JP Sears may have a huge following on the right‚ but he’s ready to poke fun at his fans and‚ by extension‚ himself. “Nine months ago‚ I had a realization. I need to do more self-deprecating comedy about conservatives‚” Sears tells Align. “I saw a lot of my material making fun of the left‚ the woke. I certainly still do that … but a lot of conservatives are taking themselves too seriously.” The former self-help satirist says if that means some good-natured ribbing on both sides‚ so be it. The modern progressive likely isn’t secure in his or her beliefs‚ he argues. “They ultimately feel afraid at some level. … It’s not a good place to be coming from‚” he says. “The same is true of conservatives.” Sears‚ renowned for blistering COVID-19 narratives and freedom-snuffing measures from Team Biden‚ won’t give the left much grace in the meantime. “Every day there’s a new tidal wave of stories” to mock‚ he says‚ like a 50-year-old biological male swimming against 13-year-old girls. “It’s terrible‚ but obviously for satire it makes finding subjects easy‚” he says of today’s radical left. His approach to a society where yesterday’s Babylon Bee stories becomes tomorrow’s headlines? “Knowing the north star of truth … [and making] the sort of satire to help slice through the scar tissue and propaganda.” That‚ he says‚ lets viewers draw their own conclusions. He tackles tough subjects in a similar fashion. Take abortion‚ for example. Sears’ thinking on the matter shifted after the birth of his first child. His 2023 video on the subject finds the funnyman‚ wearing a “Fetal Lives Matter” shirt‚ explaining that trajectory as well as his nuanced take on its legality. He once embraced what he now calls the “propaganda” on the matter generated by the left. Abortion is neither “empowering” nor a “virtue‚” he argues. Now‚ he says abortions are “evil” but should be legal for the first couple of months of conception‚ citing the potential for further erosion of freedom should the government step in at that point in the pregnancy to protect the child. “I don’t know if I’m right with this part of my thinking. I just know it’s what I’m thinking at the moment‚” he confesses in the clip. “Abortion‚” he tells Align‚ “is one of the most unfunny topics out there.” The trick is to examine the issue and see where humor can be applied‚ often on the edges of the discussion to “bring some levity to a relatively heavy topic.” That‚ he adds‚ can lower the audience’s guard and let them examine a subject in a fresh and revelatory way. It’s also how he mostly dodges YouTube’s draconian censors. The video platform often punishes non-leftist thinking on the trans debate‚ the 2020 presidential election‚ and more. Sears says his approach to radioactive topics often skirts said censors. It’s also when minds can be opened. “When someone’s hearing that wave of information for the first time‚ it’s very easy to be defensive‚” he says. “The language of comedy comes across not as preachy but as playful. … The ego isn’t as guarded or defensive as it would be otherwise.” Sears began his comedy career poking fun at spiritual gurus. His focus shifted at the dawn of the COVID-19 pandemic. “Two weeks to slow the spread” morphed into lockdowns‚ vaccine mandates‚ and more. “For the first time in my lifetime‚ I saw freedoms being eroded‚” he says. “I saw where the freedom erosion could go if we allow it.” Sears skewers what Elon Musk dubbed the “woke mind virus” early and often‚ but he sees signs of woke’s retreat. And he credits folks like Joe Rogan‚ Dave Chappelle‚ and Canadian professor Jordan Peterson for that hope. “[Rogan] is one of the most powerful men in America. … He’s not buying into the woke culture and is much more on the side of common sense‚” he says of the Spotify superstar. “Chappelle says it like he sees it.” As for Sears‚ he’ll keep holding the left honest and leave the “clapter” to late-night comedians. “It’s easy to be in an echo chamber and say things I know the audience will agree with‚” he said. “That’s fine and dandy. I try my best to be true to comedy. Genuine laughter helps us move beyond limitations of thinking‚ to see through the deceptions that are there.” Editor's note: This article originally carried an incorrect byline. It was written by Christian Toto‚ not Matt Himes.

When it comes to hot-button issues‚ few bring as much vitriol as the topic of abortion. Having previously been pro-choice‚ I can respect and appreciate the ideal that bodily autonomy is sacrosanct. Being pro-life now‚ I see how the ideal of bodily integrity is necessary for bodily autonomy to be a possibility. When two points of view are in conflict‚ what are pro-lifers to do in order to maintain integrity and still maintain social status? Here are five suggestions that will assist pro-lifers in being not only accepted but appreciated in mixed ideological company. 1. Don’t relate every tragedy‚ event‚ or topic to abortion While there are certainly commonalities and differences worthy of note between abortion and other human rights violations‚ comparison of suffering fails to help either set of victims. The battle becomes whether or not this is worse than that‚ when it should be focused on the victims and the rights they need(ed) to have secured. I promise you‚ there are times when it is appropriate to make comparisons — for example‚ a formal debate. Resist the temptation to mention abortion in relation to every other issue. Instead‚ seek common ground with others regarding the other issues. Build relationships‚ and you will be able to have deeper and more meaningful discussions about abortion. 2. Seek to understand rather than to win Let’s face it: Winning is fun. For some people‚ competition is their vibe. However‚ winning doesn’t always ingratiate us with those we think we are battling. When having conversations about abortion‚ it is impossible to help others understand your point of view unless you can first seek to understand theirs. As a woman who deeply regrets an abortion‚ some of the most frustrating‚ and quite frankly disgusting‚ language I see from pro-lifers is regarding women who have had or are seeking abortions. Entire storylines are crafted like plots for a bad after-school special regarding who these women are and why they would consider abortion. Stay curious and respectful. Ask clarifying questions. Learn about the larger picture of how abortion has impacted people rather than making assumptions. Allow your compassion to relate before your skepticism or cynicism can infiltrate the mood and clear a room like Marie Kondo taking out the trash. 3. Agree to disagree Most people have experience with those friends or relatives who absolutely have to have their way. Every conversation is about what they want to talk about the way they want to talk about it. Every outing is planned to make sure they are never disappointed. It is exhausting. Conversations with pro-lifers who cannot fathom how anyone could disagree with their opinion are equally exhausting. I absolutely loathe abortion‚ and I am exhausted by pro-lifers who are unwilling to acknowledge a good argument or a well-thought-out opinion from the opposition. Simply giving a compliment regarding the eloquence‚ passion‚ or congruency of a pro-choicer's argument can go a long way to lightening the mood‚ easing tension‚ and building rapport. Disagreement can be fun when both people can recognize the humanity in one another. 4. Resist the urge to employ logical fallacies and manipulation Whether it be ad hominem attacks‚ gaslighting‚ projecting‚ or appeals to emotion‚ I have seen and experienced the gamut of thinking errors when chatting with pro-lifers. Nothing reveals a person's toxic intentions faster than the words “You just” followed by a string of accusations that have no foundation or evidence of truth.The person you are speaking to is likely not a bloodthirsty member of a death cult‚ unless they are a copycat of Rod Ferell‚ in which case you have my permission to sharpen your stakes and eat all the garlic. Save the insults‚ name-calling‚ and manipulative tactics for that narcissist in your life who thrives on the attention. 5. Cultivate a diverse range of interests and friends The pro-lifers I hang with are such a unique blend of individuals from across the political spectrum (yes‚ pro-life progressives exist) and a variety of religious belief systems. What is even more fascinating is that the pro-choicers I hang with are just as diverse. I have a reputation in pro-life circles as being something of a “pro-choice whisperer.” On a fairly regular basis‚ my pro-life friends will ask how I managed to have such a good conversation with a stance pro-choicer or why I have been asked to do podcasts with pro-choicers (my undying gratitude to Stephanie Winn from the “You Must Be Some Kind of Therapist” podcast for beginning this wonderful trend). The secret to my civility sauce is my dedication to finding some common ground with anyone I speak with and my willingness to acknowledge that I might share their opinions if I had their perspective on the topic of abortion. You see‚ many pro-choicers have logical and congruent arguments when you understand their value system and perspective. Once we are laughing together over silly cat videos‚ we can let down our defenses and hear each other better. I am playing a long game. I want stronger and healthier relationships. Change in opinions doesn’t happen overnight and will not happen if you care more about agreement than you do about the individual you are speaking to. So start with establishing some common ground (whether it be a nerdy interest in D&;D or a weird obsession with true crime‚ not that I would know anything about these things)‚ and then seek to see the discussion from their perspective. Build relationships‚ and you will be able to have deeper and more meaningful discussions about abortion. Robin Atkins is a licensed mental health counselor specializing in reproductive issues such as infertility‚ infant loss‚ and post-abortive trauma. She opened her private practice‚ Charis et Veritas‚ in 2015.

On a Friday that was snowy enough to cancel school in Northern Virginia‚ I ventured out with my four children to participate in and document the 51st National March for Life. While we were tempted to enjoy a slow snow day with a cozy fire and hot chocolate‚ it felt important to make the extra effort despite the winter storm warning‚ snowy roads‚ and sub-freezing temperatures. I wanted my kids to understand the importance of advocating for the unborn and that sometimes — or most times — advocating is not easy or comfortable‚ even if you have hand-warmers in your gloves. Doing the right‚ hard thing is always worth it. I also promised we would try sledding by the Washington Monument afterward. As one who grew up in the Christian pro-life movement‚ I was deeply affected by advocating for pro-life causes alongside my mom and family. We would drive around to the churches in our area distributing information on current ballot measures or the pro-life stances of various local candidates. We would march with pro-life messages along the busy intersections of our town and help organize fundraising events for our local crisis pregnancy center. My mom helped sow the seeds of advocacy that have grown into a passion for pro-life causes and the people affected by them. This is what I wanted to cultivate in my own children‚ snowstorm or not. Debbie Anderson While my kids got to build a snowman in front of the Capitol‚ they also saw hundreds of thousands of people advocating on behalf of the unborn. While they get to grow up in a post-Roe era where abortion is no longer a constitutional right‚ they also get to be part of advocating for life issues at the state and local levels. My hope and prayer is that participating in events like the March for Life‚ even from the back of a snow sled‚ will plant the seeds for the next generation of pro-life advocates. I also wanted my children to see the faces and hear the stories of those willing to march for life. We met a woman who had almost been aborted herself and another woman who lost four siblings to abortion. We met a father of three along with groups of young college-age men‚ all calling on men to lead in the pro-life movement and doing so by example. We also met the workers and volunteers of crisis pregnancy centers‚ the everyday‚ front-line heroes of the pro-life cause‚ serving women and children in challenging situations. Here are just a few of the inspiring people we spoke to. Debbie Anderson Rachel (left): "Sometimes we think of the pro-life movement as just a niche thing. I’m a musician and an artist. And one of the stereotypes of the industry is that it is super liberal‚ so I’m here as a pro-life musician. I feel like everybody has a place in the pro-life movement. This is the fight of our lives. This is the fight of our generation.” Rachael (right): “My dad had two girlfriends who aborted their babies. And then when my mother and father were together‚ they aborted the child before me and the child after me. And so I march for them because there are a lot of people‚ men and women‚ who have siblings‚ aunts and uncles‚ cousins‚ relatives who are not here because of abortion. You know‚ how do you account for all of them? "Abortion doesn’t just touch the individual; it touches everyone in the family dynamic and in your community as well. You think about the human cost — of all the artists or scientists‚ the engineers‚ the doctors‚ the firemen‚ plumbers‚ electricians‚ everybody across the board. From the wealthy to the poor‚ it really has an impact on our society when you think about the 60 million-plus people that were terminated since Roe v. Wade was instituted. So I march for them. And I’m seven weeks pregnant‚ so I also march for my baby.” Debbie Anderson Bill: "I traveled here with a group from Boston. I guess I am an activist. I’m here letting people know there are fathers who have been affected and want to lead on life issues. I have three children of my own.” Debbie Anderson Greg: "I’m here because abortion is wrong. Life begins at conception. Make more babies.” Debbie Anderson Eddie: "We volunteer outside abortion clinics in Maryland to share hope with the women who might go in. The women need to know there is hope.” Shanetta: “I’m thankful to even be here. My mom was one of those women on an abortion table in 1978‚ but her mind was changed or else I wouldn’t be here. I was that baby. She almost aborted me. Now we march for the women who might be thinking about an abortion. We march to save those babies. And to help the women who need it.” Debbie Anderson Rhonda (with her husband‚ George): "The first march I did here was when there was a blizzard and we got 16 inches of snow. We were snowed in for two days. I’m thrilled to see the snow today! "I have seen people go through abortions. Not actually witnessed the procedure‚ but you see the pain afterwards. I work at a crisis pregnancy center in Georgia. At first I thought I’ll just help in the boutique‚ organizing the free baby supplies‚ but now I help provide counseling. We support the women‚ of course. And I believe in life at conception."

With his expressive face and thick accent‚ Italian-Iranian comedian Nicholas De Santo looks a bit like a young Roberto Benigni. When he gets to the jokes‚ however‚ the resemblance ends. "A lot of women killing their babies for their careers. Can you imagine killing a baby for your career and still being paid 30% less than a man?" Setting comedy in a Nazi concentration camp is one thing; joking about a woman's sacred "right to choose" is another altogether. De Santo's instinct that the U.K. comedy scene had room for voices on the right has proven correct. After trying out some anti-abortion jokes in Redding‚ De Santo brought the routine to London in January 2023‚ where it killed with the audience at the Backyard Comedy Club. De Santo uploaded the set to YouTube in April; it recently passed 1 million views. De Santo recently spoke with Align about "punching down‚" conservatism as counterculture‚ and the future of comedy. This interview has been edited for clarity. Align: I don't want to ruin it for anybody who hasn't seen it because I think people should just watch it. But you loop in history‚ and it’s a very … sensitive part of the history. You make it funny. I think even somebody pro-choice could listen to it. Nicholas De Santo: Obviously‚ you want to talk to and address your own crowd or your own tribe‚ because those are the ones who agree with you and those are the ones who are on the same side in this so-called culture war‚ which is very real‚ as I'm sure you agree. But the best comments or the best compliments that I receive are the ones from people on YouTube. For example‚ this has been seen more than a million times now. People who come and say‚ yeah‚ I don't agree with everything you say or I don't agree with anything you say‚ but I still found it funny or I still found it thought-provoking. You still made some good points. And first of all‚ it has to remain comedy because it claims to be comedy. So it has to be funny. And that's a challenge to make such a very divisive‚ controversial‚ and also grim topic funny. And so that's the main point and the main challenge. But of course‚ the second challenge is that you want to proselytize. You want to make other people think. And that's the ultimate goal apart from making people laugh: to be socially useful‚ to do something for this good cause. What is a better cause than defending the most defenseless creatures‚ namely the unborn baby? Like many Westerners who come from outside the West‚ I was very much disappointed and dismayed to see and to find the West that no longer has the will or the confidence to defend itself physically — and you're watching on the U.S. southern border and European borders at the same time — but also spiritually in terms of the values. Align: You actually present some great counter-arguments to arguments that really don't get challenged very often. They become the status quo. De Santo: You mentioned history before. I'm a bit of a history buff. I've always liked history. And of course‚ I'm based in Europe‚ born in Italy‚ lived in Germany. Now I am a naturalized British citizen. And of course‚ history and the Second World War are very much present. And nowadays‚ this Hitler label‚ this Nazi label‚ you know‚ the election‚ Trump‚ or anyone who says anything that the lefties‚ the Democrats‚ the liberals don't like‚ they are automatically Hitler. So these labels‚ sometimes historic‚ like Hitler or Nazis‚ and sometimes other labels like bigot or others‚ or superficially positive labels like choice‚ pro-choice‚ or women's reproductive health‚ you know‚ or women's reproductive rights. These euphemisms — they stick in your mind and they sort of change your subconscious‚ and ultimately it becomes something automatic. Oh‚ you don't want immigration? You must be a bigot. You must be a racist. You want to protect the border? Oh‚ you are against abortion‚ so you must hate women‚ right? Even though many‚ many women‚ maybe the majority of women‚ are pro-life. So my idea‚ of course‚ the challenge of making such an unpalatable topic funny was to go after these labels and to go after these pre-established and very much consolidated ideas and try to dismantle them. And of course‚ what is the ultimate evil nowadays? Taken for granted: Nazism and Hitler. And it's so automatic. I start my routine — bit of a spoiler‚ I suppose — but the routine starts with a contrast or comparison between what Nazis did with unwanted people‚ including unborn babies‚ and what the so-called Karens do with unborn babies. Of course the audience has to be the judge‚ but I could do as much as I could do. The sheer contrast between the two forces of evil‚ but one is recognized as evil because they were getting rid of unborn babies who would have been defective‚ who would have been a burden‚ and they were at war. And here's the funny thing. They say they had their own justifications‚ you know. What is your justification? The absurdity‚ I think‚ is quite striking‚ and that's what makes it hopefully funny. And that's what makes people hopefully think. Because at the end of the day‚ satire or political satire‚ it's all about pointing out the absurdities‚ pointing out the incongruities‚ right? In stand-up comedy‚ we've all heard this concept of punching up and punching down. They say you shouldn't be punching down. You shouldn't go after the poor immigrant who is poor or the poor Muslim who is oppressed or the poor woman. You shouldn't go make jokes about it. You should talk truth to the power‚ and you should stick it to the man‚ and you should defend the defenseless. So who is the most defenseless creature of all if not an unborn baby being targeted by his or her own mother? Align: So what does "the West" — what does that phrase mean to you? What is the West? What does it symbolize? De Santo: Well‚ the West for me was the ideal to reach because I was born in the West‚ but I was taken away during my teenage years at the worst possible time because my father was a career diplomat‚ and I always struggled a lot to get back in‚ which I did. And like many Westerners who come from outside the West‚ I was very much disappointed and dismayed to see and to find the West that no longer has the will or the confidence to defend itself physically — and you're watching on the U.S. southern border and European borders at the same time — but also spiritually in terms of the values. And so it's quite disheartening‚ it's quite alarming‚ disconcerting to come back and see that everything in the West that I fought so hard to get back to‚ and that we are accused of wanting to export to the poor people in the third war‚ is actually being dismantled step by step. We are under invasion‚ physical invasion‚ because the numbers speak for themselves‚ and a moral invasion. We have abandoned Christianity‚ we have abandoned traditional values‚ we have abandoned family values for consumerism‚ for corporatism. See how popular communism and Marxism are at our universities; you don't know where to start. It's just a huge tragedy. And then you have the World Economic Forum telling us to‚ you know‚ eat bugs and stop traveling and give up our privacy. They just want to turn us into atomized‚ stateless‚ borderless‚ faithless‚ godless‚ genderless‚ gender-fluid‚ beige people who just watch Netflix and buy from Amazon because‚ in the words of Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni‚ that makes us easier to control. That's why everything has become a social construct identity. Nations don't have meaning. "Imagine there are no countries." They love this song‚ right‚ and they don't want God. They just want to control us. The Great Reset‚ the Net Zero‚ and the Great Replacement and all that. So that is the worst I found‚ and I thought I was going to be of help by being a journalist‚ but then I realized‚ hey‚ legacy media is just a lackey of the globalism. So I wasn't feeling good about that‚ so I thought‚ you know‚ maybe I try comedy. I believe this is our last‚ or at least one of our last‚ trenches to fight because it's still‚ although dominated by the left like pretty much any other sphere of our culture‚ comedy still gives you some margin to experiment‚ to push back boundaries‚ and to raise your voice. Align: What's your prediction for the future of comedy? Best case and worst case. De Santo: Well‚ let's start with the worst case. Worst case is that the long march of the left into the institutions‚ which was actually theorized by this Italian communist — Antonio Gramsci Street is named after him in Bologna‚ the Italian city where I graduated‚ actually. That's the stronghold of the Italian Communist Party‚ the biggest in the Western world. The long march of the left into our institutions will continue. They have corrupted university campuses‚ mainstream media‚ the judiciary‚ Hollywood TV commercials‚ and of course comedy. And their current plan is to bring in tens of millions of outsiders‚ whether it's through the Mexican border or through the Mediterranean Sea. And then give them amnesty‚ and hopefully they will all become voters for the left. Okay. So that's the worst-case scenario that we are doomed beyond redemption. Demographic decline is past‚ you know‚ the point of no return and all that. And the best-case scenario‚ which I hope of course it's going to happen‚ is that there is an awakening. And partly because of new technology‚ because if you're talking to me‚ if Blaze Media exists or similar outlets‚ if people have watched my pro-life routine a million times‚ it hasn't been through legacy media. And that's why they are going after these platforms as well‚ by the way‚ but through the help of technology‚ people have become wiser. People are waking up. There are farmers demonstrating and protesting. And as we speak in Berlin‚ they did this in the Netherlands; we had the truckers in Canada. We have the traditionalist prime minister in Italy‚ whom I just quoted. In the U.K.‚ we had Brexit. In the U.S.‚ we have Trump hoping to win the presidential election for the third time. So people waking up and people telling these globalists: Hang on a minute‚ you know‚ we love our countries. We are not bigots for not wanting to be demographically replaced and for holding on to our values and families and our cultural and genetic assets and features and the civilization‚ the Western civilization that gave the world liberalism‚ in the noble sense of the term‚ and lifted tens of millions of people‚ if not more‚ out of poverty. And these human rights that they're using against us‚ who wrote them? White‚ pale‚ stale dudes with Christian beliefs‚ they gave the world human rights‚ and now they're using them against us.

Shane Gillis doesn't have Down syndrome‚ but some of his family members do. "I dodged it‚" the comedian jokes in his latest special‚ “Beautiful Dogs.” "But it nicked me. It nicked me.” He adds that he can always tell when someone has never been around someone with Down syndrome. When he mentions his family members with the genetic disorder‚ they stammer their way to “Oh … are they okay? Your fam — are they doing okay?” In 1983‚ the life expectancy of someone with Down syndrome was 25 years old. Forty years later‚ that number has risen to 60 years old. Yet the percentage of Americans with Down syndrome is declining‚ silently‚ unnaturally. He gives a big Philly smile: “They’re doing better than everybody I know. They’re the only dudes I know having a good time pretty consistently.” This is backed by research. A study by the American Journal of Medical Genetics determined that “nearly 99% of people with Down syndrome indicated that they were happy with their lives‚ 97% liked who they are‚ and 96% liked how they look. Nearly 99% people with DS expressed love for their families‚ and 97% liked their brothers and sisters. While 86% of people with DS felt they could make friends easily‚ those with difficulties mostly had isolating living situations.” Meanwhile‚ the rest of us are stuck in a nightmarish toilet flush of a mental health crisis‚ a culture mobbed by existential angst. Except‚ ironically‚ for parents of children with Down syndrome. In what might be the most compelling counterargument to the pro-abortion advocates who view termination of a baby indicated to have Down syndrome in prenatal screening‚ studies adduce that “parents raising a child with Down syndrome experience joy and satisfaction. Nearly 4 in 5 parents of children with Down syndrome report a more positive outlook on life as a result.” Since its classification as a disorder by physician John Langdon Down in 1862‚ treatment of people with Down syndrome has evolved. Liberal values have afforded rights‚ protections‚ and freedoms to people with conditions and maladies and handicaps that‚ until recently‚ would alienate them or‚ more likely‚ result in an unceremonious death. In 1983‚ the life expectancy of someone with Down syndrome was 25 years old. Forty years later‚ that number has risen to 60 years old. Yet the percentage of Americans with Down syndrome is declining‚ silently‚ unnaturally.The end of Down Syndrome? Abortion rates of Down syndrome pregnancies are higher in Europe than in America. We can’t be certain‚ though‚ because the data collection process here in America lacks the categorical neatness found in European countries. In France‚ an estimated 77% are aborted. In Denmark‚ it’s 98%. Iceland somehow outperforms this by aborting 100% of babies who test positive for Down syndrome. A 2018 fact sheet from the Icelandic government reported that “on average‚ during the past ten years 2-3 children have been born each year with Down's syndrome in Iceland.” Every year in America‚ an estimated average of 5‚000 babies are born with Down syndrome. An estimated “60 percent to 90 percent of children diagnosed with Down syndrome are aborted in the U.S.‚ compared to 18 percent of all pregnancies ending in abortion.” The big business of prenatal screening The New York Times examined the competitive industry that has emerged for companies that offer prenatal screenings‚ a rivalry that has led to negligent haste. Tests screen for trisomy 21‚ the defect that causes Down syndrome. Down syndrome is not a “fatal fetal anomaly‚” and “prenatal tests are not regulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).” Abortion's barbaric roots Early anthropologists documented abortion in primitive societies. They were surprised to find that the reasons were often unabashedly selfish‚ ranging from preservation of physique to social status and general autonomy. “The women of Central Celebes will not bear children‚ and use abortion to avoid it‚ lest the perineum be torn … a thing which they consider the greatest shame for a woman." Other tribes applied limits on when motherhood should start‚ like a Paraguayan tribe that aborted any pregnancy until a woman turned 30. Wandering tribes could hardly accommodate pregnant women‚ who often aborted out of fear that they’d be left behind. Some tribes killed‚ sacrificed‚ or abandoned any children who bore abnormalities at birth. This practice has taken place in even the “civilized” nations‚ at a much greater scale. Several tribes also killed the mothers. The rate of abortion depended on the needs of the community. Overpopulation‚ which threatened the food supply and facilitated disease‚ was one of the most decisive factors. If an overpopulated tribe needed warriors‚ they kept the boys. If they needed capital‚ they kept the girls‚ who could fetch a price for various reasons. Children could also be sold into slavery. Anthropologists occasionally reported such heavy use of abortion that it drove a tribe to extinction. Other tribes viewed abortion with a harshness that would be criminal today: “If an unmarried woman of the Djakun‚ on the peninsula of Malacca‚ used abortion‚ she lost all standing in the tribe. Women despised her; no man would marry her‚ and she might be degraded by a punishment inflicted by her parents.” A pro-choice scientist's plea Bioethicist Chris Kaposy offered a moral argument against abortion of babies with a prenatal diagnosis of Down syndrome — in the New York Times‚ no less. He writes that both he and his wife are pro-choice and oppose policy that imposes strict limitations on abortion. Yet his wish is that “more people would include children with Down syndrome in their families. For this to happen‚” he adds‚ “we don’t need new laws; we just need more people to choose to have such children.” Admittedly‚ this stance is easy for me to take: I’ve got two kids who don’t have Down syndrome. In all honesty‚ I would never wish for a child with Down syndrome. All I can offer is a vague promise that if I had a child with Down syndrome‚ I would cherish him or her — the sacredness of human life.

"I never thought I'd be out here with all these pro-life people‚" a woman going by "Gigi" at a small table on the edge of downtown's Los Angeles State Historic Park told me. "I believe in a woman's right to choose." She was there collecting signatures for a California state ballot initiative to protect minors from various pernicious effects of gender ideology‚ from chemical castration to biological males competing in girls sports. Her own teen daughter's experience in sports prompted Gigi to get involved‚ which is why she was here on a rainy Saturday in January‚ at the 10th Annual OneLife LA march‚ seeking out the proverbial strange bedfellows. Not 200 feet away from Gigi stood a far more stereotypical exemplar of pro-life activism. Tim was a tall‚ sad-eyed white man in his late 60s with a combover and a placard bearing a blown-up color photograph of a fetus in the womb. He was there to garner support for an amendment to the Constitution that would extend personhood to the moment of conception. Both Gigi and Tim were perfectly pleasant and eager to talk‚ as were the many other attendees I encountered‚ most of whom fell somewhere between these two ideological poles. The exception was a group of paparazzo-weary Franciscan sisters I failed to charm with my opener‚ "Are you guys Catholic?" Matt Himes Tammy: "In college I advised a friend to get a abortion. Luckily she listened to another Catholic friend and kept the baby. [Later] when I read Mother Teresa's quote‚ 'If a mother can kill her own child‚ what is left for me to kill you and you to kill me?' I realized it was true." Matt Himes Paul: "In my ministry as a parish priest‚ I've met people who've delivered their children in very difficult circumstances‚ people struggling to raise special-needs children‚ older people with great disabilities‚ people facing difficult deaths. These [situations] are all very hard‚ but I've seen them bring people closer to each other and closer to God." Matt Himes Miguel (right‚ with Manuel): "There's a scene in the movie 'Unplanned' where they're getting rid of the remains of the unborn as biological waste. It's very powerful because in reality we know that those are lives. Those could've been our friends‚ our neighbors‚ husbands‚ wives‚ priests‚ religious. They were lives waiting to blossom and change the world‚ and we saw them as inconvenient. We saw them as garbage." Matt Himes Isabella: "I'm here for my family and what my family's gone through. Especially my own mother having such a hard time having children. She's a strong lady. She barely even had the choice to have children. So I'm here for that." Matt Himes Elvira: "They love the science until it comes to proving life starts at conception. If they found a few cells on another planet‚ it would count as life. But in the womb it doesn't." Matt Himes Hernan (standing): "I used to be pro-choice‚ so I know both sides. Pro-choice is about choice without any consequences. My mother used to ask me‚ 'Would you abort?' When I said I wouldn't‚ she said‚ 'So you're pro-life.' But I didn't want to bug people or tell them what to do. That's how the devil works: He tricks you into thinking that if you let people be‚ you're a good person." Jeanette: "I'm eight months pregnant with our first. I can feel my baby inside me and I think‚ 'Wow‚ there's actually a human inside of me.'" Matt Himes Leticia: "I'm here to to honor the memory of the daughter I aborted on June 7‚ 1990. I feel like I'm the voice from the inside out. The voice that says‚ 'Don't make this choice. I regret it.' "So many people have been touched by abortion‚ but until you're ready to ask for forgiveness‚ to take it to confession‚ to seek healing‚ the only way you can survive is to support it." Matt Himes Briana (right): "We live in a world where people are so desensitized that we're not worried about other people's humanity. Everyone's for themselves." Rosa (left): "I was raised Catholic and with the belief that no matter what‚ it's a baby." Matt Himes Elise (left‚ with Dominic): "We're traveling missionaries. A big thing in my ministry is allowing young women to understand the sanctity of their own lives and realizing that their own lives have worth. As they come to realize that‚ they can believe in the sanctity of all lives." Matt Himes Francesca: "I'm convert. I've been a Catholic since 2018. I grew up Jewish. Being pro-life has always been important to me. I'm adopted‚ and if my birth parents hadn't been Christian‚ they would've aborted me. I was raped at 14 and 16‚ and I conceived both times. Abortion never crossed my mind. It was really important to me that I carry them and I love them. Unfortunately I had miscarriages. When my pro-life friends try to tell me it was a good thing‚ I say‚ 'No. These were my babies and I loved them.'" Matt Himes Irvin: "I make no bones about it when I argue with people. 'You're telling me what degree of murder you're comfortable with.' At least be honest. Everybody put their big-boy pants on and own it. Existing's pretty great. I just don't think we should cut bait‚ you know?" Matt Himes "You can take our picture‚ but we're not going to do the whole interview thing." Matt Himes Matthew: "I'm director of sacred music for Lucis Missio‚ an organization out of San Secondo d'Asti in San Bernardino diocese. My role is to spread a love of and renewal of Catholic sacred music. While chant and polyphony are often seen as kind of intimidating‚ people really do desire this music. Beauty is the thing that can inspire people towards goodness. Oftentimes people see the pro-life movement as something that is radically anti-women's rights and something that is regressive. Sometimes people within the movement focus on what it's against. But it's right there in the name: We're pro-life‚ in all its many stages. But abortion is the pre-eminent moral issue of our time — so fight that‚ and fight these other battles." Matt Himes Michelle (left‚ with daughter Evangeline): "I'm an atheist‚ and I've been involved with the pro-life movement for ten years now. I grew up in a pro-choice family. My dad taught me about abortion when I was a preteen as a necessary procedure for gender equality. When I got pregnant at 15‚ that completely shifted my worldview on abortion. "My parents tried very hard to get me to abort. [It was from] shame — they didn't want anybody to know that I was pregnant. They said‚ 'This is a problem we could make go away.' But I felt my child. I knew I had to protect her. I went online and found amazing organizations like Secular Pro-Life that argue from a non-religious point of view. "My mom's pro-life now. There are a lot of atheists who believe I'm secretly a Christian or that I'm brainwashed. I face hostility all the time." Matt Himes Matt: "I work with women — and men — in a [post-abortive] healing ministry called Rachel's Vineyard. And its amazing to see the transformation a weekend retreat will make in the lives of people who encounter God's mercy. People are speaking out [in favor of abortion] mostly from life experience. They've been hurt and felt condemned. You have to come from a place of compassion." Matt Himes Tim: "My wife and I talk to women who are going in for abortions and try to help them in any way we can so they don't go through with that. I think most people who go into this want to save babies. But what happens is you end up with a very grateful mother. We have women who have been saying for decades now‚ thank you so much for my son‚ for my daughter‚ for being there for them in that time when they needed us."

Fans who swarmed Phoenix almost a year ago to watch the Philadelphia Eagles face the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LVII witnessed an unusual pregame show: a man free-climbing the city's abandoned 40-story Chase Tower. While it doubtless made no difference to harried local authorities‚ the perpetrator of this dangerous stunt claimed a motive more noble than an adrenaline rush or social media clout. According to 23-year-old Maison DesChamps‚ he undertook the death-defying feat to raise money for the anti-abortion charity "Let Them Live‚" which supports women in crisis pregnancies. It was not DesChamps' first climb for the cause‚ nor was it his last. In October‚ the self-proclaimed "Pro-Life Spiderman" ascended Chicago's Accenture Tower. Align recently spoke with DesChamps about what prompted his unusual activism‚ how he overcomes fear‚ and why he feels justified in risking his life. This interview has been edited for clarity. Align: Let's start with the backstory. Maison DesChamps: So the first one I climbed was the Salesforce Tower in San Francisco. And I was sitting at home scrolling on my phone‚ and I saw this photo of a dead baby‚ right? This was a baby that was killed by abortion. My friend AJ Hurley and a couple of girls found this baby outside an abortion clinic in D.C. They found a box. They had gotten it from the medical waste truck driver. And they brought this box home and there were five‚ I mean just 8-month-old‚ full-grown babies ready to be born that were slaughtered and ripped apart by this doctor. So I saw that photo‚ and I don't know‚ something just came over me‚ and I felt as though if I didn't do something about what was happening‚ then what kind of man am I‚ right? Like my salvation is in jeopardy if I don't do something about this. So I had raised all this money and bought plane tickets out to San Francisco. And the funny thing was that I didn't even know if the building was gonna be climbable. Like I just looked at photos of it online and I'm like‚ ah‚ you know‚ I think it's good. And I was really nervous. There are these horizontal fins that run across it. And I was nervous that I wasn't gonna be able to reach around it. So I had worn‚ they're called Skwamas. It's a type of climbing shoe‚ but it has rubber on the toes‚ on the tops of them. So that if I needed to climb foot-first and do what's called a toe hook‚ I could literally throw my whole body around this thing because I figured my legs are longer than my arms are. But luckily‚ it was very climbable. And the crazy thing was‚ I had prepared to climb this building for about a month. I had fundraised‚ bought the tickets‚ paid the drone pilots‚ and everything. And the morning we woke up to go out to San Francisco and climb the tower‚ that just happened to be the morning that the Dobbs draft was leaked that would overturn Roe. No planning of that; couldn't have predicted that; it was just sheer coincidence or providence‚ if you will. It bumped the story to the top of the news‚ which is kind of cool. Align: So tell me about how you got hooked up with Let Them Live and how that's kind of driven you. DesChamps: Yeah‚ so Let Them Live is awesome. They are based around a statistic that 73% of abortions happen because of financial circumstances. So what they do is they try to financially support these women because a lot of times‚ a sidewalk counselor — they're the people who stand outside the abortion clinics and try to talk women out of abortions as they're on their way to get one. They'll plead with these people‚ like please don't go in there and kill your baby and … they'll just be ignored. But sometimes it all comes down to‚ "You know‚ what if we paid your rent‚ would that help you‚ would that make you want to have this baby?" and so we pay these women's rent‚ their medical bills‚ really whatever they need‚ and we try to provide job counseling and services like that so that they're independent once they have the baby. But I just saw what they were doing and really loved it. So I had climbed‚ I think‚ three or four buildings for them‚ raising money for them. And eventually they found out about it when they got a big check in the mail‚ and they loved what I was doing. So Nathan Berning‚ the CEO‚ he calls me on the phone and he says‚ dude‚ I want to hire you so that you can do this full-time. And he said‚ I want to pay you to do whatever you want to do. Just go save babies. I don't care who for‚ I don't care how. Just go save babies from being murdered by abortion‚ which is really cool because it's allowed me to partner with other orgs and go out and do other kind of activism as well. So it's been kind of a blast. Align: Tell me about some of the sponsors. DesChamps: So these are the new sponsors. I'm very thankful for these companies that are supporting me because‚ like I said‚ one of my fears is that‚ you know‚ we do these climbs and the media narrative goes sour or we don't end up getting the story out there‚ so we don't raise enough money. And luckily‚ these companies have been willing to sponsor me and donate a bunch of money to the charity‚ which has been really cool. You know‚ we've got the water‚ Freedom2o‚ and then Make America Gospel Again‚ which is my buddy's company. He makes these hats. I met him at one of the Turning Point events‚ and this guy‚ he's selling hats at this booth‚ and I go over to buy one‚ and it's the last one‚ so he gave me one. But then the rest of the weekend‚ because it's like a three-day event‚ he just turned his booth into a prayer booth. So he's sitting there praying for people‚ and he's a real neat guy and a good message because‚ you know‚ I truly do believe that the way we're going to fight this issue is through Christ and through Christ alone. And you read 2 Chronicles 7:14‚ right? It says that God will restore our land if we turn to Him‚ we humble our hearts‚ and we turn from our wicked ways and call out this sin. And so often in this movement‚ you see compromise time and time and time again. And again‚ I blame the church‚ I blame the pro-life movement for the reason why abortion still exists. The Bible gave us the directions of how to deal with these issues. And we have been ignoring that for years. I went to a gala in D.C. at the March for Life. I'm not going to say which one‚ but they started it by congratulating everybody for coming to the 51st fancy dinner night‚ you know‚ and it made me sick to my stomach because I'm like‚ guys‚ if it takes 51 of these and we still haven't even made a dent‚ we're doing something wrong. We've got to sacrifice more. We’ve got to‚ I mean‚ really even follow God's word‚ but you see this trend in the pro-life movement of‚ you know‚ making exceptions‚ right? Like putting out heartbeat bills‚ which‚ you know‚ if one comes on the ballot‚ of course I'm going to vote for it. I want to save babies. But if you say abortion starts at conception and then you put out this bill that says it starts when the heart beats‚ it's just inconsistent. You know‚ we make a difference when we speak the truth and we speak it fully and all the time. And unless we're doing that‚ we'll never accomplish anything. It's funny because when I started in this movement‚ I was really scared to speak the truth as far as talking about the danger of what I do. And this is just an example of how speaking the truth works in your favor. I was kind of brushing it off‚ right? I'm like‚ ah‚ you know‚ most of these buildings are pretty easy. You know‚ I'm a really good climber and I can handle it‚ which is partially true. But also‚ I could fall. I could die. I could slip. But the truth is that what we're fighting for is worth risking our lives over. I mean‚ like I said‚ this is a Holocaust — over 70 million babies murdered. It'd be a shame to die of old age. It really would. So yeah‚ the same sort of thing applies with the pro-life movement because as soon as I started accepting it‚ as soon as I started speaking the truth and saying no‚ this is worth fighting over‚ people wanted to talk to me. I started getting all these interviews. My page started blowing up. And people are attracted to that. They want something to fight for. They want to see passion‚ they want to see this conviction. And this sort of soft‚ ashamed speech is not going to get us anywhere.

Martha's Vineyard is a predominantly Democratic haven off the coast of Massachusetts where the average asking price for new house listings is apparently over $2.3 million and the average household income is well over $130‚000. The island is home to scores of multimillionaires and one of climate-conscious former President Barack Obama's numerous abodes — an $11.75 million‚ 30-acre estate. Even though the millionaire refuge managed to drive out the poor migrants who reached its shores in 2022 inside a 44-hour window‚ the Biden administration has nevertheless designated parts of the island "low-income" areas. According to a report from the Daily Caller‚ the Biden administration has designated parts of the Vineyard; Montauk and Fishers Island in New York; Rehoboth Beach‚ Delaware; Beverly Hills‚ California; and other elite liberal enclaves thusly‚ meaning they can exploit electric vehicle charger subsidy programs. President Joe Biden's so-called Inflation Reduction Act allowed for the extension and modification of the Alternative Fuel Vehicle Refueling Property Tax Credit. The subsidy — "6% with a maximum credit of $100‚000 for each single item of property" — is available to businesses and individuals that install EV chargers. Last month‚ the Biden White House noted that the tax credit "provides up to 30% off the cost of the charger to individuals and businesses in low-income communities and non-urban areas‚ making it more affordable to install EV charging infrastructure and increasing access to EV charging in underserved communities." IRS code characterizes an area as low-income if it has a poverty rate of 20% or more‚ reported the National Desk. Affluent areas can still qualify‚ as the code allows for areas with a median income south of 80% of the closest metropolitan area or city to pass as low-income. In the case of Martha's Vineyard‚ the U.S. Department of Energy's 30C Tax Credit Eligibility Locator indicates the north of the island‚ a "census tract in Dukes County‚ Massachusetts (Census tract ID = 25007200100) is eligible through 2024 because it meets the definition of 'low-income community' in Internal Revenue Code section 45D(e)." Half of Nantucket Island‚ another swanky summer destination for cosmopolitan elites‚ is also eligible for charger subsidies on account of its "low-income" status. The Caller indicated that parts of Cape Cod have similarly been zoned "low-income‚" including Hyannis‚ the stomping grounds of the Kennedy dynasty. The Caller indicated that the DOE did not respond to requests for comment. Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors‚ sign up for our newsletters‚ and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

AOC‚ a key member of what Dave Rubin calls the “Hamas Caucus‚” has been one of the loudest voices when it comes to condemning Israel’s efforts to defend itself against the terrorists of Hamas. In her latest rant‚ Cortez said‚ “More than 1‚200 Israelis were killed on October 7‚ and 136 remain hostage. In response‚ 27‚478 Palestinians have been killed‚ 70% of whom are women and children‚ and most Gazans today cannot reach a fully functioning hospital.” “This is not war. This is slaughter. And yet‚ after all this destruction and devastation‚ the Netanyahu government is still nowhere close to their stated objective of destroying Hamas‚” she continued. “All the things I want to say about [her] will get us kicked off of YouTube and everywhere else‚” sighs Dave Rubin. “They understand nothing about war. They’re lying about genocide. There was a ceasefire on October 6. ...They’ve decided who the good guys and bad guys are‚” he explains. As for AOC’s comparison between the death tolls on each side‚ Dave says it’s quite a simple matter: “In a war‚ when you want to win‚ you’ve got to win.” However‚ AOC wasn’t the only Hamas Caucus member to go on a ridiculous rant. Unsurprisingly‚ Rashida Tlaib had her own “psychotic rhetoric” in which she claimed that Israel’s government was “extremist” and that the funding it receives from the U.S. comes with “no conditions attached.” Check it out below. Want more from Dave Rubin?To enjoy more honest conversations‚ free speech‚ and big ideas with Dave Rubin‚ subscribe to BlazeTV — the largest multi-platform network of voices who love America‚ defend the Constitution‚ and live the American dream.

The award-winner teamed‚ often with lyricist Hal David‚ on such classics as "The Look of Love" and "(They Long To Be) Close To You" The post Burt Bacharach Was Popular Music’s Masterful Composer appeared first on Best Classic Bands.