Here Are Facts on Crime That Sen. Dick Durbin Didn’t Want Me to Share

Plus: 2 California Teachers Accused of Encouraging Student’s Clandestine Gender Transition December 17 2021 Happy Friday from Washington, where some lawmakers turn a blind eye to the real reasons violent crime is skyrocketing. Amy Swearer won’t be silenced on the issue. What does the Pentagon need to keep Americans safe? Heritage Foundation defense analysts share their list. On the podcast, John Suarez outlines how the U.S. can support pro-democracy activists in Cuba. Plus: Dennis Prager on the advantages of an eternal perspective; Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen misleads the Senate; and New York counties rebel against mask mandates. Ten years ago today, North Korean dictator Kim Jong Il dies of a heart attack at 69, leading to the official succession of his second son, Kim Jong Un, the following April. COMMENTARY [Here Are Facts on Crime That Sen. Dick Durbin Didn’t Want Me to Share]() [Here Are Facts on Crime That Sen. Dick Durbin Didn’t Want Me to Share]() By Amy Swearer What didn’t the Illinois Democrat want Americans to hear? About the gang members who lit up a Chicago neighborhood with gunfire, only to be released without charges in days. [More]() NEWS [2 California Teachers Accused of Encouraging Student’s Clandestine Gender Transition]() [2 California Teachers Accused of Encouraging Student’s Clandestine Gender Transition]() By Harold Hutchison “District policy was to deceive parents, and activist teachers ran with that to drive a wedge between parent and child in the name of trans ideology,” parents group leader Erika Sanzi says. [More]() COMMENTARY [Differences Between a Secular and a Religious Upbringing]() [Differences Between a Secular and a Religious Upbringing]() By Dennis Prager The left has contempt for evangelical Protestants, traditional Catholics, and Orthodox Jews for good reason: They represent everything the left loathes. [More]() ANALYSIS [Is There Still Hope for a Free Cuba?]() [Is There Still Hope for a Free Cuba?]() By Virginia Allen “They want control,” John Suarez, who leads the Center for a Free Cuba, says of the island nation’s communist regime. [More]() COMMENTARY [7 Items on Our Christmas National Defense Wish List]() [7 Items on Our Christmas National Defense Wish List]() By Thomas Spoehr No. 1: a National Defense Strategy focused on developing concepts and necessary forces to counter nations that pose the greatest threats to America. [More]() NEWS [13 New York Counties Refuse to Enforce New Mask Mandate]() [13 New York Counties Refuse to Enforce New Mask Mandate]() By Laurel Duggan A quarter of the Empire State’s counties refuse to enforce the mask and vaccine mandates for indoor businesses imposed by Gov. Kathy Hochul. [More]() COMMENTARY [Janet Yellen Falsely Advertises Build Back Better in Memo to Senate]() [Janet Yellen Falsely Advertises Build Back Better in Memo to Senate]() By Scott Zipperle As the Biden administration faces the economic consequences of left-wing policies, the treasury secretary swings blind with claims that are far removed from reality. [More]() NEWS [ICYMI: Team DeSantis Wages War on Liberal Media in the Wake of Trump]() [ICYMI: Team DeSantis Wages War on Liberal Media in the Wake of Trump]() By Mary Margaret Olohan Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis’ press secretary, Christina Pushaw, calls out the press for “bad-faith coverage” and “skewed” reporting. [More]() [LOGO-CHARCOAL_75percent.jpg] [Donate to The Daily Signal]() [Find us on Facebook]() [Find us on Facebook]() [Follow us on Twitter]() [Follow us on Twitter]() How are we doing?We welcome your comments, suggestions, and story tips. Please reply to this email or send us a note at [letters@dailysignal.com](). The Daily Signal 214 Massachusetts Avenue, NE Washington, DC 20002 [(800) 546-2843]() Add [morningbell@heritage.org]() to your address book to ensure that you receive emails from us. You are subscribed to this newsletter as {EMAIL}. If you want to receive other Heritage Foundation newsletters, or opt out of this newsletter, [please click here to update your subscription.]()