Poll: Rising Prices Impact Thanksgiving Plans for Many Americans

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As Americans prepare for Thanksgiving this year, a new poll reveals that a significant portion of the population is feeling the strain of rising costs, with many adjusting their holiday plans accordingly.

The latest Economist/YouGov survey, conducted from November 17-19, 2024, found that 37 percent of respondents say their Thanksgiving celebrations have been impacted by price hikes. Another 36 percent reported that their plans have not been affected, while 8 percent expressed uncertainty.

Price Concerns Cross Political Lines

The survey shows a notable difference in how political affiliations influence responses to the cost increases. Republicans were the most likely to report that their Thanksgiving plans had been affected, with 47 percent acknowledging the impact of price hikes. Among independents, 35 percent said they too had felt the pinch, while 29 percent of Democrats reported similar concerns. However, Democrats were more likely than Republicans or independents to say their plans remained unaffected—47 percent of Democrats said the price increases had not impacted them.

Holiday Spending in the Spotlight

The rising cost of essentials such as food, gas, and other holiday-related expenses has been a growing concern for many Americans, particularly under the leadership of President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris. Since January 2021, the prices of common items like eggs and gasoline have surged dramatically—eggs have risen by 147 percent, while gas prices have increased by 50 percent. These price hikes have left many questioning how much they will be able to spend on holiday meals, travel, and gatherings.

Survey Methodology

The poll, which included 1,595 adult respondents across the United States, has a margin of error of plus or minus 3.4 percent. It highlights the ongoing financial pressures many Americans are facing as they approach the holiday season. With rising costs affecting everything from the cost of food to travel, this Thanksgiving may look different for many families across the nation.

As the holiday season draws near, these findings underscore the broader economic concerns that continue to shape American life, especially as inflation and cost-of-living issues remain a top priority for many voters.

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The Trump Economic Boom Is Already Beginning

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If the aftermath of Donald Trump’s victory on Election Day feels joyous and tranquil, you are not alone.

American households and businesses are much more serene and hopeful this time around. Polling released by Pew Research on Friday shows that 70 percent of Americans are very or somewhat confident that the transition to the Trump administration will go smoothly. Similarly, a majority of Americans say they have a positive evaluation of Trump’s post-election conduct.

A 53 percent majority of Americans say they approve of the president-elect’s plans for the country. When asked if they approve of Trump’s conduct post-election, 53 percent answer affirmatively. That’s better than the 40 percent who said they approved of Trump’s cabinet choices in November 2016 and the 41 percent who said they approved of the job he had done in explaining his policies and plans for the future.

Of course, there are the usual partisan differences in how people are reacting to the election. As recently as October, just 10 percent of Republicans said they were satisfied with the state of the country, according to Pew. Now, 35 percent are satisfied. Democrats have seen their satisfaction slip from 38 percent to 24 percent. (Read more from “The Trump Economic Boom Is Already Beginning” HERE)

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Elon, Vivek Say Doge Will Cut Funding for ‘Progressive Groups Like Planned Parenthood’

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Federal funding for the nation’s largest abortion provider could be on the chopping block under the direction of Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy and the newly created Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).

In a joint op-ed in the Wall Street Journal published on Wednesday, Musk and Ramaswamy laid out their plans to cut federal overspending and to return power to the “people we elect [to] run the government” rather than unelected bureaucrats. Part of this plan involves slashing millions in funding awarded to “progressive groups like Planned Parenthood,” they wrote.

“Skeptics question how much federal spending DOGE can tame through executive action alone,” they wrote “They point to the 1974 Impoundment Control Act, which stops the president from ceasing expenditures authorized by Congress. Mr. Trump has previously suggested this statute is unconstitutional, and we believe the current Supreme Court would likely side with him on this question.”

“But even without relying on that view, DOGE will help end federal overspending by taking aim at the $500 billion plus in annual federal expenditures that are unauthorized by Congress or being used in ways that Congress never intended, from $535 million a year to the Corporation for Public Broadcasting and $1.5 billion for grants to international organizations to nearly $300 million to progressive groups like Planned Parenthood,” they continued.

(Read more from “Elon, Vivek Say Doge Will Cut Funding for ‘Progressive Groups Like Planned Parenthood’” HERE)

Earliest ‘Jesus Is God’ Inscription Discovered in Israel: ‘Greatest Discovery Since the Dead Sea Scrolls’

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An extraordinary archaeological find in Israel has been hailed as the most significant discovery for understanding early Christianity since the Dead Sea Scrolls. An 1,800-year-old mosaic uncovered in the Megiddo prison, located in northern Israel, contains what is believed to be the earliest inscription declaring Jesus as God.

The mosaic, measuring 581 square feet, was discovered beneath the floor of the prison by an inmate and has since been painstakingly excavated by archaeologists from the Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA). The inscription, written in ancient Greek, reads: “The god-loving Akeptous has offered the table to God Jesus Christ as a memorial.” This inscription not only serves as one of the earliest affirmations of Jesus’ divine status but also sheds light on early Christian worship practices.

Groundbreaking Evidence of Early Christian Beliefs

The mosaic is believed to have decorated one of the world’s first prayer halls or churches, dating back to around 230 AD. Its discovery provides tangible evidence that early Christians considered Jesus to be the Son of God from the very beginnings of the faith. Experts note that the inclusion of “God Jesus Christ” in the inscription represents a monumental find in the history of Christian theology, confirming the belief in Jesus’ divinity at a much earlier date than previously thought.

“This is arguably one of the most important archaeological discoveries for understanding the early Christian church,” said Bobby Duke, director of the Scholars Initiative at the Museum of the Bible. The mosaic also features some of the earliest known images of fish, which experts interpret as references to the biblical story in Luke 9:16, where Jesus miraculously multiplies two fish to feed a crowd of 5,000.

Carlos Campo, CEO of the museum, called the discovery “the greatest discovery since the Dead Sea Scrolls,” underscoring its profound importance for both archaeology and the study of early Christian history. Alegre Savariego, curator of the exhibition, emphasized that the mosaic provides “groundbreaking physical evidence” of the practices and beliefs of early Christians.

The Megiddo Mosaic was found in the Jezreel Valley, an area steeped in biblical significance. The region is believed to be the location of the final battle of Armageddon, as prophesied in the Book of Revelation. The discovery is seen as further proof of the area’s central role in Christian tradition.

The mosaic also reveals a fascinating glimpse into the relationship between Romans and early Christians. An inscription on the mosaic mentions Gaianus, a Roman officer who financed the creation of the mosaic. The inscription reads: “Gaianus, a Roman officer, having sought honor, from his own money, has made the mosaic.” This suggests that, despite the many accounts of conflict between early Christians and the Roman Empire, there may have been some degree of peaceful coexistence.

In addition to the mosaic’s religious significance, researchers uncovered a nearby Roman camp, further supporting the theory that Romans and Christians may have lived side by side during this period.

Another notable aspect of the mosaic is its inclusion of the names of five women, underscoring the significant role women played in the early Christian community. In addition to Akeptous, who is mentioned for her donation of a table for the prayer hall, the mosaic also honors Primilla, Cyriaca, Dorothea, and Chreste. This detail provides further insight into the active participation of women in the early church.

The prayer hall, or church, in which the mosaic was originally placed was likely abandoned and covered up after the Roman Empire’s Sixth Legion was transferred to Transjordan, to the east of the Jordan River. This abandonment may have led to the preservation of the mosaic until its rediscovery in modern times.

The Megiddo Mosaic’s excavation took four years, and its display in the United States is now part of a major exhibition that will provide visitors with a unique opportunity to explore one of the earliest and most significant symbols of Christian history.

White House: Biden ‘Still Stands’ by Claim Trump ‘Existential Threat’

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White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said Thursday that President Joe Biden “still stands” by his claim that President-elect Donald Trump is an “existential threat,” even though he also wants a peaceful transfer of power. . .

There was an election when the American people spoke. The will of the American people were very clear, right? And so the president is now in a situation where we have to deal with a peaceful transfer of power. We have to respect the will of the American people, and that’s what you have been seeing from this president, trying to lead by example to make sure that that happens, and that’s what the American people deserve. That’s what the president deserves, and that’s what I think he was very clear about in the Rose Garden when he delivered his remarks two days after the election, and he said he was very honest, said these — you know, and again I’m not quoting him exactly — but these were not the results that we had wanted, right? And that’s just being honest. They weren’t, but we are now in a position where he believes he has to lead by example and show what a peaceful transfer of power looks like. And so that’s what you’re seeing from this president and you know, to the points that you made, you know, I’ve been asked about existential threat. I’ve been asked about a threat to our democracy. The president is always going to be honest with the American people. He feels like he is obligated. What he said still stands, but we are now in a different place. We are. The American people spoke. They deserve a peaceful transfer of power. That’s what this president wants to do. … His thoughts and what he said, his thinking on that has not changed. It has not, and I think he was very clear about what he believes should have been done or how we should move forward, how, you know, he was very clear during those moments that he spoke about it. Right now, he wants to lead by example, and talk and show the American people what it looks like to have an efficient, effective transfer of power, and he believes that is what the American people deserve, and I’m just going to leave it there for now.

(Read more from “White House: Biden ‘Still Stands’ by Claim Trump ‘Existential Threat’” HERE)

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Netflix’s ‘Mary’ Attracts Social Media Backlash for Casting Israeli Actress as Mother of Jesus

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A new Biblical epic coming to Netflix this Christmas is garnering online backlash because of the film’s Israeli cast.

Netflix’s “Mary,” coming to the streaming platform on December 6, stars Israeli actress Noa Cohen in the titular role, and Israeli actor Ido Tako as Joseph, Jesus’ father. The coming-of-age tale retells the world-famous Biblical story through the eyes of Mary, mother of Jesus.

“Directed by D.J. Caruso (Disturbia) and written by Timothy Michael Hayes, this uplifting biblical epic follows Mary, Joseph, and their newborn son, Jesus, as they flee the relentless pursuit of King Herod, portrayed by two-time Academy Award winner Anthony Hopkins,” Netflix’s website announced.

Since Netflix dropped the trailer for the film on November 12, it has been relentlessly attacked by anti-Israel critics on social media who are upset by the casting of the Israeli actors as Mary and Joseph. . .

Several people online are now calling for a boycott, claiming the film is historically inaccurate because Mary and Joseph were actually “Palestinian.”

“Instead of casting Middle-Eastern Christians to play the roles, the director casted European Israelis to play the roles for ‘authenticity’ reasons… yeah boycott this crap!” one account with a Palestinian flag in its profile demanded.

(Read more from “Netflix’s ‘Mary’ Attracts Social Media Backlash for Casting Israeli Actress as Mother of Jesus” HERE)

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“No Excuse”: Trump Fumes on Truth Social After Senate Confirms Biden Judges — Thanks to GOP Absences

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Republican senators are urging some of their colleagues, including Vice President-elect JD Vance, R-Ohio, and Donald Trump’s Secretary of State pick Marco Rubio, R-Florida, to get back to the office and block Democrats from confirming judges during the lame-duck session while they still have the majority and the White House.

After their absences helped Senate Democrats to confirm several of President Joe Biden’s nominees, Republicans fumed about Vance, Rubio and others during their weekly caucus lunch and to reporters. “I’m not going to bubble wrap it,” said Sen. John Kennedy, R-La. “There’s no excuse for that, it’s our job to be here and vote.”

“We want to see [Vance] and some of our members back because of these votes we’re having,” Sen. John Hoeven, R-N.D., told reporters. “Particularly on some of the circuit court judges.”

Trump himself issued marching orders on Truth Social on Tuesday. “The Democrats are trying to stack the Courts with Radical Left Judges on their way out the door,” Trump declared. “Republican Senators need to Show Up and Hold the Line — No more Judges confirmed before Inauguration Day!” he wrote, just a few hours after he invited several GOP senators, including Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, to witness a SpaceX launch while the rest of the chamber was voting. (Read more from “No Excuse”: Trump Fumes on Truth Social After Senate Confirms Biden Judges — Thanks to GOP Absences” HERE)

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The Police Report About Pete Hegseth’s Alleged Sexual Assault Vindicates Him of Criminality

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[WARNING: article contains graphic language and details.]

. . .What you’re going to hear now and in the coming days from the national media is that there are “graphic” details in a police report related to an alleged sexual assault involving Pete Hegseth, President-elect Donald Trump’s incoming nominee for Defense secretary. It’s certainly graphic, but the media will bet you won’t bother reading the report, which in reality looks really bad for the alleged victim and effectively clears Hegseth of criminality.

The 22-page report details an incident from seven years ago when in 2017, Hegseth, then a Fox News celebrity, attended an event for a Republican women’s group as a featured speaker. The way the media have relayed the event so far is that a woman in attendance has accused Hegseth of drugging her at an afterparty before raping her in his hotel room. Outside of the alleged victim’s admittedly incomplete recollection, none of the testimony or evidence included in the police report supports that claim. In truth, all of it indicates that the accuser lied to her husband, who was in her hotel room, while she galavanted at night with Hegseth and other attendees before voluntarily joining him in his room to have consensual sex.

The report’s events took place in early October 2017, and it includes multiple eyewitness testimonies and text message evidence of what took place before and after the alleged assault. The alleged victim is identified only as Jane Doe. After a night of moderate drinking, during which Doe says she at some point felt she may have been surreptitiously drugged, Doe said she remembered few details but that she recalled inexplicably finding herself in Hegseth’s hotel room, that he ejaculated on her body, and that she thereafter went to her own room to join an unnamed person in bed. Text messages she shared with police indicate the person was her husband and that there were other parties in the room, likely children. . .

The rest of the report is an overwhelming refutation of that version of events. Included are text exchanges with her husband, wherein she repeatedly mentions Hegseth, but omits that she was spending time with him at the after-parties; testimonies from other women in attendance who said Doe never appeared overserved and in fact seemed completely coherent throughout; surveillance video footage that showed Doe and Hegseth walking around with locked arms; and a hotel staff member who recalled engaging Doe and Hegseth by the pool, at which time Hegseth was belligerent and Doe guided Hegseth away from the conflict.

The report ends with Hegseth’s version of events, in which he admits he only initiated sex with Doe after she took him to his room and says that the two of them repeatedly expressed reservations about the intimacy. He said that the two of them agreed the affair needed to remain secret. If there’s one corroborated piece of Doe’s story, it’s that Hegseth also recalled that she asked him if he had a condom. (Read more from “The Police Report About Pete Hegseth’s Alleged Sexual Assault Vindicates Him of Criminality” HERE)

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Parents Scold Schools for Demanding ‘Gender Identity’ of 3-Year-Olds

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Parents are scolding schools across the United Kingdom for demanding they provide the “gender identity” of their 3-year-olds who are enrolling in primary classes. . .

It is the Christian Institute that confirmed the primary school applications used by more than 100 local authorities over recent years demands parents select “man/boy/male” or “woman/girl/female” or a third option to “self-describe.”

This agenda “has no place on the form with regard to 3-year-olds on any level,” charged one concerned mother.

The report explained the form in use was “supplied by an external provider, but has been used for more than 550,000 students.”

“I immediately investigated as the council does not want or need a question about gender identity on our school admissions form,” admitted Martin Tell, the chief of the Buckinghamshire Council, explaining his actions when he found out. (Read more from “Parents Scold Schools for Demanding ‘Gender Identity’ of 3-Year-Olds” HERE)

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Russia Threatens to Attack New U.S. Base in Poland With ‘Advanced Weapons’

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Russia has threatened to attack a new US defense base in Poland with “advanced weapons” — just hours after reportedly launching an intercontinental ballistic missile at Ukraine on Thursday.

Moscow leveled the warning after saying the opening of the ballistic missile defense base, located in the town of Redzikowo near the Baltic coast, would lead to an increase in overall nuclear danger.

“Given the nature and level of threats posed by such Western military facilities, the missile defense base in Poland has long been added to the list of priority targets for potential destruction, which, if necessary, can be executed with a wide range of advanced weapons,” Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova said.

The US base at Redzikowo, which opened Nov. 13, is part of a broader NATO missile shield — known as “Aegis Ashore” — that can intercept short- to intermediate-range ballistic missiles, according to the alliance.

“This is another frankly provocative step in a series of deeply destabilizing actions by the Americans and their allies in the North Atlantic Alliance in the strategic sphere,” Zakharova said of the base’s opening. (Read more from “Russia Threatens to Attack New U.S. Base in Poland With ‘Advanced Weapons’” HERE)