There are two ways to be fooled. One is to believe what isn’t true; the other is to refuse to believe what is true. —Soren Kierkegaard. "…truth is true even if nobody believes it, and falsehood is false even if everybody believes it. That is why truth does not yield to opinion, fashion, numbers, office, or sincerity–it is simply true and that is the end of it" – Os Guinness, Time for Truth, pg.39. “He that takes truth for his guide, and duty for his end, may safely trust to God’s providence to lead him aright.” – Blaise Pascal. "There is but one straight course, and that is to seek truth and pursue it steadily" – George Washington letter to Edmund Randolph — 1795. We live in a “post-truth” world. According to the dictionary, “post-truth” means, “relating to or denoting circumstances in which objective facts are less influential in shaping public opinion than appeals to emotion and personal belief.” Simply put, we now live in a culture that seems to value experience and emotion more than truth. Truth will never go away no matter how hard one might wish. Going beyond the MSM idealogical opinion/bias and their low information tabloid reality show news with a distractional superficial focus on entertainment, sensationalism, emotionalism and activist reporting – this blogs goal is to, in some small way, put a plug in the broken dam of truth and save as many as possible from the consequences—temporal and eternal. "The further a society drifts from truth, the more it will hate those who speak it." – George Orwell “There are two ways to be fooled. One is to believe what isn’t true; the other is to refuse to believe what is true.” ― Soren Kierkegaard
Thomas Watson – (ca. 1620-1686), English non-conformist Puritan preacher and author
Watson was educated at Emmanuel College, Cambridge, where he was noted for remarkably intense study. In 1646 he commenced a sixteen year pastorate at St. Stephen’s, Walbrook. He showed strong Presbyterian views during the civil war, with, however, an attachment to the king, and in 1651 he was imprisoned briefly with some other ministers for his share in Christopher Love’s plot to recall Charles II of England. He was released on June 30, 1652, and was formally reinstated as vicar of St. Stephen’s Walbrook.
Watson obtained great fame and popularity as a preacher until the Restoration, when he was ejected for nonconformity. Notwithstanding the rigor of the acts against dissenters, Watson continued to exercise his ministry privately as he found opportunity. Upon the Declaration of Indulgence in 1672 he obtained a license to preach at the great hall in Crosby House. After preaching there for several years, his health gave way, and he retired to Barnston, Essex, where he died suddenly while praying in secret. He was buried on 28 July 1686.
In this clip, we continue our series on how we can know the truth about God’s existence. I discuss cosmological arguments, pragmatic and existential arguments and religious experience.
Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good. ROMANS 12:21
A bad disposition has been called “the vice of the virtuous,” which brings us directly to the conclusion that it is time we Christians stop trying to excuse our un-Christlike dispositions and frankly admit our failure to live as we should! Wesley said that we will not injure the cause of Christ by admitting our sins, but that we are sure to do so by denying them. Dispositional sins are as many as the various facets of human nature. Just so there be no misunderstanding let us list a few of them: Sensitiveness, irritability, churlishness, faultfinding, peevishness, temper, resentfulness, cruelty, uncharitable attitudes; and of course there are many more. These kill the spirit of the church and slow down any progress which the gospel may be making in the community. Many persons who had been secretly longing to find Christ have been turned away and embittered by manifestations of ugly dispositional flaws in the lives of the very persons who were trying to win them! Unsaintly saints are the tragedy of Christianity. The low state of religion in our day is largely due to the lack of public confidence in religious people. There is a remedy for inward evil. The power of Christ can enable the worst of us to live lives of purity and love. We have but to seek it and to lay hold of it in faith. God will not disappoint us!
Tozer, A. W., & Smith, G. B. (2015). Evenings with Tozer: Daily Devotional Readings (p. 48). Moody Publishers.
A union with Christ brings with it the sweet and sanctified use and enjoyment of all things. My soul, ponder this evening what the apostle here saith, with an eye to this, and behold thy blessedness in Jesus. Every thing which comes into the account of what may be called real good, can be so no farther than as it is found and enjoyed in Christ. Creature comforts have nothing in them of good, but what is derived from the blessedness of the covenant in them. To the pure in Christ, all things are pure. His gracious leaven in them, leaveneth the whole lump. And wherefore is it, that to them that are in a state of unrenewed nature, being defiled and unbelieving, there is nothing pure; but because there is nothing of Christ in them? They, and all they have, are under the curse! for every thing is so out of Christ. It is Jesus which must put a blessing and a relish into even the most common providences; or, instead of mercy, they will bring forth evil. See to it, then, my soul, that Christ be the foundation of all thine enjoyments. Be very jealous over thyself, and thine own heart, when thou art most happy, that it be on Christ’s account; or that, when exercised with difficulties, thou still see Jesus in them, and receive them as coming from his appointment. And learn never to put a value upon any thing but on his account, and from their connection with him. This will confirm what the apostle saith, to thy experience: “To the pure, all things are pure.” For Jesus, seen in all, will be enjoyed in all; and will sweeten, sanctify, bless, and render profitable all. For as there is infinitely more blessedness in the most common of our mercies, from their relationship to Jesus, and their coming from him, than we are aware of, so we ought to have the greater regard to him, in all that we enjoy. And if we consider nothing as a blessing but what is received in Jesus, we shall learn to set a value upon nothing but what is brought home to the heart by Jesus.
Hawker, R. (1845). The Poor Man’s Evening Portion (A New Edition, pp. 50–51). Thomas Wardle.
One of the most touching and teaching of the Saviour’s miracles is before us to-night. The woman was very ignorant. She imagined that virtue came out of Christ by a law of necessity, without his knowledge or direct will. Moreover, she was a stranger to the generosity of Jesus’ character, or she would not have gone behind to steal the cure which he was so ready to bestow. Misery should always place itself right in the face of mercy. Had she known the love of Jesus’ heart, she would have said, “I have but to put myself where he can see me—his omniscience will teach him my case, and his love at once will work my cure.” We admire her faith, but we marvel at her ignorance. After she had obtained the cure, she rejoiced with trembling: glad was she that the divine virtue had wrought a marvel in her; but she feared lest Christ should retract the blessing, and put a negative upon the grant of his grace: little did she comprehend the fulness of his love! We have not so clear a view of him as we could wish; we know not the heights and depths of his love; but we know of a surety that he is too good to withdraw from a trembling soul the gift which it has been able to obtain. But here is the marvel of it: little as was her knowledge, her faith, because it was real faith, saved her, and saved her at once. There was no tedious delay—faith’s miracle was instantaneous. If we have faith as a grain of mustard seed, salvation is our present and eternal possession. If in the list of the Lord’s children we are written as the feeblest of the family, yet, being heirs through faith, no power, human or devilish, can eject us from salvation. If we dare not lean our heads upon his bosom with John, yet if we can venture in the press behind him, and touch the hem of his garment, we are made whole. Courage, timid one! thy faith hath saved thee; go in peace. “Being justified by faith, we have peace with God.”
Spurgeon, C. H. (1896). Morning and evening: Daily readings. Passmore & Alabaster.
THEN came Amalek, and fought with Israel in Rephidim. (These ferocious wanderers attacked Israel unawares in a cowardly and unprovoked manner, when they were least able to defend themselves. They seem to have been of all Israel’s foes the most wantonly malicious, and hence they are instructive emblems of sin and Satan.) 9 And Moses said unto Joshua, Choose us out men, and go out, fight with Amalek: to morrow I will stand on the top of the hill with the rod of God in mine hand. (We must fight as well as pray. Though effort without prayer would be presumption, prayer without effort is mockery. Joshua must go to battle as well as Moses to the hill. Jesus said, “Watch and pray.”) 10 So Joshua did as Moses had said to him, and fought with Amalek: and Moses, Aaron, and Hur went up to the top of the hill. 11 And it came to pass, when Moses held up his hand, that Israel prevailed: and when he let down his hand, Amalek prevailed. 12 But Moses’ hands were heavy; and they took a stone, and put it under him, and he sat thereon; and Aaron and Hur stayed up his hands, the one on the one side, and the other on the other side; and his hands were steady until the going down of the sun. (Let all of us labour to uphold the prayerfulness of the church, for if that flags all flags. “Lift up the hands that hang down, and confirm the feeble knees.” Spiritual evil can only be overcome by the energy of prayer, and when we fail in devotion, the enemy easily overcomes us.) 13 And Joshua discomfited Amalek and his people with the edge of the sword. 14 And the LORD said unto Moses, Write this for a memorial in a book, and rehearse it in the ears of Joshua: for I will utterly put out the remembrance of Amalek from under heaven. It has been suggested by a quaint author, that the Lord’s reason for specially commanding this event to be recorded is, that his people may imitate it. We are to fight against sin, and to expect victory over it by God’s help, afforded us in answer to supplication. Our Lord Jesus is both our Joshua to slay our sins, and our Moses to intercede for us against them, and his hands never need upholding. “He shall not fail nor be discouraged.” Amalek shall be utterly destroyed, and we shall be for ever freed from sin. 15 And Moses built an altar, and called the name of it Jehovah-nissi: (or, the Lord my banner, for the uplifted rod had been as a sacred banner to Israel. Whenever we win victories we ought to bring thank-offerings, and ascribe the glory unto the Lord alone.) 16 For he said, Because the LORD hath sworn that the LORD will have war with Amalek from generation to generation. (We find this war carried on in Saul’s day, and he was bidden to root out the nation.)
ON account of the sinfulness of Amalek, as well as its unprovoked hostility to the tribes, the nation was doomed by divine justice to utter extirpation, even as our sins are by divine grace doomed to be crucified with Christ, that henceforth we should not serve sin. Let us read
DEUTERONOMY 25:17–19
17, 18 Remember what Amalek did unto thee by the way, when ye were come forth out of Egypt; How he met thee by the way, and smote the hindmost of thee, even all that were feeble behind thee, when thou wast faint and weary; and he feared not God. (God will not endure it that his people should be assailed. He counts their injuries as done to himself.) 19 Therefore it shall be, when the LORD thy God hath given thee rest from all thine enemies round about, in the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee for an inheritance to possess it, that thou shalt blot out the remembrance of Amalek from under heaven; thou shalt not forget it. (By the aid of the Eternal Spirit let us carry on war to the knife against all sin, whether in ourselves or others. All sins are our deadly foes, with whom we must hold neither truce nor parley. Death to them all, for they all aim at our death, and they were the crucifiers of our Lord Jesus.)
While Moses stood with arms spread wide,
Success was found on Israel’s side;
But when through weariness they fail’d,
That moment Amalek prevail’d.
O thou whose hand is stretch’d out still,
Our sinking hands confirm and stay;
While praying for us on the hill,
Fight with us in the plain to-day.
Spurgeon, C. H. (1964). The Interpreter: Spurgeon’s Devotional Bible (p. 90). Baker Book House.
Exodus 39:14 — The names of the tribes of Israel were engraved over the heart of the High Priest. God says that He has graven our names on the palms of His hands (Isaiah 49:16).
Exodus 39:30 — A religion that denies the inerrancy of the Bible and calls the sufficiency of Scripture a foolish doctrine has put the words “Holiness to the Lord” on each of their “temples.”
Interestingly, the next time that the phrase “Holiness to the LORD” is used is in Isaiah 23:18 when it refers to the merchandise of Tyre that will become spoil for those who dwell before the LORD.
Mark 1:12 — We read earlier in Matthew 3:7 that many of the Pharisees and Sadducees came to investigate John the Baptist. Interestingly, after Jesus is publicly acknowledged by John and by His Father, Jesus is immediately taken into the wilderness. We’ll notice that Jesus would not have fulfilled all of the Messianic prophecies at this time, so the Sanhedrin could charge Him with blasphemy if He publicly claimed to be Who He really was. They could also attempt to execute Him prematurely. Thus, in our future readings we’ll see Jesus be very guarded about His identity and start His public ministry with 40 days of silence.
Mark 1:24-25 — As we were saying, Jesus is telling the demons not to share Who He is.
For thus saith the Lord God; Behold, I, even I, will both search my sheep, and seek them out. (Ezekiel 34:11)
This He does at the first when His elect are like wandering sheep that know not the Shepherd or the fold. How wonderfully doth the Lord find out His chosen! Jesus is great as a seeking Shepherd as well as a saving Shepherd. Though many of those His Father gave Him have gone as near to hell-gate as they well can, yet the Lord by searching and seeking discovers them and draws nigh to them in grace. He has sought out us: let us have good hope for those who are laid upon our hearts in prayer, for He will find them out also.
The Lord repeats this process when any of His flock stray from the pastures of truth and holiness. They may fall into gross error, sad sin, and grievous hardness; but yet the Lord, who has become a surety for them to His Father, will not suffer one of them to go so far as to perish. He will by providence and grace pursue them into foreign lands, into abodes of poverty, into dens of obscurity, into depths of despair; He will not lose one of all that the Father has given Him. It is a point of honor with Jesus to seek and to save all the flock, without a single exception. What a promise to plead, if at this hour I am compelled to cry, “I have gone astray like a lost sheep!”
In the dim glow of Mount Sinai’s thunderous presence, God’s voice rang clear, etching His commands into stone. The second commandment—absolute—warns against idolatry, not just in the crude form of carved statues, but in every distorted attempt to redefine the Almighty.
“You shall not make for yourself any carved image… You shall not bow down to them nor serve them.” These are not words to be skimmed over; they are a divine summons to purity in worship.
The Difference Between the First and Second Commandments
At first glance, the second commandment may seem redundant. Didn’t the first commandment already forbid the worship of other gods? But this command goes deeper. The first commandment demands loyalty—worship the right God. The second demands purity—worship the right God in the right way. Here lies the distinction that modern Christianity often neglects.
Many today are content with believing in God but see little harm in approaching Him on their own terms. A worshiper might never bow before an idol of stone, yet in their heart, they form a version of God that suits them—one who conforms to their preferences, one who never offends, one who asks for nothing more than what they are willing to give. But God does not bend to human imagination. He defines worship, and He does not negotiate its terms.
Idolatry in the Ancient World
When God delivered this commandment, the world was drowning in idolatry. Every nation surrounding Israel had their gods—visible, tangible, seemingly accessible. Baal, the storm god, promised fertility and strength. Asherah, a carved pole, stood as the embodiment of sensuality and prosperity. Dagon, half-man and half-fish, symbolized power over the waters. Statues, poles, painted images—everywhere one looked, gods were sculpted into existence, traded for favor, and paraded as objects of devotion. And yet, they were silent. Powerless. Devoid of holiness.
Unlike their neighbors, Israel was given something radical—a God who was unseen yet omnipotent, unshaped by human hands yet intimately involved in their lives. They walked through a wilderness devoid of shrines and images, following an invisible yet ever-present God. The contrast was stark. While the nations worshiped what they could see, Israel was called to trust in the One who could not be contained within human vision.
Idolatry in Our Time
It is easy to dismiss idolatry as a problem of the past, something primitive tribes engaged in before enlightenment took hold. Yet, as history proves, idolatry never vanished—it simply evolved. Modern idols do not sit on altars of stone; they reside in the depths of our hearts.
Consider the idols of success and materialism. How many shape their identity around their careers, their bank accounts, their reputations? How often does the pursuit of financial security override devotion to God? Jesus warned, “You cannot serve both God and money.” Yet many live as though the two can be balanced, as if the heart can be divided between the eternal and the temporal without consequence.
Or consider the idol of personal preference in worship. In our consumer-driven age, churches compete for attention with entertainment-style services, promising an experience rather than a true encounter with God. Worship becomes about feelings, about what we enjoy, rather than about the reverence He requires. When our preferences dictate our approach to God, have we not crafted an image of Him to suit ourselves?
Even relationships can become idols. Family, friendships, even marriage—good gifts from God—can take a place in our hearts that belongs to Him alone. When we expect from people what only God can provide, we have bowed to an idol, however unintentional it may seem.
The Cost of Idolatry
God does not issue empty warnings. The second commandment is followed by a chilling consequence: “I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children to the third and fourth generation of those who hate Me.” The repercussions of idolatry do not stop with the idolater; they spill over into generations. A father’s neglect of true worship influences his children. A community’s indifference to God shapes its future. What we tolerate today, our children will embrace tomorrow.
But there is also a promise: “Showing mercy to thousands, to those who love Me and keep My commandments.” The pathway of obedience does not merely avoid judgment—it invites God’s mercy. While idolatry fractures and distorts, true worship restores and heals. God does not merely seek compliance; He desires hearts wholly devoted to Him.
A Call to Tear Down Our Idols
The call of the second commandment is not just to reject idols but to actively remove them. The Israelites, when confronted with their false worship, were commanded to tear down their altars, to smash their carved images, to rid their land of anything that competed with God’s supremacy. The same urgency must grip us today.
Ask yourself: What in my life competes with God? What consumes my thoughts, my affections, my time in a way that should belong to Him? What have I made untouchable, unwilling to surrender? True worship demands that no rival stands before God. It demands that we abandon every false image—whether tangible or internal—that we have erected in His place.
Let’s be a people who do not merely acknowledge the right God but who approach Him rightly. Let us cast down every idol and bow only before the King of kings, whose presence alone satisfies, whose Word alone is truth, and whose name alone is worthy of our worship.
I’m really excited about this series on the Ten Commandments, and as I’ve been preparing, I devoured a book that completely changed my perspective: Kevin DeYoung’s “The Ten Commandments: What They Mean, Why They Matter, and Why We Should Obey Them.”
Seriously, if you’re a Christian and you haven’t read this book, you’re missing out. It’s not just another dry commentary; DeYoung has this incredible gift for making complex theological ideas crystal clear and then applying them to your everyday life in a way that just clicks.
He tackles the tough questions about the relevance of the Old Testament law for us today and shows how these ancient commands are actually the key to a richer, more fulfilling life in Christ. I was so blown away by it that I wrote a full review, and I’d love for you to check it out here. It might just change the way you see the Ten Commandments forever.
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I have six half brothers and sisters who were raised in the church of Latter Day Saints (Mormons). When I first became interested in the existence of God and the reliability of the Bible, I committed myself to a simultaneous investigation of Joseph Smith and the Book of Mormon. What I discovered kept me from becoming a Mormon. I hope some of these resources will help you investigate Mormonism as well (each article is printable and downloadable as a PDF file):
Resources Related to the Evidence Against Mormonism Articles to help you examine the evidential claims of Mormonism:
Can We Trust the Prophecies of Joseph Smith? Joseph Smith uttered demonstrably false prophecies. His status as a prophet of God must be removed and with it, the foundation for Mormonism.
Resources Related to Mormon Theology Articles describing the theological differences between Mormonism and Christianity:
Is Mormon Salvation Possible? According to Mormonism, no one receives eternal life until they have abandoned all past sin and have committed themselves to never repeat these sins again.
Mormons today often try to portray their belief system as simply another, legitimate, historical denomination of Christianity. Nothing could be further from the truth. Mormonism is not evidentially legitimate, historically reliable, nor theologically compatible with Christianity. I hope these resources will help you understand the truth about the Church of Latter Day Saints.
Victimhood is the new virtue—but is it biblical? While real victims exist, many have embraced a mindset that keeps them trapped. Libby Glosson explores how identity politics fuels this ideology and how believers can reject victimhood in favor of Christ-centered victory.
Israel is ‘likely’ to attack Iranian nuclear facilities within the next 6 months, US intel estimates Israel is considering carrying out “significant” strikes on Iranian nuclear sites, possibly even within the coming six months, according to two separate reports by major U.S. newspapers on Wednesday. The new Trump administration had so far signaled its willingness to negotiate over a new nuclear deal before drawing on the military option. However, Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei several days ago seemed to reject the notion … .
Rubio Backs Israeli Return to Fighting, Warns Against Hamas Rearming U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has warned that Israel cannot allow Hamas to use the ceasefire to rearm, signaling support for a potential resumption of military operations in Gaza. His remarks come as the fragile truce, now in its third week, faces collapse amid accusations of Hamas violating the agreement. “Israel can’t allow Hamas to use the ceasefire to rebuild itself and recover strength,” Rubio said in an interview with NewsNation. “It’s a ceasefire, but it’s not a stupid ceasefire.”
After ultimatum: Hamas says it will resume deal, release 3 Israeli hostages next Saturday “Accordingly, Hamas confirms its continued position to implement the agreement in accordance with what was signed, including the exchange of prisoners according to the specified timetable,” the statement said. There is still come uncertainty regarding how President Trump will react, even if Hamas does release the three scheduled hostages on Saturday.
Despairing Gazans plead to leave, for borders to open In an interview on Britain’s Talk TV, he said that he has been told many Gazans are in favor of Trump’s plans. Wallis Simons shared some of his conversation with his friend in Gaza, saying, “I spoke to him on the phone and he said that he and everybody he knows are fully behind Trump’s proposals because they don’t want to live in rubble for the 20 years it will take to rebuild their houses. They don’t want to live in tents, they don’t want to see their children have to rely on aid handouts. We have so many millions of refugees around the world… yet the Palestinians are meant to put up with horrendous conditions brought upon their heads by Hamas.”
Will Trump be able to pull off the impossible? While Trump’s intended relocation plan is directed to the neighboring countries of Jordan and Egypt, both have flatly refused entrance to Gazans. Nonetheless, Trump somehow got Jordan’s King Abdullah to agree to take in 2,000 sick children, and that’s just the beginning. When pressed on the matter by reporters, the king said he’d have to hear further, wanting to allow Egypt to weigh in on the matter. That doesn’t sound like a hard “no.”
Academic Boycott Threatens Archaeological Research in Judea and Samaria “We are dealing with an intolerable reality where researchers are prevented from publishing studies about findings from Judea and Samaria due to foreign political considerations,” Graneck said at the conference opening. “Leading scientific journals are rejecting articles from the region, and researchers who dare to publish find themselves boycotted even when trying to publish research about findings from within Israel proper.”
Iran unveils submarine launched suicide drone With Iranian leader Ali Khamenei in attendance, the IRGC revealed its submarine-launched suicide drone, which can strike targets using its AI systems.
Lebanese government prevents Iranian plane with funds for Hezbollah from leaving Tehran The Lebanese government is fulfilling a provision in the ceasefire agreement with Israel, which requires it to prevent Iran from transferring funds to Hezbollah. Iran is attempting to rebuild its weakened proxy group, Hezbollah, by flying millions of dollars to the terror organization through Beirut International Airport, a practice that the IDF has warned must stop immediately.
Rubio: Arab states must present Gaza plan if they reject Trump’s proposal “Hopefully they’re going to have a really good plan to present the president,” Rubio said, referring to Arab nations. “Right now the only plan — they don’t like it — but the only plan is the Trump plan. So if they’ve got a better plan, now’s the time to present it,” “All these countries say how much they care about the Palestinians, but none of them want to take any Palestinians. None of them have a history of doing anything for Gaza,”
Trump plans India-US trade route via Israel, promises ‘greatest in history’ “We agreed to work together to help build one of the greatest trade routes in all of history. It will run from India to Israel to Italy and onward to the United States, connecting our partners by ports, railways, and undersea cables, many, many undersea cables. It’s a big development,” said Trump. “It’s a lot of money going to be spent, and we’ve already spent some, but we’re going to be spending a lot more in order to stay advanced and stay the leader.
Trump’s Gaza, Greenland plans show ‘extreme strategic uncertainty,’ Macron warns Trump’s Gaza plan, along with Trump’s plan to annex Greenland – which Macron insisted should be addressed by NATO – called for a “radical rethink” of how the EU should operate. “It is an electroshock. We need asymmetric shocks; we need external shocks. It is an exogenous shock for Europeans,” he said. Macron expressed the need for Europe to “muscle up” on matters of defense and economy. “This is Europe’s moment to accelerate and execute,” he said, “It has no choice. It is running out of road.”
Iran to Build 1,000 Nuclear Sites if ‘Enemy’ Destroys 100, President Says Amid Reports of Possible Israeli Strike Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on Thursday warned that if “enemies” attack Iran’s nuclear facilities, the country will quickly rebuild and multiply them, seemingly responding to new reports of a possible Israeli strike on Iranian nuclear sites by the middle of this year. “[Enemies] threaten us that they will hit our nuclear facilities … If you strike a hundred of those, we will build a thousand other ones,” Pezeshkian said during a speech in the southern province of Bushehr, according to Iranian state media.
Pam Bondi Notices Offensive Problem with Wall in DOJ Office, Instantly Takes Matters Into Her Own Hands according to journalist Miranda Devine, Attorney General Pam Bondi addressed one particular act of subtle sabotage when she personally removed framed photos of former President Joe Biden, former Vice President Kamala Harris, and former Attorney General Merrick Garland from the walls in one wing of the Department of Justice.
NASA says yes, an asteroid buzzing by in 2032 could hit Earth The agency is monitoring the asteroid’s orbit and said that the object’s “impact hazard” could be ruled out eventually. But in a blog post about the space rock, the agency said it is “also possible its impact probability will continue to rise” as more details become clear.
Ukraine’s Zelenskyy has a very bad week thanks to Trump and Putin. Here’s why. , Pete Hegseth, has emphasized the need for Europe to take a lead in ending the war, saying that American troops would not be part of any peacekeeping mission and that European powers would have to finance Ukraine’s security guarantees. European leaders are struggling to bridge the gap between what appear to be plans for the U.S. and Russia to negotiate an end to the war themselves and demands from Washington that Europe take the lead on the ground. “Ukraine and Europe must be part of any negotiations, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has little choice but to keep a brave face.
The PA’s ‘Pay For Slay’ Program Showcases The Palestinians Perpetual Hatred For God’s Chosen People Are terrorists released from Israeli prisons coming home to millions courtesy of the Palestinian Authority?…Palestinian Media Watch, which “posted a list of all 734 terrorists scheduled for release from Israeli prisons in the first phase of the hostages-for-ceasefire agreement with Hamas, together with their ‘salaries’—the dollar amounts each terrorist received from the Palestinian Authority’s so-called Martyrs’ Fund while incarcerated.”
USAID has given millions to charities with ties to terrorist organizations The Middle East Forum’s publication, Focus on Western Islamism, has uncovered $164 million in approved grants from USAID to radical organizations, including at least $122 million to groups aligned with designated terrorists and their supporters.
Immigration and Muslim rape gangs: The cover-up must end Rapes in England and Wales have quadrupled in just 10 years. Other European countries – such as Denmark, Sweden and Germany – have experienced similar explosions since around 2015. But why? What is causing this? What has changed?
Pro-life Canadians to demand protection of babies at conception at March for Life in May Campaign Life Coalition (CLC) has officially announced “Protection at Conception” as its theme for the upcoming year. On May 8, 2025, Canadians will gather from around the country to call for “protection at conception” at the 28th National March for Life, which is less than 100 days away, according to a February 6 video release by CLC.
Douglas Andrews, Thomas Gallatin, & Jordan Candler
RFK confirmed as HHS secretary: “For 20 years, I got down every morning on my knees and prayed that God would put me in a position where I can end childhood chronic disease epidemic in this country. On August 23 of last year, God sent me President Trump.” So said Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who ended his quixotic presidential campaign that day and endorsed Donald Trump, and who yesterday was narrowly confirmed by the full Senate as Health and Human Services secretary. Kennedy’s appointment will likely have huge consequences for the health and well-being of the American people, and Trump immediately announced the formation of the Make America Healthy Again commission, which Kennedy will chair and which will investigate and address “the root causes of America’s escalating health crisis, with an initial focus on childhood chronic diseases.”
Federal pink slips begin: Thousands of federal employees are beginning to receive their walking papers as Donald Trump presses forward on his agenda to downsize the government. Those likely to get cut soon include some 280,000 workers who were hired within the last two years and are within the probationary period, making it easier to lay them off. Some of these layoffs will be tied to Trump’s ending of DEI programs within the federal government; however, as DOGE uncovers more waste, it is targeting areas within executive agencies for downsizing. With the current federal government civilian workforce numbering some 2.3 million and the national debt ballooning to $36 trillion, cutting spending is necessary.
Trump fires USAID IG who ignored fraud and waste: Firing inspectors general seems a bit sketchy on its face, given that these are supposed to be impartial officers and guardians of the public trust. But there are exceptions. One such exception, it seems, would be the defenestration of USAID Inspector General Paul Martin, whom White House Office of Presidential Personnel Deputy Director Trent Morse “terminated, effective immediately” via email on Tuesday evening. No reason was given for giving Martin the gate, but the appalling waste and abuse uncovered within the agency by DOGE is surely reason enough. Otherwise, what’s an inspector general for? As it turns out, USAID was funding the Leftmedia and bankrolling all manner of perverse causes. To Martin we say: Good riddance.
Foreign aid freeze unfrozen: U.S. District Judge Amir Ali has ordered the Trump administration to unfreeze funding from USAID for foreign aid in response to a lawsuit raised by two health organizations. The Washington, DC, judge questioned the rationale behind the “blanket suspension” of funds as the Trump administration conducts reviews of each USAID program. Meanwhile, earlier this month, Secretary of State Marco Rubio sent a letter to lawmakers informing them that USAID could be completely shuttered after reorganization in the coming days.
Federal judge wants mutilated kids: All Donald Trump wanted to do was protect children from surgical mutilation and chemical castration, but no good deed goes unpunished by leftist judges. A lone U.S. district judge on Thursday blocked Trump’s executive orders meant to stop the aforementioned abuse by granting a 14-day restraining order after a hearing in federal court in Baltimore. The Trump administration is expected to appeal the decision, which might ultimately end up at the Supreme Court. So-called gender-affirming care is a cash cow for many hospital systems, and at least one of them — a health system affiliated with the University of Virginia — got right back into business upon learning of the judge’s ruling. Without even a hint of irony, the pro-mutilation judge, Brendan Hurson, said that stopping the mutilation would be “horribly dangerous.” What’s horribly dangerous is the Left’s continued nourishment of this gruesome cult.
HHS splurges and loses migrant kids: From 2020 to 2024, the Department of Health and Human Services massively increased grants to migrants for the purchase of houses, cars, and starting businesses. According to a report from watchdog OpenTheBooks, Joe Biden’s HHS Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) spent a whopping $22.6 billion in taxpayer funding on this program. To justify the spending, ORR massively increased the number of eligible migrants, with the Biden administration handing out over $10 billion in grants in 2023 alone. At the same time, the ORR, whose job it is to keep tabs on these migrants, lost track of 32,000 migrant children. OpenTheBooks CEO John Hart observed, “Vast sums are being outsourced to evade accountability and prop up an immoral, exploitive system that is hurtful to both American citizens and people in other countries who are longing for a better life.”
Biden EPA funneled $20 billion to friendlies at 11th hour: It’s understandable if you’ve become somewhat numb to the rampant fraud, waste, and abuse that Elon Musk’s DOGE team has uncovered of late, but this one stands out. As Trump EPA administrator Lee Zeldin said in a YouTube video: “An extremely disturbing video circulated two months ago featuring a Biden EPA political appointee talking about how they were ‘tossing gold bars off the Titanic,’ rushing to get billions of your tax dollars out the door before Inauguration Day.” These weren’t literal gold bars, of course. Only disgraced former Democrat Senator Bob Menendez gets those. What they were, as Zeldin notes, is roughly $20 billion of your tax dollars, and they were being doled out to eight favored leftist entities by a Biden administration that knew it had been repudiated at the ballot box but just didn’t care.
WH again blocks AP over Gulf of America: The Associated Press finds itself in a Mexican standoff with the White House over its refusal to use Donald Trump’s official name change for the Gulf of America. As a result, AP reporters have not been admitted to open press conferences at the White House. That’s “deeply troubling,” complained AP Executive Editor Julie Pace, and “an incredible disservice to the billions of people who rely on The Associated Press for nonpartisan news.” The White House Correspondents Association agreed, calling it a violation of the First Amendment. Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt pushed back, noting, “It is a fact that the body of water off the coast of Louisiana is called the Gulf of America, and I’m not sure why news outlets don’t want to call it that, but that is what it is.”
If Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s remarks Wednesday at NATO’s Brussels headquarters could be distilled into a two-word message for Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, these would be the two: It’s time.
Donald Trump has been saying so for a while now, in so many words. On the campaign trail at a May 2023 CNN town hall, he said he could end the war “in 24 hours,” and he repeatedly noted what was obvious to the rest of us: Vladimir Putin would never have invaded Ukraine under his watch. Instead, Joe Biden proved that weakness is provocative, and here we are.
Trump also said this at that 2023 town hall: “They’re dying, Russians and Ukrainians. I want them to stop dying.” More recently, during a Q&A session at the World Economic Forum some 72 hours after his inauguration, he said this of the killing fields in Ukraine: “When you see pictures of the fields that I see? Nobody wants to see it. You’ll never be the same.”
Against this backdrop, Hegseth delivered the hard news: no NATO membership for Ukraine, and no chance of a peace deal that doesn’t include Russia keeping the historically and strategically vital Crimean Peninsula as well as the eastern Donbas region, whose inhabitants tend to be more friendly toward Russia. These are lands that Putin’s forces have occupied for around two years now.
“We want, like you, a sovereign and prosperous Ukraine,” said Hegseth, “but we must start by recognizing that returning to Ukraine’s pre-2014 borders is an unrealistic objective. Chasing this illusionary goal will only prolong the war and cause more suffering.”
Later, he “clarified” his remarks, saying, “All of that said, these negotiations are led by President Trump — everything is on the table in his conversations with Vladimir Putin and Zelensky. What he decides to allow or not allow is at the purview of the leader of the free world, of President Trump.”
Nevertheless, the outrage from the Trump haters was immediate. Alexander Vindman, that sniveling little Biden administration pipsqueak and Trump impeachment collaborator, called Hegseth’s comments a “complete capitulation” and a “major blow to U.S. national security” that will only embolden Putin.
We wonder: Just how much slaughter is this DC pencil-pusher willing to endure from the comfy confines of Washington? Or is he, like Biden, willing to support Ukraine “for as long as it takes,” even if it means leveling every large and medium-sized Ukrainian city and obliterating the gene pools of a generation of young Ukrainian and Russian men? As I wrote a week ago:
European land wars tend to be both long and awful, and this one is no exception. … If you think it’ll cost a lot to rebuild from the rubble of Gaza, take a look at this interactive map of destruction, which The New York Times describes as “a vast area with some 210,000 buildings leveled across a jagged, 800-mile frontline and beyond.”
Putin is the latest in a long line of Russian meatgrinders, and this is the way they do war: remorselessly and with little regard for human life. (In his magisterial work on the worst battle of history’s worst war, Stalingrad, historian Antony Beevor notes that the Soviet authorities executed some 13,500 of their own soldiers at Stalingrad. Did anyone really think plucky little Ukraine was going to win an attrition war against a country with 11 times zones, immeasurable natural resources, and a history of wrecking both Napoleon and Hitler?
This brings us to the latest effort by Trump to bring an end to the war. On Wednesday, he announced that he’d spoken with both Putin and Zelensky. As Trump put it:
I just spoke to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of Ukraine. The conversation went very well. He, like President Putin, wants to make PEACE. We discussed a variety of topics having to do with the War, but mostly, the meeting that is being set up on Friday in Munich, where Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio will lead the Delegation. I am hopeful that the results of that meeting will be positive. It is time to stop this ridiculous War. … God bless the people of Russia and Ukraine!
The framework for the meeting is unclear, but as the BBC reports, Zelensky has warned that he won’t allow the U.S. and Russia to hammer out the terms without his country’s involvement. “We cannot accept it, as an independent country,” he said.
“Russia is going to be there with our people,” said Trump. “Ukraine is also invited, by the way. Not sure exactly who’s going to be there from any country but high-level people from Russia, from Ukraine, and from the United States.”
Ahead of the Munich meeting, Vance reportedly warned that sanctions or even military action could be on the table for Russia if Putin doesn’t agree to a deal that would guarantee peace for Ukraine.
For just short of three years now, the U.S has been involved in a long and very costly proxy war with Russia. Perhaps the time is now right to bring it to an end.
Emmy Griffin: Who Will Get the Middle East Checkmate? — There are Hamas-held hostages still to be released, while several rebuilding plans for Gaza are on the table.
Trump Should Cut the Department of Education — Hannah Frankman, founder of Renegade Educator and an advocate for alternative education, breaks down why America’s public school system fails.
Worcester Massachusetts Becomes Trans Sanctuary City — It is unclear what exactly a “transgender sanctuary” looks like in practice. However, quite a few people at a recent city council meeting were fired up about the topic.
PopCon #83: Tucker Carlson vs. Piers Morgan — Tucker Carlson and Piers Morgan have gone head-to-head in a debate, covering issues like the war in Ukraine to government censorship to woke culture and everything in between.
SHORT CUTS
Braying Jennies
“This is a fight between the millions of hardworking people who don’t want to get cheated and a handful of billionaires like Elon Musk who want the chance to cheat them.” —Senator Elizabeth Warren
“You can’t spell felon without Elon.” —Congresswoman Delia Ramirez
Race Bait
“Black excellence scares Donald Trump, it scares Stephen Miller, and it scares Elon Musk. Because you know what? Deep down they recognize their own mediocrity.” —Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman
“White supremacy is rampant in this country. Just look at the current administration and our own legislative body.” —Congresswoman Summer Lee
Sexism Bait
“You had mentioned trying to engage more women in manufacturing. I’m just wondering if just the name ‘manufacturing’ sounds like a guy.” —Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky
Lack of Self-Awareness Award
“House Democrats believe that urgent action is needed to drive down the high cost of living in the United States of America.” —House Democrat Leader Hakeem Jeffries, whose party drove up the cost of living in America
Friendly Fire
“Democrats are only focused on one thing right now: Mr. Musk. The fact of the matter, he’s quite popular. He has the largest platform in human history, which is, of course, Twitter/X. And I think we’re missing the boat as Democrats. And all I’m saying is that sometimes it’s better to join them and actually play a role in how the strategy works rather than — so pathetically, frankly — try to combat something that clearly is a steamroller. And Democrats are being steamrolled.” —former Democrat Congressman Dean Phillips
For the Record
“Liberals are especially bent out of shape that the man leading Trump’s attack on ludicrous government expenditures is Elon Musk. In case you haven’t heard, he is ‘unelected’! You know who else is ‘unelected’? Federal judges.” —Ann Coulter
“If the president’s authority to make personnel decisions in the executive branch is subject to judicial veto, can a district court judge veto bills? Order Congress to adjourn or to pass a law? Make treaties? Perhaps we could have all 677 district court judges give their own State of the Union addresses next January!” —Ann Coulter
“I just find it so notable how upset the left is with cuts to foreign aid because of the harm the cuts can cause to others abroad and these same people refused to recognize the harm Biden’s policies were causing to Americans here.” —Erick Erickson
Political Futures
“Look, there’s a lot for which Mitch McConnell can be fairly criticized. But pillorying him for voting against a dude whose entire worldview is 99.9% contrary to conservative orthodoxy? Come on. RFK is a nut, even if a broken clock is right twice a day.” —Jordan Candler
Saturday is the deadline for Hamas to release more Israeli hostages. Severe weather across the U.S. including in southern California. When a President takes office, talk usually centers on the first 100 days. In Donald Trump’s case, it’s been fast and furious since Day 1. While most of the attention has been on the White House in recent weeks, the 119th Congress is in full swing. The Philadelphia Eagles are Superbowl champions and while the city of Brotherly Love awaits the champions’ parade, eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts made good on a promise, by going to Disneyworld.
As a critical Saturday noon deadline approaches, Hamas has signaled its intention to release three Israeli hostages under the current ceasefire agreement. Israeli officials warn that failure to meet this deadline will result in the resumption of military operations against Hamas. Meanwhile, U.S. Senator Marco Rubio is traveling to Israel for discussions aimed at reinforcing the ceasefire and facilitating hostage releases.
Few aspects from the busy first few weeks of President Donald Trump’s second term have attracted as much attention as the Department of Government Efficiency.
While millions of Americans applaud the effort of Trump, Elon Musk, and others to eliminate waste within the federal government, a number of critics — including many in the mainstream media — are treating the effort as an existential threat to the nation.
For his part, comedian and podcaster Joe Rogan seems to find the coverage both absurd and disingenuous.
As he said in response to media hyperventilation over DOGE’s actions within the U.S. Agency for International Development, per the Daily Caller:
Since Musk announced plans to shutter USAID on Feb. 3, CNN and MSNBC used the phrase “constitutional crisis” over 200 times, the Daily Caller News Foundation learned in a keyword search of footage archived by Grabien News. Rogan, on “The Joe Rogan Experience,” accused media outlets of choosing to attack President Donald Trump and Musk’s USAID plan and fixating on DOGE staffers accessing Americans’ data.
“What’s unbelievably baffling to me is the complete absence of the coverage of all of these things that should be very concerning in mainstream media,” Rogan said “Complete absence. All the discussion, the negative anti-Trump discussion about USAID shutting down, is all the good that it does.”
“And then also, you’re going to get access to people’s private data — that’s all you’re hearing,” he continued. “You’re hearing the gaslighting spin is those two things.”
Reports of waste within USAID and other federal entities have fueled social media feeds in recent weeks:
Rogan also shared a word of warning to those relentlessly attacking Musk, as Fox News reported:
He argued instead that Musk has his eyes on the class of government employees among numerous government agencies.
“What he’s doing is, he’s a super genius that’s been f—ed with, okay? And when you’ve been f—ed with by these nitwits that hide behind three-letter agencies, and you’re dealing with one of the smartest people alive, and he helps Donald Trump get in office, and he goes, ‘I want to find out what kind of corruption is really around,” Rogan said, jokingly warning government bureaucrats, “Well, you f—ed up! You f—ed up and picked the wrong psychopath on the spectrum.”
The podcast host then added, “He’s gonna find out what’s going on, and that’s good, that’s good for everybody, that’s how you should be looking at this, like, ‘Wow we have a brilliant mind that is examining these really f—in’ corrupt and goofy systems and bringing in a bunch of psychopath wizards.’”
Here’s what one GOP lawmaker had to say to those who are downplaying or attempting to discredit reports of waste within USAID:
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