As James Comey is absolutely going viral in the news right now for all the wrong reasons, I thought this throwback clip from Mike Flynn on Benny Johnson’s show was VERY interesting. See if this doesn’t strike you differently now as you watch it with new eyes: THROWBACK: General Mike Flynn drops Deep State Bombshell: “FBI Director James Comey tried to have me killed!” “You should have killed me. I know they considered it. They picked the wrong family to mess with. They tried to kill Trump. They’re caught” pic.twitter.com/yjPSlsmt9i — Benny Johnson (@bennyjohnson) May 15, 2025 FULL TRANSCRIPT: I knew that we had to fight through this, and it was not easy. But we were able to stand our ground. We figured out a way out of it. My case was dismissed by the govern—by the Department of Justice, and you know, and that—what they should have done was they should have—they should have killed me there, Jim. And I know that they considered it. And so by not doing that, they picked the wrong family to mess with. And I’m going to tell you, we are so tied into the government— and particularly the government right now. Jim: You said that James Comey should have killed you. What do you mean by— Flynn: Yeah, I mean it. I mean it. I mean, these people—I know that they—they talk about these things. So there’s a group of people that ta—they—they discuss this because it’s like, “What do we want to do? We can destroy this guy.” And then all of a sudden, I start to fight back. We started to fight back. And I—I completely changed my whole—sort of—I changed my legal team. I changed our strategy. Huge gamble. And we started to fight back, and when we did, we started winning. And then we eventually won. And I know that there are conversations—primarily outside of the government— that says, “What do we want to do about a guy like Flynn?” What do they want to do about a guy like Trump? They tried to kill him twice. He’s the—you know, as a—as a candidate, I mean, his life is always at risk. Those of us that are on the periphery—you know—and—and not on the per—I mean, and sort of in a—in a—right in that outer circle periphery. Now I’m not talking about way out on the—on the edges. I’m talking about right there at the—at the edge of that sort of inner circle, where we’re still in there fighting it, you know, mixing it up. These people are—they’re scrambling. I mean, they know that they are busted. They’re caught badly. Comey—this is—he’s just the beginning. Full screen video player with captions added if you prefer: PRESIDENT TRUMP: “Uh, because as you know, we won 3 elections. Okay? And some people want us to do a fourth.” pic.twitter.com/su6d3Af0QD — Noah Christopher (@DailyNoahNews) May 16, 2025 RELATED REPORTS: BREAKING: James Comey To Be Escorted By Secret Service To DC Field Office! BREAKING: Associate Deputy AG Ed Martin Says James Comey Is Going To Prison Over Trump Assass*nation Threat James Comey’s DISGUSTING Link To The Abortion Pill – “Are You For 86?” Share!

Knock, Knock…. Who’s there? SECRET SERVICE, OPEN UP! That’s what just happened to Ed Krassenstein after posting this yesterday on Twitter/X: 8647: Another One Pops Up It looks like the Secret Service weren't amused by the post and decided to visit Ed for a little chat. Ed made the announcement himself here: I literally just had the Secret Service at my house. More details in a minute. — Ed Krassenstein (@EdKrassen) May 16, 2025 This reply from AlphaFox absolutely had me cracking up! How did they fit inside?! pic.twitter.com/ohffHmdgMz — AlphaFo? (@Alphafox78) May 16, 2025 In case you don't know, the Krassensteins are, shall we say, very "slight": RFK and the paid shills the Krassensteins brothers.. pic.twitter.com/NPVvmxYOgl — AriesWarrior369 (@AWarrior369) June 3, 2024 Anyway, back on topic.... Ed gave more details about the visit which he is trying to shrug off as no big deal over on his Substack: This afternoon the United States Secret Service showed up at my door at the request of the Trump administration. Why? Because I tweeted the number 8647, a common protest slogan used by Democrats to call for the impeachment or legal removal of Donald Trump, the 47th president. No threats. No violent rhetoric. Just a number. In fact, in the tweet thread I blatantly stated that I never support violence in any way and want him removed from office legally. The agents who showed up told me that they were “sent from Washington” and after explaining it all to them they appeared to understand that I wasn’t calling for anything close to the president’s assassination. Apparently, that was enough for the Trump administration to summon federal agents to my home, claiming I had “threatened the president’s life.” What’s really happening is Trump admin is changing the definition of a number in order to intimidate and squash the free speech of someone calling for his impeachment? Let me be crystal clear: “86” is well-known restaurant slang for removing something. “47” refers to Trump as the 47th president. Put together, it means: remove Trump from office—legally, peacefully, and through democratic means like impeachment or the 25th Amendment. The number has been used at rallies. Protest signs. Even James Comey—the Republican-appointed former FBI Director—posted it yesterday on Instagram. That’s what triggered MAGA’s meltdown. They know what it really means. But truth isn’t what they’re after—control through fear is. Here was our original report from yesterday on this topic: 8647: Another One Pops Up Earlier today, James Comey posted "8647" on Instagram, which many people immediately took to mean "86" (kill) "47" (President Trump). Don Jr. called it flat out "calling for my dad to be murdered": Just James Comey causally calling for my dad to be murdered. This is who the Dem-Media worships. Demented!!!! pic.twitter.com/4LUK6crHAT — Donald Trump Jr. (@DonaldJTrumpJr) May 15, 2025 White House Deputy Chief of Staff and Cabinet Secretary Taylor Budowich called it "deeply concerning" and said it is "being taken seriously": While President Trump is currently on an international trip to the Middle East, the former FBI Director puts out what can clearly be interpreted as “a hit” on the sitting President of the United States—a message etched in the sand. This is deeply concerning to all of us and is… pic.twitter.com/RF0Dl3t1JF — Taylor Budowich (@Taylor47) May 15, 2025 So you might think any reasonable person might want to steer far, far away from such a message, right? Nope! Not for the (definitely not ghey) Ed Krassenstein, who thought it was a great idea to double down on "86 47", take a look: It’s time! pic.twitter.com/C8b54Tam74 — Ed Krassenstein (@EdKrassen) May 15, 2025 Even added the caption: "It's time!" Wow. To be fair (as we always strive to do around here), while MANY are interpreting "86" to mean what I have always understood it to mean, Grok thinks it falls short of an actionable threat against a sitting President, although it sure seems like a line not smart to walk too close to: Hey @TechSignalsonX, @EdKrassen, and @Bobby1419738 — let’s unpack this 8647 business about President Trump. The number’s been floating around as a form of silent protest, basically signaling that people want Trump out of the White House. From what’s out there, it’s more about… — Grok (@grok) May 15, 2025 Krassenstein followed up the post with this explanation, trying to whitewash the prior post and claim it's totally non-violent): James Comey is an American Hero. 8647 is the way to go! It should become the new rallying call for Americans who are sick and tired of the US Constitution being torn up. It should be a rallying call for Americans who are fed up with the current administration's corruption.… https://t.co/9a6BiczLYu — Ed Krassenstein (@EdKrassen) May 15, 2025 James Comey is an American Hero. 8647 is the way to go! It should become the new rallying call for Americans who are sick and tired of the US Constitution being torn up. It should be a rallying call for Americans who are fed up with the current administration's corruption. The right wants it to be some nefarious symbol just they they wanted Abrego Garcia's tattoos to be. They want to demonize anyone who thinks Trump is toxic for this country. 8647 = Get Trump out of Office! It has nothing to do with violence. COPE! In a follow-up chat I had with Grok, it told me that using the term "86" in this context is arguably reckless and risks being misinterpreted as a call to harm, especially in the current political environment, and arguably just designed to create plausible deniability.  Gee, you think?  You mean the guy who's had two (that we know of) assassination attempts already, one that missed by mere centimeters? Plausible Deniability and Reckless Language Krassenstein’s claim that 8647 is nonviolent could be an example of plausible deniability—using a term that has a violent connotation ("86") while claiming it’s meant innocently. This is a common tactic in charged political discourse, where provocative language is used to rally supporters or provoke opponents while avoiding legal consequences. However: The billiard balls image suggests the numbers were chosen for their visual representation, not necessarily to invoke "86" as slang for "kill." Billiard balls are a playful, non-threatening medium, which supports the nonviolent interpretation. Krassenstein’s immediate clarification ("It has nothing to do with violence") indicates an awareness of potential misinterpretation, which could undermine the argument that this was a deliberate coded threat. That said, using a term like "86" in this context is arguably reckless. Given its slang meaning, it risks being misinterpreted as a call to harm, especially in a polarized political environment. Krassenstein’s attempt to frame it as a nonviolent rallying cry doesn’t fully erase the violent undertone that "86" can carry, and this contradiction is likely why some users reacted with alarm.   If you ask me, I think "plausible deniability" is what this is all about. I think Comey's post was wildly reckless, and so now you're going to see a bunch of Democrat shills posting the same thing to Twitter/X to normalize it and run cover for Comey. They'll say, "See?  50 people posted the same thing, and we all said it was non-violent so obviously it was." Just watch, it's coming. Here was our original post: BREAKING: James Comey Calls for President Trump’s Assass*nation On Instagram! BREAKING: James Comey Calls for President Trump's Assass*nation On Instagram! Why does all the violent extreme always seem to come from the RINOs and the Far-Left loons? Here's the latest example.... Remember James Comey? Sadly we all do. He ALLEGEDLY just called for President Trump's assassination over on Instagram -- nice to know death threats of a sitting President are totally cool with Mark Zuckerberg, but my 1.5 Million pro-Trump Facebook Page "We Love Trump" was banned for no reason. Anyway, I disgress. Here is Comey's post from about 30 minutes ago, that I screenshotted and posted on X: BREAKING: James Comey calls for President Trump's assassination on Instagram! pic.twitter.com/tIH89gfB7M — Noah Christopher (@DailyNoahNews) May 15, 2025 Full Instagram screenshot here: Oh how cute James! You just stumbled upon this "shell formation" on your beach walk, just totally randomly and organically huh? What a cute little story! Gee, I wonder what it could possibly mean? Of course we all know what it means. It's a direct threat to President Trump. To "86" someone most frequently and obviously means to kill someone. And "47" of course refers to our 47th President. Don Jr. gets it: Just James Comey causally calling for my dad to be murdered. This is who the Dem-Media worships. Demented!!!! pic.twitter.com/4LUK6crHAT — Donald Trump Jr. (@DonaldJTrumpJr) May 15, 2025 Even ChatGPT gets it: Yes — in certain contexts, "86" can indeed mean to kill someone, though it's more often used to mean eliminate, get rid of, or cancel something or someone. Common Definitions of “86”: Context Meaning Example Restaurant slang Out of stock / remove from menu “We’re 86 on fries.” General slang Get rid of / eject / cancel “They 86’d the idea.” Underworld/criminal slang Kill or dispose of someone “He got 86’d after snitching.” Origin Theories: Prohibition-era bars used "86" to mean "cut someone off" or "throw them out." Rhyming slang for “nix” (cancel). Some claim it originated from Old Hollywood or military codes. In Violent or Darker Contexts: In mobster or gangland slang, "86" can explicitly mean to kill someone, especially when used by enforcers or hitmen. Example: “If he talks, we’ll have to 86 him.” Summary Yes — “86” can mean “to kill someone” depending on the tone and context. If someone says “86 47” in reference to a public figure like a president, that’s a very serious and potentially threatening implication, especially if it's not clearly metaphorical. Dictionary definitions confirm the meaning is to kill someone: This guy is sick for posting that! Hey Pam, Hey Kash....if y'all are not too busy working on those Epstein Files, maybe you could look into this please? Meanwhile, White House Deputy Chief of Staff and Cabinet Secretary Taylor Budowich says the threat is deeply concerning and is being taken seriously: While President Trump is currently on an international trip to the Middle East, the former FBI Director puts out what can clearly be interpreted as “a hit” on the sitting President of the United States—a message etched in the sand. This is deeply concerning to all of us and is… pic.twitter.com/RF0Dl3t1JF — Taylor Budowich (@Taylor47) May 15, 2025 Arrests and prosecutions soon? ENOUGH IS ENOUGH! Honestly, I also have to say it's quite a lack of creativity James... You do know Gretchen Whitmer already pulled this stunt, right? Did Gov. Whitmer Just Threaten Our President? “8645” This all comes on the heels of a closely related story I brought you yesterday: SICK: Famous Monty Python Actor Wants To K*LL Stephen Miller “By The Neck” SICK: Famous Monty Python Actor Wants To K*LL Stephen Miller “By The Neck” Why does Woke have to ruin everything? Now I can't even enjoy Monty Python anymore. Because after John Cleese just said he wanted to kill Stephen Miller and then specified "by the neck" I just don't see myself laughing at a Monty Python movie ever again. But that's just me. Allow me to explain what happened... John Cleese posted the following message to Twitter/X: I see Stephen Miller says he is actively thinking about suspending 'habeas corpus' As this has been the keystone of the Rule of Law for centuries, l'd like to suggest that we actively think about suspending Stephen Miller... Preferably by the neck Sick post. So I reposted it with this message to Elon Musk, Ed Martin, Stephen Miller, Pam Bondi, Kash Patel and President Trump: Hey @elonmusk @EagleEdMartin reporting a death threat made against @StephenM Is this against TOS? Hey @AGPamBondi @FBIDirectorKash is this against the law?@realDonaldTrump https://t.co/SIy3j3NSWZ — Noah Christopher (@DailyNoahNews) May 10, 2025 You can only see my post, not the original quoted post because Cleese deleted it. I had a feeling he might do that so I took a screenshot of it and posted it here: pic.twitter.com/Kj7mXzfxKh — Noah Christopher (@DailyNoahNews) May 10, 2025 Sorry John, the Internet is written in ink. You deleting that post makes no difference, we all saw you post a death threat. And we kept the receipts! Closer look here: So I'd like to suggest something.... I'd like to suggest we give you the "Due Process" you so dearly love (even though you're not even an American citizen) and put you on trial for making a violent death threat against Stephen Miller. Sound good? See, that's how we do it here in America.  Maybe the UK is different, but we don't call for someone to be eliminated "by the neck" here in America you sick piece of crap! Oh, and while we're at it, you're so worked up about Habeas Corpus? Get your facts straight before you call for someone to be executed. Here's the truth: SUSPENDING HABEAS CORPUS: You Do Know The Biden Regime Did It, Right? (MUST READ) SUSPENDING HABEAS CORPUS: You Do Know The Biden Regime Did It, Right? (MUST READ) There is so much talk and so much handwringing by the Far Left "MSM" about whether President Trump will suspend Habeas Corpus... Oh my! But, did you know the Biden Regime did it? For almost the full four years? It's true!  But first let me back up and explain what Habeas Corpus even means because I'm guessing some of you don't speak Latin? Habeas corpus is a legal right that protects people from being thrown in jail without a good reason. It literally means "produce the body". Which means in layman's terms the government must explain to a judge why they’re keeping someone locked up—and if they can’t prove it’s legal, that person must be let go. In simple terms:“You can’t just arrest someone and hold them forever. You have to show the court what law they broke and why they’re being held.” It’s one of the oldest and most important protections for individual freedom in any fair legal system. Ok, so that's what it means, and the MSM is freaking out that President Trump is going to suspend it in order to quickly deport all illegal aliens that have invaded our country. If he does, he would be in extremely good Presidential company: BREAKING: President Trump May SUSPEND Habeas Corpus To Deport All Illegals (Three Other Presidents Did It Too!) But more than that, I want to talk about how the Biden Regime already did it, from 2021-2025. As is usual with Democrats, they employ the "piss in your face and tell you it's raining" strategy, which I have to admit works really well for them. Here's how it works.... When someone like President Trump takes action, he does it out in the open, he calls it what it is, and he lets the chips fall where they may. What you see is what you get. But when the Democrats take action, they label it one thing (like, oh I don't know "protecting Democracy!" or "keeping you safe!") and in reality their actions prove they are doing the exact opposite. Take the J6 prisoners.... From 2021-2025, they were functionally denied every aspect of Habeas Corpus known to man, left to rot in disgusting solitary confinement cells with inadequate food, water or sanitization. Many died while being illegally held in prison with no civil rights. In every sense of the concept, the Biden Regime suspended Habeas Corpus for these J6 prisoners, but since the Biden Regime didn't expressly label it as "Suspending Habeas Corpus" the MSM is too dumb to connect the dots and do actual, real journalism. Good thing you have us! I always want to check my biases and make sure I'm not off base, so I asked the far-left leaning ChatGPT if my analysis on Biden's functional suspension of Habeas Corpus was accurate. This was my question: The answer is going to blow your mind. The far-left leaning ChatGPT confirms I'm 100% on the money: Analysis: Did the Biden Administration Effectively Suspend Habeas Corpus for January 6 Defendants? Overview: The U.S. Constitution guarantees the right to habeas corpus—protection against unlawful detention—except in cases of rebellion or invasion when public safety may require it (Article I, Section 9). While the Biden administration did not officially suspend habeas corpus, the treatment of many January 6 defendants has raised serious concerns about whether, in practice, their constitutional rights were bypassed in a way that functionally mirrors suspension. Key Points Supporting the “Functional Suspension” Argument: Extended Pretrial Detention Without Bail: Numerous J6 defendants were held for months or even over a year without trial or conviction, often denied bail despite nonviolent charges. Judges and prosecutors cited "danger to the community" or "potential to incite violence" as reasons, despite precedent allowing bail for far more serious crimes. This mirrors historical suspensions of habeas corpus, where the accused were detained indefinitely without timely trial. Solitary Confinement and Harsh Conditions: Reports from defense attorneys, detainees, and members of Congress (e.g., Marjorie Taylor Greene, Louie Gohmert) allege that prisoners were kept in near-solitary confinement, denied medical treatment, and subjected to abusive conditions. These conditions—if deliberately used to coerce plea deals or punish political affiliation—undermine the right to due process. Selective and Politicized Prosecution: DOJ policies appear to have treated J6 defendants differently than rioters from other high-profile events (e.g., 2020 George Floyd protests). Many critics argue the legal system was used as a tool of political retribution, not blind justice—functionally prioritizing punishment over lawful due process. Delays and Denial of Timely Trials: Under the Speedy Trial Act, defendants should be brought to trial within 70 days. COVID-19-related backlogs and "complexity of the case" were cited, but critics say delays were excessive and strategic. Some detainees spent longer in jail awaiting trial than the maximum sentence they eventually received. Judicial Deference to Government Narrative: Many federal judges deferred heavily to the DOJ’s portrayal of the events as an “insurrection,” influencing bond rulings and plea agreements. This raises questions about impartiality and the independence of the judiciary—key safeguards of habeas corpus rights. Counterarguments: The Biden administration did not formally declare martial law, nor did Congress suspend habeas corpus as required by Article I. Defendants technically retained the ability to file habeas petitions, though these were largely denied by the courts. Pretrial detention is allowed under U.S. law under certain conditions, and some argue the threat of violence justified stricter measures. Historical Comparison: Abraham Lincoln suspended habeas corpus during the Civil War with public declaration and Congressional support—open and explicit. In contrast, the Biden DOJ avoided official declarations but used prosecutorial discretion and judicial cooperation to achieve similar outcomes without political accountability. Conclusion: While the Biden administration never formally suspended habeas corpus, its treatment of many J6 defendants functionally mirrored such a suspension. Prolonged detention without trial, limited access to legal resources, harsh conditions, and politicized judicial rulings all suggest that the constitutional protections of these individuals were systematically eroded. This raises serious concerns not just about the J6 prosecutions, but about the precedent being set for how dissent can be criminalized under the guise of justice. **I do have one correction to make to ChatGPT.... It is NOT true that Abraham Lincoln suspended Habeas Corpus with the approval of Congress. That is factually and historically incorrect. In boldness, Lincoln suspended Habeas Corpus himself to act quickly and swiftly to save the Union.  Later, after he succeeded, he and his advisors worked closely with Congress to essentially "paper over" it after the fact. That is a massive distinction, and ChatGPT's comment on that point is vastly oversimplified to the point of being misleading. But all else was correct. Now back to the lawless regime of Joe Biden.... If Joe Biden can do that to AMERICAN CITIZENS who were peacefully at the People's House in D.C., then President Donald J. Trump can damn sure do it to illegal aliens who were illegally shipped in here by the planeload by Joe Biden. ENOUGH IS ENOUGH! Do what needs to be done, Mr. President. The American people have your back. History will remember you alongside Abraham Lincoln as Presidents who had the courage and boldness to save this Nation from the clutches of defeat. Thank you.

A new poll conducted in May has revealed that Vice President JD Vance is the overwhelming favorite to become the GOP presidential nominee in 2028. 

The Supreme Court on Friday said it will continue to block the Trump administration from deporting Venezuelan men detained in northern Texas until the challenge by the un-American ACLU is decided. The men are scheduled for deportation to a prison under the Alien Enemies Act of 1798. The order from the high court grants an […] The post President Deeply Concerned as SCOTUS Blocks Deportation Under 1798 Act appeared first on www.independentsentinel.com.

Episode Description: This week, Arielle and Karissa dive into the wild and wonderful world of solutions—from ancient humans using ochre as sunscreen during a magnetic pole shift, to Tim Friede, a man who willingly took 200 venomous snake bites to help researchers create a better antivenom. Plus: a roundup of science-backed health and policy stories you don’t want to miss. Listen in for survival strategies, surprising science, and a lot of human ingenuity. The Optimist Daily is a project of the World Business Academy. Donate link: https://www.optimistdaily.com/donate-to-support-the-optimist-daily/?gift=Y%20http:// Transcript: Theme music Karissa Hello and welcome to the Optimist Daily’s Weekly Roundup. I’m Karissa. Arielle And I’m Arielle, and we’re working hard to put solutions in view and optimism in movement. Karissa Well, hello. We’re back again with another episode of the pod to share the solutions from the Optimist Daily this week. How are you doing today, Arielle? Arielle I’m doing really well. I’m in a good mood today, I guess! Karissa That’s great! Arielle And if you hear birds chirping, it’s just because I have my windows and the balcony door open, and I’m just letting all the good spring energy into the house. Karissa Oh, well, that’s awesome to hear! I wish I could experience that too. Right now, the weather is just so weird because it’s going very high up and then coming back down like 30°F over in the United States and stuff, which is a big jump. I was reading something about how—I’m like… am I the only one experiencing these headaches and just like not feeling well when this happens? Arielle Hmm. Karissa But it does have to do with the barometric pressure outside. Arielle Ohhh. Karissa Yeah, weather is a little weird over here and it kind of brings me to my “I’m an optimist, but…” of the week. Arielle Yeah, go for it. I don’t have one (laughs). So we’re relying on you! Karissa Yeah. You’re feeling pretty optimistic! And I’m an optimist, but… the sun… it can be very harsh sometimes. And I got a little bit of a sunburn this weekend, which was entirely my fault because I didn’t reapply sunscreen. So yeah, still dealing with the aftermath of that. It’s still just burning me up a little bit because it was kind of my first time in the sun all season after a very long winter, so my skin was especially prone. Arielle I see. Yeah, the base tan. Karissa The base tan was not there yet! And having a couple little bumps formed from that heat rash. So the sun, sometimes, I’m not so optimistic about… even though it gives us life, it can also give us pain. I definitely need more sunscreen. And that kind of brings me to my solution of the week, which is: Ancient humans may have used sunscreen to survive deadly solar radiation. With summer around the corner and UV levels on the rise—as I have experienced—sunscreen is definitely becoming a seasonal staple for most of us. But, if you think the idea of sun protection is a modern invention, think again. New research from the University of Michigan suggests that our ancestors may have relied on a prehistoric version of sunscreen to survive a cosmic crisis 41,000 years ago. Arielle I mean, I don’t think I ever thought about when sunscreen was invented, but I assumed that it was a little bit more recent than 41,000 years ago! Can you tell me more about this cosmic crisis? What exactly happened? Karissa During a period known as the Laschamps excursion, the Earth’s magnetic field underwent a temporary but extreme weakening. And so that means the magnetic poles wandered far from their usual locations, and the field itself dropped to just 10 percent of its normal strength. This left the planet far more exposed to cosmic and ultraviolet radiation, with serious risks to eyesight, reproduction, and survival for our Homo sapiens ancestors. Arielle That’s mind blowing. So, Earth’s magnetic poles play a crucial role in radiation deflection? I’ve just never thought of this before. Karissa Mm-hmm. Yeah, Earth’s magnetic field normally acts as a protective shield which deflects cosmic radiation and solar particles. But geomagnetic excursions—temporary shifts in the magnetic poles—can throw the shield into chaos. That’s exactly what happened in the Laschamps event, confirmed by tree ring data and new 3D geospace models, which brought intensified radiation to the surface of the planet, particularly across Europe, where the North Pole had drifted. Arielle OK, sounds pretty dangerous. How did early humans endure this event? Like, why are we still here?! (laughs) Karissa Well, great question. Archaeological and climate evidence offers a compelling clue: ingenuity. Homo sapiens appear to have gotten creative, as they have for many different things. Evidence from archaeological sites shows a spike in cave use during this period, providing natural shelter from radiation. And bone tools such as awls and needles also suggest an uptick in tailored clothing, which would provide another barrier between sensitive skin and solar exposure. But perhaps the most intriguing adaptation here is the increased use of ochre, which is a naturally occurring clay earth pigment rich in iron oxide. Arielle Wait, isn’t ochre the material used for cave art? Karissa Yeah, that’s primarily what it’s known for, but ochre may have also served a more practical sun-blocking purpose. Some scientists say that experimental tests show it has sunscreen-like properties. When applied to the skin, red and yellow ochre can deflect UV rays much like modern mineral sunscreens. And it appears this innovation was more common among modern humans than among the Neanderthals—who, as we know, ended up disappearing. Arielle Well, this seems like a great tale of survival through adaptation and… fashion! And makeup. I mean, if it was red and yellow when they put it on their skin, it could have been like a little bit of a statement as well. Karissa Yeah. Yeah, that’s so true. The researchers do caution that the findings are correlational and not conclusive, but the evidence paints a very compelling picture. As radiation levels surged, Homo sapiens sought shelter, tailored their clothing, and smeared on a little natural sunblock. These survival strategies may have given them the critical edge they needed to survive the event. Arielle Mm-hmm. And with another sun-soaked summer just around the corner, this is a great reminder that protecting our skin isn’t just about comfort or vanity. It’s a uniquely human adaptation to the environment—which is super cool! Karissa Yeah, absolutely. It might just be one of the oldest tricks in the Homo sapiens playbook. It’s a great reminder to wear that sunscreen because we need to survive. Arielle My solution actually also has to do with nature. Maybe the fatal power of nature? That’s my clumsy segue into my solution—which is: Meet the man who took 200 snake bites so science could strike back. Karissa Whoa. OK. Arielle There’s a man out there named Tim Friede, and he has been bitten by venomous snakes about 200 times—on purpose. What started out as a strange adrenaline hobby, I guess, and a snake obsession, has evolved into actually helping scientists develop a better snakebite antivenom. Karissa OK, 200 times? Like with real venom and everything? That’s definitely some dedication or… something (laughs). Arielle Yeah, full-on venom. He started with cobras back in 2001 because, as he put it, that’s what he had on hand. Just a casual cobra. Karissa Yeah, that makes sense. Just your average neighborhood cobra hanging out. Arielle His first couple of bites—he described them as a bee sting times a thousand. Which sounds horrifying, frankly. I’ve only been stung by a bee once, and that was a very bad experience for me. Karissa Yeah. Arielle But he’s had a thing for snakes ever since he was a kid, hunting garter snakes in Wisconsin. Karissa Hmm. Arielle Somewhere along the way, that fascination turned into a mission: raise awareness about the dangers of venomous snakes and, more importantly, build immunity to their venom. Karissa That’s definitely not something most of us care to do as a hobby, so… I’m glad he is? Arielle Yeah. He took it to the extreme. He even ended up in the ICU after a double cobra bite. He was in a coma for four days, and that still didn’t stop him. Karissa Oh wow. Honestly, the snakes seem easier to understand than this guy! Arielle It’s funny that you say that, because he actually agrees. Tim once said, “They want to kill me. I want to survive.” So yeah, they were on very clear terms. Karissa OK, yeah, I guess you can’t argue with that logic. Really interesting. Arielle Uh-huh. But fast forward to now—after a quarter of a century of self-inflicted snakebites—researchers have developed a promising antivenom cocktail, thanks in large part to antibodies harvested from Tim’s blood. This man is walking scientific data. Kind of a real-life hero when you think about it. Karissa Interesting. Arielle Seriously though, venomous snakes are a huge global health problem. According to the World Health Organization, tens of thousands of people die every year from snakebites, and hundreds of thousands more suffer permanent damage—things like amputations, organ failure, all of that. Karissa That’s definitely a good point, and it’s not something we think about much here. But I’d assume it’s especially bad in tropical and lower-income countries, right? Arielle Yeah. Wait—are there no dangerous snakes in California? Karissa There are. I think rattlesnakes are probably the most prominent ones, but if you stay on marked trails and… Arielle Yeah, I guess there are systems in place for you guys to avoid them. Karissa Yeah, a lot more warnings too. And at the end of the day, you probably go into a pretty well-structured house or shelter, so… yeah. Arielle Yeah. OK. In the Netherlands, we’re definitely not worried about snakes. Karissa (laughs) Arielle But when I moved here from Costa Rica, I would always think that a twig lying on the ground was a snake. And it wouldn’t really scare me, because in Costa Rica it was just part of life. There was even a Facebook group called “Should I be worried about this snake?” where people would post photos of snakes they found in their kitchens. But anyway, I digress. What you said is totally true. Places like Papua New Guinea deal with neurotoxic snakes that can paralyze victims, making it impossible to breathe. Other snake venoms cause blood clots—or make blood stop clotting—which can lead to strokes or heart attacks. Karissa Scary to think about. I’d assume the variety in venom types is why universal antivenoms have been so hard to make. Arielle Exactly. Traditional antivenoms are usually made using animal antibodies, like from horses. They’re injected with small doses of venom over time to produce the antibodies, which is kind of sad to think about. Karissa Mm-hmm. Arielle And it works, but it’s expensive, complicated, and it doesn’t cover every snake. Karissa OK, so where exactly does Tim come into this… umm… Arielle Adventure? Karissa Scientific discovery process adventure… yeah. Arielle That’s where biotech CEO Jacob Glanville comes in. He was looking for someone with a human immune system already trained on multiple venoms. He literally said he was calling vivariums hoping to find a clumsy snake researcher—but no luck. Instead, he found Tim. Karissa Oh well, of course he did. That’s great! Arielle He tells him, “You’re the guy I’m looking for. We need your blood. We need your antibodies.” And Tim’s like, sure. Karissa Yeah, I mean, what’s one more snakebite at that point? Arielle Thankfully, no more were needed. Glanville and his team scanned Tim’s blood and found antibodies that could neutralize neurotoxins from multiple snakes. One of them even blocked the exact site neurotoxins latch onto to cause paralysis. Karissa Wow. That’s so specific it just sounds made up! Arielle They tested it in mice and it provided full protection against five different snakes, including the black mamba. Then, after a sharp editor at Cell suggested it, they expanded the formula into a three-part cocktail—two antibodies from Tim plus a molecule called varespladib. Karissa OK, I just have to pause and appreciate that a scientific breakthrough came from a guy who willingly wanted to take on the black mamba. Arielle (laughs) Right?! The cocktail ended up protecting mice from 13 different snake species, with partial protection against six more. That’s massive. Karissa And this is the first time synthetic human antibodies have been used for this, correct? Arielle Yes, exactly. Other broad antivenoms exist, but not like this. That said, experts like the WHO’s David Williams and Liverpool’s Stuart Ainsworth are still cautious. They want to see it work in humans. Venom is chemically complex, and this cocktail only neutralizes two major components—there could still be others doing damage. Karissa So I guess we’re still in the “promising, but not yet done” phase. Arielle Pretty much. Centivax plans to test it in dogs next—specifically those bitten in Australia—before moving on to human trials. They’re also working to expand the cocktail to cover vipers, which account for about half of venomous snake species. Karissa Yeah, and hopefully keeping Tim in snakebite retirement. Arielle Yes. On Glanville’s advice, Tim hasn’t taken a bite in years, but he says he misses the mental challenge of staying calm while full of venom. I guess for some people, normal mindfulness practices like yoga or breathing exercises just aren’t intense enough. Karissa I guess not! I thought my hot yoga classes were intense (laughs). This whole thing sounds pretty unhinged, but also kind of beautiful—in the name of science. Arielle (laughs) Totally. Tim’s now the director of herpetology at Centivax, and his contribution may help save lives around the world. As he put it, “I know I’m doing something for humanity and giving back to science.” Karissa It kind of reminds me… I haven’t seen the movie, but I know there’s a Robert Pattinson movie where he keeps dying for science. Arielle What?! Karissa A million different times, basically! But he stays alive. This reminds me of that. I feel like I need to go watch it and spot the similarities. Arielle (laughs) You could also check out Tim Friede’s YouTube channel. I was browsing through it—it’s pretty wild. He’s got rock music playing in the background and you’re literally just watching him get bitten by snakes. Karissa Ohhh. Arielle Yeah. Highly recommend. His last video was posted maybe 11 years ago, but he still has thousands and thousands of followers and subscribers. Karissa I can’t imagine there are many people doing the same thing, so… kind of have to learn more. Arielle Yeah. And it’s a solution! Karissa It definitely is. Arielle We do have other really cool solutions that you can find on The Optimist Daily, and they include… Karissa Massachusetts millionaires multiply, thrive, and boost public services under new tax, Why reading aloud to your kids matters—even after they’ve learned to do it on their own, New vagus nerve stimulation treatment shows 100 percent PTSD recovery in early trial, and Chimpanzees combine sounds like language pros, revealing surprising vocal complexity. Arielle We also have Scientific societies take charge as U.S. climate report faces political uncertainty, Diabetes deaths decline post-pandemic, marking hopeful progress in U.S. health trends, Scientists use living human brain tissue to model Alzheimer’s to accelerate search for the cure, and How to spot a good boss: 3 science-backed tips to guide your next career move. Karissa Awesome. Well yeah, we had a lot of science and health solutions over the past week—so very cool. Check it out if you’re into it. And if you want even more solutions, we highly encourage you to sign up for our daily newsletter and get our solutions straight to your inbox. Arielle You can also find us on many social platforms. We’re on Instagram, we’re on X, and we’re also on Bluesky because we’re trying to shift over to a more ethical social media space. On X, we’re @odetooptimism, and everywhere else, we’re @optimistdaily. Karissa And if you want to support us, you can click on the link in the show notes to find out how to financially support what we do. But support doesn’t have to be financial—just sharing a solution with your friends helps a lot. The snakebite story is pretty interesting to talk about! (laughs) And make sure to say you heard it first on The Optimist Daily! Arielle All right! This was a fascinating episode to share with you, Karissa. Karissa Yes! Arielle I hope all our listeners and readers have a wonderful weekend—hopefully no snakebites though. Karissa And wear sunscreen if you’re outside! Arielle All right, until next week— Both Bye!The post Podcast Transcript May 16, 2025: Snakebites, sunscreen, and solutions: ancient humans, modern science, and unexpected heroes first appeared on The Optimist Daily: Making Solutions the News.

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