National Affairs

National Affairs, Religion

Church Participation Grows Post COVID-19 Pandemic, Study Shows

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Exkalibur from Getty Images Signature

Roughly half of Protestant churches in the U.S. have experienced a growth in their congregation and attendance since the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a study from Lifeway Research. The study found 52% of Protestant churches have increased their worship attendance in the last two years by at least 4%. The remaining 48% of churches have either maintained their congregation (within 4%) since 2022 (33%) or declined by at least 4% (15%).

“Clearly, the last two years of attendance growth was aided by people returning to regular attendance after being away since the start of the pandemic,” Lifeway Research executive director Scott McConnell said in a statement. “Most pastors wish they had returned earlier, but their attendance is a source of optimism, though future growth will need to come from brand new contacts.”

The Big Get Bigger

Larger congregations were found to increase in size, while the smaller ones kept getting smaller over the course of the last two or so years. Those with more than 250 members, or with 100 to 250 members, were more likely to increase in size than those with fewer than 100. Oddly, those churches with fewer than 50 people saw their congregation grow on average by 4% or more.

Amazingly, half of Protestant churches have seen at least 10 new members commit or indicate their commitment to Christ in the last 12 months alone. Just 6% of churches saw no new commitments. “While studies find most churches falling short of pre-pandemic numbers, this study finds a small uptick in conversions per attendee,” McConnell added. “Many churches are being intentional about sharing the gospel with the next generation and those outside their churches.”

Pew Finds Similar Results

A Pew Research study published in February 2025 found that, after many years of decline, the number of “Americans who identify as Christians shows signs of leveling off.” When the study started in 2007, the number of U.S. adults who identified as Christian sat around 78%. This number steadily dropped to 71% in 2014, then bombed down to between 60% and 64% from 2019 and 2024.

The number now sits at 62%, right in the middle of the most recent range. Again, the number of Christians who say they pray daily has dropped precipitously since 2007. Right now, roughly 44% of Americans say they participate in prayer daily.

Please visit Million Voices for more articles like this.

National Affairs

Planned Parenthood Retreats, Shutting Down Major NYC Abortion Hub

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Planned Parenthood of Greater New York (PPGNY) is shutting down its massive abortion operation in Manhattan, putting an end to a decades-long slaughterhouse in the heart of New York City, as reported by The Gateway Pundit. The organization announced that its $39 million SoHo property on Bleecker Street is being sold, marking yet another blow to the abortion industry in the Empire State.

Last year, The Gateway Pundit reported a significant decline in Planned Parenthood’s footprint across New York, with multiple facilities shutting down due to dwindling funds and political setbacks. Now, the abortion giant admits it can no longer sustain operations at its high-profile Manhattan location, citing “compounding financial and political challenges.”

Feb 21, 2025; National Harbor, MD, USA; Defund Planned Parenthood messages at a booth at the Conservative Political Action Conference, CPAC 2025, at the Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center in National Harbor, MD. Mandatory Credit: Jack Gruber-USA TODAY

PPGNY previously announced that clinics in Goshen, Amsterdam, Cobleskill, and Staten Island would be shutting their doors. Initially, it claimed that some services at the Manhattan center—such as late-term abortions—would only be temporarily paused.

But now, the entire facility is being permanently closed, dealing a significant blow to the left’s radical abortion agenda in deep-blue New York. In a press release, PPGNY lamented its struggles, blaming “social and political obstacles” along with systemic financial issues.

Anti-abortion protesters hold up a large banner across the street from the Jacksonville Planned Parenthood clinic May 1, 2024 ahead of Vice President Kamala Harris holding an event in Jacksonville, FL to campaign and fight against Florida’s 6-week abortion ban which went into effect today. [Bob Self/Florida Times-Union]

The organization whined about inadequate Medicaid reimbursements and a lack of private insurance coverage for their so-called “high-quality sexual and reproductive health services.”

“Like many health care providers, PPGNY is fighting to overcome social and political obstacles and structural challenges within the country’s health system. Thanks to the generosity of donors, PPGNY proudly cares for patients no matter their insurance status or ability to pay.”

Despite claiming that donor money keeps its operations afloat, PPGNY admitted it has no choice but to close its doors, revealing the growing financial strain on the abortion industry. Wendy Stark, President and CEO of PPGNY, acknowledged that the funds from selling the building will be redirected to “systemically underserved communities” elsewhere in the state. For years, the Bleecker Street location has been the site of major pro-life protests.

Activists, including Fr. Fidelis Moscinski from Red Rose Rescue, have tirelessly stood against the blood money fueling Planned Parenthood’s operations. Fr. Moscinski, alongside fellow pro-life advocates Fr. Nix and Will Goodman, was recently found guilty of trespassing after a peaceful 2019 protest in New Jersey.

The group had entered an abortion clinic’s waiting area, offering red roses to expectant mothers as a symbol of life and hope. A judge sentenced them to 18 months of probation, with the condition that any future arrests in New Jersey would result in jail time. Both Fr. Moscinski and Goodman had previously been jailed by Biden’s DOJ for their pro-life activism.

Fortunately, President Donald Trump wasted no time in correcting this injustice, issuing pardons for them and other federal pro-life prisoners just days after returning to the White House.

With the closure of this major Manhattan abortion hub, the pro-life movement can count this as a hard-fought victory.

While Planned Parenthood scrambles to salvage its operations, it’s clear that public sentiment and political momentum are shifting against the abortion industry.

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National Affairs

Dan Bongino Makes Immediate Impact as He Steps into FBI Leadership Role

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    Dan Bongino Makes Immediate Impact as He Steps into FBI Leadership Role

    Dan Bongino officially stepped into his role as Deputy Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) on Monday, immediately paying tribute to fallen agents at the agency’s Wall of Honor. The moment was acknowledged by the FBI, who said:

    “After his swearing-in ceremony as FBI Deputy Director, Dan Bongino paid his respects at the Wall of Honor, honoring the brave members of the FBI who made the ultimate sacrifice and reflecting on the legacy of those who paved the way in the pursuit of justice and security.”

    Bongino said in a Monday post on X:

    “It is an honor to serve as Deputy Director for the Federal Bureau of Investigation at such a critical time for our nation. The American people deserve a justice system that is transparent, accountable, and committed to the rule of law”

    Bongino, a former Secret Service agent and New York City Police Department (NYPD) officer, was appointed to his role in the FBI as part of President Trump’s overhaul of the agency. Bongino’s career began in 1995 when he joined the NYPD and later the U.S. Secret Service in 1999. During his tenure, he served on the elite Presidential Protective Division, providing security for Presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama.

    Not long after leaving government service, Bongino entered politics before transitioning into the media world with Fox News and then launching one of the most successful conservative podcasts on the planet—The Dan Bongino Show.

    Trump appointed Bongino Deputy Director of the FBI under Kash Patel on February 23. Bongino will be responsible for overseeing the bureau’s daily operations, including intelligence and investigative activities worldwide. Notably, Bongino has been a vocal critic of issues related to the FBI and the Secret Service, which will undoubtedly bring a much-needed new approach to the agency.

    Visit The Daily Fetched for more articles like this.

    Gov. Gretchen Whitmer speaks during the adjutant general change of responsibility ceremony, Lansing, Mich., Jan. 1, 2019 (Air National Guard photo by 1st Lt. Andrew Layton/released).
    National Affairs

    Donald Trump Blasts “Horrible” CHIPS Act, Dimming Gretchen Whitmer’s Chances of Federal Corporate Welfare Funds

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    Image Credit: The Midwesterner/Esteban Clark-Braendle

    Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has been trying to impose a corporate welfare plot on the good people of Mundy Township, near Flint. They don’t want it and President Trump may have ridden to their rescue in his March 4 address to Congress. 

    At issue is the Creating Helpful Incentives to Produce Semiconductors and Science Act (CHIPS Act), signed by President Joe Biden and supported by Soviet-inspired central planners everywhere. A California-based semiconductor firm reportedly wants to move to Mundy–but only if they get CHIPS money. Whitmer has already asked Trump for some CHIPS loot, but he doesn’t appear to be cooperating.

    “Your CHIPS Act is a horrible, horrible thing,” Trump told Congress. “We give hundreds of billions of dollars and it doesn’t mean a thing.” 

    Read the full article at The Midwesterner

    National Affairs

    House GOP Unveils Bills To Counter Chinese Communist Party, Other Foreign Influences

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    Michigan House Republicans on Thursday unveiled a series of bills to address foreign influence from the Chinese Communist Party and countries of concern.

    “We as a state need to be concerned with … all the examples, the intrusions from foreign entities of concern, specifically the Chinese Communist Party and entities controlled by those folks,” state Rep. William Bruck, R-Erie, said at a Thursday press conference. “We’re going to be looking at things like our drones, the technology, the back doors, the ways and means our utilities are constructed digitally.”

    “There is no longer a welcome mat in Michigan for entities of foreign concern,” said Bruck, chair of a newly formed House Oversight Subcommittee on Homeland Security and Foreign Influence. “We’re taking that welcome matV and we’re throwing it in the trash.”

    Read the full article at The Midwesterner

    National Affairs

    National Association Of Realtors Facing “Legal Pushback” For Allegedly Censoring Conservative Christians

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    Syda Productions / Canva / Amyziza from Amyziza

    A report published in March detailed how the National Association of Realtors (NAR) is “facing legal pushback for allegedly censoring conservative Christian real estate agents” over their faith, according to the Daily Caller News Foundation.

    Article 10-5 of the NAR ethics code is being called out as a “weaponization tool” used to perpetuate Christian “persecution,” the outlet reported. The code reads: “[Realtors] must not use harassing speech, hate speech, epithets, or slurs based on race, color, religion, sex, disability, family status, national origin, sexual orientation or gender identity.” The measure was adopted in November 2020 and amended in January 2023.

    Screenshot/NAR/ethicscode

    NAR Thinks Bible Verses Are “Hate Speech”?

    At least three lawsuits have been filed and/or threatened against NAR in relation to Article 10-5. One such suit involves Virginia-based realtor Wilson Faber, who was found guilty of “hate speech” by NAR and Virginia Association of Realtors (VAR), after he posted a Bible verse and commentary on social media a decade ago, well before the NAR rule-change, DCNF continued. “This originated in 2015 when I reposted and restructured one of Franklin Graham’s posts,” Fauber told DCNF.

    “The sum of this is: a religious realtor is being punished for expressing his faith-based opinions on an important moral issue,” Fauber’s attorney Michael Sylvester told the outlet.

    NAR is the largest trade organization in the U.S., with more than 1.5 million realtors under it. The organization and its leadership has the potential to fine any of its members who share similar views. Leaving the organization is also not an option as it has full control and access over the Multiple Listing Service (MLS), a communication and listing tool deemed essential for anyone working within the real estate industry, DCNF noted.

    All The Way To The Supreme Court?

    “I’m being told by my trade organization what I can and cannot talk about. That’s wrong. And I’m fighting,” Fauber added. “I’m fighting, and I’m going to continue to fight.” He’s willing to take the case all the way to the Supreme Court

    “They found me guilty of hate speech, that is wrong. I didn’t discriminate against anyone, and I’m not guilty of hate speech,” he continued. “I’ve not directed my remarks or scriptures towards any individual.”

    Other reports suggest that the only reason Fauber was “sanctioned” by NAR is because he ran for political office, according to Restoration News. “While NAR labels Christians as haters, they show their love for drag queens. In November 2024, a drag queen show in Charlottesville, Virginia was funded by the NARs’ fair housing grant,” the outlet’s Victoria Manning reported, citing her sources.

    Visit Million Voices for more stories like this.

    National Affairs

    State Residents May Lose All “Local Control” If Rushed Utah Senate Bill Passes

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    Utah’s State Legislature is currently considering Senate Bill 337, which could potentially “give state agencies total land-use authority over parts of the state they consider a significant community impact,” according to an op-ed published Monday (March 3).

    SB337 “Land Use and Development Amendments” has already been met with huge backlash online, as it appears to paint the State Legislature as “just a giant real estate development corporation,” said one social media user. In its language, SB337 “would have the power to designate up to three ‘significant community impact’ projects a year in any city or county in the state” via the creative of the Beehive Development Agency, according to the Salt Lake Tribune.

    “This legislation often not only usurps the conscientious, decades-long planning efforts of city planning commissions, councils and the will of residents, but it has also actually made our housing situation worse,” wrote Riverton Mayor Trent Staggs for Desert. Staggs explained how “Utah has thrived by empowering voters through local control,” noting that the needs of residents in Riverton are not the same as those in Salt Lake City.

    “Utahns concerned with seemingly unfettered high-density housing construction in their neighborhoods will soon discover their local city council can do little to stop the state mandates,” should the bill pass before the end of Utah’s session on Friday, March 7.

    ‘Five-Alarm Fire’ In Fight For Freedom?

    The bill is sponsored by Sen. Kirk Cullimore and Gov. Spencer Cox, and gives sweeping authority to those on the Beehive board.

    “Every Utah taxpayer should be alarmed by this bill, which represents massive government overreach,” Utah rep. for the Center for Biological Diversity Deeda Seed, told SLTribune. “This bill could result in authorization of massive projects regardless of what the local communities think or the harm to the public interest. This bill is a five-alarm fire for Utahns.”

    The bill language guarantees that local counties and cities across Utah would have no choice to state involvement in these local developments. This means local authorities and tax payers would be forced to cover the costs of things like “roads, sewer, police and fire coverage, schools or power that the county or city government would have to supply, whether the local governments support the project or not,” SLTribune added. If passed, the bill “empowers a five-member board … assigned with identifying ‘a major economic project involving job creation, housing, energy or capital investment goals.’”

    Who Opposes The Bill?

    Utah League of Cities and Towns and the Utah Association of Counties both oppose the bill, as do many voters and lawmakers.

    Screenshot/X/CoalitionUtah

    Screenshot/x/MikeCarey4CC

    “Legislature should focus on massive roadway and water infrastructure improvements, policy changes to federal lands, proper incentives for out-of state businesses and ensuring owner-occupied housing is prioritized,” Staggs noted, along with outlining key ways Utah should actually address its housing and other related issues.

    Visit Million Voices to read more articles like this

    Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth addresses U.S. Africa Command personnel during a town hall meeting Feb. 11, 2025, at Kelley Barracks in Stuttgart, Germany. Headquartered in Stuttgart, Germany, U.S. Africa Command is one of seven U.S. geographic combatant commands, responsible for military engagement across 53 African nations. Working with partners and allies, the command counters malign actors and transnational threats, responds to crises, strengthens African security forces, and supports U.S. government efforts in Africa to advance U.S. national interests and promote regional security, stability, and prosperity.
    National Affairs

    Hegseth Puts DOD Employees on Notice, Show Your Work Or Face Further Review

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    Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth has instructed the Department of Defense’s (DOD) civilian workforce to comply with the Department of Government Efficiency’s (DOGE) request for productivity reports, reversing an earlier directive that told employees to ignore the email.

    The directive, initiated under Elon Musk’s leadership at DOGE, requires civilian employees to list five accomplishments from the previous week.

    On Sunday, Hegseth released a video explaining the change in policy.

    “Our civilian patriots who dedicate themselves to defending this nation working for the Department of Defense are critical to our national security,” Hegseth stated.

    “As we work to restore focus on DOD’s core warfighting mission under President Trump’s leadership, we recognize that we cannot accomplish that mission without the strong and important contributions of our civilian workforce.”

    Elon Musk, who was appointed to oversee DOGE’s efficiency initiatives, acknowledged Hegseth’s video by sharing it on X.

    He responded with “Much appreciated @SecDef Hegseth!” followed by a saluting emoji and an American flag emoji.

    Hegseth formalized the directive in a memorandum issued on Friday, instructing all DOD civilian employees to respond to an upcoming email expected on Monday.

    The email, sent from the DOD, will request employees to submit five bullet points detailing their achievements.

    Employees have been directed to reply within 48 hours, including their supervisors in the response.

    Hegseth clarified that these responses will be collected within the department to meet the requirements issued by the Office of Personnel Management (OPM).

    This comes after OPM sent a similar request last weekend, which was initially met with resistance. The DOD’s Office of Personnel and Readiness had previously advised civilian employees to disregard the email.

    However, after further coordination with OPM, the DOD is now requiring compliance with the directive.

    “The Department of Defense initially paused this directive … but now requires all DOD civilian employees to submit five bullets on their previous week’s achievements,” Hegseth wrote in his memorandum.

    Hegseth assured employees that the directive applies to all civilian personnel but emphasized that responses should not contain any sensitive or classified information.

    He also noted that failure to comply may result in further review.

    Monday’s email will serve as the official notification for employees to submit their reports, marking a shift in DOD’s approach to the productivity review process under DOGE’s oversight.

    The initiative aligns with broader efforts by the Trump administration to streamline government operations and improve efficiency within federal agencies.

    Visit RVM News for more articles like this

    U.S. Marine Corps Brig. Gen. David Walsh, Commander of Marine Corps System Command and native of Brooklyn, New York, and Pete Hegseth, a fox and friends co-host, conduct a cake cutting ceremony live during a Fox and Friends morning broadcast in New York City, New York, November 10, 2023.The cake cutting is a way to celebrate the founding of the Marine Corps as well as the history and years of service they have provided to the United States. U.S. Marines and Sailors participate in events in and around New York City during the week-long Veterans Day celebration to honor the service and sacrifice of the nation's veterans. (U.S. Marine Corps image by Staff Sgt. Theodore Bergan)
    National Affairs

    Hillary Clinton’s Attack on Pete Hegseth Over Russia Backfires Spectacularly

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      Hillary Clinton's Attack on Hegseth Over Russia Backfires Spectacularly

      Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth obliterated twice-failed presidential candidate Hillary Clinton after she accused him of cowering to Russian President Vladimir Putin.

      Clinton took to X to share an article written by Gizmodo titled, “Trump’s Defense Secretary Hegseth Orders Cyber Command to ‘Stand Down’ on All Russia Operations.”

      Trump administration is working overtime to reduce tension with Russia as Ukraine refuses to negotiate a peace deal.

      Meanwhile, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer is calling for “boots on the ground” in Ukraine, but Clinton is attacking Hegseth for moving towards peace.

      “It appears that the U.S. no longer considers Russia a significant cyber threat, according to multiple new reports on a drastic policy reversal that has taken hold under the new Trump administration,” the Gizmodo article read.

      “The cybersecurity outlet The Record originally reported that under Trump’s new Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, U.S. Cyber Command has been ordered to ‘stand down from all planning against Russia, including offensive digital actions.’ The outlet cites three anonymous sources who are familiar with the matter. The order reportedly does not apply to the National Security Agency,” the article continued.

      “Wouldn’t want to hurt Putin’s feelings,” Hillary wrote, taunting Hegseth.

      Hegseth responded with a picture of then-Secretary of State Hillary Clinton trying to “reset” relations with Russia.

      In 2009, Clinton announced that the Obama administration was going to push the reset button with the Russians.

      Clinton was famously photographed presenting Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov with a “reset” button, but she also managed to bungle that too.

      Clinton told NPR in 2014 that “the reset worked” with Russia.

      However, days later, Hillary told CNN’s Fareed Zakaria that she was the “most skeptical” of the Russia “reset” policy.

      The damage Clinton made as head of the Department of State was enough for Americans, and thankfully, President Trump defeated her in 2016, ending her political career forever.

      Read more articles like this at Daily Fetched

      President Donald Trump hosts an expanded bilateral meeting and working lunch with King Abdullah II of Jordan and his son, Crown Prince Hussein bin Abdullah, Tuesday, February 11, 2025, in the Cabinet Room of the White House. (Official White House Photo by Daniel Torok)
      National Affairs

      Elon Musk Explains How Soros’ “Non-Profits” Have Been Leeching Off U.S. Taxpayers for Years

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        Elon Musk Explains How Soros' 'Non-Profits' Have Been Leeching Off U.S. Taxpayers for Years

        During a recent appearance, Joe Rogan, Elon Musk outlined how left-wing billionaire George Soros has been fleecing American taxpayers through his non-profit organizations (NGOs), which push his radical agendas across the United States and the world.

        The Tesla CEO, also leading the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), explained how Soros’ organizations lobby the U.S. government for millions in grants with zero accountability. Is it any wonder why the Democrats are running around like headless chickens as DOGE continues to expose their corruption?

        Indeed, DOGE may well be the final nail in the coffin for left’s ability to fund their political machine.

        “It’s a gigantic scam—one of the biggest, maybe the biggest scam ever,” Musk began.

        “And how many NGOs are there?” Joe Rogan asked.

        “I think the total number of NGOs is probably in the millions, but in terms of large NGOs—tens of thousands,” Musk replied.

        “It’s actually kind of a hack to the system where someone can get an NGO stood up for a fairly small amount of money. George Soros was really good at this. He’s like a system hacker. He figured out how to hack the system. He’s a genius at arbitrage. I mean, these days, he’s pretty old, but he was a genius at arbitrage.

        He figured out that you could leverage a small amount of money to create a nonprofit, then lobby politicians to send a ton of money to that nonprofit. So you can take what might be a $10 million donation to create a nonprofit and leverage that into a billion-dollar NGO.”*

        Musk continued:

        “And ‘nonprofit’ is a weird word. It’s just a non-governmental organization. The government continues to fund it every year, and it’ll have a nice-sounding name like The Institute for Peace or something like that. But really, it’s a graft machine.”

        “And what are the requirements for that money? What do they have to do?” Rogan asked.

        “Really, no requirements at all,” Musk stated.

        Watch:

        The Democrats’ game is up, the gravy train has finished, and they are losing their minds.

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