"Public" broadcasting demonstrates how dramatically one-sided it is by allowing only one side of the "LGBTQIA+" debate -- because they believe there should be no debate. There is no defensible position in opposition. On Saturday's Consider This podcast, National Public Radio spent more than 11 minutes mourning the Trump administration's decision to remove transgender troops from service. [Graphic from NPR's story.] The star of the story was Gen. Stanley McChrystal, the former general in charge of troops in Afghanistan under President Obama -- until he ripped the adminstration in a Rolling Stone profile. Then he had to go.  But since then, McChrystal has become an opponent of Trump, and endorsed Joe Biden for president in 2020 and Kamala Harris in 2024, so he's good again. NPR's headline:  Former top general calls military's removal of trans troops a costly mistake Anchor Scott Detrow set the scene: "The Pentagon is now actively removing nearly all remaining openly transgender troops. In the parting messages, they and their allies say it is only hurting, not helping military readiness." Yes, "they and their allies" were the only ones they found worth airing. Producer Lauren Hodges began with McChrystal's ceremony in a civilian suit and tie: LAUREN HODGES: The room applauds as 71-year-old retired four-star general Stanley McChrystal approaches the podium. I can't believe he's here, someone whispers. Almost as if he heard them, McChrystal says this into the microphone. STANLEY McCHRYSTAL: First off, we shouldn't be here. HODGES: Here is a retirement ceremony for five transgender service members who have been forcibly separated from the military under the Trump administration's second ban. The event has been organized by the [leftist] advocacy group the Human Rights Campaign in lieu of a proper Pentagon ceremony. McCHRYSTAL: When these professionals finally decide to retire, it should happen on parade fields, in offices, on the deck of ships, wherever the Space Force goes, I don't know. The NPR bio for Hodges relays: "Lauren works on many beats but leans toward national security, extremism, reproductive rights, poverty and social justice issues." Her story loaded up on the outraged transgender troops: KARA CORCORAN: It's systematic oppression. It should be the same standard of care and the same process as anybody would have with a shoulder surgery or a knee surgery, which, by the way, for all the surgeries we get, the recovery period is less, and we're back in the fight. Then came the inevitable anonymous sources. NPR loves these, because it adds Creeping Tyranny drama to the story: HODGES: W is a transgender woman who serves in the Navy. She has asked to only go by an initial because she's, quote, "stealth," meaning she's not out as trans. She presents as a man and hasn't undergone any gender affirmation surgery. She knows she'll lose her job if it's made public. W says only about four of her colleagues know, and those people are helping by asking questions on her behalf so no one suspects anything…. That experience is shared by a fellow sailor, A, who is also stealth and using only an initial for the same reasons as W. But, A, a trans man, is stealth in a different way. A: It's two very different experiences. You've got people like me, who transitioned prior to the military, so there was no change in documents when I joined. HODGES: When A started boot camp, he pulled a sergeant aside to let her know, and she arranged for separate showers for, quote, "religious reasons." This lobby is anything but God-fearing. There was one soundbite of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, to denounce the Left in terms the NPR audience will despise: PETE HEGSETH: This administration has done a great deal from Day 1 to remove the social justice, politically correct and toxic ideological garbage that had infected our department, to rip out the politics. No more identity months, DEI offices, dudes in dresses. The story returned to McChrystal at the end:  HODGES: General McChrystal says the separations are a mistake and that they're affecting mission readiness, one of the listed values that Secretary Hegseth claims as a priority for his Department of War amidst several simmering global conflicts. McCHRYSTAL: God forbid, if we had a major war and we need to start calling everybody up, I would hope that we would not suddenly say we are only going to draft people of a certain type because we wouldn't have enough.

Democratic Texas state Representative and current Senate candidate James Talarico has made a practice of using his “Christian” faith and background as a Presbyterian seminarian to push progressive causes, such as abortion, LGBTQ+ rights, and gun control, among others.Earlier this week, in an interview with Stephen Colbert on “The Late Show,” Talarico perpetuated an argument he’s presented multiple times, namely that the “religious right” mistakenly hyper-focuses on “abortion and gay marriage” — two issues, he argued, “that aren't mentioned in the Bible” and “that Jesus never talked about.”“Jesus gave us two commandments: Love God and love neighbor. And there was no exception to that second commandment. Love thy neighbor regardless of race or gender or sexual orientation or immigration status or religious affiliation. And it's why I have fought so hard for the separation of church and state,” the Texas Democrat added.BlazeTV host Steve Deace joins the host of conservative Christian voices denouncing Talarico as a false teacher, but his criticism goes far beyond relegating the progressive Christian to the realm of heretics.“James Talarico is going to be Legion,” says Deace. He explains the biblical pattern of Christian revival, which he believes is happening in the United States right now, regardless of whether or not America survives as a free nation.First comes the sifting, he says, where God separates true believers from fake or lukewarm ones. Next is “the implementation of a new structure,” where God builds fresh ways of doing church outside of old, dead institutions. The final step is “mobilization.” Once His true followers are sifted and organized, God sends them out on mission to spread the gospel and make disciples locally and globally.This revival process, Deace explains, has been repeating itself since the formation of the early Christian church.However, the enemy has his own counterfeit pattern: First, shame people into hiding their faith, convincing them that it’s meant to be “private” between them and God. Then, push the lie of “secularization” — the idea that “there's a neutral space where no one rules and no one is worshiped and no such space exists, ever has existed, or ever will,” says Deace. And finally, “replace” the faith altogether with an evil religion imposed by the state.“We’re entering into this third stage now,” Deace warns.James Talarico, whom Deace calls “an object and a vessel of malevolence,” is “not deceived; he's the deceiver,” he says. “He is who Paul would have said in Acts, ‘You are a son of the devil.’ He knows what he is doing.”To stay on the straight and narrow and avoid being duped by people like Talarico, Deace gives a piece of advice: “If sin and repentance and redemption are nowhere in their message, it doesn't matter what else they say. ... That is not the gospel. It is not. It's a husk. Jesus called it a whitewashed tomb. The heart and soul of the gospel, the battle that was waged over your soul, and it is now being waged over your heart and mind, is because of sin, repentance, and redemption.”“Guess what was completely and totally missing from James Talarico’s message? Sin, repentance, and redemption. So guess what you just heard none of from James Talarico? The gospel.”To hear more, watch the episode above.Want more from Steve Deace?To enjoy more of Steve's take on national politics, Christian worldview, and principled conservatism with a snarky twist, subscribe to BlazeTV — the largest multi-platform network of voices who love America, defend the Constitution, and live the American dream.

Russia attacked Ukraine with a barrage of missiles and drones, killing one person in the Kyiv region, Ukraine's Emergency Service said on Sunday.Another eight people, including a child, were rescued from under the rubble of destroyed buildings, the service said.The attack...

A grouping of major U.S. airlines said the U.S. Department of Homeland Security gave travelers scant warning ahead of the temporary suspension of its PreCheck and Global Entry programs from Sunday, amid a shutdown of much of the agency.The halt in the programs run by the...

A stunning new Hubble image reveals the most detailed look yet at the Egg Nebula, the youngest and closest pre-planetary nebula to Earth.

Hominids are weird.

Military life is built on structure. Ranks, missions, and expectations are all part of the culture. That structure does more than organize a career; it shapes identity. And it shapes relationships, in and out of the uniform. When two people build a life inside the military, their love grows inside that framework. It grows and thrives with structure. Deployment cycles, PCS moves, career decisions, duty days, and reintegration constantly challenge relationships to evolve in the military. Also Read: The Artemis II mission mirrors the military life we already liveLong before separation or retirement ever enters the conversation, relationships evolve in the military. This is important to understand. Because when the uniform finally comes off, it’s not the first change, it’s just the most visible one.During service, relationships are forged through the intensity and pressure of military life. Deployment stretches communication thin. Emotional compartmentalization becomes a survival skill, and one partner may be operating in combat zones while the other carries the entire household alone. Roles shift repeatedly. And when homecoming comes and brings relief and joy, it can also bring friction. The rhythms built in absence don’t always disappear overnight. Reintegration isn’t just physical; it’s emotional. And all the while, military identity shapes us. A service member becomes known by rank, performance, and reliability. Leadership and decisiveness are reinforced daily. A spouse becomes known for resilience, flexibility, and sacrifice. And the military community categorizes us under labels. It is all smooth sailing until it is not. Because beneath the labels, two people are changing. Sometimes at different speeds. Master Chief Electrician’s Mate Nathan Miller salutes sideboys with his wife Christina at his retirement ceremony on the flight deck aboard the USS Ronald Reagan. (U.S. Navy/Daniel G. Providakes) Military communication is efficient. Clear. Direct. Often task-oriented. But what works in operations doesn’t always work inside the home, in a relationship or partnership. Many couples normalize operating this way because the mission always comes first. There isn’t always space to unpack emotions mid-deployment cycle or mid-promotion timelines.  Conversations get postponed. Feelings get shelved, not because we want to but because it is out of necessity. Over time, that becomes a habit. Then one day, the structure shifts.Retirement. Separation. Medical discharge—whatever the reason—the uniform comes off. The rank on the chest is no longer needed.  Suddenly, there is no daily formation, no command structure, no built-in purpose or community. The identity that once felt solid, starts crumbling. As the service member questions their identity, there are parallel feelings for the spouse. “Who are we, if we are no longer navigating military life?” Changes start happening, and families start noticing. The house feels different, even if they were technically “home” all along. Shared space shifts. Routines change. Responsibilities get renegotiated. Power dynamics adjust. The mission and structure that once organized everything have disappeared. What remains is the relationship without the military pressures keeping the bigger picture together. It can be a lot. However, this time comes with a lot of opportunity.After service, couples often meet each other as new versions of themselves. There has been plenty of change and growth through the years of service, and it shows. Without the constant backdrop of deployments or orders, couples have to decide: What does our life look like now? What do we build together that isn’t tied to the military?From hobbies, friendships, new communities, and shared goals, it can be uncomfortable. There’s grief in leaving behind a chapter that shaped you. But there is beauty in the change. The end of service is not the end of identity.  Love after the uniform isn’t about surviving the next deployment. It’s about choosing each other without the pressure of military life. There are no more orders, countdowns to track, or deployments. Just two people deciding to focus on the future and move forward together. Couples who navigate this transition well do one thing consistently: they tell the truth. About identity shifts, about fear, about grief, and about unmet expectations. Seeking support when needed from friends, using resources, and finding community. The change is very complex and needs attention when it is hurting a relationship. The strongest military marriages aren’t the ones untouched by change. They are the ones who understand change is inevitable and lean into it, focused on what is important. The uniform may come off. But the values remain. And if those values include commitment and courage, then love after the uniform can be deeper, steadier, and more intentional.Not because the military structure held it together, but because, in the end, the people involved chose each other without it. Don’t Miss the Best of We Are The Mighty • Here’s the Tom Cruise classic ‘Top Gun’ in under 3 minutes• How ‘Major Payne’ became a Marine Corps comedy classic• ‘Project Jedi’ aimed to teach soldiers to use the Force when firing weapons Mighty MilSpouse Mighty MilSpouse An honest look at how relationships evolve during and after military service By Daniella Horne Mighty MilSpouse Everything you need to know about a government shutdown before the next one By Katie Jones Mighty MilSpouse Redefining Valentine’s Day in a military household By Daniella Horne Mighty MilSpouse Operation Intimacy: Why military couples can’t afford to neglect the bedroom By Tamika Sherman Kids & Family No, kids are not getting dumber. Here’s the truth about the Gen Z intelligence study. By Blake Stilwell The post An honest look at how relationships evolve during and after military service appeared first on We Are The Mighty.

It felt rushed and disconnected. The post The Dire Straits album that always disappointed Mark Knopfler: “I still don’t think it was a very good record” first appeared on Far Out Magazine.