Hollywood rarely gets veterans right, portraying returning soldiers as caricatures or perfect heroes. “Sheepdog,” which opened nationwide on January 16, doesn’t have that problem. The film is intent on showing the reality of the veteran experience from all sides — something the film’s writer, director, producer, and star, Steven Grayhm, says came at a cost. “It was hard. It was really hard,” Grayhm told The Daily Wire in an interview reflecting on the film’s 14-year journey to the screen. “We could have cut corners early on that would have made our lives easier. And we would never have been able to live with ourselves. We never bent the knee, and we never kissed the ring.” “Sheepdog” is about Army combat veteran Calvin Cole, who is court-ordered into treatment and into the care of a VA trauma therapist in training.  “Things become even more complicated when Calvin’s father-in-law, a retired Vietnam Veteran, shows up on his doorstep having just been released from prison,” a description of the film reads. “As Calvin’s plan to run from his past becomes even more challenging, he learns through the support of his community, tough love and compassion, that he must put himself back together again for his family and for himself.” The film is personal for Grayhm, whose grandfather was a Polish farmer captured by the Nazis during World War II and held as a prisoner of war for five years. After being widowed, he moved in with Grayhm’s family. “I had bunk beds in my room,” Grayhm recalled. “So I slept on the top, but I would fall asleep to his stories at night. Some of them were hard … but he did share his being liberated by the American and Allied troops. As a young boy, that’s ingrained in you. That goes into the DNA of who you are.” His grandfather’s influence laid the foundation until a chance encounter planted the seed that would lead to “Sheepdog’s” creation. In 2011, Grayhm’s car broke down three hours north of Los Angeles. He said his conversation with a tow truck driver is a major source of inspiration for the film.  “He opened up about his life, the challenges in his marriage, being a father of three, financial hardship,” Grayhm said. “Then he began to share all the different medications that he was on … tethered to his post-traumatic stress from multiple military deployments.” Grayhm recalls listening without speaking. “He kept saying, ‘I can’t believe I’m telling you this. I’ve never told my wife. I’ve never told a therapist,’” Grayhm said. “And that lit the spark. The teachable moment was to sit and listen without prejudice.” The idea that it was easier for a veteran to speak to a stranger than to his own family stuck with the filmmaker. “I couldn’t stop thinking about him weeks after,” he said. “I thought there had to be more men and women like him suffering in silence.” That summer, Grayhm and co-star Matt Dallas, who plays Calvin’s best friend in the film, embarked on a nationwide road trip to interview veterans and families. Along the journey, they found many similarities in the stories. The result is not a traditional war movie, Grayhm said. “‘Sheepdog’ is not a post-traumatic stress movie,” he said. “It is a movie about post-traumatic growth.” He went on to say that too many films in this genre portray veterans as broken beyond repair. “My character has been to hell and back, but he’s not broken,” Grayhm said of Calvin. “He doesn’t feel sorry for himself.” He said Hollywood wasn’t biting, at least not without totally changing the vision. “I cannot tell you how many rooms we were laughed out of,” Grayhm told The Daily Wire. “They said, ‘These movies don’t make money. Nobody cares about these stories.’” When someone did show interest, it always had stipulations. “We started getting script notes to sanitize the story,” he said. “They wanted to turn my character into some paranoid guy having visions … almost a thriller. That’s not the truth.” Instead, Grayhm made the project independent, raising private equity out of Texas and filming on a tight budget. After making the rounds on the festival circuit, the film just opened in 500 theaters nationwide. The authenticity extends to the cast. Academy Award nominee Virginia Madsen (“Sideways”), who plays trauma therapist Dr. Elecia Knox, is a Gold Star family member. “She knew the stakes were very high,” Grayhm said. “She bared her heart and soul.” “She has this speech where she says, ‘You were willing to give your life for your country. Now maybe you should try living for it,’” Grayhm recalled. “You could hear a pin drop. She did it in one take.” Grayhm says he has just one goal for “Sheepdog.”  “If we can save a single life with this film, it will be the greatest Hollywood success story,” he said. “There are currently five million veterans not accessing their VA care,” Grayhm added. “Sometimes walking through that front door can be the longest we’ve traveled.” For civilians, the film serves two purposes. First, it’s a glimpse into what a veteran is going through. And second, it’s a chance to appreciate the freedom they’ve been given. “The one percent is defending and protecting the other ninety-nine percent,” Grayhm said. “Just being aware of that matters.” “Sheepdog” is currently showing in theaters.

These caves have played a quiet but significant role in multiple important scientific debates.

For decades, California has used its enormous market power to shape national vehicle policy, often pushing regulations far beyond its borders and into the daily lives of Americans who never voted for them. That long-running dynamic has now reached a critical moment.The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is moving to block California’s latest attempt to regulate heavy-duty trucks nationwide — a proposal first announced in 2025 but now entering a decisive phase of federal review. California’s early emissions standards helped accelerate cleaner engines and better fuel systems. But leadership can turn into compulsion.With final EPA action expected in 2026, the outcome will determine whether California can continue using its borders as a regulatory choke point for interstate trucking, or whether federal limits will finally be enforced.Freight frightAt issue is California’s Heavy-Duty Inspection and Maintenance requirement, part of the state’s air-quality plan. The rule would apply not only to trucks registered in California, but to any heavy-duty vehicle operating within the state — including those registered elsewhere in the U.S. or even abroad. In practical terms, a truck hauling goods from Texas, Ohio, or Mexico could be forced to comply with California’s rules simply by crossing its borders.The EPA has proposed disapproving that requirement, citing serious constitutional and statutory concerns.This matters far beyond California. Heavy-duty trucks are the backbone of the American economy, moving food, fuel, medicine, building materials, and consumer goods across state lines every day. Regulations that raise costs or restrict access for those vehicles ripple through supply chains and ultimately show up as higher prices at the checkout counter — including for online purchases. The EPA’s proposed action acknowledges that reality and draws a clear line between environmental policy and unlawful overreach.Out of lineAccording to the agency, California’s proposal appears to violate the Commerce Clause of the U.S. Constitution, which prevents individual states from interfering with interstate trade. The Clean Air Act also requires state implementation plans to comply with federal law, and the EPA argues California’s approach fails that test. By attempting to regulate out-of-state and foreign-registered vehicles, California stepped into territory reserved for the federal government.EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin has been blunt in explaining the agency’s position. California, he has argued, was never elected to govern the entire country, yet its regulatory ambitions — often justified in the name of climate policy — have imposed higher costs on Americans nationwide. Allowing one state to dictate trucking standards for the rest of the country undermines both federal law and economic stability.Foreigners tooThere is also a foreign-commerce issue that rarely gets discussed. California’s rule would apply to vehicles registered outside the United States, even though authority over foreign trade and international relations rests exclusively with the federal government. That alone raised red flags and reinforced the EPA’s conclusion that the state exceeded its legal authority.This proposed disapproval is part of a broader federal effort to rein in California’s emissions authority. In 2025, the Department of Justice filed complaints against the California Air Resources Board, arguing that the state was effectively enforcing pre-empted federal standards through informal agreements with manufacturers. Together, these actions reflect growing concern in Washington that California has relied on market leverage rather than lawful authority to achieve national policy outcomes.Waiver goodbyeWaivers are central to this conflict. For years, California received special permission under the Clean Air Act to set its own vehicle emissions standards, with other states allowed to follow its lead. Under the previous administration, the EPA granted waivers for California’s Advanced Clean Cars II, Advanced Clean Trucks, and Heavy-Duty Engine Omnibus NOx rules. Supporters framed them as environmental progress. Critics warned they would raise vehicle prices, limit consumer choice, strain the electric grid, and force changes the market was not ready to absorb — which is exactly what followed.In June 2025, Congress overturned those waivers using the Congressional Review Act. That move sent a clear message: Vehicle standards should be national in scope, not dictated by a single state, regardless of its size or political influence. The EPA’s current review of California’s truck inspection rule builds directly on that message.Supporters of California’s approach often point to the state’s historic role in improving air quality and advancing technology. That is true — up to a point. California’s early emissions standards helped accelerate cleaner engines and better fuel systems. But leadership can turn into compulsion, especially when it ignores regional differences, economic realities, and legal limits.RELATED: Will Trump’s unconventional plan to stop the UN climate elites work? Chip Somodevilla/Getty ImagesRecalibrationThe heavy-duty truck sector makes this clear. Unlike passenger cars, trucks operate on thin margins and long replacement cycles. Fleet decisions are driven by reliability, infrastructure availability, and total cost of ownership. Mandating technologies before they are ready or widely supported does not accelerate progress; it creates higher costs and unintended consequences — especially when those mandates originate in a single state but affect national commerce.The EPA’s move suggests that era may be nearing its end. By challenging California’s heavy-duty inspection requirement, the agency is asserting that environmental goals do not justify ignoring constitutional structure. Clean air matters — but so do the rule of law, economic practicality, and the free movement of goods across state lines.The proposed disapproval remains open for public comment, after which the EPA is expected to take final action later this year. Whatever the outcome, the signal is unmistakable: Federal regulators are no longer willing to automatically defer to California when state ambition collides with national authority.For truck drivers, fleet operators, manufacturers, and everyday consumers, this moment represents a recalibration. It reaffirms that vehicle regulation should be consistent nationwide — and that environmental policy works best when it respects both economic reality and the legal framework that holds the country together.

Our nose is right in front of us. So why don't we normally notice it?

MS NOW’s Nicolle Wallace is giving a verbal high-five to all the pro-illegal alien protesters in Minneapolis. On Friday, she even went so far as to say their defiance of our nation’s immigration…

by Leo Hohmann, Leo’s Newsletter: Mandates square with Trump’s advancement of a digital surveillance state coming at us from all angles Yesterday, in an underreported story, 57 Republican members of Congress joined Democrats in voting down an amendment that would have repealed Joe Biden’s mandatory automobile kill switch. “Kill switch” you ask? What is that all about? […]

by Brian Shilhavy, Health Impact News: AI was a top subject discussed this week at the 2026 World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, Switzerland. One of the most illuminating events regarding how world financial leaders view AI today was in a panel discussion hosted by CNBC that included Larry Fink, CEO of BlackRock, Ken Griffin, […]

Starting out as a synthwave duo, Cwfen pivoted to ethereal doom metal after a fateful stormy night

Boomers like me tend to wax critical of the “lost generation” of people born roughly between 1997 and 2012. We read articles claiming this generation is glued to their phones and ruined by social media. We hear they’re anxious and depressed. We see they have short attention spans and diminished social skills. Sometimes they even wear pajamas in public or sweatpants to church! We wonder what will become of Gen Z, the first generation to have a life experience shaped so much by electronics and social media. But a few weeks ago, I spent six days alongside thousands of Gen Zers, and if I’d ever given up this generation as lost, I earnestly recant my position. I was at CrossCon, a three-day conference conceived by David Platt, John Piper, and others. Held every year over the Christmas break, the gathering aims to help 18-to-25-year-olds deepen their understanding and love of the gospel, the local church, and missions. Cross began in 2013 with about 3,500 participants, then dipped to around 2,000 attendees in 2016 before beginning to grow. This year, it swelled to 18,000 young people—so many that organizers had to split the conference into two back-to-back events. Next year, Cross will be moving to a 60,000-seat arena in Saint Louis. Let me tell you why those 18,000 Gen Zers caused me to rethink my attitude toward them. 1. Gen Zers are hungry for truth, and they don’t need it to be truncated or gussied up to apprehend it. What’s so remarkable and heartening about the steady increase in Cross participants over the years is that the conference, though aimed at a young crowd, has few bells and whistles to attract them. There were no strobe lights, rock walls, or gimmicks designed to keep their attention. Though the stage was hip and the merch was—I think the term is “lit”—Cross’s attraction is simply the gospel itself. Every talk, every book, every bit of that merch was saturated with the clear message of the gospel of Jesus Christ and the dire need for that message to reach the nations. Cross is unapologetically Calvinistic and complementarian. I didn’t hear anyone complaining about that. What’s more, the most enthusiastic reception this year was for a couple of septuagenarians in sweaters, John Piper and Alistair Begg. Why? Because these men consistently speak the truth, grounded in God’s Word, with the sole purpose of making the gospel known to the generations—not relevant but known. And this so-called lost generation was eating it up. 2. Gen Zers take the Bible seriously. I was among the bookstore volunteers at Cross, and my wonder never diminished at the unrestrained glee I saw over piles of books. Gen Z went shopping for Christian biographies, biblical commentaries, and thick tomes on systematic theology. I heard over and over as I checked folks out, “I’m so excited!” in reference to titles such as J. C. Ryle’s Expository Thoughts on the Gospels, John Bunyan’s Pilgrim’s Progress, or John Piper’s Don’t Waste Your Life—not to mention Scripture journals and Bibles. Defying boomer complaints that peg them as incapable of sustained attention or profound thought, these Gen Zers bought 92,000 books—actual physical books—and received another 90,000 in giveaways. That’s an average of 10 books per participant! 3. Gen Zers are capable of sustained attention. Each of the events this year encompassed three intense days of speakers, panel discussions, Q&As, breakout sessions, theologically rich worship, missionary testimonies, and encouragement that began early in the morning and didn’t relent until 11:00 p.m. With each passing day, I was struck by the lack of empty seats at any given time. Defying boomer complaints that peg them as incapable of sustained attention or profound thought, these Gen Zers bought 92,000 books. From the moment the doors opened in the morning, young people came pouring through. They milled about the exhibitors, bought books, or chatted in groups. But when it was time for a session to start, nearly every person was seated and ready. Journals were out, pens were poised, and Bibles were ready to be opened. When the music started, the attendees were on their feet, singing earnestly. When it was time to pray, heads were bowed and the room fell silent. And when a speaker was at the podium, eyes were fixed on the stage or the massive screens, glancing away just long enough to jot some notes. This attention and focus didn’t diminish from the first day to the last. 4. The Holy Spirit is working mightily in the hearts of Gen Zers. At the end of each day, as I made my way to my hotel via the skywalk that stretches above Louisville’s main street, I encountered huddles of young people, with God’s Word and journals open, animatedly debriefing what they’d heard that day. One late evening, I happened on an impromptu hymn sing in the hotel, with around 50 Canadian kids gathered around a piano. They kept at it for over an hour. Early in the mornings, as I reversed my steps, I passed lone participants having quiet time in a tucked-away corner of the lobby, Bibles open in their laps. There wasn’t a phone in sight. 5. Boomers should spend more time with Gen Zers. Boomers, instead of lamenting this generation, what can we do to serve the youth and young adults in our church? How can we shift our attitude toward Gen Z from pessimism and cynicism to optimism, appreciation, and encouragement? Psalm 145:4 compels older generations to “commend [God’s] works to another, and . . . declare [his] mighty acts.” Let’s pray for God to help us find ways to speak into this generation, who are decidedly not too distracted or impervious to the great call of Jesus Christ and his marvelous gospel. How can we shift our attitude toward Gen Z from pessimism and cynicism to optimism, appreciation, and encouragement? I turned 64 a few days before the conference. I can guarantee that this wasn’t how I was spending my Christmas break 45 years ago. During my time at Cross, I saw 1 Timothy 4:12 played out before my eyes: “Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity.” From now on, I’ll apply Philippians 4:8 when thinking of Gen Z. Because what I witnessed at Cross, sweatpants notwithstanding, was indeed true, honorable, pure, lovely, commendable, excellent, and definitely worthy of praise to the One who calls and commissions.