Author: sg4vo

The GOP-led House Administration Committee recently uncovered evidence that illegal donations from China, Russia, Iran, and Venezuela could have been laundered to Democratic campaigns through ActBlue, an online fundraising platform.  ActBlue provides a service that directs donations to Democratic leaders, receiving a percentage as a fee. Administration Committee Chairman Bryan Steil (R-WI) issued a letter to ActBlue CEO Regina Wallace-Jones in October demanding information from the organization on its donor verification process amid concerns about adversarial nations using straw donors to make campaign contributions. Steil explained that investigations have indicated this may have been done without the platform’s knowledge. “Our investigation has indicated that these [foreign] actors may be exploiting existing U.S. [sic] donors by making straw donations without the individuals’ or your platform’s knowledge,” Steil said in his letter. “This failure to verify donor identity may have allowed foreign actors to fraudulently participate in the political process.” The Wisconsin Republican added, “The Committee conducted a comprehensive data analysis, comparing over 200 million FEC donation records with data on age, party affiliation, number of donations, consumer purchasing power, and net worth. This study revealed several anomalies and mismatches in the FEC records, suggesting that foreign entities may be using these tactics to interfere… CONTINUE READING…

Democrats have recently attempted to criticize the Republican Party for supposedly failing to support funding for children’s cancer research.  In the latest example of this rhetoric, MSNBC reporter Sam Stein claimed in a social media post that the GOP had prevented thwarted funding for the research amid the contested government spending bill. “But some of the hardest cuts to swallow involved medical research,” Stein recently claimed. “In particular, advocates say, the revised funding bill delivered a devastating blow to the fight against pediatric cancer. The slimmed-down version was stripped of language that would have allowed children with relapsed cancer to undergo treatments with a combination of cancer drugs and therapies. (Currently the Food and Drug Administration is only authorized to direct pediatric cancer trials of single drugs.)” The MSNBC reporter further noted, “The bill also didn’t include an extension of a program that gave financial lifelines, in the form of vouchers, to small pharmaceutical companies working on rare pediatric diseases. It was also missing earlier provisions that would have allowed for kids on Medicaid or CHIP—that is, poor children—to access medically complex care across state lines.” However, as other Democrats have been fact-checked on this matter, Stein was confronted with… CONTINUE READING…

On the evening of January 29, tragedy struck near Washington, D.C., when a devastating plane crash claimed the lives of all 67 passengers aboard. Among them were 42-year-old Justyna Beyer and her 12-year-old daughter, Brielle, whose bright future was cut short just as she had reached a major milestone in her young life. Brielle, a resilient cancer survivor, had recently fulfilled her dream of joining the U.S. Figure Skating National Development Camp, a testament to her determination and love for the sport. Her father, Andy Beyer, was on his way to the airport, eager to reunite with his wife and daughter, when the unthinkable happened. Instead of welcoming them home, he was met with heartbreaking news that shattered his world. The figure skating community, deeply affected by the loss of one of its promising young athletes, has rallied around the grieving family. In an effort to provide support during this unimaginable time, a GoFundMe campaign has been launched, offering a way for friends, loved ones, and well-wishers to extend their condolences and financial assistance. As investigators work to determine the cause of the crash, those who knew Justyna and Brielle remember them not just for their achievements, but for the… CONTINUE READING…

Fred Rogers once shared a comforting piece of advice that continues to resonate with people today: “When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, ‘Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.’” This simple yet profound insight provided him with solace during difficult times, offering a reassuring reminder that, no matter how overwhelming the world may seem, there are always individuals who rise to help, offering support, care, and kindness. The Power of Shifting Perspective Fred Rogers’ words emphasize an important shift in perspective. Amid the turmoil and distress often portrayed in the media, acts of kindness and altruism are always present. From firefighters risking their lives to save others, to neighbors offering assistance, or even strangers lending a hand, helpers are a consistent and vital presence in times of crisis. By focusing on these acts of compassion, we are reminded of the goodness in humanity, which can help counterbalance the negativity that often dominates the news. Finding Hope in the Helpers This timeless message encourages us to look beyond the challenges we face and focus on the positive impact of those who are… CONTINUE READING…

A little house with three bedrooms,One bathroom and one car on the street.A mower that you had to pushTo make the grass look neat. In the kitchen on the wall,We only had one phone.And no need for recording things—Someone was always home. We only had a living roomWhere we would congregate.Unless it was at mealtime,In the kitchen where we ate. We had no need for family roomsOr extra rooms to dine.When meeting as a family,Those two rooms would work out fine. We only had one TV setAnd channels maybe two.But always there was one of themWith something worth the view. For snacks, we had potato chipsThat tasted like a chip.And if you wanted flavor,There was Lipton’s onion dip. Store-bought snacks were rare becauseMy mother liked to cook.And nothing can compare to snacksIn Betty Crocker’s book. Weekends were for family tripsOr staying home to play.We all did things together—Even go to church to pray. When we did our weekend trips,Depending on the weather,No one stayed at home becauseWe liked to be together. Sometimes we would separateTo do things on our own.But we knew where the others wereWithout our own cell phone. Then there were the moviesWith your favorite movie star.And nothing… CONTINUE READING…

An old, blind Marine wanders into an all-girl biker bar by mistake.He finds his way to a bar stool and orders a drink.After sitting there for a while, he yells to the bartender, ‘Hey, you wanna hear a blonde joke?’The bar immediately falls absolutely silent.In a very deep, husky voice, the woman next to him says,‘Before you tell that joke I think it is only fair, given that you are blind, that you should know five things:The bartender is a blonde girl with a baseball bat.The bouncer is a blonde girl.I’m a 6-foot-tall, 175-pound blonde woman with a black belt in karate.The woman sitting next to me is blonde and a professional weight lifter.The lady to your right is blonde and a professional wrestler.Now, think about it seriously, do you still wanna tell that blonde joke?’The blind Marine thinks for a second, shakes his head, and mutters, ‘No…not if I’m gonna have to explain it five times.