Four underwater mountains have been discovered in the Pacific‚ one of which towers for 2‚681 meters (8‚796 feet) – that’s over three times the height of the Burj Khalifa‚ the world’s tallest skyscraper. The collection of seamounts was identified last month by Schmidt Ocean Institute's research vessel Falkor (too) while making a voyage between Golfito in Costa Rica and Valparaiso in Chile. The four seamounts range in size from approximately 1‚591 meters (5‚220 feet) to 2‚681 meters (8‚796 feet). This revelation builds on a discovery made by the same crew last year. In November 2023‚ the Falkor (too) research vessel stumbled across an underwater mountain that was twice the height of the Burj Khalifa at 1‚600 meters (5‚259 feet) in international waters off Guatemala.The largest of the four seamounts recently discovered by Schmidt Ocean Institute experts is 2‚681 meters (8‚796 feet) tall.Image credit: Schmidt Ocean InstituteThe seamounts were located by measuring gravity anomalies within the sea. Structures on the seafloor have a very slight impact on the sea surface: a vast underwater trench will cause a minor dip in the sea surface‚ while a mountain of significant stature will cause the water surface to bulge."We were fortunate enough to be able to plan an opportunistic mapping route using these gravity anomalies in satellite altimetry data‚” John Fulmer‚ a marine technician and a hydrographic expert at Schmidt Ocean Institute‚ said in a statement sent to IFLScience.“Examining gravity anomalies is a fancy way of saying we looked for bumps on a map‚ and when we did‚ we located these very large seamounts while staying on schedule for our first science expedition in Chile at the start of this year‚” said Fulmer.A seamount is an underwater mountain with steep sides that are typically the remnants of extinct volcanoes. These fascinating features often become hives of biodiversity since they provide wildlife with a solid surface to live upon‚ supplying them with food and nutrients.“Locating seamounts almost always leads us to understudied biodiversity hotspots‚” explains Dr Jyotika Virmani‚ executive director of Schmidt Ocean Institute. “Every time we find these bustling seafloor communities‚ we make incredible new discoveries and advance our knowledge of life on Earth‚” Virmani added.The Schmidt Ocean Institute's research vessel Falkor (too) sailing the high seas.Image credit: Schmidt Ocean InstituteSeamounts can be vast in size. Technically‚ the highest mountain on Earth is a partially submerged seamount: Hawai'i's Mauna Kea‚ a dormant volcano that is more than 10‚210 meters (33‚500 feet) tall. By comparison‚ Mount Everest is just 8‚849 meters (29‚032 feet) tall.The new seamount discovery is a small part of a much bigger project to map the whole world’s seafloor. Since 2013‚ Schmidt Ocean Institute has mapped over 1.44 million square kilometers (around 500‚000 square miles) of the seafloor‚ creating a map of almost 25 percent of the seafloor at a 100-meter (328-foot) or higher resolution. By the end of this decade‚ they hope to have mapped the totality of the seafloor‚ all 360 million square kilometers (139 million square miles) of it.“These incredible discoveries by Schmidt Ocean Institute underscore the importance of a complete map of the seabed in our quest for understanding Earth’s final frontier‚” continued Jamie McMichael-Phillips‚ project director of Seabed 2030. “With 75 percent of the ocean still to be mapped‚ there is much to be uncovered. Ocean mapping is crucial to our understanding of the planet and‚ in turn‚ our ability to ensure its protection and sustainable management‚” he said.

The Earth is spinning at around 1‚000 miles per hour (1‚600 kilometers per hour). So why do you‚ on Earth‚ not feel like you are hurtling along at these incredible velocities?When you get on a roundabout and it spins‚ you feel like you are being pushed outwards. This is the (not real) centrifugal force. There is no external force pushing you off the play equipment – what you are actually feeling is the result of your own inertia‚ or the tendency for objects in motion to remain in motion in a straight line at the same velocity unless another force acts upon it. You might extrapolate from that that you must experience the same feeling of being pushed outward as the Earth spins‚ and you'd be correct. In fact‚ the planet bulges at the equator because of it‚ and as a result‚ you weigh less at the equator because you are further away from the bulk of the Earth's mass. Forces that change the shape of the Earth also affect you‚ standing on said Earth. You are affected by it‚ but it is overwhelmed by gravity."The acceleration of gravity is about 9.8 m/s^2 on the Earth's surface‚ and the reduction of that due to the rotation of the Earth at the equator‚ where things are moving the fastest‚ is about 0.03 m/s^2‚" professor of physics and optical science at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte‚ Greg Gbur‚ explained to Live Science‚ "which is measurable but really tiny compared to what we feel from gravity itself‚ so we don't notice it."Relative motion is the only motion you have to worry about (thank Einstein)‚ which leads us to the air. Think about how‚ in a car‚ the air feels stationary – but if you were to stick your head out the window like a dog‚ you would feel the air slamming against your face and making your ears/hair/loose skin flap. As the Earth spins it drags our atmosphere along with it‚ so we aren't battered constantly by incredibly high winds every moment of our waking lives.The Earth's motion is relatively smooth‚ though it is slowed and sped up by various factors‚ including earthquakes. If it were more jerky‚ you would feel the acceleration and deceleration‚ but you do not feel constant velocity. Which is good‚ because the planet orbits the Sun at 107‚000 kilometers per hour (66‚500 miles per hour)‚ and the Sun hurtles through the galaxy at 828‚000 kilometers per hour (514‚500 miles per hour)‚ which are much faster than‚ for example‚ your car. If the Earth were to suddenly stop‚ however‚ you would feel forces aplenty.[H/T: Live Science]All “explainer” articles are confirmed by fact checkers to be correct at time of publishing. Text‚ images‚ and links may be edited‚ removed‚ or added to at a later date to keep information current.  

Sky News host Caleb Bond amplified a message from Toyota Chairman Akio Toyoda: Despite constant political pressure from the left‚ society will not entirely transition to electric cars. During the Jan. 28 edition of Sky News Australia’s The Sunday Showdown‚ Bond provided what many in the environmentalist movement may perceive as bad news regarding the transition away from fossil fuel-powered vehicles and toward fully electric vehicles (or EVs). Touting the remarks of Toyota chairman Toyoda‚ Bond said‚ “Let's have a reality check for all the greenies who'd have us believe that we'll all be driving EVs in the next few years. There is some bad news‚ I'm sorry to tell you. Even the chairman of Toyota … has said that battery-powered electric cars will only account for 30 percent of the market at most.” Bond then added‚ “The chairman even said that engine cars will remain and that the market should be determined by customers and not regulations.” Bond’s remarks followed a statement from Toyoda that “[gas-powered] engines will surely remain” as well as a prediction that electric vehicles will not be able to completely replace hybrids and gas-powered vehicles. In addition to his prediction that EVs would not exceed 30 percent market share‚ Toyoda made a strong statement in favor of consumer choice. Toyoda said that‚ “Customers — not regulations or politics — should make that decision‚” according to Bloomberg News.  Toyoda also appeared concerned about the impact of a full transition to electric vehicles on communities without electricity. Hosts of The Sunday Showdown echoed the car manufacturer‚ suggesting that a “billion people don’t have access to electricity.”  The Sunday Showdown hosts also discussed government action on behalf of electric vehicles‚ including what host Paul Murray referred to as a “luxury car tax on hybrids.”’ When asked how an electric vehicle mandate would impact her as a farmer‚ Sky News contributor Evelyn Rae said “I don’t think we’d survive.” She went on to point out how fuel such as diesel replaces electricity in rural areas. “Living out in the bush–every week it’s like ‘oh it’s a bit windy today‚ I’m going to lose power.’ ‘Oh it’s a bit hot today‚ I’m going to lose power‚ and we rely so much on engines to actually live our everyday life.”  Rae followed with a brutal indictment of tyrannical environmentalists‚ “If you make something that works‚ you don’t have to legislate it! You do not have to coerce people into doing it if it works and is reliable.”  In the United States‚ both state and federal regulations on behalf of electric vehicles threaten Americans’ choices. The Biden administration‚ for example‚ “called for 50 percent of all new sales‚ car sales to be EVs by 2030 and they just released a new EPA regulation calling for 67 percent of new car sales to be EVs by 2032‚” according to former EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler. Wheeler went on to explain in a Fox News interview Dec. 30‚ 2023 how Biden’s EV mandate was ultimately doomed. An even more draconian California EV mandate that has been embraced by sixteen other states demands that sales of gas-powered cars be phased out by 2035.  Fortunately for customers‚ at least one major car company is willing to let drivers‚ not government officials make these choices.  Conservatives are under attack! Contact ABC News at 818-460-7477‚ CBS News at 212-975-3247 and NBC News at 212-664-6192 and demand they hold Biden and his cronies accountable for attempting to restrict fossil fuel production and Americans’ choices

As winter is in full force‚ the telltale signs of sneezes‚ sniffles‚ and the occasional fever are ever-present reminders of the importance of proactive self-care. The post Natural Remedies for Colds and Flus appeared first on Survivopedia.

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.