proceed without them if they choose, reflecting their individual and collective political judgment. The MSM is already alleging corruption in a second Trump term after the President-elect chose not to disclose the identities of private donors. How long before the Dems bring impeachment articles? pic.twitter.com/8zcWFfDO3H — Breaking911 (@Breaking911) November 25, 2024 Current Situation: If a President-elect chooses not to disclose donor identities, they might be breaking with this tradition but not necessarily violating a legal obligation. However, this action could provoke criticism and scrutiny regarding potential conflicts of interest or influence from special interest groups. Public and Legal Scrutiny: While not legally forced to disclose, significant public outcry or legal challenges from watchdog groups might pressure or investigate a President-elect’s decision not to disclose. Legal challenges could hinge on interpretations of campaign finance laws if there’s suspicion that funds are being used in ways that skirt disclosure.   Given these points, a President-elect does not have to disclose private donor identities under current federal law specifically for transition funding, but there are strong ethical and political reasons to do so, influenced by public expectation for transparency and accountability. The decision not to disclose can lead to debates about the integrity of the democratic process and potential hidden influences, potentially leading to calls for legislative changes to enforce such disclosures in the future.

by Michael Snyder, End Of The American Dream: On April 13th, 2029 an absolutely gigantic asteroid known as “Apophis” will come very close to our planet.  In fact, we are being told that Apophis will actually be ten times closer than the Moon as it zips past the Earth.  The good news is that scientists […]