by Cyclops‚ Survival Blog: A recent headline read: “Corporate Executive Pays to Deprogram Daughter After Freshman Year”. Years ago‚ the process of deprogramming might have been reserved for a prisoner of war (POW)‚ or a victim of a cult. Not anymore. A normal adolescent attending any one of the couple thousand colleges or universities in […]

from The Salty Cracker:  TRUTH LIVES on at https://sgtreport.tv/

by Jeremy Powell‚ Activist Post: “Never let a good crisis go to waste.” The once-overheard quote uttered by one of Barack Obama’s advisors now represents the unjustifiable expansion and abuse of government powers of the Joe Biden era. With the pandemic arrived a litany of experiments that proved disastrous‚ from distance learning and expansion of […]

by Michael Snyder‚ End Of The American Dream: Something really weird is going on.  Traditionally‚ prepping has been associated with those on the right of the political spectrum.  But now we are witnessing a dramatic shift.  These days‚ many of the most hardcore preppers are actually on the left.  These leftist preppers have become entirely […]

from Laura-Lynn Tyler Thompson:  TRUTH LIVES on at https://sgtreport.tv/

Slot him into the media’s “Strange New Respect for Religion” category: Pope Francis‚ beloved by liberals for his “progressive” tack toward the LGBTQ movement -- and hostility toward conservative Catholics. PBS Weekend was the latest to genuflect toward the “social reform” minded (i.e. liberal-pleasing) pontiff on Saturday. This came before his latest statement on blessing same-sex couples. Host John Yang threw another odd garland onto the Pope’s liberal (anti-capitalist‚ anti-border control) crown -- his pushing Covid vaccinations. Yang: As millions of American Catholics prepare to mark the third Sunday of Advent tomorrow‚ the Pope's efforts to make the church more inclusive for LGBTQ-plus people [editor’s note: Yang stumbled over the awkward lefty slogan “LGBTQ-plus”] and for women and urging vaccinations against COVID‚ they're creating a growing rift between traditionalist American Catholics and Vatican. Reporter Ali Rogin made sure watchers knew who wore the white hats and who wore the black in this theological showdown between a “reform” Pope and two traditional American Catholics‚ Bishop Joseph Strickland and Cardinal Raymond Burke‚ who have both been critical of Pope Francis. The Pope took the drastic step of removing Strickland from his diocese in Tyler‚ Texas‚ and also retaliated against Burke‚ stripping him of Vatican privileges. The left-wing National Catholic Reporter newspaper editorialized against Burke in 2019 for his “rigorism” and embrace of traditionalism‚ and Strickland has attracted its fire for public opposition to Francis’s support of civil unions for same-sex couples. Rogin: Over the last 10 years‚ Pope Francis has gained the adoration of Catholics and non-Catholics around the world for his humility‚ care for the poor‚ and for steering the church to reform its stances on some social issues. While the most recent polling from 2021 shows Francis has the support of the majority of Catholics in the U.S.‚ conservative clerics and lay people in America are some of his most vocal critics. In November‚ the Pope moved against two of his loudest detractors‚ Bishop Joseph E. Strickland and Cardinal Raymond Leo Burke…. Rogin invited on David Gibson‚ director of the Center of Religion and Culture at Fordham University‚ to comment. Gibson compiled a strikingly leftist record as a reporter for the Religion News Service before coming to Fordham‚ and his tune has not changed. David Gibson‚ Fordham University: Pope Francis is really focused on being a pastor‚ being providing a more pastoral‚ inclusive‚ merciful church‚ going out to the peripheries‚ those who are in suffering. So that's been his signature is really going out and helping those of the poor‚ the homeless‚ the immigrant‚ the refugee‚ so he's seen as this very merciful figure. What he's not terribly merciful towards are the elites in the church‚ the powerful‚ those who have all the privileges and all the perks‚ and we've seen how he's moved against some of them in recent months. Gibson characterized opposition to Pope Francis: Gibson: “...very loud. And it's very influential‚ but it's really very small and very much located in the Anglosphere‚ especially in the United States. There's a lot of big money behind this conservative movement. So they have this great profile‚ and again‚ a certain degree of influence‚ but they're relatively small….And they don't like what Pope Francis is doing. He's really upending all of the customs and all of the privileges that these bishops and cardinals were used to…. Gibson clearly supported Pope Francis’s move against Strickland‚ sliming the bishop’s reputation‚ saying “his diocese really was not being well run….the morale was down. The diocese is divided administratively‚ it's a mess." This segment was brought to you in part by Consumer Cellular. A transcript is available‚ click “Expand.” PBS News Weekend 12/16/23 7:05:14 p.m. (ET) John Yang: As millions of American Catholics prepare to mark the third Sunday of Advent tomorrow‚ the Pope's efforts to make the church more inclusive for LGBTQ plus people and for women and urging vaccinations against COVID. They're creating a growing rift between traditionalist American Catholics and Vatican. Ali Rogin has more. Ali Rogin: Over the last 10 years‚ Pope Francis has gained the adoration of Catholics and non-Catholics around the world for his humility‚ care for the poor and for steering the church to reform its stances on some social issues. While the most recent polling from 2021 shows Francis has the support of the majority of Catholics in the U.S.‚ conservative clerics and lay people in America are some of his most vocal critics. In November‚ the Pope moved against two of his loudest detractors‚ Bishop Joseph E. Strickland and Cardinal Raymond Leo Burke‚ both Americans. Last month‚ Strickland was removed as Bishop of the Diocese of Tyler‚ Texas. Then a few weeks later‚ Cardinal Burke was stripped of his Vatican privileges‚ housing and salary. David Gibson is the director of the Center of Religion and Culture at Fordham University. David‚ thank you so much for joining us. Let's talk first about the type of Pope Francis has been. What sort of reforms and changes to the church has he focused on? David Gibson‚ Fordham University: Pope Francis is really focused on being a pastor being providing a more pastoral‚ inclusive merciful church going out to the peripheries‚ those who are in suffering. So that's been his signature is really going out and helping those of the poor‚ the homeless‚ the immigrant‚ the refugee‚ so he's seen as very merciful figure. What he's not terribly merciful towards are the elites in the church‚ that powerful those who have all the privileges and all the perks‚ and we've seen how he's moved against some of them in recent months. Ali Rogin: And is it that the American Catholic Bishops leaders who have criticized him‚ are they considered elites in church standing? And why is it that they seem to have been among the most vocal critics of Pope Francis? David Gibson: Well‚ the opposition to Pope Francis is very loud. And it's very influential‚ but it's really very small and very much located in the Anglosphere‚ especially in the United States. There's a lot of big money behind this conservative movement. So they have this great profile‚ and again‚ a certain degree of influence‚ but they're relatively small. But they have a certain approach that kind of tracks the political trends in the United States. And they don't like what Pope Francis is doing. He's really up ending all of the customs and all of the privileges that these bishops and cardinals were used to. And they really don't like that if you step back from the disagreements over politics‚ over doctrine over ideology‚ a lot of this is simply the fact that these are bishops and cardinals who had the inside track under the previous pontificates. John Paul II‚ and Benedict XVI for over 35 years. Now‚ you have a pope who was elected 10 years ago‚ who up ends all of that. He's the first pope from the southern hemisphere. He's from Argentina. He's not going to play favorites in the way that the other Pope's used to. Ali Rogin: And what does it say about the state of American Catholicism that Pope Francis enjoys relatively high approval ratings among the majority of American Catholics‚ and yet‚ he's coming under criticism from some American leaders. David Gibson: What those high approval ratings say is that Catholics always liked the singer‚ even if they don't like the song. It also indicates again that is conservative opposition to him‚ there's really vocal opposition to him based in the United States is very small. That doesn't mean it's not influential and it's not damaging. You have to remember that the American Catholic Church is just 5 percent of the global 1.2 billion member church. So we tend to forget that and even within the 60‚ 65 million member Catholic Church in the United States‚ these real conservative elements are a minority. Ali Rogin: We mentioned these to Catholic leaders in the United States that Pope Francis has punished. Can you tell us a little bit more about them and what they've said about him that elicited this response? David Gibson: Well‚ these two cases one bishop Joseph Strickland in Tyler‚ Texas diocese in East Texas Cardinal Raymond Burke who's lived in Rome and also in Wisconsin. They're distinct in the sense that they're both been longtime critics of Pope Francis. But Bishop Strickland‚ his diocese really was not being well run. Pope Francis has been extremely patient over 10 years with his critics like Cardinal Burke‚ who's been a longtime thorn in his side‚ and even with Joseph Strickland‚ who's endorsed some of the most virulent attacks against Pope Francis. But in the case of Bishop Strickland‚ his diocese the morale was down. The diocese is divided administratively‚ it's a mess. Pope Francis finally said‚ you can't be a bishop of this diocese‚ you remain a bishop‚ but we need to replace you. In the case of Cardinal Burke‚ you've got a 75-year-old Cardinal who's living in a 4‚500 square foot apartment in Rome with a $60‚000 a year stipend. He spends‚ no one knows maybe a month total in Rome. He has no job there. He's got all these perks and privileges. The Pope finally said to him‚ look‚ you can still be a cardinal‚ you can still vote in the next Conclave‚ you could even be elected Pope‚ after I leave the scene. But we the Vatican are not going to give you a stipend anymore‚ and we're not going to give you a free apartment. You can keep the apartment. You just need to pay for it. Ali Rogin: In terms of his response to these critics and what you've laid out as inefficiencies in their diocese. What does that tell us about the type of Pope that Francis is and the type of leader and the type of human that he is? David Gibson: Pope Francis has really been patient‚ he's resisted moving against some of these critics. Again‚ the criticism against Francis is an entirely different category than the dissent was from the left against John Paul II and Benedict XVI. These bishops and cardinals aren't just disagreeing with the Pope. They're saying he's not a legitimate teacher of the faith. Some of them are even saying he's not a legitimate Pope. It's almost like accusing the president of sedition. Any Bishop‚ in a sense‚ can be his own Pope in the social media sense. And Francis has not wanted to create other rival voices out there. But at a certain point‚ he's asked to lose patience. This just this month‚ he turns 87 years old. Time is running out for Francis and he had to make some moves. Ali Rogin: David Gibson with Fordham University. Thank you so much for your time. David Gibson: Great to be here. Thank you.

Welcome to Woke of the Weak where I’ll update you about the most woke‚ progressive‚ insane‚ and crazy clips and stories that the left thinks is tolerable and well‚ point out why exactly they’re nuts.  Christmas is just around the corner and the left still can’t figure out the real reason for the season.  This week we looked at how narcissistic the left is‚ even during the season of giving.  We started out hearing a version of “Santa Baby” sung by a man in a mini Santa dress. Then we heard from someone who is likely his friend‚ another transvestite‚ who couldn’t figure out why men in women's restrooms was an issue.  Another tranny insisted that it should be illegal for people to think of him as a man.  I myself would be arrested if that were the case.  Another trangender person insisted that you can change your biological sex. I guess he/she skipped the biology lesson that talked about how you can’t remove y chromosomes from every cell in your body.  Speaking of things in your body‚ a TikTok user cried on camera about her herpes diagnosis. Apparently she was shocked to receive it after insisting that sleeping around is normal behavior. “Normal” has an interesting definition to the left. As another example‚ First Lady Jill Biden appeared to hire cast members from the Hunger Games for her White House Christmas video. It didn’t encapsulate the meaning of Christmas in any way shape or form and it was a circus in more ways than one.  Over in Germany‚ protestors thought that spraying orange paint onto a Christmas tree would solve the climate crisis and protestors in Canada ruined a mall Santa’s magic by screaming “free Palestine” over and over. The nuts in Canada are also putting tampons in mens rooms so this behavior isn’t too unexpected.  Finally we saw a man blow torch security cases at stores to get his Christmas shopping done for free! Resourceful! If you take anything away from this episode I hope it's that these people need a lot of prayer! 

From mass digital ID verification to the purge of right-leaning media‚ former Google CEO Eric Schmidt has the answer on how the left can best defeat its critics ahead of the 2024 presidential election. Schmidt — the former tech executive turned billionaire Democratic operative — authored a Dec. 16 op-ed for the MIT Technology Review advising Democrats how to fight purported AI-generated misinformation “before it’s too late.” Citing Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL) and the Republican National Committee’s use of artificial intelligence‚ Schmidt begged lawmakers and Big Tech to unleash draconian measures that‚ if implemented‚ could mark the beginning of a leftist dystopian society.  Among his proposed measures include 1) verifying human users on social media‚ 2) tracking IP addresses‚ 3) watermarking AI-generated content‚ 4) banning advertisers that do not comply with rules‚ 5) using humans to “fend off an avalanche” of AI-generated content and 6) investing in research. Schmidt noted the confusion AI can cause‚ noting a need to “brace ourselves for more chaos as key votes unfold across the world in 2024.” He decried the use of AI-generated content to attack scandal-ridden President Joe Biden.  In the name of reducing so-called misinformation‚ Schmidt called on Big Tech companies to verify user identities. “We need to distinguish humans using social media from bots‚ holding both accountable if laws or policies are violated‚” Schmidt claimed‚ specifying that “This doesn’t mean divulging identities.” But he called for even more draconian measures‚ urging Big Tech platforms to force users to use “a time stamp and encrypted (and not removable)” IP address. He also advocated against online privacy and anonymity‚ claiming that those that use VPNs to hide their digital internet address could be “deprioritized or banned.” Schmidt hailed Biden’s infamous executive order on AI‚ calling on Big Tech platforms to follow suit with the Department of Commerce’s plan to develop guidance on watermarking AI-generated content. Schmidt alleged that one way to identify deep fake content is by — wait for it — using AI itself. “AI systems can also be trained to detect the signatures of deepfakes‚ using large sets of truthful images contrasted with images labeled as fake‚” Schmidt claimed. Related: Harris Calls for AI Censorship‚ Assumes Americans Too Dumb to Tell ‘Fact from Fiction’ Schmidt’s six-point plan also targeted advertisers. The plan urged Big Tech companies to promote a “‘safe list’” of advertisers across platforms. Those advertisers who do not “conform professionally to the platforms’ advertising standards” could be purged from the platforms. What could go wrong? Schmidt eerily concluded that these priorities need to be adopted quickly to “make a difference.” “With a concerted effort from companies‚ regulators‚ and Congress‚ we can adopt these proposals in the coming year‚ in time to make a difference‚” Schmidt asserted. “In time” for what‚ Schmidt? The upcoming 2024 presidential election perhaps? Conservatives are under attack. Contact your representatives and demand that Big Tech be held to account to mirror the First Amendment while providing transparency‚ clarity on hate speech and equal footing for conservatives. If you have been censored‚ contact us using CensorTrack’s contact form‚ and help us hold Big Tech accountable.

The Meta Oversight Board — in a rare display — actually ruled against Facebook and Instagram’s censorship regime and stood partially in favor of free speech. The infamously anti-free speech Oversight Board made a surprising 180-degree turnaround and rebuffed Facebook’s gambit to remove videos exposing the extent of Hamas atrocities in Israel during the Oct. 7 genocidal attack through its automated system. One video in particular was the focus of the Board’s decision‚ which involved a censored clip showing a woman begging Hamas terrorists for her life as they kidnapped her‚ along with another hostage and the message “Israel is under attack.” According to the Oversight Board‚ such videos should still require a warning screen but otherwise should be available for Facebook users to see and share. The Board even critiqued Meta for not fully living up to its “responsibilities to respect freedom of expression.” “The Board overturns Meta’s original decision to remove the content from Facebook‚” the Board announced. “It finds that restoring the content to the platform‚ with a ‘mark as disturbing’ warning screen‚ is consistent with Meta’s content policies‚ values and human-rights responsibilities. However‚ the Board also concludes that Meta’s demoting of the restored content‚ in the form of its exclusion from the possibility of being recommended‚ does not accord with the company’s responsibilities to respect freedom of expression.”  The lengthy decision “overturned” Meta’s original plan‚ which was actually to censor more heavily as content around the current Israel-Hamas war began to appear across Facebook and Instagram. This appears to confirm a previous accusation that Instagram removed videos exposing the terrorists’ actions. Since Hamas is a “designated Tier 1 organization under Meta’s Dangerous Organizations and Individuals Community Standard‚” the company pounced on any potentially violative content on its platforms‚ supposedly for “safety‚” with insufficient resources for human review. The Oversight Board sided against Meta in deeming the content important for the public to access.  While “[t]he Violence and Incitement Community Standard generally allows content that depicts kidnappings and abductions in a limited number of contexts‚” Meta doesn’t apply this exception for some terrorist attacks. But as families of hostages shared content online‚ Meta implemented an exception— and the Board ruled in favor of restoring content. The Oversight Board even engaged in an “Expedited Review” of the video of the kidnapped woman and the circumstances around its censorship. Conservatives are under attack. Contact Facebook headquarters at (650) 308-7300 and demand that Big Tech be held to account to mirror the First Amendment while providing transparency‚ clarity on “misinformation” and equal footing for conservatives. If you have been censored‚ contact us using CensorTrack’s contact form‚ and help us hold Big Tech accountable.

“Victim” is one of the best labels you can have these days because it can often be used as a get-out-of-jail-free card. At least for 24-year-old Aiden Maese-Czeropski‚ the Senate staffer for Ben Cardin who filmed himself having sex in one of the hearing rooms‚ that’s what he’s hoping for. Maese-Czeropski‚ who’d been on Cardin’s congressional team for the past two years‚ has since been fired for the video. However‚ he’s certainly not taking the walk of shame. In fact‚ he’s using the incident to fuel his campaign of victimhood. Dave Rubin shows Maese-Czeropski’s response to the scandal: This has been a difficult time for me‚ as I have been attacked for who I love to pursue a political agenda. While some of my actions in the past have shown poor judgment‚ I love my job and would never disrespect my workplace. Any attempt to characterize my actions otherwise are fabricated and I will be exploring what legal options are available to me in these matters. “If you view the world in the oppressed-oppressor narrative‚ then even if you are getting a**-blasted on the Senate floor‚ you will figure out a way to consider yourself the victim‚” says Dave in disbelief. “No one is attacking him for who he is. He probably got the job in part because he's gay in the first place ... the Senators are usually screwing us‚ the American people‚ but that's a metaphor. You can't actually do it!” he laughs. And as for Maese-Czeropski’s comment that he “would never disrespect [his] workplace‚” clearly he doesn’t understand that those words are meaningless when there’s video evidence proving otherwise. But we’re looking forward to seeing how he plans to use his “legal options” to counter this. 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.