Last Friday, October 10, 2025, my blog post was “My Congressman sent a newsletter,” and as much as I hate giving him free publicity, I will blog today about his October 11, 2025, newsletter.
As I mentioned in yesterday’s blog, I believe his October 11, 2025, newsletter illustrates the current standoff between Democrats and Republicans in the United States Congress.
By the way, Representative Harris still has not responded to my email to him on October 4, even though I requested a response and his newsletter on October 11 states, “We are always here to serve YOU!”
These are the opening statements in U.S. Representative Mark Harris’ October 11, 2025 newsletter to his constituents in the North Carolina 8th District:
“Dear Janet,
“Week three of the Schumer Shutdown, and the radical Democrats are still holding America hostage!
“House Republicans have already done our job by passing a clean, no-fluff, no-strings-attached spending resolution to fund the government. But the Left, obsessed with its woke agenda, is refusing to fund the government unless they get free healthcare for illegal aliens and funds for transgender surgeries. This is an assault on American values!
“Enough is enough! If Democrats want to play dirty, we’ll use this opportunity to continue advancing the America First agenda by cutting wasteful federal departments and programs. If they’re not critical now, they don’t belong in our budget.
“I applaud the OMB Director Russ Vought for already slashing and exposing the waste, fraud, and abuse in our government. He’s already cancelled $8 billion in Green New Scam funding. He also halted $18 billion in New York City projects tainted with unconstitutional DEI principles. This is what draining the swamp looks like!
“If Chuck Schumer and his cronies keep stonewalling, we’ll keep cutting. Director Vought should continue to use this opportunity to cut wasteful programs and departments.
“But I want to make it clear, despite the shutdown, my office is open and still working for YOU. If you have questions about this issue or need assistance, please contact my office! We are always here to serve YOU!”
Those opening remarks were followed by a section titled, “Obamacare is a scam!” Next was “Bring them home. End the War” about the war in Gaza. That was followed by a section called, “Here are some other news stories of what I’ve been up to lately” which included seven links.
Rep. Harris continued Saturday’s newsletter with “Constituent Corner: This week, I had the profound honor of preaching at GraceWay Baptist Church, right here in the heart of North Carolina. It was a truly uplifting experience to worship alongside a congregation so deeply devoted to their faith, reflecting God’s love and obedience in their daily lives. Their commitment to living out Christian values was inspiring, and I am grateful for the warm fellowship we shared.”
My thoughts
What Mr. Harris does on his own time is not my concern, as long as it’s not illegal. After all, the founders of the United States wanted our Senators and Representatives to be citizens and not professional politicians. So, Mr. Harris preaching is not in and of itself a problem, as long as he did not use his sermon as a campaign speech.
I worry about the blurring of the lines between church and state. The separation of the two is a foundation and strength of our country. Americans are free to practice any faith or no faith. Our government does not have the right to make laws regarding the practice of religion.
Out of curiosity, I visited the website of the church at which Mr. Harris preached last week. I immediately noticed they offer no Sunday morning groups for single adults ages 30 through 54. Everything for those ages is labeled for couples. Any church that sees its mission as providing activities/support only for married people in any age category is lacking in its vision. I don’t recall that Jesus Christ held gatherings just for married people, but I digress from the point of this blog post.
Janet
Janet's Writing Blog 
If you don’t fit into any of our predetermined boxes, then you are Them and don’t belong. Not just for politics anymore, it seems. I have relatives scattered across NC and have more affinity with the ones that have not yet drank the Kool aid
LikeLike
Let’s sic Pope Leo on this guy.
LikeLike
Let’s do, Liz! Great idea!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Sometimes I think I’m the only person in NC that hasn’t drunk the Koolaid.
LikeLike
You and hopefully a few if my cousins.
LikeLike
Thanks! I have been so impressed by this pope’s activism on behalf of the people being harmed by this abominable regime.
LikeLike
That’s really sad, and the way he described the current government shutdown is just absurd. People in Congress don’t know how to behave anymore; they’ve lost all civility.
LikeLike
There aren’t many of us. I keep hoping there are more than I think. We’ve just been so shut down by the other side because they are loud and they assume everyone agrees with them, which makes it hard for anyone who opposes them to speak loud enough to be heard.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I have, too. I’m so glad he is fearless in speaking out against the Administration. It was a good time for the pope to be from the U.S.
LikeLiked by 1 person
It is sad to get an e-newsletter every Saturday from one’s Congress Representative and be subjected to vile remarks, but he’s just repeating what his President says. That’s all he knows to do. The fact that he is a minister somehow makes it worse. As long as there are people like him in Congress, I have no hope for our political climate to get one bit better than it is today. The level of hatred between members of the two parties is deplorable. I wish I could say it’s untenable, but these people seem to be able to sustain the hate and name-calling indefinitely. Thank you for continuing to read my blog/rants and taking time to leave comments.
LikeLiked by 1 person
One of the few good things that has happened lately.
LikeLike
Absolutely! I left the minister part out because, like you said, it makes things worse. He has a totally different view of Jesus than I do. The congressional and Senate hearings are pretty bad too. Once in a while, I check in on those, and the level of unprofessionalism coming from both parties is insane. It will take a generation to see any kind of change, for sure. It’s a pleasure to read your blog, so you’re very welcome, Janet.
LikeLike
Thank you very much, Edward.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Only one is passionately pro Trump on her FB page. The keep it to a ‘make your decisions’ them when using proverb like sayings. Politicians like to talk more than they actually act. Could be anyone.
LikeLike
Concur: “Any church that sees its mission as providing activities/support only for married people in any age category is lacking in its vision. I don’t recall that Jesus Christ held gatherings just for married people, but I digress from the point of this blog post.”
LikeLike
Having been single all my life, this really jumped out at me when I looked at the church’s website. “Couple’s Class, Couple’s Class, Couple’s Class” is just one more way to divide us.
LikeLike