Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey, D-Mass., is drawing fire from conservatives for appointing Giselle Byrd, a biological male transgender activist, as the new vice chair of the Massachusetts Commission on the Status of Women’s Programming and Planning Committee. The appointment became effective Nov. 1. ? JUST IN: Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey is being eviscerated for appointing biological male Giselle Byrd to the Massachusetts Commission on the Status of WOMEN.The body's entire function is to craft policies for women in the state.THAT'S A DUDE. Mental illness.???? pic.twitter.com/t9FAw4wJjG— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) November 16, 2025 “Is this a Babylon Bee headline?” Massachusetts Family Institute wrote on Facebook last Wednesday, as the news sparked harsh criticism of the state’s decision. “No, in fact, this is the logical conclusion of feminism in Massachusetts society. Feminism suggests that women can do anything men can do. If this is true, then there is basically no difference between the sexes. If there [is] no distinction between male and female, then why can’t a woman become a man, or vice versa? If men and women are basically the same, then this man, Giselle Byrd, is perfectly justified in wearing the female form like a Halloween costume.” “Our state thought that when we threw God out of the public square, we would become more sophisticated and advanced. Instead, we bought a regressive lie [masquerading] as progressive truth. Massachusetts has rejected God’s perfect design for marriage and sexuality. This is the sad result.” Byrd, the executive director of the Theater Offensive in Boston and activist at several LGBT non-profits, was initially appointed in August. American journalist Megyn Kelly joined the criticism of Byrd’s appointment, sarcastically writing on X, “Men make the best women, we all know that.” Men make the best women, we all know that. https://t.co/1akmhLeYe2— Megyn Kelly (@megynkelly) November 16, 2025 In an effort to halt biological males from participating in women’s sports, the Trump administration has returned Title IX to its original intent, defining sex based on biological sex at birth, rather than gender identity. President Donald Trump signed an executive order “Keeping Men out of Women’s Sports,” back in February that states agencies and public schools will lose federal funds if they fail to comply with Title IX’s definition of sex. Moreover, the International Olympic Committee announced a new policy last week that would bar trans-athletes from competing against biological women. “We understand that there’ll be differences depending on the sport … but it was very clear from the members that we have to protect the female category, first and foremost to ensure fairness,” IOC President Kirsty Coventry said. “But we need to do that with a scientific approach and the inclusion of the international federations who have already done a lot of work in this area.” The post ‘Is This a Babylon Bee Headline?’: Massachusetts Appoints Trans Activist to Women’s Commission appeared first on The Daily Signal.

Reading commentary about the recent elections, I thought of an observation of Nobel prize-winning physicist Richard Feynman. Feynman said, “The first principle is that you must not fool yourself, and you are the easiest person to fool.” That is, we must always be disciplined in looking at things as they are and not bend to the temptation to see them as we wish them to be. After the recent Democrat election sweep, we are hearing that there is unhappiness out there. But is this really news? Currently Gallup reports that 27% of the Americans are satisfied with the direction of the country. This number has not been over 40% since 2020. It has not been over 50% since 2002. These are the percentages of Americans expressing “a great deal” or “quite a lot” of confidence in these major institutions of our country, as of June 2025: Congress—10%, television news—11%, big business—15%, the criminal justice system—17%, newspapers—17%, large technology companies—24%, U.S. Supreme Court—27%, public schools—29%, organized labor—29%, banks—30%, presidency—30%. Per Gallup as of last June, 58% said they are “extremely/very proud” to be an American. This is down from 87% in 2001. This is not a pretty picture, and it has been going on for a long time. After Republicans took the election in 2024, a sense was conveyed that Democrats were wiped out. Elections are too often about whom voters don’t want than whom they do want. We have a great country that in many ways has seriously lost its way. Our citizens long for meaning and principles. In short, our country was born and became great with individual freedom and traditional values. This is the magic formula for prosperity and satisfaction. We are now in dangerous, uncharted territory having departed in too many ways from these principles. We’re bogged down from massive growth in government and national debt at an unprecedented level that exceeds our entire gross domestic product. At the same time, our defense spending hovers around a post-World War II low as a percentage of GDP. Let’s look at one of the buzzwords that has emerged from the elections: “affordability.” Americans are mad about prices. Let’s think about what causes high prices. I am looking at a chart produced by economist Mark Perry using data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Here are prices from 2000 through June 2025 that have declined or increased less than the rate of inflation: TVs, toys, computer software, cellphone services, clothing, household furnishings and new cars. Here are prices, over the same period, that increased more than the rate of inflation: hospital services, college tuition and fees, childcare and nursery school, medical care services, housing and food and beverages. What is the distinguishing factor in those goods and services that went down in price versus those that went up? The answer is those that increased in price over the 25-year period are things with a lot of government controls and regulations. Those that declined are things that operate in free and competitive markets. The path to “affordability”—to declines in prices over time—is free markets and competition. The path to rising prices and increasing burdens on consumers—more government. Free markets and competition are what our country is about and what the Republican Party is about. More government is what the Democratic Party is about. Its’ why we just saw the longest government shutdown in our nation’s history: Democrats’ refusal to back off the never-ending government money machine. The answer by Republicans to what appears to be a setback in the recent elections is not to join Democrats in their buzzword games. The answer is to take on areas where we have lost our way and let in way too much government. And to constantly remind voters what our great country is about. COPYRIGHT 2025 CREATORS.COM We publish a variety of perspectives. Nothing written here is to be construed as representing the views of The Daily Signal. The post How Should Republicans Move Forward? appeared first on The Daily Signal.

Before Trump Became a 'Racist'

The Trump administration has plans to root out fraud in the country's food stamp program.The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program provides benefits to approximately 42 million Americans, costing about $100 billion in the fiscal year 2024.'Secretary Rollins wants to ensure the fraud, waste, and incessant abuse of SNAP ends.'Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins announced Thursday that the administration will require Americans receiving food stamps through SNAP to reapply.Rollins told Newsmax that this effort would "make sure that everyone that's taking a taxpayer-funded benefit … that they literally are vulnerable and they can't survive without it."Rollins explained that she sent letters to every state, requesting data on SNAP benefits. She noted that 29 states, primarily those led by Republicans, responded to the request.She stated that "186,000 deceased men and women and children in this country are receiving a check."RELATED: Supreme Court rules in favor of Trump administration to extend pause in SNAP funding Photo by Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images"That is what we're really going to start clamping down on. Half a million are getting two [payments]," Rollins said, noting that this included data from only 29 states."Can you imagine when we get our hands on the blue-state data what we're gonna find?" she added."It's going to give us a platform and a trajectory to fundamentally rebuild this program," Rollins continued.The secretary described one instance in which an individual used the same Social Security number to obtain EBT cards in six states. RELATED: 'Absurd': JD Vance blasts activist Obama judge's apparent overreach on SNAP handouts amid Democrat shutdown Photo by Kayla Bartkowski/Getty ImagesShe noted that President Donald Trump has made cracking down on SNAP fraud a priority, adding that 120 arrests have already been made.It is not yet clear when beneficiaries will be required to reapply for the benefits. "Secretary Rollins wants to ensure the fraud, waste, and incessant abuse of SNAP ends," a USDA spokesperson told The Hill. "Rates of fraud were only previously assumed, and President Trump is doing something about it. Using standard recertification processes for households is a part of that work. As well as ongoing analysis of State data, further regulatory work, and improved collaboration with States."Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

We are born with an intrinsic ability to recognize beauty, be it a sunset, a piece of art, or a fellow human being. The second our eyes behold something beautiful, we can’t help but stop and admire. No one teaches us to react this way; it just happens naturally.Michelle Obama, however, argues otherwise. On a November 12 podcast episode titled “The Power of Hair: Identity, Legacy & Black Womanhood,” the former first lady posited that the world needs to be taught how to appreciate black beauty in particular.The episode, which featured Cosmopolitan beauty editor Julee Wilson, actor and producer Marsai Martin, and stylist and founder of Esthetics Salon Yene Damtew, was part of the promotional content for Michelle’s new book, “The Look" — a glossy vanity project that repackages the same grievance-laden identity politics she’s been peddling for years under the guise of empowerment and joy.After declaring that “there isn't a standard of beauty” and that what we see featured in magazines is merely “taste” and not beauty, she stressed the need “to start educating people about all kinds of beauty.”“Our beauty is so powerful and so unique that it is worthy of the conversation and it's worthy of demanding the respect that we're owed for who we are and what we offer to the world,” she added.“I didn't need an education on [beauty]. I can remember at a very early, early age the ability [to recognize], ‘Oh, that's a beautiful woman; that’s a handsome man,”’ counters Jason Whitlock, BlazeTV host of “Fearless.” “Fearless” contributor Shemeka Michelle agrees. “You don't have to teach about beauty — it just is. Michelle sounds so silly, and every time we turn around, here she comes, just another round in the victim Olympics.”Contrary to Michelle’s belief, objective beauty is real, but “attitude,” Jason argues, can certainly go a long way in the beauty department. Kindness, confidence, faith in Christ — these are all beautifiers, he says.Unfortunately, many women, he says, adopt the kind of attitude that detracts from the natural beauty they possess. “That’s this feminism that many black women and girlbosses have attached themselves to,” he says. “It erases a lot of their beauty. That bitterness and anger just is not attractive.”“When you're sitting around and you're a multimillionaire and the world has kissed your butt and … then you're still angry and whining and complaining and demonizing America, it's just very unattractive,” he says.Jason and Shemeka both agree that Melania Trump, with her timeless poise and quiet grace, is a far better example of beauty than Michelle Obama will ever be.To hear more of the conversation, watch the clip above.Want more from Jason Whitlock?To enjoy more fearless conversations at the crossroads of culture, faith, sports, and comedy with Jason Whitlock, subscribe to BlazeTV — the largest multi-platform network of voices who love America, defend the Constitution, and live the American dream.

That mid-'80s Starship hit perennially tops lists of the worst chart-toppers ever. It's bad, we agree, but we've found others that are even worse. The post 17 #1 Hits Worse Than ‘We Built This City’ appeared first on Best Classic Bands.

Team Trump Signals an Economic Rebound

iOS26 is a great operating system with a lot of useful tricks and features, but some take some digging to find, and you should know about them.

President Donald Trump continued to put more distance between himself and Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., on Saturday, calling her a "traitor," a "disgrace" to the GOP, and a "fake politician" who "turned left."

The Trump administration's top trade negotiator is warning Brussels that transatlantic trade could again become a "flashpoint" as Washington grows frustrated with the EU's delays in implementing pledged tariff cuts.