News For All Mankind For All Mankind Will Be Back for a Fifth Season—and With a Soviet Space Program Spinoff‚ Too The alternate history universe gets bigger By Molly Templeton | Published on April 17‚ 2024 Comment 0 Share New Share Space is still the place for Apple TV+‚ which has renewed For All Mankind for a fifth season. The series imagines an alternate timeline in which the Soviets won the space race—so it makes a certain amount of sense that the streamer is adding a spinoff series‚ Star City‚ that will explore the Soviet space program. Two of For All Mankind and Star City’s three creators‚ Matt Wolpert and Ben Nedivi‚ will showrun the new series. (Presumably Ronald D. Moore will stay busy with the original show.) In a statement‚ Wolpert and Nedivi said‚ “Our fascination with the Soviet space program has grown with every season of For All Mankind. The more we learned about this secret city in the forests outside Moscow where the Soviet cosmonauts and engineers worked and lived‚ the more we wanted to tell this story of the other side of the space race.” Apple’s official description of the new show says: Star City is a propulsive‚ paranoid thriller that takes us back to the key moment in the alt-history retelling of the space race — when the Soviet Union became the first nation to put a man on the moon. But this time‚ we explore the story from behind the Iron Curtain‚ showing the lives of the cosmonauts‚ the engineers and the intelligence officers embedded among them in the Soviet space program‚ and the risks they all took to propel humanity forward. No casting or timeline has been announced for Star City‚ and neither show has a premiere date. The first four seasons of For All Mankind are available to watch on Apple TV+.[end-mark] The post For All Mankind Will Be Back for a Fifth Season—and With a Soviet Space Program Spinoff‚ Too appeared first on Reactor.

Book Recommendations Reading the Weird The Kiddie Pool of Forever: Max Gladstone’s Last Exit (Part 18) By Ruthanna Emrys‚ Anne M. Pillsworth | Published on April 17‚ 2024 Comment 0 Share New Share Welcome back to Reading the Weird‚ in which we get girl cooties all over weird fiction‚ cosmic horror‚ and Lovecraftiana—from its historical roots through its most recent branches. This week‚ we wrap up Max Gladstone’s Last Exit with Chapters 35-36. The novel was first published in 2022. Spoilers ahead&;#33; Summary “When you understood that there was something else beyond—that was when you realized just how much work there was to do.” Desperate to get help for the gravely wounded Sarah and pursued by the cowboy‚ Ramon veers the Challenger off the alt-road into uncharted darkness. He is‚ at last‚ trailblazing. On the newly blazed trail‚ the Challenger races down a steep hill to collide with an oak stump. Ramon‚ to his shock‚ finds himself still alive. He helps June ease Sarah out of the wreck. They’ve landed in a lakeside grove of sequoias. The night’s alive with the conversations of frogs‚ insects and birds; branches twist against the wind. Ramon senses he’s observed. “She needs help‚” he says. Branches part. He is permitted. He and June carry Sarah to the lake. For once‚ his knack doesn’t divine their location‚ so they’ll have to find their own way home. Can Sarah last that long&;#63; She’s so still that he can hardly tell if she’s swallowed the water he gives her‚ but they can’t lose her‚ not after Ramon has left the road‚ not after he’s asked. It has to make a difference. It has to matter. June points to a sky overfilled with stars‚ some of them moving. Ramon thinks of shepherds and angels. Then Sarah says‚ “Aliens.” She’s awake and smiling. Through the hole in her blood-soaked dress‚ he sees that her gunshot wound has closed. “She did it‚” June says. Ramon feels paths open all around them‚ other spokes from the Medicine Wheel. Secret ways to other worlds await‚ lands beyond the cowboy‚ “beyond all borders and any map.” Ramon wants to follow them all. For now‚ though— “Now‚” June says‚ “we go home. And we get them ready.” * * * Two years pass. When it’s safe‚ Sarah drives her family from Virginia to New York. They’ve spent a lot of time inside‚ for the sky feels unimaginably big overhead‚ like it goes on forever. When you understand that there’s something beyond this forever‚ Sarah thinks‚ you realize how much work is left to do. People repeat themselves a lot these days‚ as do the media‚ saying things are normal as if that makes them so. Nevertheless‚ people also tell stories about places that weren’t there when the world closed down‚ about shut doors now open‚ about statues that walk‚ trees that catch fire but don’t burn‚ lights in the woods‚ a dog ten years lost returning unaged. About what happened to them personally‚ people are more reticent. Sarah doesn’t blame them. She knows what’s going on but isn’t sure she believes it. Ramon has emailed directions “precise as poetry”: Turn left at the dog‚ go until the sorrow hits you. New York seems like a maze‚ no‚ a labyrinth. In labyrinths‚ all paths lead to the center. Sarah negotiates the maze as if it were made just for her. Six blocks out from Ma Tempest’s house‚ the streets are so full that she and her family abandon their car. It’s a festival‚ not quite the Fourth of July. It’s folk of every age and color‚ speaking every language‚ singing‚ offering free cookies‚ barbequeing feasts. Sarah walks with a cane these days‚ and her body still aches as it accommodates itself to her injuries. Even magical healing has limits. What’s broken may mend‚ but it can’t be unbroken. There’s no undoing. There is going on‚ growing. At Ma Tempest’s‚ people make a path for Sarah. There’s a grill going on the roof‚ but the group up here has a purpose. All around the city‚ many-colored flags rise and fall; young women with binoculars interpret this conversation‚ the city talking to itself‚ and call out answering codes. June is their leader. When she runs to Sarah‚ though‚ she’s almost a kid again. Ramon and his partner Gabe stand at the roof’s edge. Ma Tempest sits with folded hands‚ waiting and watching as she’s done for a long time. Sarah’s just in time‚ June says. Can’t she feel it&;#63; Sarah feels something‚ but she’s been wrong before. So she asks‚ “What happens now&;#63;” It’s happening already‚ June says. It’s been happening. It will keep happening. They must just learn to ride it. Is Sarah scared&;#63; “I used to be‚” Sarah says. June smiles‚ but not at her answer. She’s rigid‚ as if listening for a sound only she can hear. At her word‚ the people fall quiet. Someone knocks on the door below. June runs to the roof’s edge and shouts down: “Come on in. Come on in&;#33; It’s open.” This Week’s Metrics Fighting the Cowboy: Arizona State University’s Future Tense program uses speculative fiction to imagine alternatives. Libronomicon: Sarah’s daughter Susan brings a tote bag to the Bronx‚ full of books to read and share. Madness Takes Its Toll: The newspapers and TV doth protest too much about how normal everything is. Anne’s Commentary At the end of Chapter 34‚ we finally got to the fabled crossroads. Well‚ Zelda got to them‚ and Ish almost‚ oh-so-close. To be halted at the threshold of the alt-riders’ goal was his punishment for succumbing to the cowboy’s fear-tactics. It was also his last shot at redemption‚ which he took with unerring aim; in doing so‚ he achieved his personal goal of saving Zelda. He also saved his friends and contributed to saving his world. The cowboy dead‚ Zelda could climb the chain link fence between the black-flower path and the crossroads. She changed and grew‚ to meet Sal on Sal’s own ground. It took Zelda long enough‚ as Sal said. That was so Sal‚ and you can’t blame her. Time is different in the alts‚ who knows how stretched out in the beyond. To paraphrase Sarah’s question to June in Chapter 36: What happens next&;#63; I just knew Chapter 35 would tell us‚ with suitable cosmic-level fireworks. No. Instead of witnessing whatever BIG WORLD-RIGHTING MAGIC Sal and Zelda wield following their reunion‚ Chapter 35 returns to Ramon as he crashes the Challenger into one more damn tree. Luckily‚ it wasn’t one of the magisterial sequoias that ring his landing site—he and his passengers survive‚ though Sarah’s in no condition to hike home. Ramon forces himself to look at her wound‚ to find it healed&;#33; Somehow‚ perhaps through the jolt of Ramon’s trailblazing‚ she has gathered enough spin to heal herself. Here’s the initial resolution for three of the alt-riders. Whatever else follows‚ they’re going home. From the vastness of space-time that separates them from the crossroads‚ they view the fireworks happening there. The crossroads are where BIG‚ FUNDAMENTAL CHANGE can happen‚ presumably due to Sal and Zelda’s combined spins. Anyway‚ new stars crowd the sky‚ “in all the colors whose names [Ramon] had ever forgotten.” Colors out of space‚ for real&;#33; Ramon thinks of angels. Sarah thinks of aliens‚ but she smiles‚ cool with the idea. June‚ recently as alien as shadow-Sal‚ has returned to her human‚ practical self. How much she’s changed awaits revelation. Chapter 36 provides a tantalizing glimpse of a world also in flux. Sarah supplies the point-of-view. The physician’s healed herself‚ but magic only goes so far‚ leaving her with a limp and “cascade aches.” With an unresentful resignation she lacked earlier‚ Sarah accepts that what’s broken can’t be undone. It can‚ however‚ “mend‚ and grow again.” As with Sarah‚ the world. Ish‚ who in the end loved his friends more than he clung to fear‚ has killed the cowboy. No‚ really: The cowboy seems to have departed from the earth‚ along with the crippling paranoia he promulgated. His death may have been the prerequisite for whatever BIG MAGIC took place at the crossroads. With the cowboy gone‚ people eventually dare to crack their defensive shells and notice the BIG MAGIC that was always there. Immediately after the change‚ people clamped their shells tighter than ever‚ self-isolating as against a pandemic. Venturing out again‚ Sarah notices that she’s “turned chatty.” People start gathering under the open sky‚ with barbecues as their excuse. They tell stories about magical happenings‚ though not ones that occurred close to home. Sarah hears no personal tales of the incredible‚ but she doesn’t blame people for their reticence. They have residual fear enough to insist that things are normal again‚ and for the media to echo the comforting idea. Sarah knows you don’t say something so often if it’s true. She knows things aren’t normal‚ but hey‚ even she’s not sure she believes it. One epicenter of magical change seems to be the New York City area. People keep giving Sarah directions on how to skirt the NYC hot zone. She’s undeterred: Something big is about to happen there that she can’t miss. Ramon’s directions take her through a massive street party to Ma Tempest’s house. With Ish dead and Zelda and Sal elsewhere‚ it’s as much of a reunion as the alt-riders can expect. Sarah has come with her family. Ramon has come with Gabe. June is there‚ at home among the “switchboard” girls keeping the city connected and safe. Ma Tempest lets June play hostess. Her job is to sit and wait. But to wait for what‚ or whom&;#63; Of changes in the world at large‚ June tells Sarah‚ “It’s happening already. It’s been happening. It’ll keep happening‚ and I guess we’ll all just learn to ride it.” Echoing the words she spoke on the princess’s balcony‚ June adds that Sarah’s arrived just in time for a specific event‚ Soon after‚ she  goes rigid‚ “one finger raised‚ as if straining to a sound only she could hear.” When she calls for silence‚ Sarah hears knocking on Ma’s front door‚ and June shouts down for the new arrivals to come in‚ it’s open. Without telling who’s at the door‚ Gladstone ends the novel. Does he want us to make up our own ending‚ or (as I’m thinking) does he believe we’ve had enough clues to figure it out for ourselves&;#63; Whose coming would not be an anticlimax&;#63; Who can complete the reunion but Zelda‚ knocking as she did more than ten years ago‚ only to be repulsed&;#63; She’s not repulsed now. And who could Ma Tempest be waiting for in such an attitude of long-endured loss&;#63; Sarah hasn’t come alone. Neither has Ramon. Why should Zelda‚ when among all the new wonders of the world‚ the greatest would be Sal‚ returned to her former humanity but mended and grown as all must be who’ve ever been broken. Those who’ve never been broken need not come to the barbeque. Unless you bring those really good baked beans‚ now…. Ruthanna’s Commentary This week I’ve been putting together our annual Passover seder—a ritual that if done right is mostly questions and arguments. If you’re not careful‚ though‚ even the questions become rote‚ the same year after year with no new answers. When I try to articulate my reactions to finishing up Last Exit‚ I keep filling paragraphs with “maybe”. I suppose that’s appropriate‚ in a book about opening to possibilities—also‚ inevitably‚ about opening to doubt and uncertainty. Ish’s flaw was thinking that certainty solves everything‚ instead of just nailing doors shut. The whole gang takes a long time to admit that they might be wrong about the nature of the Rot. For Zelda‚ especially‚ that means admitting she’s been trying to solve the solution for 10 years‚ locking out the very potential for change that she originally wanted to invite in. I don’t know why I expected to see what Zelda found on the other side of the fence. Thinking about it‚ I don’t see how one could reasonably write a scene depicting the things beyond what we can‚ tautologically‚ imagine. We do‚ though‚ get to see what Ramon and Sarah and June find by leaving the paved road: healing‚ and stars‚ and other directions. Aliens‚ maybe. Unconsidered possibilities‚ in whatever shape. “Another world is not only possible‚” says Arundhati Roy. “she is on her way. Maybe many of us won’t be here to greet her‚ but on a quiet day‚ if I listen very carefully‚ I can hear her breathing.” The alt-riders are a very particular set of people: broken and privileged and broken by privilege. The Princess was clearly much the same. Take someone with a different perspective into the alts and you get‚ well‚ June. Someone who won’t need long at all to question assumptions and look beyond the road and imagine what those wearing blinders cannot. Someone who won’t assume that tentacles and claws are as terrifying as they first seem‚ and who will see tools that aren’t the master’s tools. What we see on the page this final week isn’t those possibilities‚ but the world’s response to them. Insistence on normality‚ and whispers about miracles—only the far away ones‚ though. Only the ones that aren’t too personal to talk about. Barbeques and poetic road trips. Street festivals and street medics. An imagined release from quarantine that’s as much spiritual as physical: more hopeful and open than the one we got‚ less shaped by the demands of employers and more shaped by the joys of the people. That choice‚ almost inevitable for a book written in the pandemic’s earlier days‚ is hard to read now. It feels like a future we’ve already missed. Maybe we can still get there by a different route‚ off the paved road and between the cracks. It’s a harder route for us‚ because we haven’t lost our cowboy. You can’t actually shoot a story‚ even with its own bullets. People will keep telling it as long as they have reason. It’s a peril of incarnation‚ I suppose: national mytho-lies are written into every textbook and carved on every monument‚ but once you start possessing people with your hat‚ you’re taking a new risk. Maybe he’s gone back into the textbooks‚ but quiet enough for the moment to let a few new ideas leak through. And to let people who’ve traveled in new directions come back‚ and knock on the door‚ and tell us what they’ve seen—just past the last page. Next week‚ we wrap up National Poetry Month with the first five poems in Marisca Pichette’s Stoker-nominated Rivers in Your Skin‚ Sirens in Your Hair. Then‚ in two weeks‚ we start our new long-read‚ celebrating the 50th Anniversary of Stephen King’s first novel by… reading a different King novel. Join us for Pet Sematary&;#33;[end-mark] The post The Kiddie Pool of Forever: Max Gladstone’s Last Exit (Part 18) appeared first on Reactor.

Book Recommendations book review A Different Type of Romance: Someone You Can Build a Nest In by John Wiswell A review of John Wiswell’s fantasy debut. By Alex Brown | Published on April 17‚ 2024 Comment 0 Share New Share All Shesheshen wants is to hibernate in peace‚ play with her wild blue-furred bear‚ and occasionally feed on an unsuspecting human. But no‚ the Wulfyre family will not leave her alone. After an attack‚ goo-based Shesheshen shapeshifts into human form and is rescued by Homily. She is an odd woman who‚ in spite of everything‚ finds Shesheshen amusing. The monster who isn’t very good at being monstrous and the maiden who is neither pure nor innocent make a surprisingly good match. So much so that Shesheshen comes to the realization that not only is Homily the perfect person to lay her eggs in but that she’ll die as a result. Soon‚ the two women are dragged into the Wulfyre hunt for the wyrm (aka Shesheshen in her monster form)‚ and all kinds of terrible things emerge from the shadows. If they want a chance at happiness together‚ a lot of bad people are going to have to die first. But those bad people also want them dead. Whatever happens next‚ it’s going to push Homily and Shesheshen to the brink. This is one of those novels that is probably going to be a challenge to sell. I’m already seeing people calling it “cozy horror” and “romantasy”. While there are some horrific elements—lots of gore and body horror‚ albeit expressed in practical rather than horrifying ways—and there is a romance subplot‚ evoking those genres can lead readers to expect certain tropes and vibes. I’d put this squarely into general fantasy rather than one of the popular new marketing terms. It’s weird and unsettling‚ and it plays with elements of horror and romance without fully committing to those genres.  Buy the Book Someone You Can Build a Nest In John Wiswell Buy Book Someone You Can Build a Nest In John Wiswell Buy this book from: AmazonBarnes and NobleiBooksIndieBoundTarget I think it’s also important for readers to come prepared for queer shit. Not just queer as in LGBTQIAP+‚ but queer as in rejecting the norm‚ the traditional‚ and the socially acceptable. Queer as in revolutionary. Queer as in “fuck you and the assumptions you rode in on.” Shesheshen and Homily’s relationship is queer‚ as is the way Shesheshen interacts with the world. Remember: Shesheshen is a monster both literally and metaphorically. Her very existence violates social norms. She can “pass” as “normal”‚ or mask‚ if you will‚ but only by mimicking other people and practicing their behaviors. I’m neurodivergent and so much of Shesheshen’s experiences felt eerily familiar. The pragmatism‚ the frustration at not being able to figure out what someone actually wants versus what they say they want‚ the feeling like you’re pretending at being a certain kind of person when you’re really something else entirely. At times‚ she is overwhelmed by sensations that humans don’t seem to notice‚ and she reacts to things in a way that some humans would find cold and emotionless but is for her just the logical response to an illogical situation. Something else that makes you feel monstrous&;#63; Being on the asexual and aromantic spectrums. Before I knew those words‚ I thought I was a broken person. I couldn’t understand attraction‚ so I had what I called practice boyfriends; maybe sex and love were like practicing the piano‚ and if I just dated enough someday it would all make sense. I felt unloved‚ unloveable‚ and unloving. I felt like I was playing at being a person. I felt alien and wrong. It took three decades for me to find asexuality and aromanticism‚ but it only took a few moments (and reading Julie Sondra Decker’s The Invisible Orientation) to realize I wasn’t broken‚ just shaped differently. Like Shesheshen‚ I also went through a metamorphosis where I could finally see myself for who I truly was. It wasn’t me who was wrong but the expectations the world put on me. I could live my life in a way that was satisfying and enjoyable to me. Let the allos be confused and uncomprehending for once. I know who I am.  Trauma and abuse can also make you feel like a monster wearing a person suit. Homily had a lifetime of torment at the hands of her family. She grew up feeling insignificant and unvalued. She felt unworthy of things other people took for granted. She was a thing to be used and pushed around‚ not a person who deserved support and protection. Coming out the other side of abuse means dealing with the resulting trauma. You basically have to shape yourself into a living person while cutting out all the things that are holding you back. But you can never quite get free of all those horrors.  So while yes‚ Someone You Can Build a Nest In is romantic‚ it’s an aromantic version of romance rather than an alloromantic one. I might even call it queerplatonic. Whatever it is‚ it’s hella queer. And that romance is also colored by Shesheshen’s neurodivergence as well as Homily’s trauma. Don’t come into this novel expecting allo-tinged tropes. And if this is your first exploration into the wild lands of asexuality and aromanticism‚ welcome. We do things differently around here.  The only real miss for me was the predictability of the plot. The plot was not nearly as inventive as the premise was. Part of that was the epilogue. It felt a bit like cheating‚ like Wiswell got to have his titular nest without all the accompanying violence. Maybe that was the point‚ or maybe the point was to do what Romance novels often do and flash forward to see how that HEA/HFN is going. I don’t know‚ but I’m not convinced it was necessary. With his typical quirky humor and creative wit‚ John Wiswell’s debut novel Someone You Can Build a Nest In is a winner. I’ve been looking forward to his move from short to long fiction for a while now‚ and he did not disappoint. Aces and aros‚ this one is for you. [end-mark] Someone You Can Build a Nest In is published by DAW.Read an excerpt. The post A Different Type of Romance: Someone You Can Build a Nest In by John Wiswell appeared first on Reactor.

Landing on a distant‚ lonely planet‚ it’s up to you to terraform the dust bowl into a vibrant home for animals and vegetation. However‚ The best-laid plans of mice and men often go awry‚ and you might find your initial base submerged as the planet comes to life. So‚ the question stands‚ will your hard-earned machines work underwater in The Planet Crafter&;#63; Will machines function underwater in Planet Crafter&;#63; Nope — all your machines are out of action once they get submerged. You may notice it as your early power suppliers‚ such as solar panels and wind turbines‚ go offline. All of a sudden‚ you’re low on power‚ and you can’t figure out why. I noticed my heat levels stagnating drastically as the water rose. This made me realize that machines do not work underwater in Planet Crafter. How to avoid losing machines in Planet Crafter The first thing you should do is make sure you build your first base high up on a plateau. There is a fantastic one just north...

In a live technical test for Hades 2‚ the developers at Supergiant Games confirmed that you don’t need to play Hades to enjoy Hades 2. This may sound like a small detail‚ but in reality it matters more than you think. Supergiant confirmed you don’t need to play Hades before Hades 2 At the beginning of the Hades 2 technical test that streamed live on April 17‚ Creative Director Greg Kasavin confirmed that you don’t need to play Hades to enjoy Hades 2. Since Hades 2 features an entirely new protagonist and storyline‚ playing it won’t require any prior knowledge of Hades‚ or even Greek mythology. If you’re a huge Hades fan‚ don’t take this the wrong way and think that you won’t see connections between the two games. Greg Kasavin continued to say that this is a direct sequel and Hades fans will still receive tons of references and connections. This means that both Hades fans and new players can enjoy Hades 2 when it launches in Early Acces...

They're about as impartial as you'd expect of a Manhattan jury.

Volkswagen workers in Chattanooga‚ Tennessee‚ will vote this week on whether to join the United Auto Workers‚ and President Joe Biden is trying to help. Last month‚ Biden said‚ “I congratulate the Volkswagen autoworkers in Chattanooga who filed for a union election with the UAW.” The vote comes right after Tax Day‚ and union dues would represent another bite from paychecks after federal and state taxes and Social Security and Medicare contributions. Only 6% of private sector American workers belong to a union. Most don’t think the dues are a worthwhile investment of their hard-earned dollars. VW workers rejected union representation in 2014 and 2019‚ and they have similar reasons for doing so again. Employment at the Detroit Three automakers represented by the UAW has declined‚ and automotive jobs have moved to China with vehicle electrification. UAW membership fell from 1.5 million in 1979 to 370‚000 in 2023. Hence‚ the UAW needs new members to pay dues to fund union bosses’ salaries and pensions for retired union members in Detroit. Dues for UAW hourly workers are 2.5 hours of pay per month. With average wages of $40 an hour‚ that’s $100 a month in dues‚ or $1‚200 a year. This would help shore up the pensions of the UAW’s 580‚000 retirees and pay the salaries of union officials. UAW President Shawn Fain makes more than $220‚000 annually‚ more than three times VW workers’ average wages. Fain flies to lavish events such as the March UAW National Stellantis Council meeting in Puerto Rico with other union officials. VW workers shouldn’t have to pay for union bosses’ perks or legacy pensions‚ and unionizing the plant contradicts workers’ interests. Unionization would raise vehicle costs‚ undercutting VW’s competitiveness relative to auto companies whose workers are not represented by unions. For instance‚ Jim Farley‚ Ford’s chief executive officer‚ said earlier this year that Ford had a $7 billion to $8 billion cost disadvantage over other firms because of higher costs. Higher costs from unionization are one reason the Detroit Three are announcing layoffs. Ford announced 1‚400 layoffs in March‚ following layoffs in 2023. Stellantis had layoffs of 400 last month and ended jobs for 2‚000 temporary workers. General Motors cut 1‚300 workers last year. One sign that the UAW does not stand up for members’ interests is the renegotiation of the UAW contract in 2023. It was an opportunity for the UAW to make Detroit carmakers reverse their commitment to go all-electric by 2035‚ preserving autoworkers’ jobs and continuing to make gasoline-powered cars popular with families. Yet the new UAW contract made GM‚ Ford‚ and Stellantis uncompetitive with nonunion automakers and preserved the automakers’ plans to eliminate production of internal-combustion-engine cars by 2035. Fain knows that electrification of the automobile will mean fewer autoworkers. He said: “Stellantis’ push to cut thousands of jobs while raking in billions in profits is disgusting. … Even now‚ politicians and taxpayers are bankrolling the electric vehicle transition‚ and this is the thanks the working class gets.” The UAW did not successfully reverse companies’ destructive policies‚ even though Ford estimated that the industry would need 40% fewer workers to produce EVs. That’s 200‚000 fewer jobs in 2030 and 400‚000 fewer in the long run. Biden can call for unionization at VW‚ but he can’t make VW do what’s in the best interests of VW employees. The UAW didn’t stand up for its workers at Ford‚ GM‚ and Stellantis—and it won’t stand up for workers at VW if they vote “yes” this week. Originally published by The Washington Times The post Joining UAW Would Be Loser for Volkswagen Employees appeared first on The Daily Signal.

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.

Brussels authorities shuttered the National Conservatism Conference on Tuesday‚ sending police to block entry to the conference and announcing that those inside would be permitted to leave but not to return. However‚ the action was not the result of any public disturbances or threats. It was a political action by left-progressive politicians who do not like the views being ventilated at the conference—and who fear the increasing success of nationalist and conservative ideas in European politics. Initial coverage of the incident is posted here and here‚ with no doubt more to come. And see this article by Ayaan Hirsi Ali on the incident.  I am a trustee of the Edmund Burke Foundation‚ which is sponsoring the conference‚ and I have been chairman of its regular “NatCon” conferences in the U.S.‚ U.K.‚ and Europe for the past five years. My colleagues and I have strong views on such urgent issues as uncontrolled immigration; the corruption of schools and cultural institutions by race and gender ideologies; the transfer of government authority from nations to international bureaucracies; and the erosion of freedoms of speech‚ religion‚ and inquiry. These are the central issues on the agenda at this week’s conference in Brussels. All of our conferences are carefully planned to include top-tier conservative thinkers‚ writers‚ scholars‚ activists‚ and political figures‚ and to provide a good mix of speeches‚ panel discussions‚ and debates (with a few brave souls on the Left to keep us sharp). Heritage Foundation President Kevin Roberts‚ who agrees with some NatCon positions but disagrees with others‚ has given terrific addresses at earlier conferences and has been received with enthusiasm and appreciation. Several other Heritage friends are at this week’s Brussels conference‚ although I have had to miss it myself because of commitments in the U.S. (now to my special regret&;#33;) (The Daily Signal is Heritage’s news and commentary outlet.) That an earnest gathering of political officials‚ activists‚ and thinkers should be bullied by a mayor and sequestered by the police is‚ of course‚ outrageous and worthy of severe condemnation. And few liberal as well as conservative leaders have issued critical statements. But there is a larger meaning to the incident. It demonstrates that forthright‚ unapologetic conservatism is gaining serious momentum in Europe as well as the U. S.—and that the progressive Left‚ in its desperation to stop us‚ is increasingly willing to employ means that would have been unthinkable just a few years ago. Unfortunately‚ the progressives’ effort to anathematize national conservatives as a “far right” threat to democracy and civil order is being adopted by others who should know better. Some on the moderate left and right are portraying the Brussels “controversy” as a case for standing on principle for freedom of speech—even for those with so-called deplorable ideas and values‚ as if NatCons were Nazis marching through Skokie. Thanks for your support‚ guys‚ and have a nice free-speech day yourself. The incident is actually the latest example of establishment timorousness and liberal decay. Two fancy Brussels venues‚ Concert Noble and a Sofitel hotel‚ abruptly canceled the NatCon conference at the insistence of city officials before the no-nonsense Tunisian owner of the Claridge event hall agreed to host us‚ refused to back down‚ and treated us to warm hospitality to compensate for the hostility of the city fathers. This gentleman is in today’s avant-garde. The progressive strategy of meeting conservative ascent with shallow demagoguery and forceful suppression‚ rather than forthright argument or reform of their ruinous policies‚ is coming in for a richly deserved political reckoning.  The post Brussels Authorities Shut Down Conservative Conference‚ Afraid of Conservatism Gaining Momentum in Europe appeared first on The Daily Signal.

The “vote for President Biden” flyers found at a center for migrants in Mexico constitute foreign meddling in U.S. elections‚ congressional Republicans say.  Amid the ongoing crisis of illegal immigration at the southern border‚ the lawmakers decried flyers posted at the migrant services center near Brownsville‚ Texas‚ that tell illegal aliens: “Reminder to vote for President Biden when you are in the United States.” “Joe Biden has sacrificed our nation’s safety and security in his pursuit to get as many people here as possible. Why&;#63; Because he believes these are future Democrat voters‚” Sen. Roger Marshall‚ R-Kan.‚ told The Daily Signal.  “This is election interference orchestrated at the highest levels. We have to get our hands around this—Americans have to have complete confidence in their elections‚” Marshall said. “Any NGO receiving federal funds and pushing illegal get-out-the-vote efforts for Joe Biden should be stripped of their funding immediately.” Translated from Spanish‚ The Heritage Foundation’s Oversight Project notes‚ the flyers posted at the nongovernmental organization Resource Center Matamoros in the Mexican state of Tamaulipas say: “Reminder to vote for President Biden when you are in the United States. We need another four years of his term to stay open.”  “Democrats want permanent power and they are willing to import a new electorate to get it‚” Rep. Jim Banks‚ R-Ind.‚ told The Daily Signal in a written statement after his office was asked about the flyers.  “The endgame of the Biden border crisis is to disenfranchise American citizens by diluting their votes‚” Banks said.  “American elections are for Americans‚ and Congress should pass election integrity reforms to safeguard federal elections from foreign‚ illegal votes.” Heritage’s Oversight Project released images of the flyers late Monday‚ using video of the flyers posted at Resource Center Matamoros and discovered by the news site Muckraker. (The Daily Signal is Heritage’s news and commentary outlet.) RCM provides information about available legal and social services to those on the Mexican side of the border who seek asylum in the United States. The nongovernmental organization also lobbies U.S. and Mexican lawmakers.  These flyers were discovered by @realmuckraker throughout the Resource Center Matamoras (RCM) location including on the walls of port-a-pottiesThey also appear to be handed out when illegal aliens use the RCM for assistance in coming to the USA pic.twitter.com/hvlkwOI5Xs— Oversight Project (@OversightPR) April 16‚ 2024 The flyers directed at illegal aliens only add to concerns about Biden’s border crisis and clean elections‚ said Sen. Tim Scott‚ R-S.C.  “Add election interference and voter fraud to the list of crimes being committed thanks to President Biden’s open border‚” Scott told The Daily Signal in a written statement. “The Biden administration and its far-left‚ open border policies have allowed for a nearly 10 million-person invasion into our country‚ made every county a border county‚ and put American lives‚ our national security‚ and now the integrity of our elections at risk.” Sen. Cynthia Lummis‚ R-Wyo.‚ said she is concerned about foreign meddling in U.S. elections.  “Exercising the right to vote is one reserved exclusively for American citizens‚ not illegal aliens unlawfully in our country‚” told The Daily Signal in a written statement. “Encouraging people in this country illegally to vote is not only a direct violation of U.S. law but invites foreign nationals to meddle in our elections.”  It’s not clear whether Resource Center Matamoros authorized the flyers or did anything to remove them from the shelter. RCM Executive Director Gaby Zavala did not respond to inquiries from The Daily Signal for this report.  Voting in U.S. elections by foreign nationals “undermines the very fabric of our democratic process‚” Sen. Kevin Cramer‚ R-N.D.‚ said. “Examples like this erode the public’s confidence and illustrate the importance of secure voting laws‚” Cramer told The Daily Signal. “Democrats‚ the so-called ‘defenders of democracy‚’ object to commonsense reforms like voter ID and blocking illegal immigrants being counted in the census for electoral distribution. The hypocrisy is rich‚ but highlights the importance of election integrity reforms.” The discovery of the “vote for Biden” flyers in Mexico is more evidence of the need for voter ID laws‚ Sen. Joni Ernst‚ R-Iowa‚ said. “Like Iowa‚ every state in the union should require IDs and proof of citizenship in order to vote‚” Ernst told The Daily Signal. “American elections are for Americans‚ not whoever manages to show up at Joe Biden’s open border. We must secure election integrity and secure the border.” The pro-Biden flyers‚ discovered by Muckraker and shared with the Oversight Project‚ were found throughout Resource Center Matamoros‚ including on the walls of portable toilets‚ a video shows.  The city of Matamoros in the Mexican state of Tamaulipas borders Brownsville‚ where Biden spoke in February about the crisis of illegal immigration at the southern border that has grown since he became president in January 2021. Federal law bans foreign nationals‚ or non-U.S. citizens‚ from voting in federal elections. On Friday‚ former President Donald Trump endorsed proposed legislation by House Speaker Mike Johnson‚ R-La.‚ that would require proof of citizenship to vote in U.S. elections. The post ‘Import a New Electorate’: Congress Alarmed by Flyers in Mexico Urging Illegal Aliens to Vote Biden appeared first on The Daily Signal.