The Decline Of American Christianity Might Have Stalled. Will It Reverse?

/0 Comments/in , /by

In 1897, the famous author Mark Twain, in response to an article reporting he was on his deathbed, wrote to the paper: “The report of my death was an exaggeration.” The young reporter who erroneously declared Twain’s demise confused Twain with an ill cousin, jumping to a conclusion before thoroughly checking out the facts.

Twain’s words came to mind as I read about the recent Pew Research Center Religious Landscape survey showing the decline of American Christianity has stabilized. Pew finds that the percentage of American adults identifying as Christian remained at 62 to 63 percent (with an 0.8 percentage point of error) over the past couple of years.

In many ways, those who have been reporting on the demise of American Christianity have been doing the same thing as the young reporter who hastened the news of Twain’s demise. In their eagerness to conclude American Christianity is dying, they have missed what may be happening.

Instead, the number of Americans who identify as Christians has stabilized after years of decline and hopefully has turned a corner and will return to being a vital part of our national tapestry. Still, it is also important to note that many who identify as Christians are not adhering to the core beliefs of the faith.

For them, their faith is still based on nostalgia rather than Christ’s revelation in the Bible. In fact, most of the decline of American Christianity is within mainline Protestant denominations that have become increasingly leftist in their beliefs. Those denominations that have abandoned biblical truth continue to shrivel and die, while the decline among evangelicals, who generally lean less to the left, is slower. (Read more from “The Decline Of American Christianity Might Have Stalled. Will It Reverse?” HERE)

Producer Inflation Stopped Cold In Trump’s First Month, Core Prices Fell

/0 Comments/in , /by

. . .“When I win, I will immediately bring prices down, starting on Day One,” Donald Trump said on the campaign trail last summer.

Critics claimed, without evidence, that Trump’s tariff plans would raise inflation. Many economists argued that while the rate of price increases might slow, prices would not decline and Americans would simply have to adjust to the new higher price level.

In February, however, the core producer price index for final demand declined by 0.1 percent. In other words, prices of goods and services— excluding food and energy—sold by U.S. businesses came down.

The broader index for producer prices was flat for the month, indicating that there was no inflation at all in the month.

Both numbers were better than expected. Economists had forecast a 0.3 percent increase in the broad producer price index (PPI) and an even larger 0.5 percent increase in core producer prices.Instead of the expected price surge, we got price stability—and even declines in core producer prices. (Read more from “Producer Inflation Stopped Cold In Trump’s First Month, Core Prices Fell” HERE)

Corporate Media Try To Convince Americans That Inflation Progress Under Trump Is Temporary

/73 Comments/in , /by

President Donald Trump’s first full month in office was marked by one of the lowest consumer price index increases and the lowest level of core consumer prices Americans have experienced over the last four record-breaking years.

The White House celebrated the news as a sign that “inflation is declining and the economy is moving in the right direction under President Trump.”

“As he successfully did in his first term, President Trump is driving down costs through massive deregulation and energy dominance. The entire Trump Administration will continue to focus on fixing the economic and inflation nightmare created by the Biden-Harris Administration to unlock the Golden Age of America,” White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said in a statement.

Despite the significant inflation data shift, corporate media are attempting to sow doubt that Trump’s “America First” policies will yield the economic results his constituents desire.

Outlets acknowledged that February’s price hikes measured much “lower than expected,” but refused to give up on their attempts to sabotage the second Trump administration’s pledge to rescue and repair the economy. Some corporate media, such as CNN, couched their headlines with caveats about how “Trump’s tariff plans and trade war” were proof that economic “progress may be short lived.” (Read more from “Corporate Media Try To Convince Americans That Inflation Progress Under Trump Is Temporary” HERE)

Rap Star Spills the Beans, Says Black Lives Matter Is ‘Literally a Scam’

/31 Comments/in , /by

A rapper is singing a politically incorrect tune as he says Black Lives Matter is “literally a scam.”

The singer is Lil Yachty who made the comment during an appearance on a cooking show with Quenlin Blackwell.

During the pair’s kitchen discussion, Blackwell asked Lil Yachty: “You spent $100,000 on a trip to Disney once. How much have you spent on charitable causes this year?”

“It’s just blurry, I’ve been doing so much,” the rapper said.

“BLM?” asked Blackwell.

“BLM is a scam,” the rapper said matter of factly.

“BLM was, it was literally a scam. They had bought mansions. You probably wouldn’t know anything about it because you don’t care about black people.”

(Read more from “Rap Star Spills the Beans, Says Black Lives Matter Is ‘Literally a Scam'” HERE)

Did Michelle Obama Confirm Those Divorce Rumors With Her Latest Move?

/21 Comments/in , /by

Are the Obamas on the brink of divorce? Speculation reached a fever pitch in recent months after Michelle Obama skipped major public events, including Jimmy Carter’s funeral and Donald Trump’s inauguration, while Barack has rarely been out in public with her. With months of separate appearances and whispers of personal indiscretions swirling, the signs are getting harder to ignore.

But did we just get the biggest hint yet?

According to reports, Michelle is launching a podcast where she will not only interview celebrities but also talk about such things as marriage, divorce, and other personal issues and give advice.

The new podcast, titled “IMO” (In My Opinion), debuts Wednesday with her brother Craig Robinson cohosting. Interesting timing, wouldn’t you say? Robinson has his own experience with divorce. But what’s really telling is what they won’t discuss: politics. That’s right — the wife of a former president is deliberately avoiding political talk.

Remember when Michelle proclaimed in her memoir “Becoming” that she “never wanted to be involved in politics”? Probably not, because I’m sure you didn’t read it, but that’s what they say. It seems she’s finally getting her wish. (Read more from “Did Michelle Obama Confirm Those Divorce Rumors With Her Latest Move?” HERE)

Sister of Slain Army Soldier Decides to Run for Rep. Al Green’s Seat After Seeing Him Interrupt Trump’s Congressional Address

/11 Comments/in , /by

Democrat Rep. Al Green of Texas is going to face a stout challenge to maintaining his congressional seat from the sister of slain Army soldier Vanessa Guillen.

Mayra Guillen says she made the decision to run after watching Green interrupt President Donald Trump during his address to a joint session of Congress last week.

Green yelled at Trump at the start of his address and continued shouting until Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson of Louisiana ordered that he be removed from the House chamber.

Guillen wrote on social media that the moment spurred her to action.

“After watching @RepAlGreen disrespect not only @POTUS last night, but our district, state and country, I believe it’s time for me to get into the fight like I did for my sister Vanessa Guillen!” she wrote. “It’s time to end the propaganda displayed by these politicians, and time to help support @POTUS and his amazing Admiration to Make America Great Again! Al Green I’m coming for your seat.” (Read more from “Sister of Slain Army Soldier Decides to Run for Rep. Al Green’s Seat After Seeing Him Interrupt Trump’s Congressional Address” HERE)

Judge Blocks Trump From Punishing Prominent Democratic Law Firm

/9 Comments/in , /by

A federal judge spanked President Trump on Wednesday over his attempt to block the government from doing business with the law firm that helped Hillary Clinton’s 2016 presidential campaign by promoting the now-discredited “Steele Dossier.”

Perkins Coie had sued, saying the executive order was unconstitutional retaliation that would upend the way law firms operate.

Judge Beryl Howell sided with them, saying Mr. Trump’s move “sends little chills down my spine.”

She issued a temporary restraining order blocking the government from following through on parts of Mr. Trump’s executive order that ordered Perkins Coie’s contracts with the government to be scrutinized, its lawyers restricted from entering government buildings, and federal employees limited in their ability to engage with the firm.

Mr. Trump, in his March 6 order, had said the firm had engaged in “dishonest and dangerous activity.” (Read more from “Judge Blocks Trump From Punishing Prominent Democratic Law Firm” HERE)

USAID, State Failed To Monitor NGOs To Ensure They Weren’t Funding Taliban, IG Says

/4 Comments/in , /by

A government inspector general on Wednesday sounded the alarm about problems with the now-shuttered U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and underscored how “non-government organizations” receive billions of dollars from the United States in corruption-prone regions with limited accountability.

The Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction said in a new report that “since the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan in August 2021, the U.S. government has spent billions of U.S. taxpayer funds on projects intended to provide for Afghans’ basic needs.”

The report said the State Department and USAID have turned to Public International Organizations, its term for NGOs, “as the primary means of delivering this aid,” but “have been inconsistent in their efforts to formally require PIOs to agree to U.S. government oversight on how funding is spent and whether projects are delivering intended results” rather than being “diverted to the Taliban.”

For example, the USAID Mission to Afghanistan’s standard contract with NGOs did not require them to permit American officials to visit to see what they were actually doing. (Read more from “USAID, State Failed To Monitor NGOs To Ensure They Weren’t Funding Taliban, IG Says” HERE)

Three Glasses of This Drink a Day Can Prevent Dementia — It Also Fights Heart Disease and Cancer

/2 Comments/in , , /by

An estimated 6.7 million people in the US are living with Alzheimer’s dementia today, and this number could increase to 13.8 million by 2060, according to the NIH.

While there are many lifestyle choices that could lower your risk of dementia — including maintaining a good diet, exercising regularly, socializing and keeping your mind stimulated — recent research suggests there’s one humble beverage that can slash your risk with just a few sips.

A study out of Japan has found that older adults who regularly consume green tea have fewer cerebral white matter lesions, a key indicator of cognitive decline and dementia.

Researchers asked almost 9,000 adults to fill out a questionnaire about their coffee and tea-drinking habits and used brain scans to analyze their data.

While they did not find any evidence that coffee intake might prevent cognitive decline, their results did lead them to conclude that drinking green tea — especially three or more glasses a day — may help prevent dementia.

The findings align with previous studies that have shown green tea consumption can protect you from cognitive decline.

A 2022 meta-analysis indicates your risk of dementia decreases by 6% for every cup of green tea you consume. (Read more from “Three Glasses of This Drink a Day Can Prevent Dementia — It Also Fights Heart Disease and Cancer” HERE)

Photo credit: Flickr

Government Shutdown Likely After Schumer Says Senate Dems Will Block GOP Funding Bill

/5 Comments/in , /by

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer announced Wednesday that most Democrats in the upper chamber will not support a House Republican-passed bill to fund the federal government through the end of September, all but ensuring a partial shutdown beginning at 11:59 p.m. Friday.

“Funding the government should be a bipartisan effort, but Republicans chose a partisan path, drafting their [continuing resolution] without any input — any input — from congressional Democrats,” Schumer (D-NY) said on the Senate floor Wednesday.

“Because of that, Republicans do not have the votes in the Senate to invoke cloture on the House CR. Our caucus is unified on a clean [CR through April 11] that will keep the government open and give Congress time to negotiate bipartisan legislation that can pass.”

With Republicans holding a 53-47 advantage in the Senate, and legislation needing 60 votes to overcome a filibuster, at least seven Democrats would need to support the spending bill, which passed the House 217-213 Tuesday night.

Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) has also opposed the measure, so the GOP will need eight Democratic defections if there is full attendance in the chamber. (Read more from “Government Shutdown Likely After Schumer Says Senate Dems Will Block GOP Funding Bill” HERE)

Photo credit: Flickr