The newly minted chairman of the House Freedom Caucus, Rep. Andy Harris joins “The Signal Sitdown” this week to discuss the conservative cohort’s priorities heading into the elections and the 119th Congress. The House Freedom Caucus is no stranger to putting pressure on House GOP leadership. The concessions secured by the caucus and other conservatives at the beginning of the 118th Congress ultimately led to then-House Speaker Kevin McCarthy’s undoing. At times, McCarthy’s successor, House Speaker Mike Johnson, has also been challenged from his rightward flank. Nevertheless, as Harris, R-Md., looks to the next Congress, the new Freedom Caucus chairman claims his relationship with Johnson is based on mutual trust. “If Speaker Johnson looks me in the eye and says something, I expect him to follow through on it. And if he looks at me in the eye, and I say something, I’ve got to follow through on it, because I just think that’s the way it works best, in terms of advancing what we need to do,” Harris said. “I think that we have the ability to get a lot of wins,” Harris added, “but I’m going to find wins a little differently.” That might serve to Harris’ benefit, given that his predecessor as chairman of the House Freedom Caucus, Rep. Bob Good, R-Va., lost his primary on June 18. Harris thinks the House Freedom Caucus needs a renewed sense of unity. “We can have diversity of thought, but when we come to a position, we have to have unity of action,” he told me. “We have to be willing to say, ‘Look, we’re a band of brothers and sisters. When we decide we’re going to go to battle on an issue, we have to go to battle together.’” “We need to reinstill that, because that’s what made us so successful in the beginning,” the Maryland Republican lawmaker added. If Harris has his way, Republicans will sweep the Nov. 5 elections. When I asked Harris what piece of legislation would he like former President Donald Trump, if reelected, to sign on Day One of his second term, on Jan. 20, 2025, Harris unhesitatingly replied: “HR 2,” a House bill that aims to secure the southern border. “We have to close the border,” he said. “We do need the SAVE Act before the next election. There’s no question about it. We have to ensure the integrity of American elections, and we will need the SAVE Act, but we can wait a little while to get that done. Look, the bus left the station for this election. Sorry it did. I wish it didn’t. But we need HR 2 badly.” The post Where Does House Freedom Caucus Go From Here? appeared first on The Daily Signal.

Editor’s note: This is a lightly edited transcript of the accompanying video from professor Peter St. Onge. Japan just fired its stunningly unpopular prime minister, Fumio Kishida, replacing him with a new guy who, in just a few short months, will be just as stunningly unpopular. Why? Because Japan has gone so far down the government spending path that its political system is no longer serving the people, it’s serving the debt. In other words, the Japanese are backed in a corner of debt. You may recall last June’s G7 meeting of the U.S., Canada, Japan, and a bunch of Europeans—the one where President Joe Biden wandered off and everybody followed to cover his butt. Well, something else fun out of the G7 was the memes listing all the leaders’ approval ratings. It was pretty bad—Biden was sporting a negative 19—as in, many more voters disapprove than approve. As bad as Joe was, it went downhill fast. France’s [Emmanuel] Macron was sporting a minus 31. Canada’s [Justin] Trudeau was negative 38. Japan was negative 40. Britain and Germany were actually below minus 50. Chlamydia probably polls better in Britain and Germany. Of course, this all begs how so-called liberal democracies got so corrupt they anoint leaders the people overwhelmingly reject. I mean, isn’t that the whole premise of democracy? Still, no leader is forever, even bad ones. This week it’s Japan’s turn, as the spectacularly unpopular Kishida stepped down in the face of approval ratings of 15%. That’s 1-5. Why are the Japanese upset? The immediate reason was a corruption scandal, but then pretty much everybody’s corrupt in Japanese politics. Suggesting the real reason is because the Japanese government has proved utterly incapable of stabilizing the economy and public finances—which is endangering the national pension system—even as taxes and debt keep mounting. To the point Japan’s uniparty is importing 800,000 unskilled laborers to prop up social security—I know, even Japan. So the useless Kishida had to go. Unfortunately, they swapped in a guy who’s been in politics for 40 years who’s main selling point is that he’s a calming choice for the geriatrics who mismanage Japan’s economy. So will the new guy change anything? In short, no. Because Japan’s economic policy is, at this point, largely out of its hands thanks to levels of debt that are truly epic—in U.S. terms, Japan would have a national debt of over $70 trillion and rising at $1.6 trillion per year. Japan has become a debt colony. To illustrate what this has done to Japanese politics, the new guy, Shigeru Ishiba, came in with big talk about normalizing interest rates, strengthening the yen, cutting spending, and Japan’s taking on more of its defense since, after all, it’s a grown-up country. Alas, all that evaporated overnight, with Ishiba sheepishly admitting it’s just more of the same. Because as bad as the Japanese economy is for the people of Japan, the special interests—Japan’s banks, construction companies, and big exporters—are all perfectly comfortable with trillion-dollar deficits, zero interest rates that impoverish Japanese savers, and—yes—with Uncle Sucker paying for Japan’s defense. So what’s next? What’s happening in Japan is happening across the West—we’re maybe 10 or 15 years behind. In Japan, as in the West, turning it around would take radical change—slashing government spending, slashing the scope and scale of government control to free up entrepreneurship. Of course, given this all goes against deep-pocketed donors, in Japan as in the West, these are choices that may be necessary. But in the absence of a Trump-like disruptor, they will be delayed as long as possible. We publish a variety of perspectives. Nothing written here is to be construed as representing the views of The Daily Signal. The post Debt Colonization in Japan appeared first on The Daily Signal.

Two or 3 kinds of healing herbs and spices in your garden are good, however, if you wish to lessen your usage of commercial drugs, then it's about time you consider adding a couple more. Here are 15 healing herbs and spices perfect for your medicinal garden. Healing Herbs And Spices For Your Medicinal Garden One of the best ways to stay fit and healthy is a proper diet, and that should include herbs and spices. Why? Herbs and spices have been used for medicinal purpose for good reason. Some people choose to explore alternative, more natural methods of treating ailments and disease to avoid harmful chemicals and cut down on costs. And that's the reason why I have more healing herbs and spices in my garden. It lessens my family's dependence on synthetic drugs. I consider natural cures from these healing herbs and spices still the best remedies, however, it is still prudent to seek professional medical advice before using these herbs and spices for medicinal pruposes.   1. Peppermint | Peppermint is a natural hybrid of watermint and spearmint and is generally used in dental hygiene products, soothing balms, mouth fresheners, and candies. This is definitely one of my favorites! I've grown mint since I've started homesteading. It's actually one of the most established healing herbs to be used by humans. Plant it in a portion of your garden where it can be guaranteed of water and a lot of space to spread. Peppermint tea is known to ease an upset stomach by drinking tea made of peppermint leaves. Take a couple of sprigs when traveling, sniffing on it once in a while will avoid nausea and vomiting due to motion sickness. Peppermint's active ingredient is menthol, thus it has a cooling impact on the skin. Create a salve from the Peppermint's leaves and apply it on the affected area to prevent burning and itching due to inflammatory conditions and skin allergies. Peppermint can also have mild analgesic action, and is known to ease muscle cramps and headaches.   2. Lavender | This herb merits plating for the delightful scent of its small blooms alone, yet it can be utilized therapeutically as a stimulating agent. Simply inhaling the scent of the blooms could calm nerves. Its essential oil has a vital role in aromatherapy. Add a couple of lavender flowers to your bath water or put pockets of its dried flowers under your pillow to have a relaxing sleep. Make the best of the disinfectant and antibacterial qualities of the lavender by infusing the blooms in water and utilizing it to wash damaged skin and face. Lavender is known to be an alternative method for clearing acne break out and quicken wound healing.   3. Sage image via topnaturalremedies Sage has been used for medicinal purposes throughout history. Salvia officinalis is the basic sage that has somewhat thick and extended dark green leaves utilized for cooking, and for good reason. It can enhance appetite and avoid flatulence. Sage has a hormone regulatory impact on women. A tea of sage leaves has been known to ease symptoms of dysmenorrhea and symptoms connected with premenstrual disorder and menopause. Inhaling an infusion provide relief to respiratory issues, including asthma. It decreases unnecessary sweating and salivation as well.   4. Ginger image via herbalremediesadvice This spice has made some amazing progress from its customary culture of India and China. The intense herb can make bones stronger and aid in warding off this season's cold and flu virus.   5. Chamomile image via Amazon No medicine cabinet is complete without chamomile flowers.  There's more than one kind of chamomile, however, the one we need is the Roman chamomile Chamaemelum Nobile. This shaggy plant has finely partitioned leaves and white daisy-like blooms with brilliant yellow middles, however, that portrayal doesn't help much in letting it separated from German chamomile. That is the reason scientific names are vital for recognizing healing herbs. When you plant chamomile, you can make a tea from fresh flower heads or dry them for later use. Have a couple of flowers in a bowl and pour boiling water over them. Allow to soak for 15-20 minutes and drain. Take a cup of this relaxing blend when you feel restless or unsettled, or before your sleep for a calming and sleepy effect.   6. Rosemary image via keepingwiththetimes Rosemary is a woody bush, however, it merits a part in every medicinal garden for its healing and culinary attributes. In spite of the fact that it doesn't look the same with other mint plants, it belongs to the similar family. Grow Rosemary in a container or plant a couple in a line to form a fragrant fence in your garden. Use the leaves frequently for cooking and herbal teas to achieved its greatest advantage.   Make your thumb greener with these 50 gardening tips and tricks! ???? https://t.co/D3XzeSlRHy — Homesteading (@HomesteadingUSA) January 26, 2017   7. Parsley Parsley is a Mediterranean herb full of nutrients and has a couple of health related benefits; though most just use it as seasoning! It can likewise help as an anti-inflammatory for relieving toothaches.   8. Cayenne image via Amazon  Basic in different hot sauces, the cayenne spice has its medicinal benefits, which incorporate blood flow regulation, expanding the circulatory system, and can improve digestion.   9. Basil image via homesteading Basil has a couple of advantages with regards to the issue of staying healthy. Its benefits incorporate in treating skin, lessening fevers and relieving stress.   10. Cardamon | Regularly used as a part of the Eastern Indies medicine, this spice has several customary medical advantages; my favorite is its incredible source of iron.   11. Lemon Balm | A cousin herb to mint, lemon balm is popular for its assistance in relieving headaches, stomachaches and bloating, toothaches, and more.   12. Watercress image via gymlion Watercress is a popular dietary supplement. It can aid in keeping the thyroid and cardiovascular system healthy. Thus, having them in my garden is all worth it.   13. Garlic image via care2 Also known as the stinking rose, garlic has been used as food and natural medicine since the ancient times. It has the ability to improve immune system because of its antiviral, anti-inflammatory, anti-fungal, and antibacterial properties. The garlic cloves have chemicals that close the inflammatory pathways like what ibuprofen does. Always use fresh garlic, crushed or chopped, to get the best results.   14. Oregano image via healthbenefitsofeating I call oregano my amazing herb! It contains 42 times the antioxidant power than apples, 12 times the power of oranges, 30 times the antioxidant levels of potatoes, and 4 times that of blueberries! A little of this powerful herb is enough to enjoy its full potential.   15. Turmeric image via theheartysoul Commonly known as a culinary spice in the Southeast Asia, Turmeric is extremely beneficial for overall health and immunity. Steep it in a tea or add it to a dish for flavor! Careful tho, the highly saturated yellow pigment stains easily.   Can't get enough of healing herbs and spices? Check out this video from Jovanka Ciares: There you go my fellow homesteaders, 15 healing herbs and spices you should have in your garden. Having them here in my homestead allow me to be more self-sufficient the natural way. A quick note, though, herbs and spices are natural products however they contain potent bioactive compounds. Never underestimate their power and begin with little quantities to test your tolerance. When you feel better with a suggested quantity of a herb, that doesn’t mean that you can have the best result with a stronger brew or a larger dose.  To achieve the full benefit of your grown herbs, get to know them as much as you can! Happy homesteading! What do you think of these healing herbs and spices? Will they have a place in your garden? Let me know what your thoughts are in the comments section below. Want to know what essential oils you can keep in your first aid kit? Check out here Essential Oils For First Aid Any Prepper Should Have! I bet these are live savers! Follow us on facebook, instagram, pinterest, and twitter!   Featured Image Via The Year Of Living Fabulously

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