This article is part of Upstream, The Daily Wire’s new home for culture and lifestyle. Real human insight and human stories — from our featured writers to you. *** In the first two months of 2026, there were more than 50 mass shootings in the U.S., many in schools and churches. Assassination attempts on public figures have swelled. We see constant talk about syndromes such as “gender dysphoria” that were once almost unknown. At elite institutions such as Stanford University, four out of 10 students now claim they have a disability. These occurrences illustrate a troubling paradox. Americans today are wealthier than ever before. We’ve jumped ahead of Europeans and other developed nations in national economic growth and household income. Our technology has dramatically improved. Our houses are much more comfortable. Our medical care and diets are richer. Yet all around us, especially among the young, we see record levels of depression and loneliness, addiction, crime, educational failure, economic disappointment, and community decline. There is a root to these social and psychological maladies: the explosion of out-of-wedlock births, divorce, single-parenting, father flight, careerism, and child neglect that began in the 1960s. More than half of all young Americans now live separated from one or both of their parents for at least part of their childhood. Millions of kids from all income levels, races, and localities bear scars from family instability. Youth suicide jumped 62% from 2007 to 2021. Drug-overdose deaths among young people were nearly twice as high in 2022 as 10 years earlier. In 2023, 4,450 kids were killed by guns, most of them by other youths. Family breakdown now drives many of our collective social problems: poverty, homelessness, street crime, drug abuse, educational failure, and economic lags. These heartaches and these social problems will not go away until we manage to knit mothers and fathers and children more tightly together in natural families (biological parents committed to each other and their children). Such families are not perfect, but as a source of human happiness and success, they greatly surpass single-parent families, step-families, scientifically designed group homes, hired care, and every other alternative that has been tried. You see, we Homo sapiens have a serious biological problem called childhood. As Harvard scientist Stephen Jay Gould pointed out, “Human babies are born as embryos, and embryos they remain for about the first nine months of life.” If humans were born at the stage of development more typical of other mammals, a baby would remain in utero for up to a year longer than the nine months it already does. The reason we are born “premature” instead is elemental: Very few female pelvises could expel a neonate the size of a one-year-old infant. Human labor is already quite difficult compared to that of other animals, and newborns are only 40% the size of the average one-year-old. Premature birth solves a human physiological dilemma, but it creates a cultural one. Monkey infants can navigate independently and find and cling to their mother when they need her. Newborn horses can run from danger just a few hours after birth. Other animals can hunt, dig, swim, or fly within days of their arrival into the world. But human young remain utterly helpless for an extended period, unable even to control their own temperature, see clearly, grasp, or roll over. Even the healthiest of babies thus requires intensive care and supervision. And the incapability of humans extends far beyond infancy. It is a long time before we are finally able to survive on our own. Most mammals are autonomous and essentially full-grown within a single season, but it takes our brains about 15 annual cycles to reach their final capacity, and our bodies even a little longer. We are far slower to develop to independent maturity than any other living creature. This problem is made even knottier by the fact that human culture is so complex that no individual can begin to be a competent citizen until he or she has undergone years and years worth of intensive acculturation. We must absorb millions of bits of information from our progenitors — on everything from desirable foods to language — before we can safely navigate our world. The combined result of our premature launch and our heavy dependence upon cultural transmission is an extraordinarily long and demanding childhood. Absent a critical cultural adaptation, human beings could never have thrived in the face of this constraint. But they did fashion an adaptation, and a brilliant one: the family. The traditional family was a way of capturing the energy of the male parent as well as the female and channeling it into the rearing of the young. In this way, mothers gained an ally to help them through their vulnerable periods of pregnancy and lactation. Frail youngsters won the benefit of not one but two protectors, producers, and caretakers. And under this joint nurturing structure, reproductive success soared. Even prior to the advent of the civilized era, one out of every two human babies survived to adulthood, thanks to the aid of their families. This compares to between 10 and 30% for other primates and group-hunting carnivores, which lack any counterpart to the nuclear family. And parent-guided humans turned out to be unusually competent creatures, bearers of a rich culture. By stitching fathers to mothers and mothers to fathers, and weaving both to their children in a mission of mutual aid, the traditional family allowed humans to transcend brutish self-interest and produce higher civilization in its full splendor. The evidence for this is ample and ancient. In 1978, anthropologist Mary Leakey made a breathtaking discovery in a fossil lava bed in East Africa: the first human footprints, 3.6 million years old. They clearly indicate two creatures walking upright, between four and five feet tall, one larger than the other, apparently a male and a female. They were walking next to each other, perhaps holding hands, Leakey thinks. There is also a third set of prints, much smaller, belonging to a child. These are carefully placed within the larger prints — as a youngster playfully following his parents through soft ground would do. Leakey’s find disputes the claim that the traditional family was invented in Victorian Europe, or some other moment, and forced on humanity by narrow-minded manipulators. Over the last generation, heaps of research findings have proven the irreplaceable benefits of the natural family, particularly when it comes to raising healthy children. I recently collected some of this evidence in a book, and it demonstrates clearly that where the traditional family is in trouble, there will be trouble all across society. This is no longer scientifically controversial. It is merely inconvenient for ideologues promoting the kind of radical individualism, sexual autonomy, and economic selfishness that are incompatible with loyal family life. As I summarize in my book, biology, human history, recent psychological discoveries, and much more demonstrate that the traditional family is a natural and irreplaceable component of human society. It will be with us so long as our civilization flourishes. And if natural families continue to crumble, no amount of money, technology, personal liberation, artificial intelligence, or wishful thinking will be able to fend off the chaos that results when wounded youngsters grow into our next generation of citizens. *** Karl Zinsmeister is author of the new book “The Natural Family Will Never Be Obsolete.” He has written 20 other books and served in the White House and U.S. Senate as a policy adviser. The views expressed in this piece are those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of The Daily Wire.

A man accused of murder is now the subject of a musical and the crowds can’t wait. “Luigi: The Musical,” will debut in New York City this June, just blocks from the scene of United HealthCare CEO Brian Thompson’s murder. The show, first staged in San Francisco, transforms suspected assassin Luigi Mangione into a comic antihero. The New York premiere has sold out. Late-night audiences have cheered at the mention of his name. Not long ago, political violence — even fictionalized — sparked bipartisan outrage. Today, it sells tickets. And the speed of that shift says more about us than it does about one off-Broadway production. Source: thegreenroom42/Instagram Pop culture has a way of giving us an eerie snapshot into America’s moral decline. We could point to Bad Bunny’s over-sexualized Super Bowl halftime show, the kids, or Brittany’s new DUI. But also consider the outrage over the 2006 film “Death of a President,” the faux documentary featuring President George W. Bush’s assassination. The film released just as far-Left protesters labeled the president “Hitler” over his War on Terror tactics. The project even drew bipartisan fury from former First Lady Hillary Clinton, who dubbed the film “despicable.” More than a decade later, the culture recoiled over an image of comedian Kathy Griffin holding the bloody head of President Donald Trump. Griffin’s comedy career collapsed overnight, and only in recent years has she returned to the quasi-mainstream. Griffin apologized, but quickly reversed course. Today, no such apology would be required. Those moments, however, seem almost quaint compared to “Luigi: The Musical.” The comedy enjoyed brisk sales during its short San Francisco debut last year. The show features Mangione sharing a jail cell with Sean “Diddy” Combs and crypto crook Sam Bankman-Fried. Source: Playbill The production will hit New York City’s Green Room 42 on June 15, 2026. That’s a short subway ride from the scene of Thompson’s cold-blooded murder. Media reports have depicted “Luigi” in conflicting fashion. Some suggest the show doesn’t glamorize the alleged murderer. Others hint at the opposite, while crowds have been cheering his presence at various shows, according to The New York Post. Is it merely dark humor rushing to the surface? Or something more sinister squeezing into our conversations? The minds behind the musical insist they’re not advocating violence. “Luigi: the Musical uses comedy to bring deeper questions to the surface. Why did this case garner the reaction that it did? And what happens when people stop trusting their institutions?” Luigi director Nova Bradford said in a statement. Yet even this kind of cringe theater shouldn’t come as a shock. Nor should the fact that the show swiftly sold out and added additional dates for its Big Apple debut. Shortly after the murder, the host of “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” shared how some of his young female staffers had developed a crush on the alleged murderer and his washboard abs. Kimmel flashed screenshots of his employees fan-girling over the suspect,  “People are saying a NY jury has the power to find him innocent, bc we all love him,” “I’m not mad at him.” Kimmel and the audience chortled over the revelations, although the host wisely blocked the names of the staffers in question. It still speaks volumes about the show and its fan base. Randy Holmes via Getty Images This wasn’t a “Gutfeld!” audience. And it wasn’t the only comedy showcase lining up on Mangione’s side. “The Daily Show” host Jon Stewart informed his far-Left audience that the alleged killer had been collared by the cops. The response? The “boos” rained down on a clearly baffled Stewart. “Look, I’m sorry, guys,” Stewart stammered. A similarly strange moment came courtesy of “Saturday Night Live.” The NBC show’s ‘Weekend Update’ segment found co-faux anchor Colin Jost dropping Mangione’s name. The comic had to pause the bit to be heard. His audience began clapping and shouting with excitement. Jost, as stunned as Stewart, blurted out, “Yeah, definitely ‘woo … You’re ‘wooing’ for justice, right?” Not even close. And it’s not an accident, either. Phillip Faraone/Getty Images for Comedy Central Late-night comedians have leaned into anger and violence for some time now, fueling our culture’s decay. Hosts like Seth Meyers and John Oliver downplayed the violence raging in Portland, Oregon, during the George Floyd riots of 2020. Stephen Colbert uttered a sexually coarse gag aimed at President Donald Trump during the Russian collusion hoax, but he never suffered for the outburst. More recently, late-night comics chuckled over progressive activists attacking Tesla dealerships to protest owner Elon Musk’s White House maneuvers vis-à-vis DOGE. Kimmel sarcastically told his crowd to stop the Tesla-based attacks. Source: https://luigithemusical.info Comedy remains subjective. Even the darkest subjects can make us howl or defang hate or bigotry. Just ask Mel “Springtime for Hitler” Brooks. Consider “Too Soon: Comedy After 9/11,” a sobering documentary about stand-ups who told jokes tied to the terrorist attack mere days after it happened. Comedy can help us process pain and adjust to startling new realities, or it can showcase just how far we’ve fallen as a society. Context is everything. And it helps to remember an old saw: “Comedy is tragedy plus time.” Mangione has yet to face a jury of his peers. Watching patrons gleefully cheer on an alleged murderer is something radically different and frightening. The New York City debut of “Luigi: The Musical” will capture the zeitgeist, no doubt. Mangione’s real-life New York state trial is slated to begin on June 8, 2026, while his federal trial will have to wait until September. * * * Christian Toto is an award-winning journalist, movie critic, and editor of HollywoodInToto.com. He previously served as associate editor with Breitbart News’ Big Hollywood. Follow him at HollywoodInToto.com. The views expressed in this piece are those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of The Daily Wire.

President Donald Trump said on Friday that he won’t require Iran’s next leader to be committed to democratic rule, adding that he’s more concerned about the future ruler committing to peace and stability in the region. Trump, who said on Thursday that he wants to be involved in the process of choosing Iran’s next leader, told CNN host Dana Bash that he’s optimistic about the country’s future leadership. The president said he believes the leader should be “fair and just,” adding that he’s open to the Middle East country putting a “religious” leader in power. “I mean, it depends on who the person is. I don’t mind religious leaders. I deal with a lot of religious leaders and they are fantastic,” Trump told Bash. He then laid out what he would expect of Iran’s next leader. “I’m saying there has to be a leader that’s going to be fair and just, do a great job, treat the United States and Israel well, and treat the other countries in the Middle East — they’re all our partners,” he added. Trump touted his relationship with countries in the Middle East, saying that his relationship with most of them has flourished. “And I became very friendly with all those countries. That’s why they’re all fighting for us,” he said. “Before I got involved, we didn’t even speak to UAE and Saudi Arabia. You know, (President Joe) Biden shut [them] out. Biden and (President Barack) Obama shut Saudi Arabia, UAE, Qatar, he shut them all out. They were all going to go to China, and I got involved in a very short period of time that became my friends.” The joint U.S.-Israeli military operation launched last weekend has taken out most of Iran’s top leadership, including Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. U.S. forces have also decimated the regime’s navy, military assets, and nuclear infrastructure. The Trump administration has been careful about how much information it releases on its plans for “Operation Epic Fury” and whether U.S. forces would be used to push for regime change. Trump’s comments on Thursday were the clearest hint yet that the United States could have a major role in setting up Iran’s next government. After the remaining Iranian leaders reportedly selected Khamenei’s son, Mojtaba, to take over, Trump told Axios that the appointment was “unacceptable.” “We want someone that will bring harmony and peace to Iran,” Trump said. “They are wasting their time. Khamenei’s son is a lightweight.” Trump added that any Iranian leader who would just continue the policies of the now crumbling regime would force the United States back into a war in “five years.” Radical Muslim leaders, including Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, reportedly lobbied for Mojtaba to get the appointment. Trump has expressed support for the Iranians who took to the streets in recent months to protest the regime. After announcing “Operation Epic Fury” last Saturday, Trump urged Iranians to take control of their authoritarian government once the dust settles after America’s major military operation. “To the great proud people of Iran, I say tonight that the hour of your freedom is at hand,” he said. “Stay sheltered. Don’t leave your home. It’s very dangerous outside. Bombs will be dropping everywhere. When we are finished, take over your government. It will be yours to take. This will be probably your only chance for generations.”

Hillsdale College announced Friday that Erika Kirk, CEO of Turning Point USA and widow of its founder, Charlie Kirk, will serve as the keynote speaker during graduation ceremonies this May. “Charlie Kirk became a national and international sensation, and he built something amazing. At his memorial service were the great, the near-great, and tens of millions watching. But that isn’t why we loved him. We loved him because he was, at heart, a student who worked hard to get it right,” Hillsdale College President Larry P. Arnn said in a statement. “Erika Kirk, brave and widowed, intends to carry on. And we will help her.” Dr. Arnn announced during Kirk’s memorial service in September that Hillsdale College will confer honorary doctorates on both Charlie and Erika Kirk at the May 2026 graduation ceremony. Previous honorary degree recipients include Justice Clarence Thomas, Edwin J. Feulner, Bishop Robert Barron, Pat and Lesly Sajak, and Victor Davis Hanson. “I’m privileged to know lots and lots of high-minded, intelligent and serious young people,” Arnn said. “Charlie is one of the best I ever saw. It’s an honor to have known him.” Kirk became the CEO of TPUSA following the assassination of her husband last September. She holds a bachelor’s degree in political science and international relations from Arizona State University and a Juris Master in American legal studies from Liberty University. “It is a great honor to be invited to speak at the Hillsdale College Graduation Ceremony on May 9,” Kirk said. “Charlie loved Hillsdale deeply and was often a grateful student of its online courses, learning from Dr. Larry Arnn and the remarkable faculty, who are so committed to truth and the pursuit of wisdom.” “Hillsdale represents something rare in our time — a steadfast devotion to faith, learning, and the principles that sustain a free nation,” she added. “I am sincerely grateful for the invitation and look forward to being there with all of you. God bless you.” Hillsdale, an independent liberal arts college in southern Michigan, is revered for being one of the only institutions of higher learning with a strong conservative Christian identity. Founded in 1844, the college has a reputation for offering a classical liberal arts core curriculum and never accepting federal or state taxpayer subsidies, including student grants or loans.

President Donald Trump, as well as some of the biggest names in sports, are at the White House Friday for a roundtable discussion on college sports. “The president wants to save college sports,” White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told Fox News on Friday, “It’s very important to him and to so many athletes across the country to fix the broken system.” According to Fox News, the president is fed up with the overspending on players and the constant transfer of players between schools. A big focus of the meeting will be how to rein in NIL, which stands for name, image, and likeness. NIL is how the players make their millions. Another area of focus will be collective bargaining. “The president is saying enough is enough,” Darren Botelho said. Trump is not against players being paid, but instead he is focusing on keeping college sports as amateur as it can be in the new NIL era. Trump will be the chair of the Saving College Sports Roundtable, alongside vice chairs Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and New York Yankees President Randy Levine. Notable sports figures attending Friday’s gathering include Nick Saban, Tiger Woods, Urban Meyer, and Tony Dungy. NBA Commissioner Adam Silver is set to attend alongside several NCAA conference commissioners and media execs. In total, more than 30 people will be in attendance. As of now, there are no current players or coaches participating in the roundtable. In response to the lack of current athletes attending the roundtable, Temple University football player Kahlil Poteat said: “We deserve a seat at the table. We as athletes are the reason the stands are filled, logos are worn, and the game thrives the way it does. Ever since I was a little kid, I dreamed about making it to the Division I level to play the sport I love. It is unfair and unfaithful to hold a discussion without the main attraction in mind. We deserve a say, just like the executives and leaders, in sports and in our futures. I believe that we, as athletes at every level, deserve to be at the table and fight for our best interest. We want college sports to thrive just like everyone else in the room. So let’s bond together to generate the best outcome for all.” Trump hasn’t shied away from sports during his second term; the president signed an executive order to ban third-party pay-for-play payments, while allowing legitimate NIL endorsement deals. He also called on schools to expand “opportunities for scholarships and collegiate athletic competition in women’s and non-revenue sports.” Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) has long supported Trump getting involved with the landscape of college sports. Last May, Tuberville said he is confident the Trump administration can find a solution to the current chaos at the college level. “While I’m all for players making money, we need to create national standards to protect the integrity of college sports,” Tuberville said.