RED PEN LOGIC: ‘Religious people’ should keep their moral beliefs to themselves and not try in the Public Square to impose them on the rest of us. But wait a minute, Tim Barnett asks, doesn’t everybody have a right to participate in the public square?

AND SPEAKING OF TEXAS: If you think your kids or grandkids are safe in public schools, think again, according to The Federalist’s August Meyrat. Unfortunately, while Meyrat’s focus is on the Lone Star State, the situation is as bad or worse in states across the country. The seeds sown by the progressives who have dominated public education for decades are sprouting and shooting upwards.

NEW DATA ON THE FLOOD OF ILLEGALS: Charlotte Culbertson of The Epoch Times obtained Texas Department of Public Safety reports on the scope and depth of the illegal immigrant flood unleashed by His Fraudulency, and the numbers are staggering. Remember, these are just for Texas:

“Just shy of 22,000 illegal aliens were apprehended on average per week in Texas over the past four weeks—68 percent of whom were from countries other than Mexico. Extrapolated for a year, that would mean more than 1.1 million illegal alien apprehensions along the Texas–Mexico border alone. The report doesn’t estimate how many individuals evaded apprehension,” Culbertson writes.

By way of comparison with the situation a decade ago, Culbertson describes the data for that period:

“During the reporting period of June 15 through June 21, 2011, the number of illegal aliens apprehended near the Texas–Mexico border was 2,258 — one-tenth of the current number, although the volume of drugs seized was significantly higher.”

This is just a sampling of a mountain of data Culbertson obtained. The flood is deep, wide and continuing.

DOZEN FACTS ABOUT A 15-WEEK OLD UNBORN YOU MAY NOT KNOW: Given these 12 facts, it’s hard to see why there is much to debate about regarding the Mississippi law now under review by The Supremes. That said, if you believe in prayer, ask that these nine black-robbed judges will have discernment and courage.

BUILD BACK BETTER BUT NOT IF IT’S A TESLA: Elon Musk’s Tesla operation is non-union. Hans Bader notes that His Fraudulency’s Build Back Better bill will give you a $7,500 tax credit for buying an Electric Vehicle, and add another $4,500 to it if your new EV was made in a unionized factory. Teslas are not made in unionized factories.

THE WHOLE STORY OF THE LOUDOUN COUNTY PARENTS REBELLION: Terri Wu of The Epoch Times documents the journey of a small group of parents in Virginia’s Loudoun County from trying to save their kids from Critical Race Theory to seeking to save America. It’s a lengthy piece, but, as Glenn would say, just keep scrolling.

ABORTION IS NO LAUGHING MATTER: Did you see the recent SNL skit in which Goober the Clown — aka Cecily Strong — told jokes and talked about how good abortion is between laughs. It’s just comedy, right? Well no, actually it tells us a lot, according to Natasha Crain, about how America’s secular culture has become so coarse while at the same time also being obsessed with virtue signaling.

And virtue signaling is not merely an ideological form of preening, Crain points out, it is rather part of a “psychological process of moral buy-in that secular culture must go through to gain acceptance of a changed moral position: awareness, normalization, then celebration.”

I missed Crain’s post when it first appeared earlier this month, but this is important stuff and she has an abundance of insights about it that make her well worth your knowing. And, my spiritual skeptic friends here on Instapundit, be forewarned — Crain makes no bones about being a Christian, but I’m 99 percent certain you will find much to agree with in her analysis.

HIT BACK TWICE AS HARD: Fifteen states, led by West Virginia Treasurer Riley Moore, are prepared to yank an estimated $600 billion in funds from financial institutions contemplating defunding the oil and gas industry in the U.S, according to The Federalist.

The 15 states include in addition to West Virginia, Arizona, Arkansas, Idaho, Louisiana, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Carolina, South Dakota, Utah, Wyoming, Alabama, Texas and Kentucky. Hmmm, wonder why my birth state of Oklahoma — where Harold Hamm, the guy who invented hydraulic fracking, grew up — is not on that list?

SILENCE RULES AT DHS: Don’t ask for a copy of the Department of Homeland Security’s latest count on the number of illegals in the country. Despite congressional direction that the report be made public and federal transparency guidelines that require its availability, DHS officials are not releasing it.

EVER HEAR OF MAUREEN COMEY? She’s James Comey’s daughter. And she’s a prosecutor. Prosecuting Ghislaine Maxwell. Hmmmm.

PEOPLE SEE IT’S BIDEN AND THE POLITICAL CLASS: I couldn’t have put it any better myself than this opening paragraph from Issues & Insights’ editorial on the results of their latest TIPP Survey regarding the supply chain and inflation crises:

“Americans are making their lists, checking them twice, and finding that Washington politicians have been naughty, not nice, when it comes to the U.S.’ growing inflation problem and its supply-chain chaos. Indeed, the November I&I/TIPP Poll shows Americans overwhelmingly blame our Potomac-based political class for the current problems.”

And while you’re there, don’t miss the I & I crew’s take on Fauci finally coming around to something Trump was saying in October 2020; namely, that Covid is going to be around for a long time:

“Covid isn’t ever going away. We can cower in the basement, dutifully comply with ridiculous mask requirements and intrusive vaccine mandates, and submit to pointless shutdowns. Or we can do what Trump advised way back when. Act like adults, use common sense, and learn to live with COVID.”

SOMETHING ODD ABOUT THIS: Matthew McConaughey says he’s not running for Governor of the Lone Star State “at this moment.” But he’s clearly not going away. Could he be, for example, thinking Ted Cruz may seek higher office come 2024, thus creating a Senate vacancy?

IF YOU’VE EVER COMPARED YOUR FOOT AND YOUR DOG’S PAW: Then you were doing Homology, something that Darwin knew a lot about. But maybe not everything Darwin knew about Homology was accurate.

BLESSINGS TO ALL ON THANKSGIVING: Thanksgiving is uniquely America’s holiday because, contrary to the 1619 Project ideologues, the Pilgrims came to the New World for religious freedom and the opportunities inherent in a wholly new start. This little band of adventurers displayed incredible courage when they set out on their Atlantic crossing.

Many Instapundit readers are already familiar with the description of their departure from those they left behind in the Netherlands. Even if you have previously read it, however, I believe this heartfelt account is worth re-reading every year on this day, so here it is. Then check out Glenn’s post below on the myths surrounding the Native Americans and the land.

And allow me to add: One of the things I am especially thankful for today is the opportunity to hear from so many Instapundeers on a regular basis. Regardless of whether we agree on any particular issue, this blog has the best readership, by far.

THANKSGIVING AND THE EVERYDAY REBELLION: It gets closer and closer with every new outrage by the aspiring totalitarians in charge of the Democratic Party and its propaganda extensions in the Mainstream Media.

Check out my latest column over on PJ Media. The Everyday Rebellion comes next November and it will be from the courthouse, to the statehouse, to the Congress, and then in 2024 the White House. You read it here first.

FEDERAL REGISTER SWAMPED BY MANDATE OPPONENTS: Proposed federal regulations are required to be published in the Federal Register in order to give the public an opportunity to express their approval. or disapproval. Most such postings are on obscure issues and so get a dozen or maybe 100 comments.

Once in a while, though, a rule is proposed that sparks a public outcry. Such is the case with His Fraudulency’s OSHA-enforced vaccine mandate on private businesses. More than 68,000 mostly negative comments were received by the Federal Register by Tuesday. By contrast, a related proposed rule that was published in July received less than 500 comments, according to Rachel Glaszer of the Heritage Foundation.

A HINT OF WHAT TO EXPECT FROM GOP HOUSE: Rep. Jim Banks (R-IN) has introduced a bill requiring congressional witnesses to disclose foreign contributions to their employers. Universities and think tanks receiving Chinese funding are the primary targets, but other nations, notably in the Middle East, are also big donors to well-known foundations.

“The China-United States Exchange Foundation, an arm of the Chinese Communist Party, has in recent years donated millions of dollars to the Brookings Institution, the Center for American Progress, the Carter Center, and the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. CIA director William Burns, the former president of Carnegie, testified this year that he cut ties with the Exchange Foundation because of its efforts to malignly influence American policymakers,” according to The Washington Free Beacon’s Chuck Ross.

THE STORY THAT JUST WON’T DIE: The Federalist’s Margot Cleveland claims Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp’s recent letter to state election officials illustrates why there remain millions of Americans convinced that the 2020 presidential election was rotten. His Fraudulency will never be rid of this scarlet letter.

GALLOPING INSANITY DOWN UNDER: Australia is now moving Covid-positive individuals in the Northern Territory to quarantine “camps,” reports Jack Phillips of The Epoch Times. Crikey!

YES, DEFINITIONS DO MATTER: Perhaps especially in the realms of politics and religion, definitions of key terms can make all the difference. To cite just one example, AOC and Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) both talk a lot about “freedom,” but they may have absolutely nothing in common in terms of what they each mean by that word. Shane Morris of the Colson Center elaborates on the issue in the latest “What Would You Say” video. And if you prefer to read the transcript, the link is at the end of the post.

ANTI-MASK LEAGUE OF SAN FRANCISCO: Yes, such a group is not a fiction, though it existed years ago. Specifically, during the Great Influenza Pandemic of 1918-19. Capital Research Center’s (CRC) Michael Watson points to the rapid manner in which San Francisco authorities reversed their mask mandate, as part of his assessment of the significance of the forthcoming “Meta Platforms.”

LEFT HAS ONLY TWO ARGUMENTS ON RITTENHOUSE: Jed Babbin explains the blinders that render these people immune to facts: The only reasons the young man was acquitted are because the system is racist and because America needs stricter gun control laws.

BE WORRIED, BE VERY WORRIED IF YOU WORK FOR CNN: Sounds like the new owner is in no mood for more of what has put CNN’s ratings in the toilet. “Actual journalists,” what a concept! Good for him and for free market competition.

INMATES IN CHARGE AT STATE: Nigeria, which is being torn apart by Islamic radicals who ruthlessly and brutally murder Christian pastors and congregants on a daily basis, is no longer on the State Department’s list of “Countries of Particular Concern,” reports Alliance Defending Freedom International (ADFI).

“Christians living in Nigeria face some of the worst acts of persecution. Millions of people have fled devastating violence and have become internally displaced. As a result of the violence, 13,000 churches have been closed or destroyed altogether,” according to ADFI.

“Many victims have been kidnapped, raped, forcibly converted or married, or sold into slavery. Reports show that at least 17 Christians were killed every day in the first half of 2021 alone.”

Among other things, removing Nigeria from that list cleared the way for Secretary of State Anthony Blinken to hand $2.1 billion in new aid to the Nigerian regime that allows, and in many respects, assists the insurgents in their bloody attacks. It’s not like Blinken doesn’t know these facts because he was told in a private meeting by a pastor, according to The Epoch Times.

EXPLAIN THIS: HillFaith has 10 embarrassing facts about Jesus that you probably don’t know. And since it’s Thanksgiving week, let’s all be thankful we can still read Instapundit without fear of official retribution.