Memo to conservatives fuming at Taylor Swift like she just started selling puberty blockers at her merch tables: Shake it off. If you insist on making the beloved everywoman an antihero‚ we could be in for a cruel summer (and even crueler November 5). I'll stop now. You don't need even a glancing familiarity with the pop superduperstar's catalogue to realize that she's front and center thanks to beau Travis Kelce’s bid to become a Super Bowl champion. Again. In a little more than a week‚ Kelce’s Kansas City Chiefs square off against the San Francisco 49ers in Super Bowl LVIII in Las Vegas. And Swift will be by his side (or rather in her luxury booth) cheering him on. Swift previously took to social media to mock claims that she’s a witch with great effectiveness. She could potentially apply the kill shot to these MAGA fantasists – and by extension to the party that harbors them – with one Instagram post. That has select conservatives apoplectic. A small subset took their Tay Tay rage to a new level. She’s a psyop‚ they cry‚ her manufactured romance part of President Joe Biden’s re-election scheme. And she’ll make it official on Super Bowl Sunday. In short‚ the NFL fix is in. It’s like wrestling without the fake punches‚ corny dialogue‚ and scripted moments. In her Biden era? Yes‚ Swift is a Democrat. She made that clear in the 2020 documentary “Miss Americana‚” which celebrated her “coming out” as a progressive diva after years of apolitical posturing. She pushed hard for Democratic candidates in the 2018 midterms with mixed results (Marsha Blackburn became a Tennessee senator despite Swift’s attacks on her) and backed Biden in 2020. She also successfully rallied thousands of young people to register to vote. Democrats salivate over Swift pumping life into Biden’s comatose re-election campaign. If anyone can jolt the 81-year-old back to political life‚ it’s Swift. We’re already seeing a flood of think pieces all but demanding that Swift apply the defibrillator paddles to Team Biden. Pundits are having a field day imagining a Biden-Swift pairing‚ even if it means the singer praises the elderly statesman solely from her social media accounts. Bad blood for Trump Conservatives eager to make Swift their enemy are making a grave mistake. Let’s start with the likely GOP standard-bearer‚ Donald Trump. The real estate mogul will struggle to snag the female suburban voter‚ and that’s being generous. His boorish nature‚ checkered history with former partners‚ and accusations of sexual assault all but ended any hope of luring that demographic to the voting booth this November. Alienating young‚ rabid Swift fans‚ and by extension their mothers‚ will put the kibosh on attempts to repair that fractured bond. Swift’s squeaky-clean image should be praised‚ not attacked. Conservatives caterwaul over sexually charged singers like Cardi “WAP” B and Miley Cyrus while ignoring how Swift brings much-needed wholesomeness to the culture. She’s beautiful but modest‚ and her lyrics center on broken romances and dreams of meeting her ultimate Romeo. Her steamiest songs pale compared to what’s heard on iTunes today. She makes Sandy from “Grease” seem like a trollop. And her romance with Kelce‚ a football god who looks as all-American as John Wayne‚ is full of hand-holding and chaste kisses. In an age of throuples and gender-fluidity‚ isn’t this refreshing? Taylor's version Another reason conservatives should reconsider their Swift rage? The press is weaponizing it already. The Associated Press‚ which can’t find the time to fact-check President Biden‚ dashed off a story debunking the psyop charges. Political and media figures on the right‚ including former Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy‚ political activist Laura Loomer‚ and One America News Network host Alison Steinberg‚ have amplified the allegations. Conservatives are walking into a trap‚ and soon the rest of the progressive landscape will pile on. Stephen Colbert and company will mock conservatives from their late-night perches. “Saturday Night Live” will cook up a deeply unfunny sketch on the matter. Maybe more. A version of this is already in play. Swift previously took to social media to mock claims that she’s a witch with great effectiveness. She could potentially apply the kill shot to these MAGA fantasists – and by extension to the party that harbors them – with one Instagram post. The new narrative will stick‚ and Republicans will look stodgy and out of step with pop culture. Check that. Stodgier and even more out of step with pop culture. We can ill afford that at a time when said culture influences the political landscape more than even the late Andrew Breitbart envisioned. Conservatives should praise her talent‚ hard work‚ and positively aspirational brand without needlessly angering her fan base or giving the liberal media a cudgel with which to beat us down. Her 2023 Eras Tour gave a reeling nation a lifeline‚ a chance to celebrate a pop superstar at the peak of her powers. And‚ to her credit‚ she kept politics off the stage through it all. Yes‚ Swift is as overexposed as any pop star in recent memory. Sure‚ the press’ ability to wring clickbait headlines out of her NFL romance is exhausting. And those NFL camera operators are addicted to her reaction shots. We get it. Going to war against Swift‚ and not President Biden’s authoritarian measures 24/7‚ is a tactical error in the making.

Alistair Begg has been an incredible instrument for the kingdom of God. I know many of you have been richly rewarded by his work as a pastor and on the airwaves with Truth for Life Christian Radio. I have also been rewarded on a personal level‚ including at an event we were both a part of last July in my hometown of Des Moines. But when a video recently surfaced of Begg counseling a grandmother to attend the “wedding” of her gender-confused grandchild‚ well‚ all hell broke loose. And his decision to then defend himself with a “compassion over condemnation” self-justification has only served to further darken already murky waters. Do you expose sacrilege by celebrating it? Do you do evil so good may come of it? I don't believe Begg is merely guilty of error here so much as I believe he is guilty of idolatry. Follow me: If a grandmother had contacted Begg and said her grandchild was inspired by the movie “Natural Born Killers” to go on a killing spree but also invited her to a secret location for his or her wedding‚ do you believe Begg would have advised the grandma to attend? Or suppose her grandchild had walked out on her previous spouse and wanted to marry the person she had been cheating with after also walking out on her children. Do you believe Begg would tell Grandma to bring a present‚ too? What if the grandfather and grandson wanted to marry? Would Begg tell Grandma to show up and “kill them with kindness”? Of course not. That all sounds insane and frankly silly to contemplate. Why? Because you haven't been worked over by the culture and the spirit of the age into normalizing those things yet. That's why. Schools do not sponsor incest clubs or adultery clubs. We don’t have serial killer pride month‚ either. We haven’t been desensitized to those sins yet‚ and neither has Begg. Truth vs. grace? That’s why this isn’t error but idolatry. It’s making kindness its own god. It’s deciding you are nicer than God — the same God who calls sin what it is and demands that sinners come to repentance to avoid eternal damnation. So for those of you who lost your businesses because you didn’t want to serve flowers or bake a cake for a gay wedding‚ it turns out you weren’t wrong about the sin. Apparently‚ you weren’t sufficiently kind — at least if we are to follow Begg’s thinking to its logical conclusion. He has somehow put truth and grace in opposition. Why? Ironically‚ the only scripture that Begg specifically cites in his defense is Ephesians 5. Let’s have a look at some of that chapter‚ shall we? Take no part in the unfaithful works of darkness‚ but instead expose them. For it is shameful to even speak of the things that they do in secret. But when anything is exposed by the light‚ it becomes visible‚ for anything that becomes visible is light. Therefore it says‚ "Awake‚ O sleeper‚ and arise from the dead‚ and Christ will shine on you." Look carefully then how you walk‚ not as unwise‚ but as wise‚ making the best use of the time‚ because the days are evil. Do you expose sacrilege by celebrating it? Do you do evil so good may come of it? Now in the case of Grandma‚ she isn’t just going to dinner with her broken grandchild. She isn’t just showing kindness to a relative steeped in rebellion to his Creator. This is no ordinary event or gathering‚ but a wedding. A sacrament from the hand of God Himself. From the heart of God Himself. Defined and instituted by God Himself. The event at which God among us determined to perform His first miracle. It is the ungrateful attempt by mere mortals to shake their fists at God and redefine His institution of marriage that opened the door to all the other rainbow madness — like the gender cult — under which we are suffering culturally right now. Yet that was all forgotten by Begg‚ who instead decided to slander those reminding him of the truth as “pharisees.” Humility over piety Begg is on a dangerous road. For there's never a moment when you've built up enough credibility that accountability suddenly comes to an end‚ even for a pastor as rightfully renowned as Begg‚ and everything out of your mouth henceforth becomes defined by holy nuance that few can hope to understand or appreciate. Those are dangerously self-righteous assumptions to allow into your conscience. Some may say pharisaical‚ even. God is not a respecter of persons. As Martin Luther once pointed out‚ the Almighty once spoke out of the back end of a jackass. He can speak out of anybody. Your title‚ tribe‚ movement‚ sect‚ denomination‚ heritage‚ legacy‚ reputation‚ résumé‚ tradition … none of that matters. We are all one very bad day away from becoming that which we hate‚ which is why we must “die daily” to stay upon on the narrow road. For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. And it's our level of humility‚ not piety‚ that we need to constantly be reminded of if we are to stay tethered to the truth. The math isn’t hard. Piety is self-righteousness. Humility is His righteousness.The primary focus of a pastor is to help your relationship remain in the truth of Christ and not with the whims of other people or this world. Begg spent so much time concerned this grandma might lose her connection to her grandson that he never even addressed the problem of the grandson having lost his connection to God — and is now publicly asking for affirmation for it while encouraging others to do the same. A wedding is a public proclamation of your love‚ but in this case‚ it isn’t “love” at all. It is a sinfully dangerous delusion‚ one with eternal consequences. Finally‚ there is someone else who agrees that Begg’s “focus on the family” for the sake of the truth is idolatry: Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I have not come to bring peace‚ but a sword. For I have come to set a man against his father‚ and a daughter against her mother‚ and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. And a person's enemies will be those of his own household. Those are Christ’s words‚ and they apply to everyone — even grandmas and grandchildren. Yes‚ this is hard. Yes‚ this is unfair. Yes‚ this is heartbreaking. Yes‚ the personal cost can be steep. But we are not our own; we were redeemed at a high price. Jesus paid it all; all to Him I owe. Sin had left a crimson stain‚ but he washed it white as snow. This grandmother may lose her grandson for a time if she clings to those words‚ but her grandson may be lost for all time if she does not.

Hollywood star Carl Weathers — who appeared in the first four "Rocky" films and "Happy Gilmore" — died on Tuesday at the age of 76‚ according to his family. "We are deeply saddened to announce the passing of Carl Weathers‚" his family said in a statement. "He died peacefully in his sleep on Thursday‚ February 1st‚ 2024. … Carl was an exceptional human being who lived an extraordinary life. Through his contributions to film‚ television‚ the arts‚ and sports‚ he has left an indelible mark and is recognized worldwide and across generations. He was a beloved brother‚ father‚ grandfather‚ partner‚ and friend."Weathers was born on Jan. 14‚ 1948‚ in New Orleans‚ Louisiana. Weathers was best known for his role as Apollo Creed in the first four "Rocky" films. He also appeared in "Happy Gilmore‚" "Action Jackson‚" and "Little Nicky." He was the voice of Combat Carl in the animated film "Toy Story 4" and voiced a character in Adam Sandler's animated Hanukkah comedy "Eight Crazy Nights."Weathers appeared in over 75 films and television shows during his prolific 50-year screen career. Weathers made appearances in TV series such as "Magnum P.I.‚" "Law &; Order: Special Victims Unit‚" "Chicago P.D.‚" "Chicago Fire‚" Colony‚" "ER‚" "In the Heat of the Night‚" "Serpico‚" "Cannon‚" "Six Million Dollar Man‚" "Kung Fu‚" and "Good Times." Most recently‚ Weathers appeared as Greef Karga in Disney's hit TV series "The Mandalorian" between 2019 and 2023. Weathers is survived by his ex-wife‚ Mary Ann‚ and their two sons.Like Blaze News? Circumvent the censors‚ sign up for our newsletters‚ and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

Connecticut Democratic Governor Ned Lamont told ABC News' "Good Morning America" on Friday that the state plans to become the first in the nation to cancel medical debt for eligible residents.The state estimates that 250‚000 residents could see approximately $1 billion of medical debt cleared. Those whose household income is up to 400% of the federal poverty line or whose medical debt equals 5% or more of their annual income could be eligible for the cancellation program‚ ABC News reported. According to the state‚ it will work with a nonprofit organization that purchases debt and eliminates it at a reduced cost. The contract agency will partner with state agencies to cancel the medical debt automatically. Therefore‚ residents will not need to apply. The cancellations should begin rolling out by June‚ the state told the news outlet. It also noted that more than one in 10 residents have medical debt in collections."This is not something they did because they were spending too much money‚" Lamont stated. "This is simply because they got hit with a medical emergency. They should not have to‚ you know‚ suffer twice — first with the illness and then with the debt.""I think it's really important that people have a sense that they can start building wealth of their own‚" he continued. "We're making that easier for people to do -- and the best way to start is eliminate the debt you've got."Connecticut plans to erase some of the debt by using $6.5 million from the American Rescue Plan Act‚ signed by President Biden (D) in 2021.Other cities and counties — including New Orleans‚ Louisiana; Pittsburgh‚ Pennsylvania; Toledo‚ Ohio; and Cook County‚ Illinois — are using funds from the American Rescue Plan to eliminate residents' medical debt. New York City Mayor Eric Adams (D) recently announced that his administration will cancel over $2 billion in medical debt for 500‚000 residents‚ Blaze News previously reported.The Biden administration reported that $16 million in funds is being used to terminate approximately $1.5 billion in debt nationwide.According to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau‚ medical debt accounts for over 50% of debt in collections — more than other sources of debt combined‚ including credit cards‚ personal loans‚ utilities‚ and phone bills.Lamont first announced his plan to eliminate medical debt last February. "Several state and local governments have seen significant success at canceling medical debt for their residents using this model‚ and I think this is absolutely the right way to use this COVID-recovery funding‚" Lamont said. "This initiative will not only help Connecticut residents who are saddled with debt financially‚ but it also lifts the significant emotional toll that this type of debt has on individuals who do not have the means to get out‚ especially for those who are simultaneously experiencing significant medical problems. This debt erasure will put millions of dollars back into the Connecticut economy and provide an economic stimulus to local communities."Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors‚ sign up for our newsletters‚ and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

Carter G. Woodson‚ the father of Black History Month‚ was from a generation of black leaders who believed in using their education‚ training‚ and influence to “uplift the race” and form a more perfect union. But the black leadership class that preaches bigger government and better white people as the solutions to unequal social outcomes has become one of the biggest barriers to success today for black Americans. The black progressive politicians‚ pundits‚ professors‚ preachers‚ and performers (aka “the Afristocracy”) are self-interested actors who use the plight of working-class blacks to blackmail liberal whites. Their entire business model is based on the “reverse Robin Hood” mindset applied to race politics. The Afristocracy steals valuable currency — narratives‚ experiences‚ and outcomes — from the poor to extract benefits for themselves. What we have today is a group of people who offer little beyond their racial identity‚ which they use as both a sword to carve out opportunities and a shield to deflect responsibility. Take‚ for example‚ U.S. Rep. Cori Bush (D-Mo.). The St. Louis Democrat has been a vocal proponent of defunding the police for several years. Now she is under investigation by the U.S. Justice Department. Bush reportedly spent over $750‚000 on security since 2018‚ including employing her husband‚ who is not a licensed security professional. Perhaps Bush wants fewer officers safeguarding the constituents she represents because she needs them to be ready if she needs to expand the size of her detail. Bush is hardly the only one. The Afristocracy’s parasitic tendencies have been on full display in recent years. For example‚ the death of George Floyd in 2020 was used as a justification for more black women getting jobs in corporate America. Sean “Diddy” Combs accused General Motors of standing on the necks of black people because the company didn’t do enough business with him. If greed were their only vice‚ maybe they could simply be ignored. But the miseducated black leaders of white liberals also push ideas that are destabilizing‚ degrading‚ and self-destructive. There are “millionaire Marxists” like Colin Kaepernick and the co-founders of Black Lives Matter who decry capitalism while signing deals with Nike‚ Disney‚ Netflix‚ and Warner Brothers. Then you have radical professors like Brittney Cooper who say the black community does not need nuclear families to thrive. She said the same thing in a 2015 column for Salon: “American families are changing‚ and we should celebrate the fact that the two-parent‚ nuclear family ideal has gone the way of the floppy disk.” Carl Hart‚ professor at Columbia University‚ wrote approvingly of his own heroin use in 2021 at a time when drug overdose deaths were at record highs. Marc Lamont Hill is adamant in his belief that men can get pregnant and acts surprised that some people disagree. Howard University professor Greg Carr said that women leaving Texas to seek abortions in “civilized states” were channeling the spirit of Harriet Tubman and the Underground Railroad. Michael Eric Dyson‚ a professor‚ author‚ and social commentator‚ went on Fox News to encourage white people to create individual reparations accounts to atone for their privilege and cure racial inequality. In 2022‚ New York City Mayor Eric Adams announced that drag queens play an essential role in improving reading proficiency for the city’s 1 million public school students. There are also confused organizations. Preachers from across the country use their pulpits to tell their congregations that abortion is really a “white conservative” issue‚ even though close to 40% of aborted babies in this country are black.The list of entertainers using their influence to promote guns‚ murder‚ and sex is too long to print. So is the list of their defenders in the media. These are people who will consume the most vulgar and violent music and claim it has no effect on the mood‚ values‚ or behavior of the people who identify most closely with the artists. But when a country singer makes a passing reference to Black Lives Matter‚ they claim he is stoking violence against the black community. Some people would argue the black community does not need leaders. I understand this perspective and agree that the leadership models of past generations do not work today. But to the extent any community‚ culture‚ or country has people who curate information‚ manage resources‚ administer government‚ and influence public sentiment‚ I would prefer them to be godly‚ competent‚ and wise. What we have today is a group of people who offer little beyond their racial identity‚ which they use as both a sword to carve out opportunities and a shield to deflect responsibility. Many of them combine two of the worst traits — they know nothing and are willing to say anything. If Carter G. Woodson were alive today and had to rewrite his most famous book‚ I have just the title for him: “The Mis-Education of the Negro Leader.”

There are mounting indications that Sen. Kyrsten Sinema's days in the U.S. Senate are numbered. Her major challengers‚ Republican Kari Lake and Democratic Rep. Ruben Gallego‚ are grossly out-fundraising her‚ and she appears less than eager to make the deadline for signature collection. The biggest indicator — beyond her apparent reluctance to announce her re-election bid — comes down to her recent spending habits. Despite raising a paltry $595‚00 in the last quarter‚ the former Green Party activist and critic of "seeing Washington bureaucrats use their hard-earned tax dollars for personal gain" has been rapidly blowing campaign funds on a luxurious lifestyle involving five-star European hotels‚ lavish getaways to coastal vineyards‚ and expensive vehicles. The New York Post reported that Federal Election Commission filings show Sinema spent $796‚565 between Oct. 1‚ 2023‚ and Dec. 31 on expenses such as luxury hotels‚ a brand new car‚ concert tickets and the security detail that follows her around on her adventures. Sinema threw down $77‚000 on a new Chevrolet described in paperwork as a "van‚" even though she reportedly already bought a $70‚000 "security detail vehicle" for herself two years ago. If she loses a re-election bid or doesn't bother to even try‚ then she will still get to keep the vehicles‚ assuming they are licensed to her. According to the Post‚ Sinema also spent over $3‚000 on limos in London and Paris‚ ostensibly for personal use. The Daily Beast indicated that Sinema has ignored her own longstanding criticism of "first class air travel‚" having spent $210‚000 in taxpayer funds on private chartered air travel since 2020. Sinema reportedly stayed in July and October of last year at the five-star Le Roch Hotel &; Spa in Paris‚ which cost her personal political action committee‚ the "Getting Stuff Done PAC‚" $7‚600. The PAC also fitted the bill for her $2‚500 July stay at Madrid's Edition Hotel‚ a "luxury lifestyle urban five-star resort‚" reported the Beast. Sinema's PAC also paid the senator's way through various wineries in California and Oregon. The Washington Examiner reported that Sinema has $10.6 million remaining in her coffers and some suspect the senator intends to spend as much of it as she can on her way out. "Look‚ I have no direct knowledge‚ but just her actions and fundraising speaks louder than words – this is not a candidate who is running‚" an anonymous Sinema ally told the Examiner. "As much as I'd like her to run‚ and I think the people of Arizona are best represented by her‚ this is not the way you start one of the most politically challenging campaigns of your career." When asked about her fundraising earlier this week‚ Sinema told reporters‚ "Not talking about that at all." "Why are you wasting your question on that? I want to be clear to all of you: total waste of a question. I'm here to talk about substance‚" added Sinema. FEC rules allow for campaigns to fund a candidate's trips if the trips serve a campaigning or fundraising purpose. The Beast noted that Sinema has in recent years added donor meetings to personal trips so that she wouldn't have to open her wallet when traveling to various marathon and triathlon events. Her latest expenditures might amount to more of the same. Thomas Jones‚ president of the American Accountability Foundation‚ told the New York Post‚ "Sen. Sinema's use of campaign funds for seemingly personal expenses raises serious ethical questions. It also raises overall questions regarding the Senator's judgment." "Particularly disturbing is the campaign's extravagant spending on security even as leftists like Sinema make Americans less safe by attacking police… This is elitist hypocrisy at its worst‚" added Jones. Sinema has not yet filed her statement of interest with the Arizona Secretary of State's Office to begin gathering the 42‚303 signatures required by April 8 so that she might appear on the ballot. A recent poll had Sinema trailing Lake and Gallego both by over 25 points. Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors‚ sign up for our newsletters‚ and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

CNN anchor Erica Hill was left stunned on Friday when she learned why migrants aren't committing brazen crimes in Florida.During a report on the group of migrants accused of attacking New York City police officers over the weekend — at least four of whom police now believe are fleeing the country — CNN analyst John Miller explained why migrants are committing crimes in New York City.After noting that the vast majority of migrants are not criminals‚ Miller said‚ "There is this one-percenter criminal element that looks at a different opportunity here."Miller explained:These individuals — I went over their rap sheets yesterday‚ multiple charges‚ grand larceny‚ robbery‚ attempted robbery‚ grand larceny‚ grand larceny — this particular crew operated on mopeds and scooters. They were doing organized retail theft. They were doing snatches on the street: iPhones‚ iPads‚ clothing. One of them that they are still seeking has ten charges on one day because he's part of a pattern that's been going on.And I'm looking at the dates that their arrest started‚ which is probably close to when they got here. They've only been here a couple of months. The former NYPD deputy commissioner then relayed what NYPD detectives have told him."What the detectives are telling me is they have crews here that operate in New York‚ do all their stealing‚ then go to Florida to spend the money and then come back‚" Miller recounted."And I'm like‚ 'Well‚ why don't they just stay and steal in Florida?' And they said‚ 'Because there‚ you go to jail‚'" he explained.When Miller finished his report‚ Hill appeared stunned and only managed to say‚ "Oh." Co-anchor Phil Mattingly then broke the silence by applauding Miller's "great reporting." — (@) Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) responded to the report on Friday by noting that‚ "We’re doing it right here.""You can see why people are fleeing some of those areas that can’t even keep the streets safe‚ they can’t even keep homeless off the streets‚ its been really‚ really problematic in many parts of our country‚" he said.It remains unclear why Manhattan prosecutors did not request bail for the accused migrants and why a judge approved their release."This was a bail eligible offense. Why bail wasn't asked for‚ we don't have an answer for that‚ but the judge also had an opportunity to step in and remand them to Rikers‚" said NYPD chief of patrol John Chell. "The whole system needs to be looked at." Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors‚ sign up for our newsletters‚ and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

Kyle Atkins-Weltman discovered a new dinosaur species‚ Eoneophron infernalis‚ while examining what he thought were Anzu wyliei fossils in 2020. The post Masters Student Inspecting Dinosaur Fossils Notices An Irregularity — And Discovers A Whole New Species appeared first on All That's Interesting.

On Wednesday‚ the U.S. attributed responsibility for the Sunday drone attack to the Islamic Resistance in Iraq.

The trial was originally set to start March 4‚ the day before Super Tuesday.