Cooper Flagg already had me sold, so where do I invest

'For the record, yes, that's an endorsement'

'She is not a smart person'

5 Key Bellwethers To Watch On Election Day

'We had no idea'

McDonald’s has been in the headlines recently, but fewer and fewer Americans can afford to eat at the classic hamburger chain. Perhaps the best summary of Bidenflation, soaring inflation under the Biden-Harris administration, can be found in the wisdom of Craig Ervin, a welder in Eau Claire, Wisconsin. Ervin told me: “I used to go to McDonald’s and get 10 cheeseburgers for 10 bucks. Now it costs me 30.”  Across Wisconsin, families are feeling the pinch of Bidenflation. The cost of living for Badger State households has risen a staggering $1,400 higher per month—or $16,800 per year—since January 2021, according to The Heritage Foundation’s Personal Inflation Calculator.   Ervin put it bluntly to me: “I’ve got to decide between a tank of gas or a meal at a restaurant.” And he’s not alone. I’m from Eau Claire, too, and I know families are hurting. The typical Wisconsin family spends over $750 more a year on gasoline compared to January 2021. The typical contents of a grocery cart are 22% more expensive for the same period, costing families over $1,300 more per year.   To distract from reality, progressives claim that inflation is simply the result of corporate price-gouging that can be fixed with government price controls. But that’s not true. Inflation is the result of the Biden-Harris administration’s obscene government spending, including a deficit of almost $2 trillion in fiscal year 2024. Socialist policies like price controls will lead only to the same type of shortages, whether it’s the oil shortage of the 1970s or the hunger and poverty seen throughout the 20th century in the Soviet Union. History has shown time and again that these empty measures simply shift the harm onto workers and families.  The answer is simple: Decrease the size of government. When the government borrows and spends trillions of dollars, it floods the economy with money. This surge outpaces the production of goods and services, causing the dollars in our pockets to lose value—the very definition of inflation. In response, the Federal Reserve raises interest rates, making borrowing more expensive for banks, businesses, and normal people living in Wisconsin, like Ervin.  With prices going up, fewer and fewer folks can afford the American dream of owning a home. Indeed, higher interest rates have hit the housing market particularly hard, with the cost of a 30-year mortgage in Wisconsin skyrocketing by a staggering $345,000 compared to just a few years ago. But this dramatic increase in borrowing costs is just one facet of Wisconsin’s complex housing crisis.  Exacerbating the problem is the fact that when the demand for housing increases because of the flood of newly printed inflationary dollars, it takes time for supply to catch up. This supply crunch is made even more acute by excessive regulations on homebuilding. As a result, prices tend to rise even faster. Adding to this pressure, the influx of nearly 10 million illegal aliens encountered at the border since January 2021 has further strained an already tight housing market. These “newcomers,” like everyone else, need a place to live—and often are handed extra government funds to crowd Americans out of the housing market.  Just ask the people of Whitewater, Wisconsin—a small town of 15,000—who’ve had to compete for housing with more than 1,000 Nicaraguans and Venezuelans who have arrived since 2021. To truly address these crises, we don’t need more of the same government solutions. Bad policy and the reckless growth of government is the problem. The government needs to slow its reckless spending, which fuels inflation, and eliminate onerous regulatory barriers to new construction. Fundamentally, a large government is at odds with large families. Only by removing the problem, and allowing people to keep the money they earn, can we restore the American dream and make it attainable once again for hardworking Wisconsinites.  The post Badger State Blues: Why Wisconsin Families Can’t Afford the American Dream  appeared first on The Daily Signal.

Beside a lonely road in Boone, North Carolina, Styrofoam stood, balanced on cardboard and weighed down by a rock. Scrawled on it in faded black, yellow, and orange markers read the message, “I thank the good Lord for all the people at Samaritan’s Purse.”    Weeks after Hurricane Helene ripped through the area, helicopters circled above, animal carcasses rotted in the roads, and debris decayed, shells of homes and structures bent and torn apart.   The news cycle has now moved its focus away from North Carolina, though the aftereffects remain, and thousands of people still fight to stay strong and recover from Helene.   Many locals expressed their dissatisfaction with the Biden-Harris administration’s response, as foreign aid seems to take priority over these devastated communities within the United States.   Thankfully, since the devastation, hundreds of volunteers have rushed to Boone, N.C. They have come from around the state and country to alleviate as much of the suffering as they could, and many of them registered to volunteer with charities like Samaritan’s Purse.   Over Columbus Day weekend, I was one of those volunteers.   When I heard that a few peers from my church were planning on driving from Washington, D.C., to Boone, N.C., I was intrigued, but far from sold.  Working at The Daily Signal as an intern, I was hearing stories coming out of North Carolina from the newsroom and I knew that this would not be a cushy trip. Yet, logging onto my computer at work one day, images of the ruin personally struck me, and I knew I needed to go and help.   I am a dual citizen of the United States and New Zealand, and during my nearly eight years in New Zealand, I lived in Christchurch, a beautiful city located on the South Island.  Christchurch knows the pain of devastation from natural disasters. Countless hurricanes and aftershocks devastated the city beginning on Sept. 4, 2020. While the seismic activity continues today, it has significantly tapered off. The Feb. 22, 2011, earthquake proved the most ruinous, as it destroyed much of the downtown area and ended 185 lives. As I lived a few blocks away from that area, I witnessed both the personal suffering and structural damage of Christchurch.  Images of the flooding and destruction in North Carolina reminded me of what I had seen in Christchurch all those years ago, which stirred me to go.   While in North Carolina, I met people from all different walks of life—both old and young, local and out of town volunteers, as well as home and business owners, devastated by the hurricane.   The day I volunteered in a Samaritan’s Purse warehouse, a little over a dozen of us collaborated to pack disaster relief materials, which culminated in making warm clothing available for 2,150 people.  “Thank you for your sacrifice,” Ashley Harrington, the volunteer leader, said through tears. “I pray that Jesus fills you with a complete supernatural strength. He has been with us today. We are the hands and feet of Jesus, and I never want to see another box again.”  On Columbus Day, the line of those wanting to volunteer wrapped around the church building that hosted the Samaritan’s Purse volunteer training, and cars with license plates from around the country flooded the roads.   Many church and business signs showed slogans of encouragement. “God is our refuge and strength” read one church sign, and “stay strong hill country” illuminated the signage on a local theater in Boone. Another cardboard sign with chicken scratch merely read “thank you,” near a local gas station.   “The community is slowly creating a new normal, but there is still so much hurt and loss,” One middle-aged homeowner named Kelly said of the small town Banner Elk, even several weeks after Helene had passed through.  One anonymous small business owner in the Valle Crucis community said that he had witnessed whole towns wiped out and had never seen anything like it. After 15 years of business, his doubts about whether he can keep things afloat dominate his days.   When asked what he would say to President Joe Biden or Vice President Kamala Harris right now, he simply asked, “Where are you?”   The post ‘Stay Strong Hill Country’: One Volunteer’s Perspective on the Devastation in North Carolina After Hurricane Helene  appeared first on The Daily Signal.

Seven swing states are too close to call headed into Election Day, Nov. 5. Vice President Kamala Harris, the Democratic nominee, and former President Donald Trump, the Republican nominee, spent much of the last month vying for votes among the states that are expected to determine who the next president will be.  Polls indicate Trump and Harris are neck and neck in Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin. Within each swing state are several counties that are also too close to call and could be the deciding factors in who wins each state.   Control of the House of Representatives and the Senate also hang in the balance this election, with close races in several states expected to determine whether Congress will flip for the next two years, and if one party might enjoy control of both chambers.   Below are all the states and races to watch on Election Day. Arizona  Electoral Votes: 11  2020 Results:   Biden – 49.4%  Trump – 49.1%   Counties to Watch:  Maricopa  Georgia  Electoral Votes: 16  2020 Results:   Biden – 49.5%  Trump – 49.2%  Counties to Watch:  Cobb   Henry  Michigan   Electoral Votes: 15  2020 Results:   Biden – 50.6%  Trump – 47.8%  Counties to Watch:  Kent  Oakland  Wild Card:   The Muslim vote in Michigan could largely determine the state’s election night results. Muslim leaders have rallied Wolverine State voters to deny Harris their vote in protest of the Biden-Harris administration’s handling of the war between Israel and Hamas that has left thousands dead in Gaza. It is not clear, however, that Muslim voters will back Trump in any significant way if they choose not to support Harris. Many have expressed support for Green Party candidate Jill Stein.   Nevada   Electoral Votes: 6  2020 Results:   Biden – 50.1%  Trump – 47.7%  Counties to Watch:  Clark  Washoe   Wild Card:  Nevada has a large Hispanic population and about a third of Clark County is Hispanic. Trump has made inroads with Hispanic voters, especially male Hispanic voters this election.   North Carolina  Electoral Votes: 16  2020 Results:   Biden – 48.6%  Trump – 49.9%  Counties to Watch:  Cabarrus  Nash  Pasquotank  Pennsylvania   Electoral Votes: 19  2020 Results:   Biden – 50.0%  Trump – 48.8%  Counties to Watch:  Bucks  Erie    Wisconsin  Electoral Votes: 10  2020 Results:   Biden – 49.5%  Trump – 48.8%  Counties to Watch:  Door  Sauk  Waukesha   Senate Races to Watch   There are 33 U.S. Senate seats up for regular election in 2024.   Democrats currently hold a narrow majority in the Senate. Fifty-one senators are in the working coalition of Democrats and independents.  Republicans have an advantage this election cycle, however, as Democrats are defending 23 of those seats, while Republicans are only defending 11. To win the Senate, Republicans need either a net gain of 1 seat if they also win the White House, or a net gain of 2 seats if they don’t win the White House, as the vice president breaks ties in the Senate.   Here are seven Senate races to watch:   Sen. Ted Cruz vs. Rep. Collin Allred  Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, has a three-point lead over Rep. Colin Allred, D-Texas. Cruz has slammed Allred for his voting record on male participation in female sports, causing the Democrat to deny his formerly pro-trans sports stance.   Sen. Rick Scott vs. Debbie Mucarsel-Powell  The latest poll from Research Co. shows Sen. Rick Scott, R-Fla., holding a seven-point lead over Democratic challenger, former Florida representative Debbie Mucarsel-Powell.    Rep. Elissa Slotkin vs. former Rep. Mike Rogers   While a Trafalgar group poll from Nov. 1-3 showed U.S. Rep. Elissa Slotkin, D-Mich., and former U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers, R-Mich., as even, a new Research Co. poll showed Slotkin with a 6-percentage-point lead over the Republican.  Sen. Tammy Baldwin vs. Eric Hovde  Incumbent Sen. Tammy Baldwin, D-Wisc., is one point ahead of Republican businessman Eric Hovde, according to a Nov. 2-3 Research Co. poll. The race is neck-and-neck, and Hovde had a one-point lead in a Nov. 1-3 Trafalgar Group poll.   Sen. John Tester vs. Tim Sheehy  While an Oct. 16 poll showed veteran Tim Sheehy and incumbent Sen. John Tester, D-Mont., as even, Sheehy took a three-point lead in an Emerson College poll from Oct. 23-25. Over the summer, Tester was considered the Democratic senator most likely to lose a reelection bid.  Rep. Ruben Gallego vs. Kari Lake  Recent polling averages from FiveThirtyEight and RealClearPolitics show the Democratic Ruben Gallego maintaining a narrow lead over Kari Lake in Arizona, though the Republican has caught up in recent weeks, and even taken the lead in some polls. Gallego is an Arizona state representative, and Lake is a former gubernatorial candidate and TV personality.   House Races to Watch:   Republicans hold a 220-212 majority in the U.S. House with three vacancies. All 435 seats are up for election. Democrats need a net gain of six districts to win a majority in the chamber, while Republicans can only lose a net of five districts to maintain their majority. They will need to pick up one or more districts to increase their majority.  Democratic Toss Ups  Alaska: Rep. Mary Peltola vs. Nick Begich  Small business owner Republican Nick Begich has a four-point lead over Democratic incumbent Rep. Mary Peltola in this key toss-up race, according to the latest polling from the National Republican Congressional Committee. Peltola currently represents Alaska’s singular congressional district.   Rep. Jared Golden vs Austin Theriault  Democratic Rep. Jared Golden and Republican challenger Austin Theriault are locked in a tight race in Maine’s 2nd Congressional District, according to a new independent poll. A new University of New Hampshire survey shows the two candidates essentially tied. Forty-five percent of those who responded said they have voted or will vote for Golden, and 44% said they have voted or will vote for Theriault in the Nov. 5 elections.   Eugene Vindman vs. Derrick Anderson  Democrat Eugene Vindman and Republican Derrick Anderson are running for the open seat in Virginia’s 7th Congressional District, vacated by current U.S. Rep. Abigail Spanberger, who is running for governor as a Democrat. A Sept. 15-17 Ragnar Research poll showed Vindman and Anderson as tied, but Vindman took a two-point lead in the latest poll.   Rep. Don Davis vs. Laurie Buckhout  The once solidly Democratic 1st Congressional District of North Carolina is now a toss-up. Democratic incumbent Don Davis is facing off against Republican Laurie Buckhout. The latest poll shows Davis with a strong 11-point lead over Buckhout.   Republican Toss-Ups  Rep. Michelle Steel vs. Derek Tran  Rep. Michelle Steel, a two-term Republican congresswoman, faces Derek Tran, a Democrat who served in the Army and is a second-generation Vietnamese American, in the race for the Orange County, California, House seat. While an Oct. 8-10 poll showed Steel with a four-point lead, Tran took a three-point lead in an Oct. 13-15 poll.   Rep. Zach Nunn vs. Lanon Baccam  While all four of Iowa’s congressional seats are currently held by Republicans, polls show Democrats have an advantage in the 1st and 3rd Congressional Districts. A Sept. 19-22 GQR poll showed Democratic veteran Lanon Baccam with a four-point lead over incumbent Republican Rep. Zach Nunn in the 3rd District. Rep. Mark Molinaro vs. Josh Riley  New York’s 19th Congressional District, covering all or part of 11 upstate counties, has a tight and expensive race between Democratic challenger Josh Riley and incumbent Republican Rep. Mark Molinaro. Riley holds a four-point lead in the latest poll.  Rep. Scott Perry vs. Janelle Stelson  Six-term incumbent Republican Rep. Scott Perry is running against former abc27 News and WGAL anchor Janelle Stelson in Pennsylvania’s 10th Congressional District. Harrisburg-based Susquehanna Polling and Research released a poll from Oct. 4-7 that shows Stelson leading Perry 48% to 39% with a 5% margin of error.  The Daily Signal will bring you “Top News In Ten” and a longer version of “The Tony Kinnett Cast” on Election Day, so be sure to tune in to catch the news of the day and follow along with us as we break down this historic election. The post Your Guide to Election Day: States and Races to Watch   appeared first on The Daily Signal.

Rescued at two weeks old, these kittens now have so much energy that they've impressed even the family dog. Cheeto and FritoAsaCheeto and Frito, the ginger tabbies, were two weeks old when they came to Today Tomorrow Forever Animal Rescue for a chance at a better life.A volunteer stepped up to provide round-the-clock feeding and plenty of TLC. After each meal, the kittens cuddled together and even cleaned each other's faces.Thriving on bottle-feeding, they grew into plump, happy, and wiggly kittens. Today Tomorrow Forever Animal RescueAs they became more active, they started exploring their nest, eager to escape into the wider world. To provide more socialization and room to play, they were moved to a new foster home with Asa.They ventured around their new digs, quickly making themselves at home. At 4-5 weeks old, their demands for attention and play multiplied. Today Tomorrow Forever Animal RescueBefore long, they settled into the coziest spots they could find in the house: their foster mom's shoulders and lap."They're both very affectionate and loving; they come running to greet me any time I go into the foster room and will jump into any lap they find immediately and start purring up a storm," Asa shared with Love Meow. AsaThe feline brothers began "assisting" their foster mom during work hours, offering cuddles and wisdom from her lap or shoulder.They often doze off at work, yet their purrs somehow keep rumbling on. "My legs fall asleep and get numb at least once every day because all they want to do is curl up in my lap and fall asleep." They like to offer "help" during work hoursAsaThe kittens revel in having a spacious play area, but they are especially delighted to have a canine friend to keep them company.Kona, who thinks she's part cat, offered her warmest welcome. She cuddled them in their new bed, gently washing their faces like a mother. The kittens adored it, purring loudly and soaking up the affection. They adore their canine nanny KonaAsaTheir canine nanny watches them scamper around and pounce on Asa's feet. They hop, flop, and tumble like tiny tornados, their endless energy keeping everyone entertained."They absolutely love to play, and if I'm not in the room, I just hear the sounds of their paws pitter-pattering." AsaWhen the kittens met Mikan, the resident cat, they felt a kindred spirit and followed him as if he were family. Though Mikan was unsure about his lookalike shadows, their constant purring soothed his soul."They are non-stop purr machines. The only time they're not purring is when they're running around the room wreaking havoc." Mikan and the kittensAsaCheeto has unleashed his inner wrestler, grappling with a stuffed toy nearly his size. With expert flips and throws, he parades it around like a champion. Even Kona is impressed by this little ginger's WrestleMania.Nothing can stop these kittens from living each day to the fullest, with their ginger personalities shining through. Cheeto practices his wrestling movesAsaCheeto likes to chatter at a feather wand toy, flaunting his ferocious big-cat energy.After a long day of roughhousing, they crash on their foster mom's lap, side by side, dozing off in near-perfect synchrony. The world may be their playground, but their human's lap is always their favorite bed. AsaCheeto and Frito have blossomed into the happiest and most playful young cats, bringing joy and laughter wherever they go. AsaShare this story with your friends. More on Cheeto, Frito, and Asa's fosters on Instagram and Today Tomorrow Forever Animal Rescue on Instagram.Related story: Feral Kitten Pushes Everyone Away but Decided to Trust for the First Time After 2 Weeks of Being Indoor Cat

Catherine Herridge on How Hunter Biden's Laptop Was Dismissed by CBS News