It seems that all big thunderstorms generate gamma rays in multiple ways.

The Late Show host Stephen Colbert was not a fan of his CBS colleagues’ decision to refrain from fact-checking during Tuesday’s vice presidential debate. However, his concerns were one-sided because he implicitly approved of Tim Walz not being fact-checked about his claim that a Donald Trump victory means pregnant women will have to register with the federal government. Later, when MSNBC’s Chris Hayes joined the program, he claimed it was “delicious” when the moderators went back on their word and started to pick a fight with JD Vance on immigration. Colbert’s feelings were clear from a cold open that compared the lack of fact-checking to an NFL game where the players enforce the rules, “This weekend it's the NFL on CBS. All your favorite hard-hitting gridiron action, but with a new twist. The players call penalties no now. Why let the competitors play by the rules when they could be enforcing them? Heck, why have rules at all?... The NFL on CBS: we just hope both teams have fun.” Moderators, like referees, exist to enforce the rules, not help one team, which is an idea Colbert should get behind because later, he recalled, “the conversation turned to reproductive rights. Tim Walz brought up Project 2025, leading to this question for Vance.”     He then played a clip of co-moderator Norah O’Donnell, “Senator, do you want to respond to the governor's claim? Will you create a federal pregnancy monitoring agency?” Even the fact-checkers, including CBS, have labeled that Walz claim about Project 2025 false, but Colbert didn’t care as he launched into a Vance impersonation, “No, I'll just monitor 'em myself. Starting with you two ladies. Margaret, Norah, when was the first day of your last time of impurity? And did you go outside the village to the moon hut and only return to the village after offering a turtle dove to the elders?” Colbert then teed up a Vance clip, “JD Vance went on a whole rigamarole trying to justify the overturning of Roe v. Wade.” In the clip, Vance asked Walz, “Do you want to force Catholic hospitals to perform abortions against their will? Because Kamala Harris has supported suing Catholic nuns to violate their freedom of conscience.” The supposedly Catholic Colbert apparently doesn’t know how employer-provided health insurance works, “What are you talking about? Nuns don't perform medical procedures. I know that! 'Cause if they did, they'd be the stars of CBS's latest medical drama, OBGY-NUN.”     Later, Hayes admitted Walz did not look the best, but tried to spin that as a positive, “Walz was so clearly very nervous, which I always very endearing and human when you hear that constriction in the throat. Kamala Harris's first answer in the last debate was the same way, you could just hear it.” Colbert also asked him about the fact-checking rule, “What do you make of that rule? Do you think that's the right way to go? And what would you have wanted to fact-check.” Hayes’s desire for facts also went one way, “I would want to do that, but I'm not negotiating for the campaigns. I understand why the Trump-Vance people don't want there to be fact checks. They like to say false stuff. And in fact, it's not just incidental or accidental. They intentionally say false things. So, as to produce a sort of fear reaction in people they’re talking to. So, you know, that's the reason to do it. There’s a few things, I will say I think your colleagues at CBS did a very good job on the exchange about immigration, where, as a point of clarification, they were just like, these people have legal status called temporary protected status.”  He continued, “JD Vance was like, ‘You said you wouldn't fact-check me’ and then started trying to bulldoze them and then they cut his mic, that moment that you just played. Vance also tried to rebut the moderators, which shows why the earlier NFL referee analogy fails, but Colbert agreed with Hayes, “That was delicious.” Here is a transcript for the October 1 show: CBS The Late Show with Stephen Colbert 10/1/2024 11:35 PM ET ALEXIS MCADAMS: This debate, here in New York City, is going to be a little bit different. The CBS News team says that both candidates are going to have to fact-check each other so if there's something they don't like that they think the other team is saying, it's their responsibility to do that, not the moderators. NARRATOR: This weekend it's the NFL on CBS. All your favorite hard-hitting gridiron action, but with a new twist. The players call penalties no now. Why let the competitors play by the rules when they could be enforcing them? Heck, why have rules at all? This is legal now. Maybe the players could do all the jobs. Screw it, they're their own cameraman, too. Look, we’ll still keep the referees out there because sometimes they get knocked over and it's pretty funny but they no longer have flags, whistles, or any ability to prevent absolute chaos. The NFL on CBS: we just hope both teams have fun. … 11:44 PM ET STEPHEN COLBERT: Then the conversation turned to reproductive rights. Tim Walz brought up Project 2025, leading to this question for Vance. NORAH O’DONNELL: Senator, do you want to respond to the governor's claim? Will you create a federal pregnancy monitoring agency? COLBERT: "No, I'll just monitor 'em myself. Starting with you two ladies. Margaret, Norah, when was the first day of your last time of impurity? And did you go outside the village to the moon hut and only return to the village after offering a turtle dove to the elders?"  JD Vance, read your Leviticus, JD Vance went on a whole rigamarole trying to justify the overturning of Roe v. Wade. JD VANCE: Do you want to force Catholic hospitals to perform abortions against their will? Because Kamala Harris has supported suing Catholic nuns to violate their freedom of conscience. COLBERT: What are you talking about? Nuns don't perform medical procedures. I know that! 'Cause if they did, they'd be the stars of CBS's latest medical drama, OBGY-NUN  … 12:06 AM ET CHRIS HAYES: This was more in the middle. COLBERT: Okay. HAYES: There was a lot I thought was interesting. I mean, I think that, look, Vance is a smooth talker and very, sort of, you know, he kind of relaxed and daffed in that kind of environment. COLBERT: Sure. HAYES: Walz was so clearly very nervous, which I always very endearing and human— COLBERT: Sure. HAYES: -- when you hear that constriction in the throat. Kamala Harris's first answer in the last debate was the same way, you could just hear it. COLBERT: Sure. … COLBERT: Part of the rules were, wasn't, you know, CBS's idea, wasn't any of the journalists’ idea— HAYES: Right, right. COLBERT: -- but the rules where there could be no fact checks.  HAYES: Correct. COLBERT: Okay, what do you make of that rule? Do you think that's the right way to go? And what would you have wanted to fact-check. HAYES: Well, I would want to do that, but I'm not negotiating for the campaigns. I understand why the Trump-Vance people don't want there to be fact checks. They like to say false stuff.  COLBERT: Sure. HAYES: And in fact, it's not just incidental or accidental. They intentionally say false things. So, as to produce a sort of fear reaction in people they’re talking to. So, you know, that's the reason to do it. There’s a few things, I will say I think your colleagues at CBS did a very good job on the exchange about immigration, where, as a point of clarification, they were just like, these people have legal status called temporary protected status.  COLBERT: Right. HAYES: JD Vance was like, “you said you wouldn't fact-check me” and then started trying to bulldoze them and then they cut his mic, that moment that you just played. COLBERT: That was delicious. HAYES: That was pretty good. It's funny to hear the mic go out [unintelligible]. COLBERT: It's like the candidates are falling down a deep well. HAYES: Exactly.

Click to Skip Ahead What to Do Potential Causes Vet Treatment Whether you’ve been woken up by the constant jingle of your dog’s ID tags rattling together or your pup ignores your call for dinner because they’re too busy nibbling their hind leg, your pet’s constant itching and scratching can be annoying—for you. For your dog, it can become more of a way of life. While most owners’ first assumption is that the scratching is due to fleas, that’s not always the case. Itchy skin in canines can actually be a rather complex issue. We’re here to help you figure out what’s causing your dog’s constant biting and scratching so both of you can rest. Here’s What to Do Severe itchiness is typically an issue that should be brought to your veterinarian, but you can do a bit of investigating before making your way to the clinic. 1. Check for Fleas Again Maybe you’ve already checked your pup for creepy crawlies, or perhaps they’re on a monthly flea preventative. Either way, if the itchiness continues, it might be worth a second look. Severe flea infestations will often be quite visible, with adult fleas popping up when you brush your dog’s hair backward. However, less severe infestations can be trickier to detect. You may be lucky enough to locate a few adults by running a flea comb through your pup’s coat. Pay particular attention to the base of the tail, as this is a favorite hangout for fleas. If a flea comb doesn’t expose a problem, try dampening a paper towel, and then rubbing it down your dog’s back to the base of their tail a few times. Check the paper towel for brown spots that turn reddish and spread when they get wet. This could be flea dirt, which means your initial flea assumption is correct. See your vet for proper treatment. Image Credit: Vera Larina, Shutterstock 2. Get to Know Their Skin If your extensive flea checking came up negative, look more closely at your dog’s skin. Are you seeing dandruff, redness, scabs, or thinning hair? These things can indicate allergies, infections, parasites, and other issues. If your dog’s skin is irritated in any way, it’s time to involve your veterinarian. 3. Recall Your Dog’s History If your dog is having skin issues, try to recall when the itching started. Had they just had a bath? Did the seasons change? Did you switch foods or treats? Is anything else in their environment different, such as a new family member, a house move, or a schedule change? The answers to these questions may help you uncover the source of your dog’s scratching woes. For example, a change in diet can lead to food allergies, which can lead to intense itching, red and scabby skin, and chronic ear infections. These are also questions that a vet is going to ask, so try to think about them beforehand. Image Credit: WiP-Studio, Shutterstock 4. Try a Soothing Bath If your skin examination comes up clear, a soothing bath may be just what your pup needs. Sometimes, dry skin or other irritants can lead to constant biting and scratching and can often be helped with a bit of pampering. Try an oatmeal shampoo followed by a conditioner to give your pet’s skin the moisture that it needs to decrease itching and increase softness. Just remember that baths themselves can be a cause of dry skin, so avoid bathing your dog too frequently and with shampoos that are overly harsh or not meant for pets. If you are looking for the perfect, pet-friendly shampoo and conditioner combo, we highly recommend the products by Hepper. With a soothing oatmeal shampoo, free of soaps and other harsh chemicals, and a rich coconut-based conditioner, your pet's skin and coat will be smooth, hydrated, and irritation-free.  Hepper Oatmeal Shampoo for Pets Hepper Pet Conditioner & Moisturizer pH balanced pH balanced: pH balanced: Fresh aloe vera & cucumber scent Fresh aloe vera & cucumber scent: Fresh aloe vera & cucumber scent: Moisturizes and nourishes skin Moisturizes and nourishes skin: Moisturizes and nourishes skin: Hydrates coat Hydrates coat: Hydrates coat: Cleansing shampoo Cleansing shampoo: Cleansing shampoo: Conditioner Conditioner: Conditioner: Check Price Check Price At PangoVet, we've admired Hepper for many years, and decided to take a controlling ownership interest so that we could benefit from the outstanding designs of this cool cat company! 5. See Your Vet This should be your first step if you notice any abnormalities, but if your dog’s skin looks normal and they’re still scratching, it’s time to take professional action. Your vet can check your dog for the common causes of itchy skin and pick up on the things that you didn’t see. Sometimes, constant biting and scratching can be the manifestation of stress and anxiety. Some dogs may develop a compulsive behavior of licking or scratching when things in their environment are particularly difficult. It can also be a sign of boredom. Dogs need exercise and engagement to fill their days, and if they don’t get these, they may resort to biting and scratching. Also, certain health issues aren’t directly related to the skin but can affect the whole body. Hormonal imbalances due to things like Cushing’s disease or hypothyroidism may also lead to hair loss and sometimes, itchiness. Image Credit: KongNoi, Shutterstock Potential Causes of Constant Biting and Scratching in Dogs Keep in mind that many of these causes need a veterinary diagnosis and treatment, so it’s always best to seek professional help first. The causes of biting and scratching can include: Parasites (fleas, ticks, mites) Allergies (environmental, food) Dry skin (over-bathing, chemicals, poor diet) Infections Boredom Stress/anxiety Pain Health issues (Cushing’s disease, hypothyroidism) A wide range of issues may make a dog bite or scratch to the point that it takes up most of their free time. Some of these issues are easily remedied, while others require a more in-depth approach. How Vets Treat Constant Biting and Scratching in Canines An exam for itchy skin can be rather complicated because your vet will have to look in to many types of causes. They will often start with questions about when the itching started and any changes that may be happening in your dog’s life. They may also ask if your pet is showing any other abnormal behaviors that could indicate that they are stressed or anxious. They will then thoroughly examine your pup to check for any skin abnormalities, such as redness, scabs, oozing, hair loss, and parasites. This may include taking a skin scraping or other samples to get a better idea of what they’re dealing with. If allergies are suspected, allergy testing may come next. Once a diagnosis is made, treatment can begin. This may include medications, diet changes, schedule or environmental alterations, or topical treatments. Keep in mind that some of these treatments may be lifelong, depending on the cause. Image Credit: SeventyFour, Shutterstock Conclusion Constant biting or scratching by your canine companion may be bothersome for you, but it can be an absolute energy drain on them. If your pup is having this issue, try following these steps to see if you can get to the root of the problem. Be sure to consult your veterinarian for further diagnosis and treatment. Sources https://vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/signs-your-dog-is-stressed-and-how-to-relieve-it Featured Image Credit: Julija Kumpinovica, Shutterstock The post My Dog Is Constantly Biting and Scratching But Has No Fleas: Our Vet Explains What to Do appeared first on PangoVet.

Click to Skip Ahead Options to Feed a Dog With Diarrhea Causes of Mild Diarrhea When to See a Vet Diarrhea is something that every dog owner will have to deal with at least once in the lifetime of their pet. It’s a common issue that can have various causes, some more serious than others. Severe diarrhea or diarrhea accompanied by other signs, such as vomiting, inappetence, or lethargy, should be checked by a veterinarian. However, if your dog has a minor case of diarrhea or intermittent issues without any other signs, you may be able to simply change what they’re eating for a few days to provide relief. The 8 Options to Feed a Dog With Diarrhea Here are various vet-approved options that you can feed your dog with mild diarrhea. 1. Only Water If your dog is an otherwise healthy adult, withholding food for 24 hours may work wonders. This gives the digestive tract a chance to clear out and heal. Don’t withhold water, however, and don’t withhold food for puppies, seniors, or dogs with other health conditions, as they may not be able to handle a long stretch without sustenance. Speak to your vet before withholding food as a diarrhea treatment to make sure it’s a good idea for your pup. 2. Bone Broth If your pup is fasting or even if their appetite is simply lacking a bit, bone broth can be a great addition to their meals. It has enough water to help keep your dog hydrated and provides tasty nutrition. Best of all, bone broth is the epitome of digestible foods, so it can relieve your dog’s digestive tract of extra duties while it tries to sort things out. You can serve bone broth as a flavor enhancer in your dog’s water, as a topper to their food, or by itself. Image Credit: Alp Aksoy, Shutterstock 3. Fiber Fiber is a great regulator of digestion. It works to promote intestinal movement, draw water into the feces, and bulk up a bowel movement. For mild cases of diarrhea, extra fiber may be just what your dog’s digestion system needs to firm up the stools. Fiber can safely be added to your dog’s meals via canned pumpkin (not pumpkin pie filling), flaxseed, green beans, or broccoli (do not add salt, butter, oil, seasonings, etc.). Talk to your vet about what’s best and how much to serve. Canines with long-term issues with diarrhea may do better on a high-fiber dog food. 4. Rice Plain white rice is not only easily digestible, but it’s also packed with carbohydrates to provide your dog with the energy that they need. Rice is often used as part of a bland diet to transition dogs back to solid foods after a fast or an illness. Just be sure to not add any seasonings or cook it in butter or oils. Rice should only be fed for a few days, as it doesn’t have complete nutrition, and feeding for the long term could leave your dog lacking in certain important nutrients. Image Credit: mikuratv, Pixabay 5. Lean Protein Dogs can’t exist on carbohydrates alone, so boiled chicken or lean hamburger is often added to white rice to increase the protein content of a bland diet recipe. It can also help keep your dog feeling full for longer so they’re not constantly begging for a bigger meal while their body tries to recover. Protein is tasty enough to encourage dogs to eat when they may not want to. Just be sure to remove excess fat and cook the meat thoroughly without any additional seasonings. 6. Mashed Potatoes Potatoes are high-carbohydrate foods that can provide your dog with necessary energy when they’re not feeling up to par. They are also high in fiber and easily digestible, but you must use caution and only serve plain mashed potatoes. Leave out all the tasty add-ins that we enjoy, such as milk, butter, and seasonings; only give your dog plain boiled and mashed pieces. Mashed potatoes can also be mixed with a lean protein like boiled chicken or hamburger as part of a bland meal. Image Credit: Sergii Gnatiuk, Shutterstock 7. Baby Food Baby food is specifically made to be easily digestible and nutritious for human babies, and the same goes for our furry friends. Serving baby food does come with a caveat, though: You must only use baby foods without any additional seasonings. Opt for the stage II varieties, as these tend to mix a protein with a carbohydrate and veggies for added vitamins. Just be sure it leaves out things like salt, garlic, and onion. 8. Special Digestive Dog Diets You don’t need to run out and purchase a new bag of dog food for your pet’s occasional diarrhea issue. Instead, special digestive diets are usually reserved for dogs that experience diarrhea on a more regular or long-term basis. These work in a few different ways. Some contain limited ingredients, so they’re less likely to trigger food allergies, others contain increased amounts of fiber, and still others include probiotics and prebiotics to help support a healthy gut. Image Credit: mattycoulton, Pixabay Causes of Mild Diarrhea in Dogs Diarrhea can be the result of something directly affecting the digestive tract or even the body as a whole. It can be mild to severe and may occur in conjunction with signs like vomiting, inappetence, and lethargy. Dogs tend to explore the world with their mouths and may eat things that their stomach wishes that they hadn’t. Diarrhea from eating spoiled food, a sudden change in diet, or too-rich human food will often go away within a day or two and may or may not show up with other signs. Other causes of diarrhea can be an infection or illness. There are many microbes out there that love to feast in a dog’s digestive system, potentially leading to diarrhea, vomiting, and inappetence. Of course, if these signs are severe or last longer than a couple of days, see your veterinarian. Otherwise, trying these listed food options may work. Diarrhea can sometimes be the result of stress or anxiety, food allergies, parasites, and other illnesses, so it’s best to have your dog seen by a vet if their diarrhea doesn’t get better within a few days or if things start to get worse. When to See a Vet for Diarrhea in Dogs Mild cases of diarrhea may resolve themselves within a few days, especially if your pup is otherwise feeling fine. But there are cases of diarrhea that won’t go down without a fight. This means the stools don’t firm up within 48 hours, and your dog also has vomiting, stomach pain, inappetence, and lethargy. See a vet to help with this issue, as a small dietary change may not take care of it. If your dog can’t seem to stop having severe diarrhea and/or they are becoming dehydrated, they should see a vet as soon as possible. Conclusion Diarrhea is a common issue in our canine companions. Severe cases should be seen by a vet sooner rather than later, but mild cases may respond to withholding food, serving a bland diet, or increasing fiber. Long-term diarrhea may need a more long-term solution, which often includes a dietary change to a digestive formula dog food. Speak to your vet about your dog’s diarrhea so they can recommend the best course of action. Sources https://www.petmd.com/dog/nutrition/what-to-feed-a-dog-with-diarrhea   Featured Image Credit: marialevkina, Shutterstock The post What to Feed a Dog With Diarrhea: 8 Vet-Approved Options appeared first on PangoVet.

A former high school teacher in Virginia will soon collect a settlement of nearly $600,000 after he was fired for refusing to refer to a female student using male pronouns.For nearly seven years, Peter Vlaming taught French in West Point, Virginia, a city of about 3,400 residents about 40 miles east of Richmond. In the fall of 2018, a female student Vlaming already knew enrolled in his French II course.In their previous interactions, the girl, referred to in court documents as "John Doe," had apparently accepted the use of a female French name and female pronouns, but by the time she arrived for French II, Vlaming had learned that she "desired to be called by a more culturally masculine name," court documents said.Vlaming — whose religious beliefs uphold that "sex is fixed in each person, and that it cannot be changed, regardless of our feelings or desires" — tried to accommodate the student by avoiding pronouns in reference to her altogether and instead calling her by either her masculine English or French name.This alternative was apparently unacceptable to the student's parent and school administrators.The parent told Vlaming he "should leave his principles and beliefs out of this and refer to [Doe] as a male," the documents said.Assistant Principal Suzanne Aunspach then informed Vlaming that his "personal religious beliefs end at the school door" whenever they conflict with school policy, and Principal Jonathan Hochman later recommended that Vlaming be placed on administrative leave after he accidentally slipped up and referred to Doe as "her" during class but did not apologize in a manner that satisfied Hochman.In subsequent conversations with then-Superintendent Laura Abel, Vlaming insisted that he could not in good conscience use masculine pronouns in reference to Doe but would be willing to continue using her chosen masculine names. Abel then sent him a letter in which she explicitly directed him to use masculine pronouns for Doe. When he still refused, she recommended he be terminated on the grounds that he violated district policy regarding "harassment or retaliation against students and others on the basis of gender identity."The West Point School Board complied with her recommendation, voting to terminate Vlaming for refusing to use the preferred pronouns and for insubordination.'Peter wasn’t fired for something he said; he was fired for something he couldn’t say. The school board violated his First Amendment rights under the Virginia Constitution and commonwealth law.'In September 2019, Vlaming sued the district, claiming that it had breached his contract and violated his rights to free speech, free exercise, and due process. With the help of Alliance Defending Freedom, a religious liberties legal group, Vlaming's case made its way through the Virginia legal system.Vlaming endured a setback when a lower court dismissed his suit, but last December, the commonwealth supreme court reinstated it, ruling that the Virginia Constitution "seeks to protect diversity of thought, diversity of speech, diversity of religion, and diversity of opinion."On Monday, Alliance Defending Freedom announced that Vlaming and the district had reached a settlement. The district will pay Vlaming $575,000 in damages and attorney fees and wipe the termination from his record.Current Superintendent Larry Frazier confirmed the settlement to the Washington Times. "We are pleased to be able to reach a resolution that will not have a negative impact on the students, staff or school community of West Point," Frazier wrote in an email.So far, Vlaming appears pleased with the hard-fought result."I was wrongfully fired from my teaching job because my religious beliefs put me on a collision course with school administrators who mandated that teachers ascribe to only one perspective on gender identity—their preferred view," Vlaming said in a statement, according to ADF. "I loved teaching French and gracefully tried to accommodate every student in my class, but I couldn’t say something that directly violated my conscience. "I’m very grateful for the work of my attorneys at Alliance Defending Freedom to bring my case to victory, and hope it helps protect every other teacher and professor’s fundamental First Amendment rights."ADF senior counsel Tyson Langhofer likewise cheered the court's ruling and the settlement."Peter wasn’t fired for something he said; he was fired for something he couldn’t say. The school board violated his First Amendment rights under the Virginia Constitution and commonwealth law," Langhofer said in a statement."[Vlaming] couldn’t in good conscience speak messages that he knew were untrue, and no school board or government official can punish someone for that reason," Langhofer's statement added. "We’re pleased to favorably settle this case on behalf of Peter and hope other government and school officials will take note of the high cost involved in failing to respect an American’s constitutionally protected freedoms."Like Blaze News? 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In one of the most devastating natural disasters to reach land in the history of America, Hurricane Helene has left more than 100 people dead. Thousands are still missing. Homes are destroyed. And millions are without power. Just days into the devastation, President Joe Biden said the feds have given all they can to the emergency response, and Kamala Harris is off campaigning — Donald Trump went to the scene in Georgia with relief material. And Trump isn’t the only one helping the victims, as Mercury One is doing whatever it can to provide relief. “I heard about the devastation that was happening, and I reached out to Corey [Mills], gave him a text, and said, ‘Hey, do you have any helicopters?’ He actually said, ‘Yeah, I’ve got helicopters.’ I said, ‘Great, we’ve got supplies. Let’s get it out there,’” JP Decker, executive director of Mercury One tells Jill Savage and Matthew Peterson of “Blaze News Tonight.” “So earlier today, he flew two helicopters out to Asheville, landed in Asheville, and is delivering water, all kinds of different supplies, food supplies because right now they don’t have any water. They’re saying they might not have clean water for about at least three to four weeks,” he explains. Mercury One is “also helping create communications for Tennessee.” “With Mercury One, we like to be the first in and the last out. So, that’s what we’re doing,” Decker says. Since federal aid has been slow to reach victims, locals have also been stepping up. “The big picture is we saw this last year in Lahaina. We saw a lot of people weren’t able to get in to help, and it was the locals that stepped up. That’s what we’re seeing now. No one can get in, no one can get out,” Decker says. Al Robertson of BlazeTV’s “Unashamed” is among the survivors of the hurricane, and he’s witnessed firsthand what’s happening. “I saw people, literally neighbors with chainsaws, people sharing gasoline. I saw the community rising up for one another, but we needed something bigger in a moment like this because there were a lot of people trapped there that didn’t have family, that didn’t know people,” Robertson explains. “That’s when we rely on our government to step in and get people in ASAP, whatever it takes. And I was there for two and a half days, and we never saw anybody except the locals, and that was really sad.”Want more from 'Blaze News Tonight'?To enjoy more provocative opinions, expert analysis, and breaking stories you won’t see anywhere else, subscribe to BlazeTV — the largest multi-platform network of voices who love America, defend the Constitution, and live the American dream.

Sen. JD Vance (R-Ohio) faced off against Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz (D) Tuesday night for the vice presidential debate in New York City. In an uncustomarily civil engagement by recent standards, the two men advanced disparate visions for America, traded barbs, and demonstrated — or tried to demonstrate — their value to their respective running mates. Despite efforts by the CBS News moderators to help Walz and hinder Vance, it quickly became clear — even to liberal talking heads — that the Democratic governor was grossly outmatched. In response to Van Jones calling Vance "slick, slick, slick" after the debate, fellow CNN panelist David Urban said, "Ten out of ten for JD Vance. Ten strike. ... He landed a lot of good punches, but he did so with an iron fist in a velvet glove. He was very smooth. He was likeable. He looked presidential." Donald Trump Jr., who leaned on his father to choose Vance as his running mate, told CNN, "I thought it was a master class. It was just an incredible performance — just real command of the facts." Fox News' Kayleigh McEnany wrote, "JD Vance was very clearly a masterful pick for Vice President. His heartfelt response to questions and kind demeanor was very powerful. Really excellent judgment by @DonaldJTrumpJr and all those instrumental to the pick." 'I've never seen a national candidate look as nervous as Tim Walz.' New York Times columnist Ross Douthat noted that the debate revealed why Vance was a great choice of running mate for Trump, stressing that the Ohio senator delivered "one of the best debating performances by a Republican nominee for president or vice president in recent memory and making a case for Trump's record far more effectively than Trump has ever been capable of doing." "You've got a tough job here. You've got to pretend that Donald Trump didn't deliver rising take-home pay, which of course he did," Vance said during the debate. "You've got to pretend that Donald Trump didn't deliver lower inflation, which of course he did," continued the senator. "And then you've got to defend Kamala Harris' atrocious economic record, which has made gas, groceries, and housing unaffordable for American citizens." Extra to defending Trump's record and contrasting his running mate's successes with Harris' failures, Vance, who managed a chipper tone throughout, steamrolled Walz for much of the debate. Walz often proved incapable of hiding his panic, such as when Vance raised the matter of censorship and extracted an admission from the governor that a Harris-Walz administration would criminalize speech deemed hateful. On another occasion when Walz again looked utterly beaten, Vance said, "You blame Donald Trump. Who has been the vice president for the last three and a half years? And the answer is your running mate, not mine." National Review editor Rich Lowry later noted, "I've never seen a national candidate look as nervous as Tim Walz when he's not speaking." "Walz looks rusty and nervous," wrote Josh Rogin of the Washington Post. "Maybe he should have done some press interviews to better prepare." In an apparent attempt to expedite several of the beatings, Walz simply nodded in agreement and in one case rushed to surrender. When it came to addressing his lie about being in Hong Kong during the pro-democracy protests at Tiananmen Square in 1989, he admitted he was a "knucklehead" prone to getting "caught up in the rhetoric." Rachel Maddow said after the debate that she "wouldn't describe them as evenly matched." Her fellow MSNBC talking head Chris Hayes admitted, "JD Vance is very good at this." 'My condolences to Tim Walz.' Although loath to pay Vance a real compliment, Ben Davis of the Guardian, a leftist British publication, wrote, "This project — nationalism, protectionism, welfare chauvinism, and a sort of communitarian-sounding social conservatism — floundered two years ago with candidates like Blake Masters or Vance himself. Vance was able to maneuver it to sound almost moderate and reasonable." Jacobin founding editor Bhaskar Sunkara admitted that Vance "overall gave a slightly stronger performance." Polling expert Frank Luntz ran a focus group during the debate with over a dozen people, only five of whom were leaning toward supporting President Donald Trump and Vance at the outset. He noted that the final vote was 12-2 in favor of Vance. There was a similar response on the betting website Polymarket. Shortly after the debate began, confidence in Walz's ability to win the debate bottomed out. According to CBS News' own polling data, Vance not only won the debate but saw his favorability rating jump afterward. Lawmakers also recognized Vance's clear victory. Rep. Darrell Issa (R-Calif.) wrote, "Most lopsided vice presidential debate ever. JD Vance was on his game. Tim Walz was nervous, uninformed, and didn't explain why he lies all the time." "JD Vance won big and demonstrated why he was a fantastic pick by President Trump," wrote Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.). "He skillfully contrasted Trump's record of peace and prosperity with Kamala's record of disaster." Vivek Ramaswamy tweeted, "Very proud of JD for a stellar performance tonight. And my condolences to Tim Walz - it was unkind for them to put him in this position." Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

Republican vice presidential nominee Sen. JD Vance (Ohio) posted evidence on Wednesday proving that he was correct when connecting the migrant crisis to rising housing prices during the VP debate. While discussing inflation and the rising cost of housing, Gov. Tim Walz argued that immigrants shouldn't be blamed for the growing problem of out-of-control housing costs and housing inventory issues. 'The thing that has most turned housing into a commodity is giving it away to millions upon millions of people who have no legal right to be here.' Vance agreed and said he knows exactly where blame belongs: at the feet of Vice President Kamala Harris. "We don't want to blame immigrants for higher housing prices. But we do want to blame Kamala Harris for letting in millions of illegal aliens into this country, which does drive up costs, Tim. Twenty-five million illegal aliens competing with Americans for scarce homes is one of the most significant drivers of home prices in the country. It’s why we have massive increases in home prices that have happened right alongside massive increases in illegal alien populations under Kamala Harris’ leadership," Vance said. "We have a lot of Americans that need homes. We should be kicking out illegal immigrants who are competing for those homes, and we should be building more homes for the American citizens who deserve to be here," he added. The debate moderators — Norah O'Donnell and Margaret Brennan — then gave Walz an opportunity to respond to Vance's accusation. To no surprise, Walz claimed it is "not true," before complaining that Vance did not receive a fact-check. So what did the moderators do? They proceeded to fact-check Vance. "Senator, on that point, I'd like for you to clarify. There are many contributing factors to high housing costs. What evidence do you have that migrants are part of this problem?" Brennan asked Vance. Vance immediately cited remarks from the Federal Reserve, promising to post the receipts on social media when the debate concluded. The study, he explained, "really drills down on the connection between increased levels of migration, especially illegal immigration, and higher housing prices." "Now, of course, Margaret, that's not the entire driver of higher housing prices. It's also the regulatory regime of Kamala Harris," Vance continued. "Look, we are a country of builders. We're a country of doers. We're a country of explorers. But we increasingly have a federal administration that makes it harder to develop our resources, makes it harder to build things, and wants to throw people in jail for not doing everything exactly as Kamala Harris says that they have to do." "And what that means is that you have a lot of people who would love to build homes who aren't able to build homes," he added. "We should get out of this idea of housing as a commodity. But the thing that has most turned housing into a commodity is giving it away to millions upon millions of people who have no legal right to be here." After the debate, Vance made good on his promise, posting comments on X from Michelle W. Bowman, a member of the Federal Reserve Board of Governors. In May, Bowman spoke at the Massachusetts Bankers Association Annual Convention in Key Biscayne, Florida, where she said the "inflow of new immigrants" puts "upward pressure" on the housing market.Speaking on the state of the economy, Bowman explained: Finally, there is a risk that strong consumer demand for services, increased immigration, and continued labor market tightness could lead to persistently high core services inflation. Given the current low inventory of affordable housing, the inflow of new immigrants to some geographic areas could result in upward pressure on rents, as additional housing supply may take time to materialize. The Dallas Fed, moreover, has drawn the same conclusion."Higher immigration represents a labor supply shock, which should be disinflationary. But immigrants are also consumers and add to aggregate demand. While certain sectors that extensively depend on immigrants should see costs and prices fall—for example, landscaping and child care—the population influx could put upward pressure on rents and house prices, particularly in the short run before new supply can be built," the Dallas Fed explained in July."As promised," Vance said on X. Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

Girls on the Hillsboro-Deering High School soccer team refused to play against another New Hampshire team that has a male player.According to local reports, the team from Kearsarge Regional High School features a male star athlete named Maelle Jacques playing in goal. The boy is already well known after making headlines for winning a state championship in girls' high jump in February 2024.At least five girls on the Hillsboro-Deering varsity team skipped the Tuesday game, according to parents, and with 17 players on the roster, Hillsboro-Deering was forced to use junior varsity players to fill out the squad. At least one parent remarked that the girls who skipped the game were the best players.As a result, Jacques did not see much action during the game and was pulled with about 10 minutes left.'Refusing to compete is the best way to push back on this issue.'"The Hillsboro girls can't even get down the field without any of their best players. It's one-sided," parent Betsy Harrington said."No one ever got near [Maelle,] so I guess they'll never be in any danger if there's enough girls to always have a weak team," the mother told the NH Journal. "If every game has a few girls refusing to play, we will never know the ability of the Kearsarge team. They have an advantage I hadn't thought about. It's that they get to always play a crippled team without all of their players."Another Hillsboro-Deering mother, Heath Thyng, said she was concerned about the physical health of the girls."This isn't about transgenderism. This is about biology for us and the increased physical risk when playing a full contact sport against the opposing sex." "We believe, my daughter included, that refusing to compete is the best way to push back on this issue, and we are hoping parents will be more willing to put themselves out there knowing they don't have to be the first or the only family within our community to do so," the mother added.Thyng noted that her daughter's coaches said none of the girls who boycott any of their games will be punished or suffer any repercussions for refusing to compete.Over the summer, New Hampshire Governor Chris Sununu (R) signed into law HB 1205, which "requires schools to designate athletics by sex and prohibits biological males from participating in female athletics."The law reportedly applies to fifth grade and above.The law also allows for any student who is aggrieved to bring legal action against a school district or state institution that is responsible for the violation. Schools can also pursue private action against other offending institutions. According to the NH Journal, that institution is the Kearsarge School Board. The board allegedly voted over the summer to ignore the law and allow the boy to play against girls.The state has several ongoing lawsuits regarding this issue, including two other male students who are challenging the law in federal court. An injunction is in place that allows them to play on their respective female teams, but it does not apply to other children in the state.Additionally, the Bow School District is facing a lawsuit from parents who were punished for a silent protest at a girls' soccer game.Blaze News contacted Governor Sununu's office and asked if the offending high school or school board would be punished for their violations. The governor was also asked if any games Kearsarge won with the boy on its team would be overturned.This article will be updated with any applicable responses.Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

So as I was watching my Philadelphia Eagles play the New Orleans Saints on Sept. 22, a realization about the state of society dawned on me.For some context, the Eagles haven’t looked any good since their Super Bowl run in 2022. And this game was no different. Everything about this team just feels disjointed and discombobulated. Turnovers, bad defense, lack of rhythm. No longer do teams have any desire to develop their talent, read their opponents, and learn how to gain in-game experience to get better. They just shake their magic 8 ball and wait for the answer.Passing outBut this isn’t a problem that only my Eagles are dealing with. This is an NFL problem. If you haven’t been paying attention, the product the NFL has been putting out there, for lack of a better word, stinks. And that can partly be attributed to the NFL not being a passers' league anymore. Instead, it’s trending toward more hard-fought, defense-heavy play styles. Through the first two weeks of the 2024 season, passing yards have been the lowest they’ve ever been since the 2007 season. Seventeen starting QBs still haven’t even been able to hit 200 passing yards in a game. Put plainly, the NFL is boring.But there’s something deeper going on here than mere mediocrity. And something jumped out at me in this game that finally gave me the words to describe what’s deeply wrong with the NFL. Twice in this game, the Eagles went for it on 4th and short when they could’ve put points on the board with field goal attempts. And both times, they failed. Why did they go for it? Why abandon all common sense?Because the almighty data analytics told them to. Analytics arms raceAnalytics are the major fad these days in pro sports. Every franchise across all pro sports has been scrambling to assemble the best possible in-house data analytics team to keep up with the analytics arms race. It’s gotten to the point where you can’t be considered a serious organization if your team hasn’t made some kind of serious investment in it. Funnily enough, the Eagles were the ones who spearheaded the push for analytics-based football back in the '90s and were the first football franchise to have an in-house analytics department back in 2010.And the problem is this: Teams are over-relying on data analytics to the point that pretty much all decisions are made in some form or another based on analytics. What this ultimately does is stunt and make fragile the development of everyone involved in the success of a team, from the players to the front office. Relieved of commandTom Brady said it himself recently in an interview. He points out how the NFL has a development problem. Rookie QBs are getting thrown into the fire and starting in their first year without taking the first few years to hang back and learn the team’s culture and program. But even worse, QBs are no longer taking command of the game. The era of the “field general” QB is over. The QB no longer reads the defense and makes adjustments in real-time. Now, what you have is a young kid who simply takes the play his coach gives him and runs with it. And who did the coach get the play from? The analytics guys up in the booth. No longer do teams have any desire to develop their talent, read their opponents, and learn how to gain in-game experience to get better. They just shake their magic 8 ball and wait for the answer. It’s a very artificial, robotic process. And the product on the field is reflecting that. So why does any of this matter?What you’re witnessing in today’s NFL is just a small sample of society’s slow transition into full-on transhumanism.Transhumanism? That conspiracy theory stuff?Existential holeDespite its conspiracy-theory-coded stigma, the transhuman agenda is very real and very apparent.Let’s start with what it is. Simply put, transhumanism is the gradual abolition of roles human beings traditionally performed throughout history and, therefore, the abolition of what gave people’s lives meaning. Transhumanism has been around for awhile. Ever since the Industrial Revolution, humanity has slowly made all kinds of manual labor obsolete, as the invention of new automated technologies have been able to complete tasks in place of human hands and minds. Sure, this has made life easier and more convenient. But there is an existential hole left in its wake. When the roles that defined humanity are slowly taken away from humanity, how then do we define humanity at all?When a rural rice farmer is replaced by a humanoid robot, what is the rice picker?When a mother is replaced by a surrogate mother, what is the mother?When labor no longer exists because all labor is performed by automated machinery, then what exactly are we?Cling to the machineThe answer is that we become welded to the machine. We offload our labor (and therefore our ability to think) onto machines and, by doing so, cling to the machine in total dependence. That is what’s happening here with today’s NFL. Owners, front offices, players, and coaches have all given away their unique ability to make high-pressure decisions at the highest level of pro sports in exchange for the almighty analytics department. And that destroys any chance of achieving greatness.By committing their hand in this unholy marriage to data analytics, NFL teams have stunted the organic growth of their players and coaches and, consequently, have created a debilitating dependence on the answers the computers feed them.The ChatGPT-ization of the NFL is here, and its mediocre, boring, and robotic output is merely a reflection of what the rest of us are going through in our own lives here in 2024.