(OPINION) In tonight’s podcast, we discuss how, just as in the days of Lot, men were pursuing “strange flesh” to gratify their perverse desires, we are witnessing this happening in our lifetime with the normalization of what God calls an abomination, and destroyed the earth with a great flood, and wiped out four cities of […]

In the vast expanse of space, where the ordinary often masks the extraordinary, a newly discovered interstellar visitor is rewriting the rules of cosmic travel. Dubbed 3I/ATLAS, this enigmatic comet—identified in July as the third confirmed object from beyond our solar system—has left scientists scratching their heads with a bizarre maneuver: a jet of material […]

Health officials are on high alert as Los Angeles County has confirmed three cases of Clade I mpox—a strain of the virus known for causing more severe illness and potentially spreading more easily than the more common Clade II variant—among residents with no recent travel history to outbreak hotspots in Africa. This marks the first […]

The White House's David Sacks and OpenAI's Jason Kwon caused a stir online this week for their comments about groups promoting AI safety.

Enjoy every sandwich. The post When Warren Zevon appeared on David Letterman to “play his own wake” first appeared on Far Out Magazine.

The timing of the Gaza peace is telling. It is also damning to all the terrorist appeasers who prolonged the war by refusing to stand up to the evil of Hamas by standing behind Israel. On Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas unleashed a heinous terrorist attack on Israeli civilians that left 1,200 dead and saw 250 taken hostage. Throughout the remainder of the Biden administration’s time in office — just over fifteen months — war raged in Gaza and Israeli hostages remained in captivity. And Hamas saw this unprecedented opportunity for Middle East peace, because they horrendously miscalculated on Oct. 7, 2023. On Oct. 13, 2025, Hamas released the last remaining Israeli hostages. When they did, President Trump had been in office less than nine months. (RELATED: Trump in Jerusalem) The achievement of the hostage release and peace, even if it turns out to be temporary (as Hamas’s backsliding already forewarns it might), is an amazing achievement. It is worth remembering how it was achieved. And even more, how it was not. (RELATED: Trump Is the Colossus That Bestrides the World) Peace was achieved because President Trump backed Israel resolutely. Absent this, Hamas would not have agreed to cease its carnage. It had become clear to Hamas that Israel was not going to stop its war against their terror. And Israel was not going to stop because it had the backing of its one indispensable ally (RELATED: Surprise! Hamas Has Already Doomed Peace) Peace was not achieved by the appeasement of those states that succumbed to the travesty of recognizing a Palestinian state at a time when Gaza was ruled by a terrorist organization. It was not achieved by empty U.N. resolutions. It was not achieved by boycotts of Israel. It was not achieved by publicity stunt flotillas. It was not achieved by protests and encampments on America’s elite and effete college campuses. It was not achieved by antisemitic acts that posed as pro-Palestinianism. It was not achieved by petitions, speeches, and demonstrations. (RELATED: Real Peace in Israel Lies Beyond the Two-State Solution) And it was most certainly not achieved through the feckless foreign policy of the previous administration. Instead, their weakness, which began in the humiliating withdrawal from Afghanistan, began a show of weakness that included losing control of America’s own southern border. Their weakness was a signal to global aggressors — Russia, Iran, the terrorist organizations of the Middle East — that no price would be exacted for their belligerence. The Biden administration then compounded its signal of weakness by withholding, and threatening to withhold, weapons from Israel in its time of greatest need. In short, all the world’s united gestures and ostracism of Israel proved to be less than meaningless when it came to achieving peace. All these did was prove to Israel that it could only count on Israel. Of course, the world’s united gestures and ostracism proved something entirely different to Hamas. With each one, Hamas believed that if they waged their terror a little longer, perhaps the world’s concerted and growing pressure would break Israel’s resolve. Hamas finally had to concede to peace because it saw its allies devastated one by one. Hamas saw Assad fall in Syria and that country’s refuge for terrorism end. Hamas saw Hezbollah utterly decimated. Hamas saw the Houthis attacked repeatedly. Hamas saw Iran, their ultimate patron, attacked repeatedly and successfully by Israel and the U.S. Hamas saw Russia stand aside as one after another of its clients were hit. Hamas saw China’s inability to project its power in the Middle East. Hamas conceded because they saw most of the Middle East aligned, not with them, but against them. Hamas saw a greater Middle East desire for peace — peace with Israel — than has perhaps ever existed in the Middle East. And Hamas saw this unprecedented opportunity for Middle East peace, because they horrendously miscalculated on Oct. 7, 2023. Not only did they not see any other Muslim nation rally to their terror, but these nations became increasingly emboldened against Hamas as terror’s allies fell one by one. Tellingly, throughout the two-year terror campaign, Middle East nations refused to rally to Hamas’s cause … or lifted a finger to aid Hamas. In about half the time, the Trump administration achieved what the Biden administration had prolonged. Make no mistake, had the Biden administration’s policy of making America Israel’s vacillating ally remained in place, there would not be peace in Gaza today. In the Bible, Ecclesiastes 3:1 states that “for everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven.… A time for war and a time for peace.” The time for peace came because the current administration gave Israel a time for war against terror. And it came because the Biden administration’s time finally ran out. READ MORE from J.T. Young: Democrats Decry Another ‘Crisis’ They Caused At the Bottom of the Left’s Barrel America’s Elite: A Nobility in Exile J.T. Young is the author of the recent book, Unprecedented Assault: How Big Government Unleashed America’s Socialist Left, from RealClear Publishing, and has over three decades’ experience working in Congress, the Department of Treasury, the Office of Management and Budget, and representing a Fortune 20 company.

World War II has long served as a compelling subject for filmmakers, offering a rich tapestry of historical events, moral dilemmas, and human resilience. According to the Internet Movie Database website, there are nearly 9,000 films that explore themes related to the Second World War. These cinematic works encompass a wide array of topics from battles, the home front, to espionage and the Holocaust. Through the lens of cinema, storytellers revisit the war not just to recount events, but to wrestle with its moral weight and historical resonance. The genre’s breadth reflects the war’s layered legacy, echoing across cultures and generations. Last year, Angel Studios produced Bonhoeffer: Pastor. Spy. Assassin., which chronicles the powerful true story of Dietrich Bonhoeffer, a German Christian theologian and anti-Nazi dissident who became involved in a plot to assassinate Adolf Hitler. (RELATED: Bonhoeffer Exposes the Left’s Blindness) This year comes another inspiring Angel biopic and arguably their best to date: Truth & Treason. [A] poignant tale of moral courage, personal sacrifice, and the lasting echo of truth in a world unwilling to hear it. Based on a true story, Truth & Treason is a powerful and emotionally charged historical film that reclaims the legacy of a story nearly lost to time. It explores the courageous tale of Helmuth Hübener, a 16-year-old boy living in Nazi Germany. As the Nazis tighten their grip, Hübener sees through their nonstop propaganda that is rooted in deception, complicity, and a betrayal of truth. As the war intensifies and haunted by the injustice he witnesses, Hübener begins to question the blind loyalty expected of him, especially when his trusted Mormon bishop aligns with the Nazis. After witnessing the arrest of his Jewish friend, he formed a resistance group with his friends Karl and Rudi. Hübener’s awakening sparks a quiet rebellion that is fueled by conscience, conviction, and the heartbreaking cost of standing against tyranny. Hübener is able to obtain a forbidden shortwave radio and listens to banned broadcasts, including the BBC, to uncover the truth and resist the fear that permeates German society. Hübener arms himself with nothing but a typewriter and an unshakable moral compass. These are his weapons as he begins crafting and distributing red anti-Nazi leaflets, risking everything to expose the lies of Hitler’s house of cards. As his defiance grows, so does the danger. Betrayed by those he once trusted, including his bishop, Hübener’s journey becomes a heartbreaking testament to the incredibly high cost of conscience. His clandestine operation eventually leads to his arrest by the Gestapo and, tragically, his execution by guillotine, making him at 17 years old — the youngest member of the German resistance that the Nazi’s put to death. Hübener’s courage has not been forgotten. Today, his name is on street signs, schools, and several memorials. At the time of his arrest, he was excommunicated by Mormon leaders, a decision that was later reversed posthumously. With evocative cinematography, a haunting score, and raw human performances, director Matt Whitaker does not just tell a story; he immerses us in a poignant tale of moral courage, personal sacrifice, and the lasting echo of truth in a world unwilling to hear it. The film’s dedication to historical authenticity is evident not only in its storytelling but also in its detailed production design, carefully crafted costumes, and thoughtfully chosen filming locations. By utilizing Soviet-era architecture in Lithuania, the oppressive atmosphere of Nazi Germany enhances both the emotional resonance and historical realism of the setting without made-up digital effects that make this film stand out among recent WWII dramas.  Set against the backdrop of authoritarian control, the film explores the quiet heroism of truth-telling, the weight of resistance, and the price of moral clarity. Given the weight of the subject matter, the film maintains tension while it avoids preachiness and makes characters deeply human rather than symbolic. The moral conflict of loyalty vs. truth, obedience to authority vs. conscience, speaks loudly to our present time. This story is not just historical but also a timely warning about how we must stand for truth, even at great personal cost. This weekend, silence the phone and step away from the scoreboard. Truth & Treason premieres on the big screen and deserves your undivided attention, and will reward you with more than you expect. READ MORE from Greg Maresca: The ACC Adds Games, Loses Geography Unholy Uproar: The Politics of Prayer Nicaea’s Echo: The Creed

Remember in late 2023, when the self-assured figures of Claudine Gay (Harvard), Liz Magill (UPenn), and Sally Kornbluth (MIT) were grilled before Congress about campus antisemitism and other sundry leftist issues they allowed fester on their campuses? What if they had to pass a simple moral judgment test — no consultants, no handlers, no earbuds feeding them rehearsed lines? Do you think they’d pass? Or would their NPR charm and shiny credentials melt under the hot lamps? With the rise of Artificial Intelligence (AI), the next generation of students might not have to watch their college presidents embarrass themselves before the House Committee on Education and the Workforce. Maybe next time, they can report on the progress they’ve made in actually doing what they were supposed to do: educate. Sound crazy? Maybe with the new AI revolution we’ve all been experiencing, the next generation of students might have the intellectual tools to call out what these administrators were and are — bloviating, superficial “empty suits” holding onto their institutions they must know are crumbling all around them. (RELATED: Can Artificial Intelligence Reduce the Left-Wing Bias in University Classrooms?) What if we had a back-to-basics educational Renaissance that values Classical Education, the Western Canon, and the three R’s — the academic equivalent of a steel spine? This shift wouldn’t just teach facts; it would refocus education from trendy, politically driven, and failing curricula toward the time-tested principles of sound reasoning, clear communication, and the essential skills needed to identify and discard BS. If you’ve seen Blade Runner, you might remember the smoky, noir-lit scene where Harrison Ford plays the hard-boiled detective Rick Deckard, a “blade runner” tasked with retiring rogue Replicants — bioengineered humans who look and sound like us but aren’t. Sean Young’s Rachael is one of them, though she believes she’s real. To find out, Deckard administers the Voight-Kampff test, a psychological exam designed to measure subtle emotional responses — hesitation, discomfort, ethical instinct. Intelligence can be faked; humanity cannot. “You’re watching a stage play,” Deckard asks. “The guests are eating raw oysters. The entrée is boiled dog.” How will she respond to the revolting main course? Every blink, pause, and flicker of conscience tells him who’s alive — and who’s only pretending. Imagine if students could immediately recognize the lack of repulsion Racheale showed Deckard. Imagine if these Replicants could be exposed for what they truly are. Education is now facing its own Voight-Kampff moment. For decades, we’ve rewarded polish over principle, exhibition over thought. But with AI capable of flawless essays and textbook-perfect arguments, the masks are slipping. When machines can mimic mastery, only the sincere human qualities — original thought, honest intuition, and intellectual struggle — will matter. AI might just have the power to inadvertently prompt teachers to return to what they were always meant to do — cultivate discernment, not just data. Economist Tyler Cowen of George Mason University, host of the podcast Conversations with Tyler, understands this better than most. His show — one of the highest forms of public conversation — relies on the art of real-time thinking. In an episode featuring venture capitalist Daniel Gross, Cowen examines how Gross evaluates potential hires amid a sea of Ivy League résumés. Gross doesn’t just ask about grades or accolades; he asks questions rooted in the humanities to see whether potential hires can think. “If they don’t understand the topic, well, you can switch to something else. But if you can’t find anything they can understand, you figure, well, maybe they don’t have that much depth or understanding of other people’s characters.” With the security of their MacBook Airs gone, these young hires are without a net, and the questions become moral and intellectual X-rays — revealing discipline, curiosity, and humility — the kind of qualities an AI addict can’t bluff. (RELATED: Artificial Intelligence Requires Human Understanding) AI may finally force higher education to stop pretending. As Cowen’s colleague Bryan Caplan argues in The Case Against Education, universities long ago became expensive signaling factories — proof not of wisdom but of compliance. It’s even worse now, when ChatGPT can crank out perfect essays on Rousseau or Derrida, the signal loses meaning. The only path forward is backward: handwritten exams, oral defenses, in-person Socratic dialogues, and the patient rigor of the pen and pencil. AI might just have the power to inadvertently prompt teachers to return to what they were always meant to do — cultivate discernment, not just data. We’ve tolerated too many generations of credentialed “empty suits,” fluent in flimsy frameworks that “reimagine” everything but lack original thought. With the right approach, AI won’t produce more of them — it will reveal them. If our educators dare to return to the basics, this age of artificial intelligence could favor the individual who can think critically, argue logically, and pause at the right moments. But at this moment, it seems anyone with the right connections, deep pockets, and reliable Wi-Fi at Rosenkranz Hall could breeze through Yale and earn a sheepskin. But as Holmes tells Watson: “There is nothing more deceptive than an obvious fact.” And the obvious fact is this: The average grade at Yale is now A-. The subtext? The “customer” is always right. But in the real world, a degree that represents nothing is a fraudulent currency. So, try not to fear the AI revolution; there could just be a bright light shining over the horizon. The paradox is that AI could actually bring us back to the basics — where deep reading, precise writing, debating, and truly knowing things could become the new coin of the realm. AI doesn’t need to dehumanize education; it can humanize it by contrast. The future of learning might just depend on how well we rediscover the past. READ MORE from Pete Connolly: Real Leadership in the Unsung Men of the Armed Forces The Poisonous Fruit of Youth Worship