Don’t you just love news article titles like “As vaccine orthodoxy crumbles, cancel culture allegedly hits federal immunization advisory panel”? This was posted by Just The News covering the dismissal of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) chair Kirk Milhoan, a pediatric cardiologist, from Driscoll Physicians Group at Driscoll Children’s Hospital, which is part …

The Red Clay Strays took a moment out of their show to shine a light on their good pal, Brent Cobb. During the Red Clay Strays last couple of shows of 2025 in Las Vegas, Nevada, they brought their opener and longtime friend and mentor back out on stage to perform the Lynyrd Skynyrd song “Swamp Music” with them. The performance itself was a whole lot of fun for those in attendance, but it’s actual purpose was just to get Brent Cobb back out on stage so the Red Clay Strays could surprise him. It was a special moment for everyone involved because the Red Clay Strays and Brent Cobb have a history together. You might not know that Cobb helped play a role in helping Brandon Coleman and the rest of his band make it big. When Cobb sat down with us on the Whiskey Riff Raff podcast, he told us that their friendship was birthed from a simple direct message through Instagram: “I originally met them when they were damn near fresh out of high school. Maybe they were up here (in Nashville) for something, I don’t know. They had hit me up on Instagram, and this was 2017 or 2018. They had just been listening to my music for a long time. They are really aware of the writers. They knew I had written ‘Bar, Guitar and a Honky Tonk Crowd.’ They reached out, happened to be in town and we hung out. They wanted to write. We’ve just kind of buddies.” Fast forward years later, and the Red Clay Strays are one of the biggest acts in all of country music. That being said, they haven’t forgotten about the people that helped them get to where they are today. They have a deep appreciation for the Grammy-nominated Brent Cobb and his work, which is why they carved out time in their last shows of the year to surprise Brent Cobb with the presentation of his first ever gold record. Following the Lynyrd Skynyrd cover, frontman Brandon Coleman spoke to the crowd and Cobb while someone backstage brought out the framed gold record: “Don’t go anywhere Brent. We’ve got a present for ya. Brent, you have a song named ‘Black Creek.’ You may not know this, but ‘Black Creek’ recently went gold. We want to bring this out for you and present it to ya. Look at that buddy… you deserve it.” What a moment. Cobb’s “Black Creek” went certified gold by the RIAA (sold 500,000 units) back in August, and the Red Clay Strays gave him, the song and the accomplishment the proper recognition at their Las Vegas show. You could tell that Brent Cobb appreciated the gesture very much. It’s only right that the Red Clay Strays pay back Cobb in any way that they can. He was the one that told the band not to sign any contracts too early as they began to rise in fame: “I remember the year that they kind of popped off was 2022 or whatever. The top of that year, Drew called me and he was like, ‘Man, we’re starting to get some label interest and we’re getting booking agent interest. What do you think we should do?’ It was right before they did the Elle King tour and then they had those few shows with Eric Church. I was like, ‘Man, I don’t know much, but I’d say don’t sign anything yet. Do those tours and look at your numbers right now… people can’t come to your all’s show and see you and not be blown away. Just wait until the end of those tours and compare your numbers.’ I know I’m not the only person that told them that, but they did that, and by the end of those tours, they were superstars.” @whiskeyriff “They are really students of, the same way I am, of songwriting.” @Brent Cobb @The Red Clay Strays ♬ original sound – Whiskey Riff Without a doubt some great advice for the band from Mobile, Alabama. Cool to see that now, after really taking off, the Red Clay Strays are doing what they can to return the favor. And like Coleman said, Brent Cobb deserves the gold record… “Black Creek” is an absolute banger: The post The Red Clay Strays Surprise Brent Cobb On Stage With Gold Record For “Black Creek” first appeared on Whiskey Riff.

Looking back at a severely underrated discography. Undoubtedly, the ’90s have been looked at as one of the most beloved eras in country music history. Of course, you have the likes of legends, George Strait, Alan Jackson, Garth Brooks, Brooks & Dunn, Shania Twain, Reba McEntire and countless others who dominated the decade and are most closely associated with the beloved era. With that being said, however, a name that seems to fly under the radar, at least when compared to the artists mentioned above, is none other than John Michael Montgomery. It’s not to say that the Kentucky native hasn’t been given his flowers in the past, namely winning Single of the Year at both the 1994 CMA Awards and the 1995 ACM Awards as well as a Best Male Country Vocal Performance Grammy nomination for “I Swear.” Additionally, he’d be honored with various forms of “best new artist” awards upon the release of his 1992 debut album, Life’s a Dance, winning the ACM’s Top New Artist Award and the CMA’s Horizon Award (which was renamed simply to New Artist of the Year in 2007). Over the course of his career, Montgomery racked up two #1 albums (Kickin’ It Up and John Michael Montgomery), twenty Top 10 singles, seven #1 hits, five certified-platinum albums and an additional gold single for the aforementioned “I Swear.” Ultimately, the “I Love The Way You Love Me” singer has remained a key artist in the storied history of the genre in the ’90s. And tonight, in Lexington, Kentucky, Montgomery will be putting an end to his touring career, performing for the final time at the Rupp Arena along with special guests, Eddie Montgomery (of Montgomery Gentry), Walker Montgomery and Travis Denning. View this post on Instagram If you recall, Montgomery announced back in 2024 on New Year’s Day that he would be slowly winding down his touring career beginning in 2024 before wrapping up in 2025. And tonight is the grand finale for the ’90s legend. “I hope everyone enjoyed bringing in 2024 and may it be a wonderful one for all my friends out there. For me it will be the start of my farewell tour as I have decided to wind down my touring career over this year and 2025. It’s been a wonderful run for me from the beginning over 30 years ago in 1992 when my first song LIFE’s A DANCE was released to radio I think either as a 45 vinyl or on a cassette tape, CDs had not quite taken over the market yet and the internet was still in its infancy. It amazes me where it is today. I’ve been fortunate and blessed to be able to do what I love for so many years so. Please join me on my journey as I say goodbye to the road life. And thanks so much for your support for the last 3 decades, it’s meant so much me. Take care and see ya out there, Love you all! From me and my road family.” In honor of the “Sold” singer’s final show tonight in Lexington, I think there’s no better time to highlight his 10 biggest hits throughout his career. Of course, this will include his aforementioned seven #1 hits as well as other Top 5 hits such as “How Was I To Know” and “Home to You.” “I Love the Way You Love Me” Release date: March 1, 1993 Peak chart position: #1 “I Swear” Release date: November 19, 1993 Peak chart position: #1 “Be My Baby Tonight” Release date: May 23, 1994 Peak chart position: #1 “If You’ve Got Love“ Release date: September 19, 1994 Peak chart position: #1 “I Can Love You Like That” Release date: February 27, 1995 Peak chart position: #1 “Sold (The Grundy County Auction Incident)“ Release date: May 1, 1995 Peak chart position: #1 “The Little Girl” Release date: August 29, 2000 Peak chart position: #1 “Friends” Release date: September 23, 1996 Peak chart position: #2 “How Was I to Know“ Release date: June 9, 1997 Peak chart position: #2 “Home to You“ Release date: July 5, 1999 Peak chart position: #2 The post A Look Back At John Michael Montgomery’s Legendary Career In Honor Of His Final Show Tonight In Lexington, Kentucky first appeared on Whiskey Riff.

This is a terrific video. Congressman Wesley Hunt, who represents the 38th district in Texas, just schooled a reporter who asked him about being the first black Republican serving in Texas office. . . .

President Donald Trump signed an executive order Thursday to create a national artificial intelligence policy, limiting state regulation of AI. The order instructs Attorney General Pam Bondi to create an AI Litigation Task Force within 30 days to challenge states whose AI laws don’t align with the federal policy. The White House AI and crypto czar David Sacks, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Tex.), joined the president at the signing ceremony. “To win, United States AI companies must be free to innovate without cumbersome regulation. But excessive State regulation thwarts this imperative,” the order states. “It is the policy of the United States to sustain and enhance the United States’ global AI dominance through a minimally burdensome national policy framework for AI.” The order criticizes the patchwork of state-by-state regulations that complicate compliance for AI companies. States that don’t comply with the federal policy could face funding restrictions.  In the Oval Office, Trump said, “We have to be unified. China is unified because they have one vote and that’s President Xi.”  “We have a different system, but we have a system that’s good. But we only have a system that’s good if it’s smart.” The post Trump Signs Order to Create National AI Policy appeared first on The American Conservative.

Charles Dickens appreciated a prize turkey as much as Ebenezer Scrooge did. And on Christmas Eve 1869, his was missing.

Sometimes the most profound wisdom comes from people who have walked through the proverbial fire and come out the other side to talk about it. A young woman named McKenna (AKA Cowboy Kenna on social media) is one such human who goes out of her way, quite often, to remind people that kindness still exists. That all people, despite whatever they've been through, are deserving of love.In one TikTok clip, she relays that she's not going to let the world define her. Instead she's going to take her own experiences and churn them into advice for others looking to live their best (and kindest) lives.She begins with the simple notion: “I just wanted to say that…words matter. Whether good or bad, people are probably gonna remember what you said to them. Like I remember in elementary school, people would tell me my nose was too small for my face. Or just too small in general. Or I remember in sixth grade camp, somebody told me not to jump on the bed like the other girls because I'd break it. I remember my mom telling me that I shouldn't wear striped shirts because it's unflattering for a bigger person.” @cowboykenna Words matter. Kindness matters. #beagoodhuman #kindnessmatters She continues, “But on the other hand, I remember walking into the Apple Store and some lady told me that I was a ‘breath of fresh air.’ And I remember there was an older woman in the Walmart checkout line and she told me that my smile ‘made her day.’ And then the next day, somebody said the same exact thing.So words matter. Whether you think so or not. Sometimes people will remember that for the rest of their lives.”In another clip on Instagram, she begins by saying, “You guys know that saying that sometimes hurt people hurt people. Well, I think most of the time it can be true. But there's a few of us that have been hurt time and time again. I think we dedicate our lives to trying to make sure that no one else felt the way we felt.” See on Instagram “And sometimes I get it. You know, once you're filled with so much negativity, and somebody else instills all that darkness and hatred and everything into you, it can be hard to see a brighter light. But this is just your sign that you're not what somebody else said to you or you're not what somebody else made you into.You can change for the better. And sometimes hurt people don't hurt people. Sometimes we spend our lives doing the good stuff! And trying to make the world into a better place. So maybe helped people help people?Let's see about that. Stay good. Do good. Be a good person. I love ya.”Once again, there are clearly people who needed to hear this message. One person writes on Instagram, “Just dropping beautiful knowledge my friend!! You are changing the world in the best way! Keep being you!” @cowboykenna I think you guys know it too. #lovewinsall Upworthy had a chance to chat with McKenna about her life and inspiration for making these uplifting messages.What inspired you to start making these videos?“I started posting in July of this year, after I quit going to therapy! I wanted to challenge myself and my anxiety and do something out of my comfort zone or that scared me which is speaking or having that fear of judgment from others! I went with a 'throw myself into the deep end' approach haha! I didn’t have any ‘conventional’ talents other than empathy.”Tell us a little about your background and some things you're passionate about?“I grew up in Addison, Michigan, and still live here today. Went to Addison schools, I was homecoming queen my senior year so I would say I was well liked I suppose. I have always been passionate about helping others or being able to feel what others were feeling or the art of noticing. I love women’s basketball and Detroit football and going fishing.”If you could tell the 9-year-old version of yourself something, particularly if/when you were going through a rough patch, what would you say?“I would tell myself the story about ‘keeping your fork.’ It’s a story I’ve heard online about someone’s family member telling them to keep their fork from dinner for dessert afterwards at a restaurant. ‘Keep your fork, the best is yet to come.’” See on Instagram

It’s hard to believe there was a time when Dwayne Johnson was known only as “The Rock,” one of the biggest stars in WWE history. But all of that changed in 2001 when he was cast as the Scorpion King in the opening sequence of The Mummy Returns, a sequel to the 1999 blockbuster starring Rachel Weisz and Brendan Fraser.The Mummy Returns led Johnson to star in The Scorpion King (2002), and he’d rise to be one of the most bankable actors in Hollywood. Johnson had the opportunity to thank Fraser personally for his success in a recent installment of CNN and Variety’s co-produced Actors on Actors. The Mummy Returns kicked off Dwayne Johnson’s film career"[The Mummy] was one of the biggest franchises in the world at that time, in our industry, beloved around the world, and you were the face of that franchise,” Johnson told Fraser. “The flowers I want to give you is, I was ready to make my transition into Hollywood, and I was excited, and I had this opportunity to be cast in your movie as the Scorpion King. I remember meeting with Steven Summers, our director, and I met with all the folks at Universal, and I was so excited, but I knew, because they told me, 'You know, we're just going to talk to Brendan first.'"Casting Johnson, then known as The Rock, in the role was a significant risk for the production. If his acting was flat or people couldn’t shake his wrestling persona, it would have really dragged the production down. But Fraser thought it was a great idea to roll the dice.Johnson was shocked that Fraser wanted to take a risk on casting him"This is a beloved franchise; it felt like Raiders of the Lost Ark, and the word that I got back was, 'Brenden loves the idea. He welcomes you with open arms.' It really meant something to me, because not only was it your franchise, and you took a shot and a risk with me, who'd never acted back then, but also, that kicked off my career,” Johnson continued.Fraser appears to well up as he gracefully accepted Johnson’s gratitude. "You're too kind, Dwayne. You were always the right guy for the job,” Fraser responded. The funny thing was that Fraser wasn’t familiar with wrestling and didn’t know much about Johnson. “When I was shown, I said, 'That is perfect. That is inspired casting. That's fantastic. We'd be lucky to get the guy. Wow,’" he continued.The rest is ancient Egyptian history. - YouTube youtu.be Brendan Fraser and Rachel Weisz are going to return to the desert once again in a yet untitled fourth film in The Mummy franchise. The film is believed to follow the events of The Mummy Returns and ignore the 2008 flop, The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor. No other cast members from the previous films have been announced, but there are rumors that Johnson may be considering a return to the franchise.

There are *so many* settings and laundry cycles to choose from on a washing machine. But washing laundry on a specific cycle can help preserve your clothes and extend their life.According to a study funded by Procter & Gamble, scientists in the United Kingdom found the exact laundry cycle that makes clothes last longer. Washing your clothes on a cold, short cycle is key. Specifically, using a 25-degree Celsius (77-degree Fahrenheit) wash for about 30 minutes is considered optimal.Scientists discovered that clothes washed on this colder, shorter cycle, compared to those washed at 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit) for 85 minutes, lost significantly less color from their microfibers and also transferred less dye to other garments in the wash. Washing clothes on a cold, short cycle can help extend their life.Photo credit: CanvaAnother plus: washing clothes at a colder temperature also saves energy. The study noted that "washing clothing at 30 degrees Celsius (86 degrees Fahrenheit) rather than 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit) saves approximately 40% of the energy used per load, and washing at 20 degrees Celsius (68 degrees Fahrenheit) instead of 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit) saves approximately 66% of the energy used per load."6 laundry tips to make your clothes last longerBesides washing your clothes on a cold, short cycle, here are six other ways to extend their lifespan:1. Use a mesh laundry bagProtect your clothes, especially delicates, by using a mesh laundry bag."When washing delicate items such as lingerie, socks, etc., place them in mesh laundry bags to keep them from getting tangled or stretched out while being washed," Martha Gonzalez, cleaning expert and owner of Austin Cleaning Service, told Upworthy. "The mesh bag will also prevent those items from becoming stuck under the washing machine's agitator when they are being washed. These actions alone will greatly reduce the wear and tear on the items you are washing, and as a result, will allow you to enjoy wearing those items for much longer."2. Wash clothes inside outBefore you throw your clothes in the washer, turn them inside out."Washing clothes inside out will help protect the outer layer of fabric, keep any labels or logos intact, reduce fading, and prevent pilling on the outside of the clothes," said Olivia Parks, owner and lead organizer at Professional Organizer New Orleans. "It's a simple tip, but it really keeps clothes looking newer for much longer."3. Hang dry your clothesSkipping the dryer can also help your clothes last longer."Whenever possible, hang your clothes to dry (air dry) instead of putting them in a dryer," said Gonzalez. "Tumbling your clothes in the dryer causes friction between the clothes and the dryer drum, and heat both of which can cause the fibers in the clothes to break down, resulting in faded colors and frayed edges over time. One of the best things you can do to take care of your clothes, especially synthetic and stretchy clothing and items that have a 'lay flat' tag, is to air dry your clothes. Air drying your clothes will help them maintain their original shape and vibrant colors for years to come." Hang dry clothes.Photo credit: Canva4. Avoid overloading the washing machineOverstuffing your washer can actually damage your clothes. "When the washing machine is packed too full, clothes can't move freely, and aren't getting properly cleaned," Parks added. "Washing smaller loads will help clothes maintain their shape and prevent you from having to wash them over again, which wastes water and laundry detergent."5. Use the right amount of detergentIt's easy to put a little too much (or too little) detergent in the washer, but it's important to follow the instructions on the detergent bottle."Using too much detergent will leave a sticky residue on clothes that actually attracts dirt and makes fabrics look full," Parks explained. "Using too little detergent means clothes aren't fully washed and cleaned. Measuring the correct amount of detergent will help clothes stay soft, clean, and long-lasting."6. Wash similar fabrics togetherPay attention to the material of the clothes you wash together."Heavier items like towels and jeans can be rough on lighter, thinner clothes like blouses, t-shirts, and other delicate fabrics," Parks said. "Washing similar fabrics together is more gentle and helps keep your lighter items in better shape longer."

Government subsidies aren’t a new concept. The U.S. government and other nations put subsidies in place to help financially bolster their agriculture, energy, and healthcare sectors. But India’s government is experimenting with another subsidy: homemaking.In 12 states, 118 million people in India are receiving unconditional cash transfers from the government, making it one of the largest social policy experiments regarding both wages for stay-at-home parents and universal basic income as a whole. These payments are given to women simply because they traditionally maintain the households in the country and are responsible for hours of childcare, laundry, maintenance, and several other duties in the culture. A 2024 study found that Indian women did ten times more household duties than the men, and a 2025 study found they spent 7.6 times more time on such duties than their male counterparts. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Sarthak Ahuja (@casarthakahuja)There are caveats and eligibility requirements, however. Indian residents who are government employees, own a car, or own large plots of land wouldn’t qualify, among other boundaries. Those eligible only get paid up to $30 per month, which isn’t nothing but doesn’t equate to an actual wage. The payments are typically spent on household expenses and medicine. Critics of this experiment are calling it “vote buying” as promising a wage or salary to housewives for their unpaid labor could encourage homemakers to vote for the candidates pushing for it.Regardless of intention, the movement and idea to pay stay-at-home mothers and homemakers has been a topic of discussion worldwide. Many countries offer generous paid family leave for new parents, but that typically tapers off when the child reaches a certain age. In terms of the United States, by combining the typical hourly rates and salaries of the duties of a chauffeur, daycare worker, cook, and personal assistant, a stay-at-home parent’s salary would be close to the $200,000 per year range according to Salary.com, Investopedia, and SaveMyCents.com. @calltoleap Are you a stay-at-home parent? Ever wonder how much you'd earn if you got paid full-time for everything you do — from childcare to cooking to cleaning? The value is way more than most people think. ? Let me break it down for you — and trust me, your work is priceless. Do you agree with this data? Let me know in the comments and share your experience! - Steve If you’re ready to start investing this year, don’t miss my next Beginner’s Investing Masterclass! Sign up now — link in bio! Follow @calltoleap Follow @calltoleap for investing videos Follow me @calltoleap to start your journey toward financial freedom! #StayAtHomeParent #FinancialValue #SmartMoneyMoves #BuildWealth #CallToLeap So should we pay stay-at-home parents and homemakers or just implement a universal basic income for everyone in general? Well, that’s up for debate. Aside from paying homemakers and other ongoing experiments over the past decade, some writers trace the concept of universal basic income (UBI) back to ancient Greece. In terms of the modern day, there are several recent experiments worldwide that yielded positive results. However, each experiment had different factors to deal with: different amounts of people being paid, different wage amounts, different living areas and economic stability, and other factors that have made UBI ripe for further research. @caitlynbickel Sometimes we can get so caught up by what we see on this app. I hope to show we arent as alone as we think we are. ❤️❤️ #dailyvlog #dailyroutine #sahm #sahmsoftiktok #sahmomsbelike #middleclass #financialfreedom #dayinmylife #nonaestheticmom #noneasthetic #momlife #realisticmomlife #toddlermom #motherhoodunplugged Critics of UBI are concerned about why the taxing-paying workforce also need to contribute to the taxes needed to fund a universal payment system. They are also concerned with the lack of guardrails or means-based eligibility requirements because, unless there are such things in place, wealthy people would get a paycheck they don't need while everyone pays extra taxes for the program.So should homemakers be compensated by the government for their unpaid labor? The jury is out. However, for India, the question is worth exploring.