Thursday, January 30, 2025
'Scare them into quitting': Senator says Trump’s letter to aviation workers may have led to crash
'Scare them into quitting': Senator says Trump’s letter to aviation workers may have led to crash
\\Image: Shutterstock
January 31, 2025
Earlier this week, President Donald Trump's administration offered millions of federal workers seven months of pay in advance if they quit their jobs. Days later, a mid-air collision between a regional jet and a military helicopter killed dozens outside the Washington D.C. National Airport. One senator thinks the two events may be related.
Politico reported Thursday evening that the deadly Wednesday night crash above the Potomac River that killed 60 American Airlines passengers and four crew members along with three U.S. Army pilots in a Black Hawk helicopter has lawmakers and aviation officials demanding answers. During a Thursday press conference, officials with the National Transportation Safety Board promised to fully investigate the crash to determine what caused the fatal error, though they cautioned it could take a year or more before their investigation is complete.
The New York Times reported earlier Thursday that the air traffic controller who was on duty at the time of the crash was performing duties normally done by two controllers, and that staffing levels were "not normal" on Wednesday night. And Politico reported that airports across the country have had a critical shortage of air traffic controllers for years, mostly due to a lack of funding appropriated by Congress for hiring and training new airport control tower workers. According to the Times, many air traffic controllers work six days a week for as much as 10 hours per day.
READ MORE: 'Unfathomable panic': Federal workforce rocked by 'chaos and confusion' following OPM buyout offer
But Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.) — an Iraq War veteran who used to pilot a Black Hawk helicopter — suggested that morale among federal employees being lower than usual due to the Trump administration's recent buyout offer letter could have also been a contributing factor. She also blasted Trump for his assertion that diversity, equity and inclusion-based hiring practices under former Presidents Barack Obama and Joe Biden were to blame.
"Obviously, you’re relying on air traffic control," Duckworth said. She noted that both Federal Aviation Administration officials and air traffic controllers were among those who received emails from the Office of Personnel Management asking them to consider leaving their jobs.
"[Letters were sent to] some air traffic controllers that are responsible for airspace in the Northeast region,” she continued, “Basically trying to scare them into quitting at a time when we have a shortage of air traffic controllers. So I don’t think the Trump administration is in a strong position right now to start blaming others.”
“This should’ve never happened, and we wanna understand what happened,” said Senate Commerce Committee member Ted Budd (R-N.C.)
The 2 aircraft that collided over Washington are both workhorses in use around the world
Two Sikorsky UH-60 “Black Hawk” helicopters approach during the annual Han Kuang military exercises that simulates an attack on an airfield at Taoyuan International Airport in Taoyuan, northern Taiwan, Wednesday, July 26, 2023. (AP Photo/ Chiang Ying-ying)
This photo provided by shows American Airlines jet, tail no. N709PS at the Lehigh Valley International Airport in Allentown, Pa., May 27, 2021. (Nicholas Toto/610 Aviation via AP)
BY CURT ANDERSON
Updated 8:30 PM EST, January 30, 2025Share
▶ Follow live updates on President Donald Trump’s return to Washington
The Army helicopter and regional American Airlines jet that collided over Washington are both workhorse aircraft that operate around the world on a daily basis.
There were 60 passengers and four crew members on the jet, a Bombardier CRJ-700, officials said. Three service members were on a training flight on the UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter. None are believed to have survived the Wednesday night collision, which caused both aircraft to plunge into the frigid Potomac River.
What to know about the aircraft:
Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk
There are about 5,000 Black Hawks in use around the world, according to the aviation site FlightGlobal.com. The twin-engine, four-blade helicopter is manufactured by Sikorsky, a subsidiary of defense contractor Lockheed Martin.
The aircraft involved in Wednesday’s collision was an Army version. There are other variants made for the Navy, Air Force and Coast Guard, and for specialized duty such as intelligence gathering.
The Black Hawk made its debut in 1979. The helicopters have been involved in numerous U.S. military operations, including the raid that killed al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden in May 2011, the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq and the invasions of Panama and Grenada.
It is perhaps best known as the namesake aircraft in the 2001 war film “Black Hawk Down,” about a U.S. helicopter shot down in Mogadishu, Somalia, during the civil war there. Others have crashed over the years on training missions.
Bombardier CRJ-700
The passenger jet was manufactured by Quebec, Canada-based conglomerate Bombardier Inc. The CRJ program was sold in June 2020 to the Japanese company Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, which no longer makes them but continues to produce parts.
The twin-engine aircraft comes in several versions capable of seating between 68 and 78 passengers. It is a commonly used regional aircraft used for medium and shorter flights, with more than 900 produced since it was introduced in May 1999.
Bombardier said in 2015 that the CRJ-700 series accounted for 20% of all departure flights in North America, with about 200,000 flights per month.
The plane in Wednesday’s crash was registered as N530EA and manufactured in 2010, according to the Federal Aviation Administration. The jet was operated by an American Airlines subsidiary, PSA Airlines.
Report: Abnormal Staffing Conditions in DCA Tower During Crash
A leaked FAA report suggests there was unusual staffing in the air traffic control tower during the D.C. airplane and helicopter crash.
Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (Photo: Shutterstock | TJ Brown)
[Airports] January 30, 2025 4:27 pm ET
By Caleb Revill
A leaked internal report said that staffing at the air traffic control tower at Ronald Reagan National Airport was “not normal” during the deadly midair collision in Washington D.C. on Wednesday.
The New York Times report stated that the controller who was directing helicopter traffic around the airport on Wednesday night was also instructing airplanes. The report noted these jobs are typically assigned to two different controllers at the airport.
67 people were killed between the soldiers aboard the U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter and PSA Airlines flight 5342 when they collided over the Potomac River.
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So far, only the pilots on board the PSA flight have been identified as 28-year-old Sam Lilley and 34-year-old Jonathan Campos.
The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating the incident. President Donald Trump said in a press briefing Thursday morning that he believed DEI policies at the Federal Aviation Administration were to blame for the crash.
The National Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA) – which represents FAA controllers – released a statement on Thursday grieving for the deceased and supporting air traffic controllers.
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“NATCA stands with the highly trained, highly skilled air traffic controller workforce and those who perform safety-critical work 24 hours-a-day, seven days-a-week, 365 days-a-year and keeps the United States as the gold standard for aviation safety,” NATCA said in its news release emailed to AirlineGeeks.
“NATCA has been and remains supportive of taking all possible steps to ensure America has the best and safest air traffic control system in the world,” the organization added. “We will be a ready partner with the administration and Congress in any effort to further modernize the ATC system to maximize safety and protect lives.”
The Church of Jesus Christ and Seventh-day Adventists Continue Humanitarian Collaboration
17 January 2025 - SALT LAKE CITY News Release
The organizations have worked together on more than 330 projects since 1995
At the conclusion of a lunch on Thursday, January 16, 2025, Presiding Bishop Gérald Caussé presented the leader of the global humanitarian arm of the Seventh-day Adventist Church with a small stained glass depiction of the Book of Mormon’s tree of life story.
The tree represents God’s love. Bishop Caussé said there’s no better way to describe the work of the Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA).
“What is the greatest manifestation of love from God if it is not the gift of His Son, manifest in the atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ?” Bishop Caussé said to ADRA President Michael Kruger and others gathered on the 26th floor of the Church Office Building. “This is the tree we all want to approach and share with others. I feel that today we share this together, the love of God. This is what ADRA does every day. Thank you for that.”
At the conclusion of a lunch on Thursday, January 16, 2025, Presiding Bishop Gérald Caussé presented the leader of the global humanitarian arm of the Seventh-day Adventist Church with a small stained glass depiction of the Book of Mormon’s tree of life story.
The tree represents God’s love. Bishop Caussé said there’s no better way to describe the work of the Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA).
“What is the greatest manifestation of love from God if it is not the gift of His Son, manifest in the atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ?” Bishop Caussé said to ADRA President Michael Kruger and others gathered on the 26th floor of the Church Office Building. “This is the tree we all want to approach and share with others. I feel that today we share this together, the love of God. This is what ADRA does every day. Thank you for that.”
Alex Balint (middle) and Matthew Siliga (right) of the Adventist Development and Relief Agency speak with members of the Relief Society General Presidency and Blaine R. Maxfield, managing director of Welfare and Self-Reliance Services, on the 26th floor of the Church Office Building on Thursday, January 16, 2025.2025 by Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved.
ADRA’s purpose is to “serve humanity so all may live as God intended.” The Adventist community has 21.9 million members, hundreds of thousands of churches globally and the world’s largest integrated healthcare and education network. They deliver relief and development assistance to people in more than 120 countries.
Exclusive: USDA inspector general escorted out of her office after defying White House
By Rachael Levy
January 29, 20259:59 PM EST
Updated 6 hours ago
The U.S. Department of Agriculture is seen in Washington, March 18, 2012. REUTERS/Gary Cameron/File Photo
Summary
- Fong among 17 watchdogs fired, Trump defends dismissals
- USDA inspector general's office investigates bird flu, animal abuse, food safety
- USDA inspector general's office is investigating Elon Musk's Neuralink
WASHINGTON, Jan 29 (Reuters) - Security agents escorted the inspector general of the U.S. Department of Agriculture out of her office on Monday after she refused to comply with her firing by the Trump administration, sources familiar with the matter told Reuters.
Phyllis Fong, a 22-year veteran of the department, had earlier told colleagues that she intended to stay after the White House terminated her Friday, saying that she didn’t believe the administration had followed proper protocols, the sources said.
In an email to colleagues on Saturday, reviewed by Reuters, she said the independent Council of the Inspectors General on Integrity and Efficiency “has taken the position that these termination notices do not comply with the requirements set out in law and therefore are not effective at this time.”
Phyllis Fong, a 22-year veteran of the department, had earlier told colleagues that she intended to stay after the White House terminated her Friday, saying that she didn’t believe the administration had followed proper protocols, the sources said.
In an email to colleagues on Saturday, reviewed by Reuters, she said the independent Council of the Inspectors General on Integrity and Efficiency “has taken the position that these termination notices do not comply with the requirements set out in law and therefore are not effective at this time.”
Fong declined to comment and the Office of the Inspector General did not respond to multiple requests for comment.
After this article was published, a USDA spokesperson said Fong left the office Monday on her own accord.
Wednesday, January 29, 2025
Indian state studies plan to ban petrol, diesel vehicles in Mumbai to control pollution
By Reuters
January 28, 202512:09 PM EST
Updated 5 hours ago
Traffic moves in front of the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT) building in Mumbai, India, August 14, 2024. REUTERS/Hemanshi Kamani/File Photo
MUMBAI, Jan 28 (Reuters) - The western Indian state of Maharashtra has formed a panel to study a proposal to ban petrol and diesel vehicles in Mumbai city amid worsening air quality and only allow electric or gas driven vehicles, it said in an order.
Any ban on petrol, diesel vehicles in the financial capital, if implemented, may not only impact automobile manufacturers, but also citizens and businesses which rely heavily on these vehicles amid inadequate electric vehicle charging infrastructure and still developing metro rail networks.
The city, home to the country's stock exchanges and offices of several global banks and multinationals, has seen air quality worsen since the pandemic amid growing traffic congestion and several ongoing infrastructure and construction projects.
Maharashtra's government said it has formed a seven-member committee to study the proposal of banning petrol and diesel vehicles and only allowing electric and compressed natural gas vehicles in the Mumbai metropolitan region following a court directive. The government order is dated Jan. 22 but gained public attention on Tuesday after Indian media extensively reported it.
Earlier in January the Bombay High Court in its own public interest litigation directed the Maharashtra state government to constitute a committee of experts to study and see if it is feasible to phase out petrol-diesel driven vehicles.
"Every second counts": Doomsday Clock shows humanity closer than ever to catastrophe
Juan Manuel Santos
Juan Manuel Santos joins speakers Herb Lin, Suzet McKinney and Robert Socolow on stage for the Clock unveiling.
28 January 2025
The hands of the Doomsday Clock were moved forward to an unprecedented 89 seconds to midnight, the closest to catastrophe humanity has ever been. In his address at the Clock unveiling in Washington D.C., Chair of The Elders, Juan Manuel Santos highlighted the interconnect nature of entrenched, as well as emerging, existential threats and urged humanity to come together to protect our shared future.
Read his remarks in full:
Ladies and gentlemen, distinguished colleagues, and esteemed guests,
This clock is a stark diagnosis of our reality.
At 89 seconds to midnight, the Doomsday Clock stands closer to catastrophe than at any moment in its history.
The Clock speaks to the existential threats that confront us, and the need for unity and bold leadership to turn back its hands.
2024 was the hottest year on record, unleashing devastating climate shocks that destroyed lives and livelihoods across the globe.
The only effective response is for nations to work together, which is why it is so alarming that President Trump has signalled his intention to withdraw the United States from the Paris Agreement. In this crucial year for climate action ahead of COP30 in Brazil, I urge all other signatories to double down and reaffirm their commitment to meeting the Paris goals.
The climate crisis is a force multiplier for instability and insecurity, amplifying the likelihood and severity of all other existential threats.
The SDA Church Named on TV for Helping Facilitate Mass Illegal Immigration Into the US
January 25, 2025 NewsHound
Back in February 2024, we ran a story about ADRA helping to facilitate mass illegal immigration into the United States. The Biden administration was footing the bill through the United Nations.
Apparently, the United Nations and ADRA have no plans of stopping this practice. The UN wants to spend 1.4 billion more dollars in 2025 to support an additional 2.3 million migrants traveling from 17 Latin America countries into the United States. ADRA is one of the top ten organizations helping this, destined to receive $5,000,000 from the new budget to facilitate this mass migration. The Seventh-day Adventist church is named in this video:
Monday, January 27, 2025
JD Vance has blistering response for Catholic bishops who criticized ICE raids in churches: ‘Worried about their bottom line’
Story by Ryan King
Last week, the religious group slammed the move for “turning places of care, healing, and solace into places of fear and uncertainty for those in need” and warned that it endangers “the trust between pastors” and “the people they serve.”
“As a practicing Catholic, I was actually heartbroken by that statement,” Vance, 40, told CBS News’ “Face the Nation” in an interview that aired Sunday.
Vice President JD Vance insinuated that the US Conference of Catholic Bishops may be influenced by money. REUTERS
The Trump administration has begun ramping up deportation efforts across the country. AP
Do Doomsday 'preppers' have a point? Here's what we can learn from them.
In an age of record-breaking hurricanes and global pandemics, preparing for the worst no longer seems so far-fetched. Here are some of the key lessons you can learn from doomsday preppers.
Photograph By Roger Kisby/Redux
By Rosemary Counter
July 25, 2024
Amid Costo’s already stocked shelves of oversized jars of peanut butter and 12-pack macaroni and cheeses, there’s a hardcore new addition that is lighting up social media: The Readywise 150 Serving Emergency Food Bucket. For $100, the bucket includes 80 dinners, 30 breakfasts, and 40 energy drinks with a shelf life of—prepare yourself for this—25 long years.
“In a world where unpredictability has become a constant,” reads the description, “our assortment takes on a vital role in emergency preparedness. Imagine the sudden onset of severe weather, the challenges of unexpected job transitions, or the unsettling thought of food shortages.”
This isn’t hard to imagine, as recent years have given us plenty of examples: the COVID-19 pandemic, obviously, but also Californian wildfires, the Great Texas Freeze, Kentucky floods and mudslides, and hurricanes Beryl, Idalia, and Ian. Extreme weather events are happening more often and with more severity; even the American Government’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), which used to recommend every American home have a 72-hour self-sufficiency plan, quietly tweaked its minimum to at least 72 hours and its recommendation to a full week.
(Instead of "natural disasters," should we call them "disasters of our own making"?)
Flashlights. Tape. A survival blanket. These are all components of one man's "go bag"—or "bug out bag"—photographed at the Kansas City Survival Expo & Gun Show in Missouri. Survivalists and Doomsday preppers have long been prepared for the worst but as climate change wreaks havoc on our planet, we could all learn from their tips.
Photograph By Roger Kisby/Redux
By Rosemary Counter
July 25, 2024
Amid Costo’s already stocked shelves of oversized jars of peanut butter and 12-pack macaroni and cheeses, there’s a hardcore new addition that is lighting up social media: The Readywise 150 Serving Emergency Food Bucket. For $100, the bucket includes 80 dinners, 30 breakfasts, and 40 energy drinks with a shelf life of—prepare yourself for this—25 long years.
“In a world where unpredictability has become a constant,” reads the description, “our assortment takes on a vital role in emergency preparedness. Imagine the sudden onset of severe weather, the challenges of unexpected job transitions, or the unsettling thought of food shortages.”
This isn’t hard to imagine, as recent years have given us plenty of examples: the COVID-19 pandemic, obviously, but also Californian wildfires, the Great Texas Freeze, Kentucky floods and mudslides, and hurricanes Beryl, Idalia, and Ian. Extreme weather events are happening more often and with more severity; even the American Government’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), which used to recommend every American home have a 72-hour self-sufficiency plan, quietly tweaked its minimum to at least 72 hours and its recommendation to a full week.
(Instead of "natural disasters," should we call them "disasters of our own making"?)
Christian J. Pinto: Los Angeles Fires And The Reconquista
Christian J. Pinto: Los Angeles Fires And The Reconquista
Chris discusses the ongoing controversy surrounding the fires in California, and in Los Angeles in particular. How is it that the authorities in charge of the fire department were so unprepared to address a problem that many people warned about long before it happened? Also discussed is the strong, historic presence of the Jesuit Order in Los Angeles, along with the concept of the "Reconquista" of certain U.S. territory by Mexico. The desire to reclaim states like Texas, California and New Mexico (to name only a few) is said to be part of a unified "Chicano" movement, that is considered a hidden agenda by some. We present documentation to support the argument, and review Isaiah chapter one for how it may pertain to what's happening in California.
Sunday, January 26, 2025
NWO: A fake alien invasion to launch satan’s Vatican-led one world government? (3)
Published on 26 Jan 2025 / In News and Politics
FAIR USE NOTICE: This video may contain copyrighted material. Such material is made available for educational purposes only. This constitutes a 'fair use' of any such copyrighted material as provided for in Title 17 U.S.C. section 107 of the US Copyright Law.
Credits to Jay Meyers and DarknessToLight.111
The great deceiver and father of lies. satan, will use any means necessary to control and destroy God’s greatest creation: the human race.
According to the now late Joseph Spencer, a former CIA agent, just prior to his death and as part of a deathbed confession, Mr. Spencer mentioned to his immediate family of horrible things that the US government was involved in.
Mr. Spencer was quickly dismissed by many as a conspiracy theorist peddling far-fetched theories about secret societies and their plans for humanity. But in 2023 his deathbed confession is gaining attention because everything he predicted is happening as we speak.
The former CIA agent predicted some key things including the pedophilia and child trafficking epidemic, the elite’s obsession with depopulation, chemtrails, vaccines, and a fake alien invasion that will make the world demand for a one world government...and what Mr. Spencer described as a “modified flu virus” that would be unleashed on humanity by the psychopathic elite.
This one world government is described in Revelation 17:12 as the ten kings of the earth who will give their allegiance to the beast, which is the Vatican led by the pope. The verse says: And the ten horns which thou sawest are ten kings, which have received no kingdom as yet; but receive power as kings one hour with the beast.
Email: pastor Craig @ sdc@sdcministries.org.
"If the liberties of the American people are every destroyed, they will fall by the hand of the Roman Catholic cult's clergy."
-General Lafayette under President George Washington
Saturday, January 25, 2025
With the migrants – In search of peace
24 Jan 2025
By Pierre Bélanger, SJ
Jesuits and their partners in mission are present at the very heart of the world. They are sensitive to the challenges of our time. They reach out especially to those in need of support. They want to help create a better world for everyone.
This is what emerges from the 2025 edition of the yearbook published by the General Curia of the Society of Jesus: Jesuits 2025. More than 40 articles and 10 personal testimonies provide food for thought on two key issues facing our times: forced migration and the search for peace for so many peoples suffering from war and other divisions.
The cover is striking: Rohingya refugees persecuted in Burma had fled to Bangladesh. They were forced to take to the sea again, and have now landed in Indonesia in the hope of finding a welcoming home.
The section on support for migrants
• highlights many facets of the work of JRS, the Jesuit Refugee Service;
• presents several examples of the welcome given to migrants by groups linked to the Society of Jesus;
• helps to raise awareness of the challenges of internal migration, particularly in South Asia;
• introduces the testimonies of Jesuits and JRS team members who have themselves been refugees or stateless.
The section entitled ‘In search of peace’ helps us to reflect on the meaning of peace according to Sacred Scripture, on the implications of reconciliation between individuals and peoples, on the dangers posed to peace by capitalism and its pursuit of profit, and on what it means to pray for peace. It presents several peace initiatives with which Jesuits have been or are associated, in the Holy Land, in India and Pakistan, in the Democratic Republic of Congo, in Northern Ireland... But also projects that help people who are trapped in labyrinths of destructive tensions.
What a rich collection of articles! Above all, how rich is the commitment of the Society of Jesus to helping build societies where life will be better! Download ‘Jesuits 2025’ in the language of your choice. You can also request one or more paper copies, at a low price, to distribute to those around you by contacting us here.
Friday, January 24, 2025
Thursday, January 23, 2025
Infallible Assurance
Infallible Assurance, January 23
And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever. Daniel 12:3.
Many, very many, will be terribly surprised when the Lord shall come suddenly as a thief in the night. Let us watch and pray, lest coming suddenly He find us sleeping. My soul is deeply stirred as I consider how much we ought to do for perishing souls. The prediction of Daniel, “Many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased” (Daniel 12:4), is to be fulfilled in our giving of the warning message; many are to be enlightened regarding the sure word of prophecy....
The salvation of souls should be our first consideration. I am troubled when I see many rejoicing in temporal prosperity, for those who possess worldly treasure seldom seek earnestly to secure the heavenly. They are in danger of falling into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown man in destruction....
We need a more firm reliance upon a “Thus saith the Lord.” If we have this, we shall not trust to feeling, and be ruled by feeling. God asks us to rest in His love. It is our privilege to know the Word of God as a sure and tried guide, an infallible assurance. Let us work on the faith side of the question. Let us believe and trust, and talk faith and hope and courage. Let the praise of God be in our hearts and on our lips oftener than it is. “Whoso offereth praise glorifieth me” (Psalm 50:23). Keep the mind stayed upon God, and know the love of Christ as the Word of God reveals it. This Word is life. Talk of Christ; call others to behold Him as your Redeemer.
And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever. Daniel 12:3.
Many, very many, will be terribly surprised when the Lord shall come suddenly as a thief in the night. Let us watch and pray, lest coming suddenly He find us sleeping. My soul is deeply stirred as I consider how much we ought to do for perishing souls. The prediction of Daniel, “Many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased” (Daniel 12:4), is to be fulfilled in our giving of the warning message; many are to be enlightened regarding the sure word of prophecy....
The salvation of souls should be our first consideration. I am troubled when I see many rejoicing in temporal prosperity, for those who possess worldly treasure seldom seek earnestly to secure the heavenly. They are in danger of falling into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown man in destruction....
We need a more firm reliance upon a “Thus saith the Lord.” If we have this, we shall not trust to feeling, and be ruled by feeling. God asks us to rest in His love. It is our privilege to know the Word of God as a sure and tried guide, an infallible assurance. Let us work on the faith side of the question. Let us believe and trust, and talk faith and hope and courage. Let the praise of God be in our hearts and on our lips oftener than it is. “Whoso offereth praise glorifieth me” (Psalm 50:23). Keep the mind stayed upon God, and know the love of Christ as the Word of God reveals it. This Word is life. Talk of Christ; call others to behold Him as your Redeemer.
It is our privilege to rest in an active, living faith in Christ as the Life-giver. It is our privilege to comprehend with all saints, what is the length and depth and height, and to know the love of God which passeth knowledge, and be filled with all the fullness of God. Let us contemplate Christ as the One in whom all fullness dwells. Beholding Him as our personal Saviour, we shall appreciate the value of His saving grace. We should think about Jesus more than we do. We should let His praise be in our hearts. We should speak of the love that has been so abundantly expressed for us. We certainly have every reason to praise God with heart and soul and voice, saying, I will praise the Lord for His great love wherewith He hath loved me....
Lift Him up, the Christ of Calvary; lift Him up, that the world may behold Him. Talk of His goodness, sing of His love, and give Him the grateful thanks of your hearts.—Letter 12, January 23, 1907, to “Brother and Sister Nicola.”
The Upward Look, p.37.
Wednesday, January 22, 2025
Has the SDA Church apostatized? with Bruce Telfer
-------------------------------
The Upward Look, p.315.
Tuesday, January 21, 2025
Woke Bishop Lectures Trump About Trans Kids and Immigrants During Prayer...
_________
UNHINGED Pastor BEGS Trump For Mercy for LGBTQ Kids n Illegal Immigrants in Sermon
The New Covenant
Who is Israel?
The New Covenant
Chapter 2
Jan 21, 2025
Jan 21, 2025
He is the mediator of a better covenant, which was established upon better promises. Heb. 8:6.
Introduction
When God entered into the covenant relationship with the Israelites at Mt. Sinai, the Israelites promised to keep the covenant. When Moses finished reading the terms and conditions of the covenant to them – “all the people answered with one voice, and said, All the words which the Lord hath said will we do” (Ex. 24:3). Within days they were having a pagan worship service, dancing around a golden calf, which the newly appointed High Priest said, “it just sprung out of the fire after I threw some gold in it” (see Ex. 32:1-24).
The reason why the Israelites fell so quickly, and fell so far, was because of their spiritual condition. The hard-hearted/stiff-necked condition of the people, was only ever sporadically overcome by individuals, never by the nation as a whole. Therefore, because the nation never fulfilled the purpose for which God created it – He decided to put it back into captivity. God did not send them into slavery without telling the people why He did it. Jeremiah sent a letter to the captives in Babylon. In the letter Jeremiah told them that it was God’s will that they live in Babylon and submit to the authority of Babylon, and this was all for the well-being of Israel, so that Israel might have a hope and a future:
Introduction
When God entered into the covenant relationship with the Israelites at Mt. Sinai, the Israelites promised to keep the covenant. When Moses finished reading the terms and conditions of the covenant to them – “all the people answered with one voice, and said, All the words which the Lord hath said will we do” (Ex. 24:3). Within days they were having a pagan worship service, dancing around a golden calf, which the newly appointed High Priest said, “it just sprung out of the fire after I threw some gold in it” (see Ex. 32:1-24).
The reason why the Israelites fell so quickly, and fell so far, was because of their spiritual condition. The hard-hearted/stiff-necked condition of the people, was only ever sporadically overcome by individuals, never by the nation as a whole. Therefore, because the nation never fulfilled the purpose for which God created it – He decided to put it back into captivity. God did not send them into slavery without telling the people why He did it. Jeremiah sent a letter to the captives in Babylon. In the letter Jeremiah told them that it was God’s will that they live in Babylon and submit to the authority of Babylon, and this was all for the well-being of Israel, so that Israel might have a hope and a future:
Vivek Ramaswamy Is Out of the Trump Admin After Claiming American Workers Have a 'Culture' Problem
Story by Ben Zeisloft
Kenny Holston - Pool / Getty Images© The Western Journal
The second administration of President Donald Trump only started on Monday, but there is already one high-profile exit from the commander-in-chief’s team.
Vivek Ramaswamy, the pharmaceutical entrepreneur who ran for the Republican presidential nomination, was initially supposed to lead the Department of Government Efficiency alongside Elon Musk, but now he is officially out of the project.
Kenny Holston - Pool / Getty Images© The Western Journal
The second administration of President Donald Trump only started on Monday, but there is already one high-profile exit from the commander-in-chief’s team.
Vivek Ramaswamy, the pharmaceutical entrepreneur who ran for the Republican presidential nomination, was initially supposed to lead the Department of Government Efficiency alongside Elon Musk, but now he is officially out of the project.
Monday, January 20, 2025
Biden pardons his family in final minutes in office
Key Points
- President Joe Biden issued preemptive pardons for several family members, citing concerns that they will be targeted by “baseless and politically motivated investigations.”
- The White House announced the pardons just minutes before President-elect Donald Trump entered the Capitol rotunda to be sworn in as the next commander in chief.
- Biden pardoned his brother, James Biden; James’ wife, Sara Jones Biden; his younger sister, Valerie Biden Owens; Owens’ husband, John Owens; and his other brother, Francis Biden.
James Biden and Valerie Biden Owens arrive at the federal court for Hunter Biden’s trial on criminal gun charges, in Wilmington, Delaware, U.S., June 10, 2024.
Hannah Beier | Reuters
Published Mon, Jan 20 202511:43 AM EST
Updated An Hour Ago
President Joe Biden on Monday issued preemptive pardons for three of his siblings and two of their spouses, citing concerns that they will be targeted by “baseless and politically motivated investigations.”
The White House announced the pardons just minutes before President-elect Donald Trump entered the Capitol Rotunda to be sworn in as the next commander in chief.
Earlier Monday, Biden preemptively pardoned a number of other figures — including Dr. Anthony Fauci, Gen. Mark Milley and members of Congress who investigated the Jan. 6 Capitol riot — on similar grounds.
Biden’s final batch of pardons included his brother, James Biden; James’ wife, Sara Jones Biden; his younger sister, Valerie Biden Owens; Owens’ husband, John Owens; and his other brother, Francis Biden.
“The issuance of these pardons should not be mistaken as an acknowledgment that they engaged in any wrongdoing, nor should acceptance be misconstrued as an admission of guilt for any offense,” Biden said in a press release.
He also pardoned Gerald Lundergan, the former chairman of the Kentucky Democratic Party, and former South Carolina Councilman Ernest Cromartie. The departing president also commuted the life sentence of Leonard Peltier, who was convicted of killing two FBI agents in 1975.
Biden in early December issued a pardon for his son Hunter Biden, reversing his prior insistence that would not do so.
Hunter was convicted last year in a federal criminal gun trial, and he had pleaded guilty to charges in a separate federal case related to tax crimes.
James Biden was interviewed last year by the House Oversight and Judiciary committees as part of their impeachment probe of President Biden.
In Monday’s press release, Biden said, “My family has been subjected to unrelenting attacks and threats, motivated solely by a desire to hurt me—the worst kind of partisan politics. Unfortunately, I have no reason to believe these attacks will end.”
“I believe in the rule of law, and I am optimistic that the strength of our legal institutions will ultimately prevail over politics,” he said.
“But baseless and politically motivated investigations wreak havoc on the lives, safety, and financial security of targeted individuals and their families. Even when individuals have done nothing wrong and will ultimately be exonerated, the mere fact of being investigated or prosecuted can irreparably damage their reputations and finances.”
“That is why I am exercising my power under the Constitution to pardon James B. Biden, Sara Jones Biden, Valerie Biden Owens, John T. Owens, and Francis W. Biden,” Biden said.
Inauguration Time: Here's when Trump will be inaugurated and how to watch on Jan. 20
USA TODAY NETWORK - New England
President-elect Donald Trump is set to officially take the presidency for a second time on Inauguration Day, Monday, Jan. 20.
Inauguration Day will include many events, from the Swearing-In Ceremony to the Inaugural Balls. The ceremony will also feature a host of performers, including country singers Carrie Underwood and Lee Greenwood.
Here’s what you need to know about how to watch Trump be inaugurated as the 47th president of the United States.
More:When is the presidential inauguration? What to know when Trump gets sworn in.
What time is Trump’s inauguration?
The Swearing-In Ceremony, in which Trump will take the oath of office, is scheduled for noon EST on Monday, Jan. 20.
Inauguration to be moved inside due to cold
The inauguration usually takes place on a platform in front of the US Capitol in Washington, D.C. But this year, the ceremony will be moved indoors due to a bitterly cold forecast.
"The weather forecast for Washington, D.C., with the windchill factor, could take temperatures into severe record lows. There is an Arctic blast sweeping the country. I don't want to see people hurt, or injured in any way,” Trump announced in a statement. "Therefore, I have ordered the Inauguration Address, in addition to prayers and other speeches, to be delivered in the United States Capitol Rotunda, as was used by Ronald Reagan in 1985, also because of very cold weather."
How can I watch the inauguration?
There are many ways to watch the inauguration. USA TODAY will have a livestream, and news networks will have programing throughout the day.
Watch the USA TODAY stream
USA TODAY will be streaming the event live here.
L.A.’s lesbian fire chief under fire by bigots and blazes
Trump, Musk and other conservatives have placed the blame on out Fire Chief Crowley and her DEI measures
Jan 14, 2025 Updated Jan 15, 2025
Photo of LAFD Chief Kristin Crowley (Courtesy of LAFD's Flickr)
Though climate change and electrical systems are the biggest culprits behind the fires in the Greater Los Angeles area, the alt-right is pointing the finger of blame to LGBTQ+ people – particularly toward lesbian Los Angeles Fire Chief Kristin Crowley and her DEI measures.
While L.A braces itself for ‘critical to extremely critical,’ weather conditions that will pick up again on Monday evening, the LGBTQ+ communities of L.A brace themselves for how they will continue to be used as political pawns at the peak of disaster.
Alt-right accusations
Podcaster Megyn Kelly accused Chief Crowley of "focusing on diversity instead of planning for disaster," on The Megyn Kelly Show. The former Fox journalist was referencing the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion measures that Chief Crowley advocated for in a strategic plan for 2023 to 2026.
Kelly slammed Chief Crowley saying "...who gives a sh-t if the fire chief is gay, I’m sorry but who gives a flying fig about who she sleeps with."
Elon Musk and Bill Ackman both took to social media to attack the DEI initiatives – with little to no evidence. Musk boldly stated on X that “DEI means people DIE,” but never posted anything that backed up that correlation.
In 2022, Crowley took the position as LAFD Chief and during that same year, established a DEI bureau. Musk and Ackman shared the video of Kelly alleging that Crowley is at fault for the fires and have not acknowledged the evidence from multiple reports that point the finger of blame toward the city’s Department of Water and Power.
Though climate change and electrical systems are the biggest culprits behind the fires in the Greater Los Angeles area, the alt-right is pointing the finger of blame to LGBTQ+ people – particularly toward lesbian Los Angeles Fire Chief Kristin Crowley and her DEI measures.
While L.A braces itself for ‘critical to extremely critical,’ weather conditions that will pick up again on Monday evening, the LGBTQ+ communities of L.A brace themselves for how they will continue to be used as political pawns at the peak of disaster.
Alt-right accusations
Podcaster Megyn Kelly accused Chief Crowley of "focusing on diversity instead of planning for disaster," on The Megyn Kelly Show. The former Fox journalist was referencing the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion measures that Chief Crowley advocated for in a strategic plan for 2023 to 2026.
Kelly slammed Chief Crowley saying "...who gives a sh-t if the fire chief is gay, I’m sorry but who gives a flying fig about who she sleeps with."
Elon Musk and Bill Ackman both took to social media to attack the DEI initiatives – with little to no evidence. Musk boldly stated on X that “DEI means people DIE,” but never posted anything that backed up that correlation.
In 2022, Crowley took the position as LAFD Chief and during that same year, established a DEI bureau. Musk and Ackman shared the video of Kelly alleging that Crowley is at fault for the fires and have not acknowledged the evidence from multiple reports that point the finger of blame toward the city’s Department of Water and Power.
At a news conference, the department said that “three million gallons of water were available when the Palisades fire started,” but the demand was four times greater than they had ever seen in their system.
Janisse Quiñones, chief executive and chief engineer of the LADPW, stated that they pushed their system "to the extreme," for 15 hours straight, which in turn significantly lowered the water pressure.
The rapidly-growing list of critics speaking against Chief Crowley are not only leaving themselves open to defamation lawsuits, but also spreading misinformation that turns the attention from the real culprits like climate change and infrastructure failures by the Department of Water and Power.
Janisse Quiñones, chief executive and chief engineer of the LADPW, stated that they pushed their system "to the extreme," for 15 hours straight, which in turn significantly lowered the water pressure.
The rapidly-growing list of critics speaking against Chief Crowley are not only leaving themselves open to defamation lawsuits, but also spreading misinformation that turns the attention from the real culprits like climate change and infrastructure failures by the Department of Water and Power.
Sunday, January 19, 2025
The Pope Speaks, and the United States and Cuba Obey
January 15, 2025 by Andy Roman
“Who is like the beast? Who is able to make war with him?” Revelation 13:4.
Revelation 13:4 reflects the awe and fear that people will feel towards the beast power of prophecy. It highlights the beast’s dominance in both the political and spiritual realms and emphasizes the perception that no one can stand against it, which inspires submission and worship from those under its influence. Instead of honoring God as stated in Exodus 15:11, “Who is like unto thee, O Lord,” the nations will misdirect their worship and allegiance to the beast by declaring, “Who is like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him?” (Revelation 13:4).
Pope Francis wields remarkable political influence because the world sees him in a position of universal moral authority. In a historic demonstration of Rome’s global diplomatic influence, Pope Francis is single-handedly ending decades of hostility between the United States and Cuba. By appealing directly to the leaders of both nations, Pope Francis has called for reconciliation and a new way forward. And as soon as the Pope issued his decree, both the United States and Cuba embraced it.
Vatican News published the following on January 15, 2025:
• “Cuba has announced that it will release from prison 553 people convicted of various crimes. The decision was communicated to Pope Francis earlier this month in a letter from Cuban president Miguel Díaz-Canel.” [1]
• “A statement from Cuba’s foreign ministry notes that the prisoner release takes place in the context of the ‘close and fluid relations with the Vatican State.'” [1]
• “Cuba’s statement came after an announcement by the White House that President Joe Biden has notified Congress of his intent to lift the US designation of Cuba as a state sponsor of terrorism as part of a deal facilitated by the Church.” [1]
• “Cuba’s statement on Tuesday said the country maintains ‘a respectful, frank, and constructive relationship with the Vatican and the Supreme Pontiff, which facilitates decisions such as the one recently taken.'” [1]
Not only is Cuba releasing prisoners, something virtually unheard of, but the United States has lifted Cuba’s designation as a state sponsor of terrorism. The Pope’s petition led to these two significant shifts in government policy. In other words, when the Pope speaks, the world listens. This unprecedented diplomatic breakthrough reveals that the Pope has the unique ability to transcend political divisions, prompting even long-time adversaries to seek a reconciliatory course in alignment with his vision for the world.
According to Bible prophecy, the first beast of Revelation 13 represents Rome, and it will be a powerful entity that will exert immense authority over the world. It will also collaborate with the second beast, or the United States, to command loyalty and submission to its influence. The problem is that the world will be drawn, through coercion, into the worship of the beast, not realizing that it is aligning itself with a power that is in opposition to the truth of God.
God’s word warns believers to remain steadfast and discerning, recognizing that His truth will prevail, even if the beast seems invincible today. God will have a message proclaimed in these last days that will call people to remain loyal to Christ, His truth, and His mission, which says:
“And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand, The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb.” Revelation 14:9, 10.
Sources
[1] https://www.vaticannews.va/en/world/news/2025-01/cuba-to-release-prisoners-in-the-spirit-of-the-jubilee.html
Revelation 13:4 reflects the awe and fear that people will feel towards the beast power of prophecy. It highlights the beast’s dominance in both the political and spiritual realms and emphasizes the perception that no one can stand against it, which inspires submission and worship from those under its influence. Instead of honoring God as stated in Exodus 15:11, “Who is like unto thee, O Lord,” the nations will misdirect their worship and allegiance to the beast by declaring, “Who is like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him?” (Revelation 13:4).
Pope Francis wields remarkable political influence because the world sees him in a position of universal moral authority. In a historic demonstration of Rome’s global diplomatic influence, Pope Francis is single-handedly ending decades of hostility between the United States and Cuba. By appealing directly to the leaders of both nations, Pope Francis has called for reconciliation and a new way forward. And as soon as the Pope issued his decree, both the United States and Cuba embraced it.
Vatican News published the following on January 15, 2025:
• “Cuba has announced that it will release from prison 553 people convicted of various crimes. The decision was communicated to Pope Francis earlier this month in a letter from Cuban president Miguel Díaz-Canel.” [1]
• “A statement from Cuba’s foreign ministry notes that the prisoner release takes place in the context of the ‘close and fluid relations with the Vatican State.'” [1]
• “Cuba’s statement came after an announcement by the White House that President Joe Biden has notified Congress of his intent to lift the US designation of Cuba as a state sponsor of terrorism as part of a deal facilitated by the Church.” [1]
• “Cuba’s statement on Tuesday said the country maintains ‘a respectful, frank, and constructive relationship with the Vatican and the Supreme Pontiff, which facilitates decisions such as the one recently taken.'” [1]
Not only is Cuba releasing prisoners, something virtually unheard of, but the United States has lifted Cuba’s designation as a state sponsor of terrorism. The Pope’s petition led to these two significant shifts in government policy. In other words, when the Pope speaks, the world listens. This unprecedented diplomatic breakthrough reveals that the Pope has the unique ability to transcend political divisions, prompting even long-time adversaries to seek a reconciliatory course in alignment with his vision for the world.
According to Bible prophecy, the first beast of Revelation 13 represents Rome, and it will be a powerful entity that will exert immense authority over the world. It will also collaborate with the second beast, or the United States, to command loyalty and submission to its influence. The problem is that the world will be drawn, through coercion, into the worship of the beast, not realizing that it is aligning itself with a power that is in opposition to the truth of God.
God’s word warns believers to remain steadfast and discerning, recognizing that His truth will prevail, even if the beast seems invincible today. God will have a message proclaimed in these last days that will call people to remain loyal to Christ, His truth, and His mission, which says:
“And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand, The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb.” Revelation 14:9, 10.
Sources
[1] https://www.vaticannews.va/en/world/news/2025-01/cuba-to-release-prisoners-in-the-spirit-of-the-jubilee.html
Teachers union hosts webinar 'preparing' educators for second Trump term: 'Born for this'
by KRISTINA WATROBSKI | Crisis in the Classroom
Fri, January 17th 2025 at 1:20 PM
Updated Fri, January 17th 2025 at 1:37 PM
Updated Fri, January 17th 2025 at 1:37 PM
National Education Association President Becky Pringle and President-elect Donald Trump (AP)
WASHINGTON (CITC) — The nation's largest teachers union held a webinar Wednesday focused on "preparing" educators for the incoming Trump administration.
The National Education Association (NEA) webinar was held via Zoom and was one part of a series of conversations being led by the union this week. A topic of discussion during the "Preparing for a Second Trump Administration" webinar was immigration, according to a recording taken by parents' rights group Parents Defending Education (PDE).
"I would stress the unpredictability," one speaker said of the topic. "That it is one thing for people at a Trump rally to hold up signs that say 'mass deportations now,' it is something completely different for agents from ICE to be going into schools and grabbing kids, that that is the moment where it becomes shocking to people."
WASHINGTON (CITC) — The nation's largest teachers union held a webinar Wednesday focused on "preparing" educators for the incoming Trump administration.
The National Education Association (NEA) webinar was held via Zoom and was one part of a series of conversations being led by the union this week. A topic of discussion during the "Preparing for a Second Trump Administration" webinar was immigration, according to a recording taken by parents' rights group Parents Defending Education (PDE).
"I would stress the unpredictability," one speaker said of the topic. "That it is one thing for people at a Trump rally to hold up signs that say 'mass deportations now,' it is something completely different for agents from ICE to be going into schools and grabbing kids, that that is the moment where it becomes shocking to people."
Now obviously, like, the key to figuring out how to respond is to have connections with immigrant groups in your community," the speaker told attendees of the webinar. "They are looking ahead, they're thinking about ... how is this new administration going to affect them, their ability to live without fear and in safety."School boards nationwide have passed resolutions related to immigration in the wake of President-elect Donald Trump's election victory. The Chicago Board of Education in November approved one promising to protect its students from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials, noting the school district will not assist the officials with "the enforcement of federal civil immigration law."
Additionally, the Des Moines School Board in Iowa last month reaffirmed its commitment to a "sanctuary" resolution first passed in 2017. The measure instructs schools not to provide ICE with access to students or staff members "without having first contacted and processed their request and all relevant documentation" through the superintendent's office.
Chelsie Acosta, a member of both NEA and the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), also delivered remarks to the webinar attendees, PDE's recording shows. Speaking in her capacity as an ACLU member, Acosta explained the civil rights organization has developed a "Firewall for Freedom."
The "Firewall for Freedom" page on the ACLU's website says the organization is "urging" states to "just say no to Trump's radical agenda." The page adds the ACLU has a "playbook" ready to "defend our fundamental freedoms," noting such freedoms include "comprehensive and necessary tools across reproductive rights," "immigration" and "free speech."
So, prior to the election result in November, we already had a plan in action," Acosta said. "If Trump wins, this is what we're going to do. So, we already had a plan in action, and as we like to say on our national board and our staff at ACLU, we were born for this moment."Erika Sanzi, the director of outreach for PDE, told Crisis in the Classroom (CITC) in a statement NEA's priorities are "barely connected to K-12 education at all."
"Their new focus is resisting Trump and based on the absurd commentary during this webinar, they might want to look in the mirror to better understand how and why he won," Sanzi said.
NEA endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris for president in July, saying at the time the vice president had a proven record of supporting both public education and unions.
NEA, the ACLU and the Trump-Vance transition team did not immediately respond to requests for comment from Crisis in the Classroom (CITC).
Saturday, January 18, 2025
World Economic Forum Annual Meeting
Davos-Klosters, Switzerland
World Economic Forum Annual Meeting
'Collaboration for the Intelligent Age'
20–24 January 2025
About the meeting
The Annual Meeting 2025 convenes global leaders to address key global and regional challenges. These include responding to geopolitical shocks, stimulating growth to improve living standards, and stewarding a just and inclusive energy transition.
Francis reveals himself to be a pope of two halves
14 January 2025, 5:09pm
Pope Francis (Credit: Getty images)
The Pope’s autobiography is out and it’s still not entirely clear why. Carlo Musso, the ‘co-author’ of Hope: The Autobiography, says that it was originally intended to be published after his death, but on account of ‘the new Jubilee of Hope’ (the Jubilee Year), and the ‘circumstances of this moment’ (i.e. him not dying), it’s been brought forward.
Truth to tell it reads a bit scrappily, more like a series of interviews, with occasional errors – the Arian heresy, for instance, is not the ‘Aryan’ heresy, presumably a Hitlerian thing. The book is up to date, taking on board his encounter with clerical sex abuse survivors in Belgium last year (he doesn’t mention his brutal going-over by his horrible Belgian hosts) and his meeting a few months ago with transexuals.
When he’s good, he’s very, very good, and when he’s bad, he’s horrid
For all that, the book covers quite a lot that he’s talked about before, but there are things of interest here. In case you are wondering, he has put a resignation letter in the hands of a papal chamberlain for such time as he is medically unfit to do the job, as Paul VI did, apparently, and would in that case remain in Rome, like Benedict, as pope emeritus.
The Pope’s autobiography is out and it’s still not entirely clear why. Carlo Musso, the ‘co-author’ of Hope: The Autobiography, says that it was originally intended to be published after his death, but on account of ‘the new Jubilee of Hope’ (the Jubilee Year), and the ‘circumstances of this moment’ (i.e. him not dying), it’s been brought forward.
Truth to tell it reads a bit scrappily, more like a series of interviews, with occasional errors – the Arian heresy, for instance, is not the ‘Aryan’ heresy, presumably a Hitlerian thing. The book is up to date, taking on board his encounter with clerical sex abuse survivors in Belgium last year (he doesn’t mention his brutal going-over by his horrible Belgian hosts) and his meeting a few months ago with transexuals.
When he’s good, he’s very, very good, and when he’s bad, he’s horrid
For all that, the book covers quite a lot that he’s talked about before, but there are things of interest here. In case you are wondering, he has put a resignation letter in the hands of a papal chamberlain for such time as he is medically unfit to do the job, as Paul VI did, apparently, and would in that case remain in Rome, like Benedict, as pope emeritus.
Gods, Guns and Missionaries — exploding the myth of a singular, ‘true’ Hinduism
Manu S Pillai’s deft exploration of four centuries of the faith reveals its underlying complexities
Hindu devotees offer prayers during Laksha Deepotsava, the festival of hundred thousand lights, at the Shri Panchalinga Nageshwara temple in Bengaluru in November © Getty Images
A book about Hinduism which begins with a maharaja’s cows sounds a little like a Rudyard Kipling tale, replete with spices, mystery and “backward” traditions. But in the hands of Manu S Pillai, Madho Singh II’s journey from Jaipur in the west of India to imperial London for Edward VII’s coronation in 1902 becomes the gateway to a deft exploration of what Hinduism actually means as a faith. Drawing on the lives of missionaries, maharajas and men of the Dutch, French and British East India Companies, Pillai builds the story of a system marked by adaptability, dynamism and compromise rather than ossified archaisms.
A book about Hinduism which begins with a maharaja’s cows sounds a little like a Rudyard Kipling tale, replete with spices, mystery and “backward” traditions. But in the hands of Manu S Pillai, Madho Singh II’s journey from Jaipur in the west of India to imperial London for Edward VII’s coronation in 1902 becomes the gateway to a deft exploration of what Hinduism actually means as a faith. Drawing on the lives of missionaries, maharajas and men of the Dutch, French and British East India Companies, Pillai builds the story of a system marked by adaptability, dynamism and compromise rather than ossified archaisms.
Hinduism is often imagined as a monolith of arcane and ancient rituals, in spite of the efforts of external invaders. In India itself, the image of a “faith under siege” is a core part of the Hindu nationalist rhetoric wielded by the Bharatiya Janata party — a party that has now led the world’s most populous nation for more than a decade.
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He argues that even before the arrival of imperial powers, Hinduism was hardly a settled affair, emerging instead from “[Brahmins’] negotiations with a bewildering variety of counter-thoughts and alternate visions”. India’s priestly class was not unified, adds Pillai, adapting to local traditions ranging from sun worship to matrilineal succession as needed.
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The message throughout is that Hinduism is a living tradition defined more by variation than a singularity of thought and that those who would come to call themselves “Hindus” were more than passive subjects. Priests and potentates reshaped their beliefs in ways deemed more acceptable or sophisticated, consciously rewriting older texts to remove imagery considered embarrassing for the mores of the time. Their discussions with colonial powers were not merely those of vassals lapping up to masters, but of reflective thinkers adapting to a shifting world.
Read the whole article @ Source
Friday, January 17, 2025
Left-Wing Capitol Hill Staff Want 32-Hour Work Week ‘Without A Reduction In Pay’
(Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
Contributor
January 16, 20251:37 PM ET
A group of left-wing Capitol Hill staffers are calling on lawmakers to implement a 32-hour work week when Congress is out of session, claiming the policy will reduce burnout and increase employee retention.
The Congressional Progressive Staff Association (CPSA) — which describes itself as “an official congressional staff organization whose mission is to advance the interests of current and prospective progressive staffers” — drafted an open letter to be sent later Thursday that requests a reduced workweek, with the stated aim of “improv[ing] worker satisfaction, increas[ing] staff retention in Congress, and model[ing] a more sustainable approach to work on a national level,” according to the letter. The policy would establish a 32-hour work week for Capitol Hill staffers when Congress isn’t in session, as well as a 32-hour work week for district office employees when Congress is in session.
A group of left-wing Capitol Hill staffers are calling on lawmakers to implement a 32-hour work week when Congress is out of session, claiming the policy will reduce burnout and increase employee retention.
The Congressional Progressive Staff Association (CPSA) — which describes itself as “an official congressional staff organization whose mission is to advance the interests of current and prospective progressive staffers” — drafted an open letter to be sent later Thursday that requests a reduced workweek, with the stated aim of “improv[ing] worker satisfaction, increas[ing] staff retention in Congress, and model[ing] a more sustainable approach to work on a national level,” according to the letter. The policy would establish a 32-hour work week for Capitol Hill staffers when Congress isn’t in session, as well as a 32-hour work week for district office employees when Congress is in session.
(RELATED: Vivek Ramaswamy Says DOGE Plan For Gov’t Employees Has Bureaucrats ‘In Tears’)
“The intensive nature of these roles often causes staffers to seek new positions earlier than they would in a more predictable and sustainable work environment,” the CPSA letter states. “Given the cyclical nature of the schedule, we propose implementing a 32-hour workweek for D.C.-based staff during district work periods and a 32-hour workweek for district-based staff while in-session. Doing so — without a reduction in pay — would allow both D.C. and distinct staff to be fully available around the clock throughout more intensive periods when the Member is in town while allowing for a more sustainable schedule when workloads are more manageable.”
A 2023 Gallup study of 12,000 full-time employees found workers on a four-day schedule reported higher levels of burnout than their five-day counterparts, and did not have significantly higher levels of well-being, potentially because employees feel obligated to achieve the same amount of work in a shorter time period, leading to additional stress. Reduced workweeks are also largely unsuccessful for customer-facing businesses, according to a 2023 BBC report, which the constituent-facing job of a congressional staffer could qualify as.
CPSA 32-Hour Workweek Letter
In addition to requesting a 32-hour work week, the CPSA has voiced support for protests of the Israel-Hamas war on college campuses across the U.S., with a May press release from the group stating it “unequivocally stands alongside these nonviolent student protestors and their efforts to raise the alarm about the complicity of both their colleges and of the United States in the War on Gaza.” College campuses saw a surge in antisemitic sentiment amid the wave of protests, with a 2024 online study from Brandeis University of 20,000 young adult Jews indicating rates of hostility against Jews on U.S. campuses in 2023 were approximately twice that of 2016.
More broadly, the number of reported antisemitic hate crime offenses climbed to an all-time high in 2023, with the uptick largely coinciding with the beginning of the Israel-Hamas war, according to FBI data.
Democratic New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez supported a 2022 effort backed by the CPSA to allow staff in the House of Representatives to unionize, with the House passing a resolution in May granting the request.
“As congressional staff, we recognize our jobs come with the honor of public service and with working conditions that surpass what many Americans experience today,” the CPSA letter states. “We do not want a 32-hour workweek to just be another special benefit for Congressional staff: We hope that by adopting this policy, Members of Congress can help to advance the discussion around a more sustainable workweek as a national priority and model how it can work for private and public employers across the country and the world.”
The CPSA did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
All content created by the Daily Caller News Foundation, an independent and nonpartisan newswire service, is available without charge to any legitimate news publisher that can provide a large audience. All republished articles must include our logo, our reporter’s byline and their DCNF affiliation. For any questions about our guidelines or partnering with us, please contact licensing@dailycallernewsfoundation.org.
“The intensive nature of these roles often causes staffers to seek new positions earlier than they would in a more predictable and sustainable work environment,” the CPSA letter states. “Given the cyclical nature of the schedule, we propose implementing a 32-hour workweek for D.C.-based staff during district work periods and a 32-hour workweek for district-based staff while in-session. Doing so — without a reduction in pay — would allow both D.C. and distinct staff to be fully available around the clock throughout more intensive periods when the Member is in town while allowing for a more sustainable schedule when workloads are more manageable.”
A 2023 Gallup study of 12,000 full-time employees found workers on a four-day schedule reported higher levels of burnout than their five-day counterparts, and did not have significantly higher levels of well-being, potentially because employees feel obligated to achieve the same amount of work in a shorter time period, leading to additional stress. Reduced workweeks are also largely unsuccessful for customer-facing businesses, according to a 2023 BBC report, which the constituent-facing job of a congressional staffer could qualify as.
CPSA 32-Hour Workweek Letter
In addition to requesting a 32-hour work week, the CPSA has voiced support for protests of the Israel-Hamas war on college campuses across the U.S., with a May press release from the group stating it “unequivocally stands alongside these nonviolent student protestors and their efforts to raise the alarm about the complicity of both their colleges and of the United States in the War on Gaza.” College campuses saw a surge in antisemitic sentiment amid the wave of protests, with a 2024 online study from Brandeis University of 20,000 young adult Jews indicating rates of hostility against Jews on U.S. campuses in 2023 were approximately twice that of 2016.
More broadly, the number of reported antisemitic hate crime offenses climbed to an all-time high in 2023, with the uptick largely coinciding with the beginning of the Israel-Hamas war, according to FBI data.
Democratic New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez supported a 2022 effort backed by the CPSA to allow staff in the House of Representatives to unionize, with the House passing a resolution in May granting the request.
“As congressional staff, we recognize our jobs come with the honor of public service and with working conditions that surpass what many Americans experience today,” the CPSA letter states. “We do not want a 32-hour workweek to just be another special benefit for Congressional staff: We hope that by adopting this policy, Members of Congress can help to advance the discussion around a more sustainable workweek as a national priority and model how it can work for private and public employers across the country and the world.”
The CPSA did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
All content created by the Daily Caller News Foundation, an independent and nonpartisan newswire service, is available without charge to any legitimate news publisher that can provide a large audience. All republished articles must include our logo, our reporter’s byline and their DCNF affiliation. For any questions about our guidelines or partnering with us, please contact licensing@dailycallernewsfoundation.org.
Thursday, January 16, 2025
The Purpose of Prophecy
Introduction to Revelation
The Purpose of Prophecy
Chapter 6
The Purpose of Prophecy
Chapter 6
Surely the Lord God will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets.
Amos 3:7.
Introduction
God’s Kingdom is on a journey. It began with the calling of Abraham, and it will end in heaven. It began with an earthly Jerusalem, and it end with a heavenly Jerusalem. Because God’s Kingdom is on this journey the Bible and the prophecies are focused on the progression of the Kingdom. This is why the Bible is a record of the successes and the failures of the citizens of the Kingdom – it is the spiritual state of the people that propels the Kingdom forward or backward. This is why the journey of the Kingdom is such a long and difficult one, because the record tells us that the spiritual state of the citizens is a record of failure more than success. However, there is a principle of interpretation that tells us that the journey will ultimately result in victory – this principle is ‘The Principle of Progression’ or ‘The Progressive Nature of the Kingdom of God Principle.’
The Progressive Principle
Jesus told many parables. When he began to tell His parables, He almost always used the same introduction, with these words: “The Kingdom of God is like…” In other words, His parables were about the Kingdom. The purpose of the parables was to focus on two things: the conditions for entry into the Kingdom and/or the progression of the Kingdom. The most obvious example of progression is the parable about the seed growing in secret:
And he said, So is the kingdom of God, as if a man should cast seed into the ground; And should sleep, and rise night and day, and the seed should spring and grow up, he knoweth not how. For the earth bringeth forth fruit of herself; first the blade, then the ear, after that the full corn in the ear. But when the fruit is brought forth, immediately he putteth in the sickle, because the harvest is come. Mk. 4:27-29.
In this parable Jesus is referring to God’s third attempt to achieve the goals for His Kingdom (the first one was the call of Abraham, the second was the return to Jerusalem after the Babylonian captivity). In the parable, the Sower of the seed is Jesus - the field is the world - the seeds are the children of the Kingdom (see Matt. 13:28-37). The growing seed is not physically discernable because it is spiritual growth (see 2 Cor. 3:1-3). The harvest takes place at the end of time, at the second coming of Christ (see Matt. 13:39-43; Rev. 14:12-20). Thus, the parable is telling the story of the beginning of Christ’s Kingdom, the journey of the Kingdom and the destination of the Kingdom.
Introduction
God’s Kingdom is on a journey. It began with the calling of Abraham, and it will end in heaven. It began with an earthly Jerusalem, and it end with a heavenly Jerusalem. Because God’s Kingdom is on this journey the Bible and the prophecies are focused on the progression of the Kingdom. This is why the Bible is a record of the successes and the failures of the citizens of the Kingdom – it is the spiritual state of the people that propels the Kingdom forward or backward. This is why the journey of the Kingdom is such a long and difficult one, because the record tells us that the spiritual state of the citizens is a record of failure more than success. However, there is a principle of interpretation that tells us that the journey will ultimately result in victory – this principle is ‘The Principle of Progression’ or ‘The Progressive Nature of the Kingdom of God Principle.’
The Progressive Principle
Jesus told many parables. When he began to tell His parables, He almost always used the same introduction, with these words: “The Kingdom of God is like…” In other words, His parables were about the Kingdom. The purpose of the parables was to focus on two things: the conditions for entry into the Kingdom and/or the progression of the Kingdom. The most obvious example of progression is the parable about the seed growing in secret:
And he said, So is the kingdom of God, as if a man should cast seed into the ground; And should sleep, and rise night and day, and the seed should spring and grow up, he knoweth not how. For the earth bringeth forth fruit of herself; first the blade, then the ear, after that the full corn in the ear. But when the fruit is brought forth, immediately he putteth in the sickle, because the harvest is come. Mk. 4:27-29.
In this parable Jesus is referring to God’s third attempt to achieve the goals for His Kingdom (the first one was the call of Abraham, the second was the return to Jerusalem after the Babylonian captivity). In the parable, the Sower of the seed is Jesus - the field is the world - the seeds are the children of the Kingdom (see Matt. 13:28-37). The growing seed is not physically discernable because it is spiritual growth (see 2 Cor. 3:1-3). The harvest takes place at the end of time, at the second coming of Christ (see Matt. 13:39-43; Rev. 14:12-20). Thus, the parable is telling the story of the beginning of Christ’s Kingdom, the journey of the Kingdom and the destination of the Kingdom.
Wednesday, January 15, 2025
Secretary of State Nominee Marco Rubio Opening Statement at his confirmation hearing
January 15, 2025 | Clip Of Secretary of State Nominee Marco Rubio Testifies at Confirmation Hearing
00:00:06
SEN. RUBIO
THANK YOU RANKING MEMBER, SENATOR SHAHEEN, THANK YOU SENATOR SCOTT FOR YOUR INTRODUCTION. IT IS SURREAL TO BE ON THIS SIDE OF THE ROOM, BUT YOU ALL LOOK VERY DISTINGUISHED. I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT. [LAUGHTER]
00:03:11
Rest of the Text of Marco Rubio's opening statement at the source below
Secretary of State Nominee Marco Rubio Opening Statement
Secretary of State nominee Marco Rubio delivers his opening statement at his confirmation hearing before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.
SEN. RUBIO
THANK YOU RANKING MEMBER, SENATOR SHAHEEN, THANK YOU SENATOR SCOTT FOR YOUR INTRODUCTION. IT IS SURREAL TO BE ON THIS SIDE OF THE ROOM, BUT YOU ALL LOOK VERY DISTINGUISHED. I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT. [LAUGHTER]
IN THE 200 49-YEAR HISTORY OF OUR REPUBLIC THERE HAVE ONLY BEEN 71 OTHER AMERICANS WHO HAVE SERVED IN THE ROLE, THE POSITION THAT PRESIDENT TRUMP HAS NOW NOMINATED ME TO OCCUPY. I WANT TO THANK HIM FOR HIS CONFIDENCE. IT IS AN INCREDIBLE HONOR. AS MANY OF YOU HAVE POINTED OUT, IT IS AN EXTRAORDINARY RESPONSIBILITY. THREE OF MY CHILDREN, AMANDA, ANTHONY, DOMINIC COULD NOT BE WITH US TODAY OR JOIN US IN PERSON, BUT I'M HAPPY THAT MY WIFE JEANETTE IS HERE AND MY DAUGHTER IS HERE WITH ME AS WELL, BECAUSE I KNOW EACH OF YOU KNOW WELL THAT IT REALLY IS IMPOSSIBLE TO DO OUR JOB IN THE SENATE, NOT TO MENTION THE JOB THAT I HAVE BEEN NOMINATED FOR, WITHOUT THE LOVE AND SUPPORT OF OUR FAMILIES. I AM PLEASED THAT MY SISTERS, BARBARA AND VERONICA, AND MY NEPHEW ORLANDO ARE JOINING US TODAY. IT IS A REMINDER THAT THE PATH THAT BRINGS ME TO THIS MOMENT WAS PAVED BY THOSE WHO ARE NOT WITH US TODAY.
MY TWO PARENTS WHO ARRIVED ON MAY 27 1956 FROM CUBA AND HAD NOTHING BUT THE DREAMS OF A BETTER LIFE, AND BECAUSE OF THEM I HAD THE PRIVILEGE TO BE BORN A CITIZEN OF THE GREATEST NATION IN THE HISTORY OF MANKIND AND TO BE RAISED IN A SAFE, STABLE HOME BY PARENTS WHO MADE THEIR CHILDREN'S FUTURE THE VERY PURPOSE OF THEIR LIVES. I ALSO WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE ALL OF THE BLESSINGS THAT GOD HAS BESTOWED UPON ME IN MY LIFE. MY FAITH IS CRITICAL AND SOMETHING THAT I WILL RELY ON HEAVILY IN THE MONTHS AHEAD IN A TUMULTUOUS WORLD WHERE IN MY FAITH WE ARE CALLED TO PROMOTE PEACE AND THE COMMON GOOD AND THAT TASK HAS GOTTEN HARDER THAN IT HAS EVER BEEN. I WILL RELY HEAVILY ON MY FAITH AND PLAY FOR GOD'S -- PRAY FOR GOD'S BLESSINGS THAT HE WILL PROVIDE ME THE STRENGTH AND COURAGE TO DO WHAT IS RIGHT IN THESE TENUOUS MOMENTS.
AT THE END OF THE SECOND WORLD WAR THE UNITED STATES WAS, IN THE WORDS OF THEN SECRETARY OF STATE, TASKED WITH CREATING AN ORDER, A WORLD ORDER, A FREE HALF, OUT OF CHAOS WITHOUT BLOWING TO PIECES, WITHOUT BLOWING THE WHOLE OF THE WORLD TO PIECES IN THE PROCESS. IN THE DECADES THE GLOBAL ORDER SERVED AS WELL. AMERICAN'S INCOMES ROSE, ALLIANCES ROSE IN THE INDO PACIFIC THAT LED TO THE EMERGENCE OF STABILITY, DEMOCRACY, AND PROSPERITY IN THESE REGIONS. [PROTESTER
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P.S.
Rubio has three siblings: older brother Mario, older sister Barbara (married to Orlando Cicilia), and younger sister Veronica (formerly married to entertainer Carlos Ponce).[15] Growing up, his family was Catholic, though from age 8 to age 11 he and his family attended the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints while living in Las Vegas.[16] During those years in Nevada, his father worked as a bartender at Sam's Town Hotel and his mother as a housekeeper at the Imperial Palace Hotel and Casino.[17] He received his first communion as a Catholic in 1984 before moving back to Miami with his family a year later. He was confirmed and later married in the Catholic Church.[18][19]
Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marco_Rubio)
Tuesday, January 14, 2025
Sunday, January 12, 2025
St. Louis prosecutor spent weeks away from office while in nursing school, audit finds
St. Louis Prosecutor© David Carson
Story by SUMMER BALLENTINE
COLUMBIA, Mo. (AP) — St. Louis’ embattled former Democratic prosecutor Kim Gardner spent the equivalent of seven weeks in nursing school classes during business hours, according to a scathing report released Tuesday by the state auditor.
Republican Auditor Scott Fitzpatrick's review also found widespread staff turnover, misuse of public funds and a significant drop in cases filed, referred and closed before Gardner resigned under fire in 2023.
“In my view, the driving force was Kim Gardner’s failure to make her job as circuit attorney her top priority,” Fitzpatrick told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.
The audit found Gardner spent “34.5 working days, or approximately 7 weeks” doing nursing school coursework at Saint Louis University during business hours.
Gardner told auditors that she was pursuing a family nurse practitioner post-master’s certificate “to improve the office and bring mental health awareness” to the office.
The Associated Press left phone and email messages with lawyers for Gardner on Tuesday.
Other issues cited in the audit include more than $58,000 in public funds spent on flowers, a disc jockey, car detailing, an office picnic, a chili cookout and Gardner's personal legal expenses.
Getting information from the office while Gardner was in charge was difficult, according to auditors. Employees denied or delayed audit requests for two years until subpoenaed, and “full access to documents, personnel, and the office itself was only given after the new administration took over,” according to the audit report.
Related video: 'Taxpayers should be outraged': Missouri releases audit of Kim Gardner's office (KSDK-TV St. Louis)
Criticism of Gardner is not new.
At the time of her resignation, she was targeted for removal by Missouri Republican Attorney General Andrew Bailey. And GOP lawmakers were considering a bill allowing the Republican governor to appoint a special prosecutor to handle violent crimes, effectively removing the bulk of Gardner’s responsibilities.
Gardner was part of a movement of progressive prosecutors who sought diversion to mental health treatment or drug abuse treatment for low-level crimes, pledged to hold police more accountable, and sought to free incarcerated people who were wrongfully convicted.
Republican leaders often criticized Gardner for a low homicide conviction rate, among other concerns. She frequently butted heads with police and conservatives.
In 2018, Gardner charged former Gov. Eric Greitens, then a rising star in GOP politics, with felony invasion of privacy, accusing him of taking a compromising photo of a woman during an affair. The charge was eventually dropped. Greitens resigned in June 2018.
Scrutiny of the case led to the conviction of Gardner’s investigator, and Gardner received a written reprimand from the Missouri Supreme Court for how her office handled documents in the case.
Gardner got into more trouble after she directed her employees to issue checks to pay off a $5,004 fine related to that case, although she wasn’t entitled to the additional compensation. She agreed to repay the money with her own funds to avoid federal prosecution.
COLUMBIA, Mo. (AP) — St. Louis’ embattled former Democratic prosecutor Kim Gardner spent the equivalent of seven weeks in nursing school classes during business hours, according to a scathing report released Tuesday by the state auditor.
Republican Auditor Scott Fitzpatrick's review also found widespread staff turnover, misuse of public funds and a significant drop in cases filed, referred and closed before Gardner resigned under fire in 2023.
“In my view, the driving force was Kim Gardner’s failure to make her job as circuit attorney her top priority,” Fitzpatrick told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.
The audit found Gardner spent “34.5 working days, or approximately 7 weeks” doing nursing school coursework at Saint Louis University during business hours.
Gardner told auditors that she was pursuing a family nurse practitioner post-master’s certificate “to improve the office and bring mental health awareness” to the office.
The Associated Press left phone and email messages with lawyers for Gardner on Tuesday.
Other issues cited in the audit include more than $58,000 in public funds spent on flowers, a disc jockey, car detailing, an office picnic, a chili cookout and Gardner's personal legal expenses.
Getting information from the office while Gardner was in charge was difficult, according to auditors. Employees denied or delayed audit requests for two years until subpoenaed, and “full access to documents, personnel, and the office itself was only given after the new administration took over,” according to the audit report.
Related video: 'Taxpayers should be outraged': Missouri releases audit of Kim Gardner's office (KSDK-TV St. Louis)Criticism of Gardner is not new.
At the time of her resignation, she was targeted for removal by Missouri Republican Attorney General Andrew Bailey. And GOP lawmakers were considering a bill allowing the Republican governor to appoint a special prosecutor to handle violent crimes, effectively removing the bulk of Gardner’s responsibilities.
Gardner was part of a movement of progressive prosecutors who sought diversion to mental health treatment or drug abuse treatment for low-level crimes, pledged to hold police more accountable, and sought to free incarcerated people who were wrongfully convicted.
Republican leaders often criticized Gardner for a low homicide conviction rate, among other concerns. She frequently butted heads with police and conservatives.
In 2018, Gardner charged former Gov. Eric Greitens, then a rising star in GOP politics, with felony invasion of privacy, accusing him of taking a compromising photo of a woman during an affair. The charge was eventually dropped. Greitens resigned in June 2018.
Scrutiny of the case led to the conviction of Gardner’s investigator, and Gardner received a written reprimand from the Missouri Supreme Court for how her office handled documents in the case.
Gardner got into more trouble after she directed her employees to issue checks to pay off a $5,004 fine related to that case, although she wasn’t entitled to the additional compensation. She agreed to repay the money with her own funds to avoid federal prosecution.
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