October 10, 2025 — Today's Conservative Cartoon

Known for a Marmite voice, personal songwriting and a powerful sense of drama, his influence runs deeper than most people realise

The aftermath of Charlie Kirk’s assassination has been very revealing. Conservatives have long understood themselves scorned by leftists dominating mainstream media, Hollywood, education, and most major industries in the United States. But the cold-blooded murder of one of the most promising voices on the right inspired reactions that were unprecedented. One unlikely place where Kirk’s assassination became a hot topic of conversation? Hollywood’s stunt community. A stunt coordinator is responsible for designing, choreographing, and safely executing all stunt sequences in film and television, from fight scenes to high-risk action sequences. With people’s lives literally on the line, their jobs are no joke. That’s what makes it especially chilling that several members of the stunt coordinator community were publicly celebrating Kirk’s assassination, seemingly without consequence. Professional stunt coordinator Erik Audé told The Daily Wire that he’s being harassed and blacklisted by his colleagues for speaking out against this despicable behavior. While other stunt coordinators cheered Kirk’s death on social media, he fought back, commenting that their statements could, and should, lead to losing work and their reputations. He mentioned a private Facebook page for the stunt community where most of these posts were circulating, pointing to popular stunt coordinator Andy Rusk as one of the biggest offenders who “really went out of his way” to smear Kirk’s legacy. “This is deplorable. How did the assassin miss his big ass head?” a screenshot showing one of Rusk’s Facebook comments said. “If you’re somebody who agrees with the awful stuff Charlie Kirk had to say about minorities, black women, gays, trans people, immigrants, etc… I can’t imagine how I could ever trust you on a movie set… People who share white supremacist and misogynist views have no place in our business,” another comment from Rusk said. He wrote in a third comment, “The future is gay, black, female, and immigrant… and no matter how much CK and others like him punch down on those communities, they can’t stop it.” Audé says he couldn’t believe the types of comments Rusk was willing to publish on Facebook. “Rather than just saying, you know what, I didn’t like him and leaving it at that, he doubled down, tripled down. ‘I’m sorry, your friends are racist and [bigoted] and I don’t think I can hire conservatives.’ And that’s when I chimed in saying, ‘It’s funny that you think you’re gonna have a lot of jobs to offer people after your words get out there.’” According to Audé, Rusk bragged that he couldn’t be canceled. “Andy Rusk literally said, ‘Go ahead, try to cancel me. Many have tried and it’s never gonna happen.’ The stunt industry feels like they’re a bubble and that nothing can touch them. They think that they’re the only ones that can police themselves.” What most shocked Audé most was the number of people taking Rusk’s side. “He’s got over 260 people now, and these are all stunt professionals who are loving his post, who are in solidarity with him, who are definitely openly hating the left and Christians and conservatives and for sure Charlie Kirk,” he continued. Audé said the page admin removed most of the offensive posts and updated the page rules to say no politics were allowed. But before that, he took screenshots of the most alarming posts. “Sorry not sorry, Charlie. Karma,” a post from Bobby C. King, a stunt coordinator for both independent films and performer for major blockbusters like “Spiderman” (2002), wrote. “F*** Charlie Kirk… 1 less,” Neal Chandler agreed. “The guy was an open racist hate monger. The thing about hate, you can try to direct it, but you can’t […] control it. He was a product of his own demise. It is what it is,” actor Shaheed Malik wrote. “F*** that racist b****. Is his wife available yet? She’s getting all the money from you right wing losers. I want to destroy each one of you!” stunt actor Troy Brenna chimed in. Reached for comment, Malik said “Oh, I definitely stand by that.” “When you do good, generally people don’t try to kill you,” Malik said, before adding “I am indifferent on the whole situation. Whoopdee friggin do.” Rusk and King did not respond to requests for comment. Brenna could not be reached for comment. It wasn’t all negative, however. He described how Eddie Conna, a former “far, far left liberal” who works as an actor and producer, spoke up against the vitriol. “I was very happy to see that he was actually standing up for [Kirk],” Audé noted. It’s well-documented that A-list celebrities tend to lean left and aren’t afraid to spout political opinions. But among the crews working behind the scenes in the entertainment business, including the people building sets, rigging lights, and otherwise making productions run smoothly, politics are more likely to be mixed or even lean conservative. Audé said the harassment became personal when he acknowledged knowing Kirk. “I met him. We only had lunch one time, but we were friends. He always responded. He downloaded my book and I supported him. I’m a Christian. I’m a conservative. And I’ve always kind of kept my beliefs – I mean, I’ve been outspoken –  but after this and seeing the open mockery and hatred and people laughing … just like my God, it’s no longer left and right, it’s evil and good.” The fallout from voicing his views and his willingness to speak up online has already cost Audé work. “I literally just lost a job that would have started working Sunday to Friday on a show out in Utah,” he said during a phone interview in late September. “The assistant called me and said, ‘Erik, I’m sorry. I think this is messed up. But they were worried that people might have an issue with you being an open conservative, Charlie Kirk supporter on set.’ And I’m like what? When I get on set I keep my mouth shut. I do my job. I keep people safe. And if I work for people that I know think differently than me, I’m still there to keep them safe because that’s my job. And then here these guys are saying, well, I don’t think I can trust a conservative. Well, it’s not us hurting people. Your side is hurting people.” Get 40% off new DailyWire+ annual memberships with code FALL40 at checkout! Audé says the stunt community is in a “full-on civil war” as leftist members continue saying “the most vile, disgusting stuff” without being held accountable. He added: “It’s never been friendly to conservatives. But we’ve always been told to never talk politics…people can walk around set with [Black Lives Matter] on their face mask or rainbow stickers everywhere and Kamala support. But if I had the balls to walk around with a Trump hat, I’d be kicked off set that very second.” Despite intimidation, Audé says Kirk’s death has woken people up, and he’s glad to be on the front lines. “People are stepping up more…I’m getting a lot of support. Unfortunately the support comes in DMs and text messages…There needs to be more,” he said, adding that the leftists only feel emboldened because “they stupidly think that they are actually the majority when they are not.” He also blasted the hypocrisy of accountability in Hollywood. “I wouldn’t go around and openly mock Biden or Kamala if something bad happened to them because that’s still disgusting behavior. But for some reason it’s only one side that’s ever held accountable and that needs to change. Once this all gets out there, it’s gonna hopefully be a wake-up call that this isn’t okay.” When asked what he hopes comes of exposing the harassment, Audé said, “I want everyone to see what’s happening over here because this is not okay. I don’t want these guys who think they’re untouchable to know that they are not untouchable. I want them to be held accountable for their words, and I hope they change.” For Audé, it’s not about revenge but about justice. “Silence isn’t gonna get us through this. Even the smallest light shines bright in the darkest room….It really does because this can’t happen again. People need to start speaking up. I know a lot of people have been, but I still think it’s not enough.” Audé also knows that coming forward with his story could mean he never works again in Hollywood. But he said he doesn’t care anymore. “Sacrificing my career, so be it. I wish I could have done more, I really do,” he told The Daily Wire. “I’d rather be able to look at myself in the mirror and respect who I am…I’m pissed about all this,” Audé said. “He was the nicest one of us, and they killed him.”

If you’re reading this article, then there’s a good chance you consider Blockbuster to be a staple of your childhood. Alternatively, you may have fond memories of taking your kids here. In any case, folks who used to love this video rental store can’t seem to fully let it go, even now that it’s been gone for over a decade. Well, it’s mainly gone, anyway. If you visit Bend, Oregon, you’ll find what is officially the last Blockbuster store around. And no, this isn’t a joke. There really is a single Blockbuster store left! This one was opened by a local family (and a few others) in 2000, and they don’t plan to go away anytime soon. So, if you’re ready to go down nostalgia road, check out the video below! @thescenicgamer Follow for more pure nostalgia! #thescenicgamer #blockbuster #nostalgia #retro #trending ♬ aquatic ambience – Scizzie “I miss reading the back of a movie to see what it’s about like a book,” someone admitted in reply to this viral video. Other commenters added, “We went to Blockbuster every Friday night and next door was Pizza Hut. Man that feeling was magical,” and “Man, Blockbuster on a Friday night in the ’90s!!! You just had to be there.” In Bend, Oregon, You Can Visit the Very Last Blockbuster Store in the Entire World View this post on Instagram A post shared by The Official Last Blockbuster (@blockbusterbend) So much has changed since the height of Blockbuster’s popularity, namely streaming services and the convenience they offer consumers. Still, despite the convenience, it’s clear that people miss physical media. Perhaps that’s part of the reason why this very last Blockbuster continues to thrive. Speaking of which, in addition to movie and game rentals, this place sells merch! Best of all, much of it is made locally in Bend. How cool is that!? Now, anyone else feeling up for an impromptu trip to Oregon? You can find the source of this story’s featured image here! The post Nostalgia For Days: “Touring The Last Blockbuster In The Entire World” appeared first on InspireMore.

The resurrection ranks among the most crucial doctrines of Christianity. For Jesus and the apostles, the resurrection is the bedrock of New Testament theology (e.g., John 11:25–26; 1 Cor. 15:12–58). It lies at the heart of our salvation and the cornerstone of the history of redemption. But, perhaps surprisingly, the Old Testament doesn’t often explicitly mention the resurrection of the dead. While a few Old Testament passages indeed refer to the resurrection (e.g., Job 19:26–27; Isa. 26:19; Dan. 12:1–2; Ezek. 37:1–14), this cardinal doctrine doesn’t seem to permeate the Old Testament. Yet, when the Sadducees try to confound Jesus about the nature of the resurrection, he responds not by citing Job, Isaiah, Daniel, or Ezekiel but by quoting Exodus 3:6. Strikingly, he says, As for the dead being raised, have you not read in the book of Moses, in the passage about the bush, how God spoke to him, saying, ‘I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob’? He is not God of the dead, but of the living. You are quite wrong. (Mark 12:26–27) Why does Jesus quote Exodus 3:6, a passage that doesn’t appear to refer to the precious doctrine of the resurrection? Jesus’s choice of Exodus 3:6 may seem puzzling at first, but when we grasp its meaning in the original Old Testament context, we discover how Jesus understands the nature of God’s covenants and why he cites it. Exodus 3:6 concerns God’s faithfulness to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob and their eventual inheritance of the new creation. Smaller Canon? Commentaries have a long history of explaining the reason for Jesus’s reference by appealing to the Sadducees’ beliefs. For example, in the late fourth century, Jerome’s Commentary on Matthew alleges, “They received only the five books of Moses and rejected the prophets’ predictions. It would have been foolish, then, to bring forth testimonies [from the prophets], whose authority the Sadducees did not follow.” Exodus 3:6 concerns God’s faithfulness to Israel and their eventual inheritance of the new creation. However, the earliest clear evidence we have for the Sadducees’ believing in a smaller canon comes from Origen (Against Celsus 1.49) and Hippolytus (Refutation of All Heresies 9.24), both in the third century. Though Josephus says they only held to the “Law” (Antiquities of the Jews 13.10.6, 18.1.4), he apparently means the written law as opposed to oral tradition. Elsewhere, he states that Jews believed in all 22 books of the Hebrew Bible (Against Apion 1.8). Present Tense? Some have seen an explanation in the verb’s tense in “I am the God of . . .” (Mark 12:26). However, this view has at least two serious flaws. First, neither the Greek text of Mark 12:26 (and Luke 20:37) nor the Hebrew text of Exodus 3:6 contains the verb “am.” The verb is likely implied in Exodus 3:6 and Mark 12:26, but if the weight of the argument rests on this single word, it would need to at least be present. Though Matthew 22:32 indeed contains the verb “am,” it seems unlikely a different understanding is at play there than in Mark and Luke. Second, an emphasis on the present tense in “I am” wouldn’t demonstrate the point in question. At the time of the temple controversies (and still today), Abraham wasn’t resurrected. God presently being the God of Abraham cannot not require Abraham’s resurrection now—at most this would be an argument for an intermediate state in which his spirit exists in God’s presence. Covenant Connotations The most cogent explanation assumes that Jesus has the wider context of Exodus 3 in view. There, God appears to Moses in the burning bush and announces his plan to rescue his people out of Egypt, remembering the covenant promises he made to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Of course, in a strictly literal sense, monotheism entails that YHWH is the God of everyone. But the expression “I am the God of . . .” connotes a special, saving relationship in which God will keep his promises for the recipient’s good. “I am the God of Abraham” involves God acting as God to Abraham, keeping his covenant promises. For example, when God appeared to Jacob at Bethel, he said, “I am the LORD, the God of Abraham your father and the God of Isaac. The land on which you lie I will give to you and to your offspring” (Gen. 28:13). God promised the land not only to descendants but to the ancestors themselves. The patriarchs’ personal names, prominent in Jesus’s reference, emphasize their individual benefit from the covenant. The covenant wasn’t about a bodiless existence in heaven but a physical one, living in the tangible land. And this land prophetically anticipates the entire world (Rom. 4:13). Since God promised the land personally to Abraham and he hasn’t received it, Jesus expects his audience to conclude he must be raised from the dead and receive his inheritance (see also Heb. 11:19). The covenant wasn’t about a bodiless existence in heaven but a physical one, living in the tangible land. Perhaps this is why Jesus cites Exodus 3:6 instead of other passages that may seem clearer to us. In so doing, he reveals how the resurrection lies at the heart of the foundational covenant structure of Israel. Believing in the resurrection wasn’t a matter of interpreting an obscure text but of rightly understanding the very nature of what God promised. Then and now, believing in the resurrection is essential for understanding our part in God’s purposes. His being “our God” means he’ll fulfill that same covenant promise to us and bodily resurrect us to inherit the physical new creation, along with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. In missing this aspect of God’s appearance to Moses, we’re “quite wrong.”

Pew Research Center began tracking America’s religious landscape in 2007. Since then, they’ve reported Christianity’s steady decline. In 2024, pollster George Barna told the Christian Post that the Western church had “reached a time of Christian invisibility.” Things have looked bleak for Christianity’s influence for decades. Yet there are rumblings of revival among Gen Z, those born from about 1997 to 2010. That’s the generation Jonathan Haidt writes about in The Anxious Generation, as he reflects on the mental health effects of a digital childhood. Amid the challenges, that generation seems to be turning to God. In The Anxious Generation Goes to Church: What the Research Says About What Younger Generations Need (and Want) from Your Church, Thom S. Rainer, CEO of Church Answers, argues that the church has a phenomenal opportunity to reach a generation with the gospel. The church has the social and spiritual remedies to the challenges Gen Z is facing. Power of Technology Much of Rainer’s analysis relies on findings published by Jim Davis and Michael Graham, Ryan Burge, Jean Twenge, and Jonathan Haidt. For example, Rainer shows that generations are shaped by many factors: cultural events, economic influences, and technological advances. Echoing Twenge, he argues, “Of those factors, technology has emerged as the primary driver of generational differences” (12). As the first generation to grow up with no memory of life before high-speed internet, smartphones, or social media, Gen Z has been profoundly marked by recent technological innovations. People often don’t fully understand the effects of new technologies until years later. As philosopher Antón Barba-Kay notes, “We have never been prone to notice how deeply we are shaped by and identified with our tools.” This may be most evident with Gen Z. “In simple terms, the younger you are, the greater the likelihood you will have anxiety,” Rainer states (34). The pervasive toxicity of the internet, smartphones, social media, and political polarization is taking a toll. Young people sleep less, scroll more, and feel lonelier than ever before. The anxious generation needs what the church has to offer—hope, embodied connection, and stability in a tumultuous time. Thankfully, it also appears to be what they want. It’s in discussing the church’s opportunity with Gen Z that Rainer explores new ground. Moment of Opportunity This is no time for the church to retreat. Gen Z is increasingly open to spiritual things—but they don’t always go to churches for their spiritual needs. In the past, churches have relied on the physical presence of the building to draw people. Even those who didn’t attend regularly often had a cultural awareness of what goes on in churches. That no longer seems to be the case. The anxious generation needs what the church has to offer—hope, embodied connection, and stability in a tumultuous time. We can’t wait for young people to come to us; we must go out to them. There’s no one-size-fits-all method to accomplish this outreach. Churches will need to develop creative ways to engage this spiritually hungry generation. Yet the most fruitful path forward is likely through making personal connections. Though Gen Z is online more than previous generations, over half of them still believe in-person relationships are more important than digital relationships. Moreover, surveys show over and over that the unchurched (particularly Gen Z) are open to friendships at church but feel intimidated to go by themselves. Rainer reports that “82 percent of the unchurched were at least somewhat likely to attend church if invited” (70). As a pastor in a college-town church, I have many young people asking for mentorship. And they don’t care if there’s a big age gap with their mentor. They mainly want someone to show interest in them as a person. I’ve been part of the Salt Network for five years, working through my local church to reach the students on the local university campus. Our primary outreach strategy to reach this generation is to go where they are, get to know them, and invite them to Salt Company—a midweek gathering designed specifically for students. From there, we work to get them into the local church. Growth Will Be Messy Churches that actively seek to reach Gen Z will probably see results, whether or not their strategy and location are ideal. There’s an incredible openness to the gospel. Just nine months after Barna told an interviewer the church had become invisible, his research group reported “a groundswell of commitment to Jesus.” That rapid shift has been largely fueled by young people. We’re seeing the effects of this shift in the local church where I serve. The explosion of spiritual interest among young people is exciting, but it has historical precedent. Both the First and Second Great Awakenings swept over college campuses. Modern missions was fueled by the Student Volunteer Movement at the end of the 19th century. A similar movement is underway. Several weeks ago, I witnessed 900 college students gathered on a field at Indiana University during the first week of classes to sing worship songs and hear the gospel preached at the Salt Company Kickoff. It was one of many such gatherings across the nation. God often begins great things with a younger generation. Churches must be prepared for this rapid growth through the conversion of first-generation believers in a post-Christian culture. It may get messy, much like the Jesus People movement in the 1960s and ’70s. Opportunities for discipleship abound. We need to allow room for mistakes. God often begins great things with a younger generation. As we face a rapid influx of new believers, we’re going to need to lean into Scripture’s guidance. For example, the church in Corinth was gifted, blessed, and rapidly growing (1 Cor. 1:4–9). Much of Paul’s letters to them, however, was intended to help them deal with significant ethical and theological problems. In our culture, we’ve got sci-fi level ethical dilemmas and the barrage of mental health challenges that technology encourages. As Rainer notes, “Church is already messy. If we do what God is calling us to do, it will get even messier” (161). Thankfully, God’s Word can help us navigate the challenges. According to the news, the culture is in free fall. But the gospel is on the move, especially among Gen Z. The church needs to embrace the anxious generation’s spiritual interest, anticipate the mess, and do the work to make disciples. The Anxious Generation Goes to Church accessibly presents a mountain of research to remind Christians that cultural conditions never alter the church’s mission, though the methods to accomplish it may change.

True friendship is a gift from God. But in our digital age, it can be difficult to foster meaningful friendships. In this conversation recorded at TGCW24, Melissa Kruger, Ruth Chou Simons, Courtney Doctor, and Ann Voskamp discuss the blessings of partnering together in ministry. They stress the need for discernment, patience, and a willingness to risk being vulnerable. And they underscore the significance of local church communities and the role of the Holy Spirit in fostering deep, enduring friendships that point to Christ. Related Resources: Social Sanity in an Insta World Scrolling Ourselves to Death: Reclaiming Life in a Digital Age

After more than two years of brutal fighting in Gaza, President Donald Trump announced Wednesday that Israel and Hamas have begun the “first phase” of a peace plan that could finally free long-suffering hostages.On Truth Social, Trump wrote: “This means that ALL of the Hostages will be released very soon, and Israel will withdraw their Troops to an agreed upon line as the first steps toward a Strong, Durable, and Everlasting Peace. All Parties will be treated fairly!”Trump is trying to bring order abroad and at home. His enemies are trying to keep the disorder alive.He added: “This is a GREAT Day for the Arab and Muslim World, Israel, all surrounding Nations, and the United States of America, and we thank the mediators from Qatar, Egypt, and Turkey, who worked with us to make this Historic and Unprecedented Event happen. BLESSED ARE THE PEACEMAKERS!”If hostages are released as early as Sunday, as Trump predicts, it would mark a major breakthrough for Middle East stability — and for his presidency. But it also raises an uncomfortable question: What happens here at home?From peace abroad to chaos in AmericaWhen the Gaza war began two years ago, protests erupted across the United States. Many of those demonstrations, billed as calls for “peace,” quickly devolved into violent riots. Jewish Americans and police officers were assaulted. Property was destroyed. The protests became less about peace and more about rage.So it shouldn’t surprise anyone that even Trump’s announcement of a potential peace deal triggered more unrest.Just hours after his statement, hundreds of demonstrators flooded Boston Common for a pro-Palestinian rally that turned violent quickly. Police said the mob blocked traffic and attacked officers who tried to clear the streets.“When officers attempted to move the group to the sidewalk to allow emergency vehicles to pass, protesters surrounded police cruisers, kicked vehicle doors, and resisted dispersal efforts,” the Boston Police Department reported. “Several officers were assaulted during this period, including one struck in the face. Protesters also ignited smoke devices and flares, further endangering officers and bystanders.”Thirteen people were arrested. Four officers were injured.The wider pattern of defianceThis violence echoes what’s happening in other cities like Chicago and Portland, where anti-ICE protesters have targeted federal officers. To restore order, Trump has authorized National Guard deployments in several hot spots — moves that have sparked fierce pushback from Democrat governors and mayors.Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker and Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson have ordered local police not to cooperate with federal immigration enforcement. Their defiance has grown so extreme that Trump recently suggested their obstruction may warrant arrest.A confrontational presidencySince returning to office, Trump has pursued an aggressive agenda at home and abroad: expelling violent illegal aliens, curbing lawlessness in major cities, and now, moving toward peace in one of the world’s most volatile regions.Yet his critics respond with fury — often literally. They claim he’s a threat to democracy, even as they assault police and terrorize neighborhoods in the name of “justice.”RELATED: Hamas agrees to Trump Gaza deal, plans to release all Israeli hostages Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images)Have whatever opinion you want about Trump; it’s a free country. But a protest that ends with bloodied officers and burning streets isn’t a statement — it’s a tantrum.The real test of peaceTime will tell whether the Gaza ceasefire holds or whether protests at home will fade. But the pattern is clear: Whenever Trump achieves stability, the same voices that demand peace erupt in chaos.Trump is trying to bring order abroad and at home. They’re trying to keep the disorder alive.You don’t have to like him. But you can’t pretend not to see the difference.

We all remember the 2023 Drag March in New York City where a horde of rainbow-clad people chanted that they were coming for our children. Founder of the NYC Drag March, Brian Griffin, flippantly dismissed the chant as an attempt to reclaim and defuse anti-LGBTQ+ slurs and stereotypes through provocative satire.The mainstream media echoed Griffin’s remarks, framing the creepy refrain as a tongue-in-cheek response to conservatives’ faulty claims that the LGBTQ+ community recruits and grooms children.But now that a 35-year-old drag queen has been charged with two counts of sexual conduct with a 13-year-old boy, perhaps we should’ve taken their “satirical” chant at face value, says Sara Gonzales, BlazeTV host of “Sara Gonzales Unfiltered.” Last month, Aubrey Ghalichi, whose real name is Michael Browder — a drag queen from Phoenix, Arizona — allegedly admitted to police that he had had sex with the boy, who, according to official documents, pretended to be 18 years old on a dating app.“Once again, when they tell you who they are, believe them,” says Sara.But she makes an excellent point: The infamous phrase “we’re coming for your children” isn’t even necessary to pinpoint the sinister intentions of the drag world. Just look at the fact that it’s now common to host “family-friendly” and “all-ages” drag shows, which still feature grown men in sexually suggestive attire and full-faced makeup dancing provocatively on stripper poles.This alone should clue anyone with half a brain into what their intentions are.Glenn Beck’s head researcher, Jason Buttrill, can’t help but make fun of the people who act shocked when news like Browder’s case airs. “Why would we take our kids to 'family' [drag shows] ... and then be like, ‘Oh, my lands — he ended up being a pedophile!’ No s**t!” he laughs.“Stupid people will fight with you on social media about it, like, ‘You bigot. You suspect [pedophilia]?’ I'm like, ‘You don't?!”’“I feel like the first instinct that you should have had to think something was amiss was the fact that he wanted to twerk in front of a young child,” adds Sara.To hear more, watch the episode above.Want more from Sara Gonzales?To enjoy more of Sara's no-holds-barred takes on news and culture, subscribe to BlazeTV — the largest multi-platform network of voices who love America, defend the Constitution, and live the American dream.