'Did forcing 2-year-olds to wear masks save lives?' Congressman grills HHS secretary on mask mandates



Republican Rep. Kevin Kiley (Calif.) questioned U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra over the Biden administration's mask policy that recommended those who are 2 years old or older wear a mask, "even outdoors," according to the congressman.

"Mr. Secretary, did forcing 2-year-olds to wear masks save lives?" the congressman from California asked.

"Making sure people wear masks when it was appropriate was essential to make sure that we were able to get out of this pandemic," Becerra replied.

"Sure, but that wasn't my question. Could you answer the question that I asked, which is did forcing 2-year-olds to wear masks save lives?" Kiley continued.

As Rep. Kiley pressed for answers, the HHS secretary held his position that the administration did not have the authority or jurisdiction to force masking.

"And who did the forcing?" Becerra answered.

"Well, your department, or the Head Start, which is under your department, had a mask mandate until late last year for 2-year-olds and above, even outdoors. So can you point to any public health benefit of that policy?" Kiley insisted.

"We never forced anyone to do anything because we don't have the jurisdiction or authority to do that. What we did was provide guidance —" Becerra began to explain before the congressman interrupted.

"Did Head Start have a mask mandate?

HHS directs mask guidance inquiries to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which states, "Children ages 2 years and older can wear masks or respirators to protect themselves and others from COVID-19."

Head Start, which is under HHS, is a federally funded program that receives approximately $10 billion annually to provide early childhood education services to low-income children and families.

"We provide a mask mandate, a requirement for jurisdictions that wish to receive money to provide particular service," the secretary explained. "We had a mask mandate for agencies that wish to get federal dollars," he continued.

When the congressman continued to ask about any public health benefits that derived from the masking policy, the HHS secretary said that "families benefit" from using "all precautions."

When asked for evidence that there was a public health benefit, Becerra pointed to the fact that "today we are not losing lives the way we lost them when we first got into this pandemic."

\u201cMUST WATCH: @KevinKileyCA absolutely eviscerates HHS Secretary Becerra, "Did forcing 2-year-olds to wear masks save lives?"\u201d
— Justin Hart (@Justin Hart) 1686684649

Along with mask requirements for Head Start recipients, it was also revealed by the HHS secretary that states that don't allow sex changes or hormone therapy for minors would not receive federal hospital grants.

"Mr. Secretary, does this mean that HHS is seriously threatening to withhold hospital grants from states like [Indiana] if they refuse to go along with surgeries or puberty blockers for kids?" asked Republican Indiana Rep. Jim Banks.

"We’re going to protect the rights of any American to get the health care they’re entitled to, and if someone tries to stop them from that, that’s a violation of the law," Becerra responded.

\u201cThe Biden admin wants to withhold hospital grants and school lunch money from institutions that don\u2019t go along with their radical gender ideology. \n\nHistory books will not look fondly on the Biden admin\u2019s obsession with sterilizing and mutilating confused children!\u201d
— Jim Banks (@Jim Banks) 1686672681

Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

GOP lawmaker announces 'anti-woke caucus' to combat America's 'greatest domestic threat'



Rep. Jim Banks of Indiana has announced that he plans to create an "anti-woke caucus."

The Republican lawmaker wrote a piece in which he discussed the problem of woke ideology corrupting U.S. institutions and asserted that House Republicans will combat "institutionalized wokeness."

"I will regularly host meetings with anti-woke legislators and subject-matter experts. My goal is to help myself and other Republicans better understand the long tentacles of the wokeness regime, the laws, regulations, and funding sources which support it, and explore legislative responses," Banks wrote. "House Republicans must tackle this greatest domestic threat to America today. The anti-woke caucus will help make use of our majority."

"An anti-woke caucus with members on the Appropriations, Energy and Commerce, and Judiciary Committees, will work together to offer amendments that defund and expose wokeness at the NIH, the Justice Department, and every other federal agency. No bill that spends taxpayer dollars on leftist activities should pass out of committee without a recorded vote on an amendment to defund wokeness," Banks averred.

When Manhattan Institute senior fellow Christopher Rufo offered to assist the caucus with research and policy advice, Banks responded by telling Rufo that "we want you to be one of our first speakers."

\u201c@realchrisrufo @theammind Thank you! You do such important work and we want you to be one of our first speakers.\u201d
— Jim Banks (@Jim Banks) 1673635617

Banks also said in the piece that lawmakers should wage war against wokeness by eliminating government funding for the leftist ideology, wielding oversight authority to question woke government officials and businesses, and approving legislation to rescind Executive Order 13985, an equity-related order issued by President Joe Biden.

"What do you think will be left of our nation once more and more people accept wokeness and act on its principles?" Banks asked. "Wokeness is especially prevalent and dangerous at universities and in primary schools because the Left recognized students as the most vulnerable and useful targets for indoctrination. The Left has also pushed wokeness in the military. We must wonder what the Left wants to do with an anti-American military?"

Banks has served in the U.S. House of Representatives since early 2017.

Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

'PRIMARY THEM ALL!!!' Trump calls for McConnell and GOP senators who vote with him to face primary challengers



Former President Donald Trump is calling for Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky and other GOP senators who vote with him to face primary challengers.

California Republican Kevin McCarthy secured the House speakership last week after a days-long process that included more than a dozen votes before McCarthy, who had been backed by Trump, finally won on the 15th round of voting.

"Great job Kevin! We must now stop Mitch McConnell and his China flagrant boss, Coco Chow," Trump posted Monday on Truth Social, in a derogatory reference to McConnell's wife, Elaine Chao, who served as secretary of transportation during most of Trump's White House tenure, but resigned on the heels of the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol riot.

"It's as though he just doesn't care anymore, he pushes through anything the Democrats want," Trump continued. "The $1.7 TRILLION quickly approved Bill of the week before was HORRIBLE. Zero for USA Border Security. If he waited just ten days, the now 'United Republican Congress' could have made it MUCH BETTER, or KILLED IT. Something is wrong with McConnell, and those Republican Senators that Vote with him. PRIMARY THEM ALL!!!"

Trump, who announced in November that he is running for president again, has been critical of the massive omnibus spending package of around $1.7 trillion that Congress passed and President Joe Biden signed last month. McConnell and more than a dozen other GOP senators voted to pass the measure.

After the House voted to impeach Trump in the wake of the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol riot, the Senate vote, which occurred after Trump had already departed from office, resulted in Trump being acquitted. While McConnell was one of the senators who voted to acquit, he claimed that Trump was "practically and morally responsible for provoking" the episode.

"Mitch is a dour, sullen, and unsmiling political hack, and if Republican Senators are going to stay with him, they will not win again," Trump said in a February 2021 statement. "He will never do what needs to be done, or what is right for our Country. Where necessary and appropriate, I will back primary rivals who espouse Making America Great Again and our policy of America First. We want brilliant, strong, thoughtful, and compassionate leadership."

Trump endorsed McConnell in the 2020 election, and the senator will not face reelection until 2026 — his term ends in early 2027.

\u201cTrump response to McConnell: \u201cMitch is a dour, sullen, and unsmiling political hack, and if Republican Senators are going to stay with him, they will not win again...\u201d\u201d
— Jim Acosta (@Jim Acosta) 1613512950
Room Goes SILENT When Chip Roy UNLOADS Over Broken Leadership

Room Goes SILENT When Chip Roy UNLOADS Over Broken Leadership

Mark Ruffalo says Twitter 'should be heavily regulated for misinformation,' suggests government intervention if Elon Musk does not police the platform



Actor Mark Ruffalo, an outspoken leftist, has asserted Twitter should be heavily policed for "misinformation" and spam from "hostile interests," adding that if Elon Musk fails to carry this out, Twitter should be viewed "as a public utility under governmental supervision."

"As a worldwide 'public square,' this app should be heavily regulated for misinformation & spamming by hostile interests. If Elon can’t do that with his 'company,' it should be seen as a public utility under governmental supervision. This system unregulated will be more deadly," Ruffalo tweeted.

Jim Geraghty of the National Review responded to the actor's comments by tweeting, "HULK FAR TOO TRUSTING OF GOVERNMENT REGULATION AND RESTRICTION OF SPEECH" — Ruffalo has played the character of the Hulk in various Marvel projects.

\u201cHULK FAR TOO TRUSTING OF GOVERNMENT REGULATION AND RESTRICTION OF SPEECH\u201d
— Jim Geraghty (@Jim Geraghty) 1669994156

"Excellent idea, comrade! But real quick, before you implement your totally original plan...has a government ever taken over a media company like this in order to have exclusive rights for determining what constitutes 'misinformation,' and how did that turn out?" tweeted Nick Freitas, a Republican member of the Virginia House of Delegates.

Twitter indicated last month that it had stopped enforcing its COVID-19 misleading information policy.

Ruffalo is urging Georgians to vote for incumbent Democratic U.S. Sen. Raphael Warnock during the Peach State's Senate runoff election — Trump-backed GOP candidate Herschel Walker is challenging Warnock for the Senate seat.

Musk urged "independent-minded voters" to support Republican congressional candidates last month during the 2022 midterms. "To independent-minded voters: Shared power curbs the worst excesses of both parties, therefore I recommend voting for a Republican Congress, given that the Presidency is Democratic," he tweeted the day before Election Day.

Musk responded in the affirmative last week when asked if he would support Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis in 2024. "Yes," Musk tweeted. While DeSantis has not announced plans for a White House bid, he is widely viewed as a potential presidential contender.

\u201c@ProudElephantUS @TimRunsHisMouth Yes\u201d
— Tim Young (@Tim Young) 1669414177

Parents of loved ones lost to fentanyl poisoning ask government to take action against drug crisis



On Thursday, parents shared personal stories of losing children to fentanyl at a roundtable organized by the Republican Study Committee. The advocates urged the government to help curb the crisis impacting young people nationwide.

Ten parents and loved ones spoke about losing a family member to fentanyl during the roundtable event led by chairman Rep. Jim Banks (R) of Indiana this week.

\u201cToday, Chairman @RepJimBanks led a roundtable with members of RSC and advocates who have lost a loved one to fentanyl. Congress must act now to stop this deadly crisis! \n\n@RepPfluger @RepKatCammack @RepLisaMcClain @RepTiffany @RepChipRoy @RepMikeCarey @RepTimBurchett\u201d
— RSC (@RSC) 1663284147

The advocates argued that fentanyl-related deaths should not be considered overdoses, the Daily Caller reported. The founder of Lost Voices of Fentanyl, April Babcock, stated during the meeting, “This is not an overdose. Overdose implies there’s a safe dose to take. There is no safe dose of fentanyl.”

Babcock called for top-down action from the White House. She said, “I want a COVID-like response to fentanyl. Everyone knew after three months of COVID, social distance, wear a mask, wash your hands. Where is that for fentanyl?”

According to Customs and Border Protection, the United States seized over 11,200 pounds of fentanyl in the 2021 fiscal year. In the 2022 fiscal year, authorities confiscated approximately 10,600 pounds.

The CDC reported 107,375 overdose deaths in the 12-month period ending in January 2022. Of those deaths, 67% involved synthetic opioids like fentanyl.

The DEA recently recognized National Fentanyl Prevention and Awareness Day on August 21. As part of the announcement, the DEA also launched an exhibit titled "The Faces of Fentanyl," which features photographs of lost loved ones.

“Drug traffickers are driving addiction, and increasing their profits, by mixing fentanyl with other illicit drugs. Tragically, many overdose victims have no idea they are ingesting deadly fentanyl until it’s too late,” said DEA Administrator Anne Milgram.

At the RSC round-table, parent Theresa Juillerat called the drug problem a “red, white, and blue crisis that needs immediate attention.”

Another parent at the meeting, Lori Ashenfelde, called for lawmakers to take action. She stated, “Fentanyl is killing our youth. Something has to be done to shut the border down.”

On Thursday, Rep. Jim Banks proposed an amendment to the Controlled Substances Act that would provide harsher penalties for drug traffickers when narcotics have the appearance of candy or are combined with beverage products. The legislation would designate the crime a felony punishable by a maximum of 10 years in prison for a first offense and a maximum of 20 years for a second offense.

\u201cEvery 8.5 minutes, an American dies from fentanyl. \n\nThank you to my colleagues and constituents for joining me yesterday to discuss how Congress can address this deadly crisis. \n\n@RepPfluger @RepKatCammack @RepLisaMcClain @RepTiffany @RepChipRoy @RepMikeCarey @RepTimBurchett\u201d
— Jim Banks (@Jim Banks) 1663330826

Obama's campaign manager lashes out at AOC after she endorses progressive over incumbent Dem: 'Dumb s***'



Former Obama campaign manager Jim Messina sharply condemned Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) on Tuesday for endorsing a far-left politician over an incumbent Democrat.

What happened?

On Tuesday, Ocasio-Cortez endorsed New York state Sen. Alessandra Biaggi (D) in the race for New York's 17th congressional district.

The snag is that Rep. Sean Patrick Maloney (D), chairman of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, is also running for that seat. Thus the race for the Democratic nomination will pit moderate and progressive Democrats against one another.

Messina, who ran former President Barack Obama's 2012 campaign, had strong words for Ocasio-Cortez after her endorsement.

Messina believes Ocasio-Cortez is driving further divide in the Democratic Party at a critical moment when Democrats can least afford it.

"This is so counter-productive. The Supreme Court is about to outlaw abortion. We could lose both houses," Messina said. "So we are going to focus our time running against each other? Now we’re primarying commited (sic) progressives because. . .why? If we lose house it’s because of dumb s*** like this."

\u201cThis is so counter-productive. The Supreme Court is about to outlaw abortion. We could lose both houses. So we are going to focus our time running against each other? Now we\u2019re primarying commited progressives because. . .why? If we lose house it\u2019s because of dumb shit like this\u201d
— Jim Messina (@Jim Messina) 1654623900

Anything else?

The race for New York's 17th congressional seat became the center of intra-party controversy among Democrats last month after multiple courts ruled that New York Democrats drew a congressional district map that violated the state constitution by being illegally gerrymandered.

A court-appointed official then redrew the map in a way that pits several incumbent Democrats against one another.

Most prominently, Maloney's home was redrawn into the 17th congressional district, which is currently represented by Rep. Mondaire Jones (D). The majority of the 17th district, however, remains new territory for Maloney, who currently represents the 18th district. Still, Maloney announced he would run for the 17th district, which increases his chances at re-election.

Instead of challenging Maloney, Jones decided to run for the newly redrawn 10th congressional district, which includes lower Manhattan and parts of eastern Brooklyn.

After Maloney's revealed he was switching districts, Biaggi announced that she would run against him and called him "a selfish corporate Democrat."

"I am sure that he will say, ‘This is hurting the party, she doesn’t care about being a Democrat,'" Biaggi told the New York Times. "What hurt the party was having the head of the campaign arm not stay in his district, not maximize the number of seats New York can have to hold the majority."

CNN anchor rushes to defend Nancy Pelosi after she is denied Holy Communion. But Pope Francis says not so fast.



CNN anchor Jim Sciutto rushed to defend House Speaker Nancy Pelosi on Friday after San Fransisco Archbishop Salvatore J. Cordileone barred her from receiving Holy Communion.

Even worse, Sciutto claimed Pope Francis does not support banning pro-abortion politicians from receiving the sacrament — which is not true.

What is the background?

Cordileone announced on Friday that Pelosi has been barred from receiving Holy Communion in the Archdiocese of San Francisco. Cordileone cited Pelosi's increasingly "extreme" position on abortion.

"Unfortunately, Speaker Pelosi’s position on abortion has become only more extreme over the years, especially in the last few months," Cordileone explained in a "letter to the faithful."

"Just earlier this month she once again, as she has many times before, explicitly cited her Catholic faith while justifying abortion as a 'choice,' this time setting herself in direct opposition to Pope Francis," he added.

What did Sciutto say?

Scuitto claimed Cordileone's decision is evidence of a "deep fissure" in the Catholic Church, adding that Pope Francis does not support barring pro-abortion politicians from participating in Holy Communion.

"12 years of Catholic school, altar boy, family deeply involved in our church, and never saw anyone banned from receiving communion," Scuitto said. "This is a deep fissure in the church — and a position Pope Francis himself doesn’t support."

12 years of Catholic school, altar boy, family deeply involved in our church, and never saw anyone banned from receiving communion. This is a deep fissure in the church - and a position Pope Francis himself doesn\u2019t support.https://twitter.com/sfchronicle/status/1527733939275702274\u00a0\u2026
— Jim Sciutto (@Jim Sciutto) 1653080774

But what has Francis said?

Pope Francis directly addressed this issue last September, definitively saying that participation in Holy Communion is reserved for church members "in the community." But politicians who support abortion, he said, are "outside of the community."

Francis described communion as "not a prize for the perfect," but he called it a "gift, the presence of Jesus in his Church, and in the community."

"This is the theology," Francis said. "Then, those who are not in the community, cannot receive communion. ... Out of the community: Excommunicated, it’s a harsh word, but they don’t belong in the community, because they were not baptized, or because they are estranged from it."

"Those people who are not in the community cannot take communion, because they are out of the community," he explained. "It is not a punishment: Communion is linked to the community."

Francis also addressed abortion in the same interview — and he did not mince words.

Francis called abortion "more than a problem: It’s a homicide. No middle terms. Whomever does an abortion, kills," adding that an unborn child is a "human life" and a "person" who must be "respected."

CNN's Jim Sciutto gets roasted for claiming inflation 'took a breather' in latest economic report



The latest economic report showed a very minor decrease in the rate of inflation, and many on social media roasted CNN's Jim Sciutto for his characterization of the news on Twitter.

Americans have been struggling with the plague of high inflation caused by the big spending policies of the Democrats, the Russian invasion of Ukraine, and the lingering damage from the pandemic and an economic shutdown.

On Wednesday, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that inflation for the month of April was recorded at 8.3%, a rate historically high, but slightly lower than the rate for March, which clocked in at 8.5%.

Sciutto responded by referring to the minor pause as inflation taking a "breather" for the month.

"US inflation took a breather last month for first time since August. Prices still increased, but at a slower pace than in previous months," Sciutto tweeted.

New: US inflation took a breather last month for first time since August. Prices still increased, but at a slower pace than in previous months. CPI was up 8.3% in 12 mos ending in April - a decrease from the 8.5% recorded in March,
— Jim Sciutto (@Jim Sciutto) 1652272729

"CPI was up 8.3% in 12 mos ending in April - a decrease from the 8.5% recorded in March," he added.

Many on social media ripped into Sciutto for the tweet they saw as biased.

"You are an embarrassment," read one very popular response.

"Good news! Yesterday the quicksand enveloped me up to my chest, but today it's only up to my nose! I'll be out of here in no time," read another popular reply.

"Breaking news…the economy is fixed — in CNN land," said Matt Vespa of Townhall.com.

"Embarrassing, you are," responded Curtis Houck of Newsbusters.

"You never disappoint," said Charles C.W. Cooke of National Review.

The Biden administration has tried to pin the entire blame of inflation on the Russian invasion but polling suggests a plurality of Americans blame Democrats and their policies for the damaging decrease in the value of money.

Here's more about inflation dooming the Democrats:

President Biden faces inflation and low poll numbers heading into midtermswww.youtube.com

Texas landowner offers 100 acres of free land to Elon Musk if he'll move Twitter headquarters to Lone Star state



Texas landowner Jim Schwertner has offered up 100 acres of free land if Elon Musk opts to move Twitter's headquarters from San Francisco to Texas.

Other Musk-owned companies — including Tesla and the Boring Company — are already located in Texas.

Meta — formerly Facebook — and TikTok headquarters are also located in Central Texas.

What are the details?

Schwertner, president and CEO of Schwertner Farms, took to Twitter to lay out the terms of his generous offer.

He tweeted, "Elon, Move twitter to Schwertner, TX, 38 miles North of Austin and we will give you 100 Acres for FREE."

Elon, Move twitter to Schwertner, TX , 38 miles North of Austin and we will give you 100 Acres for FREE.https://twitter.com/LouDobbs/status/1518945110490234886\u00a0\u2026
— Jim Schwertner (@Jim Schwertner) 1650980095

Scwhertner told Austonia that he believes the area is ripe for the picking and would be a "win-win" for everyone involved.

“We think it’s a good idea, especially when you’ve got Samsung coming to Taylor,” Schwertner said. “I mean, this area is exploding and we want to be part of this explosive growth.”

He added, “I just think with all the stuff he’s done, he evidently likes Texas, right, or he wouldn’t have moved from California. And I want to be part of his plan if he’ll come visit with us.”

Schwertner added that the move would also help area residents.

“We’ve always been entrepreneurs in our family and we’ve always tried to help the communities,” Schwertner insisted. “And I think my offer is a serious gesture to help the citizens around Williamson County.”

Musk has yet to publicly acknowledge Schwertner's offer.

What else is there to know about this?

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) chimed in and encouraged Musk to take Schwertner up on the offer.

He tweeted about Schwertner's offer on Wednesday, writing, "Texas man offers Elon Musk 100 acres of FREE land to move Twitter's headquarters. I will declare it a 'Free Speech Zone' Maybe we can rename it Twitter, Texas. Think about it."

Texas man offers Elon Musk 100 acres of FREE land to move Twitter's headquarters.\n\nI will declare it a "Free Speech Zone"\n\nMaybe we can rename it Twitter, Texas.\n\nThink about it .@elonmusk \n\nhttps://www.chron.com/politics/article/Elon-Musk-Twitter-Texas-headquarters-move-Austin-17131316.php?utm_campaign=CMS%20Sharing%20Tools%20(Premium)&utm_source=t.co&utm_medium=referral\u00a0\u2026 via @chron
— Greg Abbott (@Greg Abbott) 1651114733