US Launches Retaliatory Airstrikes Against Houthis After Months Of Attacks In Red Sea

Opposing the waiver by a 209-198 vote

The U.S. government and those of other countries could be using higher inflation to lessen the value of growing public debt resulting from increased spending during the COVID-19 pandemic‚ according to a new analysis by a Harvard economist working with The Heritage Foundation.  The study covers government spending from 2020 through 2022‚ the high point of the pandemic‚ and looked at the U.S. and 20 other economies in the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development‚ or OECD.  Robert Barro‚ a distinguished fellow in economic thought at The Heritage Foundation who also is the Paul M. Warburg professor of economics at Harvard University‚ spoke about his research Thursday at an event at the leading think tank called “Inflation: Today’s Financial Pandemic.” (The Heritage Foundation is the parent organization of The Daily Signal.) “What are the policy implications? It’s very clearly supported from these kinds of results that the inflation in the U.S. and these other major economies did reflect very strongly on the fiscal surge‚ which was generated in particular as a response to the COVID crisis‚” Barro said during the Heritage event. “It succeeds in demonstrating clearly a strong linkage between the fiscal outlay and the resulting inflation.” Under the framework in the study‚ Barro said‚ more spending triggers more inflation. The higher initial public debt and longer duration for the debt mean lower inflation.  “You can think about the inflation surge as partly a way to pay for the fiscal effort‚” the economist said. “In the context of an emergency like World War II or the COVID emergency‚ it may not be crazy to do that. It can be relatively efficient to have this kind of contingent response to a fiscal outlay that is related to some kind of crisis—again wartime being the classic example.”  Barro’s remarks came on the same day the Labor Department reported that the consumer price index‚ a key measure of inflation‚ increased in December by more than most economists projected. The CPI was up 0.3%‚ higher than the predicted 0.2%. Year over year‚ it was up 3.4%‚ compared with the projected 3.2%. Wages adjusted by 0.2% from November‚ or 0.8% from a year earlier. The bulk of that increase was because of shelter or housing costs‚ which went up by 0.5%‚ or 6.2% year to year.  Food prices went up by 0.2% in both November and December. Energy increased 0.4% in December‚ although it fell by 2.3% in November.  Barrow contended that the increase in inflation might not be as simple as presuming that government officials‚ including those at the Federal Reserve‚ didn’t know what they were doing.  “So it may not be so simple as that this inflation was really stupid‚” he said. “There may actually be a rationale for having this kind of response. And again‚ not just in the U.S.‚ but more broadly‚ across this group of [21] countries.” Inflation could work only in emergencies as a strategy for addressing the size of public debt‚ Barro said‚ because it amounts to “partial default on the public debt.” But‚ he said‚ countries can benefit by deflating the real value of debt through inflation.  “That is the way this thing‚ in terms of how much public debt is out there‚ how that interacts with inflation‚” he said during a question-and-answer session. “It’s creating this incentive effectively for the monetary authority to inflate‚ and implicitly they are cooperating.” “Now‚ I should say I think the close linkage between the fiscal situation and the monetary and inflation situation is not something that typically applies‚” Barro said. “It’s something that applies here in this emergency context‚ like in wartime‚ COVID crisis. And that’s when you get this kind of big surge.” “If you look at normal times—quote‚ normal—but at least not this extreme emergency‚ you don’t see this close connection between the fiscal situation and the monetary inflation situation‚” he said. Have an opinion about this article? To sound off‚ please email letters@DailySignal.com‚ and we’ll consider publishing your edited remarks in our regular “We Hear You” feature. Remember to include the URL or headline of the article plus your name and town and/or state. The post Analysis Ties Surge in Inflation to Increased Spending‚ Value of Debt appeared first on The Daily Signal.

The BorderLine is a weekly Daily Signal feature examining everything from the unprecedented illegal immigration crisis at the border to immigration’s impact on cities and states throughout the land. We will also shed light on other critical border-related issues like human trafficking‚ drug smuggling‚ terrorism‚ and more. ——————————————————— In just three short years‚ Joe Biden’s reckless policies have destroyed the integrity of our borders. But perhaps the worst thing he has done is to devalue legal immigration and United States residence—even citizenship—pricing it at a one-way ticket from Africa or Asia to Latin America‚ plus smugglers’ fees to the U.S. border. By allowing unlimited foreign nationals to enter the country without a visa‚ Biden has incentivized mass illegal migration. In addition‚ U.S. states and cities‚ under a misguided “sanctuary” ideology‚ are compounding this folly by giving out free health care‚ housing‚ and other benefits that should be reserved for American citizens and legal residents. When I came to America at age 7‚ I recited the “Pledge of Allegiance” every day in grade school. I learned the national anthem‚ U.S. history‚ and how the Constitution guarantees our free society. Even as a child‚ I knew that the United States was special because we were united not by race or land or history‚ but by adherence to an agreed upon set of values. For generations‚ Americans have been willing to take up arms and to send their children to fight for those values against all enemies‚ foreign and domestic. First-generation immigrants understand “what an extraordinary and enviable privilege it remains to be able to call yourself an American‚” as recently-naturalized American Gerard Baker wrote in The Wall Street Journal. But Baker also said that “[i]n recent years‚ the far Left’s disparagement of their country has gone from a fringe pursuit to a disturbingly dominant orthodoxy‚ especially among the young.” That leftist‚ globalist orthodoxy holds that our country isn’t special‚ or even good. They believe we are an oppressive‚ colonialist‚ capitalist imposition sitting on stolen land. In their view‚ the sins of history are to be laid at the feet of the United States. The far-left wants open borders because they believe we must make reparations to the “marginalized” global majority‚ not just through money‚ but by admitting everyone who wants to live here. Self-hating leftists attribute such low value to being an American that they treat lawful immigration and U.S. citizenship with disdain. To that end‚ they are deliberately reducing the list of things that give permanent residency and citizenship value. Helping Chinese nationals get U.S.-affiliated IDs in Saipan is a crime‚ but many U.S. states are giving out driver’s licenses irrespective of legal status. For example‚ Massachusetts is spending over $30 million of taxpayer money to help illegal aliens get driver’s licenses. Rhode Island state legislators allowed illegal aliens to get driver’s licenses in 2022 and are now pushing to allow anyone with that ID to vote. That would include illegal aliens and even foreign students‚ which would surely include pro-Hamas demonstrators at Brown University. Even Oklahoma is caving‚ although its version of driver’s license would at least indicate that the license holder was a nonresident. When Minnesota voted to give driver’s licenses to illegal aliens‚ a Somali-born legal immigrant called it “absolutely outrageous‚” adding‚ “I waited in the slums of Kenya for three years to be vetted medically and criminally‚ and after we got here‚ I waited five years to prove myself that I was going to be someone worthy … of citizenship.” In Vermont‚ “noncitizens” are allowed to vote in town elections. For now‚ that means legal immigrants‚ but there is no reason why they can’t extend it to illegal aliens. In Washington‚ D.C.‚ the city council passed a law that allowed noncitizens—who again‚ include illegal aliens‚ foreign students‚ and even foreign diplomats who are immune from parking tickets and other local laws—to vote in district elections. New York City passed a similar law in 2021. Not surprisingly‚ the Washington bill was introduced by a council member so soft on crime that he is the subject of an unprecedented recall campaign. New York state is setting aside thousands of jobs for illegal immigrant “asylum-seekers” with work authorizations; though many of them won’t even apply for asylum‚ others won’t complete the asylum process‚ and of those who do submit an asylum application‚ a majority will probably be denied. In Liberty County‚ Texas’‚ Colony Ridge neighborhood‚ a whole new town has emerged where illegal aliens can easily buy houses‚ enriching developers while swamping local schools‚ police‚ and social services. Health care is another freebie where illegals are treated like citizens and lawful permanent residents—or better. The federal government spent nearly $100 million on health care for illegal aliens at the border in fiscal year 2022‚ while over 400‚000 American veterans wait in line for treatment. Deeply indebted Illinois started offering subsidized health care for illegal aliens in 2021. Costs ran out of control so quickly that the state had to cap enrollment‚ and services to needy Americans have suffered. California has brought illegal aliens aged 19-50 into their Medi-Cal health care system. This means at least 700‚000 more people who entered or remained in the U.S. illegally are eligible for free care. Illegal aliens have always been able to go to emergency rooms for free care‚ but in California‚ they’ll now be able to access sex changes at taxpayer expense‚ too. In addition to the privilege to work and vote‚ free education and health care‚ and driver’s licenses‚ ever more basic rights of American citizens and legal residents are being stripped away to make way for illegal aliens. New York City‚ having maxed out homeless shelters and rented hotels to house illegal aliens‚ then rented Floyd Bennett Field from the National Park Service for a tent camp. This swampy abandoned air strip was great for family recreation but a terrible place to house anyone‚ as locals warned at the time. Flooding was a particular risk. This week‚ the city evacuated 1‚900 illegal aliens—sorry‚ “guests‚” as New York calls them—from Floyd Bennett and commandeered an active Brooklyn high school to put them up. What about the students? Well‚ they can Zoom school‚ right? We all know how well that worked out during COVID-19. Biden continues to release staggering levels of illegal aliens at the border and let in hundreds of thousands more through bogus immigration parole programs. To accommodate the open-borders ideology underlying Biden’s policies‚ elected officials in many states are clearly willing to sacrifice the safety‚ money‚ public spaces‚ schools‚ and other rightful heritage of American citizens and legal residents. Meanwhile‚ as our leftist leaders try to rewrite our history‚ trash our institutions‚ and tear down the statues of the men that built our country‚ patriotism still thrives in China‚ Russia‚ and Iran‚ despite their oppressive regimes—all nations that are committed to our destruction. Patriotism is also alive and well in our allies Israel‚ Poland‚ and Ukraine. In fact‚ loving your country and holding it to be superior to other countries is considered normal in most of the world. The future of the United States—not simply our place at the apex of international power‚ but as a nation at all—hangs on these questions: Are we special‚ and are we willing to defend that? Is American citizenship something to be cherished if inherited and hard-earned if not? I still hope the answer to both is a resounding yes and that our people and our leaders start to act like it. Read Other BorderLine Columns: Nazi Name-Calling Is the Last Refuge of the Progressive Chicago Mayor Lashes Out as Illegal Aliens Flood His Sanctuary City Biden’s Border Chaos—Crime Soars as Punishment Vanishes Is There Really a Link Between Climate Change and Mass Migration? Biden Prefers to Put Your Safety at Risk and Play Recidivism Roulette With Criminal Aliens Have an opinion about this article? To sound off‚ please email letters@DailySignal.com‚ and we’ll consider publishing your edited remarks in our regular “We Hear You” feature. Remember to include the URL or headline of the article plus your name and town and/or state. The post The BorderLine: Biden’s Border Madness Has Cheapened What It Means to Be an American appeared first on The Daily Signal.

Chris Rufo For The Win!

President Joe Biden is “down” with Black voters and I’m not speaking street slang. A new USA Today/Suffolk University Poll reveals one in five Black voters say they will support a third-party candidate instead of the president. That’s down substantially from the 92% of non-Hispanic Blacks who voted for Biden in 2020‚ according to the Pew Research Center. The president’s strategy for shoring up his and Democrats’ most loyal supporters? Telling them their biggest threat is “white supremacy.” Nothing about the failing schools so many poor and minority children feel trapped in; or violence in big cities that kill many young Black men most weekends and increasingly during the week; or the disproportionate abortion rate among Black women that has kept their percentage of the population mostly stagnant; or the necessity of putting more Black fathers in homes to provide loving disciple to their children. Biden has a long history of using race as a political weapon while doing little to improve the lives of Black Americans. Speaking at the Mother Emanuel AME Church in Charleston‚ South Carolina‚ where in 2015 a white gunman shot and killed nine members of a Bible study‚ Biden again demonstrated his insincerity about race by making statements that have been proven false. He claimed to have been a “civil rights activist.” He wasn’t. He claimed to have “spent more time in the Bethel AME Church in Wilmington‚ Delaware‚ than most people I know‚ Black or white.” He hasn’t. He also claimed that church was “where I started a civil rights movement.” He didn’t. As a New York Post editorial noted‚ “(Biden has) pushed such baloney time and again.” He has claimed to have been arrested during civil rights demonstrations and while on the way to see Nelson Mandela in prison. Neither is true. Biden claimed to have persuaded segregationist Sen. Strom Thurmond to vote for the 1964 Civil Rights Act. Wrong on two counts. Thurmond did not vote for the act and Biden was not in the Senate in 1964. There was also his 2006 remark: “You cannot go to a 7-Eleven or a Dunkin’ Donuts unless you have a slight Indian accent.” In 2020‚ he said if Blacks didn’t vote for him “you ain’t Black.” In 2010‚ he warmly eulogized Sen. Robert Byrd‚ a former Exalted Cyclops in the Ku Klux Klan‚ saying he was “one of my mentors” and that “the Senate is a lesser place for his going.” As early as 1977‚ Biden said that forced busing to desegregate schools would cause his children to “grow up in a racial jungle.” In 2007‚ he referred to Barack Obama as “the first mainstream African-American who is articulate and bright and clean.” So many more examples‚ but not enough space. Democrats have played the race card for decades‚ even blaming poor performances (see former Harvard President Claudine Gay) on bigotry‚ not plagiarism and a failure to denounce antisemitic campus demonstrations. Their talk has been cheap and the results negligible. One wonders why so many still vote for them given their record. White Democrats only show up in Black churches at election time and are not seen for another two or four years. Shouldn’t that tell them something? White supremacy is a minority view. Christians call it a sin. There are no pure-bred people. We are all mixed up in the great gene pool of life‚ as Harvard professor Henry Louis Gates Jr. has brilliantly demonstrated in several PBS programs on African American lives. To hate another person because of their race is to hate a part of one’s self. Given the declining poll numbers for Biden‚ among especially young Black voters‚ it would appear they are starting to figure out how Democrats have duped them for decades. Biden’s out-of-touch speech in Charleston is likely to do little to improve his favorability among their party’s once solid voting bloc.

Johns Hopkins Medicine's chief diversity officer is backtracking after sending a controversial email in which she declared that even "English-speaking people" have "privilege."In this month's "Diversity Digest" from the Office of Diversity‚ Inclusion and Health Equity at Johns Hopkins Medicine‚ Dr. Sherita Hill Golden sent an email telling subscribers that "privilege" is the "diversity word of the month‚" and then she offered her definition of the word."Privilege is an unearned benefit given to people who are in a specific social group‚" she wrote. "Privilege operates on personal‚ interpersonal‚ cultural and institutional levels‚ and it provides advantages and favors to members of dominant groups at the expense of members of other groups."According to Golden‚ people in the following "social identity groups" are "granted" privilege in the U.S.:White peopleAble-bodied peopleHeterosexualsCisgender peopleMalesChristiansMiddle- or owning-class peopleMiddle-aged peopleEnglish-speaking peopleGolden claimed that privilege is "characteristically invisible" to those who have it‚ thus making them members of "dominant groups." People who have privilege‚ said Golden‚ mistakenly believe that others who don't have their same privilege can earn it. — (@) After the email gained unwanted attention online‚ Golden released a statement with a full-throated apology‚ saying she "deeply regret[s]" what she previously wrote."The intent of the newsletter is to inform and support an inclusive community at Hopkins‚ but the language of this definition clearly did not meet that goal‚" Golden said in her follow-up message.Ironically‚ Golden admitted that her definition — coming from Johns Hopkins Medicine's office of DIHE‚ no less — was actually "exclusionary." "In fact‚ because it was overly simplistic and poorly worded‚ it had the opposite effect of being exclusionary and hurtful to members of our community‚" she admitted. "I retract and disavow the definition I shared‚ and I am sorry."In a statement‚ Johns Hopkins acknowledged that the language Golden used "contradicts" the values of the university."The January edition of the monthly newsletter from the Johns Hopkins Medicine Office of Diversity‚ Inclusion and Health Equity used language that contradicts the values of Johns Hopkins as an institution‚" a university spokesperson said."Dr. Sherita Golden‚ Johns Hopkins Medicine’s Chief Diversity Officer‚ has sincerely acknowledged this mistake and retracted the language used in the message‚" the spokesperson added. Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors‚ sign up for our newsletters‚ and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

A former "teacher of the year" faces termination after accusations have surfaced of the Texas educator sexually assaulting a female student for years‚ according to police. Brandyn Hargrove‚ 43‚ is a teacher at Brazoswood High School in Clute‚ Texas. Hargrove was arrested on Dec. 21‚ 2023. She was charged with six counts of sexual assault of a child‚ four counts of indecency with a child by contact‚ and two counts of indecency with a child by exposure.Hargrove was booked into the Brazoria County Jail and released hours later after posting a $240‚000 bond.A woman — who is now in her 30s — accused Hargrove of sexually abusing her when she was a teen. The alleged victim told police that she had an "ongoing relationship" with the teacher from age 15 to 17‚ according to the criminal complaint. Hargrove — who was previously named "teacher of the year" and "teacher of the month" — faces accusations of having a two-year sexual relationship with a female student that reportedly took place off campus. At the time of the allegations‚ Hargrove was around 27 years old. "Unfortunately‚ this happens more and more these days‚" said Clute Police Department Chief James Fitch. "Since that time we have other laws in effect‚ the improper relationship between educator and student was not in effect back then. But your kids go to school and you trust the teachers with that and then these types of things happen."Finch said law enforcement is "unaware of any other victims."The Brazosport Independent School District placed Hargrove on leave in September once officials found out about the police investigation."Upon notification of the investigation initiated by an outside agency on September 29‚ 2023‚ Brazosport ISD took immediate action and placed the employee on administrative leave to ensure that the employee did not have contact with students‚" the school district informed parents. "As a result of these charges‚ the district has initiated employment-related actions to separate her employment."Hargrove faces termination when the school board determines her fate at a meeting to be held on Jan. 22. The Brazosport Independent School District said in a statement: BISD remains dedicated to upholding the highest standards of professionalism and integrity among our staff‚ and we take the safety and well-being of our students very seriously. We understand that this news may raise concerns. If any parent‚ student‚ or former student has concerns or questions‚ please do not hesitate to contact Brazoswood High School Principal Rita Pintavalle or Brazosport ISD Police Chief Wade Nichols. We appreciate your understanding and support during this challenging time.Hargrove's attorney‚ Aaron Perry‚ previously declined to comment to KPRC-TV about the accusations of child sex crimes. Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors‚ sign up for our newsletters‚ and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

Surely by now you’ve heard about the development outside of Houston‚ Texas‚ called Colony Ridge. It’s been quite the controversy‚ as the right claims it’s a dangerous‚ cartel-run haven for drugs‚ murder‚ and trafficking‚ while the left waves it off as right-wing hysteria. So what’s the truth? Glenn Beck went seeking the real story when he traveled to Liberty County‚ Texas‚ and spoke with both sides: John Harris‚ the developer of Colony Ridge‚ and the people who call it home — many of whom are illegal immigrants. Join Glenn and the Blaze Originals team as they take you to Colony Ridge and show you who is living there‚ how people acquire their land‚ the federal government’s involvement in the project‚ and how one little experiment turned into Texas’ fastest-growing development that now poses an enormous threat to the future of our country. However‚ we could not have made “The Real Story of Colony Ridge” without your support. To watch the documentary‚ and future installments‚ help support the work we’re doing by visiting blazeoriginals.com today and signing up using the code COLONYRIDGE for $30 off your annual subscription. Your browser does not support the video tag. Join BlazeTV+ to watch Blaze OriginalsBlaze Originals is exposing corruption and what’s really going on in our country‚ and we can’t do these productions without your help. That’s why if you aren’t already a BlazeTV+ subscriber‚ join now and use code COLONYRIDGE for $30 off an annual subscription.

Democratic U.S. Sen. John Fetterman kept up his eye-opening‚ non-woke behavior Wednesday when he blasted the hypocrisy of South Africa going to international court against Israel for the Jewish nation's "genocide" against Palestinians in Gaza.What are the details?Speaking at the Orthodox Union Advocacy Center‚ the Pennsylvania lawmaker — donned in his standard shorts and hoodie — first took some time ripping into terror group Hamas over its deadly surprise attack against Israel in October‚ the Washington Examiner said.An angry Fetterman called Hamas "a group of cowards" and said its members "hide in tunnels‚ they hide behind civilians‚ they attack‚ kill‚ and mutilate children [and] women!" He also demanded that pro-Palestinian advocates "stop talking about proportion" in regard to Israel's military response to Hamas.“They shot their best shot on Oct. 7‚ and they would have taken more lives if they could have‚ but they couldn’t do it‚” Fetterman added.Shifting gears‚ Fetterman told the crowd that while he was on the subject of Hamas' "genocide‚" South Africa has plenty to answer for in that department — yet it's still going to trial against Israel at the International Court of Justice."Maybe South Africa ... ought to sit this one out when it comes to criticizing the behavior of other nations!" Fetterman barked. "Sit it out!” — (@) The Examiner said Fetterman calling out South Africa referred to the murder of white farmers there‚ which led to riots alleging the murders were evidence of attempted genocide. Anything else?Fetterman has been getting heat from progressives over his headline-grabbing‚ non-woke takes of late:In December‚ Fetterman declared he's "not a progressive‚" reportedly called the gigantic number of border crossings "astonishing‚" and said that such concerns aren't xenophobic‚ and repeated his belief that Democratic New Jersey lawmaker Bob Menendez should be expelled from the U.S. Senate.In November‚ Fetterman trolled anti-Israel protesters being handcuffed at the U.S. Capitol by walking past them while waving a miniature Israeli flag.In October‚ Fetterman called out lawmakers from his own party who jumped the gun to blame Israel for a Gaza hospital bombing when it was soon revealed Hamas was behind the deadly act.That same month‚ Fetterman also announced he would highlight the identities of those Hamas abducted: "My office will display every last one of the innocent Israelis kidnapped by Hamas until they are safely returned home. We won't stop sharing their stories until then."Fetterman also said in October‚ "Now is not the time to talk about a ceasefire. We must support Israel in efforts to eliminate the Hamas terrorists who slaughtered innocent men‚ women‚ and children. Hamas does not want peace‚ they want to destroy Israel. We can talk about a ceasefire after Hamas is neutralized."Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors‚ sign up for our newsletters‚ and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!