Watching a contemporary Western is a bit like discovering an ancient Mayan temple inside a centuries-old cathedral under the glass floor of an Apple store. It’s why so many of the old legends emerge from dust or shadow. There’s a ghostliness at play‚ in contrast to the eternal solidity of the landscapes. In our recent interview‚ Prof. Andrew Patrick Nelson picked the charming 2022 film "Dead for a Dollar" as one of the four Westerns he would hand to someone who is new to the genre. At the helm is veteran director Walter Hill‚ whose long filmography includes classics such as "The Warriors" and "48 hours." He's aided here by a stellar cast. Willem Dafoe makes the most of his Sergio Leone-worthy lines as a recently released outlaw with vengeance on his mind. Rachel Brosnahan brings welcome nuance to what could easily have been a stock anachronistic "liberated woman" character. Fans of Christoph Waltz's work for Quentin Tarantino will enjoy watching the rather different energy he brings as Max Borlund‚ the film's leading man. His character must navigate a series of fascinatingly tricky moral dilemmas that leave the viewer of the edge of his seat. As one character says‚ “Mr. Borlund is a man of surprises.” He's also a throwback to what a wistful Tony Soprano called "the strong‚ silent type." A man who “wasn’t in touch with his feelings — he just did what he had to do.” Waltz plays this with a touch of sly humor. Those around him can't stop talking. They want him to know their stories. They want to know his story. Something about Borlund makes those who meet him want to spill their guts‚ displaying all of their innermost truths and sins and insecurities. When they finally take a breath from all their poetic gabbing‚ his response is a polite‚ hilariously deadpan “Will that be all?” This flamboyant monologuing is one of a few creative risks "Dead for a Dollar" takes. They generally pay off. A fight scene at the movie's midpoint comes to mind — the less said about it‚ the better. "Dead for a Dollar" offers the comforts of a well-made‚ traditional shoot-'em-up with a dash of unsettling humor. Take the words of reassurance offered to Borlund as he prepares for a showdown: “You got nothing to worry about: If he kills you‚ I’ll kill him.”

The left's apoplexy over former President Donald Trump's recent of the well-worn term "bloodbath" continues to pay dividends. The White House' repeated condemnations of the term exposed press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre to questions Tuesday about whether President Joe Biden's use of "bloodbath" was similarly deserving of a formal denunciation. Jean-Pierre did not fare well in her attempt to reconcile Democratic outrage with Biden's culpability. Quick background On March 16‚ Trump used the word "bloodbath" in reference to the economic fallout of continued offshoring of jobs and automobile manufacturing plants under the Biden administration. Trump addressed Chinese dictator Xi Jinping during his speech at the Dayton International Airport in Ohio‚ saying‚ "Let me tell you something ... those big monster car manufacturing plants that you're building in Mexico right now‚ and you think you're going to get that‚ you're going to not hire Americans‚ and you're going to sell the cars to us? No." "We’re going to put a 100% tariff on every single car that comes across the line‚ and you’re not going to be able to sell those guys – if I get elected. Now‚ if I don’t get elected‚ it’s going to be a bloodbath for the whole — that’s gonna be the least of it. It’s going to be a bloodbath for the country. That’ll be the least of it. But they're not going to sell those cars." Blaze News previously reported that Democrats and the liberal media — including CBS News‚ Politico‚ NPR‚ Rolling Stone‚ the Los Angeles Times‚ and USA Today — rushed to mischaracterize Trump's remarks while glossing over their own use of the term in recent months and years. The social media account for Biden's re-election campaign helped perpetuate the false narrative‚ posting a de-contextualized excerpt of the video with the caption‚ "Trump: If I don't get elected‚ it's gonna be a bloodbath. It's gonna be a bloodbath for the country." Doubling down Trump and the Republican Party doubled down on the use of the term this week‚ applying it in other contexts. The Republican front-runner criticized the Biden administration's failed border policies while speaking to a crowd Tuesday in Grand Rapids‚ Michigan‚ at a podium emblazoned with a sign that read‚ "Stop Biden's Border Bloodbath‚" reported USA Today. The Republican National Committee‚ similarly criticizing Biden over the fallout of his failure to secure the border‚ launched a website Tuesday entitled‚ "Biden Bloodbath." The website claims that Biden "is allowing vicious criminals into the United States‚ and innocent Americans across the country are paying the price. Lethal drugs‚ cartels‚ gangs‚ and terrorists are taking advantage of the crisis to enter the U.S. and threaten America. This is an invasion aided and abetted by Joe Biden‚ supported by Democrats who vote for his dangerous and cruel policies. This is Biden's border bloodbath." More mental gymnastics When asked about Trump's latest use of the term bloodbath during the White House press briefing Tuesday‚ Jean-Pierre said‚ "We have to denounce any violent rhetoric that we hear‚ certainly from our leaders‚ right‚ that tears our country apart." "Any type of violent rhetoric‚ we're going to denounce that‚" added Jean-Pierre. "It doesn't matter who it comes from‚ we're going to denounce it." White House correspondent Peter Doocy sought clarification‚ asking Jean-Pierre‚ "So when Donald Trump is talking about a bloodbath‚ it is violent rhetoric. What was it when Joe Biden said in 2020‚ 'What we can't let happen is let this primary become a negative bloodbath?'" Biden made the remark in March 2020 when campaigning against Sen. Bernie Sanders (I) in the Democratic primaries. Doocy's question clearly put Jean-Pierre in a bind. After all‚ she had just vowed to denounce such "violent rhetoric" regardless of the source. "So I'm going to be really mindful and careful about Donald Trump‚ but if you read — because he is a candidate — we're talking about a 2024 election‚ you should read what he said in its context. So you got to read what he said in context." Doocy added‚ "I'm just saying‚ 'bloodbath' is an ugly word when Trump uses it. What is it when Biden uses it?" "No‚ no‚ no‚" stammered Jean-Pierre. "Let's be very clear. You gotta actually ask me the question in the context of what it was said‚ right? And what was said when he said that‚ right‚ in his remarks‚ in his speech‚ right? And so that's being disingenuous in your question." After Doocy followed up again with the direct quote from Biden‚ Jean-Pierre attempted to excuse the geriatric Democrat's language with the kind of context her allies previously denied Trump. "He was talking about a group of people‚ a group of people‚" said Jean-Pierre. "That's what he's talking about. What the president was talking about during the primary was not to allow it to be the words and the primary and that election to become negative. Two different things. They're not the same. They're not the same‚ and your question is disingenuous." While refusing to denounce Biden's use of allegedly "violent rhetoric‚" Jean-Pierre stressed that such denunciations were nevertheless important. Before executing the in-person equivalent of an abrupt hang-up‚ the press secretary suggested that Trump's use of the word "bloodbath" in relation to the automotive industry was more inflammatory than Biden's use "because we saw what happened on January 6." Q: Why was it acceptable for Biden to use the term "bloodbath" in 2020‚ but not when President Trump uses it?\n\nKARINE JEAN-PIERRE: *brain breaks* — (@) Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors‚ sign up for our newsletters‚ and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

ESPN host Stephen A. Smith blasted Hillary Clinton on Tuesday for lecturing voters about their choices in the 2024 election. During an interview with "The Tonight Show" host Jimmy Fallon on Monday‚ the twice-failed presidential candidate offered a blunt message for voters not happy about the forthcoming rematch between President Joe Biden and Donald Trump. "Get over yourself! Those are the two choices‚" Clinton scolded. That attitude‚ Smith said on CNN‚ is the exact reason why Clinton never became president — and it's an attitude that will send Trump back to the White House. "I don't think it was a very wise statement on her part. How did that work out for her in 2016?" Smith reacted. The problem with Clinton's attitude‚ Smith explained‚ is that it dismisses what voters actually care about — the economy‚ immigration‚ crime‚ etc. — while emphasizing what voters don't care about‚ specifically Trump's legal problems. "What I'm saying is that at some point in time‚ you've got to take into account what the voters are thinking about. The voters‚ a lot of them out there — tens of millions of them out there‚ by the way — don't care what [Trump's] going through right now. They don't care about his guilt or innocence‚ his perceived guilt or innocence. They don't care about the 91 counts. They're thinking about their lives‚" Smith explained. That's why‚ in Smith's eyes‚ Clinton's remarks are "detached" from what voters are "actually feeling" and "actually thinking." "Nobody wants to hear that from Hillary Rodham Clinton at this particular moment in time because‚ especially if you're Joe Biden‚ what are you really‚ really worried about right now? You're worried about folks coming to the polls. You're worried about them showing up to the polls to vote for you. You're not worried even about them voting for Trump. You're worried about them not showing up to vote for you‚" Smith observed. Damn. Democrats should listen up https://t.co/JUw1JiU6eH pic.twitter.com/Pw9JrsLbOV — Read Let This Radicalize You (@JoshuaPHilll) April 3‚ 2024 Later in the interview‚ CNN anchor Abby Phillip tried to bait Smith into criticizing Trump for his recent comments about immigration. But Smith surprised Phillip with his perspective about Trump's immigration rhetoric. Trump's rhetoric‚ according to Smith‚ resonates with Americans because they're "literally scared" about the border crisis and the millions of unvetted migrants who have entered the U.S. under Biden. In fact‚ Smith said he knows countless black Americans and Hispanic Americans who are especially concerned about the border crisis‚ which shocked Phillip. "There's a whole bunch of people out there in the streets of America that's hardworking‚ that's going to work every day‚ that's trying to make ends meet‚ pay their bills and what have you — [Trump's rhetoric] resonates with them‚ and they don't want to see anything distracting anybody from their problems‚" Smith explained. "And when you go to the polls‚ what do you think about? You think about what affects you‚" he added. Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors‚ sign up for our newsletters‚ and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

A lawsuit filled with bizarre claims about rapper and entrepreneur Kanye West was filed by a former employee‚ accusing him of race discrimination‚ retaliation‚ and wrongful termination.Former employee Trevor Phillips‚ a black man himself‚ alleged in his complaint that West mistreated black employees. "During his tenure‚ Phillips never witnessed West yell and berate a white person‚ but on countless occasions he saw and/or personally experienced Kanye frenziedly yell at black people‚" the suit alleged.Phillips worked at Yeezy as well as the Donda Academy from November 2022 to approximately August 2023. He claimed he saw other allegedly racially discriminatory behavior such as West ordering a black security guard to shave his dreadlocks or face termination.This was coupled with West allegedly saying he only likes to date white women. However‚ the claims against West‚ who now goes by Ye‚ are numerous.As reported by Variety‚ Phillips was invited to the Nobu Hotel in Malibu‚ California‚ to meet Ye shortly after his hiring. At the hotel‚ West allegedly demanded that hotel staff put on the movie "The Batman" from 2022 and that he and Phillips watch the film with no sound. Another claim in the lawsuit was that Ye threatened to punch Phillips in the face but changed his mind and turned his fist motion into an imitation of Mario's celebration from the Super Mario games. He then reportedly said he would give Phillips "one more chance."West was also accused of telling staffers that he would fire any employees if they were "fat‚" according to People."In front of the schoolchildren‚ Kanye continued his dangerous rhetoric‚" the lawsuit alleged about West's school called the Donda Academy.West allegedly told two children that he "wanted them to shave their heads and that he intended to put a jail at the school — and that they could be locked in cages. The staff quickly distracted the children‚ and escorted them out of the room."Along with a series of alleged racist rants‚ Phillips' employment complaints generally focused on his mistreatment. He claimed that during his time working for West he suffered psychological and emotional distress and was humiliated.Instances allegedly included Ye screaming that Phillips was "f**king fired" and telling him to "get the f**k out of here" in front of 100 people. Another claim was that West was dissatisfied with a garden and caused the former employee to cry when he ripped plants out of the ground.Phillips was also allegedly told to drive to a farm to scout the location for a possible purchase by West. After touring it and giving West his impressions‚ West reportedly said he would buy the property and put Phillips in charge. However‚ the following day the rapper allegedly texted Phillips to say "you still fired. You not on the level."A representative for West did not respond to requests for comments from People‚ Rolling Stone‚ or the LA Times.Phillips is seeking damages of over $35‚000.Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors‚ sign up for our newsletters‚ and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

Men have been finding love abroad at least since Caesar hooked up with Cleopatra. In 2024‚ these mercenaries of the heart have a name: passport bros. You'll find them everywhere from Bogota to Bangkok. Western men (often American) hoping to leverage their exoticism — and first-world income — into improving their dating odds.You'll be surprised to discover that not all women approve. Beware‚ ladies: That charming digital nomad who just bought you a drink may be smuggling toxic anti-feminism and misogyny into your peaceful country. Or‚ maybe he's simply seeking respite from his home country's rampant patriarchy smashing. The young men and women of America speak very different languages these days.Consider the data from recent Gallup polling. Women 18-29 are 15% more likely to identify as "liberal" than men. This disparity is five times greater than it was in 2000. Is it any wonder that some men are so fed up with hearing about their "toxic masculinity" that they're packing their bags and leaving for good?The Good Men Project‚ a website apparently dedicated to exploring “what it means to be a good man‚” suggests that the passport bro has one motive: cheap‚ easy sex. A loser in the U.S. can become a lothario overseas.Or‚ maybe they just want a healthy relationship with the opposite sex and realize this is much easier to pull off with a partner uncorrupted by more recent forms of feminism. A partner for whom the shallow‚ negative "empowerment" exemplified by Irina Dunn’s hoary slogan that “a woman needs a man like a fish needs a bicycle” is patently absurd.Such is the view of the consulting agency Passport Bros. Its objective is both basic and bullish: to create a global network of "passport brothers" who are well-traveled‚ open-minded‚ and possess an appreciation for diverse cultures and lifestyles.Agency rep Chase Taylor tells me that he unknowingly became a “bro” way before the popular term even existed. “Back in 2009‚ after the end of a 14-year marriage‚ I began my travels abroad‚” he says. “With the initial goal of healing and finding a way to put the pieces of my life back together‚ I found myself in the heart of Central America‚ with a group‚ hiking my way from Costa Rica up through Nicaragua‚ Honduras‚ and Guatemala.”Originally from New York City‚ Taylor happens to be stateside as we speak — but not for long. He is in the process of relocating to the Mediterranean‚ which he admits involves inordinate amounts of tedious red tape.Taylor dismisses critics as either "completely misinformed or ... simply regurgitating some negative third-party opinion."One big misconception is that passport bros are only in it for sex. “While there are some who [are]‚ there are literally hundreds of thousands of other men" who are not. As for the bros who do seek love‚ Taylor says the stereotype of an uneducated‚ submissive‚ and desperately poor dating pool misses the mark. “Many of these women are highly educated‚ and many even hold multiple degrees‚" says Taylor. They often have their own businesses or thriving professional careers. Much like the women back home — but with a crucial difference. Unlike many of their indoctrinated American counterparts‚ foreign women "take pride in their femininity and understand the cooperative nature that’s required if a woman is genuinely serious about building a long-lasting‚ successful family unit.”Got your own take on the contemporary dating scene? Passport Bros is currently soliciting video submissions to be featured on their site.

On April 11‚ Amazon Prime will drop “Fallout‚” a TV series based on one of the most popular video games of all time. The retro-futuristic drama will unfold on a postapocalyptic Earth that has been all but destroyed from nuclear warring. The descendants of those who escaped have been surviving in fallout bunkers called vaults. But these vault dwellers are returning to the hellscape their predecessors destroyed‚ and it’s a place of chaos‚ violence‚ and bizarreries beyond their wildest imagination. Lauren Chen was initially excited about the series‚ until she remembered‚ “Oh wait‚ it’s Amazon‚” which is behind the production. However‚ her hopes were revived a bit when she saw the first trailer. “The first trailer for the series did launch a few months ago‚ and I've got to say‚ I‚ at least‚ was pleasantly surprised by it‚” she says. However‚ she’s second-guessing her initial reaction after seeing a clip from the series. “Everything looks so cheap‚” she sighs‚ “and this is not a cheap show. Amazon does not cheap out on its productions.” Further‚ some of the characters — specifically the ones who’ve been living on postapocalyptic Earth — “are supposed to look weathered and dirty‚” but “they very clearly look like actors who are wearing costumes that are props‚” argues Lauren‚ adding that much of the “clothing looks too put together to be postapocalyptic.” In addition to the poor costumes and set‚ the dialogue also seems to be a bit phony‚ at least in the preview. “It frankly just doesn't seem very good‚” according to Lauren. However‚ quotes from the film’s director‚ Jonathan Nolan‚ are perhaps the biggest red flag when it comes to “Fallout.” According to Bounding Into Comics‚ “Amazon’s ‘Fallout’ director says it would have been ‘a fool’s errand’ to try and appeal to fans” and that he was excited to “create [his] own version” of the series. “That’s not good‚” says Lauren. “It kind of signals to me that they've just decided to do whatever they wanted with the show instead of trying to be loyal to the source material‚” which will likely upset the video game’s large fan base. Nolan‚ however‚ does have impressive credentials in the film industry‚ so “he likely may have done a good job‚” says Lauren. To hear more of her analysis on Amazon’s new “Fallout” series‚ watch the clip below. Want more from Lauren Chen?To enjoy more of Lauren’s pro-liberty‚ pro-logic‚ and pro-market commentary on social and political issues‚ subscribe to BlazeTV — the largest multi-platform network of voices who love America‚ defend the Constitution‚ and live the American dream.

Heretics beware — the religion it’s now illegal to disrespect is that of social progressivism.

Trump leads his opponent in Pennsylvania‚ Michigan‚ Arizona‚ Georgia‚ Nevada‚ and North Carolina.

If everything is ‘authoritarian‚’ nothing is.

Joe Biden Says Trump Doesn't Trust Women But He Does (Watch)