Pope Calls for Global Ban on Surrogacy

/0 Comments/in , /by

Pope Francis on Monday condemned the practice of using a surrogate mother to birth a child and called for a global ban on the practice.

The pope called surrogacy “despicable” during an annual foreign policy address to ambassadors of 184 countries.

“I consider despicable the practice of so-called surrogate motherhood, which represents a grave violation of the dignity of the woman and the child,” Francis said.

The pope said surrogacy exploits the surrogate mother’s financial situation and said an unborn child must not be “turned into an object of trafficking.”

He called for a global ban “to prohibit this practice universally.” (Read more from “Pope Calls for Global Ban on Surrogacy” HERE)

Delete Facebook, Delete Twitter, Follow Restoring Liberty and Joe Miller at gab HERE.

GOP State Leadership Continues to be Challenged by Corruption: One State Chair Charged with Rape, Another Refuses to Step Down

/0 Comments/in , /by

By New York Post. Florida’s Republican Party has formally pushed out its embattled former chairman Christian Ziegler amid rape allegations. . .

In November, a report revealed that Ziegler was under criminal investigation by the Sarasota Police Department.

A woman, who claims to have known Ziegler and his wife for two decades, accused him of raping her a month prior inside her Sarasota home on Oct. 2, 2023. . .

The incident has garnered national attention in part because his wife Bridget Ziegler is a co-founder of Moms for Liberty, which works to elect conservative mothers onto school boards.

[S]he has admitted that she, her husband, and the alleged victim previously partook in a three-way sexual escapade about a year prior, Politico reported. (Read more from “GOP State Leadership Continues to be Challenged by Corruption: One State Chair Charged with Rape” HERE)

_____________________________________________________

Group of Michigan GOP Committee Members Vote to Oust State Party Chair; She Says They Have No Authority to Remove Her

By Daily Wire. A group of Michigan Republican Party committee members gathered Saturday afternoon and voted to remove state party chair Kristina Karamo — but Karamo said she would not recognize their authority.

Forty of the 45 Republicans at the special meeting voted via secret ballot in favor of Karamo’s removal, according to multiple sources and a video announcement, The Detroit News reported. Karamo and her team said that the Republicans seeking her removal have not abided by the party’s bylaws, and she scheduled a special meeting on January 13, which she says is the actual special meeting.

“These individuals have not followed the MIGOP bylaws to call a meeting, change bylaws or remove any member,” Karamo told The Detroit News earlier this week. “They have zero legal authority to conduct business regarding the Michigan Republican Party or its state committee.”

Karamo rose to prominence within the Michigan GOP after challenging the results of former President Donald Trump’s 2020 election loss. She then ran for Michigan secretary of state with Trump’s endorsement in the 2022 election cycle, a race she lost by 14 percentage points to incumbent Democrat Jocelyn Benson. Karamo was elected to state party chair in February, largely riding the support of conservative grassroots activists. (Read more from “Group of Michigan GOP Committee Members Vote to Oust State Party Chair; She Says They Have No Authority to Remove Her” HERE)

Delete Facebook, Delete Twitter, Follow Restoring Liberty and Joe Miller at gab HERE.

Facing the Fentanyl Crisis: Unveiling the Reality Through Statistics and a Mother’s Call to Action

/1 Comment/in , /by

In the grip of a relentless surge in fentanyl-related deaths, a public health crisis has unfolded, leaving families shattered and communities grappling with the devastating consequences. Fentanyl, a synthetic opioid with unparalleled potency, has become a central player in the opioid epidemic, causing an alarming rise in fatalities worldwide.

While fentanyl was originally developed for pain management under the close supervision of a prescribing doctor, the chemical makeup has been mimicked and the drug has been pouring into our communities taking the lives of children, grandchildren, brothers, sisters, and friends.

Fentanyl’s Stealthy Onslaught: A Closer Look at the Statistics

According to the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA), fentanyl has emerged as a synthetic opioid that surpasses morphine and heroin in potency. Its chemical makeup has been replicated, infiltrating communities and claiming lives with unprecedented speed. Fentanyl poses an imminent threat in seemingly-safe American communities, contributing to a surge in opioid-related deaths globally.

The World Health Organization (WHO) reports a concerning global increase in opioid-related deaths, with the United States, Canada, and Europe experiencing a significant impact from fentanyl. Preliminary data from the United States indicates that synthetic opioids, primarily fentanyl, were involved in over two-thirds of all overdose deaths. Canada witnessed more than 6,000 opioid-related deaths in 2022, with fentanyl as the primary factor. European countries, as identified by the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA), have witnessed a notable rise in fentanyl-related deaths.

A Mother’s Journey Through Grief and Awareness

Amidst the harrowing statistics, Tracy Norris shares her personal journey through grief and awareness in her book, Shadows of Grief. Reflecting on the tragic loss of her son Marcus to a decade-long battle with addiction and eventual fentanyl overdose, Tracy’s experience offers a heartbreaking glimpse into the struggles that accompany loving and parenting a son suffering from addiction.

Tracy’s experience serves as a powerful reminder of the devastating impact of fentanyl on families. As she navigates the complexities of grief, she sheds light on the importance of understanding the whole truth about addiction and the role fentanyl plays in exacerbating the crisis. Through her journey, Tracy emphasizes the need for awareness, compassion, and healing, challenging societal perspectives on addiction.

Below is an excerpt of Tracy’s book, due for release on March 10th:

This book is a personal reflection of my journey raising and loving a child who developed a chemical dependency and lost his battle with addiction. I walk through many of the red flags, near misses, adventures, heartache, and chaos that comes with loving an addict. The years of caring, praying, and fighting for the sanity and sobriety of my child were traumatizing, not only for myself, but for my husband, our other children, and our entire family. The pain of watching Marcus’s slow decline and death has not only shaken me to my very core, but it has also changed me as a person. Marcus’s preventable death has been debilitating for me. It has shifted all my perspectives and left me challenging every choice that I have made as a parent and who I am as a person. My journey to healing is very much still in progress, and I suspect that I will continue to move toward complete healing for the rest of my life. I believe that Marcus’s story—his battle with addiction and drug abuse, his fight for recovery, and ultimately the loss of his life—is only wasted if the journey stops with his passing.

Moving Forward: A Call to Action

As communities grapple with the fentanyl crisis, these statistics and personal stories underscore the urgency of collective action. Shadows of Grief serves as a testament to the profound consequences of fentanyl and the ongoing crisis. An effective approach to reducing the impact of the fentanyl crisis would include cooperation with law enforcement, comprehensive harm reduction strategies, and addressing the fentanyl crisis necessitates collaboration across borders and sectors. Only through awareness, education, and a united front can we hope to curb the rising tide of fentanyl-related deaths and provide support for those navigating the challenging path of recovery.

Shadows of Grief is available for pre-sale HERE.

Delete Facebook, Delete Twitter, Follow Restoring Liberty and Joe Miller at gab HERE.

Report: Biden Admin Warns Israel Against Taking Major Military Action Against Hezbollah

/1 Comment/in , /by

Israel is considering launching a major military operation against Hezbollah after months of harassment and threats from the terror group, alarming some U.S. officials.

Hezbollah has threatened Israel on its northern border from Lebanon for months since Hamas terrorists invaded Israel from the Gaza Strip on October 7, murdering roughly 1,200 people and taking hostage hundreds more. Warnings from Israel that it intends to put a stop to Hezbollah’s threats have alarmed the Biden administration, which fears a growing Middle East conflict, according to The Washington Post. . .

The Biden administration is reportedly warning Israel against taking significant action against Hezbollah, warning that a U.S. intelligence assessment found that if Israel were to expand its military operations to Lebanon as well as Gaza, success would be difficult for Israel to achieve.

Biden administration officials believe Israel’s signals against Hezbollah may be a result of political pressure on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Netanyahu may push military action against Hezbollah in order to recover politically from the fallout over a failure to prevent the invasion of October 7, according to Biden administration concerns shared with the Post. (Read more from “Report: Biden Admin Warns Israel Against Taking Major Military Action Against Hezbollah” HERE)

Delete Facebook, Delete Twitter, Follow Restoring Liberty and Joe Miller at gab HERE.

Biden Admin Leaves Nigeria, World’s Most Dangerous Place to Be a Christian, off Religious Freedom List

/0 Comments/in , /by

The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) immediately criticized Secretary of State Antony Blinken for once again leaving Nigeria off the State Department’s annual list of “Countries of Particular Concern” (CPC) for religious oppression.

In the 2023 edition of its World Watch List, religious freedom group Open Doors estimated that nearly 90 percent of the Christians killed for their faith last year were killed in Nigeria. The Christian aid group International Christian Concern (ICC) identified Nigeria as “the world’s most dangerous place to be a Christian in the world” in 2023.

USCIRF said there was “no justification” for leaving Nigeria and India off the list, especially since the State Department’s own “reporting and statements” suggest both countries should be on it.

The bipartisan USCIRF thought this omission was so egregious that its leaders, Chairman Abraham Cooper and Vice Chair Frederick A. Davie, called for a Congressional inquiry:

Days before Christmas, hundreds of Christians were killed in Nigeria, along with their Pastor. This is just the latest example of deadly violence against religious communities in Nigeria that even the State Department has condemned. The majority of Commissioners have traveled to Nigeria and noted the threats to freedom of religion or belief and the deadly implications to religious communities.

In India, in addition to perpetrating egregious religious freedom violations within its borders, the government has increased its transnational repression activities targeting religious minorities abroad and those advocating on their behalf.

USCIRF rejects the State Department’s decision to omit Nigeria and India as CPCs. We met with the State Department on many occasions to sound the alarm about these countries, but not all of our recommendations have been followed. We will not be deterred and will continue our role as a congressionally mandated watchdog to ensure the U.S. government prioritizes religious freedom as a key component of U.S. foreign policy.

(Read more from “Biden Admin Leaves Nigeria, World’s Most Dangerous Place to Be a Christian, off Religious Freedom List” HERE)

Delete Facebook, Delete Twitter, Follow Restoring Liberty and Joe Miller at gab HERE.

Trump Calls for Firing of Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin Over Secret Hospitalization

/8 Comments/in , , /by

Former President Donald Trump has publicly demanded the immediate firing of Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, citing “improper professional conduct” and a “dereliction of duty” related to the delayed announcement about Austin’s hospitalization. Trump issued the call for action from his Truth Social account on Sunday.

In his statement, Trump asserted, “Failed Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin should be fired immediately for improper professional conduct and dereliction of duty. He has been missing for one week, and nobody, including his boss, Crooked Joe Biden, had a clue as to where he was, or might be.” The former president further criticized Austin’s overall performance, suggesting that he should have been dismissed long ago, along with General Mark Milley, for various reasons, with a particular focus on the “catastrophic surrender in Afghanistan.”

The controversy surrounding Lloyd Austin’s hospitalization unfolded when it was revealed that he had hidden his admission to the hospital’s intensive care unit for several days. This lack of disclosure raised serious questions about Austin’s judgment and also prompted scrutiny of President Biden’s awareness of his defense secretary’s health status. The situation became even more concerning given the escalating tensions between U.S. troops and Iran-backed proxy groups in the Middle East.

The revelation of Austin’s hospitalization occurred against the backdrop of recent U.S. warnings to Houthi rebels and a drone strike in Iraq targeting an Iran-backed militia leader. The lack of clarity about Austin’s medical condition, coupled with the Pentagon’s decision to cite “privacy” for not providing explicit details, contributed to the confusion surrounding the situation.

In response to the growing controversy, Austin issued a statement on Saturday acknowledging that he could have done a “better job ensuring the public was appropriately informed.”

Delete Facebook, Delete Twitter, Follow Restoring Liberty and Joe Miller at gab HERE.

Guarding Your Mind: Everyday Habits to Reduce Dementia Risk Revealed

/107 Comments/in , , /by

Dementia, often associated with people over 65, can impact memory, language, and problem-solving abilities, with Alzheimer’s being a common culprit. While certain risk factors like genetics are beyond control, lifestyle habits play a crucial role, providing an opportunity to mitigate the risk of dementia, according to experts.

Blair Steel, a psychologist at Carrara Treatment, Wellness & Spa, emphasizes that it’s never too early to adopt behaviors that can safeguard cognitive health. Dementia manifests as impairment in at least two brain functions, such as memory loss and judgment, leading to symptoms like forgetfulness, limited social skills, and thinking impairment.

Exercise, particularly aerobic exercise, is highlighted as a powerful tool in the fight against dementia. Steel underscores the negative impact of a sedentary lifestyle on the brain, emphasizing the adage, “If you don’t use it, you lose it.” Individuals approaching their 60s are encouraged to prioritize regular physical activity to reduce their dementia risk.

Isolation, often exacerbated by excessive social media use, is identified as another risk factor. Steel highlights the significance of in-person socializing, as it provides a more enriching experience for the brain compared to virtual interactions.

Establishing good sleep habits is crucial, regardless of age. Limiting screen time before bedtime and avoiding disruptions during sleep contribute to better overall brain health.

Stress, identified by the Alzheimer’s Society as a major trigger for dementia, necessitates effective management. Engaging in physical exercise, pursuing hobbies, spending time with family and friends, and adopting a flexible mindset are effective ways to combat stress.

Moderating alcohol consumption is advised, as the Alzheimer’s Society associates regular drinking over an extended period with a specific type of dementia.

Lastly, dietary choices play a pivotal role. Processed foods, prevalent in the American diet, are considered potential triggers for dementia in adults. Embracing a diet rich in nutrient-dense, whole foods contributes to better brain health.

Photo credit: Flickr

Delete Facebook, Delete Twitter, Follow Restoring Liberty and Joe Miller at gab HERE.

Alleged Altercation Between Rep. Lauren Boebert and Ex-husband Under “Active Investigation”: Police

/1 Comment/in , /by

Police have launched an “active investigation” into an alleged altercation Saturday night between Republican Colorado Rep. Lauren Boebert and her ex-husband in a Colorado restaurant, according to the Denver Post.

The congresswoman allegedly struck Jayson Boebert, her ex-husband, twice at the Miner’s Claim in Slit, according to the outlet. This claim has been denied by the congresswoman.

An investigation by the Slit Police Department is ongoing, Chief Mike Kite confirmed, according to the outlet. Police reportedly arrived at the scene after the incident, after which neither party was arrested.

“This is a sad situation for all that keeps escalating and another reason I’m moving,” Boebert said in a statement from her campaign manager to the outlet. “I didn’t punch Jason in the face and no one was arrested.”

The Colorado Republican’s ex-husband told police Sunday he and Lauren Boebert were having heated talks, the outlet reported. He reportedly does not plan to press charges. (Read more from “Alleged Altercation Between Rep. Lauren Boebert and Ex-husband Under “Active Investigation”: Police” HERE)

Photo credit: Gage Skidmore via Flickr

Delete Facebook, Delete Twitter, Follow Restoring Liberty and Joe Miller at gab HERE.

Poll Reveals Record Low Satisfaction With Democracy Under Biden’s Presidency

/1 Comment/in , /by

A recent Gallup poll has uncovered a notable decline in the satisfaction of Americans with the state of democracy under President Joe Biden’s administration. According to the survey, only 28 percent of U.S. adults express contentment with the “way democracy is working,” marking a record low compared to the 35 percent recorded after the events of January 6, 2021.

Gallup’s analysis, conducted by Jeffrey Jones, points to various factors contributing to this decline in satisfaction. Economic concerns, disapproval of the current leadership’s performance, heightened political polarization, the enduring influence of former President Donald Trump, and apprehensions about election security, voting rights, and the independence of the courts all play a role in shaping public sentiment.

Breaking down the data by political affiliation, Republicans exhibit the lowest satisfaction at 17 percent, while Democrats register the highest at 38 percent. Independents fall in between at 27 percent. Interestingly, all three groups are less satisfied than they were in 2021, shortly after Biden assumed office.

Jones notes the typical trend where partisans tend to express greater satisfaction when a president from their own party is in office. However, recent surveys have consistently shown Democrats being more content than Republicans during Democratic presidencies.

Gallup’s historical perspective reveals that the highest satisfaction levels were recorded in the initial 1984 poll, with 61 percent of Americans expressing contentment. A similar figure of 60 percent was observed in 1991. The recent survey, conducted between December 1-20, 2023, sampled 1,013 U.S. adults, with a margin of sampling error of ±4 percentage points at the 95 percent confidence level.

Photo credit: Gage Skidmore via Flickr

Delete Facebook, Delete Twitter, Follow Restoring Liberty and Joe Miller at gab HERE.

How TikTok Killed the Preteen Era

/1 Comment/in , /by

In a now-viral TikTok video, former Sephora employee Rianna Smith recounted the time a nine-year-old walked into her store looking for Babyfacial, a chemical exfoliant from the high-end brand Drunk Elephant marketed to minimize “the look of pores, fine lines, and wrinkles.”

Smith asked the child whether she had used a chemical exfoliant in the past, to which the child responded that she uses the Ordinary Peeling Solution, an anti-aging acid peel, “daily.” According to Smith, this wasn’t a unique experience, revealing that while working at Sephora she encountered “15-year-olds… com[ing] in with chemical burns” caused by harsh skincare products. . .

Anti-aging retinoids and chemical exfoliants for children sound utterly absurd on their face, but dermatologists are having to step in and clarify the obvious for one reason: influencers.

More chronically online than even Gen Z, Gen Alpha, or the iPad generation, is uniquely susceptible to social media consumerism. Twenty-year-old influencers with beauty brand deals go TikTok and Instagram viral showing off their skincare routines and OOTDs (outfit of the day), causing their impressionable preteen followers to act, look, and shop like young adults.

In one TikTok, a mother recorded her daughters showing her what’s on their “Christmas wish list” at Sephora, which included luxury fragrances and a $68 Drunk Elephant moisturizer.

@nishanoelleandfam They’ve been thinking about this for a while! @sephora #fyp #kidsbelike #kidssaythedarnestthings #preppy #sephora ♬ original sound – Nishanoelleandfam

(Read more from “How TikTok Killed the Preteen Era” HERE)

Delete Facebook, Delete Twitter, Follow Restoring Liberty and Joe Miller at gab HERE.