Sen. JD Vance (R-OH), a venture capitalist-turned-politician who is now the running mate of former President Donald Trump, argued this weekend that the U.S. economy under their rival in the 2024 White House race, Vice President Kamala Harris, is defined by a growing number of government jobs while the private sector diminishes. During a rally in Arizona on Saturday, Vance highlighted the last job report before the election in which the Bureau of Labor Statistics said 12,000 jobs were added to the U.S. economy in October — much lower than the 100,000-plus jobs that analysts had expected. CNBC reported healthcare added 52,000 jobs and the government added 40,000 jobs while other sectors lost jobs. .@JDVance: "The American economy last month lost 28K private sector jobs and 46K manufacturing jobs. If you read the jobs report, it says the economy gained 12K jobs all government — That is the Kamala Harris economy in a nutshell. You're paying higher taxes, higher grocery… pic.twitter.com/TB2DodQmOP — Trump War Room (@TrumpWarRoom) November 2, 2024 “It turns out yesterday that while Kamala Harris has been going around the country bragging about how good the economy is, it turns out the American economy last month lost 28,000 private sector jobs. The American economy last month lost 46,000 American manufacturing jobs,” Vance said. “Now, it’s interesting, though: if you read the jobs report, just the topline: it says the American economy gained 12,000 jobs. You know what that means? All government — we created more government jobs than we did lose private sector jobs,” Vance added. “That is, in some ways, the Kamala Harris economy in a nutshell. You’re paying higher taxes, you’re paying higher grocery prices, you’re getting worse jobs with lower wages. But the government bureaucrats who work for Kamala Harris they’re doing just fine.” Vance promised a turnaround if he and Trump were to win the presidential election. “We’re going to fire some bureaucrats and make sure we hire American workers at good wages,” he said. The October jobs report, which came out less than a week before Election Day, indicated that hurricanes slamming the southeastern United States and the Boeing factory workers strike impacted employment. Still, it marked the smallest monthly gain since December 2020. Voters have rated the economy as being a top issue, with the rising cost of groceries and inflation establishing themselves as two leading causes of concern for U.S. consumers. Meanwhile, the federal debt is approaching $36 trillion, resulting in large interest payments that tech entrepreneur Elon Musk warned could “bankrupt” the United States. Musk, who is being considered for some kind of “cost-cutting” role in a second Trump administration, suggested at the former president’s recent Madison Square Garden rally that he would like at least $2 trillion slashed from the federal budget that has risen to roughly $6.75 trillion.

Jelly Roll recently visited a jail while traveling for his Beautifully Broken tour, and while he was meeting the inmates, he had “the unique experience” that moved him to tears. The country music singer told his story to an audience in Charlottesville, Va. He explained that he visits a jail, rehab center, or homeless shelter in every city he plays. While in Charlottesville, he spent time in a jail and learned that the inmates had been using his music to heal. @jdsangel24 @Jelly Roll #beautifullybrokentour #jellyroll #virginia #jellyrollofficial #jellyrollconcert #360 #ValhallaBoundBikers360 #BeautifulCreatures360Empire #Beautifulcreatures360 #THECoven360 #vixensCreatures360 #DemonicCreatures360 #SacredGrace360 #TheCrypt360 #EliteCreatures360 ♬ original sound – Andrea “Today, I had the most unique experience I’ve ever had in a jail that shook me to my core,” he explained. “There’s a local within about an hour from here. We’d say a local county jail that has a program that is teaching people how to recover the right way—through therapy and through music and through help and through redemption and giving a real second chance.” Jelly Roll said that when he walked into the jail, a group of inmates greeted him by singing some of his songs. He openly wept as the men and women “were singing their soul[s] out.” Jelly Roll Was So Moved By His Experience Inside The Jail That He Invited Four Inmates To Join Him Onstage The 39-year-old has been using his fame as a platform for rehabilitation since he released his breakout singles Son of a Sinner and Need a Favor in 2022. Jelly Roll was in and out of prison for most of his teenage and young adult life. But at 23, he learned he was going to be a father, so he turned to music and changed his life. Jelly Roll understood that music is healing, and he wanted the inmates to experience that. So he asked the local sheriff if some of the inmates could “see the dream” and join him onstage. The sheriff agreed. Jelly covered the costs of having four men enjoy the show and join him for a rendition of Unpretty.  “if anybody believes in second chances, it’s a f***ing Jelly Roll show,” he shouted to a cheering crowd as the singers walked onstage. @jdsangel24 @Jelly Roll #beautifullybrokentour #jellyroll #virginia #concert #trending ♬ original sound – Andrea Jelly Roll’s gesture made fans weep right alongside him. “Jelly roll probably just help save these men, this is something they will never forget it with help push them to stay on track! Just beautiful,” someone commented on a TikTok of the performance. “I already like Jelly Roll,” another person added, “but the respect I have for him after this is unmatched.” “I’m legitimately balling,” a commenter confessed. “This was so beautiful.” “I don’t know these men’s stories but I don’t need to. They are finding their way and the look on their faces is amazing. Good work Jelly Roll,” a fan praised. This story’s featured image is by Howard Weiss via Shutterstock. The post Jelly Roll Brought To Tears After Experience That “Shook” Him To His “Core” appeared first on InspireMore.

'This is a clear and blatant effort to evade the FCC's Equal Time rule'

Brutal, just brutal

'We aren't sure of anything right now'

More than half of Americans polled believe the American economy is in recession, which partly explains why former President Donald Trump’s closing line that “Harris broke it. Trump will fix it,” works so well. Whether it’s jobs for Americans, the southern border invasion, or men competing against women as transgender athletes, Biden-Harris definitely broke it. […]

“Few symbols in art are as layered and evocative as the rose—its petals unfolding to reveal stories of love, loss, resilience, and beauty. In song, ‘rose’ takes on an even richer meaning, touching everything from romance to defiance, making it the perfect muse for some of rock and folk’s most memorable lyrics. This list celebrates the best songs that use the word ‘rose’ to carry emotional depth and unforgettable melodies across decades. Dan Fogelberg’s ‘Run for the Roses’ captures the spirit of ambition, beautifully capturing life’s journey through a Kentucky Derby metaphor. Blackmore’s Night delivers an ethereal tale of love The post 10 Best Songs With The Word ‘Rose’ In The Title appeared first on ClassicRockHistory.com.

Make no mistake, the recent scourge of inflation and high interest rates has been a heist buried beneath economic jargon. It has transferred a tremendous amount of wealth from hardworking Americans to the federal government. The root cause of this disaster—reckless government spending and money-printing—should serve as a reminder that the federal deficit is the bank robber, the Fed is the getaway car driver, and you are the bank. The past few years have seen consumer goods prices increase more than they had in the prior 30 years, while staggering price increases for construction materials have helped push homeownership out of reach for tens of millions of Americans. This whirlwind of economic horrors comes from the combination of dramatically expanding government spending and a Federal Reserve willing to print enough money to paper over deficits with inflation.   Since the beginning of COVID-19, the annual level of federal spending has increased 45%, while the Fed has increased the money supply by 37%. Spending newly printed dollars in this way doesn’t magically create new goods and services. Instead, it has created the classic recipe for inflation; namely, more dollars chasing fewer goods and services. This policy has inflated away nearly 20% of the purchasing power of the dollars in your paycheck and bank account. Consumer goods price increases from October 1990 through January 2021 ran about the same as the increase from January 2021 through June 2022—roughly 14.3%. In other words, about 30 years of price increases thrown at households in less than a year and a half. To make matters worse, the increase in construction materials prices has been even larger, 26.4% since President Joe Biden took office. No wonder house prices have soared over the past few years. While this does increase the equity of current homeowners, it also tends to lock people into their current homes and box young families out of owning a home altogether. When the government runs a large deficit—as it is now with over $2 trillion in annual deficits—the Fed has a choice: It can print money to accommodate and soak up the new debt, creating a ticking time bomb of inflation, or it can leave the money supply unchanged and allow federal deficits to crowd out private access to funding, sending interest rates through the roof as money becomes scarcer. That leaves prospective homeowners without financing to buy a home and leaves businesses without investment capital to expand operations and create more jobs and goods and services. With inflation rapidly climbing early in 2022, the Fed chose the latter. By pushing interest rates higher, the Fed didn’t alleviate the burden of high levels of government spending. It simply shifted the pain of the burden from runaway inflation to runaway interest rates, exacerbating the worsening financial picture for American families. Mortgage rates soared from around 2.8% in January 2021, when Biden took office, to over 7.5% by October 2023. The Fed, on its own, couldn’t remove the burden from American families, it could only choose the type of burden. That has left homeownership less affordable than it has been for generations. In January 2021, first-year interest costs on a typical new mortgage were around $8,200, or 16% of a full-time median worker’s annual pay when President Donald Trump left office. Today, it’s around $21,900, consuming more than 36% of a full-time median worker’s annual pay. This bludgeoning will, tragically, have lingering effects as well. Today, a new mortgage on a median home will cost $320,000 more in just interest costs over 30 years than that of a mortgage from the end of 2020—a tremendous 257% increase in total mortgage interest costs. If a new homeowner were able to, instead, keep this money and invest it over the same 30-year period, he or she could easily have more than $1 million more saved up for retirement. The cost of the inflation and interest rate surges have levied a truly crushing burden on the backs of hardworking American families that will likely echo through generations to come. The post 30 Years of Inflation Crammed Into Less Than 18 Months appeared first on The Daily Signal.

Butternut squash puree is delicious, nutritious, and easy to make. There are so many ways to use it: as a side dish, in baked goods, soups, sauces and more! Plus, homemade is significantly more sweet and flavorful than store-bought. So read along to learn how to make the best creamy homemade butternut squash puree in this simple step-by-step guide.Since this is one of my favorite ways to preserve fresh butternut squash from the garden, we’ll also explore how to freeze butternut squash puree, along with some of the best recipes and ways to use it. Honestly, we love and use butternut puree even more than homemade pumpkin puree!Disclosure: Homestead and Chill is reader-supported. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. RELATED: Want to make it homegrown? Learn how to grow butternut squash (and other winter squash) along with tips on exactly when to harvest butternut squash. Also don’t miss our delicious butternut squash pie recipe!What is Butternut Squash Puree?Butternut squash puree is exactly what it sounds like: butternut squash that has been cooked and turned into a thick and creamy puree. It strikes the perfect balance between sweet caramelized notes and savory earthy flavors. To me, it tastes like fall! Butternut squash puree is also very nutritious and versatile. This concentrated winter squash puree can be served as a side dish on its own, or incorporated into a wide variety of other recipes including baked goods, soups, chili, pasta, sauces, pie filling, baby food, beverages and more – very much like pumpkin puree.In fact, you can use butternut squash puree as a substitute for pumpkin puree in any recipe. Spoiler alert: most canned “pumpkin” isn’t even real pumpkin, but pureed butternut or other similar squash! Seriously, read the ingredients label next time you’re at the grocery store.See a complete list of ways to use butternut squash puree at the end of this article. Roasting vs Steaming Butternut Squash for PureeThere are few different ways you can soften and cook squash before turning it into homemade butternut squash puree. Some recipes call for steaming butternut in a big pot on the stovetop, while others toss it into a crock pot or Instant Pot. All those methods work! Yet we prefer to roast our butternut squash in the oven instead. Why?When butternut squash is roasted at 400°F or higher, it starts to lightly brown and caramelize – which transforms vegetal, earthy, or even slightly bitter flavors into increasingly sweet, nutty, and toasted caramel notes instead. The result is a wonderfully naturally-sweetened homemade butternut squash puree! It’s also how we start our delicious roasted butternut squash soup. On the other hand, steaming butternut squash can make it more bland and watery.Supplies NeededFresh ripe butternut squash Oven Baking sheets Parchment paper or foil Blender or food processor Freezer-safe storage containers (if freezing the butternut squash puree) such as our favorite BPA-free reusable freezer containersInstructions1) Cut and CleanDuring prep, preheat the oven to 400°F.Wash the butternut squash and carefully cut them in half. Use a large metal spoon or other firm utensil to scrape out the stringy guts and seeds from the center cavity. Finally, sprinkle a light pinch of salt over the exposed butternut flesh.Remember, you could also save the seeds to roast later for a delicious, healthy snack. Check out our Crunchy Roasted Pumpkin Seeds recipe. Butternut squash seeds are edible too!Our homegrown ‘Autumn Frost’ butternut squash look like little pumpkins, and are exceptionally sweet!2) Pan and PokeYou can roast butternut squash in the oven either flesh side up or face down. However, we’ve found that keeping them face down (skin side up) helps trap in steam and therefore makes the butternut retain more moisture, cook faster, and peel more easily. We also use a sharp knife to carefully poke the back skin side of each squash in a few places. The small slits allows the steam to get in between the flesh and skin, and makes peeling them after roasting an absolute breeze! Line the baking sheet with parchment paper or foil for easier clean up.3) Oven RoastNext, roast the butternut squash in the oven on 400°F for approximately 45 to 60 minutes, until the flesh is very soft and tender when poked with a fork or knife. Rotate trays halfway through to promote even cooking. Remember, a little browning is actually a good thing!Once the flesh is soft and the skins are wrinkled, remove the butternut squash from the oven. If time allows, let them sit to cool for at least 10 minutes so you can safely handle them before proceeding to the next step.4) Puree or MashNow it’s time to separate the squash flesh from the skins. By this time, the skin should peel right off the flesh! If needed, use a spoon to scoop the cooked squash out. Next, you’ll need to decide how you want to prepare or season your butternut squash puree, along with your preferred texture. For instance, we typically leave our butternut squash puree plain (unseasoned) and blend it into a very smooth puree using a Vitamix or food processor, similar to canned pumpkin puree. That way, it’s ready to use in a wide variety of both sweet or savory recipes.On the other hand, to enjoy butternut squash puree as a side dish, you may prefer it with a little more texture – especially if you like chunky mashed potatoes like I do! In that case, I simply scoop out the flesh and mash it with a fork or spoon instead of blending it completely smooth. See tips on how to season it as a side dish below.Butternut Squash Puree Side DishAfter mashing or pureeing it to your preferred texture, the best way to eat butternut squash puree as a side dish is to season it in a similar manner as mashed potatoes: mix in a pad of butter and/or a splash of heavy cream, plus salt to taste. Sweeten it up with a drizzle of maple syrup, brown sugar, and sprinkle of cinnamon if you’d like! Or, make a savory butternut puree with the addition of chopped rosemary, thyme, parsley, or sage along with a sprinkle of parmesan cheese. Tip: Go light on the seasonings at first, then do a taste test and adjust as needed. You can always add more!Storage and Shelf LifeStore homemade butternut squash puree in an air-tight container with a lid and refrigerate at all times. Butternut puree will stay good in the fridge for about one week. Discard if mold or off flavors develop. Or, freeze the puree to preserve it for up to a year. Freezing Butternut Squash PureeTo preserve and freeze butternut squash puree, begin by putting it inside air tight freezer-safe containers – such as ziplock bags or these durable, reusable BPA-free freezer containers. We like to divvy ours up into easy-to-use portions, such as in 2 cup or 16-ounce containers.You can also freeze butternut puree in wide mouth glass jars, such as half-pint or pint jars. Regular mouth glass jars with curved “shoulders” are not freezer safe and are prone to cracking.Fill your chosen containers fairly full. The less empty air space, the less likelihood of freezer burn! However, be sure to leave at least a half-inch empty head room on top to allow for expansion as it freezes.Butternut squash puree stays good for up to a year in the freezer, though the texture and quality will be best if used within a few months.Defrost in the fridge a day or two before you want to use it, or place in a bowl of warm water for a couple hours immediately prior to use. Ways to Use Homemade Butternut Squash PureeHomemade butternut squash puree can add a welcome boost of nutrients, rich earthy sweet flavors, and color to a number of meals.Butternut squash puree is amazing in baked goods, including as pie filling for butternut squash pie with a sourdough pie crust. It can be used as a substitute for pumpkin puree in recipes for sweet breads, muffins, or cookies – like our healthy sourdough pumpkin spice bread recipe. It can also be used in waffles, pancakes, ice cream or other frozen desserts. Serve butternut squash puree on it’s own as a side dish, similar to mashed sweet potatoes! Sweet breads aside, add butternut puree to regular loaf of rustic homemade sourdough bread. (I add about a cup of puree and reduce the water by 1/2 cup to compensate.) Dollop some into your morning oatmeal or plain yogurt and granola with a dash of cinnamon, nutmeg, and brown sugar.  Don’t forget savory dishes! Add butternut squash puree to soup, stew, sauces, lentils, curry, and more! Check out our Roasted Pumpkin 3-Bean Chili recipe for example. You could even use it as ravioli filling, or mixed with ricotta cheese and fresh herbs in butternut lasagna.  Use butternut squash puree in homemade baby food recipes. Butternut squash puree is also a safe and healthy treat for many pets, including dogs and backyard chickens. Offer it plain, or added to a homemade pet treat recipe. This fall, we’ve been using ours to make rich and creamy homemade “pumpkin spice lattes” with coffee or black tea. It’s divine!Is butternut squash puree healthy (good for you)? Yes, it sure is! Butternut squash puree is low in fat and calories, but is loaded with health-promoting nutrients including fiber, vitamins, minerals, and ample antioxidants. Butternut squash is especially high in Vitamin A and C, along with notable levels of vitamin E, vitamin K, and many B vitamins. It’s high levels of beta carotene offer protection against cancer, heart disease and degenerative diseases! Butternut squash also contains a plethora of essential minerals including potassium, magnesium, manganese, calcium, iron and phosphorus.And that’s the scoop.All in all, I hope you enjoy this easy recipe – and all the tasty ways to use homegrown butternut squash puree too! Please feel free to ask any questions in the comments below, and leave a review once you give it a try. You may also like:How to Make Pumpkin Shaped Sourdough Bread Loaf 28 Best Winter Squash and Pumpkin Varieties to Grow How to Make Pressed Flower Pumpkins: No-Carve Pumpkin Decorating Idea 13 Must-Try Zucchini Recipes: Clever Ways to Use Zucchini Print Homemade Butternut Squash Puree + Freezing Tips Learn how to make easy homemade butternut squash puree from fresh oven-roasted butternut, plus tips on how to preserve and freeze it! Course Holiday Dish, Preserved Food, Sauce, Side Dish, SoupKeyword butternut squash puree, preserve butternut squash Prep Time 15 minutes minutesCook Time 45 minutes minutes EquipmentOvenBaking sheetParchment PaperBlender, or food processorFreezer safe containers (if preserving) Ingredientsfresh whole butternut squash InstructionsPreheat the oven to 400FWash the butternut squash and carefully cut them in half. Scoop out the stringy guts and seeds from the center cavity.Lightly sprinkle a small pinch of salt over the exposed squash flesh.Place the butternut squash halves face down (skin side up) on a baking sheet. We line ours with parchment paper for easy clean-up.Use a sharp knife to carefully poke the back skin side of each squash in a few places. The small slits allow steam to get in between the flesh and skin, and makes peeling them after roasting an absolute breeze! Roast the squash on 400F for approximately 45-60 minutes, until the skins wrinkle and the flesh is very tender when poked with a fork. Rotate trays halfway through to promote even cooking. Once the roasted butternut squash are cool enough to safely handle (at least 10 minutes), peel off the skin and/or scoop out the flesh. Place peeled squash flesh in a blender or food processor, and blend until smooth. OR for a more chunky puree, simply mash the squash with a fork or spoon (especially to enjoy as a side dish).Either use, refrigerate, or freeze your homemade butternut squash puree. Use within one week when stored in the fridge. To enjoy as a side dish, season similar to mashed potatoes: add butter and/or a splash of heavy cream, plus salt to taste. Sweeten it up with maple syrup, brown sugar, and sprinkle of cinnamon. Or, make it savory with chopped rosemary, thyme, parsley, sage or parmesan cheese. To freeze, divvy up homemade butternut squash puree into usable portions in freezer-safe containers and leave at least a half inch of head space. Butternut squash puree is good for up to a year in the freezer, though the texture and quality will be best if used within a few months. Defrost in the fridge a day or two before you want to use it. The post How to Make Butternut Squash Puree (Recipe and Freezing Tips) appeared first on Homestead and Chill.

Sunday Smiles: Win It For Peanut and Fred