Being an American comes with a basic expectation that the U.S. is supposed to be the greatest country on earth. This mentality is ingrained in our minds as a practical benchmark for measuring our standard of living. As a product of this, we constantly ask ourselves: Am I living a life that is noticeably different from any other country? If the answer is no, we are required to spark debate and action on the issues preventing this from being true. This means that citizens should not be lectured into accepting expensive groceries, high gas prices, unaffordable housing, and a dollar that buys less now than it did five years ago as some kind of character-building exercise. But that is exactly what some are asking of young Americans. When the cost of ordinary life rises, and purchasing power falls, the correct American response is not stoic acceptance. We actually have no moral obligation to accept less than the absolute best economic conditions from our government. Treating economic pain as a rite of passage or complaining about it as a moral failing is a political error. Republicans who adopt that posture are repeating the exact mistake Democrats made under Biden, and they will pay for it with younger voters. Between 2021 and 2026, the cumulative rise in consumer prices has left the dollar weaker in everyday transactions. Just because Americans have seen inflation stall in the last couple of months does nothing to change the reality that prices are still nowhere near pre-Covid levels. Food-at-home, energy, shelter, and transportation costs have all moved higher in ways that demoralize young Americans just starting out in life. Those entering the workforce or trying to form households face rents and home prices that consume a larger share of income than the same life stage required a generation earlier. Telling them that this is simply the way things are, or that complaining about it reveals a lack of grit, does not influence anyone. It only signals that everyone in charge has decided the problem is their attitude rather than the conditions themselves. Continuing to hold the position that young Americans are struggling because they “just don’t have what it takes to succeed” is only going to radicalize them against traditionalism and into the hands of the Mamdanis of the world. If Republicans are serious about their new crusade against socialism and communism, then they need a better answer to the cost of living issue than mocking those who are bringing attention to the very real issue. Read more from @MaryRooke_ below ⬇️

🚨 "Earlier today, I was discharged from the rehabilitation center to continue my recovery at home," Mitch McConnell said in a statement, adding, "On the advice of my doctors, I'll maintain an intensive regimen of physical therapy from home during the state work period, and I'll continue to engage with my staff and colleagues on important Senate business."

🚨 MCCONNELL NEWS: “Earlier today, I was discharged from the rehabilitation center to continue my recovery at home. Elaine and I are grateful for the many well wishes and support from friends, colleagues, and Kentuckians, and for the attentive care I’ve received from excellent doctors, nurses, therapists, and hospital staff." "On the advice of my doctors, I’ll maintain an intensive regimen of physical therapy from home during the state work period, and I’ll continue to engage with my staff and colleagues on important Senate business." @DailyCaller

🚨 Angelina Jolie's brother James Haven has publicly come out as gay, sharing a letter in which he recalled secretly wearing glitter and mascara as a child and said he spent years 'hiding' who he was. The announcement comes months after his split from ex-wife Romi Imbelli, who has publicly identified as bisexual.

🚨 BREAKING: The Senate Homeland Security Committee voted to hold Dr. Anthony Fauci in contempt of Congress after he invoked the Fifth Amendment more than 100 times during last week's hearing.

🚨 "Stop whining, get a job, eat Ramen like the rest of us did in college, on a budget with four roommates." Outgoing Rep. Dan Crenshaw jumped into the viral $20 burrito debate, arguing young Americans should adapt to rising prices instead of complaining about them.

BREAKING: Fauci is held in contempt by Sen. Rand Paul's Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committee in a 8-5 vote. RAND PAUL: "A subpoena with no consequences is not a subpoena, it's a suggestion. Seeking the truth is not a witch hunt. Accountability is not vengeance. Accountability is what stands between the American people and a repeat of the mistakes and the very real consequences of the past."

Employers say losing access to 200,000 Haitian workers will force them to raise pay, recruit Americans and rethink how they operate. They apparently consider that a crisis. Read more from @ambermarieduke below ⬇️

🚨BREAKING: The Senate Homeland Security Committee just voted along party lines to hold Dr. Anthony Fauci in contempt of Congress, after improper invocation of the Fifth Amendment in last weeks hearing. Fauci plead the 5th exactly 111 times. Sen. Rand Paul is bypassing Senate Democrats, and bringing this straight to the DOJ.

🚨 BREAKING: The Senate Homeland Security Committee voted to hold Dr. Anthony Fauci in contempt of Congress after he invoked the Fifth Amendment more than 100 times during last week's hearing.

President Trump stopped a young boy from getting too close to the edge of the stage at his Las Vegas event before joking, “I didn’t want him to be like Biden and fall off the stage!”

The absolute disaster that is SoCal Edison has struck again. I was on the ground in my hometown of Altadena covering the Eaton Fire for @DailyCaller. Almost immediately, sources familiar with Eaton Canyon told me not only about concerns that the power hadn't been shut off, but that some believed they saw the fire first ignite near a transmission tower. While politicians rushed to blame the Eaton and Palisades fires on "climate change," very few wanted to talk about California's utility companies. SoCal Edison has faced lawsuits tied to multiple major wildfires, and PG&E pleaded guilty in connection with the 2018 Camp Fire that killed 85 people. While digging into the story, I also found these same utility companies have poured millions into lobbying California politicians and regulators, while their affiliates have also donated to Democratic campaigns, including Gov. Gavin Newsom. Maybe it's time we ask why the companies responsible for keeping Californians safe are spending so much time and money in Sacramento. Neither the utilities responded to our requests for comment at the time. Newsom's office stated, "The Governor considers policy solely on the merits. Period."

EXCLUSIVE: Senate GOP leaders are circulating talking points aimed at quashing the internal revolt over the SAVE America Act, according to a document obtained exclusively by the Daily Caller. The document outlines potential questions from the media and offers guidance for members’ responses on several topics, including the GOP’s marquee election-integrity legislation, the SAVE America Act. The document, created by the Senate Republican Conference (SRC), is titled “Conference Prep.”