When the first reading of 2023’s fourth-quarter gross domestic product came out last week‚ it surprised some analysts as more robust than expected‚ growing 3.3% on an annualized basis. How could the economy be growing when people still feel like they are struggling? How are things considered “good” and “expansionary” when big companies from Microsoft to Salesforce to Levi Strauss are announcing layoffs? The reality is that current “growth” has a costly side — something that could be seen as the equivalent of window dressing. That cost is seen both in the excessive aggregate debt load and the outrageous cost to service the debt that has been required to increase growth marginally in the United States. In today’s economy‚ massive deficits are being used to create the appearance of growth. Whether it’s jobs numbers or GDP‚ a substantial portion of what appears to be growth is coming from the government‚ which means it is coming at the direct expense of taxpayers. Government spending has been robust‚ but also costly. The adjusted-for-accounting “real” deficit for the last fiscal year was around $2 trillion. Again‚ this is not overall government spending; this is just the deficit — the amount spent more than taxes and other revenue that is ultimately financed through additional debt. This level of deficit spending is around double (maybe a bit more) the historical average amount of U.S. government deficit spending as a percentage of GDP. It is also incredibly unusual for such large deficits to happen alongside economic expansions. Normally‚ economic expansions lead to more government tax revenue‚ which shrinks the deficit. In today’s economy‚ the opposite is happening — massive deficits are being used to create the appearance of growth. And with financing costs being quite expensive today‚ particularly vis-a-vis the last fifteen years‚ that perceived growth is coming with a big price tag. My friend and financial commentator Jim Iuorio shared a chart of the national debt on X (formerly Twitter)‚ like the one below‚ and scrawled over it‚ “Tell me how good the economy is?” The truth is that if the U.S. dollar were not the world’s reserve currency‚ we would be in a severe currency crisis today. Economic “growth” is really an economic artifice. We know that entities from the International Monetary Fund to the U.S. Treasury itself have noted that our debt and overall spending trajectory are unsustainable. The U.S. debt has even received multiple downgrades over the past couple of years. Yet the government is still willing to incur more debt and keep spending high so that Joe Biden can run with the “look how good the economy is” slogan. Artificially stimulating growth through massive government spending‚ and the costs associated with it‚ saps future growth potential as well. With the increasing costs to finance the ever-growing debt load‚ government must divert billions upon billions of dollars simply to finance the debt‚ rather than put those dollars to productive use in the economy. The bad example and habits of the government have spilled over to consumers as well. Direct stimulus‚ first under Donald Trump and then increased during the recovery by Joe Biden through the poorly named American Rescue Plan‚ not only boosted inflation but also allowed consumers to keep their personal balance sheets in check. As the stimulus ran out and inflation ran rampant‚ consumers — the ones who had jobs‚ anyway‚ given the low labor participation rate — did their best to keep spending. Now‚ the personal saving rate for December has dipped to 3.7% (remaining below historic averages)‚ and household debt has remained at record highs. Yes‚ consumers are still spending‚ but again‚ it is coming at great expense to them. We need to be honest and understand that this debt-fueled economy is not healthy. In addition to curbing government spending‚ our best and most healthy path forward — the one that would really save our fiscal situation — is to reduce barriers to organic growth and unleash productivity. Unfortunately‚ that is unlikely to happen as long as the Democrats control the White House.

Texas Land Commissioner Dawn Buckingham accused President Biden's administration of retaliating for Texas' refusal to back down over protectionary measures‚ predominantly razor wire‚ at the southern border. Buckingham pointed to the administration's decision to pause the approval of natural gas exports.The land commissioner recently gave comments on the Supreme Court's ruling allowing the federal government to resume cutting and removing razor wire installed by the state of Texas on the southern border."My reaction was one of complete and utter surprise; I really don't understand their reasoning behind it‚" Buckingham told host Breanna Morello. "The barriers such as the wire‚ the wall‚ it channels people who want to cross into legal crossing points where they are much more legally accessed by Border Patrol‚" she added.In the days since Texas decided to defy the federal order‚ the Biden administration announced a "pause pending approvals of liquefied natural gas exports."The decision‚ according to the White House‚ was to "tackle the climate crisis at home and abroad‚" while taking a "hard look" at the impact of the exports on energy costs‚ "energy security‚" and the environment."Texas is the country's largest natural gas exporter and the third largest in the world! This reckless move is nothing more than retaliation against Texas — for standing up to this administration over the border crisis‚" Buckingham wrote on X. Texas is the country's largest natural gas exporter and the third largest in the world!\u00a0\n\nThis reckless move is nothing more than retaliation against Texas -- for standing up to this administration over the border crisis. — (@) Texas Governor Greg Abbott also issued a statement related to the border crisis and declared that the state was being invaded‚ invoking Texas' right to keep the state secure."I have already declared an invasion under Article I‚ § 10‚ Clause 3 to invoke Texas's constitutional authority to defend and protect itself‚" Abbott said‚ according to SCNR. "That authority is the supreme law of the land and supersedes any federal statutes to the contrary‚" the governor added."Texas has never backed down from a fight and we’re not looking to start now. Want our razor wire? Come and take it‚" Buckingham soon wrote on X‚ with an attached image that read "Come and Take It‚" displaying razor wire.Texas has never backed down from a fight and we’re not looking to start now.Want our razor wire? Come and take it. pic.twitter.com/oeTc4B0Ew0— Dawn Buckingham (@DrBuckinghamTX) January 27‚ 2024 The land commissioner has hammered the Biden administration since its announcement‚ calling Joe Biden "un-American" and accusing the president of stifling "America's growth" while driving "allies overseas" into the hands of adversaries.The Texas official also stated that "172 terror watchlist suspects" had been apprehended at the border‚ and had been emboldened by Biden's "disastrous policies." Julie Kelly‚ TX Land Commissioner Dawn Buckingham and John Zadrozny join The Breanna Morello Show https://t.co/yB3ZkU5t6m — (@) Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors‚ sign up for our newsletters‚ and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

An adult male on house arrest for selling cocaine brought a 13-year-old runaway girl to his residence in south Florida earlier this month and molested her‚ police said.What are the details?Leonel Keenan Labranche‚ 27‚ was on house arrest when he drove up to the young teen who was walking along a street after running away Jan. 9 and invited her into his home on Northwest 83rd Terrace in the county’s West Little River area‚ WPLG-TV reported‚ citing Miami-Dade police.Police said the pair smoked marijuana and performed sex acts on each other as she stayed at Labranche's residence‚ the station noted.Labranche on Jan. 12 took the girl to Memorial Hospital West in Pembroke Pines after he became concerned that she might have a sexually transmitted infection‚ WPLG reported‚ citing an arrest report.Police added to the station that they located Labranche on Friday‚ and he confessed to the allegations during an interview with detectives.Labranche was being held without bond in Miami-Dade’s Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center as of Monday morning‚ WPLG reported.More from the station:Labranche‚ whose house arrest stemmed from charges of selling cocaine and misuse of a two-way communications device‚ now adds a charge of lewd and lascivious molestation to his slate of charges‚ which also include multiple domestic violence-related felonies in connection with separate cases.According to jail records‚ Labranche's charge of selling cocaine included that it occurred within 1‚000 feet of a school. Records also indicate that in another case he was charged with burglary with assault or battery.How are folks reacting?Commenters reacting to Labranche's arrest on Facebook and under the WPLG story were unified in their disgust at the suspect:"Please keep him locked up!!" one commenter begged."POS‚" another commenter observed.Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors‚ sign up for our newsletters‚ and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

A vagrant who seems to be terrorizing a San Francisco neighborhood was arrested once again for assault with a deadly weapon just a few weeks after a jury acquitted him of viciously beating the city's former fire commissioner.As Blaze News previously reported‚ in April 2023‚ former San Francisco Fire Commissioner Don Carmignani called police because three homeless men were loitering outside his mother's home‚ using drugs and harassing those strolling by. When no one responded to his calls for help‚ Carmignani confronted the group and ordered them to leave the area. Tensions escalated‚ and one of the vagrants — 24-year-old Garret Doty — grabbed a metal rod from a garbage bin and began striking Carmignani with it.The attack‚ which a bystander captured on video‚ was brutal. Carmignani's skull was punctured‚ requiring emergency surgery so invasive that doctors had to break his jaw‚ causing his teeth to shift. He then spent several days recovering in the ICU and‚ after returning home‚ experienced night terrors and difficulty with short-term memory‚ he later claimed in an interview.Doty was initially arrested and charged with assault with a deadly weapon‚ aggravated battery with serious bodily injury‚ and assault with force likely to produce great bodily injury. Prosecutors then moved to drop the charges‚ claiming that Carmignani may have instigated the attack by using bear spray against the vagrants and that Doty likely used the metal rod in "self-defense."It seems prosecutors changed their minds and proceeded with the case against Doty‚ perhaps because he apparently twice violated an order to stay away from the Marina District neighborhood where the incident with Carmignani occurred. Doty was ultimately tried for two counts of assault and one count of battery. In December‚ a jury acquitted him of all charges.Outside the courtroom‚ Doty's public defender‚ Kleigh Hathaway‚ cheered the verdict as a sliver of justice for "unhoused people" like her client who too often live in "fear." "From the beginning‚ it was clear to me that Mr. Doty was acting in self-defense against Mr. Carmignani‚ who not only had the audacity to attack Mr. Doty with bear spray and then threatened to stab and kill Mr. Doty‚ but also presented himself as unwilling to back down from a fight that he had started‚" she said."Self-defense can be fierce because the brain goes into survival mode‚ and that fear response is sadly heightened for unhoused people‚ like Mr. Doty‚ who live in constant exposure."Mike Brophy‚ who sat on the jury‚ later revealed that he and other jurors viewed the case through an ideological lens. Prosecutors twisted the evidence so that they could "make a case for coming down hard on homeless violence‚" said Brophy‚ who does not necessarily see "homeless violence" as a pervasive problem.Brophy also referred to Carmignani as "a reprehensible character" who did not incite much sympathy from jurors. "We were all convinced the initial belligerent here was Carmignani‚" Brophy claimed. "I really don't like the feeling of my city trying to be an apologist for a known belligerent‚ a known vigilante." Homeless man found not guilty in beating case www.youtube.com The jury's apparent decision to favor Doty over Carmignani may have resulted in further area violence. According to the Marina Times‚ an independent outlet that covered the Carmignani case closely‚ Doty‚ now 25‚ was arrested earlier this week for allegedly attacking another victim just down the street from the incident with Carmignani.Shortly before 2:30 a.m. on Monday morning‚ Doty was allegedly involved in some kind of violence in the Marina District. He was arrested and booked into jail on a charge of assault with a deadly weapon‚ not a firearm. Jail records confirm that as of Tuesday morning‚ Doty remains in custody and no bond has been set. — (@) With yet another alleged attack just a month or so after the acquittal‚ many on social media are blaming Brophy and his fellow jurors for releasing a vagrant with an apparent penchant for violence back onto the streets."It’s a shame this latest victim can’t sue the judge or members of the jury that acquitted this thug Doty‚" wrote one user. "This latest attack is on all their consciences. How do they live with themselves?"Another user suspects that should this alleged incident be brought to trial‚ jurors will once again fall for ideological framing: "[L]ets [sic] see what they say this time‚ who provoked him this time[‚] who caused him to be 'afraid' this time even though he violated his whatever it was called to stay out of the area ... lets [sic] see what the new story is‚ this is the old story."The Marina Times agreed. "Right now @sfdefender is digging for dirt on the victim and praying they get a rogue jury that ignores the law again‚" the outlet responded. "Sadly‚ in San Francisco that’s entirely possible."Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors‚ sign up for our newsletters‚ and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

People born between the years of 1946 and 1964‚ otherwise known as Baby Boomers‚ often receive a lot of flak for being stuck in their archaic ways. According to RFK Jr.‚ one area where Boomers need to wake up relates to how they consume news. “They only get their news from ABC‚ NBC‚ CNN‚ MSNBC‚ and the New York Times‚” he said‚ admitting that Boomers are the one cohort he’s doing “really poorly with.” “The young people are getting their information from long-form interviews‚ from podcasts‚ from other alternative [sources]‚ so they're doing critical thinking‚ and they're not locked into these orthodoxies‚” he explained‚ adding that Boomers would do well to “listen to a Joe Rogan podcast.” Dave Rubin agrees with RFK’s criticism of mainstream media‚ even though he disagrees with him on matters such as “affirmative action” and “climate stuff.” “There are probably a series of other disagreements that we have‚ but does the guy love America? Yes. Does he see the problem with the mainstream media? Yes. Does he want accountability as it relates to COVID? Yes‚” says Dave. To hear more of RFK Jr.’s analysis of Baby Boomers‚ watch the clip below. Want more from Dave Rubin?To enjoy more honest conversations‚ free speech‚ and big ideas with Dave Rubin‚ subscribe to BlazeTV — the largest multi-platform network of voices who love America‚ defend the Constitution‚ and live the American dream.

Americans are sour on the state of the economy — and for good reason. Last year‚ they watched major companies shed more than 305‚000 jobs. That’s a nearly 200% increase in job losses over 2022. Nearly 70% of Americans believe the economy is getting worse. Nearly half of Americans think their standard of living is worse than their parents'. Why‚ then‚ is the federal bureaucracy expanding at the same time at taxpayers’ expense? With 90‚000 employees‚ the IRS was already massive. Now it plans to hire 20‚000 workers by the end of 2024. In the first eight months of 2023‚ the federal government hired 75‚000 new workers. The government “created” another 49‚000 jobs in November alone. This growth was driven primarily by America’s most-hated government agency: the IRS. Even the TSA and the Department of Education have much higher favorability ratings than the tax collectors. Yet in this time of great economic distress for many‚ our leaders still felt the urge to expand the size and scope of this agency. Congress passed the deceptively named Inflation Reduction Act in 2022 under the false notion that it would help ordinary Americans. All it really did was provide $80 billion for the IRS to go on a hiring spree for the next 10 years. With 90‚000 employees‚ the IRS was already massive. Now it plans to hire 20‚000 workers by the end of 2024. Traci DiMartini‚ a career bureaucrat who previously worked as the chief human capital officer at the Government Services Agency‚ is overseeing that effort. While Americans struggle to afford their groceries and worry about layoffs‚ DiMartini says it’s “an exciting time to be at the IRS.” Taxpayers can rejoice knowing she’s having so much fun on their dime! The IRS plans to weaponize taxpayer-funded government services and benefits to recruit new bureaucrats who will further micromanage our lives. Rather than using the private sector to find competent people to staff the agency‚ the IRS will rely on the U.S. Office of Personnel Management‚ the department squarely responsible for hiring legions of incompetent workers who almost never have to worry about being fired. The OPM also has a poor record on protecting sensitive information. Although the office fell victim to one of the largest government data breaches in history‚ government agencies like the IRS keep using it for hiring and human resources without batting an eye. They continue to do so even though private-sector companies are far more capable of completing the same HR tasks for the government (they’ve done so in the past). But the truth is that whether it’s the government or the private sector doing the hiring‚ the last thing Americans want or need is for their massively indebted government to grow bigger even as the private sector grows smaller. Americans don’t feel like they’re living in a time of prosperity. Many are looking for work and struggling to afford the basics. People want change. The time is now for conservatives in Congress on key oversight committees to stand up and say enough is enough. Let’s end this hiring party while we still can.

The Department of Justice has issued a grand jury subpoena to the House of Representatives‚ raising a number of questions about the nature of an investigation currently shrouded in mystery.Consistent with House rules‚ House Reading Clerk Susan Cole took the the House floor on Monday and read a letter from House Sergeant at Arms William McFarland informing the chamber of a DOJ subpoena. The clerk read:The Honorable‚ the Speaker‚ the House of Representatives. Sir‚ this is to notify you formally pursuant to Rule VIII of the rules of the House of Representatives that the Office of the Sergeant at Arms for the House of Representatives has been served with a grand jury subpoena for documents issued by the U.S. Department of Justice.After consulting with the Office of General Counsel‚ I have determined that compliance with the subpoena is consistent with the rights and privileges of the House.Signed‚ sincerely‚ William P. McFarland‚ Sergeant at Arms of the House of Representatives. — (@) What made the letter unusual is the glaring lack of detail contained in the letter‚ congressional reporter Jamie Dupree explained."When the Speaker is notified of a subpoena‚ the name of the court is always included‚" he wrote. "This one just says 'a grand jury subpoena for documents issued by the U.S. Department of Justice.' Who at DOJ is running a grand jury right now?" — (@) It is not exactly clear what the DOJ is investigating or who investigators are targeting. The DOJ declined to comment on the matter‚ ABC News reported.However‚ Punchbowl News reported on Tuesday that Rep. Cori Bush (D-Mo.) is the focus of the investigation. Prosecutors are targeting her alleged "misspending of federal security money‚" Jake Sherman reported.For years‚ Bush has been scrutinized for her spending on security services and whether she unethically misused campaign funds to pay for security. It's not clear if that spending is the subject of the investigation or if alleged misuses of her Member Representational Allowance is under scrutiny. Bush declined to comment. Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors‚ sign up for our newsletters‚ and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

A Christian singer was recently accosted by a special constable in London for daring to sing gospel music "outside of church grounds." The Metropolitan Police Service‚ which may have emboldened the constable with a track record of arresting Christians engaged in silent prayer‚ has indicated it is now investigating the matter. Harmonie London is a 20-year-old gospel singer who performs around the English capital and routinely shares videos of pedestrians' reactions to her music on social media. On Sunday‚ she shared an entirely different sort of video‚ showing an MPS special constable clamping down on her melodic expression of faith. The video begins midway through a dispute over a performance on Oxford Street in London. "Religion you're allowed to do anywhere‚" London tells the constable‚ who has been identified by LBC News as volunteer officer Maya Hadzhipetkova. "No‚ miss‚ you're not allowed to sing church songs outside of church grounds‚ by the way‚" says Hadzhipetkova. Although a voluntary special constable‚ Hadzhipetkova nevertheless has the same powers as a real police officer. "You are‚ you are‚" replies the singer. "You're not allowed to sing church songs outside of church?" "Outside of churches or church grounds‚" said the constable. "Unless you're being authorized by the church to do this kind of song." "That's a load of rubbish. You're allowed‚" London insists. The video jumps ahead to London keeping pace with Hadzhipetkova as the constable attempts to walk away. "Are you saying that you don't care about the Human Rights Act?" asks London. "You're laughing?" Rather than answer‚ the special constable sticks her tongue out at London. See on Instagram The MPS confirmed that the incident took place in "Oxford Street‚ Westminster‚ over the weekend‚" and indicated police were "working to understand the context in which these comments were made." In a subsequent statement‚ London police noted both that they were reviewing over 40 minutes of relevant footage and that the bone of contention may have been a "specific by-law related to busking." The Daily Mail reported that Westminster City Council‚ which oversees the Oxford Street area‚ has a "light touch licensing scheme" in effect whereby buskers can perform in designated areas with a license. "The officer knows she could have handled this differently and is speaking to her manager‚" added Metropolitan Police. Harmonie London told the Daily Mail that she had been singing "Amazing Grace" when interrupted and had not received any complaints prior to her encounter with the constable. "[Hadzhipetkova] literally marched up to me‚ stood in front of me and said stop your music now. She literally laughed at my human rights‚" said London. "She wasn't interested. She acknowledged‚ she knew‚ and another officer acknowledged that you do have freedom of religion and to express yourself." "I sing gospel to glorify God. I'm just literally following the Bible‚ sharing the Good News. It's just an opportunity to witness to non-believers as well‚" continued London. "I don't approach people. I don't force people to listen. I sing and they can choose to listen — and if they don't‚ they can choose to move on. A big crowd formed‚ they were literally begging the police to leave me alone." London indicated the ordeal made her feel "very humiliated and small." Andrea Williams‚ chief executive of Christian Concern — a group that routinely defends the rights of Christians and the vulnerable — told the Mail‚ "One of my favorite things as I commute to work is to hear Harmonie's beautiful worship." "She blesses tens of thousands of people in the same way and brings harmony to the streets‚" said Williams. "We need more of this‚ not less. It is shocking that she has been treated like this." Claire Pearsall‚ a political strategist and former adviser to the British Home Office‚ told TalkTV‚ "Really should the police be going around telling people they can't sing‚ they can't pray‚ they can't think something? Why don't they go and deal with actual crime?" Former Conservative parliamentarian Ann Widdecombe told Premier's Inspirational Breakfast‚ "I think they should take very firm action against this individual‚ not least for sticking her tongue out‚ which was a gesture of contempt‚ not professional. And obviously‚ she doesn't really know the law‚ certainly doesn't appear to know the law." While the MPS indicated it is "working to understand the context in which these comments were made‚" Widdecombe indicated the damning video speaks for itself. "I would have thought it wasn't necessary for the police to understand the context‚" said the conservative politician. "They've got the video‚ they can see what she said now; is what she said right or not? And if it's wrong‚ then they should take action." "I think the point really being illustrated is some people have got a problem in this country with Christianity which they don't appear to have with other faiths‚" added Widdecombe. According to the Daily Mail‚ Hadzhipetkova moved from Bulgaria to Cyprus‚ then on to the United Kingdom‚ where she has since taken up jobs as a barista when not jet-setting around the world. She reportedly did not respond to the Mail's request for comment. In response to significant backlash online‚ the MPS wrote‚ "We're aware of significant social media commentary. Some of the comments are personal and hurtful. This is unacceptable." The MPS' effort to shame critics did not go over well. Various British commentators from across the political spectrum have since ridiculed the "unacceptable" claim. — (@) Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors‚ sign up for our newsletters‚ and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

Time is of the essence with this deal‚ so we'll cut right to the chase. Over at Best Buy‚ the Asus ROG Ally is available with a sizable $100 discount‚ making the Steam Deck competitor all the more affordable. However‚ you'll need to get your order in quick to be in with a chance of benefitting from this saving. Continue reading Save $100 on Asus ROG Ally‚ but you’ll need to be fast MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Asus ROG Swift PG27UQ review‚ Asus ROG Raikiri review‚ Best gaming motherboard

Remember way back in May 2023 when Behaviour Interactive promised us we'd be getting Iron Maiden skins for Dead by Daylight and then expected us to just sit around and wait patiently for this to happen? Well the wait is almost over‚ and it looks like it was all worth it. Continue reading It’s been 8 months‚ but we’re finally getting DBD’s best collab MORE FROM PCGAMESN: DBD killer tier list‚ Best horror games‚ DBD codes