Andrew Day, Jude Russo, and Joseph Addington discuss White House moves that have rankled Israel, Russia-Ukraine direct talks, and the new American pope. Recorded May 14, 2025. The post TAC Right Now: Trump-Netanyahu Tensions, Russia-Ukraine Talks appeared first on The American Conservative.

In a bombshell interview, Mike Adams and Dr. Alphonzo Monzo expose alarming claims about weaponized nanotechnology, 5G and demonic tech infiltrating human biology—linking COVID shots, toxic food additives and EMFs to a covert agenda of control, while offering detox strategies to fight back. For more videos, visit BrightLearn.ai Full length interview on Brighteon.com: https://brighteon.com/d2295c45-6ad8-498a-90b9-ef0dbe5deeda

When you live in one country your whole life, it's easy to form ideas about what's "normal" and what's not. Cultural standards and accepted norms vary country by country, though, sometimes in dramatic ways that we wouldn't even think of. That's why when someone asked, "What’s a very American problem that Americans don’t realize isn’t normal in other countries?" the answers were eye-opening. Seeing major aspects of American life that are not realities in other countries, especially other wealthy, developed nations, is wild. It's also a good reminder that we all have things to learn from one another and the things we might think of as impossible actually aren't. from AskReddit Lots to think about here as we ponder our quality of life and what's worth trying harder to change:The cost of healthcare and medical bankruptcy"Was in Germany with food poisoning. Drove myself to the ER. They were SHOOK when I told them I did. They then quietly told me you don't pay for ambulances there.""I’ve never understood why police and firefighters get covered but we get a bill for ambulances. You'd think anything related to 911 is covered by our taxes." Ambulance rides can cost a pretty penny in the U.S.Photo credit: Canva"First time I was living in Japan (didn’t understand the healthcare yet) and took a cab to the ER. They were so concerned and confused why I would do that. I was seen immediately, given IV, six medications on my way out: it only cost my like 60$USD. My friend apologized for how I had to pay so much as a non-citizen. I was shocked it was so cheap.""I had a cancer diagnosis in 2019 and I joined an online support group. Americans were worried about the costs or losing their job because of missed days for treatment and doctors appointments. I'm Canadian. None of that stuff was any part of my worries. FYI, we got it all. I'm good.""Yea the amount of GoFundMe’s for just like routine life medical s__t is wild.""Breaking Bad would not have happened anywhere else but the US."Prescription drug commercials"I can’t even afford to go to the doctor. What makes you think I would book an appointment to see a doctor and ask for a drug that could give me 'blindness, or even death.'" Side effects from drugs, GIF by Eternal Family Giphy "I really love the ones that can give you 'potentially fatal disintegration of the perineum.'""This sports game brought to you by a prescription drug with a long list of horrifying side effects!"Losing your job without notice"That you can lose your job without warning. No notice period where you can get paid while looking for something else. Just getting thrown out of a workplace you've been at for years, with your belongings. And that this can lead to losing your right to proper health care because of insurance. Basically, no rights and no safety net. Only the rich seem to get severance packages.""In my first job in Europe, I and the university screwed up majorly with my visa and I ended up stranded in Canada for a couple of weeks waiting to fix it. When I wrote to my boss to tell him what happened, I reassured him that I knew I'd probably lose my job over this etc. He was shocked that I even thought it was a possibility." Other countries have policies that prevent being let go with no notice.Photo credit: Canva"Here in Ireland, there's been multiple instances where American-run companies think they can fire/lay off employees just like in America, and end up getting legal proceedings taken against them as a result.""In Norway 3 months notice with pay is the standard."No guaranteed maternity leave "I still can't believe paid maternity leave is not a standard thing. And shit like women going back to work two weeks after giving birth. What is going on?""I know of a company that was bought out by an American company. They tried to enforce American rules on maternity leave. It did not work out well for them." Paid parental leave is not guaranteed in the U.S.Photo credit: Canva"The company I worked for denied my maternity leave and then approved it and then fired me for a system error that I begged them to fix for month. One that I didn’t cause. The maternity leave wasn’t even paid, it was just so I could return to work.""I'm sorry, not an American. How are people meant to deal with raising a child without a maternity leave?"Vacation time is seen as a luxury"Getting time off. 2 weeks here feels like a lot. You work a bunch to get some more time off after x number of years. Other countries can get a month off no issue it seems like.""I'm in the UK, I get 6 weeks plus bank holidays. I want more, asked for more, so my manager checked with HR. He now can approve another 3 weeks unpaid every year without needing further approval.Also my American colleagues get the same benefits including 6 months paternity leave (full pay). He used it and he said his family genuinely questioned if he'd been fired and was trying to hide it. ?""The law in France forces me to take 2 consecutive weeks between May and October of each year. After that I still have almost 6 weeks of vacation left on top of public holidays. You can take 3 weeks in a row without issue, but 4+ requires some negotiation, but it really depends on your job and company, for some it's a non-issue." Vacation time is seen as a given, not a luxury, in Europe and Australia.Photo credit: Canva"I get 4 weeks Annual Leave a year + 2 weeks sick leave [in Australia]. They accrue and the annual leave must be paid out when you leave the company. I also get Long Service Leave (13 weeks at 10 years of service and 1.3 weeks every year after that.)" "A friend of mine has like 5-6 weeks vacation per year in the US. Hasn't taken more than a week off within a year for years now. And I don't even think it's a full week as a block. He just takes 5 days max within the year."Gun violence"Guns. So many guns. So much gun violence. Just not an issue in other countries.""Active shooter drills for kids in school. Bullet proof backpacks.""One of the things that may surprise Americans, is that over in Europe and other places in the world, we don't do gun drills at schools or other places. We don't simply need to, because firearms offences are so low." Gun violence and active shooter drills are not the norm in other developed nations.Photo credit: Canva"There are a lot of developed countries with a lot of guns. Canada, Switzerland, Finland, for example. Heck, even the UK has a lot of shot guns in the countryside.The American culture of gun violence is unmatched in the developed world. It's not quite as bad as some Central America or under developed countries, but it's definitely an outlier in developed countries...I guess that is just America in general."There are lots of wonderful things about the United States, but that doesn't mean there aren't places we could improve. Sure, some of these things are enormous, systemic things that are difficult to change, but knowing they're not "normal," only normal for Americans, might give us an extra push to advocate for what we really want as a people.

Dogs, like people, have a variety of features and personalities that help identify them from others. The combination of identifiable features becomes more vast among dogs as they breed with different types of dogs. Depending on the dog combination, you either get an expensive crossbreed like the golden doodle or what is typically classified as a mutt. But one dog named Nina may win the strange genetics award.Nina was a rescue from Puerto Rico who was found abandoned. The poor pooch had no hair, but that wasn't because of a tragic accident; she is simply a bald dog. Nina's teeth are also...interesting. They jut out from her mouth making it look as if she might be part piranha. Her teeth make it nearly impossible for her mouth to fully close and, yet, somehow, she's simultaneously cute and terrifying. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Nina (@nodsfornina)Nina's not terrifying because she's done anything to warrant that label, but because she eerily resembles the mythical El Chupacabra. You know, the legendary animal at the center of Latin American folklore who allegedly kills livestock and drinks their blood. The description from people who claim to have seen the infamous Chupacabra varies. Some say the likely fictional creature stands on two legs and is huge while others say the animal is small and stands on four legs. But there's a strong theme that's developed between the sightings: the creatures looks dog-like, is bald or balding, and has sharp teeth seemingly placed wildly in its mouth. Nina, of course, is neither fictional nor infamous; she's just a dog that looks kinda weird and no one knows why. DNA tests reveal she's 100% dog, but she's mixed with a lot of different breeds: Doberman Pinscher, Collie, Mountain Cur, Pomeranian, Chihuahua, Boxer, Chow Chow, Pit Bull Terrier, small Poodle, Labrador Retriever and German Shepherd. Maybe that's where she gets her unique looks from? View this post on Instagram A post shared by Nina (@nodsfornina)The problem is, all the breeds that show up in her DNA have hair, normal teeth, and eyes that close properly—all things Nina is lacking. In fact, her owners have to put artificial tears in her eyes due to the way her eyelids have grown. Scientists are fascinated by the unconventional way her genes have expressed, leading them to study the dog, with her humans' permission of course. "Nina's health seems to be perfectly normal. We've gotten her tested for everything that we can imagine. She had a surgery called entropion and basically it means the eyelid hair, her eyelashes are digging into her eyes so they create these little ulcers on her eyes. So we got those fixed," Nina's mom tells GeoBeats Animals. "We have artificial tears that we have to put in her eyes because her eyes are, they don't shut. They just constantly stay open so we have to put those in a couple times a day."While her owners joke with the vet that Nina is a Chupacabra, the truth is that she's just a weird looking mutt that scientists at Cornell University are trying to figure out, which requires bloodwork every six months. They're not sure if she has a congenital defect that causes her unique looks or if she simply lost the genetic jackpot. Either way, her adorably odd mug is stealing hearts all over the Internet. Her dog siblings also think she's pretty neat, giving her lots of extra kisses and snuggles. Her owner added a last adorable detail, saying, "I feel like the other dogs kind of sense that she's a little different. They love to clean her, they treat her like a baby almost."

We've all heard the stories about how intelligent the great apes are, the great apes being a family of primates that include chimpanzees, orangutans, gorillas, and bonobos. There've been many famous cases of gorillas learning sign language, caring for kittens, or otherwise showing pretty astounding human-like behaviors.Remember Koko, the famous gorilla who knew over 1,000 American Sign Language gestures? Her language proficiency may have been overestimated at the time, but she did help to completely change the way we view the intelligence and capabilities of the great apes. More recently there was Kanzi, a bonobo, who showed amazing proficiency at understanding and communicating with language. Kanzi once demanded the materials for s'mores, made his own fire, and roasted his own marshmallows!The next famous great ape just might be Patrick the chimpanzee, a resident at the Metro Richmond Zoo. Puffy cheeks called flanges are a sign of attractiveness and dominance in orangutans. Photo by CHUTTERSNAP on Unsplash In a video posted to TikTok, the zoo notes that Patrick just turned 34. His zookeepers gave him a royal green cloak to mark the occasion.If he looks a little different than you're used to, it's because Patrick has especially pronounced flanges, or puffy cheeks. Not all males have flanges, but the ladies dig them. So those big old cheeks are just one more reason Patrick is a total stud.In the video, we see Patrick wrap the cloak around himself and tie it into a perfect knot. It's absolutely astonishing to watch. It's maybe less impressive than some of the greatest feats accomplished by Koko and Kanzi, but there's something so human about the moment. It makes you view these animals in a completely different light. Just watch him pull the knot tight and then double-knot it to make sure it won't budget. Amazing!Watch the viral moment here: @metrorichmondzoo Patrick turns 34, receives a royal cloak, and then ties the perfect knot - because even jungle royalty needs a signature look! ??✨ King behavior. #metrorichmondzoo #rva #orangutans #patricktheorangutan 5 million people viewed the video and were left in awe. They were also left wondering: What else can Patrick do?Commenters had some interesting ideas:"Now give him a fitted sheet and see what he can do""why do I feel like he could french braid my hair better than I can""Has anyone ever hugged him and if so what was it like?"People were jokingly convinced that Patrick could speak, but chose not to:"100% believe the conspiracy that they can talk but dont because they dont want humans to know"Patrick isn't the first orangutan to tie knots. They've been observed doing it in the wild, and their weaving and tying skills are considered an extension of their nest-building behaviors. Orangutans have been observed tying knots in the wild without human instruction. Photo by Pat Whelen on Unsplash But truly, what else can great apes do?It was recently discovered that chimpanzees used medical plants to treat each other's wounds in the wild, in addition to using leaves to wipe themselves down after sex or pooping. This fits with the great apes well-known use of tools, but it also challenges the notion that humans are the only species that displays empathy and altruistic behaviors. Chimpanzees also have highly sophisticated memories and are capable of recalling specific events from years ago and even recognizing photos of themselves when they were younger.Chimps and other apes have been proven to be able to perform basic math and some experts even say they have a photographic memory!It's impossible to read all this and watch Patrick's intelligence on display without wondering whether great apes should ever be kept in captivity. They're so intelligent and capable of feeling, it seems cruel to keep them behind bars. But as conservation organizations have pointed out, many great apes simply can not be introduced back into the wild due to massive habitat loss. These creatures are endangered for a reason, and kudos go to the caring zookeepers who take care of them and help provide apes like Patrick with safe, enriching lives.

In early February 2024, Beyoncé rocked the music world by releasing a surprise new album of country tunes. The album, Renaissance: Act II, includes a song called "Texas Hold 'Em," which shot up the country charts—with a few bumps along the way—and landed Queen Bey at the No.1 spot.As the first Black female artist to have a song hit No. 1 on Billboard's country music charts, Beyoncé once again proved her popularity, versatility, and ability to break barriers without missing a beat. In one fell swoop, she got people who had zero interest in country music to give it a second look, forced country music fans to broaden their own ideas about what country music looks like, prompted conversations about bending and blending musical genres and styles, and gave the Internet a crash course on the Black roots of country music.And she inspired the Gardiner Brothers to add yet another element to the mix—Irish step dance.In a TikTok that's been viewed over 42 million times, the Gardiner Brothers don cowboy hats while they step in time to "Texas Hold 'Em," much to the delight of viewers everywhere.Watch: @gardinerbrothers Beyoncé ? Irish dancing #beyonce #countrymusic Michael and Matthew Gardiner are professional Irish-American step dancers and choreographers who have gained international fame with their award-winning performances. They've also built a following of millions on social media with videos like this one, where they dance to popular songs, usually in an outdoor environment.The melding of Irish dance with country music sung by a Black American female artist may seem unlikely, but it could be viewed merely as country music coming back to its roots. As mentioned, country music has roots in Black culture and tradition. One major staple of the country music genre, the banjo, was created by enslaved Africans and their descendants during the colonial era, according to The Smithsonian. The genre also has deep roots in the ballad tradition of the Irish, English and Scottish settlers in the Appalachian region of the U.S. Despite modern country music's struggle to break free from "music for white people" stereotypes, it's much more diverse than many realize or care to admit, and Queen Bey is simply following tradition. Man playing banjo.Canva PhotosPeople are loving the blending of genres and culture that the TikTok exemplifies."Never thought I’d see Irish step dancing while Beyoncé sings country," wrote on commenter. "My life is complete. ♥️""So happy Beyoncé dropped this song and exposed my timeline to diversified talent ????," wrote another."Beyoncé brought the world together with this song ?," offered another person."Ayeeee Irish Dancing has entered the BeyHive chatroom… WELCOME!! ???" exclaimed another."I don’t think I can explain how many of my interests are intersecting here," wrote one commenter, reflecting what several others shared as well.The Beyoncé/Gardiner Brothers combo and the reactions to it are a good reminder that none of us fit into one box of interest or identity. We're all an eclectic mix of tastes and styles, so we can almost always find a way to connect with others over something we enjoy. What better way to be reminded of that fact than through an unexpected mashup that blends the magic of music with the delight of dance? Truly, the arts are a powerful uniting force we should utilize more often.And for an extra bit of fun, the Gardiner Brothers also shared their bloopers from filming the video. Turns out stepping in the rain isn't as easy as they make it look. @gardinerbrothers Beyoncé Bloopers #texasholdem #gardinerbrothers This article originally appeared last year.

Dogs seem to intuitively understand human emotions, and they can be trained to understand and respond to a nearly unlimited number of words, phrases, or commands. Some experts say smarter breeds can learn hundreds of different prompts! It makes you wonder how far off they really are from being able to truly communicate with us using something resembling language.People have been wondering and experimenting with the idea for a long time. Speech-language pathologist Christina Hunger and her dog Stella were the first to experiment with talking buttons in 2019, where Stella could press a button with her nose to activate a word sound, thereby speaking, in a sense. Since then there has been a surge of online content showing other pet parents using similar kits to communicate with their own pups.The most fascinating aspect of this phenomenon is the question of whether or not canines are able to understand full-blown complicated sentences beyond “treat” and “outside.”While the overall jury is still out on that, scientifically speaking, dogs like Ripley — a 2-year-old Australian Shepherd — seem to make an incredibly compelling case for believing the hype. An Australian Shepherd like Ripley. Photo by Ilona Frey on Unsplash Ripley has an entire TikTok account documenting his impressive talk button journey, along with 85,000 followers. But a video posted on March 28, 2024, feels next-level.In the clip, Ripley presses the “smell” button as his parents eat lunch. When that doesn’t get their attention, he begins to bark.“What do you smell?” a voice finally asks. To which Ripley replies “outside,” followed by “gardens.”Confused, someone asks, “It smells like the gardens outside?”Ripley’s parents had apparently just started a load of laundry before making lunch, and the detergent had been spilling all over the floor from the washing machine. Ripley had been smelling the detergent, which was reminiscent of the gardens outside.Unfortunately, they didn’t put two and two together until after they went back to the laundry room and saw the rapidly worsening mess. Hence the moral of the story: “You should always listen to your dog.” @letsgoripley He’s so freakin’ smart! #Talkingdog #letsgoripley #ripleytalks #fluentpet #australianshepherd #dogs Ripley’s amazing feat prompted lots of praise from over a million viewers.“All of the treats,” one person wrote.Another added, “I’ve said this before and I’ll say it again, he is brilliant.”"He was so mad y'all weren't moving," someone joked."This is amazing!!! It’s a good thing it wasn’t an emergency like a fire or something dangerous!!!! You both seemed a little slow to realize that she was trying to warn you of something off/strange!!!" said another.Others were quick to compliment the breed. And rightfully so, as Australian Shepherds are known for their remarkable intelligence, as well as their strong drive and exuberance, according to the American Kennel Club. They thrive when they have a job, and the way Ripley jumped into action is a pretty great example of this characteristic.The whole account is pretty remarkable. In another popular video, Ripley uses the buttons to demand to see his grandma (who, no doubt, gives him lots of treats). In another, he can be seen asking for water and alerting his humans that he smells food. His owners insist that he understands what they're saying to him and uses the buttons to communicate, not just for rewards and praise. @letsgoripley Ripley really loves his Grandma! This happened multiple times this day. This was the first time. Stay tuned… ? #australianshepherd #fluentpet #talkingdog #dogswhotalk #dogmom #dogdad #puppy #doglover #grandma #smartdog #aussiesoftiktok #puppylove So, while we might not have definite evidence for the efficacy of talk buttons, one thing remains abundantly clear—our dogs are trying to communicate with us in whatever way they can. All we need to do is listen.Check out even more of Ripley's talk button shenanigans on TikTok.