Israel took “Death to Israel” seriously. We should take “Death to America” seriously. The post Death to Iran’s Regime appeared first on Frontpage Mag.

Night came in the Middle East, and missiles descended on Israel as Iran’s counter attack began. They are hitting civilian areas in Tel Aviv. The videos are stunning. BREAKING: Israel is under MASSIVE ballistic missile attack—Fox News crew caught live in Tel Aviv as explosions light up the sky. This is insane footage. As missiles […] The post Spectacle of Missiles Lighting Up the Tel Aviv Sky appeared first on www.independentsentinel.com.

Three government contractors and a USAID official have pleaded guilty to a scheme involving paying bribes in order to steer more than half a billion dollars in foreign aid contracts, the Department of Justice said Friday. Roderick Watson, a USAID contracting officer, admitted to steering money to multiple companies in exchange for more than $1 million in bribes. “Watson exploited his position at USAID to line his pockets with bribes in exchange for more than $550 million in contracts,” Guy Ficco of IRS Criminal Investigation said in a statement. “While he helped three company owners and presidents bypass the fair bidding process, he was showered with cash and lavish gifts.” The scheme was possible because of the federal government’s racial “set-aside” laws known as 8(a) contracting, which allow contracting officers to give contracts to companies owned by minorities, women, or veterans without the usual competitive process. Walter Barnes III, the founder of a Baltimore-area company predicated on taking advantage of those laws, admitted to paying bribes, including a country-club wedding, cash, and a trip to Martha’s Vineyard. Barnes’s company is called Visant, previously known as PM Consulting Group. It was awarded contracts on the pretense that it was “disadvantaged” because Barnes is black, even as it took in tens of millions of dollars. Barnes used a public defender in his court case, drawing a rebuke from the judge that he presumably had ample resources to pay for his own lawyer. Also pleading guilty was Darryl Britt, the owner of 8(a) contracting firm Apprio Inc., which is received $271 million in federal contracts since 2004. Both companies also admitted criminal liability. Beginning in 2013, Britt — a member of Carnegie Mellon University’s Business Board of Advisers — bribed Watson to award contracts to Apprio. When an 8(a) firm becomes too large, it “graduates” from its “disadvantaged” status. But minority contracting laws are notoriously exploited, with minority-owned firms existing simply to win contracts, then subcontracting out the work to other firms. That is often done openly, and above board, with “joint ventures.” That’s what happened in this case once Apprio could no longer receive contracts without competition. Beginning in 2018, it enlisted Barnes to have sole-source contracts be awarded to his company, Visant, which would then subcontract to Apprio. To obscure the money trail, bribes would often be passed through Paul Anthony Young, a friend of Barnes’ in Maryland who was president of another subcontractor, and who also pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit bribery of a public official. Between 2013 and 2023, Britt, Barnes, and Young “bribed [Watson], a public official, repeatedly—in fact, through hundreds of monthly payments and other things of value, including laptops, cellular phones, jobs for relatives, and other gifts and favors” in exchange for “USAID contracts valued at hundreds of millions of dollars,” a statement of facts accompanying Britt’s plea deal said. That included a $25.5 million contract for “professional management” awarded in late 2018 to Visant, which was subcontracted out to the other companies. Initially, Britt said to give “only cash to you know who,” but eventually, Young put the USAID contracting officer on the payroll of a company. On March 28, 2018, Watson put in paperwork for a “sole source, noncompetitive contract” to Visant. The next day, Young spent $3,000 renting a suite for Watson to watch the Washington Wizards play basketball, according to court filings. Minority-owned “disadvantaged” businesses typically can only get contracts under $4 million without competition, but in June 2018, Watson sought an exception from the Small Business Administration to award a contract north of $20 million. In August, Watson grumbled that he could make much more money as an 8(a) contractor than he could as a government employee. Young encouraged him to start a firm, but Watson said he wanted to wait until he was more “thoroughly entrenched with [US]AID and now the State Department” so he could use his connections to get contracts. The contracts totaled $544 million between 2013 and 2022, according to Barnes’ plea agreement. They began with a $4.8 million “staffing contract” in 2013 and a $37 million “institutional support” contract in 2014 and escalated to a $95 million contract for “technical support” in 2022. The awarded contracts amounted to $257 million, plus there were three potential contracts totaling $287 million near the end of the scheme that were not ultimately awarded. (Sen. Brian Schatz (D-HI) said on Thursday that there was only $50 million in waste in total at USAID). Two USAID contracts awarded to Apprio, for $4.4 million and $1.8 million, are listed in spending records as for “education/training-lectures.” A $30 million USAID contract to Visant is listed as “for the innovation design and advisory services team to obtain access to specialized buy-in support to a variety of technical design firms through the management of a PMO.” A $25 million contract is listed as simply “to obtain professional management services from an 8(a) small business contractor.” A mark of how minority set-aside contractors routinely game the system is how small companies receive contracts for widely divergent fields of work — a sign that they are simply having others do it or hiring staff afterwards with little knowledge of the subject area. Apprio’s contracts with government agencies range from developing websites to medical care to human resources to “ebola efforts.” Other USAID contracts to Visant include a $15 million contract “to help protect cyberspace and communications network domains to block the spread of insecure information.” A $28 million USAID contract was for “lab institutional contractor – mega bridge contract,” and a $40 million contract was for “creation of the PDEX award.” A $204,000 contract was for a “senior advisor to the Belarus country director.” The Trump administration shuttered USAID following concerns that much of its foreign aid was wasted or diverted to politically connected Americans. That contention was met by outrage on the part of Democrat lawmakers, who stormed its office and called it a conspiracy theory. The Department of Justice said that Apprio should have to pay a $52 million penalty and Visant should have to pay $86 million, but that the companies did not have the funds to pay. It agreed to accept $500,000 from Apprio and $100,000 from Visant, and to defer criminal prosecution of both companies. USAID official Watson faces up to 15 years in prison, while the company owners face up to five years in prison. In another USAID fraud case, Stephen Paul Edmund Sutton, a British citizen who worked for a USAID contractor, pleaded guilty May 19 to taking kickbacks related to an electric program in Pakistan. Sutton and a co-conspirator who worked for him were in charge of giving out subcontractors to Pakistani vendors to perform work. In 2015, the pair created two companies and had the contractor pay them for forklift and crane services. Then those companies hired Pakistanis for half the amount. Prosecutors said the agency was defrauded of $100,000. Sutton was ordered to be handed over to immigration authorities instead of jail. The Daily Wire previously revealed that USAID’s inspector general told a federal court in November that another foreign aid contracting official, Matthieu Zahui of the African Development Foundation, had steered contracts to a friend who secretly paid him personally. Zahiu has not been criminally charged as of now.

President Trump is cracking down hard as immigration protests spiral into unrest. With federal troops on the ground and arrests underway, the administration is sending a clear message: lawlessness won’t be tolerated—no matter the ZIP code. FBI Arrests Alleged Riot Supplier The FBI has arrested Alejandro Theodoro Orellana for allegedly supplying “bionic shield” face masks to protesters during violent anti-ICE demonstrations in Los Angeles. Prosecutors say Orellana is part of a broader effort to provide rioters with military-grade protection gear. He faces federal charges of conspiracy to commit civil disorder—a sign that the Justice Department is targeting not just rioters, but those behind the scenes. U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli is leading the charge, emphasizing that cracking down on protest logistics is now a top federal priority. Investigators are focusing on identifying those who supply funding, equipment, and tactical support for organized demonstrations, particularly those targeting federal immigration enforcement. Trump’s Military Move Sparks Blue State Fury The arrest comes just days after President Trump sent nearly 2,000 National Guard troops and 700 Marines into Los Angeles without approval from California Governor Gavin Newsom. The deployment—meant to support ICE operations and stabilize violent protests—marks the largest domestic military mobilization in the city since the 1965 Watts riots. ARRESTED: Alejandro Theodoro Orellana was arrested this morning by @FBILosAngeles on an allegation of Conspiracy to Commit Civil Disorders (18 USC 371) for distributing face shields to suspected rioters on Tuesday. We are moving quickly to identify and arrest those involved in… pic.twitter.com/Ase8kxupfp — U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli (@USAttyEssayli) June 12, 2025 Governor Newsom blasted the move, accusing Trump of “militarizing our cities” and “manufacturing a crisis.” New York Governor Kathy Hochul echoed the outrage, claiming the president is undermining constitutional limits on federal power. A federal court is now reviewing the legality of using active-duty military in local law enforcement actions without state consent. Protests Heat Up, DOJ Hardens Stance Protests against ICE raids have turned increasingly violent, with demonstrators clashing with police across downtown L.A. and blocking the 101 Freeway. Law enforcement declared multiple unlawful assemblies and made 27 arrests. Charges range from felony assault on a federal officer to the use of a Molotov cocktail. One suspect has even been added to the FBI’s Most Wanted list. Alejandro Theodoro Orellano was arrested for Conspiracy to Commit Civil Disorder. Can result in 5 years in prison, a fine or BOTH. Who paid for these shields he was distributing? Arrest them too. pic.twitter.com/3mrVyXO5tk — Savannah (@BasedSavannah) June 12, 2025 The Department of Justice is no longer playing defense. Associate Deputy Attorney General Aakash Singh has instructed U.S. Attorneys nationwide to prioritize and publicize every case involving protest-related violence or property destruction. The message is clear: the federal government will not tolerate riots disguised as demonstrations—and those aiding them will be held accountable. As protests boil and legal battles loom, the Trump administration is signaling a zero-tolerance approach to chaos in America’s streets. Sources: What happened during three days of protests over immigration raids in downtown L.A. – Los Angeles Times Feds nab man accused of dropping off masks to anti-ICE rioters in LA

As the U.S. Army celebrates its 250th anniversary with a powerful show of strength in Washington, D.C., political tensions simmer just beneath the surface. The grand military parade, meant to honor America’s legacy, now doubles as a flashpoint amid fierce backlash over the President’s domestic troop deployments. Military Might on Display Washington, D.C., is transformed into a showcase of American military power as the U.S. Army celebrates its historic 250th anniversary with an impressive parade. The massive display features approximately 7,000 troops, 50 aircraft, and 28 formidable tanks rolling through the capital streets in a demonstration of national strength that carries an estimated price tag of $45 million. The celebration notably coincides with President Trump’s 79th birthday, a scheduling decision that has drawn both praise from supporters and criticism from opponents concerned about the politicization of military affairs. Troops have temporarily occupied vacant government buildings throughout the city as part of the extended celebration, creating an unusual military presence in civilian spaces. CSX proudly supports the U.S. Army's 250th anniversary by moving nearly 100 military vehicles from Birmingham to D.C. for this Saturday's celebration. Watch for exclusive footage of the historic journey. Together, we salute the #Army and its soldiers! #Army250 #CSXPrideInService pic.twitter.com/sExHCLCZ8U — CSX (@CSX) June 12, 2025 Political Tensions Overshadow Celebration The parade occurs against a backdrop of nationwide controversy regarding President Trump’s deployment of active-duty military personnel on domestic soil against the wishes of state officials. This unprecedented use of military force to protect federal agents and buildings amid protests, particularly in California, has sparked legal debates about potential violations of the Posse Comitatus Act, which limits the use of military forces for domestic law enforcement. Approximately 1,800 “No Kings” rallies are planned across the country in response to the President’s policies on immigration and military deployment. President Trump has defended his actions as necessary to maintain “law and order,” while California leadership maintains that protests were under control before federal intervention escalated tensions. Over 350 Mountain Soldiers traveled to Washington D.C. to participate in the @USArmy 250th birthday parade and celebration. For 250 years, the U.S. Army has dedicated itself to fighting and winning the nation's wars. This we’lldefend!#ARMY250 #ClimbtoGlory pic.twitter.com/r4YU7r9LrD — 10th Mountain Div. (@10MTNDIV) June 13, 2025 Military’s Future Amid Challenges Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has vocally supported efforts to remove what he terms “woke” ideologies from military training and operations, claiming these changes have boosted morale and recruitment. The Army continues addressing diversity through various initiatives, including renaming military posts to honor a more diverse range of American soldiers who have served with distinction. Looking forward, the military faces significant challenges from Russian and Chinese military threats, technological shifts, and ongoing recruitment difficulties. Some strategic assessments suggest the Army may need to reduce overall troop numbers to invest in emerging priorities like enhanced Navy capabilities and space-based defense systems, reflecting the changing nature of modern warfare. Despite these pressures and the current political controversy, the Army remains an essential component of America’s defense strategy as it enters its next quarter millennium. The celebration honors two and a half centuries of service while the institution navigates the complex balance between tradition, modernization, and its constitutional role in American democracy. Sources: Live Updates: Appeals Court Order Leaves Troops in L.A. for Now, Ahead of Nationwide Protests Army parade collides with protests over Trump’s deployment of military on US soil – CSMonitor.com

Episode Description: This week, Arielle and Karissa dive into the science of little treats—those small, joyful moments that can regulate stress, boost dopamine, and support mental health. They also spotlight a record-breaking $50M donation launching a global endometriosis research hub and reflect on the urgent need for trans rights and dignity during Pride Month. From strawberry matcha lattes to structural change, it’s a hopeful, honest conversation about caring for ourselves and creating a better world. The Optimist Daily is a project of the World Business Academy. Donate link: https://www.optimistdaily.com/donate-to-support-the-optimist-daily/?gift=Y%20http:// Transcript: Theme music Karissa: Hello and welcome to The Optimist Daily’s Weekly Round-up. I’m Karissa. Arielle: And I’m Arielle, and we’re working hard to put solutions in view and optimism in movement. Karissa: Welcome back, everyone. We’re here again to share the solutions from the Optimist Daily this week. How are you doing over in Amsterdam, Arielle? Arielle: I’m… I’m doing all right. It’s been kind of a hectic week. Karissa: Definitely, yeah. I feel the same way on so many levels. It’s been hectic in a good way because there’s been a lot of celebrations this week. There’ve been some birthdays—including my cat’s. Arielle: Aww! Karissa: But at the same time, it’s been kind of a heavy week in the news cycle. Arielle: Yeah, it just seems like the whole world is in a bit of a turbulent time, to put it lightly. I agree with you. There’s also a lot of celebratory things going on—I mean, it’s summer, and kids are either already done with school or just finishing up, so that’s fun for them. Father’s Day is coming up this weekend, actually, so that’s nice. But there’s just been negative things happening as well. On that note, do you have an “I’m an optimist, but…”? Karissa: I am an optimist, but I’m pretty pessimistic about the news cycle—particularly immigration in the United States. It’s such a huge issue right now, and with ICE enforcement going on around the country, especially in LA, there’s a lot of protests and just a lot of stuff happening down there. That’s just kind of what’s been on my mind this week. But at the end of the day, there are solutions; there’s going to be a way forward through all these issues. Arielle: Yeah. Good to keep that positive mindset even through all this turmoil. Karissa: Totally. Arielle: On the same thread of celebrations… I’m an optimist, but… It’s Pride Month, which is a time to honor queer joy and resistance and visibility and all of that. But I’ll be honest, this year it’s a bit harder to feel celebratory. Just like what you were saying, Karissa, it feels a bit double—especially when trans rights are under such relentless attack, it seems. Karissa: Mm-hmm. Yeah. Arielle: Yeah. In the U.S., we’re witnessing the most sweeping purge of transgender personnel in modern military history. It’s disturbing, considering that these are people who have laid down their lives and are fighting for the U.S.—and under this new executive order, service members are flagged for gender dysphoria and have to resign or face discharge just for existing as they are. At the same time, the Department of Education has rebranded June as “Title IX Month” while refusing to acknowledge Pride at all, which I take huge issue with. Karissa: Right. Arielle: For those who maybe don’t know, Title IX is legislation meant to protect against sex-based discrimination—and it’s now being turned into a weapon to exclude trans people from public life. Karissa: Yes. Arielle: So… I don’t know. There’s just been so much in the news about trans people facing harassment. Did you hear about Tyler Flanagan, who’s a trans woman in Tennessee? She was brutally attacked at a Public Storage unit. Karissa: Oh, I didn’t hear about that one, but I mean—that is just so unfortunate. And just so sad. Arielle: And then there’s—I think it’s Luca Strobel, who’s a young trans guy, 25 years old, I believe. He was trying to use the restroom at a bar in South Carolina, and there were no stalls in the men’s room. So then he entered the women’s, accompanied by a female friend and with permission from the bar itself. Karissa: Yeah. Arielle: But still, an employee burst in and started screaming, you know, “There’s a man in the bathroom,” and then he ended up being detained by police. And it just seemed a bit ridiculous to me—because isn’t this what anti-trans lawmakers want? To make everyone use the bathroom for the sex they were assigned at birth? Karissa: Hmm, yeah. Arielle: I think what I find the most frustrating is that these policies are often framed as protecting women. And as a woman myself who’s been harassed many times—and Karissa, I’m sure you have your own experiences with this to draw on—I have never been harassed by a trans person. Karissa: Mm-hmm. Yeah, I have never been harassed by someone who was trans. And—I mean, why are we putting so much focus onto making their lives so much more difficult when we don’t need to do that? Arielle: So I just really wonder whose safety we’re actually talking about… whose rights we’re actually protecting. Yeah. So, I’m still an optimist. I believe in the power of peaceful protest. Karissa: Yes. Arielle: And the long journey toward justice. But I’m also tired of seeing so many different types of marginalized people dehumanized and scapegoated. And yeah… Pride Month isn’t a marketing campaign or something—it’s really just a fight for dignity and safety and humanity. And this year, that fight feels especially urgent. Karissa: Absolutely. As much as we are a positive news source, we exist in this sea of negative news, and it’s important to stay informed. But there are solutions. There are people trying to make the world a better place. And we have some good ones to share today, I think. Arielle: Yes, we do. Do you mind if I jump into mine? Karissa: Yeah. What do you have for the world today? Arielle: OK, so the article I chose this week is about something that doesn’t usually make headlines, but I think it should. And the title is Record-breaking donation launches global hub for endometriosis research in Sydney. Karissa: Definitely amazing news. I guess before we continue, maybe we should explain exactly what endometriosis is for those who aren’t really familiar. Arielle: Absolutely. Endometriosis is a chronic, often painful condition where tissue similar to the lining of the uterus grows outside the womb. This rogue tissue really, really doesn’t belong there. It causes inflammation, scarring, pain during menstruation or sex—and in many cases, it can lead to infertility. Karissa: Yeah. And it affects millions of womb-bearing people—I mean, like over 200 million globally—yet most people go years without a diagnosis. My mom actually suffers from endometriosis, and the main symptom I really remember is that her period cramps every month were just horrible. She was just kind of, like, bedridden for days. Arielle: Oh no. Karissa: But they were just like, “If you have your period, then you probably get really bad cramps. That’s just totally normal.” It was a long process of getting a diagnosis. But yeah, I mean—it’s horrible. Arielle: It’s so strange to me that on average it takes seven years just to get a diagnosis. Crazy. That’s such a long time to live with that kind of pain and uncertainty. Which is why this next story out of Sydney is such a big deal. The University of New South Wales just received a $50 million donation—that’s Australian dollars, so about 32 million U.S. dollars. Karissa: Mm-hmm. Arielle: And this donation will create what will be the world’s largest endometriosis research institute. It’s called the Ainsworth Endometriosis Research Institute—aptly named!—or AERI for short. And it’s designed to tackle this disease head-on with research, faster diagnostics, and more personalized treatments. Karissa: Well, that is just incredible, especially for this condition that’s really historically flown so far under the radar. And I’ve heard so many stories too from people online saying they’ve also taken such a long time to be diagnosed or weren’t listened to about what they think they may have. So this sounds like a great development. Arielle: Not only is this the largest donation for endometriosis research, it’s also the biggest-ever gift for women’s health in Australian history. Karissa: Wow, that’s just amazing. What will this institute actually do differently? Arielle: Well, for starters, AERI is moving away from one-size-fits-all medicine. Jason Abbott, a longtime expert in obstetrics and gynecology, is leading the charge. His goal is to replace the patchwork of treatment opinions out there with evidence-based, individualized care that’s actually grounded in biology. Karissa: I mean, that just sounds like what we should be doing across the board in medicine—but that’s amazing. Arielle: Agreed. And AERI is going global with it. They’re planning collaborations with researchers and clinicians in places like Canada, India, Denmark, and the U.S. So this isn’t just a local win—it’s a big step forward for how endometriosis is understood and treated worldwide. Karissa: Well, it’s kind of strange to think a condition that’s so common and disruptive hasn’t had more consistent investment or attention until now. Arielle: Totally. Especially when you consider the broader costs—not just personal, but economic. Endometriosis isn’t just a medical issue. It affects people’s ability to work—like you were saying, with your mom being bedridden—to access care, to plan families, and all that kind of stuff. The Endometriosis Coalition estimates it costs the Australian economy alone around $9.7 billion every year. Karissa: Wow, that’s a huge number to… Arielle: …to lose! Karissa: …and it’s something that could be prevented. Arielle: Jessica Taylor, who chairs the coalition, said it really well: if we want a cure, we have to understand the disease. Karissa: Yes. Arielle: This institute is finally backing that call with the kind of funding and structure it deserves. Karissa: So it sounds like funding is rolling out over the next decade. What are the first steps? Arielle: The research will start in the lab—basic science, genetics, diagnostics—and then move into clinical applications. It’ll take time, but even other scientists in the field are saying this is a real leap forward, especially in how we deliver mRNA-based therapies directly into immune cells. Karissa: OK. Well, it sounds like a foundation for long-term impact—not just another one-off project. Arielle: Exactly. And it’s a clear sign that the tide is finally turning when it comes to prioritizing women’s health. Endometriosis has been misunderstood, minimized, and neglected for decades. This initiative says: no more of that! Karissa: At least in Australia (laughs). Arielle: (laughs) Yeah. Well—they’re gonna make it global! Karissa: Exactly. I’m hoping that globally it’ll be adopted and inspires more global action as well—because investing in women’s health benefits everyone. Arielle: Yes, and this is the kind of action that is really about protecting and uplifting women. More of this! Karissa: Absolutely. Women’s health is so important. I mean, everyone’s health is important, but… historically, women have been… Arielle: Definitely underserved or not taken seriously. Karissa: Yeah, that’s a huge thing—especially with endometriosis. They’re just not listened to. I think this is great. Arielle: Yes, me too. But uh… I’ve been very heavy this episode. So Karissa, do you have something that will lighten the mood a little bit? Karissa: Well, I do! I have more of a lifestyle-oriented solution: Why little treats matter: the science-backed benefits of small daily joys. Arielle, are there any things—small things, I guess—that you like to do for yourself that just really make you feel great? Arielle: Yeah. As I mention almost every podcast, my dog takes me out… or I take her out, but she makes me do it (laughs). And that—even when I feel really busy—is such a small joy. Karissa: Yeah. Arielle: Or if I’m working on something especially taxing, I’ll just tell myself, “At the end of this, treat yourself to a little snack.” Karissa: Mm-hmm. Arielle: If I don’t have chocolate in the house, then there’s a bakery down the street, so I’ll grab myself a croissant or something. So yeah—I am very food motivated (laughs). Karissa: Yeah (laughs), I feel that. I definitely love a sweet treat in particular. And lately, I’ve really been into making my own iced strawberry matcha lattes. Arielle: Ah, that sounds so good! Karissa: That’s one of my favorite treats right now. There’s actually some real science behind why these little treats help—because these everyday pick-me-ups aren’t just mood boosters. Experts say they can actually help regulate stress, support your nervous system, and build emotional resilience over time. In other words, those tiny joys you reach for might be doing more for you than you think… Arielle: OK, well, I’m already sold. What is the science behind these little treats being so great for us? Karissa: According to Dr. Courtney Tracy—AKA The Truth Doctor on TikTok—the positive effects of little treats are rooted in the nervous system. Even brief moments of comfort or pleasure can interrupt stress responses and bring the body into a more regulated state. Arielle: That sounds like a great dose of dopamine, right? Karissa: Yeah, that’s exactly what’s going on in the brain. Dopamine is that feel-good neurotransmitter that spikes when we experience something enjoyable. And you can go on and continue to treat yourself—without the guilt—because it’s good for you! Arielle: On that note, is there a boundary? How much is too much? Karissa: Yeah. Food-based treats tend to get a bad rap, but registered dietitian Amy Shapiro says that moderate indulgence is actually a good thing. She explains that enjoying something indulgent in moderation can help reduce feelings of restriction. When we allow ourselves to enjoy what we love without guilt, we’re less likely to binge or overeat later. Basically, if your treat choice is a midweek cookie, a fancy iced latte, or chips—go for it! Because the goal is not perfection—it’s presence. Arielle: All right. I can get behind that. Karissa: Absolutely. But not all treats have to be edible. I know that tends to be the first thing we think of—but Arielle, have you ever heard of an active treat? Arielle: Um… not—not like that. What is an active treat? Karissa: It could mean just a walk around the block, a spontaneous solo dance party, or sitting outside with your morning tea. For me—especially now that it’s summer—I like to spend my work lunch break taking a quick dip in the pool in the backyard and maybe having a little tan session. Perks of working from home! And also having really hot summers where I live. Arielle: Yeah. And also a pool! (laughs) Karissa: Yeah. And a pool, too! (laughs) Arielle: Well, I guess an active treat I enjoy doing is going to the sauna. Karissa: Yeah, that’s a great one. Arielle: I mean, it feels like more of a big treat because I have to schedule it, and I have to, like, get to the sauna—which is only a 20-minute bike ride away from me— Karissa: Right. Arielle: —but still, it requires planning. But it’s something I really like, and it really does feel like a treat when I do it. Karissa: I mean, movement, sweating it out, fresh air… those are powerful—as powerful as a chocolate truffle (laughs). So, Amy Shapiro again says that physical activity like walking adds movement, fresh air, and often a change of scenery. That can increase endorphins, reduce cortisol, and improve insulin sensitivity. So many great things from treating yourself to an active treat. And even better—it helps break the cycle of autopilot and offers a moment of mindfulness. Arielle: Well, these are all great examples of little treats. And it sounds like a little treat can really just be anything that makes your day even a tiny bit better. Karissa: Yeah. And that’s just the beauty of it all. Because a little treat might be grabbing a weekly coffee from your favorite café or investing in a plush robe to upgrade your mornings—but the magic lies in the joy it brings. The key is intention. Choosing something that brings genuine joy or a sense of pause. When you give yourself that small moment of care, it supports emotional and even hormonal health. And the mental health benefits go deep beyond momentary pleasure. Little treats can become tools for long-term healing. So for people recovering from burnout, trauma, or chronic stress, Dr. Tracy says that tiny joys can reconnect us to the present moment. Consistent, intentional access to small moments of relief can help rebuild a sense of internal stability, she explains. And at the same time, these small indulgences also provide a quiet rebellion in a culture obsessed with hustle and restraint—and maybe bad news, too. So yeah, I mean… pleasure is not frivolous. It’s a need. Arielle: Again, here I am with my boundaries… is it possible to treat ourselves too much? Karissa: With everything, of course—it’s all about balance. The key is to pay attention to what genuinely brings you joy, and don’t rely on treats as your only coping mechanism. A mix of nutritious eating, physical activity, and restful treats is ideal. But from boosting dopamine to soothing stress, little treats aren’t just fun—they’re foundational. So whether it’s a salty snack or a stretch in the sun, the act of pausing to care for yourself—even just briefly—builds resilience, joy, and emotional well-being. Arielle: I love these little treats. They sound like such a big solution, actually, to making a better life for ourselves. So, I guess my message to the listeners after hearing your solution, Karissa, is: don’t be afraid to enjoy your favorite latte or just put your feet up and watch the clouds. Karissa: Yeah, absolutely. Your nervous system and your future self will definitely thank you. Arielle: Yeah, it’s good to have that guilt-free pleasure—because it’s important to also realize that we can’t really be of any use or any help to anyone if we’re completely depleted. Karissa: It all starts with ourselves. Arielle: Well, thank you again, Karissa, for sharing the solution. We do have so many other great solutions on the Optimist Daily from this week. And they include… Karissa: Free school meals expanded to 500,000 more children under new UK government policy, A surprising look at how Father’s Day came to be, Spain leads on LGBTQ+ workplace rights, and Is sparkling water good for you? What to know about the bubbly drink trend. What else do we have this week? Arielle: We also have 10 surprisingly doable ways to make this your family’s best summer ever, Urban mining: how Europe is turning e-waste and concrete into circular gold, Kyrgyzstan builds 800,000-hectare ecological corridor to protect mountain biodiversity, and Why you wake up hungry (or not) and what your body is trying to tell you. Alright, well, that’s a wrap from us this week! We hope that you enjoyed our roundup of solutions. If you’re interested in starting your days off on the right foot, then please consider subscribing to our free daily newsletter— that way, you’ll get all of our solutions straight to your inbox. Karissa: You can follow us on all social media channels at @OptimistDaily—except on X, where we’re known as @Odetooptimism. Arielle: We’re a small team of optimists, and we work really hard to bring you all the positive news we can find these days. And it’s not a particularly easy job, considering what’s going on in the world. So if you want to support us, that would be amazing! There’s a link in the description where you can find out how you can do that. But otherwise, just telling your friends about us, sharing our podcast with a loved one, or leaving a review—a positive review—would be a huge help for us. Karissa: Well, as always, we’ll be back next week with more solutions. Arielle: For all the fathers and father figures out there—Happy Father’s Day! I hope your celebration this weekend is amazing. And for those of you who either have a strained relationship with your dad or they’re no longer with us, we wish you a lot of love and strength. Karissa: Well, that’s it for now. Bye! Arielle: Bye!The post Podcast Transcript June 13, 2025: Pride, periods, and little pleasures: spotlighting dignity, endometriosis, and daily joy first appeared on The Optimist Daily: Making Solutions the News.

'Do good work or you're going to be gone'

Mace confronted him on the comparison

Editor’s note: This is a lightly edited transcript of today’s video from Daily Signal Senior Contributor Victor Davis Hanson. Subscribe to our YouTube channel to see more of his videos. Hello, this is Victor Davis Hanson for The Daily Signal. June 15th is Father’s Day. It’s always the third Sunday of June. I remember when I was in college, for the first time they made it a national holiday— think in 1972. It derives, in our country, from the early 1900s, when people wanted to because we had a previous holiday of Mother’s Day. They wanted to also honor Father’s Day. In Europe, I think, it’s called St. Joseph’s Day to honor the husband of the Virgin Mary. And, in any case, we honor what our parents did for us by Mother’s Day and for Father’s Day. It recalls something that I like to share with you. One of the roles of fathers is to give young children, especially males, a sense of direction. And almost this tragic sense that sometimes you have to do things that you don’t want to do, but somebody else won’t do them, you’re going to be in trouble. And I look back at my father—I’d like to relate just three things very quickly. Once he wanted us to work in the summer. We were working on the farm. There wasn’t enough work, so he had a friend that wanted us to shake almonds with a mallet. In those days, there was no machine. You just hit the mallet with a canvas. But it was 110 degrees in August. So, he dropped us off in this 40 acre almond field—the four of us—and he started to worry. He said, “My God, it’s hot. I’ve got to go talk to this guy.” And the guy said, ”No, you said you’re going to drop them off.” Bottom line. He came back in his early fifties and he had his work clothes on and he got a mallet. And he worked every day, for a week, hitting the trees while we moved the canvas and put them in gunny sack. And he was completely in sweat. And he said, “You boys are going to be in trouble.” And every hour, he went down to a mountain drive-in and brought back drinks and water. But he stood by us the whole time. And he outworked us. Second thing I remember was, I was in Greece and I had a torn ureter. That’s when a kidney stone—a staghorn calculus—gets lodged and the ureter and begins to cut. And I was in pretty bad shape and I called my parents—they knew about it—and I said, “The doctor can’t take it out. I’ve got to get home.” My father said, “You get on the next flight, I wire you the money. Your mother will find a surgeon. And I will pick you up.” I said, “Well, how am I going to get from the airport to Fresno?” “You worry about that. You worry about the flight. I will get you.” So, 20 hours later, I go there and here’s my father at the airport. I was 20 years old—excuse me—24. And he picks me up. He was 6’4″. He puts me into this old Buick station wagon, that he’d made into an ambulance. He put down all the seats. He had pillows, and he said, “We’re off on a wild ride, Victor.” And we drove 200 miles, in the middle of the night. And he pulled up right to the ambulance entry at Fresno Community Hospital. He pulled over in Los Banos. He called the surgeon and said, “I’m going to be here. You operate.” He pulled in. And within 40 minutes, I was being operated by a surgeon, in Fresno. Because of him. He saved my life. The other thing that I remember was, I was—very quickly— at Stanford University, in a very bad neighborhood. I didn’t have a lot of money. I was on a scholarship. And he was very worried. My mother, of course, was too. And he said, “I’m going to drive up and see this.” So, he went up and he saw it was a rough neighborhood. Didn’t have a lot of money. The next thing I knew, he came over to my apartment and he had these sacks of frozen foods. And they weren’t just prepared foods, they were steaks, they were roast. And he said, “I bought you enough meat for six months. Let’s put it in the freezer.” And I said, “Oh my gosh.” And my roommate, he was very poor. He was from a steelworker’s family in Ohio. So, he had all this meat. And then he said, “You have any money?” And I said—he looked—“Give me your wallet.” So, I had $20. And that was a lot of money, in 1975. So, he pulled out his wallet. He had three twenties. He gave all three to me. I said, “You don’t have any money to drive home.” He said, “You don’t worry about it.” And he said, “That $80, now you’re going to be—I want you to eat well.” He did that every time I was in trouble. And I think that’s the role of fathers. And finally, I said to him, ”Dad, why do you always do this?” And he said, “Because that’s my responsibility. And that will be your responsibility, when you have children. You’re always there if they need you. You’re not there to pamper them. You’re not there to subsidize them. But they need you to keep them going, when they can’t go on their own.” And he didn’t mean that, in the sense of dependency. And he was always like that. And I cherish the memory of him. And I think all of us, in this period of turbulent times, I think we must reevaluate the role of fathers. To the degree this country will make it, it will be a strong father figure that instructs us how to be masculine. How to be a man. How to protect the weak. How to stand forward and challenge bullies, that prey on the weak and the innocent. And that’s a lost art now. And to the degree, that we’ve had strong fathers, as I did, I think each year of our lives, we appreciate it evermore on Father’s Day. Thank you very much. The post Strong Fathers Build Civilizations—Weak Ones Lose Them appeared first on The Daily Signal.

Senate Republicans are sharply criticizing Sen. Alex Padilla, D-Calif., for his disruption Thursday of Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem‘s press conference. “Sen. Padilla should have been in Washington, D.C., voting. He has a responsibility to his constituents to show up at work—not try to make a spectacle of himself,” Sen. John Barrasso, R-Wyo., the Senate Majority Whip, told The Daily Signal.  Sen. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., also had harsh words for the California lawmaker. “Sen. Padilla should be standing up for the law-abiding citizens he was elected to serve—not defending illegal aliens committing horrific crimes in communities across California,” Blackburn said. “His decision to storm into Secretary Noem’s press conference and refuse to follow instructions was entirely unacceptable. This kind of behavior shouldn’t be tolerated from anyone, let alone a sitting U.S. senator,” the Tennessee lawmaker told The Daily Signal. After Padilla repeatedly ignored instructions from Noem’s security team to put his hands up and pushed against the team in attempting to make his way to interrupt her press conference, he was forcibly removed from the room. At that point, he was told to get on the ground and was handcuffed.  “You can’t show up without your pin, refuse to announce yourself, and lunge at a Cabinet secretary. It doesn’t matter who you are,” Sen. Tommy Tuberville, R-Ala., said in a post on X.  “If Sen. Padilla wanted to speak with Secretary Noem, he could have set up a meeting like everyone else,” Tuberville said.  “But this wasn’t about that. Sen. Padilla wanted to cause a scene … and then to cry wolf when he got it,” the Alabama senator contended.  Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., told The Daily Signal he was still assessing the situation. “Well, I’ve spoken with Sen. Padilla. I’ve spoken with Jennifer Hemingway, who is the sergeant-at-arms in the Senate, and I’m trying to connect with Secretary Noem. I haven’t reached her quite yet, but we want to get the full scope of what happened and do what we would do in any incident like this involving a senator. And that’s try to gather all the relevant information,” Thune said. (The GOP leader said he has since spoken with Noem, a fellow South Dakotan.) Padilla defended his outburst in a number of posts on X. “What happened yesterday was part of a much bigger effort to try and silence anyone who dares to question what the Trump administration is doing. But we will not be intimidated, and we will not be deterred. We must hold this administration accountable,” the California senator said on the social media platform. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., criticized the response to Padilla’s disruption. “[It] sickened my stomach—the manhandling of a United States senator,” Politico reported Schumer as saying. Fellow California Democrat Sen. Adam Schiff also weighed in on the incident. “The disgraceful and disrespectful conduct of DHS agents, pushing and shoving him out of a briefing like that, demands our condemnation,” Schiff said in a post on X. .@SenAlexPadilla represents the best of the Senate. The disgraceful and disrespectful conduct of DHS agents, pushing and shoving him out of a briefing like that, demands our condemnation.He will not be silenced or intimidated. His questions will be answered.I’m with Alex. https://t.co/QlQyDO1k80— Adam Schiff (@SenAdamSchiff) June 12, 2025 Padilla was initially appointed to his Senate seat by California Gov. Gavin Newsom to fill the vacancy left by Kamala Harris after she was elected to the vice presidency in 2020. In November 2022, he won a special election to complete Harris’ term, which was set to expire in January 2023. He won a full six-year term for the Senate in a separate general election also held that November. Now 52, Padilla has spent half of his life in California politics, serving first as a member of the Los Angeles City Council, where he became the council’s youngest member at just 26 in 1999. Padilla was elevated to president of the City Council by his colleagues in 2001 and briefly served as acting mayor of Los Angeles after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on the U.S. From there, he entered state politics, serving as a member of the state Senate from 2006 to 2014. He became California’s secretary of state in January 2015, and served in that role until his appointment to represent the state in the U.S. Senate.  The post ‘Entirely Unacceptable’: Senate Republicans Condemn California Democrat’s Outburst appeared first on The Daily Signal.