Happy Friday!

Today’s Brew comes with some stew. As in stewing over the Biden-Harris response to the catastrophe in western North Carolina and elsewhere.

$750?!

Kamala Harris returned from her posh campaign fundraising parties to offer those whose lives have been wrecked by Helene a pittance: $750 apiece.

It’s not the $750 itself that raises ire, little as that is in the face of such devastation. It’s that Harris has no problem giving illegal immigrants thousands of dollars when they cross into our country, free flights, and free hotel stays. Under this administration, FEMA has spent $640,900,000 on programs for illegals this year, and is now claiming they don’t have the money to last the hurricane season. There’s no money for the people whose towns have been washed away.

Meanwhile, over the past 10 days, Harris has put $8 billion in the ever-open pocket of Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

Civilians Told to Stand Down, Military Delayed

These are desperate days for those caught in communities in the Southeast that are now cut off from the world by flooding and damage from the storm. Praise God for the civilians who are getting help into the area, like this mountain man and his mule train.

Appalachia Strong! 👊👇 pic.twitter.com/V2YtihOg5e

— ⚔Dennis⚔ (@clovis1931) October 3, 2024

But the stories of how far the federal government is going not only to slow-walk its own response but hinder civilian efforts borders on the criminal.

Thursday morning, Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg ordered private drones over the impacted area to be grounded. One may want to believe this is so the drones don’t endanger aerial delivery of resources from state, local, and federal governments. (Resources that have been scarce, by the way.) However, we must remember this is the same administration that banned news drones from flying along the border and showing the nation the flood of illegal immigrants massing and coming through. Biden-Harris doesn’t want images of the chaos getting out. Images of destruction with little sign of federal assistance won’t play well four weeks from an election. So “all hands on deck” becomes “keep your hands off.”

Does that sound far-fetched?

BREAKING: Pete Buttigieg announces private drones are RESTRICTED from flying over hurricane areas. This prevents civilian volunteers from locating victims in need or showing footage of the disaster pic.twitter.com/BLjfuOuhYl

— Jack Poso 🇺🇸 (@JackPosobiec) October 3, 2024

See one man’s account of being banned from using his high-tech thermal drone to help rescue and recovery efforts.

Another American Citizen CONFIRMS He’s Been Told Do Not Help Hurricane Helene Victims By Kamala Harris Admin

“I had planned to go to East Tennessee — you know, trying to see who may need my thermal drone most and whoever I could assist better — We're being told to stand down”… pic.twitter.com/6fpKsE3rNZ

— Wall Street Apes (@WallStreetApes) October 2, 2024

Buttigieg also has reportedly blocked civilian aid flights into the area. Such flights have to be approved by the state — and the state’s been slow to give approval, leaving pilots hoping to fly aid into Ashville’s airport on the ground.

🚨NEW – Federal Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg has shut down aid flights into Western North Carolina.

A NOTAM has been issued by the FAA that won’t allow anyone not approved by the state to fly aid missions. They said they would give permission but they’re not being…

— Dr. Ben Braddock (@GraduatedBen) October 3, 2024

Military Held Back?

We’ve been seeing stories for a week now on social media about how military units eager to help hurricane victims have been told to stand down. We prayed these were just apocryphal rumors. Yet The Federalist‘s Sean Davis is reporting that Democratic North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper hasn’t signed the paperwork necessary to actually deploy 1,000 troops already authorized to respond.

According to a source in North Carolina, despite 1,000 troops being ready and authorized to respond in NC, FEMA Region 4 and Democrat NC Gov. Roy Cooper haven’t yet written up the mission orders that the troops need in order to be deployed. So those troops are just sitting around…

— Sean Davis (@seanmdav) October 3, 2024

Cooper and other Democratic officials should be signing so many aid authorizations right now that they get carpal tunnel syndrome.

In a related story, Georgia’s Republican Gov. Brian Kemp is “outraged” that Joe Biden only included 11 counties in his original FEMA disaster declaration when 90 in the Peach State were hit hard. Kemp told WRDW in Augusta that he called the White House chief of staff and said, “You’re sending the signal that you are not caring about these rural communities.”

Country music star John Rich offers a heartbreaking summary of the situation, offering this quote from a friend of his in local law enforcement in North Carolina: “Already used over 500 body bags, and there are bodies in trees, mud, cars, houses, everywhere … No fed support whatsoever.”

Just spoke to a friend of mine in law enforcement in NC…he said that they have, and I quote: "Already used over 500 body bags, and there are bodies in trees, mud, cars, houses, everywhere…No Fed support whatsoever."

— John Rich🇺🇸 (@johnrich) October 3, 2024

The official death toll currently stands at over 200 people, making Helene the deadliest storm to hit the U.S. since Katrina in 2005.

Your Plans and Prayers for the 40-Day Fast for the Nation

As we roll through a 40-day time of prayer and fasting before the election, we remain eager to hear how you are participating during these crucial days leading up to November 5. Here are a few examples. To share your plans, please write us at [email protected].

I’m committed to pray daily for different topics/high-profile individuals, using the Psalms as prompts. To secure time for praying, I’m fasting from some usual activities throughout each day.

May God forgive our nation for turning away from Him and His objective moral standards. May Christians uphold their duty to become educated about who and what is on their respective ballots; may we speak Truth with boldness and grace to those who hold opposing opinions.

Amen.

Another reader has chosen to fast something interesting and instructive. It’s not unusual for any of us to have our faces glued to our smartphones, for various reasons. What is it that keeps us glued to ours? Consider fasting from that.

The thing I do more during the day than eat is check our stock and investment values. That will be my fast. For 40 days I’ll pray for the country and trust the Lord knowing He is sovereign over our country and our finances.

This Streamer sends us into the weekend with some encouragement.

Fasting by not eating after 3pm. No sugar and staying off media that distracts me from focusing on God’s discernment and direction.

Praying:

– For those in the trenches every day

– That the proud will be humbled before the Almighty and repent.

– That the Glory of God will shine so brightly that everyone will see it and acknowledge that Jesus Christ is LORD.

We know prayer changes things. We are living in exciting times.

That’s putting it mildly. Exciting times, indeed.

Along The Stream

In addition to targeted prayer guides for certain topics, we’re breaking down a 21-day prayer guide for the nation from Intercessors for America. Check out Day 3: “Contending for Breakthrough: Praying for Revival.”

Coming later this morning, Stream contributor Jules Gomes details an explosive new report from the Lepanto Institute in “Investigation: Catholic Charity Workers Donate Mostly to Pro-Abortion Democrats.”

Tom Sileo has this week’s edition of Service and Sacrifice: “Defending Israel.”

Al Perrotta is The Stream’s Washington bureau chief, coauthor with John Zmirak of The Politically Incorrect Guide to Immigration, and coauthor of the counterterrorism memoir Hostile Intent: Protecting Yourself Against Terrorism.