Tuesday's episode of Morning Joe did its best to rain on yesterday's parade celebrating the 250th anniversary of the United States Army. First up was MSNBC commentator Anand Giridharadas—a man who seemingly has on his mind a certain issue affecting some men. Of all the adjectives he might have chosen, Giridharadas called the parade "flaccid." This from the fellow who has selected as his signature look [see screencap] a rigidly erect hairdo. This man suggested Trump's inspiration for the parade was from communist China and North Korea. Fact check: False. He's long cited Bastille Day in democratic France.  Then there was Washington Post columnist Eugene Robinson. He began by diminishing the size of Trump's 2024 victory, noting it was only 1.5%. Robinson ignored the fact that Trump was the first Republican in 20 years to win the popular vote, and that he swept all seven swing states. Robinson said that the margin of Trump's win didn't constitute an "overwhelming mandate for proto-fascism," which he apparently thought the parade represented. To which tens of millions of Americans would likely respond, "You're right. We didn't vote for proto-fascism. We voted for capitalism and border control."  But you do have to give Robinson full marks for syntax: not just fascism, but "proto-fascism." Dials the fright factor to 11. And finally, there was Joe Scarborough, who yet again worked in the fact that he had been a member of Congress. Noting that his former district is home to more military retirees than any other in America, Scarborough was "pretty sure" that if he still represented them, they would say that, rather than spending money on the parade, the funds should have been directed to various programs designed to support veterans. That sounds borrowed from Democrat Sen. Tammy Baldwin from his show yesterday. I'm "pretty sure" those veterans would rather have the money spent on a military parade than on, say, a "transgender opera in Colombia" funded by USAID. Don't remember Scarborough kvetching about that during Biden's tenure. While Morning Joe tried to pan the parade, other liberal voices weren't nearly so negative, among them Scarborough's MSNBC liberal colleagues Chris Hayes and Ali Velshi.   Fox News reported this exchange between the two: Hayes said that whereas Trump rallies can have "kind of a dark, malevolent energy, sometimes in them, not always, but it doesn’t seem like that’s the energy on the Mall today." Velshi agreed: "Correct. You’re really correct about that, Chris, and it’s something we were watching for. I’m just sort of surprised by the number of people who were at the front of the parade watching, cheering, and then would come and ask to take a selfie. This is a very different, this is a very different mood here." And ardent anti-Trumper Max Boot has written [emphasis added]: "My worry was that Trump would turn the Army parade into just another political pageant. Those concerns only grew when I saw how many of the spectators were wearing MAGA hats or shirts. But my apprehension began to melt away as soon as the music started to play and the soldiers began to march. Dear reader, I hope you do not think I am going soft on Trump if I tell you that I thoroughly enjoyed the entire parade." Here's the transcript. MSNBC Morning Joe 6/17/25 6:46 am EDT JONATHAN LEMIRE: And I know you were focused on what happened in Washington with the military parade. A lot of, there were a lot of concern about the images that President Trump was trying to create there, in addition to, beyond the perhaps taxpayer expenditures. But you found comforting the crowd just didn't show up.  ANAND GIRIDHARADAS: They didn't. It was a flaccid and sad parade. And after, you know, people have seen now the images of the kind of half-empty bleachers, of the officials kind of yawning and not particularly excited about their own parade that they'd ordered up.  Look, Donald Trump tried to use the United States Armed Forces as a birthday party rental company, right? He tried to throw himself a birthday using the United States Armed Forces. And what's so interesting, there were these memes that started doing the rounds of these pictures from the parade, pictures like what you're seeing, but also the actual marching, juxtaposed with pictures of military parades of the kind we know Trump likes. The kind of North Korean, Chinese marching in lockstep, thousands of people in these like square formations, the kicking going up and down, the arms going up and down.  We know that's what he wanted. And in the United States of America, he was not able to get it despite his power and being the Commander-in-Chief.  . . .  EUGENE ROBINSON: The split screen is what I thought was so fascinating, because you had on the one hand, the military parade that wasn't, there was no goose stepping, none of that. And then you had 5 million people in demonstrations around the country against what President Trump is doing.  What it brought to mind to me was a number that, that Joe Scarborough mentioned earlier, 1.5%. That was the margin between the 77 million votes that Donald Trump got and the 75 million that Kamala Harris got.  And it's not this overwhelming mandate for proto-fascism.  . . .  JOE SCARBOROUGH: My feeling is, of course, we want to always salute our men and women in uniform. My guess is, serving in a district that had more military retirees than any other district in America, my guess is they would say, you know what, use that money to help with VA benefits. Use that money to strengthen the VA instead of gutting the VA . . .  That's just generally my thought.  Again, serving in a district that had six, seven military bases and more military retirees than any district in America. I think most of those people, who obviously love the military, would look at that military parade and come to me if I were still representing them and saying, why do we have cuts at the VA? Why is Congress and the White House not keeping their promise on veterans health care, on military retirees health care? But they're running parades that cost hundreds of millions of dollars. I'm pretty sure that's what I would hear from my constituents. 

If Donald Trump's "51st state" cracks have gotten under Mark Carney's skin, he wasn't showing it when he kicked off the G7 summit Monday.Sitting next to the American president, Canada's prime minister played the consummate host, with conciliatory remarks stressing how much the participant nations have in common.'We are actively seeking to strengthen transatlantic security, particularly by becoming a participant in rearming Europe.'"All of us around this table are reinforcing our militaries and security services for the new world," he said. "But we all know that there can be no security without economic prosperity, and no prosperity without resilience. And ... that resilience comes from cooperation, cooperation that starts around this table."Two-percenterStill, Carney has lately made it clear that he'd like to place some distance between him and his tablemate. Last week, he pledged that the country would boost defense spending to the tune of an additional $9.3 billion this year in order to be less "reliant" on the protection of its big brother to the south.Carney's increase would bring Canada's defense spending in line with NATO's benchmark of 2% of GDP for the first time since NATO established the benchmark in 2006. In the last two decades, Canada has rarely exceeded 1.5% and has usually hovered around 1%.The last time Canada's defense spending met the 2% threshold was in 1987, when former Prime Minister Brian Mulroney sought to rebuild Canada’s military. At the height of the Cold War in the 1950s and 1960s, Canada was spending well over 4% of its GDP on national defense.But will Canadians actually benefit from Carney’s spending spree?RELATED: Listen up, America: Everything you've been told about Canada is a lie Lillian Suwanrumpha/Dave Chan/Toronto Star/NurPhoto/Bloomberg/André Ringuette/Douglas Elbinger/Getty Images'Deep decline' In his announcement last Monday, Carney was typically vague about where the money will go, while hinting that Canada is on the market for new military allies and relationships:Canada can work towards a new international set of partnerships that are more secure, prosperous, just, and free. We can pursue deeper alliances with stable democracies who share our interests, values, principles, and history, and we can help create a new era of integration between like-minded partners that maximizes mutual support over mutual dependency.On one point, Carney was blunt: The Canadian Armed Forces are a military in deep decline. "Our military infrastructure and equipment have aged, hindering our military preparedness,” he said. “I'll give an example or two: Only one of our four submarines is seaworthy. Less than half our maritime fleet and land vehicles are operational."Continental affairSo where are these "like-minded partners" who will help Canada get back into fighting shape? Not on this side of the Atlantic. Carney has openly mused about Canada becoming a member of the European Union and contributing to its defense force, and this looks like a big step in that direction.Does this mean that Carney will join European leaders like U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron in providing missiles to Ukraine for its war with Russia? Is that how he plans to spend Canadian tax dollars? It might not seem like a good deal to Canadians.Last month, however, Carney expressed his intention for Canada to join ReArm Europe, a major European defense buildup. He has also continued his predecessor Justin Trudeau's policy of sending billions of dollars in military and civil aid to Ukraine, even though the country is on the brink of defeat.Carney said:We are actively seeking to strengthen transatlantic security, particularly by becoming a participant in ReArm Europe. This will help diversify our military suppliers with reliable European partners and integrate the Canadian defense industry as full participants in 150 billion euros of Europe's rearmament program. To these ends, the Canada EU summit later this month will be more important than ever, and Canada will arrive at this summit with a plan to lead with new investments to build our strength in service of our values. This will include our support for new NATO defense industrial pledge, which will be negotiated at the NATO summit.'Blank check' from PierreAt a news conference on Monday, Conservative Party leader Pierre Poilievre essentially gave Carney a blank check and promised his support to help the liberals achieve the military spending target.“After a decade of liberal cuts, mismanagement, and back-office bureaucracy of boondoggles and wasted money on bungled projects, our military has never been weaker," said Poilievre. "Now, more than ever, we need a strong military that will reassert our sovereignty in the north, take back control of our Arctic waters," Poilevre added, noting that he wanted to fight the increasingly woke policies that have infected Canada’s military and bring back the “warrior culture.”But he stood shoulder to shoulder with Carney on spending. “We support getting back to the 2% target as soon as possible, and we will support additional money for our military,” Poilievre said, even as he promised to ferret out “waste in bureaucracy, consultants, foreign aid, corporate welfare, and other areas.”Despite his tough talk, Poilievre admitted he had yet to see the Liberal government's budget for the increased spending.

Notorious California state Sen. Scott Wiener and a fellow Democrat have introduced legislation that would prevent members of law enforcement — from the lowliest local cops to federal immigration agents — from wearing face coverings.On Monday, Wiener of San Francisco and Assembly Public Safety Committee Chair Jesse Arreguín of Oakland introduced the No Secret Police Act, which would make wearing a mask a misdemeanor for on-duty officers."We’re seeing the rise of secret police — masked, no identifying info, even wearing army fatigues — grabbing & disappearing people. It’s antithetical to democracy & harms communities," Wiener posted to X. "The No Secret Police Act can help end the fear & chaos this behavior creates in communities."'They're being doxxed all over the place.'"What we have been seeing in the last few weeks are law enforcement — some local, some federal — who are wearing masks to completely hide their faces while they are carrying out deportation and other enforcement activities," added Arreguín, according to KABC-TV.Border czar Tom Homan has repeatedly insisted that ICE agents must wear masks to guard against doxing. "They're being doxxed all over the place," he told Blaze Media co-founder Glenn Beck last month. "Their pictures are being put on telephone poles in major cities. These officers are under great threat. They identify them. They put their home, they put the phone numbers or home address. It's just ridiculous."RELATED: California creeps who solicit sex from certain minors can't be charged with felony, thanks to Democrats Photo by Anna Moneymaker/Getty ImagesThe proposed legislation does permit some exceptions for SWAT members and those wearing medical or safety masks to protect themselves against airborne disease and wildfires that regularly rage through the state. Face shields will also be permitted for those combatting riots, so long as their faces are still visible.The New York Post noted that masked rioters on the streets of Los Angeles were caught on camera committing horrific acts of violence, including against police.However, as the No Secret Police Act notes, existing California law already prohibits wearing "a mask, false whiskers, or any personal disguise, as specified, with the purpose of evading or escaping discovery, recognition, or identification while committing a public offense, or for concealment, flight, evasion, or escape from arrest or conviction for any public offense."Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

The change in popes earlier this year has enlivened the international debate about the Catholic liturgy and tradition, especially about the traditional Latin mass. With Vatican deadlines approaching later this year, everyone is anxious to see what Pope Leo XIV's legacy will be.Cardinal Leo Burke recently announced his hope that the new pope would "reconsider" the recent teachings of Pope Francis, which led to "persecution from within the Church" regarding the discontinuation of the Latin mass.'Unfortunately, the current restrictions put in place by the recently deceased Pope Francis have caused confusion and hurt to the faithful who are seeking to worship the holy Trinity with the ancient liturgy and rituals.'During a conference with the Latin Mass Society, Cardinal Burke was asked what he hopes the new pope, Leo XIV, will do regarding the late Pope Francis' restrictions on the Latin Mass."It is my hope that he will put an end to the persecution of the faithful in the Church who desire to worship God according to the more ancient usage of the Roman right," Burke, over video, told the conference.Cardinal Burke signaled that he had already expressed his hopes for the future of the Latin Mass to Pope Leo XIV: "I certainly have already had occasion to express that to the Holy Father. ... It is my hope that he will restore the situation as it was after 'Summorum Pontificum' and even to continue to develop what Pope Benedict had so wisely and lovingly legislated for the Church."RELATED: Not Francis 2.0: Why Pope Leo XIV is a problem for the 'woke' agenda "Summorum Pontificum" (2007) was Pope Benedict XVI's affirmation of the traditional celebration of the holy Mass in Latin. It was later restricted by Pope Francis' own motu proprio, "Traditionis Custodes" (2021).Benedict's letter emphasized that the traditional Latin Mass and Novus Ordo were a "twofold use of one and the same rite," while Francis called for liturgical unity, limiting the extent to which the Latin Mass could be used.Pope Francis' restrictions on the Latin Mass have been met with a great deal of resistance from the faithful, yet some dioceses have insisted on obedience to this order.Many Catholics have argued against the legitimacy of "Traditionis Custodes," including liturgical scholar Dr. Peter Kwasniewski, who said in a 2021 speech at a Catholic Identity Conference, "The traditional Mass belongs to the most intimate part of the common good in the Church. Restricting it, pushing it into ghettos, and ultimately planning its demise can have no legitimacy. This law is not a law of the Church because, as St. Thomas Aquinas says, a law against the common good is no valid law."Charlotte, North Carolina, however, has become a focal point in this controversy because Bishop Michael Martin recently announced that he would expedite the change in his diocese.On May 23, Bishop Martin announced that the Latin Mass would cease to be offered by the four parishes in his diocese that celebrate it. He said the transition would be completed by the deadline of July 8, 2025. That deadline, however, is three months ahead of an existing October 2025 deadline for the transition.But in an unlikely turn of events, Bishop Martin announced on June 3 that he would push back the deadline to the Vatican's original October deadline. He cited pastoral concerns, both from parishioners and priests.“It made sense to start these changes in July when dozens of our priests will be moving to their new parishes and other assignments,” Bishop Martin told local Catholic News Herald. “That said, I want to listen to the concerns of these parishioners and their priests, and I am willing to give them more time to absorb these changes.”RELATED: Truth bomb: How Pope Leo XIV is exposing the left's greatest fear Photo by Grzegorz Galazka/Mondadori Portfolio via Getty Images“I support the letter of His Eminence, Cardinal Burke, and his attempt to bring about Catholic unity under the peaceful provisions established by Pope Benedict XVI for the traditional Latin Mass. Unfortunately, the current restrictions put in place by the recently deceased Pope Francis have caused confusion and hurt to the faithful who are seeking to worship the holy Trinity with the ancient liturgy and rituals,” Dr. Taylor R. Marshall, president of the New Saint Thomas Institute, told Blaze News.“I recently met with another cardinal in Rome who agrees with Cardinal Burke. We hope that the new pontiff, Pope Leo XIV, restores the generosity of Pope Benedict XVI by allowing the traditional Latin Mass to Catholics,” Dr. Marshall continued.Bishop Martin also told the local outlet that the diocese would abide by any formal instruction from the Vatican in the interim.Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

Parents of students at a private school in Canada were able to get results after they confronted a bus driver about his creepy behavior. The video shows the male driver in pink and white "school girl" garb brazenly defying the parents who question him on why he's wearing the get-up in front of children. The driver reportedly bused students at St. Michael the Archangel Elementary in Woodbridge, Ontario. 'Our children deserve to be transported by someone who maintains professional boundaries. The optics of this situation were disturbing.' "I do this every day, and I don't think ... there is an issue," the driver says. "So you picked up the kids dressed up like that?" asks one person. "Yep!" he replies. "Why do you call your bus the Lolita Line?" asks another male. "Why is it called the Lolita Line?" The driver does not respond, closes the doors to the bus, and drives away. The video was posted to social media, where it garnered millions of views. One social media user noticed that in the video a sign is visible referring to the "Lolita" name. That name could be a reference to the controversial book "Lolita" and movie where a pedophile professor victimizes and sexually abuses a 12-year-old girl. Jeffrey Epstein referred to the book, according to one of his accusers, and called his plane to his infamous pedophile island the "Lolita Express." One parent voiced concerns anonymously in a statement published by CAA Magazine. "The issue is not about personal expression — it's about judgment and context," said the parent. "Our children deserve to be transported by someone who maintains professional boundaries. The optics of this situation were disturbing."The York Catholic District School Board confirmed that the driver would not be assigned to the routes of the elementary school. However, the board merely requested a reassignment, and CAA noted that it's unclear if the man is still allowed access to children as a bus driver. RELATED: MAGA dad silenced by Maine school board chair after speaking out against boys in girls' sports Photo by Cole Burston/Bloomberg via Getty Images “Third-party companies provide school busing in Ontario. YCDSB staff immediately brought this matter to the bus driver’s employer. The company acted quickly to address this situation with its employee and assured the YCDSB that this will not be an issue going forward," read a statement from the Catholic school board to Rebel News. “All bus drivers in Ontario are required to pass a Vulnerable Sector Screening with their local police department, and they receive extensive training before transporting students," the statement continued. "The YCDSB followed all of its child protection procedures after this incident.”Scenes from the school can be viewed on the news video from Rebel News on YouTube. Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

Victoria 3 is a solid grand strategy game, though its not without its problems. Created by Paradox, the studio and publisher responsible for genre staples like Age of Wonders 4, Stellaris, Imperator: Rome, Hearts of Iron 4, and the forthcoming Europa Universalis 5, Victoria 3 is as detailed and complex as its predecessor, but it's also let down by a poor trade system that's undermined the success of the game as a whole. Fortunately, that issue has finally been addressed with the launch of a new update and the Charters of Commerce DLC, both out today. Continue reading New Victoria 3 DLC finally fixes up trade, and it's exactly what we wanted MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best grand strategy games, Best 4X games, Best strategy games

When Destiny 2 and Halo creator Bungie first announced that it was returning to Marathon, the '90s sci-fi FPS trilogy that established the studio, the basic idea presented an intriguing prospect. The original games have a rich setting and strong narrative that would be novel to see explored further. Every piece of fresh news regarding the project, though, tempered that excitement, from learning that the new game would be a live-service extraction shooter rather than a story-focused campaign through to art plagiarism allegations and a closed alpha that left early players unconvinced. Now, instead of aiming for its intended launch this September, Marathon has been delayed indefinitely. Continue reading Bungie delays Marathon indefinitely, reveals plan for improvements MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best FPS games , Marathon release date speculation, All Destiny 2 news

The week of June 9, 2025: The retreat from the dollar, tariffs, the debt, defense tech, and much, much more.

We Already Forgot Who You Are: Watch Alex Padilla Gin Up Some Crocodile Tears on the Senate Floor

If you're an indie developer, you need to be quite agile and adaptable, as you might encounter an issue that dictates the direction of your game, and fighting against it often compounds the problem rather than solving it. Sometimes, you just need to go with the flow and let the game take shape in whatever way it wants to, which is exactly what happened with AnimalKind.