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A lot has happened since Dylan Mulvaney pranced around his yard in a Nike sports bra last April. Days after his face appeared on Bud Light cans—the controversy that launched a thousand boycotts—the sight of him doing jumping jacks in women’s workout gear was almost worst. And a stock chart that looks like a downhill ski slope proves it. Months after the country protested with a bonfire of bra burning‚ the only swoosh Nike hears now is the sound of profits gushing.  While Bud Light hogged most of the spotlight with its historic collapse‚ the devastation of Nike’s trans advocacy is real. By August of last year‚ the brand of Michael Jordan and Tiger Woods was experiencing what experts called “its biggest losing streak since 1980.” With catastrophic losses—upward of $13 billion in market value—consumer outrage was packing a serious punch. Angry women led the charge‚ lashing out at the company as an insult to females everywhere. “The ad feels like a parody of what women are. … That Nike would do this feels like a kick in the teeth‚” one posted. Others blasted the brand for making a “mockery out of women‚” vowing never to buy another thing from a company that chose a man “over all the hardworking women who workout regularly in your activewear.” It’s “absolutely disgusting.” Most people just couldn’t understand the marketing logic. “Why doesn’t Nike pay a real women to promote a product that is solely for women&;#63;” they wanted to know. Almost a year later‚ the pressure hasn’t let up. Market analysts have been shocked by the company’s inability to rebound‚ a nosedive they wrongly assumed was temporary. According to Yahoo Finance‚ Nike’s stock is down 11.3% since the beginning of the year‚ and it’s trading “26.1% below its 52-week high.” And while experts are blaming everything from weak overseas demand to slowing sales and pricing challenges‚ their theories miss the most important reality: Shoppers won’t put up with social extremism anymore. LGBT activism‚ the kind flaunted by Mulvaney and embraced by tone-deaf board rooms‚ continues to be the kiss of death to corporate profitability.  A long line of woke CEOs can testify to that—including Anheuser-Busch‚ Target‚ Disney‚ Planet Fitness‚ Rip Curl‚ and Doritos (although the latter two took the bold step of apologizing and course-correcting). Nike‚ on the other hand‚ only dug in—a decision that forced it to lay off 1‚600 people in February‚ with a second round of cuts expected in May. Nike boss John Donahoe has called the company’s downturn “a painful reality and not one that I take lightly.” “We are currently not performing at our best‚ and I ultimately hold myself and my leadership team accountable‚” he said‚ leaving out any mention of the poor decisions that put Nike in this position in the first place.  Unfortunately‚ the company has a long and frustrating history of political activism. Millions of customers called it quits on Nike after its endorsement of anti-American quarterback Colin Kaepernick‚ who‚ along with disrespecting our national anthem‚ persuaded the company to shelve its patriotic shoes. It was the first sports retailer to fan the flames of racial tension during the George Floyd riots‚ voicing support for controversial groups like Black Lives Matter. It’s fought against religious freedom in adoption bills‚ girls sports and privacy‚ and even launched a special trans line of clothing called Be True. Most egregiously‚ Nike was one of the few brands openly using slave labor to stitch its iconic shoes together. A 2020 expose from The Washington Post talked about the Uyghurs who were spared China’s concentration camps only to hunch over tables sewing Nike’s logo on an endless line of shoes—up to 7 million pairs a year.  “Everyone knows they didn’t come here of their own free will‚” a Chinese woman told reporter Anna Fifield at the time. “They were brought here … because they didn’t have an option. The government sent them here.” It’s how the Chinese government is “exporting the punitive culture and ethos of Xinjiang’s ‘reeducation camps’ to factories across China‚” one expert told the Post.  Incredibly‚ when a bipartisan bill threatened to outlaw the use of slave labor for American companies‚ ending our country’s role in these human rights atrocities‚ Nike fought to kill it. Company spokesmen denied that‚ responding to The New York Times allegations that they were only in “constructive conversations” with lawmakers. But even today‚ three years after Joe Biden signed the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act‚ the Canadian government is investigating complaints that Nike is still using slave laborers in Xinjiang‚ which they consider a “crime against humanity.” Now‚ a year into its Dylan Mulvaney fiasco‚ the Oregon-based headquarters is reaping the whirlwind. Instead of taking its foot off the gas of an agenda Americans have so clearly rejected‚ Nike is stubbornly leaning into the radicalism that’s bankrupting other brands. At a time when almost 300 companies are backing off their LGBT advocacy‚ Nike scored a perfect 100% on the Human Rights Campaign’s Equality Index this year (quite a feat considering HRC’s steep transgender benchmarks). If Nike wants to enrage consumers at a time of record pushback‚ that’s its business. But better advice might come from its peers‚ who believe a smarter company slogan would be: Just don’t. Originally published by The Washington Stand The Daily Signal publishes a variety of perspectives. Nothing written here is to be construed as representing the views of The Heritage Foundation. The post Nike Stocks Still Tanking a Year After Mulvaney Partnership appeared first on The Daily Signal.

National Public Radio senior editor Uri Berliner has been suspended for his unauthorized critique of the insular liberal bias of his network. NPR star and “Morning Edition” host Steve Inskeep took to his Substack blog to slam Berliner’s article as “filled with errors and omissions.” (Editor’s note: Berliner on Wednesday submitted his resignation from the publicly funded network.) “His colleagues have had a rich dialogue about his mistakes‚” Inskeep crowed‚ and dropped the bomb that it was “an article that discredited itself.” For example‚ Inskeep declared an error in that Berliner found in Washington‚ D.C.‚ voter records that NPR had 87 registered Democrats and no registered Republicans. When he was asked about Berliner at the San Antonio Book Festival‚ he says he told them‚ “I am a prominent member of the newsroom in Washington. If Uri told the truth‚ then I could only be a registered Democrat. I held up my voter registration showing I am registered with ‘no party.’ Some in the crowd gasped. Uri had misled them.” Berliner didn’t address whether anyone was registered as “no party.” He did write there were zero Republicans. Did Inskeep refute that&;#63; No. Several NPR veterans harrumphed they registered as “no party‚” just as left-wing journalists will tell pollsters they are “independents.” Seen here in happier times‚ then-NPR editor Uri Berliner (center) and others attend the 76th annual Peabody Awards ceremony on May 20‚ 2017‚ in New York City. On Wednesday‚ Berliner submitted his resignation‚ ending a 25-year career at National Public Radio. (Photo: J.P. Yim/Wire Image/Getty Images) Inskeep wrote‚ “While it’s widely believed that most mainstream journalists are Democrats‚ I’ve had colleagues that I was pretty sure were conservative. (I don’t ask).” That rebuts Berliner how&;#63; When Inskeep challenged Berliner personally on his claim that the editing process was “frictionless‚” he said Berliner acknowledged they have newsroom debates‚ but “the real test is what we broadcast or publish.” Inskeep leaves out what Berliner wrote about—that it puts out a lot of stories on “supposed racism‚ transphobia‚ signs of the climate apocalypse‚ Israel doing something bad‚ and the dire threat of Republican policies.” Anyone who listens to NPR programs gets an earful of those. You have to laugh when Inskeep’s best defense is “everybody else did it‚ too.” He admits NPR did not report on the Hunter Biden laptop‚ but Berliner “leaves out the context: Other organizations also held off on the story because of doubts about the laptop’s authenticity. It wasn’t confirmed until much later.” Now who’s engaged in “omissions”&;#63; NPR not only refused to report on the laptop but their top news executive Terence Samuel openly boasted‚ “We don’t want to waste our time on stories that are not really stories‚ and we don’t want to waste the listeners’ and readers’ time on stories that are just pure distractions.” That implies they weren’t going to touch this story‚ like it was a decaying rat corpse in the gutter. Samuel signaled the same contempt on the horribly named evening newscast “All Things Considered” in June 2021‚ suggesting to anchor Mary Louise Kelly they should seek the “whole truth‚” but exclude the liars: “It’s not a matter of representing just opposite voices‚ but more voices and excluding the voices that are just pure disinformation.” After those “other organizations” confirmed the laptop contents were real‚ nothing changed. Kelly brought on Samuel in 2023 to proclaim former President Donald Trump would not be allowed to speak on NPR live as he was indicted because he was such a liar‚ but Kelly (as in 2021) didn’t bring up Hunter Biden’s laptop. But the most ridiculous line in Inskeep’s critique is claiming Berliner advocates “viewpoint diversity‚” but he didn’t embrace it in his article‚ which spurred all his “errors and omissions.” If NPR is so committed to viewpoint diversity‚ would Inskeep agree to debate Berliner on air at NPR for an hour or two&;#63; Probably not. NPR hasn’t said one word on air about Berliner’s complaint. COPYRIGHT 2024 CREATORS.COM The post NPR Host Swings at Network’s Dissident—but Misses Badly appeared first on The Daily Signal.

You would think a man who has made his living performing for 50 years would have a thick skin. Unfortunately‚ a March 17 show in  Toledo‚ Ohio‚ proved that John Mellencamp is unable to handle even the tamest of hecklers. As seen in a video shared to TikTok‚ the &;quot;Jack...

Even as gas prices were already skyrocketing‚ putting a bigger burden on Americans‚ President Joe Biden is now ramping up his war against oil by instituting an increase of 33 percent on gasoline production by raising government fees and other obligations‚ some for the first time in more than 60...

Sawicki Speed‚ the high-quality stainless steel performance motorcycle exhaust manufacturer just dropped a new lineup of top-notch carbon fiber accessories […] The post Sawicki Speed’s New Carbon Fiber Lineup appeared first on Hot Bike Magazine.

This Southern Minnesota motorcycle ride included an early morning stop at Church Hill Overlook on the Root River with a great view of the Lanesboro Stone Dam‚ constructed in 1868 with unmortared limestone blocks. (Photos by the author and Chad Cochran.) Motorcyclists living in Minnesota experience long winters with plenty of time to think about roads we want to ride. It’s a sweet feeling when spring arrives and the bikes come out of hibernation. My son‚ Chad‚ feels the same way. We kicked off the riding season with an overnight Minnesota motorcycle ride down the Great River Road (U.S. Route 61) on the western bank of the Mississippi River‚ through what is often referred to as Bluff Country. The area’s complex hilly terrain has been carved out over eons by the Mississippi and other waterways large and small. Scan QR code above or click here to view the route on REVER Minnesota’s Great River Road is a popular motorcycle route that offers epic beauty and a chance to visit towns along one of America’s most vital corridors of commerce. Starting in April with the annual “Flood Run” charity ride‚ thousands of riders thunder up and down these roads and frequent the many small-town bars and restaurants along the way. I’ve been on many of these roads before‚ and I love riding old favorites and exploring new side routes. Related: Exploring the Far North: A Northern Minnesota Motorcycle Ride We left the Twin Cities early on a Saturday morning to beat traffic‚ and our first stop on this Minnesota motorcycle ride was the town of Hastings‚ which serves as a gateway to Bluff Country. The Hastings Riverwalk is a relatively new paved trail that connects to a 10-mile walking and biking loop along the Mississippi and Vermillion rivers. You can’t miss the towering Hastings Bridge‚ various sculptures along the waterfront‚ and the original footings of the Spiral Bridge‚ which was built in 1895 and dismantled in 1951. The Hastings Riverwalk‚ with great views of bridges‚ boats‚ and scenery along the Mississippi‚ is a great place to stop. East of Hastings‚ we continued south on the Ravenna Trail‚ one of the great lesser-traveled roads that tracks closely to the Mississippi River. We took the trail to the Prairie Island Indian Reservation and Treasure Island Casino‚ which boasts a 788-room hotel and Vegas-style casino attracting top entertainers. Resisting the temptation for easy money‚ we pushed on to rejoin U.S. 61. Our next stop was Red Wing‚ a town established in the 1850s to support steamboats moving up the Mississippi River toward vast available farmland. By 1873‚ Red Wing was a leading wheat producer‚ but it was eventually surpassed by Minneapolis where larger flour mills were built. Today the town is perhaps best known as the home of legendary boot maker Red Wing Shoes. The downtown St. James Hotel was founded in 1875 and has hosted U.S. presidents‚ Mark Twain‚ and other luminaries. Downhill from the hotel is the historic train station‚ which has old wooden benches and period signage on the walls. I could sit there all day watching the river roll by. Continuing south‚ we visited Lake City‚ which sits on a wide stretch of the Mississippi called Lake Pepin‚ the birthplace of waterskiing. The lake was once a water highway used by Native Americans‚ and there are burial mounds and settlement ruins located nearby. Today‚ you’ll see raw materials being moved in barges and recreationists enjoying themselves in sailboats and ski boats. Towering above both sides of Lake Pepin are distinctive limestone bluffs and tree-covered rock formations. With such unique scenery‚ it’s a challenge to keep your eyes on the road ahead. One minute you are feeling the heat from the tarmac and gazing up at high bluffs‚ and the next you’re ripping through dense maple forests enjoying the cool air and earthy smells. For golf lovers‚ the Lake Pepin Golf Course has 12 holes laid out atop the bluffs overlooking the Mississippi River Valley. The bustling river town of Red Wing has many historic buildings‚ including the St. James Hotel‚ the old iron works‚ and the train station. We arrived at the next small town on our route‚ Reads Landing‚ just in time for lunch. This was once considered as a potential capital city for Minnesota due to its booming lumber trade and strategic location on the Mississippi and Chippewa rivers. Reads Landing Brewing Company occupies an old red-brick building with an outdoor patio overlooking the river. It has a full menu and was a great place to cool off and relax. Adding to the Great River Road’s natural beauty is an abundance of birds soaring overhead. The National Eagle Center in Wabasha houses permanently injured bald eagles and provides an opportunity for people to see these majestic creatures up close. Lake Pepin has beautiful scenery and recreational opportunities‚ and it was the birthplace of water skiing. As we continued south‚ we approached Winona‚ a vibrant college town that’s home to the Minnesota Marine Art Museum‚ which is located right on the river and exhibits artwork inspired by water. With a variety of dining and lodging options‚ recreational opportunities‚ live music‚ festivals‚ and shopping‚ Winona is a great destination for an overnight stay or weekend getaway. Southeast of Winona‚ on County Road 7‚ is Pickwick Mill‚ one of the oldest flour mills in Minnesota‚ built in the mid-1850s. The mill was named by the area’s first postmaster‚ who was a fan of Charles Dickens and his novel The Pickwick Papers. During the Civil War‚ it produced 100 barrels of flour per day for the Union army. See all of Rider‘s Minnesota motorcycle rides here. After returning to U.S. 61 and riding along the Mississippi to La Crescent‚ we turned west on the Historic Bluff Country National Scenic Byway (State Route 16). Even away from the river‚ bluff topography continues with hills and cliffs creating the winding roads we all live for. Through the towns of Hokah‚ Houston‚ and Rushford‚ we paralleled the Root River and the Root River State Trail‚ a rails-to-trails bike path linking the towns of Houston and Fountain.  After nearly 50 miles on the byway‚ we arrived in Lanesboro‚ an art‚ entertainment‚ and recreational hub where we spent the night. We stayed at the historic Hotel Lanesboro‚ which was built in 1872 from local limestone and is on the National Registry of Historic Places. Formerly a boarding house called Mrs. B’s‚ it once hosted Buffalo Bill and Doc Powell. The hotel is right on the main street with many good restaurants nearby. We had a tasty dinner at the Pedal Pushers Cafe‚ a nod to the many bicyclists who ride the state trail.  Overlooking Lake Pepin on the Mississippi River‚ one of many scenic stops on this southern Minnesota motorcycle ride. My Harley is much louder than Chad’s Royal Enfield‚ and I felt guilty breaking the morning silence as we headed to the towns of Preston and Harmony. This area is Amish country‚ and it wasn’t long before we saw our first horse and buggy. Friendly and always good for a wave‚ the Amish are an interesting subculture. There are about 1‚000 Amish in Harmony‚ and you can take tours to learn more about their way of life and visit shops with baked goods‚ furniture‚ and more.  Seeing a horse with buggy tied up at a local convenience store‚ I pulled a quick turn to stop and take a picture. Soon two young ladies with bonnets saw me as I attempted to pocket my phone‚ not wanting to look like a gawking tourist. They wished me a good morning as they untied their horse and climbed aboard to clip-clop down the road.  See all of Rider‘s Midwest U.S. touring stories here. Harmony is also home to Niagara Cave‚ where you can take a tour 200 feet below the surface. It’s well worth it for this mile-long underground hike to see the various rock formations and even a subterranean wedding chapel. We continued south on U.S. Route 52 to Prosper‚ a stone’s throw from Iowa‚ where we headed east and then north on State Route 44 to Caledonia‚ picking up State Route 76‚ which has twisties so enjoyable that we rode some sections twice. SR-76 took us north most of the way back to Winona‚ where we backtracked north on U.S. 61 to Wabasha. We then turned west on State Route 60 and joined a pack of bikers thundering in the same direction. Alongside the road is a lone sentinel‚ a skeleton biker that’s a reminder to keep the rubber side down. The Historic Bluff Country National Scenic Byway (State Route 16) parallels the Root River and goes through small towns on its way from La Crescent to Lanesboro. As we left the river and Bluff Country behind‚ the terrain flattened out as we made our way to Zumbrota‚ home of Minnesota’s last remaining functional covered bridge. Spanning the Zumbro River‚ the 116-feet-long‚ 15-feet-wide bridge was built in 1869 and looks like a long‚ red barn.  We rode northwest to Northfield‚ where in 1876‚ Jesse James and the James-Younger gang rode into town to rob the First National Bank. Facing pistols‚ the bank clerk refused to open the safe and was shot to death. Townsfolk retaliated‚ resulting in a shootout that killed another resident and a couple of gang members. The gang was pursued for 400 miles over the following weeks‚ eventually being captured in Madelia‚ Minnesota. Jesse James escaped‚ but his luck ran out when he was killed in 1882 by one of his own men hoping to collect a $10‚000 reward. We rode west to Henderson‚ which sits along the Minnesota River Valley National Scenic Byway‚ another favorite road. Henderson is an old river town with a historic downtown district that’s a fun place to visit. Our Minnesota motorcycle ride through Bluff Country and along the Great River Road and other scenic byways gave us a taste of the history‚ beauty‚ and variety of southern Minnesota. The roads showcase some of the best riding‚ relaxing‚ and motorcycle-friendly places the state has to offer. See all of Rider‘s touring stories here. Southern Minnesota Motorcycle Ride Resources Minnesota Great River Road Hastings Lake Pepin Golf Course Reads Landing Brewing Company National Eagle Center Winona Minnesota Marine Art Museum Pickwick Mill Lanesboro Hotel Lanesboro Harmony Northfield Minnesota River National Scenic Byway The post Beauty in Bluff Country: A Southern Minnesota Motorcycle Ride appeared first on Rider Magazine.