There is a lie socialism always tells before it tells the truth.

The lie is that it is warm. That it is compassionate. That it cares more deeply, feels more tenderly, and governs more humanely than any system rooted in individual liberty. It promises cradle-to-grave security, shared sacrifice, and moral superiority—all in exchange for a little freedom here, a little property there, and eventually, your independence altogether. The truth comes later. It always does.

Today, that truth no longer governs from a palace in Caracas. It sits behind bars in the United States, wearing shackles instead of a sash.

Nicolás Maduro, the strongman who inherited Hugo Chávez’s socialist “revolution,” no longer presides over anything. He is rotting in U.S. custody, facing justice for narco-terrorism, corruption, and the wholesale destruction of a once-prosperous nation. The man who promised equality delivered starvation. The leader who vowed dignity enforced fear. The architect of collectivist “care” left millions desperate, displaced, and dead. This is not an anomaly. It is the inevitable end of the ideology itself.

Maduro did not consult Venezuelans when he expropriated their livelihoods. He did not politely debate protesters filling the streets. He deployed batons. He deployed bullets. He deployed terror. And now, fittingly, he is no longer the one issuing commands—he is the one awaiting judgment. 

Warm collectivism always ends cold.

Read the full article at Townhall.com

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A now-viral investigative video showing empty or barely functioning daycare centers receiving millions in public funds has exposed what many Minnesotans have long suspected — that the state’s social-services funding pipeline has been riddled with fraud, lax oversight, and ideological blinders so thick they border on willful negligence.

This wasn’t a one-off oversight. Reports now suggest tens of millions — and potentially far more — flowed through Minnesota’s childcare and social-services programs without proper verification. That doesn’t happen overnight. It doesn’t happen quietly. And it doesn’t happen without people inside the system ignoring red flags or actively enabling the fraud.

This scandal is bigger than one daycare center and bigger than one viral video. It strikes at the credibility of government itself.

When taxpayers are told their money is funding childcare and education — and it instead disappears into empty buildings and shell operations — faith in the system collapses. And rightly so.

Governor Walz may continue to spin, minimize, and justify his so-called reforms. He may insist this was all somehow unavoidable. He may hope the news cycle moves on.

But the facts remain:

Millions vanished. Oversight failed. Fraud flourished. Accountability lagged.

Minnesotans — and taxpayers nationwide — deserve justice, not talking points.

Walz may not want to fess up.

But prosecutors should force him to.

See the FULL STORY at Townhall.com

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Every so often, a year arrives not merely as a calendar change, but as a moral summons. I believe 2026 is one of those years. Not because of who may be elected, what markets may do, or what technologies may disrupt—but because of who we choose to become. If we are serious about reclaiming sanity, strength, and purpose in our lives and our nation, then 2026 must become the year of what I call the Elevation Principle.

The Elevation Principle is simple in definition; but demanding in practice: start where you are—and elevate. Elevate your thinking. Elevate your skills. Elevate your relationships. Elevate your understanding of the world, of one another, and ultimately, of God. This is not about perfection. It’s about progress. It’s about refusing to stay intellectually lazy, morally stagnant, or spiritually disengaged.

At its core, the Elevation Principle rests on three pillars: knowledge basis, skill proficiency, and people ability.

These three together form the foundation for meaningful personal growth—and for national renewal.

This is not a call for elites. It is a call for everyone. You. Me. All of us. Starting exactly where we are.

In the coming weeks, I’ll be inviting readers to take this journey more intentionally—to learn, to grow, to elevate together. Because the truth is this: 2026 will be whatever we decide to make it.

The question is simple.

Will we stay where we are—or will we rise?

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In this final episode of 2025, Radio Night Live: Fun Friday's Kevin McCullough and Cristyne Nicholas are joined by Tom Harris, the mastermind behind New York City's iconic Times Square; and Delfin Ortiz, General Manager, Senior Vice President of Operations at Jamestown. He leads operations of One Times Square, a $500 million project transforming the property into an experiential hub at the intersection of art, technology, and entertainment.

Radio Night Live: Fun Friday dives into the history of the famous New Year's Eve ball drop, from its origins in 1907 to the current preparations for the 2026 celebration.

Tom "T-Square" Harris shares behind-the-scenes insights into the making of the ball, the confetti drop, and the symbolism behind the event. With the 250th anniversary of the United States just around the corner, Tom reveals a special surprise for the 2026 ball drop, making this episode a must-listen for anyone fascinated by the magic of Times Square!

DELFIN ORTIZ, General Manager of One Times Square and Senior Vice President of Operations, Development & Construction at Jamestown. This is Delfin’s 1st time on Fun Friday, though Cristyne and Tom (KMC was in in Italy) welcomed President & CEO of Jamestown, Michael Phillips, on August 5th, to preview One Times Square.

Delfin Ortiz is a General Manager, Senior Vice President of Operations at Jamestown. He leads operations of One Times Square, a $500 million project transforming the property into an experiential hub at the intersection of art, technology, and entertainment. Prior to joining Jamestown, Mr. Ortiz was Managing Director at One World Observatory overseeing observation deck, restaurant, cafe, event space, and tenant space at One World Trade Center and 151 W 42nd St. He also oversaw Sky View Observatory in Seattle, Washington, View Boston in Massachusetts, Vue Orleans in Louisiana, and the Shard in London, England.

Mr. Ortiz has more than 25 years of experience in the hotel industry, operating and promoting Four/Five Diamond Properties for Omni Hotels & Resorts and Hilton Hotels in New York, Houston, Miami, Austin, Virginia, Pittsburgh, and San Antonio.

During his time in the hotel industry, he was the recipient of the Associate of the Year, Manager of the Year, Executive of the Year, and General Manager of the Year. Mr. Ortiz earned an Associate of Applied Sciences from the City University of New York and a Diploma in Hospitality Management from New York University.

ABOUT ONE TIMES SQUARE:
One Times Square is the focal point of the Times Square New Year’s Eve Celebration and home of the New Year's Eve Ball! The 26-story building, originally built as the headquarters for the New York Times in 1904, the 121-year-old building will offer visitors a new way to experience one of the world’s most renowned locations.

The building will continue to host New Year’s Eve celebrations and house the New Year’s Eve Ball as it enters its next chapter. Following a $500 million redevelopment, the historic building in the heart of Times Square will feature a range of exciting attractions, designed to engage visitors throughout the year.

These experiences will establish One Times Square as a year-round hub for experiential entertainment, celebrations, and new traditions in the heart of New York City.

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In this episode of The Kevin McCullough Show, Kevin is joined by Todd Chapman from Christian Solidarity International. They discuss the ongoing issue of human slavery in Sudan, where thousands of women and children are still being held captive. Kevin shares a powerful story of a young woman who was enslaved for 25 years and finally found freedom through CSI's efforts. The conversation highlights the importance of setting captives free and the impact of CSI's work in providing a new life for these women. Kevin encourages listeners to support CSI's mission and give the gift of freedom to those in need.

Congratulations to our Christmas Mortgage Miracle Sweepstakes winner!

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The United States government under President Trump has invoked classified national defense assessments to put the brakes on projects that have already cleared years of permitting, environmental review and in-industry investment.

Big development shaking the foundation of America's energy landscape; and one that I think is going to have repercussions from state capitals to Wall Street; from Union Halls to Silicon Valley. The Trump administration today announced an immediate pause on all large-scale offshore wind projects under construction in the US, effective immediately. It's not a little bureaucratic shuffle. This is a sweeping, unprecedented halt that impacts five massive wind farm leases already underway along the East Coast, including Vineyard Wind, Revolution Wind, Coastal Virginia Offshore, Sunrise Wind, and Empire Wind. I think Empire is the one that's closest to New York.

The action comes not in some distant committee, but at a moment when national security and the language of national security is front and center in every discussion about our future. The Department of the Interior, led by Secretary Doug Burgum, explicitly cited national security risks identified in classified reports by the Department of War as the reason for the pause.

According to the Department of Interiors press release, the administration believes large scale wind turbines; their massive, rotating blades and reflective towers; can create radar clutter that obscures legitimate moving targets and generates false returns on US defense radar systems.

We've been using more fossil fuels each year for the last one hundred years than we did the year before; and it didn't matter who was president nor how green their policy was. We still use more, and we have more. We have enough under our continental shelf to supply our needs for the next two thousand years and never run out.

Renewable energy groups and clean power advocates are crying foul, calling the National Security Rationale weak and inconsistent and pretextual. Of course they do! Because those guys are interested in controlling your life, not in actually making energy more accessible or doable.

Opposition isn't limited to environmental advocates. Local unions and port workers who are benefiting from the construction activity are also facing uncertainty about their livelihoods. Guys, you'll learn other skills. There are other things to build. If you're a quality craftsman, pausing these five windmills is not gonna make a big difference.

The chief...The Commander in Chief, his primary responsibility is to keep you and me safe. So, this is what they've done, and I'm glad that they've done it.

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America first does not mean America alone. It means America is focused. America ordered. America is serious again.

Which helps explain why President Trump's approval numbers—despite wall-to-wall negativity—are outperforming not just Biden’s, but Obama’s and Bush’s at the same point in their presidencies.

This is where the media narrative collapses.

We’re told relentlessly that Trump is “divisive,” “chaotic,” “dangerous.” And yet, when measured against the same standard applied to his predecessors, the public registers something different. Voters see outcomes. They see economic improvement. They see deterrence restored.

They see a president who speaks plainly and acts decisively.

Meanwhile, the same media that treated Obama’s 40% approval in late 2013 as a temporary hiccup now treats Trump’s higher numbers as an existential crisis. The same outlets that downplayed Biden’s collapse into the high- 30s now hyperventilate over Trump breaking into the mid-40s.

Here’s the reality they can’t escape: Trump’s record is performing better than any of the past six administrations at this same stage. Better economically. Better in energy. Better on deterrence. Better on border enforcement. Better on regulatory reform. And now, better in public approval than Obama himself.

That doesn’t mean the job is finished. It means the direction is right.

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