Matt Mowers

This week, my wife and I made the very difficult decision to terminate the pregnancy due to Trisomy 21. The choice was not made lightly. We really appreciate all of the personal stories that you guys shared with us, especially the unconditional support we received from fans with no matter what we decided. I know some of you may be very disappointed to hear this news. We are devastated. This has been extremely traumatic for both of us, especially Ashley. She underwent the procedure earlier this week and is on the mend. Thankfully, everything went smoothly, but emotionally we are drained. Trisomy 21, also known as Down Syndrome, is caused by an extra chromosome. It is caused by an error in cell division, like a glitch. The odds of a baby having it is 1 in 1000. When I first confronted this news, I was shocked but optimistic. If they’re a little slow intellectually, then we’ll make it work. I signed on to be a parent, come what may…but I just didn’t fully understand what Down Syndrome entailed. Once we made it public, it became clear that MOST people don’t know what Down Syndrome entails (and no, it’s not the same as Autism): 50% of babies with DS have heart defects. 75% will have hearing challenges. Over 50% will have vision problems. Impaired immune function, developmental disabilities, learning disabilities, delayed physical development, poor muscle tone, structural issues with face, decreased lifespan, etc…Sadly, the list is long, feel free to look it up…Down Syndome isn’t a “blessing”, it is objectively shitty from a health perspective. I didn’t realize just how rough it is for the child, let alone the family…more often than not, they would be fully dependent on others for the rest of their life. The miscarriage risk is also close to 50%, which made matters worse…they may never see the light of day and it puts Ashley further at risk. We spoke with doctors, friends, family and genetic counselors and learned that up to 90% of women terminate their pregnancy after learning the baby has Trisomy 21. This was WAY higher than I expected, I thought it would be lower given that I hear so many say they kept or would keep the baby. I believe that’s because most terminations happen privately, it feels shameful. A lot of judgment being cast. You never think you’d be in this type of situation until it happens to you and then things change. To all of my fans who have weighed in on this topic who have Autism, Down Syndrome or any other conditions…we appreciate you. You matter a lot and we’re glad you’re here. I commend you and your families for having the strength and courage to push forward. As for us, we made a difficult decision that we believe in the long-run will be beneficial for our family. Thankfully, we had a choice. It will take a little time to move on, but we are excited to try again in the future and hopefully have a better outcome. Love you guys & thank you for understanding. ❤️

Holy fuckin’ shit I would like to report a murder!

Pamela Evette is NOT ENDORSED by DONALD TRUMP. Do not believe her LIES.

Cornerstone mourns the passing today of the inspirational Michael Yakubovich. Michael was a principled and righteous leader who, if not for the evil of cancer, would be serving in the New Hampshire Senate today. Michael was as compassionate and kind as he was forceful in fighting against injustice. The Granite State is a darker place today without the light of his example. Michael had the strength of a warrior in his fight against cancer. He pursued emerging treatments energetically while remaining physically active, playing music, and staying politically engaged. Last summer, Michael had regained enough energy to step forward as a leader of New Hampshire's Right to Try movement. HB 701, a Right to Try bill signed by Governor Ayotte in August, was named in Michael's honor. In the fall, legislators introduced two more Right to Try bills—one of which was again named for Michael with his blessing. The House resoundingly endorsed both bills two weeks ago, and Governor Ayotte asked the legislature to pass them. Then, as now, Right to Try faced relentless opposition. But Michael, driven by empathy for sick and suffering patients, never backed down. One year ago, Michael wrote of opponents of Right to Try: "I have no nice words for them, considering they are fighting the most fragile & damaged people on the planet." Michael rejected the idea that pro-innovation reforms should involve years of protracted deliberation. He explained his position in an op-ed he wrote last May. "When you or someone you love hears the words 'you have cancer,' your world stops," he wrote. "The flood of emotions is overwhelming." "But what comes next is just as hard. You begin a fight for your life. And in that fight, time is everything. You don't have the luxury of waiting for years of bureaucratic reviews and regulatory approvals. You need options. Now." This morning, around the time Michael passed away, state legislators were discussing Right to Try in a committee of conference. As we pray for peace for Michael's family and loved ones, we also pray that legislators will do the right thing, move Right to Try forward, and continue to honor Michael's legacy and example.

The polls were right - especially the private polling for groups that spent big to unseat Massie. =>

Been living in Europe 3 years now with my wife and two kids More and more questions lately about whether/when we’ll move back to the US We don’t know My Dutch and EU friends are typically shocked after I explain to them that, despite a 50% top income tax and a global unrealized wealth tax, we would still net far less disposable income in the US than the Netherlands, for example. Health+dental insurance for a family of 4 in the NL costs ~€350/month with a ~€300/year deductible which the Dutch call “eigen risico” or “own risk” We rent a 4 bedroom ground floor apartment with a huge back garden in arguably the most desirable part of the city… and pay less than our mortgage in New Jersey in 2020 when we had a 3% interest rate. We don’t own cars. Transportation is super cheap relatively.. I estimate 10-20% cheaper because we bike, walk, tram, train.. rent a car when needed for short trips. Kids go to a school that costs €0/year that costs $40,000/year in New Jersey.

DAMN. Former Washington Gov. Christine Gregoire, a Democrat, goes scorched earth on the current Democrats leading the state. Says they have no clue how bad their policies are for the economy.