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Hurricane Helene: Devastation and Corruption in Relief Efforts - Plus More

October 4, 2024
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Hurricane Helene: Devastation and Corruption in Relief Efforts

In the wake of Hurricane Helene, one of the most devastating hurricanes to hit the U.S. mainland in recent years, regions across the Southeast, particularly in North Carolina and the Appalachian mountains, are grappling with immense destruction. 

Over 200 deaths have been attributed to this storm, marking it as one of the deadliest in modern U.S. history. While the Biden-Harris administration has mobilized resources to some extent, including deploying over 1,000 active-duty troops and extensive FEMA support, there are concerning reports from the ground. Some private citizens, eager to assist in the recovery efforts, have encountered what they describe as FEMA blocking access and limiting or even closing airspace to private helicopter pilates who are setting out to locate survivors.

Gaetz has confirmed that “hundreds, if not thousands, of service members were deployed to North Carolina by the Department of Defense and have been sitting idle, waiting for FEMA" as Americans in North Carolina, Tennessee, and Georgia are missing and dying. FEMA whistleblowers also tell Gaetz that the department has wasted and misappropriated funds in the wake of Helene, which is "exacerbating the emergency."

The administration has been under fire for its limited support, with Biden-Harris administration offering $2,500 to every illegal migrant, but just $750 for those Americans who have lost everything in the devastating floods. 

Few if any notable mainstream evangelical leaders have pointed out that those affected by this would also biblically be considered to be ‘the least of these’. 

Ray Ortlund Deletes Harris Endorsement After Backlash

Pastor Ray Ortlund of Immanuel Church in Nashville stirred significant controversy when he posted, then promptly deleted, a social media message with the tagline "Never Trump. This Time Harris. Always Jesus." This decision to endorse Kamala Harris for president, which was later walked back by deleting the post, came under intense scrutiny from various quarters within the Christian community. 

Ortlund, known for his involvement in Renewal Ministries and his influence within The Gospel Coalition, justified his initial stance by suggesting that while he fundamentally opposes abortion—a stance Harris does not share—the scale of other political evils in the opposing camp necessitated his support for Harris this election cycle. 

This included what he perceived as threats to the rule of law, censorship, and executive overreach. However, many questioned how one could reconcile supporting a candidate with progressive views on abortion with Christian values, especially under the banner of "Always Jesus.” 

Ortlund claimed the post was misinterpreted, according to The Christian Post. 

Megan Basham voiced the kind of concern many conservative Christians likely feel, saying, “This should not be surprising if you’ve been paying attention. Especially given Ortlund’s participation with French’s hard-left funded political Bible study curriculum, the After Party. It’s understandable that some Christians feel they cannot back Trump. It is not understandable to back Harris. Don’t confuse Ortlund with principled third party voters or abstainers. This is indefensible.”

 

JD Vance Dominates Debate with Tim Walz

In a fairly calm Vice Presidential debate between Senator JD Vance and Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, Vance delivered an exceptional performance, gaining widespread praise for his clear articulation of Donald Trump’s platform. 

Despite the moderators turning it into a three-on-one debate on behalf of the Democrats again, something we’re all used to by now, Vance proved to be completely at ease in dealing with them. At one point he rightly refused to accept a ‘fact-check’ from the moderators, and then thoroughly debunked their claim to the point that CBS cut his microphone. Quite why the Republicans continue to agree to such biased moderation is baffling, though Vance was both capable and prepared. 

One of the strangest moments of the night came when Walz, in an attempt to underscore his focus on mental health and gun control, claimed to have close friendships with school shooters. Though this was probably completely untrue (if not, we’d like to know which ones, Governor) it seems like a remarkably braindead thing to tell millions of potential voters.

Walz also seemed to get caught in a prior lie that was exposed during the debate, having misleadingly claimed he was in Hong Kong during the turbulence surrounding the 1989 Tiananmen Square massacre. When confronted on this, the Democratic candidate replied, ““I’ve tried to do the best I can, but I’ve not been perfect. And I’m a knucklehead at times.” Also, it now seems like he made a huge number of trips to China, and may have significant ties to the Chinese Communist Party. 

 

Middle East Conflict Escalates: Israel Strikes Beirut, Iran Attacks Israel

Tensions in the Middle East boiled over this past week, into what can only be described as an undeclared war. Israel launched a ground invasion into Lebanon, targeting Hezbollah, which it claims has been launching attacks from Lebanese soil onto Israeli territory. This operation came after a period of increased tension, marked by Israel's expansion of its military objectives to include its northern front with Hezbollah, following a year of conflict. Iran responded to this escalation by launching a significant missile barrage at Israel, which was described as Iran's largest-ever attack on the country. This missile attack was in retaliation to Israel's actions, particularly the killing of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, marking a direct involvement by Iran in the conflict beyond its usual support through Hezbollah., as Israel launched airstrikes on Beirut this week and initiated an invasion into southern Lebanon. I

The Israeli strikes on central Beirut resulted in casualties and significant infrastructure damage, and were part of Israel's response to Iran's missile attack, aiming to dismantle Hezbollah's infrastructure near the Lebanese border. The international community, including the G7 leaders, expressed deep concern over the escalation, calling for restraint and emphasizing diplomatic solutions to prevent a broader regional war. Amidst these events, there's been a notable displacement of civilians in southern Lebanon, with Israel ordering evacuations from border areas, exacerbating the humanitarian crisis.

 

Hurricane Helene: Devastation and Corruption in Relief Efforts - Plus More

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