The controversial Harvard astronomer is one of the main sources of the "alien mothership" hypothesis. This is what he thinks, as the object moves away from Earth.

The time a spider plant mom remains tethered to her spiderette can be influenced by the daughter plant's environment.

MRC Watchdogs churn out breaking news on a daily basis. Don't miss Today's Highlights, where you can keep up with the top MRC content, whether it's the latest study on media bias, a glaring omission from the elitist media, or how the Big Tech companies are serving up the same leftist spin as the media.  Top Stories: 1) Whoopi Claims ‘Warrior Dividends’ Are Bribe to Follow Illegal Orders 2) White House, Analysts Cheer Cooler-than-Expected November Inflation 3) The Media Research Center Award for Worst Quote of the Year 4) Trump Sues BBC for Defamation, Wants $10 Billion for Mangled January 6 Edit     Whoopi Claims ‘Warrior Dividends’ Are Bribe to Follow Illegal Orders The View’s anti-military bent from most of the year came to ahead on Thursday’s show as ABC News moderator Whoopi Goldberg asserted, without evidence, that President Trump’s announced “warrior dividends” (a $1,776 pay bonus) where about bribing service members to follow illegal orders. Additionally, co-host Joy Behar was outraged that Trump had the nerve to call President Obama a “divisive” figure. For which, she demanded the invocation of the 25th Amendment. Labeling historical or political assessments as grounds for removal from office trivializes actual constitutional standards and serves only to deepen national polarization. The suggestion that a one-time bonus of $1,776 could somehow compromise the oath of the entire U.S. military is not only logically flawed but also demonstrates a lack of respect for the moral compass of American soldiers. This narrative presumes that service members are motivated by financial handouts rather than duty, honor, and the Constitution.       2. White House, Analysts Cheer Cooler-than-Expected November Inflation The November CPI report showed a year-over-year inflation rate of 2.7%, significantly lower than the 3.1% economists had predicted. More importantly, "core" inflation (which excludes volatile food and energy) fell to 2.6%, its lowest level since March 2021. This suggests that despite warnings from critics that new economic policies or tariffs would spike prices, the "affordability gap" is actually closing and inflation is cooling faster than even the most optimistic Wall Street estimates. These numbers are a definitive turning point away from the "inflation crisis" of the previous years. Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt and economic commentators are highlighting that the 2.6% core inflation rate is a major achievement when compared to the 9% peaks seen during the Biden administration. The economy is being "brought back" through a trend of lower prices and higher "real wage growth" for the average American. While the overall number is 2.7%, many specific categories that impact daily life are seeing even more dramatic improvements or actual price drops. Travel and Energy: Airline fares are down 5.4% and certain heating fuels (propane/kerosene) are down 5.9% year-over-year. Groceries: While meat and poultry remain high, the cost of "food at home" rose only 1.9%, and egg prices have plummeted 13.2%.  Main Street is finally seeing relief in the specific areas that previously "lit the economy on fire."        3. The Media Research Center Award for Worst Quote of the Year Liberal media figures exploit tragedy to blame victims: Just hours after the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, former MS Now contributor Matthew Dowd suggested on air that Kirk's own "hateful words" and "divisive" rhetoric likely provoked the attack, even floating the idea that the shooter could have been a supporter "celebrating,” a vile insinuation that led to Dowd's firing and exemplifies how left-leaning pundits rush to smear conservatives rather than condemn violence. Mainstream hosts politicize assassinations without backlash: First runner-up Jimmy Kimmel accused "MAGA" supporters of desperately trying to distance themselves from Kirk's killer and scoring "political points," ignoring facts while framing conservatives as the real villains in the tragedy, highlighting the unchecked bias where late-night "comedians" freely demonize one side without professional consequences. Left-wing commentators openly disdain America's founding documents: Runners-up like Elie Mystal, The Nation justice correspondent, (calling the U.S. Constitution "a piece of crap" compared to South Africa's post-apartheid version) and Sunny Hostin, co-host of The View, (equating the potential cancellation of Stephen Colbert's show to the "dismantling of our democracy and Constitution") reveal a deep-seated contempt among liberal elites for America's core principles, treating them as obsolete or threats when they conflict with progressive agendas.       4.Trump Sues BBC for Defamation, Wants $10 Billion for Mangled January 6 Edit Deceptive and Grotesque Editing: The BBC engaged in deceptive and grotesque editing of President Trump's speech from January 6, 2021, with the intent to make it appear like he urged violence. Proof of Media Bias: The incident demonstrates that "Trump Derangement Syndrome" infected the BBC's editorial choices, challenging the narrative that the British public broadcaster is apolitical and impartial. Intentional Malice: President Trump’s lawsuit alleges the BBC "intentionally, maliciously and deceptively" edited his January 6, 2021 speech by splicing together remarks that were delivered nearly an hour apart. Holding "Fake News" Accountable: This is part of a larger effort to hold media organizations responsible for a "long pattern of deceiving its audience... all in service of its own leftist political agenda." Strategic Timing to Fuel Political Pressure: President Trump strategically filed the $10 billion lawsuit just hours before the UK government began its once-a-decade review of the BBC's Royal Charter, which expires at the end of 2027, maximizing the pressure on the public broadcaster.  Every UK Household pays the equivalent of about $225 each year to subsidize the BBC.      

“I’m here to set the record straight on more fake news stories this week,” DHS Assistant Secretary Lauren Bis declared Sunday, debunking three dangerous false narratives used by the legacy media to smear U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers. “First, we have Congresswoman (Ilhan) Omar (D-MN) caught in a lie,” Bis explains in a DHS social media video. “She claimed our officers pulled over her son in a racially-profiled traffic stop. ICE has absolutely zero record of its officers or its pulling over the congresswoman’s son,” Bis says, calling allegations like Rep. Omar’s that ICE engages in racial profiling “disgusting, reckless, and categorically false.” “It is shameful that Congresswoman Omar would level accusations to demonize ICE law enforcement as part of a PR stunt,” Bis says. The chorus of lies and smears from the FAKE NEWS are designed to tear down our brave law enforcement who protect our homeland every day. Watch as DHS exposes these false and dangerous lies and sets the record straight: pic.twitter.com/HZGfhQyurC — Homeland Security (@DHSgov) December 21, 2025 “Next, we have a viral video going around about ICE arresting a pregnant woman. Here are the facts,” Bis continues, noting that both the identity and pregnancy of the vandal – who was part of a mob of violent rioters – are unconfirmed: “During the riot, an unidentified woman, who the crowd later claimed to be pregnant, rushed the ICE vehicle and attempted to vandalize it. “When ICE officers apprehended her for vandalizing a government vehicle, they were swarmed and attacked by rioters, who punched, kicked and threw rocks at our officers.” “This dangerous riot is the direct result of sanctuary politicians and the media emboldening rioters to engage in violent and unlawful behavior,” Bis warns. Finally, Bis dispels “the hoax peddled all year long by that ICE is not targeting the worst of the worst”: “The truth is, this Christmas season, Americans can rejoice that murders, rapists, pedophiles, gang members and terrorists are out of your neighborhoods.” Fully 70% of ICE arrests are of criminal illegal aliens who have been charged or convicted of a crime in the U.S. – not counting the human rights abusers, wanted fugitives and gang members who lack a rap sheet in the U.S., Bis explains. “Merry Christmas and Happy New Year,” Bis closes, promising that “We’ll be back in 2026 to debunk more fake news stories.”

The 60 Minutes team at CBS has suffered a setback in its anti-Trump crusade, and it furiously leaked that story right into the newspapers. Reporter Sharyn Alfonsi assembled what we could guess was a typical hit piece on the “notorious” CECOT prison in El Salvador that temporarily held illegal migrant cause celebre Kilmar Abrego-Garcia. The Wall Street Journal reported a combative note from Alfonsi to fellow 60 Minutes staffers that quickly leaked to the media, where she said her segment was being held for political reasons, not editorial ones. Alfonsi said Weiss had "spiked" the story and not given her a chance to discuss it further. "Our story was screened five times and cleared by both CBS attorneys and Standards and Practices," Alfonsi wrote. "It is factually correct. In my view, pulling it now, after every rigorous internal check has been met, is not an editorial decision, it is a political one." Every editorial decision at 60 Minutes looks like a political one. But it’s only “political” if anyone interferes with their hatchet jobs. Citing allegedly "rigorous" attorneys and "Standards and Practices" when they've approved all your previous attack segments doesn't mean those stories were chock full of facts and fairness.  This was embarrassing because Scott Pelley just boasted at the Walter Cronkite Awards ceremony that there had been no hint of "corporate interference" from Weiss in their usual er, process. CBS put out a report on its own internal feud on Monday morning. Nate Burleson strangely said the story focused on a "notorious prison in El Salvador and the Trump administration's decision to send Venezuelans and others who it says entered the U.S. illegally." They contest Team Trump's grasp on facts on everything. On Monday's 'CBS Mornings,' Nate Burleson puts the war within CBS on the air, with '60 Minutes' correspondent Sharyn Alfonsi ranting about how if a critical voice from Trump World was required in her hit piece, 'we have effectively handed them a kill switch'... pic.twitter.com/OQcf2Cgi76 — Tim Graham (@TimJGraham) December 22, 2025 Alfonsi could not abide Weiss wanting a Trump official to comment: "If the administration's refusal to participate becomes a valid reason to spike a story, we have effectively handed them a 'kill switch' for any reporting they find inconvenient.... We go from an investigative powerhouse to a stenographer for the state,” Alfonsi wrote. This statement's hilarious, considering Pelley put aside "investigative powerhouse" to "stenographer" in two puffball interviews with President Biden, not to mention Alfonsi's own puddle of goo over student activists like David Hogg at Parkland High School.  If Alfonsi wants to trash Weiss for curtailing her speech, she could review her 60 Minutes piece hailing the Germans for cracking down on free speech on the internet.  One of Alfonsi's most memorable hit pieces targeted Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis on Covid, which even liberal media critics found to be a screwup.  PS: Here's video of the teaser of the delayed segment:  This is the now deleted teaser for the 60 Minutes report that was supposed to air tonight on the CECOT torture prison in El Salvador that Donald Trump sent hundreds of migrants to. CBS is officially a mouthpiece for the Trump administration thanks to Bari Weiss https://t.co/uRoFh2YdFo pic.twitter.com/aE1cbOXxAl — Marco Foster (@MarcoFoster_) December 21, 2025

While the Trump administration continues to target illegal alien criminal offenders, gang members, and national security threats as the primary focus of its mass deportation initiative, it has recently begun zeroing in on two other groups: Somalis and Afghans.Earlier this year, President Trump terminated Temporary Protected Status for Afghans, and in late November, he announced his intention to do the same for Somalis after reports of mass fraud were exposed in Minnesota’s Somali communities.Mark Levin is overjoyed that the Trump administration is targeting these two groups. Both, he reminds us, are “Islamists,” meaning assimilation is impossible. Islamists, he says, are people “who have no intention of having allegiance to our country [and] no intention of joining our culture.”“Islamism is incompatible with Americanism. It's incompatible with the Judeo-Christian system,” he says, noting that peaceful Muslims are not the same as Islamists.Unfortunately, there are many people with platforms in our country who are spreading the narrative that America does not have a Judeo-Christian foundation, but these people are “on the Qatar payroll,” says Levin.Combine this with the spreading false narrative bolstered by America-hating Democrats who want to import blue voters with the massive influx of Islamists, and we’ve got a situation that is “very diabolical,” he warns.These immigrants are “not vetted” and are “from war-torn countries with terrorist activity,” and yet because a large portion of the nation doesn’t believe that America is built on principles incompatible with Islamism, there’s a massive fight to keep these immigrants here.President Trump’s unapologetic efforts to stop this disastrous immigration are valiant, says Levin. “He's done things that no other president in my mind would even think about doing — no more third-world entrance into this country until we get this figured out. That is genius. That is courageous.”The left is, of course, framing him as a racist, xenophobic bigot, but none of that is true. President Trump simply understands the disastrous outcomes of welcoming people who come from economically failing, violence-ridden, regime-controlled countries into America.“[Trump is] saying, ‘Look, I can't fix that, but we're not going to bring those people into this country,”’ says Levin.To hear more, watch the video above.Want more from Mark Levin?To enjoy more of "the Great One" — Mark Levin as you've never seen him before — subscribe to BlazeTV — the largest multi-platform network of voices who love America, defend the Constitution, and live the American dream.

Several forces are converging right now, and the result is a perfect storm of confusion, misinformation, apathy, and — most dangerously — runaway conspiracy thinking.For a long time, I was consumed by true crime: real-life stories filled with mystery, fear, and emotional whiplash. I wasn’t alone. The genre became a full-blown cottage industry, complete with massive conferences, prestige documentaries, podcasts, and feature films.The problem isn’t asking questions. It is speculation and insinuation masquerading as insight.At first, I saw little harm in it — especially when victims or family members were included in the storytelling. But once Hollywood began churning out sensationalized, “based on a true story” dramatizations of real-life horrors, something felt wrong.Then I heard the victims’ loved ones speak out.They described the pain these projects inflicted — how strangers dissected their trauma, speculated about their grief, and turned the worst moments of their lives into consumable entertainment. In some cases, families practically begged studios to stop profiting from their suffering. The pleas went unanswered.There is little sign that Tinseltown plans to slow down. Personal tragedy is no longer treated as personal. We’ve crossed a line into a world where strangers don’t just demand access to these stories — they claim ownership of them.That entitlement hardens quickly. It manifests as amateur investigations, armchair sleuthing, and the conviction that someone online can solve what professionals could not. Too often, that obsession mutates into wild conspiracy theories — narratives untethered from evidence that deepen the damage inflicted on real people already living with loss.Fueling all of this is another force: social media addiction.Millions of Americans live on their phones. Filters are gone. Boundaries between public and private have crumbled. Every tragedy becomes content. Every rumor becomes a reel. Every high-profile event risks turning into a true-crime nightmare, complete with TikTok theories and Instagram speculation.Not all of it is malicious. But much of it is steeped in a moral carelessness that should unsettle us. And while content creators deserve scrutiny, they aren’t the only culprits. Plenty of us are liking, sharing, and amplifying the madness.That dynamic reached a horrifying peak on September 10, when conservative and Christian commentator Charlie Kirk was assassinated.Almost immediately, conspiracy theories spread — many debunked within hours. In one case, a popular Christian apologist, a friend of Kirk who had been filming him speaking at Utah Valley University that day, was falsely accused of signaling the shooter through hand gestures. The claim was nonsense. It collapsed under minimal scrutiny.No matter. The damage was done.Other theories followed. Some insinuated betrayal by those closest to Kirk. Others implied inside involvement without evidence. Each claim compounded the grief of a family and community already reeling from an unspeakable loss.The problem isn’t asking questions. It’s speculation and insinuation masquerading as insight.If someone is going to promote conspiracy theories, basic decency demands evidence. To date, none has been produced. And yet the claims persist — entertained, shared, and believed.RELATED: ‘Conspiracy theory’ is just media code for ‘we hope this never comes out’ Photo by Olivier Touron/AFP via Getty ImagesI can’t entirely blame people for their skepticism. In 2016, I wrote a book called “Fault Line” warning that media bias carries real-world consequences. When trust erodes, people stop listening to official narratives altogether. Combine that with the government’s incoherent and often dishonest messaging during COVID, and the ground was primed for disbelief.For years, progressives dismissed concerns about institutional credibility. Now we’re living with the consequences. A toxic cocktail of distrust, trauma, and algorithmic amplification has left many people — especially the young — drunk with suspicion and untethered from reality.Add in social media saturation, obsession with true crime, collapsing trust in institutions, and the undeniable presence of evil in the world, and you have a generation raised inside a pressure cooker of dysfunction.We need to cling to truth. We need to model discernment. We need to help people learn how to question responsibly — without tumbling into conspiracism — and how to rebuild boundaries that preserve perspective and humanity.Truth-seeking should guide us, not digital frenzy or the dark impulses of the human soul. If we fail to make that distinction, the damage will only deepen.We must be better.

Earlier this month, Fulton County made a major admission in the ongoing election integrity cases surrounding the 2020 election. While it won't change anything, the moment may help set the record straight about one of the most questioned elections in United States history. In a December 9 Georgia State Elections Board hearing, a representative of Fulton County admitted that hundreds of thousands of votes were uncertified. The admission came in response to a March 2022 challenge brought by local election integrity activist David Cross. 'When the law demands three signatures on tabulator tapes and the county fails to follow the rules, those 315,000 votes are, by definition, uncertified.'Cross alleged that Fulton County violated Georgia statute in the handling of advanced voting in the lead-up to the November 2020 election. Specifically he claimed that election officials failed to sign off on vote tabulation tapes, a crucial step in the certification process. Cross claimed that his group paid nearly $16,000 in open records requests and received "over 77 megabytes of records" representing more than 315,000 votes.RELATED: Trump triumphs as judge dismisses racketeering charges over 2020 election: 'We are going to keep winning!' Photo by MANDEL NGAN/AFP via Getty ImagesCross also claimed to have found polls opened at "impossibly late hours" and other issues with the polls that he said represent "catastrophic breaks in chain of custody and certification."The activist emphasized that seeking redress in this case is above partisan politics: "This is not partisan. This is statutory. This is the law. When the law demands three signatures on tabulator tapes and the county fails to follow the rules, those 315,000 votes are, by definition, uncertified."Ann Brumbaugh, an attorney for the Fulton County Board of Registration and Elections, admitted to the Georgia State Elections Board during the hearing: "I have not seen the tapes myself, but we do not dispute that the tapes were not signed. It was a violation of the rule."Noting that the training, facility, and leadership have all been changed since the 2020 election, Brumbaugh added, "We don't dispute the allegation from the 2020 election."During the hearing, Cross asked that Fulton County be sanctioned by the state elections board, that the county "publicly acknowledge their violations," and for the state to decertify the 2020 advanced voting results.Cross stressed that this was not a matter of score-settling "but instead to place an indelible and permanent asterisk on the record and finally force accountability." According to results reported at the time, Joe Biden won the state of Georgia and its 16 electoral votes by just under 12,000 and defeated Donald Trump in the Electoral College, 306-232.Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

He charted dozens of singles in the U.K. His biggest U.S. hit was "Fool (If You Think It's Over)" which reached #12 in 1978. The post Chris Rea Dies, English Singer-Songwriter Was Known For His Husky-Gravel Voice appeared first on Best Classic Bands.

Guy Benson Has a Reminder About the 60 Minutes Journo Who Said Bari Weiss Made a 'Political Decision'