The First Dance at my wedding reception was to Bruce Springsteen’s version of “Jersey Girl.” And as hard as I try to walk away from his music over his politics, I just can’t do it. The Sirius XM tuner slips past E Street Radio, some stunning live track rips through my speakers, and I’m sucked in again. “Curse you, Bruce!” I think as I’m shouting along to “Badlands,” stomping my foot to “American Land” or tearing up to “This Hard Land.” Yet when I consider the bile Springsteen spewed at President Donald Trump while standing on foreign soil, and die-hard fan Lee Habeeb’s heartfelt letter to The Boss in response, I think of the promise Springsteen made with his audience half a century ago now. Or more accurately, the promise his fans read into his music. As he sang, “You be true to me and I’ll be true to you.” Bruce sings about the lives and struggles of blue-collar workers, of those looked over by the elites, from the “coal mines of Appalachia” and “fiery furnaces” of Youngstown, to the Rattlesnake Speedway in the Utah desert. But he’s not one of them. Never has been. And he’s not true to them today. He’s as much that blue-collar persona you see on stage as David Bowie was Ziggy Stardust or the Bible-believing preacher’s son Vincent Furnier is Alice Cooper. Don’t believe me. Believe his guitarist, lifelong friend and consigliere Steve Van Zandt. In his autobiography “Unrequited Infatuations,” Van Zandt said that between the “Born to Run” and “Darkness on the Edge of Town” albums, Springsteen “completely, 180 degrees changed his identity. He’s fronting, he’s playing a character. That was the most important moment of his life, because he stayed in that persona forever.” Which gets us to the politics. Van Zandt himself is a hard-core, studious Leftist. The liner notes on his political albums come with footnotes, and study guides and quizzes. (I exaggerate, only slightly.) He sings what he means and means what he sings, as with his hit political anthem “Sun City.”Springsteen? He wouldn’t play Sun City. But he’d play for Kamala Harris for the right price. Let me ask. If you were a performer, and truly thought someone was a dictator, how much would you charge to help their opponent? You’d say “Gimme a mic, and my ‘three chords and the truth’ will do the rest.” That’s hardly the only example of Springsteen not being “true.” Consider his remarks in Manchester, England. The guy who had a hit with “War” shredded Trump as “incompetent” when Trump had, that very same week: mediated a cease-fire between nuclear-powered India and Pakistan, brought Ukraine and Russia back to the peace table, and moved closer to a war-evading deal with Iran. If Springsteen were true, he’d admit that. The Boss also attacked free speech in America while performing in a country putting people in jail for memes and protesting Muslim rape gangs. If Springsteen were true, he’d have the guts to call the Brits out. In response to the outcry over his remarks, Springsteen released an EP Wednesday featuring his monologue and four tracks from his Manchester show. The choices prove my point. “Land of Hope & Dreams”—a soul-stirring tribute to America, the “train” that welcomes “saints and sinners” and “fools and kings.” Just not the president and his 77 million supporters.“Long Walk Home”—A 2007 song expressing disillusionment with America’s direction during the George W. Bush era. A year earlier, Springsteen lambasted Bush for his nonchalant response to Hurricane Katrina, singing “He looked around, gave a little pep talk, said I’m with you and took a little walk.” Fine. Where was Springsteen last year when the Biden administration “left to drown” hurricane-ravaged Western North Carolina? Bob Dylan’s stirring “Chimes of Freedom”—Who were “the luckless, the abandoned and forsaked” Bruce is singing about? How about the victims of those illegals Springsteen complains are being “rounded up in the streets.” “My City of Ruins”—Originally written about the economic devastation that wrecked his hometown. Yet he’s trash-talking the man who’s busting his butt to restore economic vitality to the towns left to die by Democrat administrations—while Springsteen himself partied on yachts with Barack Obama. In 2023 The Boss shrugged off a ghastly pricing scheme that sent ticket prices for his first tour in seven years to outrageous heights. His indifference, his betrayal of his musical identity, was so great that the go-to website dedicated for decades to everything Bruce, Backstreets.com, shut down in despair. Even the folks at E Street Radio struggled at first to grasp that The Boss wasn’t a “tramp like us” but a “rich man in a poor man’s shirt.” Look. It’s not all an act. You can’t create such rich characters and sing your heart out about those characters unless a part of them lives in you. And Springsteen’s done an enormous amount of good over the years in ways large and small. And he and his “Jersey Girl” wife have a son who’s a firefighter, for gosh sakes. Ultimately, it’s on us. It’s our fault for putting so much faith and trust in Springsteen and holding him to the promise we thought he had made. But that doesn’t mean it doesn’t hurt. As he sang in “The Promise”: “When the promise is broken, you go on livingBut it steals something from down in your soulLike when the truth is spoken and it don’t make no differenceSomething in your heart turns cold.” Dang. That’s a great couplet. Curse you, Bruce. You did it to me again. We publish a variety of perspectives. Nothing written here is to be construed as representing the views of The Daily Signal. The post The Broken ‘Promise’ of Bruce Springsteen appeared first on The Daily Signal.

The 2025 Distinguished Gentleman’s Ride supported men’s health across the globe, including on the ride shown here in London, England. (Photo by Michael Jersovs) The Distinguished Gentleman’s Ride, a worldwide charity event that raises funds to support men’s mental health and cancer research, celebrated another successful year as more than 125,000 classic and vintage styled motorcycles in 1,038 cities took to the streets. The event took place in 108 countries on May 18, 2025, raising $7.3 million to contribute to a total of over $60 million raised since the event began in 2012. For the 12th consecutive year, the event was supported by Triumph Motorcycles. DGR participants looking dapper in Paris, France. (Photo by Brice Daraut) DGR, founded by Mark Hawwa, has been supporting Movember for 10 years. Movember is a leading charity for men’s health, with a focus on mental health, suicide prevention, prostate cancer, and testicular cancer. To date, the charity has funded over 1,250 project around the world and continues to encourage men to stay healthy in all areas of their lives. DGR riders flood the streets of Rome, Italy. (Photo by Cristian I. Bucur) “Every year, our community unites to raise critical funds and awareness to prostate cancer and men’s mental health,” says Mark Hawwa, founder of the Distinguished Gentleman’s Ride. “To see over 125,000 riders take to the streets in more than 1,000 cities around the world is nothing short of extraordinary. We’ve reached incredible milestones together. 2025 marks 10 years of support from Movember, and with their partnership, we’ve been able to include men’s mental health alongside prostate cancer. It’s inspiring to witness how far we’ve come – and it’s all thanks to the dedication of our riders, hosts, and supporters who continue to make this movement matter.” DGR in Genting Highlands, Malaysia. (Photo by Deibo) The Distinguished Gentleman’s Ride also celebrates 10 years of partnership with Hedon, a luxury helmet maker that offered unique helmets to reward 100 of the event’s top fundraisers. Other partners include CMSNL, ELF Lubricants, Quad Lock, and BRETT Eyewear. Those interested can donate for a chance to win prizes from these brands until June 1, 2025. DGR in Perth, Australia. (Photo by Bibek Maharjan) Find more information at the DGR website. The post 2025 Distinguished Gentleman’s Ride Raises $7.3 Million appeared first on Rider Magazine.

Every once in a while, I come across a meme or something online and I think “that can’t possibly be real”. And most of the time it’s not. But every once in a while, I come across one and take the time to Fact Check it, and it turns out to be 100% real….and also pretty mindblowing. Do you think we need new laws to clean up this country? Or to prosecute everyone who destroyed this country over the last 4 years? I don’t. It sure looks to me like we already have one and it’s called 8 U.S. Code § 1324(a)(1)(A)(iv). We also have a Supreme Court case affirming that law called United States v. Hansen, 599 US 762 and its from 2023. Take a look: Of course I don’t write articles based only on memes and I don’t expect you to trust only a meme, so allow me to give you the full text and let’s read it together: 8 U.S. Code § 1324(a)(1)(A)(iv): (a)(1)(A) Any person who—     (iv) encourages or induces an alien to come to, enter, or reside in the United States, knowing or in reckless disregard of the fact that such coming to, entry, or residence is or will be in violation of law, shall be punished as provided in subparagraph (B). 8 U.S. Code § 1324(a)(1)(B): (B) A person who violates subparagraph (A) shall, for each alien in respect to whom such a violation occurs—     (i) be fined under title 18, imprisoned not more than 5 years, or both;     (ii) if the violation was done for the purpose of commercial advantage or private financial gain, be fined under title 18, imprisoned not more than 10 years, or both;     (iii) if the violation results in the death of any person, be punished by death or imprisonment for any term of years or for life, fined under title 18, or both; and     (iv) if the violation involves the transportation of a minor who is unaccompanied by a parent or legal guardian, and the offense was committed for the purpose of commercial advantage or private financial gain, be fined under title 18, imprisoned not more than 10 years, or both. You can read it for yourself at Cornell Law if you want:  https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/8/1324 Here’s a little more breakdown on the law and the recent Supreme Court case from 2023 that absolutely affirmed the law: Statute Cited: 8 U.S. Code § 1324(a)(1)(A)(iv): This law criminalizes encouraging or inducing an alien to come to, enter, or reside in the U.S. illegally. The penalties escalate depending on the circumstances (e.g., financial gain, bodily harm, or death). Case Cited: United States v. Hansen Citation: 599 U.S. 762 (2023) Facts: Helaman Hansen was convicted for encouraging illegal immigration as part of a fraudulent “adult adoption” scheme, in which he falsely claimed immigrants could achieve U.S. citizenship through adult adoption. Outcome: The U.S. Supreme Court ruled in June 2023 that the statute prohibiting encouraging or inducing illegal immigration was not unconstitutionally overbroad, thus upholding the statute’s constitutionality and reinstating Hansen’s conviction. Conclusion: Yes, the statute and the Supreme Court case mentioned in the image are both real and accurately described. The case is correctly cited, and the interpretation of the statute is consistent with the Supreme Court’s 2023 ruling Now, does anyone come to mind who might have violated this law? Anyone at all? Perhaps a certain Border Czar? Or perhaps this guy who said he would make sure we let immigrants “flood the border”: He’s being very careful in that clip to try and limit his comments to “asylum seekers” but do we really think the full 12 million migrants who entered the USA under Biden were all “asylum seekers”? What about the plane-fulls and bus-fulls of people Joe Biden shipped into the USA? How many times was this statue violated? Hey Pam, maybe worth looking into this one!

Our current monetary system is broken. Inflation is rampant, our savings are being devalued, and it seems there is no hope for a solution. The current system is robbing us and our neighbors of years of our hard work, through unlimited money printing with no end in sight.  As Christians, we are called to love our neighbors, but how can we do that when the money we use is contributing to a system that is stealing from them? The United States has been stuck on an inevitable path towards economic crisis.  While it may seem unconventional, Bitcoin has proven that it can be that solution. The Bible calls for a just and equal monetary system free of fraud and deception. The central banking system has proven time and time again that it is incapable of serving the interests of the American people. As an alternative, de-centralized currency that answers to no individual government, Bitcoin fits the bill. Bitcoin allows citizens across the globe to have equity in a new financial system. The Bible & Bitcoin, written by pastor Alin Armstrong is being offered for FREE!! (shipping and handling included) for the first 200 people to request it – courtesy of BlockTrust IRA. This FREE book is written for Christians who are interested in Bitcoin but don’t know where to start. The Bible & Bitcoin is a guide for Bitcoin beginners and seasoned investors alike, showing you the theological foundation of money and the transformative power of the word of God, while sharing economic insights on fiat currency and the future of money and wealth. Inside this Free Book, You’ll Discover: A clear and practical explanation of what Bitcoin is and how it works   The Biblical foundation of honest money   How fiat money and fractional reserve banking violate biblical principles   Why Bitcoin is aligned with God’s design for stewardship and truth   The spiritual case for financial freedom in a digital age BlockTrust IRA is giving away just 200 FREE copies of The Bible & Bitcoin, shipping included. This offer is part of our mission to educate and empower everyday Americans with the tools they need to thrive in a new financial era — one rooted in transparency, freedom, and truth. Claim your FREE copy now before they’re gone. (Note: Thank you for supporting American businesses like the one presenting a sponsored message in this article and working with them through the links below which benefits WLTReport. We appreciate your support and the opportunity to tell you about BlockTrust and the Animus!  The information provided by WLTReport or any related communications is for informational purposes only and should not be considered as financial advice. We do not provide personalized investment, financial, tax or legal advice.) 

Almost 20 Army Rangers have now been suspended after videos surfaced across social media showing the soldiers shooting off blank rounds at a crowded Florida beach during a local pirate festival. 

Elon Musk, who has taken a step back from his role in the Trump administration, said on Friday that he came to the “obvious conclusion” that “accelerating GDP growth is essential” to saving the United States from the national debt crisis. Musk, whose massive donations to President Donald Trump and Republicans in 2024 helped secure the White House and Congress for the GOP, said earlier this week that he would donate “a lot less in the future” in political contributions. The Tesla and SpaceX CEO has also taken a step back from his role guiding the Department of Government Efficiency to focus more on his companies. Responding to a conversation on X about the Republicans’ “Big, Beautiful Bill,” Musk revealed more of his thinking on his decision, which he confirmed was focused on pushing for “radical” GDP growth through humanoid robots. The conversation was sparked when one X user wrote, “Given the disastrous GOP bill, the only chance the US has is explosive GDP growth. If that doesn’t happen in the next 2-3 years, we are cooked.” Another person replied to the post, writing, “I wonder if this [is] why Elon has somewhat moved away from politics in order to accelerate GDP growth with humanoid robots. If he believes this is the only solution then this would be his most logical choice.” Musk, who goes by the name “Kekius Maximus” on X, responded to the second post and confirmed that it accurately depicted his thinking on the issue. “I have come to the perhaps obvious conclusion that accelerating GDP growth is essential. @DOGE has and will do great work to postpone the day of bankruptcy of America, but the profligacy of government means that only radical improvements in productivity can save our country,” Musk wrote. Tesla is currently developing an “autonomous humanoid robot capable of performing unsafe, repetitive or boring tasks.” Musk appears to be re-focusing on the project after spending months around the White House advising President Donald Trump and pushing to cut government spending. Last week, the Tesla CEO posted a clip of a robot dancing with human-like movements. ? pic.twitter.com/NzqAmN3F5z — Kekius Maximus (@elonmusk) May 13, 2025 In another post in April, Musk showed a video of a humanoid robot speeding up and slowing down while walking. Accurate actuators accelerate automation pic.twitter.com/5H0uHxf7v2 — Kekius Maximus (@elonmusk) April 2, 2025 Musk believes that robots will play a major part in the global economy and have an effect on the GDP of some countries within five years. Last year, he predicted that there would be 10 billion humanoid robots on Earth by 2040, sold for $20,000 to $25,000 each. He also said in April that “robots will surpass good human surgeons within a few years and the best human surgeons within ~5 years.” Musk’s explanation for focusing more on his companies and less on politics comes after Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said on Friday morning that he is pushing to grow the economy “faster than the debt.” Bessent argued that Americans concerned with the massive federal debt should focus on the debt-to-GDP ratio “because we can grow our way out of this.” “If we change the growth trajectory of the country, of the economy, then we will stabilize our finances and grow our way out of this,” Bessent added.

A Georgian national known as “Commander Butcher,” linked to an attempted distribution of poisoned candy to children on New Year’s Eve 2023, appeared in federal court in Brooklyn on Friday. Michail Chkhikvishvili, commander of the white supremacist “Maniac Murder Cult,” was extradited to the U.S. from Moldova on Thursday after being held in the Eastern […]