Secrets You Never Knew About America’s Founding Fathers

Education, Entertainment, History 7 Minutes

America’s history is a brief yet rich one. Relative to the rest of the world, we are still just a little baby of a country. We often forget that our founding fathers were humans just like the rest of us — they just happened to have lived some 300 odd years before we did, and, you know, wrote the Declaration of Independence. But these American heroes had their flaws and their secrets, too.

These secrets about the founding fathers are both surprising and eye-opening. There are myths about these men that we’ve all gone along believing our whole lives without a second thought. But in some cases, we may have been entirely wrong!

Thomas Jefferson

Thomas Jefferson Was A Terrible Public Speaker

The author of the Declaration of Independence and our third president only ever gave two speeches, one at each of his inaugurations. While he was elegant with words on paper, he didn’t like speaking out loud, much less in front of large crowds. The speeches he did give were delivered very quietly, too.

Thomas Jefferson was also addicted to learning. Born April 13 (April 2 on the pre-Gregorian calendar), 1743 at his father’s Shadwell plantation in Virginia, Jefferson was one of 10 children (eight of whom survived to adulthood). While he attended the College of William and Mary, he was said to have studied for 15 hours daily on top of violin practice. The hard work paid off: Jefferson moved into law studies before becoming a lawyer in 1767. Two years later, he became a member of Virginia’s House of Burgesses, the Virginia legislature. His autodidact ways continued throughout his life: Jefferson could speak four languages (English, Italian, French, Latin) and read two more (Greek and Spanish).

John Adams

John Adams And Jefferson Were Rivals

John Adams and Jefferson were the only two signers of the Declaration to become president, but they also hated each other’s guts. Before Jefferson passed away on July 4, 1826, he had finally made amends with John Adams, the president who preceded him in office and for whom Jefferson served as vice president. The two men, once on the same side, had grown to resent the other’s approach to diplomacy and politics, with Jefferson lamenting Adams’s preference for centralized and meddlesome government—though according to Jefferson, the major issue was the so-called “Midnight Judges,” appointments that Jefferson felt “were from among [his] most ardent political enemies.”

Strangely, Adams passed away the same day as Jefferson, just five hours later. The date, July 4, was also the 50th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence being adopted.

George Washington

George Washington Didn’t Have Wooden Teeth

This is a fun fact that lots of people like to pull out of their back pocket, but it isn’t even true. George Washington’s teeth were actually made of bone, hippopotamus ivory, human teeth, brass screws, lead, and gold metal wiring. That’s quite the mouthful right there. And his hair was all real but it looks white because he powdered it.

He was a very moral and virtuous man, and he watched carefully everything he did. But he certainly doesn’t fit into our conception of a Christian evangelical or somebody who read his Bible every day. He was not an atheist on the one hand, but on the other hand, he was not a devout Christian. But what about he story of him kneeling in the snow at Valley Forge to pray? “That’s a story that was made up by [early Washington biographer] Parson Weems.” Oh, and Parson Weems, who wrote a myth-filled biography of Washington shortly after he died, made up the cherry tree story. The Mount Vernon Digital Encyclopedia identifies that book, The Life of Washington, as “the point of origin for many long-held myths about Washington.”

Benjamin Franklin

Adams Was “Out Of His Senses”

Well, at least according to Benjamin Franklin. And it seems the feeling was mutual. The two were at the French court of Versailles together as ambassadors when Adams wrote that a statue in the court would make a better ambassador than Franklin. Harsh!

Adams thought Franklin uncouth, vulgar, pretentious…and those were his good qualities. Their poor relationship got off to a rocky start in the fall of 1776. Franklin and Adams had to share a room and a bed in Brunswick where Adams and Franklin went to parley with Adm. Lord Richard Howe over a possible end to hostilities. Adams wanted to sleep with the window closed. Franklin wanted it open. Adams thought it would cause him illness. Franklin thought it would cause good health. After much argument, Franklin prevailed.

Adams grew to dislike Franklin more in Paris. Franklin wore plain clothes for effect. Adams disapproved of his garb. Franklin was a particular favorite of French women. Adams could not understand why this was the case. Adams thought Franklin behaved disreputably and immorally. He did not see how Franklin was using his conduct to obtain contacts and access. What Adams could not understand was how Franklin used these idiosyncrasies to advance the nation.

Paul Revere Wasn’t The Only Midnight Rider

A 16-year-old girl named Sybil Ludington rode 40 miles, twice Revere’s distance, when the British took Danbury, CT. She may have even staved off a band of highway robbers on the way. On April 26, 1777, at age 16, Ludington, the daughter of a colonel in the Colonial militia, Henry Ludington, is said to have made an all-night horseback ride 40 miles (64 km) to rally militia forces in neighboring towns after the burning of Danbury, Connecticut by British forces.

Relatively unknown through the 1870s, Ludington became widely recognized around the time of World War II, after historic road markers were placed in locations she was speculated to have visited on her ride. Memorial statues honor her, and books have been written about her. She was honored on a United States Bicentennial postage stamp that was released on March 25, 1975, which depicts her on a horse.

Peggy Shippen

Benedict Arnold Had Help With His Famous Betrayal

Arnold’s wife, Peggy Shippen, was half his age when they met. She’d previously had a fling with a British spy, John André, and introduced her old lover to her new husband. Together, the three of them plotted to give West Point to the British, which would have squashed America’s independence entirely.

Benedict Arnold

Rumors Swirled Around Washington’s Lack Of Children

Many historians have speculated that perhaps George Washington struggled with infertility, as he had no children of his own. Experts say that tuberculosis often causes this extremely common condition in men. Throughout his life, Washington suffered from a laundry list of ailments: diphtheria, tuberculosis, smallpox, dysentery, malaria, quinsy (tonsillitis), carbuncle, pneumonia, and epiglottitis—to name a few.

“Classic studies of soldiers with tuberculous pleurisy during World War II demonstrated that two-thirds developed chronic organ tuberculosis within five years of their initial infection. Infection of the epididymis or testes is seen in 20 percent of these individuals and frequently results in infertility.”

James Madison

James Madison Used A Secret Code

Madison—like any good politician—was terrified by the idea that someone might intercept one of his private letters. Along with Jefferson and many mutual allies, Madison used complicated encryptions when relaying delicate info. “Having now the use of my cypher,” he informed Jefferson in 1784 after mastering a new system, “I can write without restraint.”

Said to be shy and reserved, Madison apparently had a counterbalance in wife Dolley, who entertained the whole of Washington. At the time, the city was not exactly a hotbed of partying, and her lavish affairs helped endear congressional members to the idea of Madison as president. To date, Madison remains our smallest president at 5 feet, 4 inches and 100 pounds.

Both of James Madison’s vice presidents died in office. George Clinton kicked the bucket in 1812. His short-lived replacement was former Massachusetts governor Elbridge Gerry, who’d redistricted that state to tip the political scales in his favor—a process we now call “Gerrymandering.” Gerry also died in office, and is the only signer of the Declaration of Independence to be buried in Washington, D.C.

He also had a sharp sense of humor. Politics is a pretty serious career, but that didn’t take away Madison’s sense of humor. Among friends, he was known for his quick wit, quippy banter, and well-timed personal anecdotes.

Franklin House

Skeletons Were Buried Under Franklin’s London Home

No, he didn’t murder the people. There was a human anatomy class being run from his basement, which was a very tricky subject at the time. The bones from 15 different bodies were found when, in 1998, work was being done on the historic home.

While all of the Founding Fathers are renowned for pushing the idea of liberty and independent choice, Benjamin Franklin apparently came to the idea a little late. In 1725, when he was just 19 years old, Franklin self-published a pamphlet titled ‘A Dissertation Upon Liberty and Necessity, Pleasure and Pain,’ which argued that humans didn’t actually have free will and weren’t responsible for their behavior. Maturity prevailed, however, and Franklin later burned almost every copy of the booklet he could find.

Ben Franklin’s eccentricity wasn’t limited to that strange philosophy. He once had a plan to rearrange the English alphabet by eliminating the letters C, J, Q, W, X, and Y, declaring them redundant. It didn’t katch on.

If you’re reading this while watching a sunrise, you might have Ben Franklin to thank. A more reasonable Franklin contribution: bifocals, which he invented in order to both see from a distance and read text up close without having to switch lenses.

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Published by NebraskaFilly

Army veteran (1976-1979), retired with entirely too much time on my hands

Published

141 thoughts on “Secrets You Never Knew About America’s Founding Fathers”

  1. Morning All!
    interesting open Filly!
    I do remember some of Franklin oddities in the open i wrote about him…especially the bones under his house…lol

    Liked by 2 people

          1. i was thinking it was way early too. hubby suggested i hang out one feeder, but since it’s gonna rain for the next few days I doubt i will.

            Liked by 1 person

            1. I brought my jelly feeder in late yesterday – it started raining and none of the birds were on it anyway; it’s also supposed to get really windy for a couple of days when the rain passes thru later this evening – not heavy, just light rain so far. Still haven’t seen any Orioles yet either.

              Like

        1. GOOD MORNING, Miss Pat!

          The pain is bearable – I’m not desperate for Tylenol – but not looking forward to getting the lesion removed from my lip.

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    1. I read that – what a bunch of BS. Also, if you look at the picture of the group, you will see Benny Johnson standing next to Dave Rubin; according to Benny, ConRon is our best option for 2024!!! Bad Benny!!!!

      Liked by 1 person

  9. $$$ John…it’s always $$$$

    Citizen 817
    April 28, 2023 12:23 am

    Donald J Trump Retruthed

    @JohnRich
    10h
    I don’t understand the logic of DeSantis running. Let’s just say he beat @realDonaldTrump in the primary (which won’t happen) but let’s hypothesize…If he won, there wouldn’t be one true Trump supporter left that would vote for him and he would be destroyed in a general election. This is a losing proposition no matter how you look at it, so why on earth would he voluntarily run head on into the wood chipper?

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  14. seems some states are waking up
    FTA
    Lawmakers in the North Carolina House of Representatives unanimously approved legislation on Wednesday to prevent state-controlled enterprises from China and other adversarial nations from owning land intended for agriculture or property near military bases.

    The bill, entitled the North Carolina Farmland and Military Protection Act, asserts that state officials have an interest to guard farmland from “the potential of adversarial foreign government control” in order to ensure a “safe, abundant, and affordable supply of food” for residents of the state and the nation. Entities in which more than half of shares are controlled by China, Russia, Cuba, North Korea, or Venezuela would also not be permitted to purchase or lease any land within 25 miles of a military installation or any agricultural land.

    “As someone who grew up on a family farm, preserving North Carolina’s farmland is a top priority,” North Carolina State Rep. Jennifer Balkcom, a Republican and the primary bill sponsor for the North Carolina Farmland and Military Protection Act, said in a press release. “Our state’s agricultural land is one of our most important assets and it is common sense that we protect it from foreign governments that do not have America’s best interests in mind.”

    North Carolina presently has more than 518,000 acres of farmland held by foreign entities, according to a report from the Department of Agriculture, an amount which increased by nearly 11,000 acres between 2019 and 2020. Chinese entities own slightly less than 1% of acres held by foreigners in the United States; investors from Canada meanwhile own roughly 32% of agricultural and non-agricultural land held by foreigners while citizens of other allies, such as the Netherlands and the United Kingdom, represent 31% of land held by foreigners.

    Officials have nevertheless cited national security risks from recent Chinese purchases of agricultural land. Lawmakers in South Dakota, who also moved last year to prevent Chinese entities from purchasing land in the state, are particularly concerned about the acquisition of farmland near Ellsworth Air Force Base. The purchase of land near Grand Forks Air Force Base in North Dakota, where some of the nation’s secure drone technology is located, last year by Chinese food company Fufeng Group likewise raised concerns of potential espionage.

    https://www.dailywire.com/news/north-carolina-lawmakers-unanimously-move-to-stop-chinese-entities-from-buying-up-farmland

    Liked by 1 person

  15. wow…it’s even got less facts than i realized…
    entire article

    There isn’t much point in going into E. Jean Carroll raising her voice during cross, or the judge scolding the Trump lawyer Mr. Tacopina for pressing her too much. None of that matters. The case is a nonsense suit. Ms. Carroll has no idea what day or month, or year this alleged rape took place. It was 1995 or 1996 – she thinks. She doesn’t even know what she was raped with. It was his fingers, his male genital, then it was back to the fingers.

    The NY Times:

    The lawyer pressed Ms. Carroll repeatedly about basic facts, probing for inconsistencies and asking about her inability to remember precisely when in 1995 or 1996 the encounter occurred.

    “I wish to heaven we could give you a date,” she replied.
    …

    Ms. Carroll had earlier testified in the trial that during the attack, Mr. Trump inserted his fingers into her vagina, “which was extremely painful.” Then, she said, he inserted his penis.

    Mr. Tacopina, during his cross-examination, asked Ms. Carroll what she did after arriving home that night. She said that she remembers that her “vagina still hurt from his fingers.”

    Basically, this civil trial, way beyond any statute of limitations, is impossible for Donald Trump to defend. If he doesn’t have a date, how can he come up with an alibi? If she doesn’t even remember how the rape went down, how is this a case?

    Donald Trump is in a position of having to prove his innocence without any way to do it.

    Mr. Trump’s attorney Mr. Tacopina suggested the case is political. Ms. Carroll voted Democrat since the 1990s.

    Mr. Tacopina had Ms. Carroll confirm she had not gone to a doctor and had no medical records or photographs documenting physical injuries. She also confirmed she had never gone to the police.

    She has NO evidence. Why is this a case?

    Carroll also doesn’t remember if she said “No” or not.

    This is the Kavanaugh case redux. It was absurd, impossible to defend, and politically driven.

    Carroll has been an advice columnist for Elle, and we’d advise you not to ask for her advice.

    https://www.independentsentinel.com/e-jean-carroll-trial-is-going-swimmingly/

    Liked by 1 person

  19. here’s a weird one…not saying it’s true at all…just weird

    Liked by 1 person

      1. oh yeah…no way to know.
        it could be all the info he has on the deep state for all i know…LOL
        he does say “we have it all”…gotta keep THAT safe somehow.

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  25. EXCERPT: “Whistleblower tells Congress that govt is delivering migrant children to human traffickers: A whistleblower who viewed first-hand what she testified is a “sophisticated network” of child migrant smuggling into forced labor and other forms of slavery is calling on Congress to act to crack down on the U.S. role in that network.

    https://www.foxnews.com/politics/whistleblower-tells-congress-that-govt-delivering-migrant-children-human-traffickers

    The hearing, “The Biden Border Crisis: Exploitation of Unaccompanied Alien Children,” was held by the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Immigration Integrity, Security and Enforcement and included Health and Human Services (HHS) whistleblower Tara Lee Rodas as a witness. Rodas, who was detailed with HHS at an Emergency Intake Site in Pomona, California, on Wednesday told lawmakers about what she experienced on the ground.

    “I thought I was going to help place children in loving homes. Instead, I discovered that children are being trafficked through a sophisticated network that begins with recruiting in their home country, smuggled to the U.S. border, and ends when [Office of Refugee Resettlement] delivers a child to a sponsor — some sponsors are criminals and traffickers and members of Transnational Criminal Organizations. Some sponsors view children as commodities and assets to be used for earning income — this is why we are witnessing an explosion of labor trafficking,” Rodas said. — FOX News

    Our Take: “Main Takeaway from HHS Hearing: Congress: Trafficking of Children totally exists, but we also can’t verify it and also why are we talking about this and also it’s a good thing, anyways, moving on. It may be reductive, but simply beginning our political analysis with who thinks rounding up pedo’s is good vs. bad is a solid start in terms of a political platform. Might run for AG on that.

    In all seriousness, while this community has grown rather numb to dramatic whistleblowers bloviating in front of congressional committees, I believe that the more this issue can be forced into the American limelight, the more difficult it becomes to suppress over the long haul.” — Burning Bright

    Liked by 1 person

    1. they could totally VERIFY it, if EVERY employer had e-verify audits or surprise inspections. they could at least arrest the employers using underage trafficked children for labor. Of course, this would piss off chamber of commerce assholes who WANT and facilitate illegals (minors or not) to be brought in as cheap labor undermining americans.

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  26. “Ex-US Army Psyops Expert: Fox News Fired Carlson to Maintain “Semi Lobotomized Quasi Retarded Population” — Host’s ouster spells “the death of American media.”
    Published 16 hours ago on 27 April, 2023
    Paul Joseph Watson

    ENTIRE ARTICLE: “A former US Army psychological warfare officer says that Tucker Carlson was fired by Fox News because of the regime’s agenda to maintain an “uninformed semi lobotomized quasi retarded population.” The remarks were made by US counter-terror expert Scott Bennett.

    Carlson and Fox News “parted ways” on Monday with speculation still raging as to the specific reason why the network canned its highest rated and most popular host. According to Bennett, Carlson posed too much of a threat to institutional power because he turned Americans into proper “researchers and thinkers”. Carlson offered an “intellectualism, truthfulness, and an analytical depth that no other news personality has ever done in the history of the United States as far back as I can remember,” said Bennett.

    Tucker needed to be “silenced” because he represented too big a threat to the “powers and principalities, institutions and agendas that seek an unenlightened uninformed semi lobotomized quasi retarded population that do not question, do not research, do not analyze but simply digest and follow instructions,” according to Bennett.

    “Tucker Carlson also exposed the fraud and money laundering racketeering crimes of FTX and the Democrat Party in Ukraine involving the United States government. He exposed the US biochemical labs in Ukraine and their connection to the Democrat Party, President Barack Obama, Vice President Biden, Hillary Clinton, George Soros, Bill Gates, and other US government agencies and pharmaceutical companies,” Bennett told Sputnik.

    The ex-host’s anti-regime rhetoric “could no longer be tolerated by the corrupt American media and political establishment,” said Bennett, adding that his exit signals “the death of American media”. The former US army psyops officer suggested that Senator Chuck Schumer had threatened to utilize the CIA and the FBI to deploy secret government operations against Tucker to get him off air unless he was fired.

    Schumer previously called for Carlson to be taken off air after he broadcast footage showing the January 6 ‘riot’ leaders were actually allowed into the Capitol and chaperoned around by authorities.

    As we highlighted earlier, one of the reasons behind Tucker’s dismissal is a lawsuit fired by former show producer Abby Grossberg, who claims she was bullied and subjected to sexist and anti-semitic harassment. However, Grossberg’s own lawyer revealed that she has never even met Carlson.”

    Liked by 1 person

    1. run for president?
      i don’t want someone unqualified for the job anymore.
      we need a business man–someone accustomed to dealing with supply issues and timelines and being successful.
      politicians are not business people. actors are not business people.
      just because someone is popular is not a reason to vote for them for president

      Liked by 2 people

  30. “Unemployed Guy’s Basement Selfie Video Crushes Fox News In Primetime Ratings”
    ENTERTAINMENT · Apr 27, 2023 · BabylonBee.com

    “U.S. — The historic leader in primetime cable ratings Fox News was dominated last night by an unemployed man filming a selfie video in his partially-finished basement.

    “This guy chatting for a few minutes in his underwear and a blazer just completely blew Fox News out of the water,” said Nielsen executive Roger Millican. “It was a ratings bloodbath.”

    The unemployed man reportedly posted the basement selfie video on Twitter around 7 p.m., and by 7:02 p.m. had gained more viewers than the entire Fox News primetime lineup. “We got demolished,” said a Fox News producer, on condition of anonymity. “Our viewers abandoned us in droves to watch a video labeled ‘Good evening’, which was just this dude jawing in his basement. We’re in trouble.”

    Panic quickly spread among the top brass at Fox News, as executive producers brainstormed how to win back viewers. “More gold coin ads? No, we already tried that. Think, Bob, think!” said Fox News VP Bob Randall. “Is it physically possible to add any more ‘Breaking News’ graphics? No? How about making the necklines lower on all the female anchors’ dresses? This is hard!!”

    At publishing time, the unemployed man had reportedly crushed Fox News primetime ratings once again, this time with a video of himself silently making a ham sandwich.”

    Liked by 2 people

  31. “10 Perfect Candidates To Replace Tucker Carlson”
    SPONSORED · Apr 27, 2023 · BabylonBee.com

    “The world of political media is still reeling from the shocking news of Tucker Carlson being let go, but as with anything in the fast-paced business of cable news, the show must go on. Fox News has yet to reveal any plans regarding who or what may fill Carlson’s vacated nightly prime-time spot, but the channel will surely attempt to hit a home run with its decision.

    The Babylon Bee has compiled a list of absolutely perfect candidates for Tucker’s replacement:

    1. Lizzo: She’s landing massive cameos in shows like The Mandalorian, so it would be a big deal for Fox to land such a huge, huge, very huge star.

    2. David French: He’s the fearless, stalwart guardian of true conservatism.

    3. A robot anchorman who will thoughtlessly read the teleprompter verbatim: No opinions, just push the narrative, got it?

    4. A Tomahawk missile with an American flag painted on it: ‘MURICA!

    5. A black mermaid: When you’re getting rid of a white male, you replace him with a black female. Those are the rules now.

    6. Adam Kinzinger: If Fox wants to go the emotional tear-jerker route, there’s no one better suited to weep on television.

    7. Hot blonde female anchor Tucketta Cartson: Wow. She’s gorgeous. Where have we seen her before?

    8. Volodymyr Zelensky: This would be the best choice for the good of Ukraine, er, America.

    9. Liz Cheney: Fox would be silly not to hire the most popular politician in history.

    10. John Bolton’s mustache: Facial hair is still in style, and this facial hair is on a mission to start some wars.

    Wow–so many good choices. Good luck, Fox News!”

    Liked by 1 person

  32. “Millions Of Boomers Call Grandkids To Ask How To Change Channel From Fox News”
    MEDIA · Apr 26, 2023 · BabylonBee.com

    “U.S. — In the days following Tucker Carlson’s unexpected ouster from Fox News, millions of calls were placed by frustrated and confused boomers to younger relatives for directions on how to change the channel.

    “Yes, Sam, it’s your Nana, Dear! Can you tell me what button on the clicker will change the TV away from the Fox News program?” said local boomer Edith Brown to her grandson in Idaho. “I want to watch the channel Tucker is on. What channel is he on now? Is it the green button? No? The little red button?”

    Sources say that millions of viewers are leaving Fox News, although with a bit of a delay as they fumble through stacks of remote controls, unsure how to make the TV stop showing the only channel they’ve ever watched for the last 20 years. “We expect millions more to leave once grandkids across America start picking up their phones,” said one analyst. “Pick up your phones, grandkids!”

    At publishing time, Edith Brown had reported already feeling calmer as her grandson had introduced her to the Game Show Network.”

    Liked by 2 people

  36. no kidding!!! seems officials of countries who receive climate funds from the UN (et al) are squandering those fines privately…who would have thought climate change funds would be rife with grifters? carbon credits are a GRIFT to begin with
    FTA
    Senior staff at the government body responsible for carrying out Papua New Guinea’s climate change response are facing major criminal proceedings after the alleged misappropriation of more than $2 million.
    Key points:

    Staff at PNG’s Climate Change and Development Authority have been accused of corruption and misappropriation of public funds
    Finance manager Ivan Aipi faces 35 charges, including illegally executing cheques for the benefit of his boss and associates
    The ABC understands two whistleblowers raised concerns with authorities last year

    Police have arrested and charged Climate Change and Development Authority (CCDA)’s finance manager, Ivan Aipi, after armed officers raided the authority’s Port Moresby premises earlier this year, seizing computers and financial records.

    Court documents also allege that Mr Aipi’s wife, a court magistrate, attempted to bribe an investigating police officer, later allegedly apologising through her clerk and claiming her “husband is spoiling her reputation”.

    The allegations against CCDA staff include official corruption and misappropriation of public funds, and “illegally executing” cheques for the benefit of CCDA’s acting managing director William Lakain and his associates.

    The body is funded by local taxes, international grants including money provided by the United Nations, and contributions from a rainforest preservation project with links to Australian businesses.

    The CCDA receives 7 per cent of the revenue from the New Ireland Hardwood Timber (NIHT) carbon credits project in Papua New Guinea’s New Ireland province.

    A Four Corners investigation earlier this year found logging was taking place in rainforests that were meant to be protected by the project, which has sold carbon credits to Australian banks, super funds, law firms, the Sydney Opera House, and environmental group Planet Ark.

    https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-04-28/png-national-climate-change-officers-accused-of-skimming-funds/102230786

    Liked by 1 person

  39. Cruz & Donalds team up to introduce legislation to get rid of CFPB…Cruz had been defeated on this before…
    FTA
    Representative Byron Donalds (R-Fl.) and Senator Ted Cruz (R-Tx.) have set their sights on abolishing a federal agency created under the Obama administration that they say stifles economy growth and has not accomplished the mission it set out to after its creation.

    The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), a brainchild of Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Ma.) was created in 2011 in the aftermath of the 2008 recession to ensure that consumers were being properly protected by lenders, banks, and financial institutions.

    Sens. Mike Lee, R-Utah, Kevin Cramer, R-N.D., John Barrasso, R-Wyo., and Rand Paul, R-Ky. joined Donalds and Cruz in their effort to eliminate the federal agency.

    Cruz has been an opponent of the CFPB since 2015 and has unsuccessfully made attempts to abolish it in the past.

    Even though it is unlikely that the CFPB will be eliminated through the legislative process, the Supreme Court agreed in February to take up a case challenging the constitutionality of the agency with oral arguments expected later this year and a decision in 2024.

    Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, and Rep. Byron Donalds, R-Fla., are unleashing an effort to eliminate the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB).

    The lawmakers are introducing a bill Thursday to repeal the Consumer Financial Protection Act that created the agency and restore federal laws “as if the act had not been enacted,” according to a copy of the bill obtained by Fox News Digital. Since it was established in 2010, Republican lawmakers and financial groups have criticized the CFPB as an unnecessary agency.

    “The CFPB is an utter and complete waste of government spending and should be eliminated,” Cruz, who is the ranking member of the Senate Commerce Committee, told Fox News Digital in a statement. “It is entirely ineffective and does very little to protect consumers.”

    “The only purpose of this sham, Obama-mandated organization is to stifle economic growth by enforcing burdensome, unnecessary economic regulations,” he continued. “The last thing our economy needs under Bidenflation is further hindrance by government bureaucrats. Ending the CFPB will spur economic growth at a time when Texans and Americans sorely need it.”

    https://100percentfedup.com/breaking-ted-cruz-and-byron-donalds-team-up-to-axe-federal-agency/

    Liked by 2 people

  43. “How The FBI Helps Ukrainian Intelligence Hunt ‘Disinformation’ On Social Media. In an interview, a senior Ukrainian official defined “disinformation” as any news that contradicts his government’s message.”
    LEE FANG
    APR 28, 2023

    EXCERPT: “The Federal Bureau of Investigation pressures Facebook to take down alleged Russian “disinformation” at the behest of Ukrainian intelligence, according to a senior Ukrainian official who corresponds regularly with the FBI. The same official said that Ukrainian authorities define “disinformation” broadly, flagging many social media accounts and posts that he suggested may simply contradict the Ukrainian government’s narrative.

    “Once we have a trace or evidence of disinformation campaigns via Facebook or other resources that are from the U.S., we pass this information to the FBI, along with writing directly to Facebook,” said llia Vitiuk, head of the Department of Cyber Information Security in the Security Service of Ukraine.

    “We asked FBI for support to help us with Meta, to help us with others, and sometimes we get good results with that,” noted Vitiuk. “We say, ‘Okay, this was the person who was probably Russia’s influence.'”

    Vitiuk, in an interview, said that he is a proponent of free speech and understands concerns around social media censorship. But he also admitted that he and his colleagues take a deliberately expansive view of what counts as “Russian disinformation.”

    “When people ask me, ‘How do you differentiate whether it is fake or true?’ Indeed it is very difficult in such an informational flow,” said Vitiuk. “I say, ‘Everything that is against our country, consider it a fake, even if it’s not.’ Right now, for our victory, it is important to have that kind of understanding, not to be fooled.”

    In recent weeks, Vitiuk said, Russian forces have used various forms of disinformation to manufacture fake tension between President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Valerii Zaluzhnyi, the four-star general who serves as commander-in-chief of Ukraine’s military.”

    https://www.leefang.com/p/how-the-fbi-helps-ukrainian-intelligence

    Liked by 1 person

  50. okay i never heard maxine was a man. i heard she was butt ugly though

    Liked by 1 person

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