from ZeroHedge: AI-driven equity disruption was everywhere this past week, spreading like wildfire beyond software into insurance, commercial real estate, financials, shipping, wealth management, and likely many more industries in the coming trading sessions. One industry in the crosshairs of AI disruption is Hollywood. Some of the publicly traded studios include The Walt Disney Company, […]

by Mark E. Jeftovic , Bombthrower: The Politics Of Institutionalized Predation “I become stronger as you become weaker, I absorb strength as yours flows into me. I become capable of this because I do not experience your pain, I don’t care about your loss, and I feel no regret about using, abusing, and devouring you.” […]

Paradise Lost’s Draconian Times is one of the key British metal albums of the 1990s

Norway’s royal family faces a double scandal as Crown Princess Mette-Marit’s son stands trial for rape, while newly released files reveal her name appeared up to 1,000 times in Jeffrey Epstein’s documents. When Timing Becomes the Story Marius Borg Høiby’s arrest delivered a calculated message from Oslo police. Hauling in the Crown Princess’s son mere hours before his rape trial suggests prosecutors believe he poses an active threat. The new charges paint a disturbing picture: assault, knife threats, and violating restraining orders meant to protect former partners. Police requested four weeks’ detention, citing clear reoffending risk. This arrest follows a pattern of escalating behavior throughout 2024, when Høiby faced multiple arrests before his August indictment. The timing strips away any illusion that royal proximity offers protection in Norway’s legal system. The Epstein Shadow Lengthens Friday’s document release dropped a bombshell on the Norwegian royal house. Crown Princess Mette-Marit’s name appears between 500 and 1,000 times in Jeffrey Epstein’s files, far exceeding the typical frequency of contact. The palace confirmed what the documents revealed: she stayed at his Palm Beach mansion in early 2013, facilitated by a mutual friend. Email exchanges between 2011 and 2014 show sustained contact, though the palace insists she never visited his infamous island. Saturday, Mette-Marit issued a statement calling her Epstein association “embarrassing” and “poor judgment,” echoing regrets she first expressed in 2019 when his crimes became impossible to ignore. Thirty-Eight Counts of Reckoning The indictment against Høiby reads like a catalog of domestic terror. Four alleged rapes between 2018 and November 2024 form the prosecution’s core. Beyond sexual assault, charges include abuse in close relationships, violence against multiple former partners, death threats, transporting 3.5 kilograms of marijuana, and traffic violations. Two former girlfriends hold restraining orders against him, orders he allegedly violated before Sunday’s arrest. His defense denies all sexual abuse charges and most violence allegations, acknowledging only lesser offenses. The trial runs through mid-March at the Oslo District Court, where prosecutors seek a maximum 16-year sentence. Høiby’s lawyers remain unreachable for comment, leaving his defense strategy unclear as proceedings begin. #BREAKING || Strip away the crown and read the charge sheet. Marius Borg Høiby—son of Mette-Marit—faces 32 offenses, including four counts of rape, alleged assaults on sleeping women over years, domestic abuse, violence, and repeated violations of restraining orders. In… pic.twitter.com/ut3xUDKY8U — State Cipher (@StateCipher) February 2, 2026 Royal Distance and Democratic Justice Crown Prince Haakon drew a hard line last week: neither he nor Mette-Marit would attend the trial or offer commentary. His reasoning cuts to the heart of Norway’s democratic principles. Høiby holds no royal title, carries no official duties, and enjoys no special legal status despite his mother’s crown. Haakon emphasized that his stepson faces the same rights and responsibilities as any Norwegian citizen, a stance that honors both judicial independence and public expectations. The Crown Prince expressed confidence that the trial would proceed fairly, suggesting faith in Norway’s legal system to handle the case without royal interference. This hands-off approach protects institutional integrity while acknowledging the obvious: family ties don’t erase when courtroom doors close. Pattern Recognition and Public Trust Multiple arrests throughout 2024 established Høiby as a repeat offender before his trial even started. Each incident added charges, each release preceded new allegations, building prosecutorial justification for detention. The pattern suggests either profound disregard for legal consequences or inability to control violent impulses toward intimate partners. Either interpretation terrifies when combined with rape allegations spanning six years. For Norway’s royals, already navigating Princess Märtha Louise’s controversial 2024 marriage to a self-proclaimed shaman and her commercial ventures, Høiby’s criminality compounds reputational damage. The convergence of his trial with Epstein revelations creates a crisis of association for one of Europe’s most beloved royal families. The Epstein Question Nobody Wants Appearing hundreds to 1,000 times in Epstein’s files demands explanation beyond “mutual friend introductions.” That volume of mentions suggests sustained interaction over years, as confirmed by the palace’s admission of contact during 2011-2014 and the documented 2013 Palm Beach stay. Mette-Marit’s 2019 regret statement followed Epstein’s arrest and subsequent death, a timeline suggesting reactive damage control rather than proactive conscience. Her Saturday statement attempts accountability, expressing sympathy for victims while taking responsibility for poor judgment. Yet questions persist: What drew a crown princess into Epstein’s orbit? What did those email exchanges contain? Why maintain contact across three years? The palace’s confirmation that she never visited his island offers narrow reassurance when the broader association remains deeply troubling. NEW: Norway’s Crown Princess Mette-Marit name appears several hundred times in the Epstein files: "You always make me smile… Because you tickle my brain." – she wrote to Epstein pic.twitter.com/uG3X3dNOvn — Megatron (@Megatron_ron) January 31, 2026 Norway’s monarchy has built its popularity on accessibility and democratic values, positioning itself as the people’s royals rather than distant aristocrats. That image faces its severest test as Høiby’s trial unfolds alongside scrutiny of Epstein. The combination exposes uncomfortable truths about proximity to power, the judgment of those who wield it, and whether accountability applies equally when royal blood flows through family trees. Mette-Marit’s regrets ring hollow without a deeper explanation of what exactly required regret. Haakon’s principled distance protects the judicial process while sidestepping harder questions about family enabling. For Norwegian citizens watching their popular royals stumble through scandal, the real trial may be whether trust survives the verdict. Sources: Son of Norway’s crown princess arrested before his trial on rape and other charges – ABC News Son of Norway’s crown princess arrested on new allegations the day before his rape trial – CBS News Norwegian crown princess’ son detained ahead of rape trial – Euronews

Under Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s New York City, 16 people experiencing homelessness froze to death in a single brutal winter weekend—found across Manhattan, Brooklyn, and the subway system. These tragedies occurred despite the mayor’s $100 million affordable housing campaign, which promised 200,000 new homes, and New York City spending roughly $3 billion in fiscal year 2025 on homelessness-related services.   The failures highlight a troubling reality: Government programs can provide aid, but they often fail to change lives.  Poverty, homelessness, broken families, and addiction have long plagued American communities. Policymakers have attempted to solve these problems through government intervention and social programs. These programs may provide temporary relief to families across the country, but the root of the problem remains neglected.    Because the programs are administered through bureaucratic systems, they tend to treat people as cases to be managed rather than individuals to be restored. Social programs can unintentionally erode personal accountability and often lack personal investment and support.   This is why religious communities succeed where social programs fail: Government aid manages needs while religion changes behavior. True change is not imposed—it is chosen. When people accept accountability for their decisions, they can alter the course of their lives.   Religion treats aid as part of a community, not as a handout. When a congregation offers support, it does so within a relationship that expects growth, contribution, and accountability.   Change Happens in Community   James, a single father of two from Ranger, Texas, was struggling to make ends meet while facing unemployment and the daily challenges of raising his children alone. Desperate for help, he turned to St. Rita’s Church for assistance, as Catholic Charities Fort Worth reports.  At Catholic Charities Fort Worth, James enrolled in a program designed to provide financial assistance and equip him with the tools and guidance needed to navigate his challenging circumstances.   Perhaps the most important part of the program was the support network it offered—especially Dina, his program navigator.  “Sometimes he would call me crying,” Dina said, “but I felt like those were breakthroughs for him because he had somebody to at least, you know, confide in and not judge him. I think it gave him confidence and courage to know that somebody was there with him, walking that path with him.”   Catholic social services demonstrate how religious communities pair material assistance with emotional support. In 2024, the network of Catholic Charities agencies across the country served more than 28 million meals and provided emergency housing services to nearly 295,000 people.   Pope Benedict XVI taught: “The State which would provide everything, absorbing everything into itself, would ultimately become a mere bureaucracy incapable of guaranteeing the very thing which the suffering person, every person needs: namely, loving personal concern.” He emphasizes that true help and lasting change are rooted in love.   Ironically, churches are both communal and individual. As members grow and encourage others, they themselves are transformed.   The Need for Accountability   Government aid is built on eligibility, not community. People often receive benefits without a clear expectation of change, which can contribute to cycles of dependency rather than progress.   Temporary Assistance for Needy Families was created to promote work and self-sufficiency, but over time, its reach and incentives have weakened. In the 1990s, this program replaced the traditional welfare system. Since then, the share of families in poverty receiving cash assistance has declined dramatically.   Today, only 20 out of every 100 families in poverty receive Temporary Assistance for Needy Families support. Although work participation requirements exist, the national average work participation rate in the program was just 37.4% in 2023.   Because benefits are tied to eligibility and compliance rather than personal growth, accountability becomes procedural instead of relational.   The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints demonstrates how combining material assistance with accountability can help individuals move out of hardship. In 2024, the church spent $1.45 billion on humanitarian aid and welfare programs. The church has stated that its welfare program “is not only a way to help members in temporarily difficult circumstances, but also stresses self-reliance as a way of life, including education, health, employment, family home production and storage, family finances, and spiritual strength.”   Accountability paired with practical skill-building helps individuals escape difficult situations rather than remain trapped in them.   The LDS Newsroom shared Charlene Cummings’ firsthand experience with the welfare program. Having faced childhood abuse and living with a diagnosed mental illness, Charlene recently moved from a group home into her own apartment.   She credits her independence to the care and guidance of her local church community. Church members helped her develop practical skills like budgeting, savings, and meal planning. When financial gaps arose, the Church provided food and financial support. “The Church has become the family I’ve never had; they’ve taught me things I’d never learned,” Charlene said.   This is due to the LDS church’s emphasis on self-reliance.  Some may argue that government programs are essential because they provide large-scale, legally mandated, and widely accessible support. Yes, social programs can offer meaningful assistance to many people. However, religious communities often deliver aid in ways that are more personal, relational, and adaptable than bureaucratic systems, particularly when it comes to fostering long-term change.   In essence, social programs primarily provide material needs. While this may offer temporary relief, it does not create a sustainable path toward long-term success. Religious communities, however, offer the essential combination of love, accountability, and material support that leads to genuine progress.  The post Religious Communities Succeed Where Social Programs Fail  appeared first on The Daily Signal.

A reporter once asked me, “What’s the toughest challenge you’ve faced as a caregiver?”“Knowing what’s mine and not mine to carry,” I replied without hesitation.He expected a different answer. Caregiving is usually described in terms of health care, insurance, exhaustion, sacrifice, or resilience. All of that is real, but none of it gets to the heart of the problem.As a caregiver, I don’t need an 'A for effort.' I need to know whether what I’m doing actually helps.I see this challenge most clearly in exam rooms. My wife needs space to speak for herself, even when pain makes it slow or difficult. Knowing when to step in and when to stay silent is a daily test of restraint. I’m her husband, advocate, and caregiver. She often asks for my voice, but I must also know when to withhold it.Her car accident happened before I met her. I did not cause it, and I cannot undo it. Forty years into our marriage and this caregiving journey, I still haven’t managed to slow its effects, much less resolve them. Time has given me experience, but not control.We live in a culture that treats effort as virtue and control as responsibility.Paramedics, doctors, and first responders are compelled to act because they are trained and authorized.Those outside those roles are often driven by something else. Someone else’s suffering agitates us. The urge to relieve that discomfort gets mistaken for a moral obligation. Action becomes a way to quiet ourselves rather than to help.That reflex doesn’t stay confined to caregiving. When situations grow heated, the instinct is almost always the same: escalate, push harder, do more. Stopping feels irresponsible.RELATED: When you’re carrying the love alone on Valentine’s Day kckate16 / Getty ImagesBut effort is not the same as efficacy.As a caregiver, I don’t need an “A for effort.” I need to know whether what I’m doing actually helps. And to know that, I have to stop and ask tough questions.What is my responsibility? What are my capabilities?I cannot make my wife’s legs grow back or eliminate her pain. I cannot undo the accident.If those are my metrics, no amount of effort will ever succeed.For years, fear convinced me that if I stayed more vigilant, sacrificed more, and tried harder, I could outrun reality. I mistook effort for faithfulness and exhaustion for love. In the process, I didn’t just wear myself down; I made things harder for the person I was trying to help.Living with this over decades eventually forced me to exchange action for stewardship. When panic told me I had to solve everything immediately, a simpler question surfaced.What is actually mine to do in this moment?Care, not cure. Faithfulness, not outcomes.Over time, it became clear that this struggle is not unique to caregiving. Powerlessness is terrifying, and unexamined fear often leads to recklessness or rage.We see the results daily. People insert themselves into situations they do not understand, interfere where they have no authority, and escalate conflicts rather than resolve them. Those thoughts don’t just whisper, they accuse. And when they go unchecked, they drive people, individually and collectively, to destructive extremes in the name of responsibility.I’ve learned to pay attention to the language that accompanies overreach. It often arrives like a whip: I’ve got to. I must. I have to. I’m supposed to. Those phrases feel like responsibility, but they are often fear speaking in the grammar of duty. They leave no room for limits, no space for discernment, and no acknowledgment of jurisdiction.This is where the harder question emerges.Who actually has jurisdiction?Not every situation improves when I insert myself into it. Not every wrong becomes mine to right. Sometimes the most faithful response is counterintuitive.Sometimes I should just stand there. Not indifferent or in moral retreat.I need to recognize that stepping outside my jurisdiction can damage the responsibilities already entrusted to me.RELATED: The reform every society needs: Stop mistaking shock for success Cienpies via iStock/Getty ImagesThis is where clarity matters most. God holds ultimate jurisdiction over my wife’s condition. My role is not to replace Him or compete with Him. My role is to care steadily and responsibly, trusting that restraint is not neglect and limits are not abandonment.I once heard a story about Joni Mitchell telling a bassist working with her, “You have a marvelous use of space.” The bassist still had notes to play, but he understood the song was not his to dominate. Respecting the artist and the music itself required restraint. His understanding of limits did not diminish the song. It allowed it to become what it was meant to be.I still struggle with the line between intervention and restraint. If someone is harming himself or others, is there a responsibility to step in — and at what cost?Nothing resolves those questions neatly. But refusing to ask them guarantees damage.Overreach often disguises itself as virtue. But good intentions do not protect from bad outcomes. And sometimes what we call virtue is little more than performance.When that temptation returns, I am steadied by words a wise friend once spoke to me. “She has a Savior. You are not that Savior.”That distinction does not diminish love. It protects it. It keeps care from turning into control, responsibility from turning into ruin, and effort from becoming its own justification.Knowing what isn’t mine to carry remains one of the hardest lessons of my life.It is also one of the most necessary.

Police in Aurora, Colorado, got involved in a vehicle chase shortly after midnight earlier this month — and officers weren't by any stretch up against some "good old boys, never meanin' no harm" as Waylon Jennings famously crooned.In fact, police said the vehicle they were after was reported stolen — and things only got worse.'We'll do anything, bro!'Police said they first attempted to use StarChase equipment on the car in question; police said StarChase mechanisms are attached to the front of patrol vehicles, and when activated, they shoot a sticky GPS "dart" at the back of "whatever vehicle we are aiming at."But cops said the dart missed, so officers activated their lights and sirens.However, pulling over wasn't in the cards. Not only that, a masked back passenger leaned out of the car and pointed a gun at officers, police said.While no shots were fired, police said officers knew "it was critical to stop these individuals. That’s when a pursuit began."That's when things got even more, shall we say, hazardous.Cops remarked that the car in question hit a median "Dukes of Hazzard" style — and police video indeed catches the moment when the vehicle goes airborne."It may be 2026, but cars probably shouldn’t be flying like that," cops remarked.RELATED: Punk with attitude on overdrive caught on cop body cam allegedly trying to steal car — but not even a taser can slow his roll Image source: Aurora (Co.) Police video screenshotPolice said the car crashed at Boiling Drive and North Hannibal Street, but the suspects still wouldn't call their desperate dash quits — and they decided to run for it.It was all for naught, however, as cops said they soon found all three suspects — 18-year-old Angelo Munguia, 18-year-old Watti Heng, and a 17-year-old male — hiding in backyards.RELATED: 3 males — ages 8, 11, 12 — steal car, crash into house; driver, 11, says he learned how to steal cars from YouTube: Cops Image source: Aurora (Co.) Police video screenshot Image source: Aurora (Co.) Police video screenshotOne of them was heard on video begging as officers approached, "We'll do anything, bro!"Munguia was facing charges of felony menacing, obstructing a peace officer, violation of a protection order, and motor vehicle trespass, police said, while Heng was facing charges of eluding, motor vehicle theft, and obstructing a peace officer.RELATED: Florida female going wrong way on interstate claims husband was driving. Then cops find rather large hole in her story. Image source: Aurora (Co.) Police video screenshotYou can check out video below showing part of the chase, the flying car, and the suspects with their hands held high.RELATED: How police nailed driver accused of doing donuts in stolen car amid street takeover — even after giving cops the slip "They were taken into custody and SHOCKER, the car did indeed come back stolen out of a neighboring city," police said.And as Mr. Jennings knew all too well, "That's just a little bit more than the law will allow."Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

Key fob batteries always seem to die at the worst times. Learn a simple way to test a coin cell, plus which results you'll need to look for.

In rural Virginia, dozens of young cows belonging to Chris Stem graze by a frozen pond. He is living his childhood dream of being a farmer -- but reality is starting to bite.Despite soaring beef prices as the US cattle population hit a 75-year low, farmers like Stem are...