NEWS AND OPINION:
The Heritage Foundation has revealed that it raised more money in 2023 than in any prior year. The conservative policy organization revealed that it has surpassed $150 million in cash and donation commitments from 500,000 “patriotic Americans” who are members.
There’s a reason for that.
“We are profoundly grateful to every Heritage member for funding our critical work at a time when the future of our country is at stake,” said Kevin Roberts, the organization’s president, in a written statement shared with Inside the Beltway.
“This record-breaking support in 2023 is a vote of confidence that we have the right people and the right strategy as we lead the fight from America’s outpost in Washington, D.C.,” he said.
“Both small-dollar donors and major funders are investing more because our team is accomplishing real results on our policy priorities and through game-changing new initiatives,” said Andy Olivastro, chief advancement officer.
“Because donors are entrusting us with greater resources, we have been able to recruit even more world-class experts, fellows, and staff to contribute research on crucial policy issues and expand our reach across the country, all while being scrupulous and successfully lowering expenses,” Mr. Olivastro added.
“We have a long way to go to match the resources of the Left, but we are moving in the right direction,” he said.
Find the organization at Heritage.org. Find their helpful written reports at DailySignal.com.
FOR THE LEXICON
“Haley bailing.”
This phrase unfortunately refers to Republican presidential hopeful Nikki Haley, and it comes from Ed Morrissey, managing editor of HotAir.com, an active news and opinion site.
“Has the Haley bailing begun?” Mr. Morrissey asks in a brief editorial.
“Nikki Haley insists that she will stay in the Republican primary race and fight to win her home state in a month. Will she have to go it alone in South Carolina? In the last 24 hours, two of Haley’s billionaire donors have decided to bail on Haley’s campaign — and it’s tough to choose which is the more surprising,” he said.
MICHELLE ON THE RADAR
A former first lady is in the news.
“Michelle Obama may already be working on a 2024 White House bid,” Cindy Adams, a columnist for the New York Post, wrote earlier this week. “Her husband’s helping. Pay attention.”
Ms. Adams predicts that in May, President Biden could very well announce that he is not running for reelection.
“The so-called plot is that come the August convention, Michelle gets nominated,” Ms. Adams said.
Mrs. Obama’s team has already sent a survey to heavy-duty donors asking how they’d feel about her as the candidate.
“The process has begun,” the columnist wrote.
And for those who may wonder, multiple online stores are already loaded with “Michelle Obama 2024” stickers, magnets and T-shirts.
MEANWHILE IN IRELAND
The nation known for its love of the color green and shamrocks may set an international precedent.
“An Irish politician is calling for Irish pubs to be listed on the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization’s list of intangible cultural heritage,” according to Irish Central, a New York-based news organization which follows trends in the Emerald Isle.
The U.N. organization is known as UNESCO for short, by the way.
“The authentic Irish pub is undoubtedly something unique to our little island off Europe. Dark wood, cozy snugs, no televisions, no phones and time to chat and catch up with family and friends,” Irish Central stated in a brief editorial.
“However, since 1995 it’s been reported that 1,937 Irish pubs have closed their doors. This week, in Ireland, discussions have heated up about protecting the Irish pub by having it featured on the UNESCO World Heritage List,” Irish Central said.
“The atmosphere in a traditional Irish pub isn’t tangible, but we all know it. We all feel it. It’s different from a modern, newly built pub or bar. There is an argument to be made to protect Irish pubs. We’d be foolish to take them for granted. They are diminishing,” Niamh Smyth, chairwoman of the Committee on Media, Tourism, Arts, Culture, Sport and the Gaeltacht, told The Irish Times.
The pubs are held in high esteem.
“They provide hospitality to tourists and are a tourist attraction in their own right. That’s a cultural value that should be recognized and protected,” Ms. Smyth said.
WEEKEND REAL ESTATE
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POLL DU JOUR
• 66% of U.S. adults would be worried that they wouldn’t have enough emergency savings to cover a month’s living expenses if they lost their job.
• 63% of U.S. adults say inflation is causing them to save less for unexpected expenses.
• 45% say rising interest rates are causing them to save less for unexpected expenses.
• 19% say rising interest rates are causing them to save more for unexpected expenses.
• 57% are “uncomfortable” with the amount of emergency savings they currently have.
• 22% have no emergency savings at all.
• 56% could not pay for an emergency expense of $1,000 or more by tapping into their savings account.
• 35% would borrow money to pay for an emergency expense.
SOURCE: A Bankrate/SSRS survey of 1,000 U.S. adults conducted Dec. 15-17 and released Wednesday.
• Follow Jennifer Harper on X @Harperbulletin, on Facebook @HarperUniverse.