The Daily Brief:
Tuesday, November 7, 2017 (Short Form)
Texas church shooter Devin Kelley was a "creepy" atheist "outcast" who never fit in and berated religious believers on social media, according to former friends and classmates.
"He was always talking about how people who believe in God we're stupid and trying to preach his atheism," wrote former classmate Nina Rose Nava in a Facebook post, according to the Daily Mail. "I legit just deleted him off my fb cause I couldn't stand his post."
I removed him off FB for those same reasons!" replied Christopher Leo Longoria. "He was being super nagtive [sic] all the timd [sic]."
Oddly, Kelley lists teaching vacation Bible school as volunteer experience on his LinkedIn page, and his wife, Danielle Shields, was previously a teacher at a Baptist church, according to the Mail.
Another former pal described the sinking feeling he got from knowing he used to be buddies with Kelley, who on Sunday opened fire inside a Texas church, killing 26 people, including children and a pregnant woman, and injuring 20 more. (Read more)
- Lord, only You can comfort those who are mourning today, as some families have lost many members. We are living in a dangerous time, and we ask that You help all churches to prepare ahead and be wise in case of such horrific situations.
-"Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted." (Matthew 5:4)
2. North Korea mocks Trump as 'lunatic old man' as president heads to South Korea - Fox News
As President Trump prepares to set foot for the first time on the Korean Peninsula, North Korea rolled out its twisted version of the red carpet, mocking Trump as a "lunatic old man" and sparking fears a missile or nuke test could be imminent.
"No one can predict when the lunatic old man of the White House, lost to senses, will start a nuclear war against [North Korea]," the regime's state-run Korean Central News Agency said in a statement Monday. "The U.S. should not expect us to make any change."
The Hermit Kingdom, referencing dictator Kim Jong Un, said an "outstanding leader" will determine the country's destiny. Without "distinguished leadership," North Korea would have "fallen a victim to the invasion by the barbarous U.S. imperialists." (Read more)
- Father, we continue to ask that Kim Jong-Un be deposed as soon as possible before something horrific occurs.
- "Then immediately an angel of the Lord struck him, because he did not give glory to God." (Acts 12:20a)
3. Trump says Japan would shoot North Korean missiles 'out of sky' if it bought U.S. weaponry - Reuters
U.S. President Donald Trump said on Monday that Japan would shoot North Korean missiles "out of the sky" if it bought the U.S. weaponry needed for doing so, suggesting Tokyo take a stance it has avoided until now. North Korea is pursuing nuclear weapons and missile programs in defiance of U.N. Security Council sanctions and has made no secret of its plans to develop a missile capable of hitting the U.S. mainland. It has fired two missiles over Japan. Trump, speaking after a summit with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, repeated his mantra the "era of strategic patience" with North Korea was over, and said the two countries were working to counter the "dangerous aggressions". Trump also pressed Japan to lower its trade deficit with the United States and buy more U.S. military hardware. (Read more)
- Father, we pray Your Mighty Hand of Protection over the Asia Pacific region, and ask that wisdom be granted to our President. In the midst of that protection we ask for a move of Your Holy Spirit, touching hearts and changing lives.
- "Ask of Me, and I will give You the nations for Your inheritance and the ends of the earth for Your possession." (Psalm 2:8)
4. Donna Brazile to DNC Staffers: 'I'm Not Patsy the Slave' - Newsmax
Donna Brazile hit back at campaign staffers of Hillary Clinton critical of the former Democratic National Committee chairwoman's recent revelations about the 2016 Democratic presidential candidate, telling them she was no "Patsey the slave." "Yeah, I'm not Patsey the slave because I got sick and tired of people trying to tell me how to spend the money," Brazile said on ABC's "This Week" Sunday. "I wasn't getting a salary. I was volunteering my time. I was trying to increase the level of enthusiasm and passion for Hillary Clinton and the rest of the ticket across the country."
Brazile explained she chafed at having to answer to "the high command of Brooklyn" while DNC chairwoman, in an apparent reference to Clinton's campaign headquarters. "The people making the decisions, even for the DNC, they didn't come and work with us. They told us to shut up. And, basically, let them win the election. When we tried to intervene, we had to spend money we raised to try to help them win. That was my job as chair of the party."
Brazile has faced criticism from fellow Democrats over her soon-to-be-released book that claims Clinton's control of the DNC compromised the fairness of last year's presidential nomination process. Nearly 100 members of Clinton's campaign team wrote a letter Saturday saying, "we do not recognize the campaign she portrays in the book." Brazile also explained her frustration at what Clinton staffers "don't know. Here's what they don't know - what it was like to be over at the DNC during the hacking. What it's like to bury a child. I did, Seth Rich. They don't know what it's like to protect a staff from further harassment," she said.
Seth Rich was a DNC employee who was fatally shot in 2016 in Washington, D.C. Earlier this year reports surfaced he had leaked work emails to WikiLeaks before his death. Brazile said she hoped the new DNC leader Tom Perez would steer the party in the right direction and explained she had no regrets over her role in the party. (Read more)
- Father, we pray as the infighting among Democrats reveals the corruption and underhanded actions prevalent in our government, You would breathe upon our political system with truth. Let our nation be horrified, changed by these revelations, and bring righteousness into our entire process on both sides of the aisle.
- "Because they do not change, therefore they do not fear God." (Psalm 55:19c)
5. New Dem turmoil as Donna Brazile levels sexism accusations against Clinton's top dog - Fox News
Former Democratic Party boss Donna Brazile's forthcoming book fueled new turmoil on Monday as another excerpt showed her taking aim at Hillary Clinton's campaign, this time leveling allegations of sexism against the campaign's top male lieutenants. The Huffington Post reported on the passage, in which Brazile complained about her treatment by campaign manager Robby Mook and his team.
The two supposedly were at odds over Mook's refusal to let her hire a temporary CEO when she took over the Democratic National Committee on an interim basis.
Describing a tense conference call on the matter, Brazile reportedly wrote: "I have worked with men all my life in politics and I can sense when they get to this part about not being able to deal with a woman. This is not a racial thing. This was a gender thing." (Read more)
- Lord, we ask that all truth be revealed in the political arena, bringing to light every evil plan.
- "The spirit of man is the candle of the LORD, searching all the inward parts of the belly." (Proverbs 20:27)
6. Sexual Harassment Scandals Abound In Statehouses Across The U.S.- NPR
In the weeks since allegations of sexual harassment and assault against movie producer Harvey Weinstein became public, a number of other stories of abuse have come to light: in Hollywood, in newsrooms (including NPR's), and now, in statehouses across the country. At a news conference Saturday, Kentucky Gov. Matt Bevin called for the resignation of any lawmakers or government employees who have settled sexual harassment claims. The Republican governor didn't name names, but the news conference comes just days after reports that House Speaker Jeff Hoover, R-Ky., settled a complaint with a female staffer out of court.
"There have been any number of allegations in recent days that would indicate that certain individuals have been anything but faithful and true," Gov. Bevin said. "These allegations have not been denied by anyone. These allegations are increasingly becoming corroborated." (Read more)
- Lord, we stand in the gap for our nation, which is riddled with sexual sin from coast to coast. On our knees we plead for mercy and a turning of hearts to You.
- " . . . in humility correcting those who are in opposition, if God perhaps will grant them repentance, so that they may know the truth." (2 Timothy 2:25)
7. Democrat's plan to tank Trump's tax bill - Politico
Democrats helped crush the GOP's Obamacare repeal push by maintaining total unity and generating broad public outrage. It's a powerful formula that fractured Republicans - but one that will be harder to replicate against the GOP tax bill.
Already a handful of vulnerable Democrats in the House and Senate say they remain open to whatever tax legislation is ultimately produced. And while progressive groups and lawmakers are deploying plans to rev up the base, it's not clear taxes will energize people outside the Beltway as the more visceral topic of health care does.
The stakes couldn't be higher for House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.). Not only do most Democrats loathe the Republican tax plan, but leadership believes torpedoing it would significantly boost the party's chances of taking back the House and holding steady in the Senate in 2018.
Pelosi is particularly driven to deny Republicans any votes from her side of the aisle if the GOP margin for victory on taxes will depend on some of her moderates. (Read more)
- Lord, we pray that You will prevent the Democrats from causing havoc with all that is before the Congress. We bind up their actions in the Name of Jesus and pray that those things which You want will go through and be signed.
- "for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure." (Philippians 2:13)
8. GOP's tax bill cancels $23 billion in credits claimed by illegal immigrants - Washington Times
The new GOP tax overhaul would strip illegal immigrants of the ability to claim several major tax credits, saving the government $23.1 billion over the next decade, according to the bill's authors. For years Republicans have complained that despite a general ban on taxpayer benefits flowing to illegal immigrants, the IRS has allowed them to collect the child tax credit, the American Opportunity Tax Credit and the Earned Income Tax Credit. Efforts to shut down those claims have been tried in the House but have never cleared Congress. But the new tax overhaul tries again, calling for taxpayers to have to submit work-eligible Social Security numbers in order to claim the credits.
Immigrant-rights advocates have complained about attempts to close the tax credits in the past. In the case of the child tax credit, activists say that while the parents may be in the country illegally, their children are often U.S. citizens who deserve the credit. Many illegal immigrants pay taxes using Individual Taxpayer Identification Numbers, which the IRS issues to those who aren't authorized to work in the U.S., but whom the government still wants to pony up to Uncle Sam. The IRS pays out billions of dollars a year in tax credits to people filing using ITINs each year, according to the agency's inspector general. The inspector general has repeatedly urged the IRSto stop making the payments, but the agency has refused, saying it interprets the law related to those tax credits to cover illegal immigrants as well as other taxpayers. (Read more)
- Lord, we thank You for a common sense bill and ask that You will allow its passage.
- "Fools die for lack of wisdom." (Proverbs 10:21b)
9. McConnell: Tangible Improvements to the Legal Immigration System 'Ought to Be Attached to DACA' - Breitbart
On Saturday's broadcast of MSNBC's "Hugh Hewitt," Senate Majority Leader Senator Mitch McConnell (R-KY) said that improvements to the American legal immigration system should be tied to DACA. Hewitt asked McConnell, "Is there a compromise to be had on immigration that will get us DACA, some border security, and some additional vetting from people from suspect countries?"
McConnell answered, "Yeah, I think so. The Democrats desperately want DACA. Republicans are not necessarily opposed to that. The president has set it up in such a way that we have an incentive to act here. Because he's given us six months to come up with a proposal. I think there ought to be something related to making the American legal immigration system better, achieved along with DACA. It could be border security. It could be ending chain migration. It could be the diversity quotas. It - but something that tangibly improves the legal immigration system in this country, I think, ought to be attached to DACA." (Read more)
- Father we pray for an immigration system that protects American citizens, and bring a fair and just system without destroying our nation.
- "For the Lord is a God of justice." (Isaiah 30:18c)
10. Podesta's downfall sends shock waves through K Street - Politico
Washington lobbyists who represent foreign powers have taken comfort for decades in the fact that the Justice Department rarely goes after them for potentially breaking the law. That all changed on Monday. The news of Tony Podesta's resignation from his namesake firm and indictment of Paul Manafort and Rick Gates sent K Street scrambling, as lobbyists rushed to make sure they're in compliance with the rules. The developments also renewed calls for Congress to pass legislation beefing up the Justice Department's enforcement of the law, which lawmakers in both parties have derided for lacking teeth. "Firms are going to be even more careful than they have been in the past in the foreign lobbying arena," said Trent Lott, the former Senate majority leader who's now a lobbyist at Squire Patton Boggs, where his foreign clients have included Saudi Arabia and Turkey.
Lobbyists may start to be more selective about which foreign clients they'll work for and avoid ones like the nonprofit that hired the Podesta Group and Mercury. That outfit was ostensibly independent, but prosecutors allege it was really under the control of the Ukrainian president. Squire Patton Boggs, for example, recently turned down work for a potential client tied to Syria, Lott said. "You need to know who you're representing, and sometimes it's kind of shrouded," Lott said. (Read more)
- Lord, thank You that one more piece of this puzzle of lies has been deposed. But we pray for more removals of the unrighteous mammon that currently runs through the deep state in Washington, D.C., and in America.
-"The lamp of the righteous rejoices, but the lamp of the wicked will be put out." (Proverbs 13:9)
11. Millennials would rather live in socialist or communist nation than under capitalism: Poll - Washington Times
A majority of millennials would prefer to live in a socialist, communist or fascist nation rather than a capitalistic one, according to a new poll. In the Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation's "Annual Report on US Attitudes toward Socialism," 58 percent of the up-and-coming generation opted for one of the three systems, compared to 42 percent who said they were in favor of capitalism.
The most popular socioeconomic order was socialism with 44 percent support. Communism and fascism received 7 percent support each. Marion Smith, executive director of the Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation, said the report shows millennials are "increasingly turning away from capitalism and toward socialism and even communism as a viable alternative. This troubling turn highlights widespread historical illiteracy in American society regarding socialism and the systemic failure of our education system to teach students about the genocide, destruction, and misery caused by communism since the Bolshevik Revolution one hundred years ago," Mr. Smith said in a statement. (Read more)
- Father, these younger people are terribly deceived and have no clue what they are desiring. We ask for truth and light to penetrate that curtain of deception and lies.
- " . . . whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them." (2 Corinthians 4:4)
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