Can Israel Kill or Capture Hamas Leader Yahya Sinwar?

Feel-Good Friday: Baby Beanie Brings Travelers Together Edition

The connection between animals and humans often begins from a very young age. Dogs‚ in particular‚ tend to form a special bond with their human siblings. Initially‚ there might be a hint of jealousy‚ but once the little ones start walking and cuddling‚ the dogs usually warm up to them. This was exactly the case... The post Mom unsure how toddler keeps ending up in hallway until baby monitor shows hilarious view appeared first on Animal Channel.

A World Economic Forum (WEF) official‚ finally realized that people have different perceptions of the world which can lead to challenging and polarizing views on society. Thank you‚ Captain Obvious.  WEF Managing Director Saadia Zahidi made a veiled call for censorship in a Jan. 11 Time article‚ where she claimed “misinformation and disinformation” are the greatest risk the world will face over the next two years. In her article‚ Zahidi fretted that humanity had polarizing “perceptions of reality” and needed to find “alignment on the facts.” She also pushed for “digital and media literacy for citizens‚” which is often window dressing for censorship. ”  Zahidi claimed that managing misinformation and disinformation was essential to help countries tackle other challenges. “Managing both shorter- and longer-term risks will need innovation and trustworthy decision-making. And that is only possible in a world with alignment on the facts‚” she wrote‚ not explaining whether she really means indisputable facts or just her perception of the facts. “Addressing the immediate risk of mis- and disinformation is therefore a must not just for our societies today but also to strengthen our ability to mitigate other emerging risks.” In other words‚ free speech is a risk‚ and censorship is necessary.  The WEF official also warned that so-called disinformation could weaken governments and faith in elections. Zahidi said‚ “The presence of mis- and disinformation in electoral processes could risk destabilizing the real and perceived legitimacy of newly elected governments‚ and manipulative campaigns have the potential to undermine democratic processes overall.” For the most part‚ Zahidi left specific solutions out of her article in favor of spreading fear. However‚ she called for heavy regulation of Artificial Intelligence (AI). Zahidi claimed that‚ “For a borderless risk like mis- and disinformation‚ a multi-pronged approach is needed across countries and industries‚ including standards and principles for responsible media in the age of AI‚ watermarking systems for AI-generated content‚ new laws and regulations for synthetic content.”  Zahidi cited the WEF’s Global Risks Report for 2024 which was mocked by people across the political spectrum after it was released‚ including by Nate Silver of FiveThirtyEight. Silver wrote: “If the experts think that misinformation is a bigger problem than war‚ then a way bigger problem than misinformation is that the experts are f***ing idiots.” The anti-free speech WEF and its founder‚ Klaus Schwab‚ are not neutral arbiters with a passion for truth‚ common ground and media literacy. The organization frequently pushes for changes that degrade the quality of life of Americans and the entire world‚ including by proudly publishing dystopian fantasies. Its conferences gather elites from across the world to discuss potential violations of freedom of speech‚ privacy and property rights. Incidentally‚ the WEF has also featured discussions of what to do about so-called disinformation‚ proposing social media censorship alongside encouraging Big Tech to boost approved sources. Conservatives are under attack! Contact your representatives and demand Big Tech be held to account to mirror the First Amendment while providing transparency on WEF partnerships‚ clarity on so-called hate speech and equal footing for conservatives. If you have been censored‚ contact us at the Media Research Center contact form‚ and help us hold Big Tech accountable.

Hunter Biden is reversing course‚ telling House Republicans he will sit for a closed-door deposition.In a letter written to House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer (R) and House Judiciary Committee Jim Jordan (R)‚ Hunter's attorney said his client will provide his testimony for a deposition — only if the lawmakers issue new subpoenas.According to attorney Abbe Lowell‚ the current subpoenas — which Hunter defied‚ resulting in both House committees passing contempt resolutions — are "legally invalid.""I write to make you aware (if you are not already) that your subpoenas were and are legally invalid and cannot form a legal basis to proceed with your misdirected and impermissible contempt resolution. And you two‚ of all people‚ should know that is the case‚" Lowell wrote in an eight-page letter on Friday.Essentially‚ Lowell argued the subpoenas are not enforceable because they were issued before the House initiated an official impeachment inquiry into President Joe Biden. The subpoenas were issued in November‚ while the impeachment inquiry was opened in mid-December‚ more than a month later.This may sound like Hunter is‚ once again‚ trying to dictate the rules for his testimony. Previously‚ he committed to testify before a public hearing only — despite the subpoenas requiring him to sit for a closed-door deposition. But‚ unfortunately for Republicans‚ there is recent legal precedent supporting Lowell's argument.In 2019‚ the Democrat-controlled House issued subpoenas related to their investigation of then-President Donald Trump before holding a House vote to open an official impeachment inquiry. The Justice Department's Office of Legal Counsel later issued a report noting the "subpoena first‚ impeachment inquiry resolution second" process was backward and legally improper‚ according to Lowell.Therefore‚ Hunter will only comply if the committees issue new subpoenas‚ Lowell said."If you issue a new proper subpoena‚ now that there is a duly authorized impeachment inquiry‚ Mr. Biden will comply for a hearing or deposition‚" he wrote in the letter.The House is scheduled to vote on the contempt resolutions next week. If they pass‚ the Justice Department will have the final say whether or not Hunter is prosecuted. Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors‚ sign up for our newsletters‚ and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

Cancer is striking more young people‚ and doctors are "baffled" by the alarming surge in cases‚ according to a new report. The Wall Street Journal reported on Thursday‚ "Cancer is hitting more young people in the U.S. and around the globe‚ baffling doctors.""Diagnosis rates in the U.S. rose in 2019 to 107.8 cases per 100‚000 people under 50‚ up 12.8% from 95.6 in 2000‚ federal data show‚" according to the WSJ. The report cited a 2023 study published in BMJ Oncology that found‚ "Global incidence of early-onset cancer increased by 79.1% and the number of early-onset cancer deaths increased by 27.7% between 1990 and 2019."The study found the highest rates of people under 50 with cancer in North America‚ Australasia‚ and Western Europe. The lowest rates of cancer in young people were in Western Sub-Saharan Africa and Central Sub-Saharan Africa.The fastest-increasing cancers across the globe were early-onset nasopharyngeal and prostate cancer.The study found the deadliest were early-onset breast‚ tracheal‚ bronchus and lung‚ stomach‚ and colorectal cancers. In 2019‚ one in five new colorectal cancer patients were under 55— nearly double the rate in 1995. According to the news outlet‚ doctors suspect the increase in cancer appearance in young people is likely caused by engaging in less physical activity‚ more ultra-processed foods‚ and new toxins. The authors of the study noted‚ "Encouraging a healthy lifestyle could reduce early-onset cancer disease burden.""The patients are getting younger‚" said Dr. Andrea Cercek — who co-directs a program for early-onset gastrointestinal cancer patients at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York. "It's likely some environmental change‚ whether it’s something in our food‚ our medications‚ or something we have not yet identified.""Overall trends show many of the cancers with the largest increases in early-onset disease are in the gastrointestinal tract‚ including cholangiocarcinoma‚ colorectal‚ gastric‚ appendix‚ and pancreatic cancers‚" said Suneel D. Kamath — a gastrointestinal medical oncologist at the Cleveland Clinic Taussig Cancer Institute.Sachin Apte — chief clinical officer at Huntsman Cancer Institute at the University of Utah Health — asked‚ "Is it part of a larger trend or are we just getting unhealthier?" “From our data‚ we observed something called the birth cohort effect‚ Since 1950‚ we found that each successive generation has a higher risk of early-onset cancer. Someone born in 1960 has a higher risk than someone born in 1950‚ and someone born in 1970 has a higher risk than someone born in 1960. It’s just continuing‚" said Dr. Shuji Ogino — professor of pathology and Epidemiology at Harvard Medical School.Following a significant increase in cases in younger adults‚ the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force changed its colorectal cancer screening recommendation from age 50 to 45 in May 2021. Last year‚ the task force lowered screening recommendation for breast cancer from age 50 to 40 for women with an average risk.The silver lining is that the U.S. cancer death rate has dropped 33% between 1991 and 2020‚ according to a report published in CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians. The study published on Thursday found that approximately 3.8 million cancer deaths have been averted in that time period. "This steady progress is because of reductions in smoking; uptake of screening for breast‚ colorectal‚ and prostate cancers; and improvements in treatment‚ such as adjuvant chemotherapies for colon and breast cancers‚" the authors of the study wrote. "More recently‚ advances in the development of targeted treatment and immunotherapy have accelerated progress in lung cancer mortality well beyond reductions in incidence and are reflected in large mortality reductions for cancers with increasing or stable incidence (leukemia‚ melanoma‚ and kidney cancer)."The research discovered that breast‚ prostate‚ and uterine corpus cancers have increased. The study projected that there were 1‚958‚310 new cancer cases in 2023 and 609‚820 cancer deaths in the United States. Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors‚ sign up for our newsletters‚ and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

The second-largest foreign owner of American land is now apparently a well-connected Chinese communist with an affinity for Mao Zedong. The Land Report‚ a magazine that tracks private landownership in the U.S.‚ recently released its report on the top 100 landowners in the U.S.‚ indicating Chinese billionaire Tianqiao Chen ranks 82nd overall. Chen‚ originally of Zheijiang Province‚ China‚ made the list by acquiring 198‚000 acres of timberland in Oregon from Fidelity National Ventures for $85 million in 2015. Last month‚ state tax records revealed Chen's Shanda Asset Management LLC was the current owner. Bloomberg reported that in terms of landholdings by a foreign national‚ Chen is ostensibly only outdone by the Irving family of Canada‚ which owns 1.2 million acres in Maine. Extra to picking up vast swathes of northwestern territory — including another 500‚000 acres of timberland in Canada — Chen has purchased several valuable properties‚ including the Vanderbilt Mansion in Manhattan‚ which he picked up for $39 million‚ and the Seeley Mudd Estate in Los Angeles‚ which sold for $25 million. The Land Report indicated that Chen and his wife also dumped $115 million into Caltech‚ providing them with access to a three-story‚ 150‚000-square-foot facility on campus with their name on the side. The Daily Caller reported on the basis of a review of Chinese-language media reports that Chen‚ who made his billions from online gaming‚ has extensive links to the Chinese communist regime. In addition to being a member of the Chinese Communist Party — which he joined in 1991 — he reportedly has executive roles in various CCP-affiliated organizations. In addition to Chinese media outfits‚ financial profiles‚ and business filings repeatedly identifying Chen as a card-carrying CCP member‚ the Beijing Review indicated Chen is an admirer of Mao Zedong‚ the communist dictator responsible for the deaths of an estimated 65 million Chinese. China News Services‚ a propaganda outlet for the regime‚ revealed Chen has a favorite Mao quote: "Strategically we should despise all our enemies‚ but tactically we should take them all seriously." Chen is not a passive CCP member‚ but rather an ostensible insider‚ having reportedly served as a representative of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference — a state group where "all the relevant united front actors inside and outside the party come together‚" according to former CIA officer Peter Mattis. Responding to the Daily Caller's report‚ Rep. Lori Chavez-DeRemer (R-Ore.) wrote on X‚ "I'm deeply concerned that individuals tied to the Chinese Communist Party are buying up Oregon timberland." China‚ the U.S.' pre-eminent adversary on the world stage‚ has increasingly bought up American land over the past decade. Whereas in 2011‚ when Chinese investors owned 69‚295 acres of American land‚ by year-end 2021‚ they reportedly controlled nearly 400‚000 acres‚ including land near an Air Force base in Grand Forks‚ North Dakota. Chavez-DeRemer indicated she was proud to cosponsor proposals aimed at preventing the purchase of certain tracts of land by foreign nationals. For instance‚ the "Stop China's Continuous Purchase of Land Act‚" introduced in July 2023‚ would bar states from receiving funds under certain federal programs unless they had laws on the books restricting the purchase of agricultural land by Chinese nationals. The congresswoman told the Daily Caller‚ "Foreign ownership of United States lands is a serious problem that has rightfully sparked unease among farmers‚ ranchers and foresters across the country." Some states have already taken action to address the potential risk of ownership by persons and organizations with ties to adversarial nations. Missouri Republican Gov. Michael Parson signed an executive order last week barring "individuals and businesses from nations designated as foreign adversaries from purchasing agricultural land within a 10-mile radius of critical military facilities in the State of Missouri." China was counted among the nations deemed adversarial in the order. Missouri already had a rule on the books ensuring foreign agricultural land purchases could not exceed 1% of the total farmland in the state. "When it comes to China and other foreign adversaries‚ we must take commonsense precautions that protect Missourians and our security resources‚" said Parson. Blaze News previously reported that Arkansas passed a law in October banning China and other prohibited foreign parties from owning land altogether. Florida‚ Virginia‚ North Dakota‚ and Montana are among the other states to pass similar legislation in recent years‚ ensuring that American land could not be snatched up by potential foes. Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors‚ sign up for our newsletters‚ and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

Progressives routinely watch films that speak to their left-leaning beliefs on everything from abortion (“Call Jane‚” “Obvious Child”)‚ gun control (Miss Sloane”) and wealth inequality (“Saltburn‚” “The Menu”).Conservatives‚ by comparison‚ scrounge for partisan scraps. They mostly come up empty.For every documentary like “What Is a Woman?” there are dozens of non-fiction pieces from a hard-left perspective.Still‚ mainstream Hollywood movies occasionally tease conservatives with themes and subtexts that speak to their deeply held beliefs. The following 20 movies offer a prime example of just that.'The Dark Knight Rises' (2012)The third chapter of Christopher Nolan’s “Bat” trilogy follows Bane (Tom Hardy) and his Occupy Wall Street-style thugs threatening Gotham City. Nolan is too talented to turn a superhero yarn into a conservative screed‚ but there’s no denying his eat-the-rich villains ape the worst traits of that short-lived social movement.'Still Mine' (2012)Progressive actor James Cromwell stars as a husband struggling to keep his ailing wife by his side. To do so‚ he wants to build a special home to provide the right space for her needs. Local bureaucrats won’t let him‚ pitting Cromwell’s character against Big Government. This fact-based drama is a beautiful ode to marriage and individual liberty.'Only the Brave' (2017)Few saw this revisiting of a 2013 tragedy that took the lives of 19 fire fighters. Josh Brolin and Miles Teller star as men tasked with battling back infernos to save the innocent. The story celebrates sacrifice‚ honor‚ and commitment‚ all elements right-leaning audience would savor.'Ghostbusters' (1984)Four entrepreneurial ghostbusters battle both City Hall fat cats and Slimer the ghost to save the Big Apple. Our heroes‚ who flee academia to build a small business‚ note the difference between the two worlds. Dan Aykroyd’s Dr. Raymond Stantz puts it best: “Personally‚ I liked the university. They gave us money and facilities; we didn't have to produce anything! You've never been out of college! You don't know what it's like out there! I've worked in the private sector. They expect results.”'Dallas Buyers Club' (2013)Matthew McConaughey won an Oscar for playing an AIDS-stricken man scrambling to treat his fatal illness. His character’s frustration with FDA paperwork leads him to work around the system‚ delivering potentially lifesaving drugs to fellow AIDS patients in the process. Hollywood championed a film targeting Big Government in no uncertain terms.'South Park: Bigger‚ Longer &; Uncut' (1999)The Comedy Central series is always a few years ahead of the pop culture curve. That proved true again in the show’s first full-length feature film. The boys run headfirst into a censorship buzz saw‚ a storyline brimming with the show’s unexpurgated humor.'Avatar: The Way of Water' (2022)Director James Cameron may be progressive to the core‚ but his films often showcase the power of family. Remember Ripley’s maternal side saving the day in 1986’s “Aliens?” That’s particularly true with this blockbuster sequel‚ which focuses on the nuclear family amidst the beautiful CGI scenery. The main characters will go to any length to protect their children‚ all the while imparting valuable lessons to their brood.'Godzilla Minus One' (2023)The best Godzilla movie ever made features several compelling subplots sure to delight red-state viewers. Our hero (Ryunosuke Kamiki) becomes a surrogate father to a toddler who lost her parents during the final days of World War II. His fellow Japanese citizens‚ weary of war following their nation’s surrender‚ rally their courage to defend their homeland against a big green lizard. That patriotism against insurmountable odds supercharges the film’s finale.'Beavis and Butt-Head Do the Universe' (2022)There’s nothing conservative about these mouth-breathing troglodytes on paper. Tell that to creator Mike Judge‚ who revived the babbling duo with an eye on mocking the left. The story pokes fun at soft-on-crime policies one moment‚ then compares Antifa to MS-13 the next. Later‚ the ne’er-do-wells stumble onto a college campus‚ where they embrace their so-called “white privilege” to grand comic effect.'Borat' (2006)Sacha Baron Cohen’s irreverent romp tries to mock American pieties via the main character‚ a racist‚ sexist joker. Instead‚ the “Candid Camera”-style sequences reveal flyover country dwellers to be patient‚ kind‚ and brimming with tolerance. It’s still a deeply funny movie‚ but Cohen’s satirical targets have the last laugh.'The Incredibles' (2004)This Pixar triumph doubles as a Randian ode to excellence. The Incredibles clan must hang up their superhero tights when the government forbids them to flex their powers. Unbowed‚ our heroes save the day anyway‚ proving their exceptional gifts shouldn’t be stunted by any government body.'Lost in America' (1985)Director/star Albert Brooks said he made this gem in response to 1969’s “Easy Rider.” Dropping out‚ Brooks argued‚ isn’t as easy or cool as it looks. So he fashioned a tale of two yuppies attempting to live out their hippie flower power dreams until Julie Hagerty’s character blows the couple’s financial nest egg in one ill-fated night at a casino. Turns out a steady‚ 9-to-5 gig isn’t the worst thing in the world.'Gran Torino' (2008)Clint Eastwood knows a thing or two about conservative storytelling. Here‚ he plays a cranky racist who befriends a teen and his Hmong-American neighbors. Eastwood’s Walt appears to be a relic‚ a product of his dysfunctional past. He’s willing to change with the times and not only rallies to the Hmong community but lays his life on the line for them. Honor. Sacrifice. Valor. They matter to Walt more than ever‚ and those values are handed down to his new friends.'Knocked Up' (2007)Director Judd Apatow is a dyed-in-the-wool liberal‚ but his films often sneak in conservative values. In “The 40-Year-Old Virgin‚” our hero waits until his wedding night to consummate his marriage. Here‚ an arrested development type (Seth Rogen) impregnates a beautiful news researcher (Katherine Heigl) after one drunken date. The two decide not only to keep the baby but to see if they can work as a couple for the baby’s benefit.'Rocky' (1976)Sylvester Stallone’s triumphant debut as star and screenwriter is the American dream come to life (both on- and offscreen). A nobody boxer gets the chance of a lifetime‚ and he’s got the heart of a champion even if he doesn’t realize it. Hustle. Endurance. Faith. It’s all here‚ and “Rocky” has inspired a generation of Americans to reach for their dreams.'Barbershop: The Next Cut' (2016)Ice Cube is one of Hollywood’s most intriguing entrepreneurs. His presence here helps sell that message and then some. The main characters‚ dealing with a rise in gang violence‚ refuse to wait on the government to save them. They praise two-parent families as a cultural balm for their community. One barbershop member even questions how much President Barack Obama actually did for black America.'Kingsman: The Secret Service' (2014)The spy thriller packs plenty of action along with a nasty swipe at people of faith mid-movie. Yet the film’s villain‚ played by the always engaging Samuel L. Jackson‚ would feel right at home as a HuffPo contributor. Jackson’s character is an extreme environmentalist who wants to wipe out most of humanity to help heal the planet. Then‚ and only then‚ can humanity rebuild on his preferred terms.'A Quiet Place' (2018)You won’t find a better ode to pro-life parenthood than this monster movie. John Krasinski and Emily Blunt play parents trying to keep their children safe from aliens who track and kill their prey based on sound. When Blunt’s character becomes pregnant‚ they decide to keep the child‚ knowing that the baby's perfectly normal screams could put them all in danger. They’ll find a way‚ their actions tell us‚ no matter what.'Wish' (2023)Disney capped off a terrible‚ awful 2023 with a film celebrating the company’s 100th anniversary. “Wish” flopped‚ which meant the story’s conservative messaging fell on deaf ears. “Wish” follows a benevolent dictator (Chris Pine) who hoards the people’s wishes and makes them a reality – on his terms. The film suggests the best way for people’s wishes to come true is to make them happen themselves and not rely on any government to help.Just about every rom-comBoy meets girl. Boy loses girl (briefly). Boy and girl walk down the aisle (or make it abundantly clear that’s where they’re heading). Rom-coms are conservative by nature‚ and most adhere to a rigorous formula that sends moviegoers swooning.

“The View’s” Whoopi Goldberg should’ve stuck to acting and left the political commentary to those with common sense. “Play a scene from ‘Sister Act‚’” Jaco Booyens tells Sara Gonzales. “That was her best moment‚ and then it went downhill from there.” But Sara thinks Goldberg’s latest Trump tirade is worth watching (even if only for giggles). On a recent episode of “The View‚” which Jaco says was “written by the Democratic Party‚” Goldberg went on an embarrassing tirade about all the horrible things Donald Trump — “the dictator” — would inevitably do should he win the 2024 election. “People's faith in the country is waning; that's the thing that's pissing me off‚” she began‚ ignorantly adding that Joe Biden is “running for democracy‚” which is “really what's at stake.” However‚ “if the other guy becomes president‚” she continued in reference to Donald Trump‚ people will have to worry about being put in “some camp somewhere.” “That's his promise to us — he's going to force people to do his bidding. That’s what he said; ‘I’m gonna be good on day one‚ and then I’m gonna turn into some other person.”’Of course‚ her words are ludicrous‚ as Trump has never uttered such a ridiculous statement. But Goldberg wasn’t finished. She also had some things to say about our immigration problem.Illegal immigrants are “coming here for a reason because they're living in a place that's not good for their families. If you're okay with that and you understand that‚ then fight for us to find a better way to make immigration work ... Don't fight for keeping everybody out because then we all have to leave‚” she ranted. To clarify‚ Biden is pro-democracy‚ Trump is going to put people he doesn’t like in camps‚ and if we don’t support open borders‚ then we’re all going to be forced to leave America.“She’s talking about rounding people up in camps‚” laughs Sara. “Your guy is the guy who's weaponized the entire FBI and DOJ against half of the country. You've got the FBI ... putting families at gunpoint because a pro-life ...You're throwing people in prison for decades because they waved an American flag in the capital and walked out and left non-violently.” To watch Goldberg’s cringe-worthy Trump tirade‚ watch the clip below. Want more from 'The News &; Why It Matters?'To enjoy more rundowns of the top stories of the day‚ subscribe to BlazeTV — the largest multi-platform network of voices who love America‚ defend the Constitution‚ and live the American dream.

This week‚ a tatted up‚ obese country music star aptly nicknamed Jelly Roll spoke with some members of Congress to encourage them to pass the Fentanyl Eradication and Narcotics Deterrence (FEND) Off Fentanyl Act and to share with them a powerful message about the impact that drugs have had on his life and on the lives of his loved ones‚ including friends‚ family‚ and fans.On Thursday‚ 39-year-old Nashville native Jelly Roll‚ whose given name is Jason DeFord‚ appeared before members of the U.S. Senate Committee on Banking‚ Housing‚ and Urban Affairs to talk about the dangers of drugs‚ especially fentanyl. DeFord — a self-proclaimed former drug dealer who reportedly served time for armed robbery and possession with intent to sell‚ among other crimes — insisted that his message is not political."Because of my past‚ my right to vote has been restricted‚ [and] I have never paid attention to a political race in my life‚ " DeFord told the committee. "Ironically‚ I think that makes me the perfect person to speak about this because fentanyl transcends partisanship and ideology."DeFord went on to claim that every day in America‚ approximately 190 die every day as the result of overdose‚ enough to fill a 737 plane. "Imagine the national media attention it would get if they were reporting that a plane was crashing every single day and killing 190 people. But because it's 190 drug addicts we don't feel that way‚" he continued. DeFord also admitted that‚ as a former drug dealer‚ he was once "part of the problem." "I was the uneducated man in the kitchen playing chemist with drugs I knew absolutely nothing about‚" he claimed.At that time‚ he said he "genuinely" believed that "selling drugs was a victimless crime." "I truly believed that‚ y'all‚" he added for emphasis.He eventually changed his tune‚ though‚ after he saw how drugs ravaged his community. "I've attended more funerals than I care to share with y'all‚" he explained without self-pity. "... I could sit here and cry for days about the caskets I've carried [and] the people I've loved dearly‚ deeply in my soul. Good people."These lost loved ones‚ the fans he sees at his concerts who are "grappling with" addiction‚ and the struggles his daughter's mother has had with substance abuse have all led DeFord to decide to become "part of the solution‚" he said. Passing the FEND Off Fentanyl Act‚ which would declare fentanyl trafficking a national emergency‚ is a good "first step‚" he told members of the committee‚ but it can't end there."I encourage you to take it outside of this room. You take it to your colleagues and your constituents‚ and you give them the most that you can‚" he continued. Doing so would show people that "their elected officials actually care more about human life than they do about ideology‚" he claimed. Finally‚ he urged them to discuss the drug issue at home‚ "at the kitchen table‚" where it "matters" most.Though DeFord‚ whose mother reportedly gave him the nickname Jelly Roll when he was a chubby youngster‚ won the Country Music Association's New Artist of the Year Award just last November‚ he has actually been on the music scene for more than a decade‚ both as a country and a rap artist. Many of his hits‚ including "Son of a Sinner" and "Dead Man Walking" make reference to addiction.Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors‚ sign up for our newsletters‚ and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!