In a galaxy far, far away, some behind-the-scenes photos were taken of one of the most popular franchises to date, Star Wars. Today, fans of the Skywalker saga have seen everything from puppets to a CGI Yoda on the big screen. But these rare pictures show what happened during creation of the original trilogy before the cameras even started rolling. The photos depict things like the man inside the... Source

The 2024 election results certainly came as a surprise to the national media. They spent the last few weeks of the campaign wildly speculating about how Donald Trump wouldn’t accept the results and that it would be complete chaos. Instead, Trump won the popular vote, and they all had to follow their own norms and accept the results in an orderly fashion. The win wasn’t a landslide, but it felt like one because of the towering tsunami of garbage the media and the Democrats and their prosecutors threw at Trump. They could not believe that all this lawfare and relentlessly negative publicity would create a backlash. They saw this pattern in the Republican primary—and yet they couldn’t accept the pattern would repeat itself in the general. They knew that the Biden-Harris approval ratings were abysmal, and that the top issues, like inflation and illegal immigration, were dragging them down. But they loathe Trump so much they could not imagine he could win again—and win much more convincingly than in 2016. So, then the media had to think about the unthinkable: Doesn’t anyone care about our “news” anymore? How could our relentless anti-Trump messaging fail to land? They had to ponder whether podcasters like Joe Rogan were the wave of the future in influencing voters. They had to moan and whine that “misinformation” spread by Elon Musk‘s Twitter ruined all their objectives. Axios.com wailed that “the big media era is over.” The young people aren’t following along. Smart sources said that “reaching people ages 35 and under with any message—or even major event—is almost impossible. Or they’ve seen an eight-second clip with no context, so they have a very different understanding of what happened than someone who saw a mainstream report.” These “cord-cutters” aren’t imbibing the conventional wisdom. They’re in “fractured communities” on the internet. Point and laugh that these people eternally see themselves as the “mainstream,” no matter how the people vote. We can say with confidence that the big media don’t have the same grip on public opinion that they have long imagined. When only 31% of respondents told Gallup they have a “great deal” or a “fair amount” of trust in the press, it became clear most Americans are looking elsewhere for information. No wonder Democrat-enabling journalists worry about “misinformation,” which they define as “information that doesn’t agree with our hot takes.” But when politicians assemble in public, it’s possible they will still feel the pull of the leftist press as the most powerful players, even if the polls don’t match it. Old assumptions die hard in national politics. It would be encouraging for Trump and the Republicans to make sure that conservative journalists, radio hosts, and podcasters are provided with lots of access and make the liberal journalists have to listen to conservatives. Because they tend to be incurious and intolerant of opposing views. Finally, conservatives should enjoy how the liberals said this whole election was about “saving democracy,” and then a majority voted for Trump and GOP control of Congress. Democracy hasn’t died in darkness. The majority of people who cited “democracy” as an issue voted for Trump. This is because the Left cannot concede that they were the ones trying to suppress the speech of their opponents, and they were the ones that were putting their opponents in jail. They were the ones raiding the home of the opposing former president with guns drawn. So, who ended up looking “authoritarian” in the end? Democracy means the Left gets to be ridiculed and rejected, and it’s only just begun. COPYRIGHT 2024 CREATORS.COM We publish a variety of perspectives. Nothing written here is to be construed as representing the views of The Daily Signal. The post Is It the End of ‘Big Media Era’? appeared first on The Daily Signal.

They helped a cat but didn't know they would also save four kittens who would grow into the cutest little shadows. ChatonsOrphelinsMontrealEarlier this year, a cat with a wounded paw was found abandoned and alone outside. A kind woman took her home, assessed the injury, and realized she needed urgent care.She reached out to her local rescue, Chatons Orphelins Montreal, asking if they had room for a cat in need. Even though they were already at capacity, the volunteers rallied together to save her.They brought the cat in for treatment, and a volunteer offered to foster her. But at the vet, they discovered she wasn't the only one that needed help. ChatonsOrphelinsMontrealRemarkably calm, she let the vet team clean and treat her paw as if she understood they were helping her. When they examined her belly, they found she was pregnant.Exhausted and hungry from the ordeal, she spent the next few days enjoying hearty meals and plenty of rest. She was soon on the mend, and her body quickly filled out. ChatonsOrphelinsMontrealHer paw healed without the need for surgery. Once she could move freely, she started exploring her surroundings, greeting everyone with head bumps and purring everywhere she went."She spent much of her time sleeping as she waited for her babies to be born," Celine Crom from the rescue shared. ChatonsOrphelinsMontrealOne morning, she surprised her foster family with four kittens, each a mini version of herself.Three of the kittens latched on with voracious appetites, while one needed a little help from the foster carer. For the first 48 hours, the momma cat couldn't produce enough milk for her hungry kittens, so the foster family stepped in to supplement them. ChatonsOrphelinsMontrealTwo days later, her material instincts took over. She began handling all the mom duties, feeding and cleaning her little ones around the clock."Their foster mom weighed the kittens every day to ensure they were making gains. There are two girls and two boys, all looking like their mom. Vigorous eaters, they quickly developed nice, round bellies." ChatonsOrphelinsMontrealOver the next few weeks, the kittens grew by leaps and bounds, reaching new milestones. They played together and napped as a clowder. As they outgrew their nest, they blossomed into energetic little shadows, dashing around the room like they owned it."Their mom takes excellent care of them and purrs a lot. She is truly fortunate to have been rescued from a life on the streets when she was injured and pregnant." ChatonsOrphelinsMontrealFrom the moment the kittens were born, their mom was there, watching over them every step of the way.Now that the little shadows are weaned and showing their own personalities, their mom stays nearby, overseeing the playful chaos in the room. But as soon as someone comes in, she greets them with the sweetest snuggles and purrs. ChatonsOrphelinsMontreal"The four little ones are like clones, looking so similar that they wear collars to help us tell them apart. They are very curious, and as much as they love to play, they also cherish quiet cuddle time with us.""Cerise is the most independent, Booboo is the explorer, and their two brothers, Ninja and Noxx, are the mischievous ones." ChatonsOrphelinsMontrealThe quadruplets don't seem to mind vet visits and allow the staff to hold them together like the snuggliest bouquet of kittens.Their mom, Chalala, will never have to raise another litter and is ready to be loved and spoiled in her forever home. With a heart of gold, she's always eager for affection and adores every person and animal she meets. ChatonsOrphelinsMontrealThe kittens indulge in constant lap time with their foster family, their home echoing with the sound of rumbling purrs. ChatonsOrphelinsMontrealShare this story with your friends. More on the feline family and Chatons Orphelins Montreal on Instagram and Facebook.Related story: Cat Arrives at Animal Shelter with Kittens Then Staff Notice She's Especially Close to Smallest of the Litter

NYT Jumps Into Democrat Civil War Over Transing Kids--Guess Which Side They Pick

Sit back, relax, and let’s Break It Down in episode 41...

The weird waterway is only present for a few months a year.

The sleepy Scottish island had a wild history during WW2.

Texas Rep. Chip Roy (R) is urging his colleagues to vote before year end or in early January on the repeal of the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act. While Republicans might have enough votes — and will have a trifecta as of January — it is unclear whether they have the requisite will. "We're after the election now, so I feel like we ought to put it out there this year. Go ahead and vote on it," Roy told the Daily Signal, "so that more Americans can’t get persecuted." The FACE Act, ratified by President Bill Clinton in 1994, is supposed to protect access to churches and abortion facilities but has been weaponized by the Biden Department of Justice to lock up peaceful pro-life protesters, such as Paulette Harlow, 75; Jean Marshall, 74; Joan Bell, 76; John Hinshaw, 69; Progressive Anti-Abortion Uprising director of activism Lauren Handy; and 89-year-old concentration camp survivor Eva Edl. According to the legal organization Alliance Defending Freedom, "the DOJ brought at least 26 charges against pro-life individuals under the FACE Act in 2022. What were the total number of charges against abortion activists who obstructed or vandalized pro-life pregnancy centers in the wake of the Dobbs decision that year? Zero." 'Free Americans should never live in fear of their government targeting them because of their beliefs.' The DOJ continued its lopsided application of the law the following year, revealing an institutional commitment to holding pro-lifers to a different standard from their violent counterparts. The Daily Caller reported in July that from 1994 to 2024, there were 205 cases brought under the FACE Act against pro-life activists and only six brought against abortion activists; 55 of those cases were prosecuted during the Biden administration, only five of which reportedly concerned attacks on pregnancy resource centers. Months after urging the House Appropriations Committee to bar the use of taxpayer funds for the enforcement of the FACE Act, Rep. Roy introduced legislation in September 2023 that would repeal the law. The FACE Act Repeal Act of 2023 found 47 sponsors in the House. Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah) subsequently introduced a companion bill in the U.S. Senate. Roy stated at the time, "Free Americans should never live in fear of their government targeting them because of their beliefs. Yet Biden's Department of Justice has brazenly weaponized the FACE Act against normal, everyday Americans across the political spectrum, simply because they are pro-life." "Our Constitution separates power between the federal government and the states for a reason, and we ignore that safeguard at our own peril," continued the Texas congressman. "The FACE Act is an unconstitutional federal takeover of state police powers; it must be repealed." 'Republicans are going to have to get the nerve to actually stand up.' Lee noted in an X thread earlier this year, "The FACE Act criminalizes an odd assortment of offenses, including blocking access to and vandalizing (1) abortion clinics, (2) places of worship, and (3) pregnancy centers. How many prosecutions has Team Biden brought in the second category? Zero. Not even one." "The FACE Act, it seems, is being used by DOJ to punish pro-life protesters but not their pro-abortion counterparts," wrote Lee. "In enacting the FACE Act, moreover, Congress relied on now difficult-to-defend readings of both the Commerce Clause and the Fourteenth Amendment. I suspect most of the Republicans who voted for the FACE Act in 1994 would've voted differently had they anticipated the one-sided manner in which it would be enforced by DOJ." Roy, who has repeatedly called for the the House GOP to take up his bill in the months since, told the Daily Signal this week, "Obviously, we need to move the bill forward, and it would be critical because of what we're seeing with respect to the persecution of Americans being put in jail." "I think with the trifecta, we should be able to pass it," said Roy. "We should bring it forward. But look, Republicans are going to have to get the nerve to actually stand up for both free speech and life." Although it is up to lawmakers to axe the FACE Act, President-elect Donald Trump suggested in a June 22 speech to the Faith and Freedom Coalition that he will pardon peaceful pro-life activists such as Paulette Harlow upon taking office. In May, U.S. District Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly, a Clinton-appointed judge who chastised a nun for daring to make the sign of the cross in court, sentenced Harlow to 24 months in prison. Harlow, an elderly woman suffering from a debilitating medical condition, was among the pro-life activists convicted for blocking access on Oct. 22, 2020, to the Washington Surgi-Clinic, operated by the late-term abortionist Cesare Santangelo. “Paulette is one of many peaceful pro-lifers who Joe Biden has rounded up, sometimes with SWAT teams, and thrown them in jail," said Trump. "Many people are in jail over this. … We're going to get that taken care of immediately — [on the] first day." Trump noted further that upon taking office, his administration would "rapidly review the cases of every political prisoner who's unjustly victimized by the Biden regime, including Paulette, so we can get them out of the gulags and back to their families where they belong." Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

On Wednesday, North Carolina lawmakers forced through a bill that would effectively ban sanctuary policies.Gov. Roy Cooper (D) previously vetoed House Bill 10, but the Republican majority in the state legislature voted to override his decision. The Senate passed the bill in a 30-19 vote on Wednesday, following its approval by the House the previous day.'Common sense measure to help keep North Carolina safe.'HB 10 will require county sheriffs to honor Immigration and Customs Enforcement's detainer requests, holding illegal aliens for up to 48 hours so they may be transferred to federal custody. It also expands the list of alleged offenses — now encompassing felonies and certain serious misdemeanors — for which law enforcement officers must check an individual's immigration status. Additionally, the wide-ranging bill includes increasing private school voucher funding, which Cooper has vehemently opposed and appeared to be his biggest hang-up about the legislation.In his decision to veto the bill in September, Cooper claimed, "Private school vouchers are the biggest threat to public schools in decades."Cooper also previously told WTVD, "I've vetoed the sheriff's (portion of the bill) a number of times. Obviously, I'm still opposed to that."Some Democratic lawmakers who opposed the bill argued that it would place an unfair burden on sheriffs.Rep. Abe Jones (D-Wake) stated, "Tell ICE to do ICE's work.""Our sheriffs have enough work to do without doing ICE work for free," Jones claimed.Rep. Carla Cunningham (D-Mecklenburg) argued for "collaboration between local law enforcement and federal agencies like ICE to protect American lives."Senate leader Phil Berger (R) called the bill "purely common sense.""I question why anyone in law enforcement — these elected sheriffs — would deny a community the safety that is allowed by taking the process in this way," he told WTVD.North Carolina GOP also referred to the bill's measures as "common sense."A spokesperson stated, "Requiring Sheriffs to cooperate with ICE while over 10 million illegal immigrants have poured across the Southern border is a common sense measure to help keep North Carolina safe."The North Carolina Sheriff's Association voiced its support of the bill ahead of the vote. However, some counties, such as Wake, Durham, and Orange, opposed cooperating with ICE agents.Wake County Sheriff Willie Rowe stated Wednesday, "First and foremost, my priority remains the safety and well-being of Wake County residents, and I believe effective public safety depends on collaboration, not fear. Following the state legislature's decision to override the Governor's veto of House Bill 10 (HB 10), I want to reaffirm my concerns about the impacts of this law."The legislation will go into effect on December 1.Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

Americans love a good underdog, but many of them have never studied the Bible. Which means they don’t know exactly why they love a good underdog. “It comes from David and Goliath,” Glenn Beck of “The Glenn Beck Program” explains. “That is part of our culture. You don’t have to believe there was an actual giant and David defeated the giant with one rock. I happen to believe that story, but you don’t have to.” “But if you don’t know that story, you don’t really understand the West, and the Bible is littered with those stories,” he adds. Now, Oklahoma has become the first state to put the Bible back into classrooms, many thanks to Oklahoma State Superintendent Ryan Walters, who has dedicated funds to put a Bible in every school. “The left, I’ll give them credit. They’ve done a tremendous job of indoctrinating our kids for the last 40 or 50 years, and frankly, broader society, to believe that somehow our Founding Fathers believed that there shouldn’t be a Bible in a schoolhouse,” Walters tells Glenn. “We’re going to distort American history and tell kids this country is an evil, racist place, faith played no role,” he continues. “And so here in Oklahoma, we’re bringing the Bible back. We are very excited.” While Walters expects pushback from the left, he’s not concerned. “Leftists, you don’t have to agree with the Bible. You can be offended. That’s all well and good, and it’s fine, but you can’t lie to our kids about our history and the influence the Bible and Christianity plays,” he tells Glenn. “You have to understand our history in order for us to continue as a civilization,” he adds. Want more from Glenn Beck?To enjoy more of Glenn’s masterful storytelling, thought-provoking analysis, and uncanny ability to make sense of the chaos, subscribe to BlazeTV — the largest multi-platform network of voices who love America, defend the Constitution, and live the American dream.