Confidence is silent. Insecurities are loud. Remember that. – Unknown

Welcome to “Thursday Numbers!” In case you’re a first-time visitor, this is the weekly column where I take a look at the numbers that are in the news (in descending order) and provide commentary sometimes sprinkled with sarcasm, humor, and bluntness.

This week’s topics include impeachment fundraising, free school lunches, unemployment, Kanye’s worship service, Minnesota Twins, U.S. House and the whistleblower complaint, House impeachment count, Jessica Simpson, new American citizens, Winter Storm Watch, NFL penalties, and much more!

5,000,000

The Trump campaign announced Wednesday it — along with the GOP — raked in an eye-popping $5 million in donations in the 24 hours after House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., announced she would launch a formal impeachment inquiry against the president. (Fox News)

Impeachment will be fundraising gold for Trump and the GOP.

500,000

The Trump administration’s effort to tighten the rules for food stamp eligibility could result in a half-million children losing access to free school lunches, according to an unpublished analysis by the Department of Agriculture. (The Fiscal Times)

This is terrible.

208,000

In the week ending September 14, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted unemployment initial claims was 208,000, an increase of 2,000 from the previous week’s revised level. (USDOL)

Thursday’s data is released at 6:30 a.m. Mountain time, well after this column is published. Click HERE to see today’s unemployment data.

4,000

Kanye West, who recently purchased a ranch south of Cody, Wyoming, held an outdoor worship service at the Robbie Powwow Garden on the grounds of the Buffalo Bill Center of the West on Sunday. The marketing manager who rented West the space for his Sunday Service event in Cody said nearly 4,000 showed up. (Billings Gazette)

God bless Kanye…

2010

The Minnesota Twins are American League Central champions. It’s the first division title for Minnesota since 2010 and will be only its second postseason appearance since then.(AP)

The Kansas City Royals are in this division, but they were not much competition for Twins (or anyone) this season. The Royals are 40 games behind the Twins.

421-0

The U.S. House of Representatives voted 421-0 on Wednesday for a resolution calling on President Donald Trump to release a whistleblower complaint to Congress, despite the administration letting them view the classified document at secure locations in the U.S. Capitol. (Reuters)

It’s nice to see them agree on something.

219

Two hundred and nineteen House Democrats and one independent — a majority of the chamber’s 435 members — now favor some kind of impeachment action against President Donald Trump, according to an NBC News tally. (NBC News)

Shit just got real…

100

Jessica Simpson is showing off her curves! A day after the singer-turned-fashion designer revealed she dropped 100 pounds since welcoming her third child, Simpson stepped out for a ladies’ night on Wednesday! (ET)

Go girl!

25

A naturalization ceremony was held Wednesday in Great Falls for 25 new American citizens! (MTN)

Welcome!

6-18

The National Weather Service in Great Falls (MT) reports that the Winter Storm Watch has been expanded south & east to include the greater Great Falls & Helena areas. 6 to as much as 18 inches or more are possible with this storm in these areas, with 18 to 36 inches still possible along the Rocky Mountain Front and immediate adjacent plains.

Wonderful.

3

After Tom Brady tweeted his displeasure at all the penalties in a Thursday night game, the NFL took notice and held a conference call on Saturday with officials. The officials only flagged offensive holding 45 more times the rest of the weekend, an average of three a game, down from nearly six a game before Sunday. (AP)

Too many penalties hurt the game for players and fans.

 

##END##