Even by his standards, CBS’s Stephen Colbert displayed a shocking display of hypocrisy during his Thursday monologue on The Late Show as he gushed over President Joe Biden’s Oval Office address and hailed Biden’s “humility and self-sacrifice” in order to save democracy. Yet, later, he urged his viewers to spread fake news on the internet about GOP VP candidate JD Vance having sex with a couch because he found the debunked story funny. Colbert led off the show by teeing up a clip of Biden’s address, “It's been four days since Joe Biden's historic announcement that he is dropping out of the 2024 presidential race, and last night, in what was to me a very moving Oval Office address, Biden explained his choice to the American people.”     The clip showed Biden declaring that “I revere this office, but I love my country more. It's been the honor of my life to serve as your president. But in the defense of democracy, which is at stake, I think it's more important than any title.” Colbert replied by oozing, “That humility and self-sacrifice is so beautiful and truly patriotic. And a refreshing change from the last guy.” Later in his monologue, Colbert approached the issue of the AP fact-checking the internet rumor that Vance admitted in his book to having sex with a couch and the AP pulling the article. Citing a Mediaite article, Colbert acknowledged the story is bunk, “Reportedly, a PDF search of Vance's book yielded ten references to ‘couch’ or ‘couches,’ but ‘at no time is the furniture engaged in coitus.’” However, Colbert’s desire for truth in politics only goes one way. If the truth gets in the way of a good troll, the truth should take a back seat: Of course not! Of course not! JD Vance is a very religious conservative. He knows it's Adam and Eve, not Raymour and Flannigan. This just shows how big a problem misinformation can be. Even a well-meaning fact check can wind up amplifying a false story. So, all of us, all of us, please, have a responsibility to stop the spread of vicious rumors like JD Vance had sex with a couch. Because it's simply not true. Which is why we have to refuse to use the hashtag #CushionPushinJDVance. And that's why I certainly won't ever perform the juvenile chant, 'JD Vance is sittin' on a couch. His pee-pee hit the zipper and ouch!'  Colbert concluded, “This is—here's the thing. There is one troubling twist to this story, because as of this morning, the AP had removed their fact check, which can only mean one of two things. Either the original story does not meet the AP’s rigorous standards or JD Vance had sex with a couch.” A similar fact-check from Snopes remains up. Here is a transcript for the July 25 show: CBS The Late Show with Stephen Colbert 7/25/2024 11:37 PM ET STEPHEN COLBERT: It's been four days since Joe Biden's historic announcement that he is dropping out of the 2024 presidential race, and last night, in what was to me a very moving Oval Office address, Biden explained his choice to the American people. JOE BIDEN: I revere this office, but I love my country more. It's been the honor of my life to serve as your president. But in the defense of democracy, which is at stake, I think it's more important than any title. COLBERT: That humility and self-sacrifice is so beautiful and truly patriotic. And a refreshing change from the last guy. .. COLBERT The sofa-schtupping allegations get disturbingly specific. See, according to one tweet, in his book, JD Vance described having sex with a rubber glove secured between cushions on his couch. Where does someone even get an idea like that? I blame those filthy IKEA instructions. Flurgleboerg. Flurgleboerg.  Reportedly, a PDF search of Vance's book yielded ten references to "couch" or "couches," but "at no time is the furniture engaged in coitus."  Of course not! Of course not! JD Vance is a very religious conservative. He knows it's Adam and Eve, not Raymour and Flannigan. This just shows how big a problem misinformation can be. Even a well-meaning fact check can wind up amplifying a false story. So, all of us, all of us, please, have a responsibility to stop the spread of vicious rumors like JD Vance had sex with a couch. Because it's simply not true. Which is why we have to refuse to use the hashtag #CushionPushinJDVance. And that's why I certainly won't ever perform the juvenile chant, "JD Vance is sittin' on a couch. His pee-pee hit the zipper and ouch!"  This is—here's the thing. There is one troubling twist to this story, because as of this morning, the AP had removed their fact check, which can only mean one of two things. Either the original story does not meet the AP’s rigorous standards or JD Vance had sex with a couch.

My fellow Americans, you, and the generational permutations that will follow you, are America’s intended future.Your generation is much like the launch of the iPhone, which was a big deal. The freshly graduated class of 2024 marks the dawn of a new era in human development and communication.No one likes to be corrected or morally sanctioned. Your parents don’t like it. Your friends don’t like it. It isn’t a good recipe for human happiness and advancement.Of course, upgrades and even better code will follow. But it doesn’t matter what we call the next generational expression after you. They will be derivative of you and your story arc. The iPhone is pretty much the same. Bill Ayers and Michel Foucault are to you what Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak are to the iPhone.Your architects and your teachers just adore you. Why wouldn’t they? You think and act as instructed. Your pedagogical parents succeeded where prior revolutions in education and society failed. Since Plato’s “Republic,” men have sought to create a better world through a directed, early, head-start education of the young. Whereas the Jesuits and Soviets failed, the American left has succeeded with you.Class of 2024, you are America’s new Adam and Eve, whose generation will foster a better, more progressive expression of the new American Experiment: an America that delivers on the promise of diversity, equity, and inclusion to all marginalized people. Unfortunately, society does not seem to like you as much as your teachers. And while you might think it is us, no ... it’s you. It really is you.You were drawn to be unbearable, even to yourselves. Your generation is more difficult to satisfy civically than Michelle Obama — and purposely so. At the dinner table, late night at the bar, in the sack, comedy club, and on social media, you are more than a little unbearable. You were educated and engineered to be moral scolds and police the mores and ideas of society.News flash: No one likes to be corrected or morally sanctioned. Your parents don’t like it. Your friends don’t like it. Your future coworkers won’t like it and will distrust you. And your bosses are going to keep you at arm’s length out of a basic instinct to survive. It isn’t a good recipe for human happiness and advancement.But too many of your generation like this recipe of social strife and control. When your generation’s social influencers do as trained and judge past and present behavior by the gospel of newspeak — which can only be found wanting — they get to exercise coercive power over others. It’s an addictive high. You get to elevate yourself and put down others, all while seeing yourself as moral when you are little more than a moralistic thug. History is littered with the bloody consequences of this high. This is what gives history its regressive, tale-told-by-an-idiot arc. When such a cohort is digitally armed and networked, we are in deep trouble socially. I hope right now you are saying, “This is not me.”I am here to give you a choice — a red-pill opportunity — to escape the mental grip of the matrix that has nursed your mind since kindergarten. The blue-pilled adjacent life will work for some but not for all. Most likely, if you are hearing this, it will not work for you.If you are fortunate to be on the list of the marginalized and aggrieved — and in whose name the revolution is made — it makes tactical sense to play the adjacent card. Still, expect the revolution to serve you poorly. But you can rest assured at night that it is not coming for you, unless you speak against it. Then all bets are off.If you are not on the aggrieved totem, the adjacency lane does not offer the protection that you might think. If you are white, Asian, or Jewish, male or female, you should be concerned and prepare yourself to live a red-pilled life on the down low.The revolution will not eat you last as you hope. In fact, it’s going to eat you first. The deplorable economy and worker are not under unbearable control, but you will be. The crown jewels of America’s commanding heights — entertainment, education, media, Big Tech, philanthropy, Wall Street — where you believe you are headed are not staffed with deplorables but with folks just like you.Don’t reward unbearable identity politics with your votes and adjacent likes. Quietly quit the party and program that is serving you up as a sacrifice. No one needs to know.Men of the graduating class of 2024 — particularly white men — know what the slow progressive boil is like and its impact on their pursuit of happiness. In contrast, women in general and white women in particular have done well. Until now. That is about to change for equity’s sake. Feminism is no longer colorblind and meritocratic when it comes to its own. We are learning that being a white woman has its own toxic tendencies and sins against humanity’s downtrodden.Newly graduated Asians and Jews, your people’s outlier success in light of past discrimination is becoming a disqualification. Merit is out. Identity and the victim are the ascendant measure of all things.What is a 2024 graduate in the crosshairs of identity to do? There are a couple of easy things you can do that can make a difference immediately.First, and foremost: Don’t reward unbearable identity politics with your votes and adjacent likes. Quietly quit the party and program that is serving you up as a sacrifice. No one needs to know.At work and with your friends and family, don’t live down to your intended, cultural scold role. Doing so will be recognized and rewarded. The revolution wants you to want to punish your own. To turn daughter against mother. Son against father. It’s best when it’s done by one’s own gender and tribe.Don’t do it. Instead, talk to your parents and make common cause. You will be stronger together.Most importantly, learn the language of equality properly understood and constitutionally pursued. In short, what your teachers call “equality” and its offshoots of diversity, equity, and inclusion — the source of power they hold over you — does not mean what they say it means. It does not require present discrimination to address past discrimination. All you need is a simple tweak in your understanding of what equality means and requires, and you can be free of your woke mental matrix.Just like that, you can be free. And so can the rest of us.

Robby Starbuck is a filmmaker who has exposed multiple companies for their woke initiatives. Now, he’s exposing Harley-Davidson — and it’s not looking good for the all-American motorcycle company. “What he found is a complete sellout,” Glenn Beck explains, noting that prior to Starbuck’s exposé, Beck thought of Harley-Davidson as a “true American brand.” “I kind of had a hard time believing it,” Starbuck tells Beck, “because the Harley brand is like this macho brand, and everybody knows somebody who's got a Harley, and it’s so diametrically opposed to who they are.” As Starbuck looked into the brand, he found that the sustainability reports revealed a lot about the company that its red-blooded American patrons would probably like to know. “We found that they had put 1,800 employees through these woke trainings, including one group of employees, specifically white males, they sent to a white male only diversity training,” Starbuck reveals. But that’s not all. “When you go farther down the line, then they’ve got a plan to what they call ‘diversify their supply chain,’ which is really just corporate speak for ‘we want less white people,’” Starbucks continues. “The idea is just so far and away from what the American dream is.” Harley-Davison also funded a Pride event that was considered “all-ages.” According to Starbuck, at this Pride event there was a “rage room,” which was “right across from the area where drag queens interact with kids for the story time” and a “play catch with dad area for anybody who had daddy issues.” “I’m not joking,” Starbuck says, adding, “It is so diametrically opposed to the values of Harley riders.” The company is reportedly also a founding member of the Wisconsin LGBTQ+ Chamber of Commerce. “They also made February and March months of inclusion, because we need three months, not just Pride Month,” Glenn comments. “The money they have donated now to the United Way, promoting 'Antiracist Baby' — you know, the Ibram Kendi thing — they have a Pride ride.” “It goes on and on,” he adds, shocked. Want more from Glenn Beck?To enjoy more of Glenn’s masterful storytelling, thought-provoking analysis, and uncanny ability to make sense of the chaos, subscribe to BlazeTV — the largest multi-platform network of voices who love America, defend the Constitution, and live the American dream.

Less than two weeks after the attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump, calls to lower the political temperature were vociferously tossed aside Wednesday evening when Joe Biden addressed the nation from the Oval Office.Biden — whose shocking decision to drop out of the 2024 presidential campaign and throw his support behind Kamala Harris has stunned the nation and world — offered virtually no explanation for his change of heart, leaving more questions than answers.It’s time for sanity, the taming of the tongue, and smarter politics.But beyond that, Biden also did something else — a deeply troubling move in the wake of a violent and turbulent election cycle: He again framed the 2024 campaign as an existential battle for America’s survival.“It’s been the honor of my life to serve as your president,” he said. “But in the defense of democracy, which is at stake, I think it’s more important than any title.”At a time when the political temperatures are scorching, Biden told the nation that the “defense of democracy” is essential, because, from his vantage point, it is “at stake.”Again — just days after gun violence rocked the 2024 campaign and claimed the life of Corey Comperatore, a man attending Donald Trump’s rally — Biden chose to use terror and fear to score political points while elevating himself and his party to hero status. This “defense of democracy” language suggests that Trump, if he wins in November, will somehow destroy America and its structural underpinnings. Far from a mere mention uttered in passing, Biden went on to express the same idea in different forms throughout the speech.“I believe my record as president, my leadership in the world, my vision for America’s future all merited a second term,” Biden continued. “But nothing, nothing can come in the way of saving our democracy, and that includes personal ambition.”Once more, the “saving our democracy” language emerged, sending an unsubtle message to an already fearful and inflation-riddled electorate that our nation could somehow be lost if the Democratic Party doesn’t hold onto power.At the end of the speech, the president concluded by hammering home the same narrative, urging the nation to “preserve our democracy” by listening to him and voting for Kamala Harris.Such proclamations might seem benign, but they are anything but. At a time when citizens are ginned up into an almost incessant panic, the claim that the 2024 election is a choice between demolishing democracy and choosing someone who will defend it is, at best, unhelpful — and, at worst, dangerous.After the attempted assassination of Trump, Biden himself stressed the need to “lower the temperature in our politics,” but his “defend democracy” language does anything but temper those storms. Instead, it pours gasoline on the already raging fires of consternation in this nation.Some, like Rep. Jared Golden (D-Maine), recently encouraged people on both sides of the political divide to stop using these sinister tactics.“We can start by dropping hyperbolic threats about the stakes of this election,” he said in a July 14 post on X (formerly Twitter). “It should not be misleadingly portrayed as a struggle between democracy or authoritarianism, or a battle against fascists or socialists bent on destroying America. These are dangerous lies.”And yet those “dangerous lies” were once again on display Wednesday night. Golden is right to call us to stop going to the lowest common denominator to try to win elections.Trump, too, is back to name-calling, lashing out at “Crooked Joe Biden and Lyin’ Kamala Harris,” calling them a “great embarrassment to America” and proclaiming “there has never been a time like this.”But the truth is, the 2024 race is a battle over ideology and the future. Like all elections, it’s a debate over which party has a better vision for moving the nation forward, protecting the borders, providing economic opportunity, and offering possibilities to live out the American dream.Democracy isn’t on the chopping block, and it’s unfortunate Biden and others continue to use such divisive and dangerous language — especially at a time when the nation is still trying to find its footing following the attempted assassination.Golden also spoke of how efforts for “short-term political gain” lead to exaggerations of differences and make political opponents appear as “diabolical caricatures bent on destroying the country.”Not only does this force us to see ideological opponents as enemies, but Golden said it can lead us to experience violence and instability.“The result is an overwhelming sense of fear [and] anxiety about the future of our country, where the normal and tested tools of democracy no longer seem adequate to protect the common good,” he continued. “In this light, a rise of politically motivated violence in America is sadly unsurprising.”It’s time for sanity, the taming of the tongue, and smarter politics. We must call on all candidates to step up to the plate, stop leeching off Americans’ emotions, and win elections on the merits of their own ideas and policies — not on trumped-up fear and consternation.

NFL legend Tom Brady had a very not-safe-for-work reaction when asked to sign the jersey of fellow NFL great Eli Manning.Brady is widely considered to be the best NFL player of all time, pulling in a whopping seven Super Bowl victories. Playing in 10 Super Bowls in total, Brady had a record of 7-3. Two of those losses were to Manning, who played for the New York Giants: Super Bowl XLII in 2008 and Super Bowl XLVI in 2012.The first loss even ruined the New England Patriots' perfect season, giving Brady plenty of reason for a sour taste in his mouth.Recently, the NFL revealed footage of Brady sitting at a table signing a number of his jerseys from his time playing with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.As Brady is signing away on the pile of No. 12 jerseys, a jersey is pulled away to reveal a No. 10 Manning jersey from the Giants. After giving a blank stare at the merchandise handler, Brady decided to sign it anyway."Tom Brady was asked to sign an Eli Manning jersey," the onscreen caption read.The camera pans and then zooms in on the back of the jersey, where Brady appeared to sign "F*** off" right on the numbers.Then, Manning was shown the jersey as he got ready to sign it himself. "Beautiful," he said as he laughed uncomfortably, reading the message."I don't know what...I'll sign here. What do I say to this?" he murmured."I'll say 'good game,'" he added, giving an awkward look to the camera. @nfl at least he signed it ? (via @Fanatics) #elimanning #tombrady #nfl ♬ original sound - NFL "At least he signed it," the NFL wrote on its TikTok page.Despite being out of the NFL for nearly two years, Brady has consistently faced questions surrounding a possible return. He has stated himself that he isn't opposed to a comeback should the right team come knocking.Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Davante Adams recently said that he still believes Brady would be an effective quarterback in the league."He's getting older, but I mean he's still got to be able to throw it better than half these dudes in the league."As for Manning, he is long retired since playing just four games in 2019. He routinely hosts the "Manningcast" with his brother Petyon on ESPN, where they watch and comment on NFL games on Monday nights.Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

The elderly man who was run down by an ATV driver in an apparently politically motivated attack in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan last weekend is back home and recovering, cops say, and the identity of the suspect in the case has now been released.Last Sunday, a suspect driving an ATV unleashed a show of rage against signs and images supporting law enforcement and/or former President Donald Trump, as Blaze News previously reported. The suspect apparently damaged tire valves, smashed windows, and even tore off a mirror on at least two vehicles sporting Trump or "thin blue line" stickers in Hancock, Michigan, a small city at the base of the Keweenaw Peninsula, the stretch of land in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan that juts out into Lake Superior.'We’re looking into the media devices and hoping that we find some indication in those devices themselves as to what his mindset would have been.'In addition to the acts of vandalism, the ATV driver also targeted an 80-year-old Hancock man who had Trump signs posted on his front lawn. First, the driver tore the signs down. When the man attempted to put them back up, the ATV driver ran him down from behind, causing serious injuries, reportedly including a brain bleed.The Hancock Police Department has since shared a promising update about the victim and his condition. He was released from the hospital on Wednesday night and "will be recovering at home," the police statement said.Hancock Police Chief Tami Sleeman called the victim's improvement "really good news."In the press release, the department also revealed the name of the suspect: Joshua Kemppainen, a 22-year-old resident of Quincy Township, just north of Hancock.On Monday, Hancock police received a call from an individual believed to be Kemppainen. The caller wanted to "confess a crime involving an ATV driver within the last 24 hours" and asked cops to come pick him up.When deputies and officers arrived at the Quincy residence associated with the caller, they found Kemppainen dead of a self-inflicted gunshot wound. On his property, they found the ATV believed to have struck the elderly Hancock man as well as clothing that matched clothes seen on surveillance images of the ATV driver. They also confiscated some digital devices that will be passed along for forensic analysis at the Michigan State Crime Lab in Marquette."We did not find any notes or anything like that at this point," said Houghton County Sheriff Josh Saaranen. "We’re looking into the media devices and hoping that we find some indication in those devices themselves as to what his mindset would have been, or his MO."Kemppainen "had no prior known contacts with local law enforcement," the police press release said.In the wake of the apparently politically motivated attacks, Sheriff Saaranen called for unity. "We don’t have to agree with each other at all times," he said, "but we as a community need to come together."Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

THIS! Mary Katharine Ham DROPS Media Toads Trying to Make Trump Into a Coward for Refusing Kamala Debate

Is Sen. Mark Kelly Trying to Buy His Way Onto the Kamala Harris Ticket?

iOS 18 is full of great features. Even though all the same iPhone models that supported iOS 17 will be able to update to this newer version, it doesn't mean all iPhones will get all the functions. Some iOS 18 features are exclusive to newer iPhones. Here's what you get depending on which iPhone you have. iOS 18 features that require an iPhone 11 or newer iPhone 11 Pro on a desk, with a focus on the rear-facing triple-lens camera. Image source: Zach Epstein for BGR There are two iOS 18 features that require an iPhone 11 or newer, which means iPhone XR, XS, and XS Max owners are the only ones not getting these functions: Enhance Dialogue on iPhone: It helps you better hear what’s being said onscreen, especially when loud sound effects or music is playing. It’s now available on recent iPhone and iPad models when playing through the built-in speakers, wired headphones, AirPods, or other Bluetooth-connected speakers and headphones. Hands-free unlock: You can magically unlock the door as you approach simply by carrying an iPhone in a bag or pocket or wearing an Apple Watch. This feature doesn't work for iPhone SE 2 and iPhone SE 3 owners. iOS 18 features that require an iPhone 12 or newer Image source: Apple Inc. There are three iOS 18 features that require an iPhone 12 or newer: Live Audio transcription: In the Notes app, you can record audio sessions within your notes and generate live audio transcriptions you can search through or combine with other comments, checklists, or documents. Eye Tracking: This iOS 18 accessibility feature requires an iPhone 12 or newer. It lets you control your iPhone with just your eyes. This function was announced before the WWDC 2024 keynote. It's important to note it doesn't work with the iPhone SE 2. Music Haptics: Available for iPhone 12 or newer, this Apple Music function syncs the iPhone Taptic Engine with the rhythm of songs so those who are deaf or hard of hearing can enjoy the Apple Music catalog. Apple Intelligence is exclusive to iPhone 15 Pro users Image source: Apple Inc. Lastly, the most important feature coming with iOS 18 is exclusive to iPhone 15 Pro users: Apple Intelligence. These are some of the functions you can expect to see later this fall: Writing Tools: Users can rewrite, proofread, and summarize text nearly everywhere they write, including Mail, Notes, Pages, and third-party apps; Image Playground: Users can create playful images in seconds, choosing from Animation, Illustration, or Sketch. This app is built right into apps like Messages and is also available in a dedicated app; Memories in Photos: Users can create stories they want to see just by typing a description. Apple Intelligence will pick out the best photos and videos based on the description, craft a storyline with chapters based on themes identified from the photos, and arrange them into a movie with its own narrative arc; Clean Up tool: This Photos app feature can identify and remove distracting objects in the background of a photo without accidentally altering the subject; Siri: Users type to Siri and switch between text and voice to communicate with Siri in whatever way feels right for the moment. ChatGPT integration: When you feel Apple Intelligence isn’t enough, you can allow ChatGPT to access Writing Tools and other features for a better response. Wrap up These are the iOS 18 features that require an iPhone 12 or newer. As the beta cycle follows, we'll update this article. Below, you can learn more about all the features coming with iOS 18. Don't Miss: iOS 18: Features, release date, beta, download, Apple Intelligence The post 11 iOS 18 features that’ll only be available on newer iPhone models appeared first on BGR. Today's Top Deals Today’s deals: $100 eufy smart lock, Nintendo Switch game sale, 20% off Dreo ChefMaker, $4 smart plugs, more Amazon gift card deals, offers & coupons 2024: Get $375+ free Monday’s top early Prime Day deals: $799 M2 MacBook Air, YETI coolers, Sony TVs, PopSockets, more Stunning Yaber T2 Outdoor Projector has a massive 20% discount

In the Middle Ages, alchemists were notoriously secretive and didn't share their knowledge with others. Danish Tycho Brahe was no exception. Consequently, we don't know precisely what he did in the alchemical laboratory located beneath his combined residence and observatory, Uraniborg, on the now Swedish island of Ven. Only a few of his alchemical recipes have survived, and today, there are very few remnants of his laboratory. Uraniborg was demolished after his death in 1601, and the building materials were scattered for reuse. However, during an excavation in 1988-1990, some pottery and glass shards were found in Uraniborg's old garden. These shards were believed to originate from the basement's alchemical laboratory. Five of these shards - four glass and one ceramic - have now undergone chemical analyses to determine which elements the original glass and ceramic containers came into contact with. Tycho the Psycho? Meet One of History’s Maddest Scientific Minds Ever! Who was Tycho Brahe? Astronomy with a Naked Eye (and a Missing Nose) Read moreSection: NewsHistory & ArchaeologyHistoryFamous PeopleRead Later