Every candidate for Democratic National Committee chair agreed on Thursday that “racism and misogyny played a role” in former Vice President Kamala Harris’ election defeat. Eight DNC chair candidates, including former presidential candidate Marianne Williamson and former Social Security Administration Commissioner Martin O’Malley, were part of an MSNBC forum at Georgetown University, where they answered various questions from network hosts Jen Psaki, Symone Sanders, and Jonathan Capehart. After a question from Capehart for all the candidates, each agreed that Harris lost to President Donald Trump partly because of a culture of racism and misogyny. “So, I’m going to have a show of hands. How many of you believe that racism and misogyny played a role in Vice President Harris’ defeat?” Capehart asked. Every candidate quickly raised their hands as did the audience members. “That’s good. You all passed,” Capehart said. WATCH: Republicans and political commentators blasted the DNC chair candidates’ response to Capehart’s question. More than 77 million Americans voted for Trump over Harris in 2024, including a shift from Hispanic and black men in Trump’s favor. Trump also made gains among young women in his election victory over Harris. Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) wrote on X, “I’m already looking forward to expanding our majority in 2026.” “I endorse this post-mortem analysis and encourage my democratic friends to double or even triple down,” quipped CNN pundit Scott Jennings. Conservative columnist Marc Thiessen joked, “No idea why they lost.” Throughout the forum, some candidates berated Trump and the Republican Party, claiming they were threats to the country. The DNC chair will be elected by members on Saturday. Outgoing chairman Jaimie Harrison announced he would not run for another term after Democrats lost the White House and control of the Senate after the November election.

Trans-identifying actor Karla Sofia Gascón, the first man to be nominated for a Best Actress Award at the Oscars, has apologized for a slew of old tweets that some followers deemed offensive. The 52-year-old Spanish star issued a formal statement to Variety. “I want to acknowledge the conversation around my past social media posts that have caused hurt,” Gascón said. “As someone in a marginalized community, I know this suffering all too well and I am deeply sorry to those I have caused pain. All my life I have fought for a better world. I believe light will always triumph over darkness.” The tweets in question, which resurfaced and went viral earlier this week, covered topics such as George Floyd, Muslims, and diversity at the Oscars, as The Daily Wire previously reported.  In June 2020, Gascón’s post (written in Spanish, translated by the outlet) about Floyd’s death read, “Let me get this straight, a guy tries to pass off a counterfeit bill after consuming methamphetamine, an idiot policeman arrives and goes too far in arresting him, killing him, ruining the lives of his family and his colleagues, and turning the guy with the bill into a martyr hero.” “I really think that very few people ever cared about George Floyd, a drug addict swindler, but his death has served to once again demonstrate that there are people who still consider black people to be monkeys without rights and consider policemen to be assassins,” another tweet said. “They’re all wrong.” A November 2020 tweet discussed Muslims in Europe. “Sorry, is it just my impression or are there more and more Muslims in Spain? Every time I go to pick up my daughter from school there are more women with their hair covered and their skirts down to their heels. Maybe next year instead of English we’ll have to teach Arabic. Until we ban religions that go against European values and violate human rights, such as Islam, under the protection of freedom of worship, we will not end part of the huge problem we face.” Gascón slammed all religions in a 2021 post, writing, “I am so sick of so much of this s***, of Islam, of Christianity, of Catholicism and of all the f***ing beliefs of morons that violate human rights,” Variety noted. The “Emilia Perez” star took aim at the 2021 Oscars telecast in another post. “More and more the #Oscars are looking like a ceremony for independent and protest films. I didn’t know if I was watching an Afro-Korean festival, a Black Lives Matter demonstration or the 8M. Apart from that, an ugly, ugly gala,” he wrote. Last week, Gascón became the first openly trans-identifying actor to be nominated for an Oscar for the film “Emilia Perez,” a musical drama about a drug cartel boss who fakes his own death and undergoes “gender reassignment surgery.” He was also the first man to win Best Actress award at the Cannes Film Festival and the first man nominated for Best Actress at the Golden Globes.  Katie Jerkovich contributed to this report.

A shocking discovery at a Minnesota garage sale has unveiled a potential $15 million masterpiece by Vincent van Gogh. The painting, purchased for a mere $50, could be one of hundreds of lost works by the iconic artist. This revelation has sent shockwaves through the art world, igniting debates about the authenticity of “lost” paintings and the potential for everyday Americans to stumble upon priceless treasures. From Garage Sale to Art World Sensation The painting, titled “Elimar,” depicts a fisherman with a pipe repairing a net. It was created in 1889 while van Gogh was in the Saint-Paul sanitarium in Saint-Rémy-de-Provence, France. The LMI Group International spent four years authenticating the painting using advanced techniques. These methods included canvas weave analysis, pigment examination, and composition study. “LMI Group’s data-based approach to verifying authorship of this painting represents a new standard of confidence for bringing to light unknown or forgotten works by important artists,” Lawrence M. Shindell, LMI Group’s chairman said in a statement. Unraveling the Mystery The painting features an egg-white temporary finish, a technique van Gogh used to protect his works. This detail adds credibility to the claim of authenticity. A mathematical comparison of the “Elimar” inscription to van Gogh’s other signatures showed significant similarities. The letters in the name “Elimar” matched 94% with other letters in Van Gogh’s works. The name “Elimar” is linked to a character from a novel by Hans Christian Andersen, a favorite author of Van Gogh. This connection further supports the painting’s potential authenticity. Controversy and Skepticism Despite the LMI Group’s findings, the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam has yet to attribute the painting to van Gogh. This hesitation has sparked debate within the art community. An attempt to match DNA from a hair found in the canvas to van Gogh’s descendants was unsuccessful due to the hair’s degraded state. However, the hair belonged to a red-haired man, which aligns with van Gogh’s physical description. “In his lifetime, van Gogh lost many works by giving them away to friends or being neglectful,” the LMI group said in a press release. “It is believed that nearly 300 paintings may have been lost, many during van Gogh’s time at Saint-Rémy.” If authenticated as a Van Gogh, the painting could be worth up to $15 million. This potential windfall has raised questions about the preservation of cultural heritage and the role of private collectors in safeguarding important artworks. Sources: This Painting Bought at a Minnesota Garage Sale Is Actually a Van Gogh, Experts Say $50 painting bought at garage sale may be a Van Gogh piece, experts say The post Rare Van Gogh Masterpiece Found Hidden Among Flea Market Treasures appeared first on The Conservative Brief.

'The media has a lot of work to do'

So, what should be the U.S. response to Mexico’s passive-aggressive policies?

LeBron needs to end this

'It's only a Republic if we keep it'

'Few people ever cared about George Floyd, a drug addict and a hustler'

This is the moment a deaf girl tried on a pair of high-tech, $1,500 glasses, which allow her to “see” conversations in real time. Kendyl Pool was born profoundly deaf due to malformations in her inner ears and has used American Sign Language (ASL) to communicate since she was six months old. Her mother Bri […] The post 10-year-old Deaf Girl Is ‘Blown Away’ with New Caption Glasses That Let Her ‘See” Spoken Words appeared first on Good News Network.

The post Sound Oasis Pet Sound Therapy System Review 2025: Effective Pet Calming Solution by Sara Seitz appeared first on Catster. Copying over entire articles infringes on copyright laws. You may not be aware of it, but all of these articles were assigned, contracted and paid for, so they aren't considered public domain. However, we appreciate that you like the article and would love it if you continued sharing just the first paragraph of an article, then linking out to the rest of the piece on Catster.com. Click to Skip Ahead Overview Our Experience Pros & Cons Key Features About Sound Oasis Is It A Good Value? FAQ Our Final Verdict We give Sound Oasis Pet Sound Therapy System a rating of 4.9 out of 5 stars. Build Quality: 5/5 Sound Options: 5/5 Features: 4.9/5 Value: 4.8/5 Check Price on Sound Oasis If you have an anxious kitty, sound therapy can help. This relaxation method has been scientifically proven to be effective in cats, humans, and many other animals that live with us. When considering a sound therapy system for your cat, why not look at one of the leading sleep and sound therapy companies in the world? Sound Oasis has dozens of products to help people relax and find their way to better sleep. But their solutions don’t stop at two-leggers. The Sound Oasis Pet Sound Therapy System is a quality sound machine with some impressive features and is made just for pets. I had a chance to try out this sound therapy system for my hyperactive and trouble-making one-year-old Domestic Shorthair, Makoa, and have seen some impressive results. Find out how it has helped and why I recommend it in my full Sound Oasis Pet Sound Therapy System review below. Overview Check Price on Sound Oasis Product Type: Sound machine Best Suited For: New kittens, cats with fear or sleep issues, or that struggle to relax Price Range: Very reasonable Contents: Sleep machine, charging cord, info booklet, quick setup guide Specs: 2.22” x 2.44” x 2.44” and 7.27 ounces Options: Black Features: Bluetooth connectivity, removable sound card, rechargeable battery Sounds Included: 20 unique sounds, including instrumentals, purring, and heartbeat App: Customizable mixing with the free Sound Oasis app Our Experience Check Price on Sound Oasis My first experience using noise therapy with animals was when I was in college and working at a boarding kennel. For the first few years I was there, we would leave the radio on overnight for the dogs. Then, one day, someone sent us a CD of songs composed specifically to help dogs relax. From that point on, we would play the CD on repeat every night. It had a clear effect on the dogs. The second we turned it on, the barkers would settle down and, in the morning, the building was always quiet when we talked in. So, when I heard the same noise therapy benefits were available in a compact, portable Bluetooth speaker, I jumped at the opportunity to get it for my cat, Makoa. Makoa is an adolescent Domestic Shorthair. He isn’t an anxious cat, exactly, but he is hyperactive and will eat non-edible objects, which can be a sign of anxiety. I wanted to try Sound Oasis’ Sound Oasis Pet Sound Therapy System on him to see if it could help calm him down a bit. When I got it out of the package and turned it on, he about jumped out of the skin at the sound. It wasn’t so much that the speaker was loud, but more that it manages a deep bass tone that travels straight to the chest. Once Makoa realized that this sound was nothing to fear, he was excited to investigate. I scrolled to one of the classical music songs and let it play. After about ten minutes, Makoa was curled up on the couch snoozing beside my two dogs. Since then, I’ve used it overnight in his sleeping room, trying out a different tune each time. So far, the Heartbeat with Purring and Woodlands tracks seem to be his favorites, though all have a noticeable effect. He settles down quicker in the evening after I shut him in his room and is less likely to wake up in the middle of the night when I use the Sound Oasis Pet Sound Therapy System. Features-wise, there is a lot to love about this thing. My favorite is the rechargeable battery. As with most cats, Makoa loves to knock things off of things. With limited plugs in his sleeping room, there is no safe place to put it while it’s plugged in. So instead, I charge it all day and then set it high out of his reach at night, which works well. The manual says the battery lasts for 4 to 5 hours, but mine routinely lasts through the night. In fact, I’ve let it run for over 14 hours without it dying. I’m also a big fan of the app. I like how the tracks on it all have the heartbeat and purring sounds integrated into them since Makoa seems to react most to those noises. I do wish I could control the unit through the app, but using it as a simple speaker works well enough. Overall, I am very impressed with the quality of this unit, both in terms of the sound and the build. It is easy to operate, has plenty of tracks to choose from, and the portability is amazing. Pros & Cons Pros Well-built Pet-specific soundtrack 4+ hours of battery Bluetooth connectivity 20+ tracks Great sound quality Cons No direct connection to app Key Features Check Price on Sound Oasis Proven Effectiveness Research into sound therapy in cats has shown that both cat-specific sounds (purring, cats eating, etc.) and classical music have relaxing effects on felines in stressful situations. Instrumental music that produces sound within the same frequencies as common cat communication seems to have the most profound effect on cats’ stress levels (1, 2). The Sound Oasis Pet Sound Therapy System was created with these findings in mind. The track list, which includes 20 tracks, each 8 hours long, features multiple classical music-inspired instrumentals. Some of these are tailored to dogs and include low-frequency music, while others have tones and rhythms to mimic cat communication. The tracklist also includes a heartbeat sound and a heartbeat-plus-purring sound. Both of these have been proven to appeal to cats and lower their stress levels. Pet-Friendly Features The ST-80-20P Pet Sound Therapy System includes many useful features that make it a great option for cats. For one, this sound machine is rechargeable, which makes it highly portable and easy to use in many situations. Once fully charged, it will run for over four hours on battery. This makes it easy to bring sound therapy to your cat, whether they’re in their favorite bed or hiding in the crawlspace. This machine is also Bluetooth-compatible. This means that you can stream your cat’s favorite Spotify playlist for them or connect to the Sound Oasis app for added features. Through this app, you can play 15 pet-specific tracks and mix each of these tracks by adjusting sound levels for different frequencies. Each of these pet tracks includes a purring and heartbeat overlay that can be adjusted or silenced as desired. It’s worth noting, though, that the speaker does not connect directly to the app, but can be used to play the noise from the app. The 20 tracks included on the Sound Oasis Pet Sound Therapy System are: Calm Tranquil Moments Soothe Relax Peaceful Unwind Rest Time Slumber Slowdown Daydream Heartbeat Brown Noise Rain Ocean Surf with White Noise Music with Purring Heartbeat with Purring Woodlands Waterfall Stream Pet Yoga Each purchase of a Sound Oasis Pet Sound Therapy System comes with a free informational booklet with educational info on pet sound therapy, pet noise phobia, and more. Well-Built for Lasting Quality The quality of this little sound machine is apparent from the moment you pick it up. It is heavier than similar sound machines I have purchased for myself and is made predominantly of powder-coated aluminum, not plastic, making it more durable. It also features a simplified control panel with just three buttons to control the mode, volume, and track being played. This means fewer components that can break. The battery is also very impressive. It takes about 2 to 3 hours to charge and will run over 4 hours on a single charge. My unit has always lasted through the night and well into the morning. Alternatively, you can use the machine while plugged in for uninterrupted sound. The speaker itself is also very impressive. It produces clear sounds and has a notable ability to project bass frequencies. Even at a lower volume, you can “feel” many of the noises it puts out. I imagine the ability to feel the heartbeat and other low-frequency noises probably has much to do with this product’s effectiveness in calming people and animals. Like most Sound Oasis products, this one comes with a 1-year limited warranty for peace of mind. About Sound Oasis Check Price on Sound Oasis Sound Oasis has been manufacturing quality, effective sleep and relaxation products since 1993. Manufacturing: China, shipped from the USA. Warranty: 1-year limited warranty Shipping: Free shipping within the US Is the Sound Oasis Pet Sound Therapy System a Good Value? Pet sound therapy machines range from around $30 to well over $100. The Sound Oasis Pet Sound Therapy System from Sound Oasis sits surprisingly close to that lower end. I say “surprisingly” because this is a well-made machine with many useful functions. Considering it can double as a sound machine for people and a wireless Bluetooth speaker, I say it is more than worth the money. How We Tested To test this sound machine, I enlisted the help of my cat Makoa. I used it both around the house during the day and in Makoa’s sleeping room overnight. During the day, I took notes on how Makoa responded to the sound machine and the different tracks on it. Overnight, I relied on my catbox camera and sounds registering through the shared wall to track his sleeping patterns and restlessness to determine changes in his behavior and routine when the sound machine was in use. I also tracked Makoa’s stress levels and restfulness during the week I tested this machine and compared those to his baselines when not using this product. Check Price on Sound Oasis Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) How loud does this speaker get? With the adjustable volume, the speaker puts out up to 80dB of sound. Can I play my own sounds through this pet speaker? Yes! You can play your own sounds and music for your cat using the Bluetooth function or by purchasing a Sound Oasis Custom Sound Card. Can the speaker be controlled by the Sound Oasis Pet App? No, the speaker does not connect directly to the Sound Oasis Pet App. Rather, the customizable tracks from the app can be played through the speaker using the Bluetooth function. Does the speaker have a timer function? No, but if you use the app, you can set the tracks to go off after a specified amount of time. Conclusion If you’re considering getting a sound therapy system for your pet, why not get one of the best available? The Sound Oasis Pet Sound Therapy System from Sound Oasis is a well-built, compact, portable speaker with a multitude of features for pets. It comes with 20 preloaded pet sound tracks including Heartbeat with Purring, which has been proven to soothe anxious kittens and cats. It also has a long battery life and a powerful speaker and can connect via Bluetooth to your phone and to the Sound Oasis Pet app. The best part? This useful little speaker won’t cost you nearly as much as the competition while offering better quality and more versatility. The post Sound Oasis Pet Sound Therapy System Review 2025: Effective Pet Calming Solution by Sara Seitz appeared first on Catster. Copying over entire articles infringes on copyright laws. You may not be aware of it, but all of these articles were assigned, contracted and paid for, so they aren't considered public domain. However, we appreciate that you like the article and would love it if you continued sharing just the first paragraph of an article, then linking out to the rest of the piece on Catster.com.