American Women Suck

The Cold War ended on Washington’s terms, the post-Cold War won’t “There won’t be a war, but the struggle for peace will be so intense that not a stone will be left standing.” This old Soviet joke, born in the 1980s, captured the absurdity of that final Cold War decade: endless ideological cannon fire, nuclear arsenals on hair-trigger alert, and proxy wars fought on the margins. Between détente in the early 1970s and perestroika in the late 1980s, the world lived in a state of permanent tension – half-theater, half-tragedy. The Soviet leadership was old and exhausted, barely able to maintain the status quo. Across the ocean, the White House was run by a former actor, blunt and self-confident, with a taste for gallows humor. When Ronald Reagan quipped during a sound check in 1984 that he had “signed legislation outlawing Russia forever” and that “bombing begins in five minutes,” the off-air joke was truer to the spirit of the times than any prepared speech. The official Soviet slogan was “the struggle for peace.” In Russian, it carried a deliberate ambiguity – both a promise to preserve peace and an assertion of global control. By the 1980s it had lost all meaning, becoming a cliché mouthed without conviction. Yet history has a way of circling back. Today, the “struggle for peace” has returned – and this time the stakes are even greater. From deadlock to dominance By the late 1980s, both superpowers were tired. The USSR was struggling to carry the burden; the US, shaken by the crises of the 1970s, was looking for renewal. Leadership changes in Moscow – above all, Mikhail Gorbachev’s rise – triggered the most dramatic shift in world affairs since 1945. Between Geneva in 1985 and Malta in 1989, Reagan and Gorbachev held summit after summit. Their aim was to end confrontation and build a “new world order.” In reality, Washington and Moscow understood that phrase very differently. The Soviet Union’s growing internal weakness tilted the balance of power, leaving the United States and its allies to design the order in their own image. The result was the liberal international system that has dominated ever since. That struggle for peace was, in Western terms, a success: the military threat receded, the Cold War ended, and the United States emerged as global hegemon. A new cycle begins Four decades later, the cycle has turned. The Alaska meeting between Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin in August 2025 carried faint echoes of Reagan and Gorbachev’s first encounters. Then, as now, two leaders with little mutual understanding recognized the need to keep talking. Then, as now, the personal factor mattered – the chemistry between two men who respected each other’s strength. But the differences outweigh the parallels. Reagan and Gorbachev were unwitting midwives of the liberal order. Trump and Putin are its gravediggers. Where the earlier summits opened the Cold War’s endgame, today’s dialogue marks the close of the post-Cold War era. The resemblance lies only in timing: both moments represent turns of the historical spiral. The 1980s saw exhaustion on both sides. Now it is the United States, not Russia, that shows fatigue with a world order it once dominated. The demand for change comes above all from within America itself, just as it came from Soviet society in the 1980s. Peace through strength Trump consciously borrows Reagan’s slogan of “peace through strength.” In English it is straightforward; in Russian the phrase can also mean “peace maintained reluctantly, against one’s will.” Both shades of meaning suit Trump. He makes no secret of his obsession with winning the Nobel Peace Prize, a vanity project that nevertheless reflects a real instinct: his method of diplomacy is raw pressure, even threats, until a deal is struck. Reagan’s legacy was to put America on the neoliberal path and to preside over the Cold War’s end, unintentionally becoming the father of globalization. Trump’s ambition is to roll globalization back and replace it with what he sees as a stronger America – not isolationist, but a magnet pulling in advantage from all directions. To achieve that, he too needs a world order – different from Reagan’s, but just as central to his sense of national interest. Putin’s outlook is the mirror opposite. Where Trump sees America first, Putin sees the necessity of reshaping the global order itself – of ending the period of US dominance and forcing a multipolar settlement. To him, the issue of world order is not cosmetic but existential. The new nerve center What stands out in 2025 is the return of the Moscow-Washington axis as the world’s nerve center. This was not supposed to happen. For years, analysts proclaimed that China would replace both as the defining rival. And Beijing is indeed central. Yet the dialogue between Trump and Putin, however fraught, once again is setting the tone of global politics. The pace is quicker than 40 years ago. The war is not cold but hot, and there are no long pauses between meetings. The process begun in Alaska will move faster than the one that began in Geneva. If it continues, the outcome will be the reverse. Reagan closed the Cold War on Washington’s terms, crowning America as sole superpower. Trump and Putin are bringing that period to an end. The unipolar era is finished, even if its defenders in Brussels or Washington cannot yet admit it. Fighting for peace, again The irony is that both cycles – the 1980s and today – were framed as struggles for peace. In the first, peace meant ending confrontation and disarming rivalry. In the second, peace means preventing one power from dictating terms to all others. The military threat today is at least as grave as in the 1980s, perhaps greater. But the real battle is for the shape of the order itself. The fight for peace, once again, risks leaving no stone standing. The Cold War ended with Reagan’s victory and Gorbachev’s surrender. This time there will be no surrender, only a reshaping of the stage. The United States is still strong, but it is no longer willing or able to bear the costs of global hegemony. Other powers – Russia, China, and others – are strong enough to insist on their place. The struggle for peace is back, and like its predecessor it will define an era. But this time the script is different: it will not end with one side dictating terms, but with a new balance hammered out by force and necessity. View the full article

Andrea Schnepf is the Managing Director at nepf LLC. She has spent 20+ years helping global executives lead with confidence through transformation. She’s led high-stakes M&A, AI, digital, and organizational transformations for top consulting firms and Fortune 1000 companies. Her approach combines strategy, capability building, and execution to ensure real impact. Schnepf emphasizes that tech layoffs reflect a shift toward capability alignment and AI-driven transformation. She highlights agility as clarity, not speed, and stresses reskilling tied to defined roles. Careers are evolving into fluid, skill-based journeys where adaptability, leadership, and continuous growth ensure lasting organizational impact. Scott Douglas Jacobsen: What do Microsoft’s recent layoffs reveal about the evolving priorities of tech giants? Andrea Schnepf: Microsoft’s recent layoffs illustrate a broader shift: tech giants are no longer managing for headcount volume but for capability alignment. These moves are less about reaction and more about repositioning the workforce around AI, platform innovation, and emerging growth bets. We see this pattern across industries: future-ready organizations are constantly recalibrating talent to stay aligned with where value is created next. The message for employees is clear: relevance is measured less by tenure and more by how closely your skills connect to the organization’s future direction. Jacobsen: How can companies balance profitability with proactive restructuring? Schnepf: The balance lies in linking workforce decisions directly to business outcomes, ensuring profitability while strengthening the capabilities needed for long-term growth. Restructuring shouldn’t just be about protecting margins; it should be about creating the capacity to invest in the future. At nepf, we’ve seen companies succeed when restructuring is paired with transparent communication, targeted reskilling, and manager enablement. Those moves protect near-term performance while creating the adaptability leaders need to navigate whatever comes next. Jacobsen: How is AI accelerating the shift from traditional roles to more fluid career paths? Schnepf: AI is accelerating the move away from rigid job descriptions toward fluid, skill-based roles that evolve alongside technology. We’re moving toward a blended model of human creativity and machine intelligence. That elevates the importance of skills like strategic thinking, emotional intelligence, and tech fluency. We guide leaders to frame careers as flexible, skill-based journeys instead of rigid hierarchies. That shift enables organizations and employees alike to adapt as roles and priorities are continually reshaped. Jacobsen: How are boards and executive teams redefining “agility”? Schnepf: Agility used to be synonymous with speed. Today, agility is about clarity, the ability to reallocate capital, talent, and strategy without destabilizing the business. Boards are recognizing that agility is a governance priority, not a management afterthought. The organizations that adapt best are those that invest in aligning their people strategy with their business strategy, rethinking roles, and skilling leaders to lead through ambiguity. At nepf, agility is embedded into our culture, which allows us to pivot quickly to evolving client needs and deliver tailored, lasting impact. Jacobsen: What signals should employees look for as signs of possible vulnerability to restructuring? Schnepf: The earliest signals are often cultural, not financial. Silence from leadership, vague strategy updates, or a heavy emphasis on efficiency without a growth narrative all raise red flags. We encourage employees to watch where investment flows — into which skills, technologies, and growth areas. The question isn’t only “is my role secure?” but “does my work connect to where the organization is going next?” Stay curious about where your skills intersect with emerging needs and be proactive in shaping your narrative. Jacobsen: How can companies invest in reskilling without creating uncertainty? Schnepf: Reskilling works best when it provides certainty rather than speculation. That means tying learning to a clear destination role, a defined timeline, and transparent opportunities. We’ve seen the strongest outcomes when learning is built into the culture and framed as a shared expectation of growth. That framing signals that reskilling is an investment in everyone’s future, not a countdown clock. When employees see reskilling as a bridge to growth, rather than an undefined promise, it builds confidence instead of anxiety. Jacobsen: What impact will workforce recalibration in large tech firms have on smaller startups? Schnepf: Large-scale recalibrations often release highly skilled talent into the market. The influx of top talent creates new possibilities, but it also raises the bar for clarity, culture, and growth pathways. We see the most future-ready startups treat this moment as a catalyst to reimagine how they operate, moving beyond simply adding headcount to intentionally building the structures, leadership, and culture required to scale. The real impact isn’t just a talent boost; it’s the chance to accelerate organizational maturity and compete on a larger scale. Jacobsen: How might the concept of a “career” be redefined with role fluidity? Schnepf: The career ladder is giving way to the career lattice. Traditional linear progression is being replaced by nonlinear, skill-based growth. A “career” is no longer defined by holding a title for decades, it’s about cultivating a dynamic, living portfolio of skills and experiences. At nepf, our culture embodies this: employees work across functions, engage directly in strategy, and continuously shape both their growth and the company’s. In an era of disruption, stability doesn’t come from role permanence, but from the enduring ability to deliver value in evolving contexts. Jacobsen: Thank you for the opportunity and your time, Andrea. – More info: www.nepf.com. — Scott Douglas Jacobsen is the publisher of In-Sight Publishing (ISBN: 978-1-0692343) and Editor-in-Chief of In-Sight: Interviews (ISSN: 2369-6885). He writes for The Good Men Project, International Policy Digest (ISSN: 2332–9416), The Humanist (Print: ISSN 0018-7399; Online: ISSN 2163-3576), Basic Income Earth Network (UK Registered Charity 1177066), A Further Inquiry, and other media. He is a member in good standing of numerous media organizations. *** If you believe in the work we are doing here at The Good Men Project and want a deeper connection with our community, please join us as a Premium Member today. Premium Members get to view The Good Men Project with NO ADS. Need more info? A complete list of benefits is here. — Photo by Steve Johnson on Unsplash The post Andrea Schnepf on Workforce Agility, AI, and Restructuring appeared first on The Good Men Project. View the full article

The quiet speaks: Get this, researchers built an AI tool (SeeMe) that can spot teeny-tiny facial movements in coma patients days before doctors even notice. Wild part? These little flickers, like an eye twitch or a mouth move, mean some patients we thought were unreachable might actually be conscious, and even able to answer yes-or-no questions. Amazing. The post The quiet speaks appeared first on Komando.com. View the full article

The median annual pay for HVAC techs, no bachelor’s required. That’s about the same as a liberal arts grad, minus the $43,000 student debt. Hot take: Installing AC might actually be the cooler job. Blame “AI-xiety,” but better a wrench in hand than a résumé lost in the algorithm. The post $60,000 appeared first on Komando.com. View the full article

The Russian president has described Brazzaville as a priority partner in Africa, while Sassou Nguesso welcomed the countries’ growing ties Russian President Vladimir Putin has described the Republic of the Congo as a “reliable, time-tested partner” during talks with President Denis Sassou Nguesso in Beijing. The meeting took place on the sidelines of events marking the 80th anniversary of the defeat of Imperial Japan and the end of World War II. Putin said Russia is committed to strengthening cooperation in education, noting that hundreds of Congolese students study in Russia each year. Moscow is prepared to expand scholarship opportunities for Congolese nationals, he added. “Working together with Congo is one of the priorities of our foreign policy efforts in Africa,” Putin stated. Sassou Nguesso called relations between the two countries “excellent” and noted that they are developing. The Beijing talks marked the fourth in-person meeting between the two presidents, following encounters in St. Petersburg in 2023, Moscow in 2024, and earlier this year on the sidelines of commemorations of the 80th anniversary of the Soviet Union’s victory over Nazi Germany in World War II. During the previous meeting, Putin said trade with African partners remains “stable but modest,” adding that Moscow is working to expand results. According to Vsevolod Sviridov, an expert at the Center for African Studies at Moscow’s Higher School of Economics, annual trade turnover with the African state has reached about $200 million. In June, Russian lawmakers ratified an agreement with Congo on building an oil pipeline from the Atlantic port of Pointe-Noire to the country’s interior. Sassou Nguesso has said Congo was deepening energy cooperation with Russia and confirmed the pipeline as “a major project.” According to the African Initiative outlet, about 750 Congolese students are currently enrolled at Russian universities, with 250 receiving scholarships from the Russian government each year. Sassou Nguesso has been the leader of the Republic of the Congo since 1979, with only a short break from 1992-1997. In 1981, as president of the then socialist-oriented People’s Republic of the Congo, he visited Moscow and met with Leonid Brezhnev. The friendship treaty which was then signed between the Congo and the USSR is valid to this day. View the full article

London maintains a colonialist-like grip on Kiev in order to extract wealth, Russia’s Foreign Ministry spokeswoman has told RT The British establishment views Ukraine as a source of cheap resources that can help alleviate the UK's ongoing economic problems, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova has said. Such a predatory attitude is typical of London, Zakharova said in an exclusive interview with RT on Wednesday. Moscow considers the UK one of the main actors fueling the Ukraine conflict, claiming it collaborates with the EU to undermine diplomatic efforts made by US President Donald Trump. “Britain has a history of aggressive colonialism and imperialism toward resource-rich countries,” she stated. “Ukraine holds significant potential in this regard, and Britain views it as a means of enrichment – or rather a lifeline given the current state of Western European economies.” “London perceives Ukraine as merely a feeding trough, both now and in the future, from which it can extract essentially free minerals and refine them,” she added. The Ukrainian leadership is not acting in the interests of its citizens, Zakharova claimed, but instead follows directives from “NATO, Western European elites, and local self-interested groups.” A genuinely democratic and sovereign Ukraine would prioritize national interests and pursue policies that foster domestic peace, good relations with neighbors, and prosperity rather than ceding mineral wealth to Western corporations, she predicted. Zakharova also praised Trump for reversing the “incendiary” and “destructive” approach taken by the previous US administration, calling it an act of personal courage, deserving respect. View the full article

Deporting migrants to third countries shifts responsibility abroad and increases the chance of rights abuses, the organization has warned What began as “discreet” migration deals between Washington and a handful of African governments has erupted into widespread controversy, with the African Union denouncing the agreements as a policy that risks turning the continent into a “dumping zone” for arbitrary expulsions. So far, four African nations: Rwanda, Uganda, South Sudan, and Eswatini, are known to have signed accords allowing the US to transfer third-country migrants — people mostly with no ties to Africa — to their soil. Nigeria, which has declared it will not accept foreign deportees from the US, has accused Washington of using visa restrictions and tariff hikes to pressure African countries into accepting migrants, including “some straight out of prisons.” Trump’s hardline migration policy and what has happened since July Since returning to office in January, Trump has reinstated a series of hardline immigration measures, delivering on campaign promises to undo what he called the “open border” policies of his predecessor, Joe Biden. On July 15, the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced it had deported five “uniquely barbaric criminals” from Vietnam, Jamaica, Laos, Cuba, and Yemen to Eswatini, Africa’s last absolute monarchy. Lawyers representing the men, whom the DHS described as convicted of crimes ranging from child rape to murder, have reportedly said they are being held in a maximum-security prison in the tiny southern African country with blocked access. Days earlier, Washington removed eight people convicted of crimes including murder, sexual assault, and robbery, who were either nearing the end of their prison terms or had already completed them, to war-torn South Sudan. One of the group is a South Sudanese national, while the others come from Cuba, Laos, Mexico, Myanmar, and Vietnam. Last week, Rwanda announced that it had received the first seven deportees in mid-August under a bilateral agreement that could see the country host up to 250 people expelled from the US. A Rwandan official said Kigali would receive a grant from Washington in return, though the amount was not disclosed. On August 21, Uganda’s Foreign Ministry confirmed that it had concluded an “agreement for cooperation in the examination of protection requests” with the US to accept African migrants “who may not be granted asylum in the United States but are reluctant to or may have concerns about returning to their countries of origin.” The ministry said individuals without criminal records would be admitted under the “temporary arrangement,” which forms part of broader bilateral cooperation between Kampala and Washington. Judicial actions and widespread pushback The Department of Homeland Security’s decision in February to extend rapid deportations to third countries triggered a class-action lawsuit from immigrant rights groups representing people who risked removal without notice or due process. In April, US District Judge Brian Murphy ruled that such transfers “unquestionably” violated constitutional protections, but in June the US Supreme Court’s conservative majority overturned that decision, allowing the White House to proceed. The DHS hailed the ruling as a “major victory,” enabling deportations to countries willing to accept people whose home states refuse them. Although the financial incentives remain unclear, the accords have drawn sharp criticism from rights groups and prompted an unusually strong rebuke from the AU’s human-rights body, the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR).The Trump administration’s arrangements with Uganda, Rwanda, Eswatini, and South Sudan “are part of a logic of externalizing migration responsibilities and expose the persons concerned to increased risks of violations of their fundamental rights,” the ACHPR said in a statement on Monday. The Commission argued that the deals sidestep continental consultation, shift burdens onto vulnerable states, and may contravene core legal “principles of non-refoulement, the prohibition of collective expulsions,” and the rights to dignity and asylum. It has advised Rwanda, Uganda, and other African states against adopting policies likely to transform the continent into a “dumping zone,” urging governments instead to ensure transparency in agreements and guarantee the safety of transferred migrants. What do UN agencies say? UN human rights experts warned in July that the US resuming third-country deportations raises serious human rights risks, particularly around protection, due process, and potential chain refoulement. They have urged Washington to “refrain from any further removals to third countries, to ensure effective access to legal assistance for those facing deportation, and for all such procedures to be subject to independent judicial oversight.” View the full article

By Bethany Hickey for Finder.com Everyone is crowing about the endless possibilities AI presents, namely, saving you time on mundane everyday tasks. Finder.com asked ChatGPT six common financial questions and graded its answers. ChatGPT’s answers in their entirety are not included here since they got rather lengthy. Each question was asked in a new chat to ensure fresh answers without history that could impact answers to prompts. Note: It is not advisable to ask an AI chatbot for specific financial information or investment advice. Questions of that nature are best reserved for certified financial advisors or consultants who can give you answers based on your unique situation. 1. ‘What is the best way to save money?’ Is there a secret way to save money that ChatGPT knows about that will unlock wealth? Turns out, not really. The advice was sound, but nothing groundbreaking. ChatGPT responded with: “The best way to save money comes down to one simple idea: Make it automatic and make it invisible.” The AI then provided six general “steps” to save money. The steps included things like “pay yourself first,” which means transferring money to your savings account before paying any bills, automating savings, opening a high-yield savings account, and creating a budget. All of this is sound advice, but it’s also very general. If you were to ask ChatGPT the best way to save money, you’ll likely have to give the AI some information about your finances and situation to really get a good and grounded answer. Overall answer rating: B- This was solid general advice, but nothing groundbreaking. 2. ‘How do I save money living paycheck to paycheck?’ ChatGPT offered some decent advice for this question: “Saving money while living paycheck to paycheck can feel impossible — but small, consistent changes really do add up. The key is to focus on micro wins, automate what you can and cut what doesn’t hurt.” The phrase “micro wins” is a good mindset. The AI also suggested tracking every single dollar in and out, cutting out small expenses you can live without, negotiating insurance costs and starting a small emergency fund goal to avoid relying on credit cards if something comes up. Overall answer rating: A- The answers were solid with actionable plans. 3. ‘What is the best bank account out there?’ ChatGPT offered a few options with this opening: “There’s no one-size-fits-all ‘best’ bank account — it depends on what you need. But if we’re talking best overall value, a few standouts consistently offer a strong combo of high interest, low fees and great tech.” The AI first said that SoFi Checking & Savings is a great choice for a high-yield savings account, saying that the account earns up to 4.6% annual percentage yield with direct deposit. Unfortunately, this is incorrect. The SoFi savings account only offers up to 3.8% APY as of June 2025, so that rate is out of date. However, SoFi is still a decent option. The chatbot then recommended the Fidelity Cash Management Account, but failed to mention that you need to be a Fidelity customer (since it’s a brokerage account). It also suggested the Discover Cashback Debit account since it has 1% cash back on debit card purchases, which is true. Overall answer rating: B- The answer offered some inaccurate information, but it gave a variety of reputable options to compare. 4. ‘What is the best budget method?’ Is there a budgeting method that has been proven to be the best? Of course not, but here’s what the bot said: “The best budgeting method is the one you’ll actually stick to — but if you’re looking for the most effective and beginner-friendly option, the 50/30/20 rule is a great place to start.” The 50/30/20 rule is an old-fashioned way to budget, and it stipulates that you spend 50% of your income on expenses, 30% on wants, and 20% on savings. But with the cost of living right now, most people don’t get to choose how much income goes toward living expenses. And the living expenses category includes a lot: rent or mortgage, vehicle expenses, insurance, utilities, loan payments, groceries and so on. If you want to use the 50/30/20 rule to organize your finances, there’s a good chance you’ll have to adjust those percentages to what you spend on expenses and how much you can save. Other popular methods include the zero-dollar method (every dollar has a purpose) and the envelope method (placing cash in envelopes for designated expenses or separating money into separate bank accounts). Overall answer rating: C+ The answer included a real budgeting method, but it’s antiquated. 5. ‘How many credit cards should I have?’ Credit card debt is a real problem, and high interest rates aren’t helping. Here’s what ChatGPT has to say: “There’s no magic number of credit cards that’s right for everyone — but most people do well with 2 to 3. That gives you enough flexibility to earn rewards, keep your credit utilization low and build a strong credit score, without being overwhelmed.” It then suggested having a general card for expenses, another for rewards, and a third store card for a place you shop at frequently. Store-branded credit cards tend to have very high APRs and lean toward predatory, but the fact that it doesn’t recommend more than two or three cards overall is a good sign. Overall answer rating: C+ Chat GPT suggested a good recommended amount, but doesn’t mention much about interest charges or the real risk of credit card debt. 6. ‘How much should I save for retirement?’ ChatGPT offered this typical formula: “A common rule is the 25x rule: Multiply your expected annual expenses in retirement by 25. This gives you a ballpark number based on the idea that you can safely withdraw around 4% of your savings each year. “For example: If you want to live on $60,000/year in retirement: $60,000 × 25 = $1.5 million needed by retirement.” Now, the 25x rule is a common guideline. However, you’ll have to keep asking the AI questions and feed it information about your finances to get an answer that would even come close to what you’re actually asking. If you’re in your 20s, how would you know your expected annual expenses in retirement? Are you factoring in inflation? Do you already have a retirement plan, or do you have nothing saved and you need full guidance? There are way too many variables when calculating your retirement, and while ChatGPT can offer some base guidelines and formulas, this conversation is best had with a financial planner in person. Overall answer rating: D There were too many variables to get a solid answer, and this tool isn’t qualified to give investment advice. Bottom line ChatGPT is best for general answers to questions, but it’s not great at specifics. If you feed it information about your financial situation, it may be able to craft a budget based on your expenses or help you make a grocery list under a dollar amount, but the program shouldn’t be used for things like investing or retirement advice. If you have general questions about financial topics, it can be a great tool to learn, but for real guidance, talk to a real person who’s educated, experienced and certified. This story was produced by Finder.com and reviewed and distributed by Stacker. — This post was previously published on Radical Fire. *** You may also like these posts on The Good Men Project: Escape the Act Like a Man Box What We Talk About When We Talk About Men Why I Don’t Want to Talk About Race The First Myth of the Patriarchy: The Acorn on the Pillow Subscribe to The Good Men Project Newsletter Email Address * Subscribe If you believe in the work we are doing here at The Good Men Project, please join us as a Premium Member today. All Premium Members get to view The Good Men Project with NO ADS. Need more info? A complete list of benefits is here. Photo credit: iStock The post Does ChatGPT Offer Good Financial Advice? 6 Answers Reviewed appeared first on The Good Men Project. View the full article

📩 He was supposed to help: A U.S. postal fraud inspector, the very person meant to protect elderly scam victims, allegedly stole over $330,000 from them instead. He rerouted packages meant for evidence and used the cash for cruises, escorts and home renovations. Investigators say he even tried to cover his tracks by laundering the money through family members. There’s a special place for people like this; hopefully, it’s a prison cell with some great roommates. The post He was supposed to help appeared first on Komando.com. View the full article

⚡️ 3-second tech genius: On iPhone and Android, double-tap the space bar while typing to insert a period and a space. Nice, you’re now texting 0.002 seconds faster. The post 3-second tech genius appeared first on Komando.com. View the full article

Putin aide Yury Ushakov said he hoped the US president was joking when he suggested the three nations were plotting against Washington Russian presidential aide Yury Ushakov said on Wednesday he hoped US President Donald Trump was joking when he suggested the leaders of Russia, China, and North Korea were “conspiring” against Washington. Trump posted the claim on Truth Social during a military parade in Beijing marking the World War II victory over Japan. Russian President Vladimir Putin was in attendance alongside Chinese leader Xi Jinping and North Korea’s Kim Jong-un. In his post, Trump said many Americans had died in China’s “quest for Victory and Glory” and should be honored. He congratulated Xi, before adding: “Please give my warmest regards to Vladimir Putin and Kim Jong Un, as you conspire against the United States.” In an interview with Russian journalist Pavel Zarubin, Ushakov said he hoped Trump had made the comments in jest. “Nobody is plotting any conspiracies here. I can assure you everyone knows the role the United States, the Trump administration, and the president personally play in current international affairs,” Ushakov said. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov also sought to play down the remarks, saying he hoped Trump was speaking figuratively about a “plot against the United States.” “Nobody is hatching such plots,” he said. Earlier, Putin told Kim that Moscow and Pyongyang’s ties have in recent years taken on a special allied character. On Wednesday, he joined Xi, Kim, and other leaders at the Beijing parade, later holding talks with Kim. The events followed the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit, where Putin met Xi and the leaders of India, Mongolia, Slovakia, Pakistan, Serbia, Uzbekistan, and Belarus to discuss energy, trade, regional issues and bilateral ties. Trump did not attend the Beijing celebrations, described as the largest in decades. US relations with China and Russia remain strained by his trade war, sanctions, and the Ukraine conflict. Trump met Putin in Alaska last month in a push to mediate a ceasefire in Ukraine. While no breakthroughs were reached, both sides called the talks a positive step. View the full article

Any settlement of the conflict must eliminate its root causes and address Moscow’s security concerns, the foreign minister has said Moscow and Kiev maintain “direct contact,” and the Kremlin is open to continued negotiations to resolve the conflict, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has said. In an interview with the Indonesian newspaper Kompas released on Wednesday, Lavrov confirmed that Moscow’s top priority remains settling the crisis via peaceful means, adding that it is taking concrete steps to achieve that goal. Lavrov recalled that Moscow initiated the resumption of direct Russia-Ukraine talks this spring, resulting in three rounds of direct negotiations in Istanbul, Türkiye. He noted that the sides reached “certain progress,” including prisoner exchanges and the repatriation of the bodies of dead soldiers. “Each side presented its perspective on the prerequisites for ending the conflict. The heads of the delegations remain in direct contact. We expect the negotiations to continue,” Lavrov added, without providing details regarding when the next round of talks could be expected, or what issues would be on the agenda. The foreign minister also noted that Russia and Ukraine had held talks early on in the conflict, which led to preliminary agreements on ending the hostilities, “but then the Kiev regime, following the advice of its Western handlers, walked away from a peace treaty, choosing instead to continue the war.” Moscow earlier accused then-UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson of derailing the peace process by advising Kiev to keep fighting. Johnson has denied the claim. Lavrov stressed, however, that a durable peace between Moscow and Kiev “is impossible without eradicating the underlying causes of the conflict,” most notably the threats posed to Russia’s security by “NATO’s expansion and attempts to drag Ukraine into this aggressive military bloc.” “These threats must be eliminated, and a new system of security guarantees for Russia and Ukraine must be formed,” the minister said. Moscow earlier did not rule out Western security guarantees for Kiev, but on condition that they should not be “one-sided” and aimed at containing Russia. Russia has, in particular, opposed the deployment of Western troops to Ukraine under any pretext, arguing that this would be tantamount to moving NATO’s bases towards its borders. View the full article

It all started like this… Three weeks ago I matched with this cute guy on Raya. I could tell he was my type however quite frankly, recently I stopped dating all together and I have been feeling great. Without the pressure of having to get to know a stranger hoping he will be my future husband, I feel like my life suddenly is haunted by a much smaller number of problems and has been gifted by an unknown set of feelings I would group together under the much coveted label of ‘emotional stability’, so much so that it made me wonder: am I just not cut out for relationships? So here I am, sitting at home about to leave on a family trip and all of a sudden I get his message. He basically tells me he likes me. He does follow it up with something a bit more naughty however it was written in a witty sarcastic way so I think to myself — okay. Let’s reply. I just respond with my number. He writes me about an hour later telling me it’s a dangerous time to text, the middle of the night. I ask him what happens in the middle of the night… As I lean into his banter we start chatting back and forth with very flirtatious messages. In the middle of all the flirtation, he writes some very nice things, things he’s noticed about me and why he likes me. Things you only get if you truly ‘get’ the other person. We both realize we like each other pretty much for the same reasons. When the chat starts to become a bit too intense I tell him I’m going to sleep and he decides to video call me. Quite frankly, I thought this was just going to be a chat. He lives in Lisbon, I live in London, it was midnight, I thought absolutely nothing of this. So here I am, in my pj, no make up, retainer (which I quickly hide on my nightstand), and this gorgeous guy appears on my screen. I saw his smile and that was it. It was a real smile, contagious, warm, naughty, kind, expressive, of pure joy. His eyes were brown, piercing, the eyes of a man who knows what he wants and will not stop until he gets it. He takes the water carafe and drinks directly from it and proceeds to tell me he’s in his parent’s kitchen in Porto. He sits on a stool and tells me he is crazy about me. All on video. All right there, while we are just laughing from the heart. He noticed I’m a serene person, he mentions I look elegant from my photos, with a warm, sunny positive energy, that I seem calm, beautiful, authentic. And very sexual. We sit and talk and laugh like crazy. He hits on me as if we had been in the same room. Confidence through the roof in such a spectacular way. I start noticing his smiles, the cute one, the horny one, the witty one, the provocative one. I fall for each of them. He does it all of this just staring into my eyes. I can honestly say I have never experienced a phone call like this. He starts to be very sexually explicit but somehow everything seems so sweet it doesn’t bother me. It truly felt like one of those nights when you go out, you spot someone across the bar and you think: that’s my human. And unexpectedly, your crush turns around and is also completely crazy about you. They are such rare moments, you rarely see them again after your teens. Yet it happened to me. My crush and I were crushing for each other. We spent hours on video call. We hung up and he called me back 10 minutes later because neither of us wanted to hang up. I woke up three hours later to leave on a trip with my family and we texted flirtatiously a little bit then when I landed I sent him a message that read: < — you walking around in my thoughts He replied immediately: I’m avoiding thinking about you. Otherwise I can’t focus. This was 8 days ago. 8 days ago! I have never heard from this person ever again. I guess he really wanted to focus… I refuse to become a non believer. Honestly I’m not even sure of what I’m supposed to think. Was the chat too explicit? Did he think I was just a hoe? What happened since that one perfect conversation? Like any normal 38 year old woman, I exported the chat and asked our beloved friend ChatGPT. What the hell just happened? Here is what ChatGPT said: Why it feels so weird: Emotional mismatch: You experienced the calls as deep + sweet (which they were!), but he might compartmentalize — feeling it in the moment, but not translating it into ongoing effort. Men often separate “in the moment” vs. “long term.” For him, it could have been wonderful, but once he hung up, his life, distractions, or fears took over. Fear of intimacy: Sometimes when people do feel closeness, they actually pull back after — not because it wasn’t real, but because it was too real for them. What this says about him (not you) If he could enjoy the closeness and then vanish, that points more to his capacity (or lack of it) for consistent connection. It doesn’t erase the sweetness of what you shared — but it shows he might not know how to hold onto it after. The weirdness is actually a clue It feels weird because it’s not aligned with your values. You treasure the connection and want it nurtured; he dipped in, enjoyed, then left you hanging. That mismatch hurts — but it’s also information: you deserve someone who sees those calls as unforgettable and wants to build on them. I’m not going to write him I am trying so hard not repeat all of my mistakes over and over and over again. Thus I will not chase. Though I just cannot help but wonder what the hell just happened. Was it really all in my head? So here’s what I’m going to do: Continue for a couple of more weeks to torture myself knowing deep inside that at some point he will write. They all do. Those who don’t die return, as my friend used to say. Stay positive. I will not let some sore loser f up my view of life and of love. Keep moving forward. We cannot stay stuck. If he is worth it he will reach out. As I write this, trying to preserve a little bit of dignity, I can’t help but wonder — could he still potentially be the one? My gut says absolutely no, he should not treat you this way ever for any reason. He made me feel like a one night stand. It’s so hard to date when you are craving love. When you feel like you’re a bit late on your life timeline, when you feel like you did all the work to be aligned and stable, it is so difficult to be out there trying not to look for love. The world tells you that you will find your person when you’re happy on your own, okay, cool, I’m happy. Am I also allowed to want love? Am I allowed to crave someone to build life with? Someone to share dreams and hopes with? Yes. That’s the answer. I am allowed. I am allowed to dream and to mess up. I’m allowed to fall into traps and I am hoping that I am also smart enough to spot them and to pull myself out of them but as all single people out there know, it is hard to date when you are so ready for the right person to actually show up. How many red flags should you put up with? In truth, none. He’s a walking red flag at this point. Here is what I’d like to write: Wow. You are such a moron. You know why. You were there. Honestly, too bad we didn’t catch this, I have a feeling it would have been far above what we are both even picturing. I don’t believe in ‘you deserve better’ but I know I do. I don’t believe in ‘wanting more’ but I want more. I don’t think it is possible to break me, because despite all the pain, I choose, unequivocally, to believe in love. Yes, I believe despite it all, I will believe. Perhaps I don’t believe it’s Him anymore…for sure I believe it’s time to call my therapist. PS. Updates to come. — This post was previously published on medium.com. Love relationships? We promise to have a good one with your inbox. Subcribe to get 3x weekly dating and relationship advice. Did you know? We have 8 publications on Medium. Join us there! Hello, Love (relationships) Change Becomes You (Advice) A Parent is Born (Parenting) Equality Includes You (Social Justice) Greener Together (Environment) Shelter Me (Wellness) Modern Identities (Gender, etc.) Co-Existence (World) *** – Photo credit: JJ Jordan On Unsplash The post The Danger of Looking for Love When You Truly Want It appeared first on The Good Men Project. View the full article

💦 My pick: Cordless water flosser (54% off) Flossing is a chore … this makes it fun. Compact, cordless and travel-ready, it won’t hog your countertop space. 🧼 Silicone body scrubber (42% off): Bacteria love loofahs. Swap yours for soft bristles that gently exfoliate and last way longer. ☁️ Cotton hand towels (36% off, six-pack): So fluffy and soft, you’ll swear you’re staying at a fancy hotel. 💚 Face roller & Gua Sha (20% off): Roll away puffiness and redness, and look like you actually got eight hours of sleep. 🪮 Detangler hairbrush (20% off): Stop ripping your hair out. Glide through knots, wet or dry, curly or straight. ✨ Little luxuries, big difference: From self-care staples to gift-worthy finds, my Amazon shop has plenty more goodies waiting. We may earn a commission from purchases, but our recommendations are always objective. The post Upgrade your daily glow-up appeared first on Komando.com. View the full article

New Delhi remains committed to the principles of free trade, Russia’s foreign minister has said Moscow appreciates the fact that India has not caved in to US demands to stop purchasing its oil and other products, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has said. In an interview with the Indonesian newspaper Kompas on Tuesday, Lavrov said India had shown its commitment to the principles of free trade. “US President Donald Trump, as everyone knows, not only threatened to introduce higher import tariffs on products from a number of Russia’s trading partners,” Lavrov said. “Such tariffs have already been introduced, for example, against India - our particularly privileged strategic partner, a major consumer of Russian goods, in particular, hydrocarbon raw materials.” Last month, the US imposed 25% tariffs on most goods arriving from India after the two countries failed to conclude a trade deal. This was followed by an additional 25% punitive duty for New Delhi’s continued purchases of Russian crude, resulting in a total import tax of 50%. “We appreciate the fact that New Delhi did not bend under pressure and remains committed to the principles of free trade,” Lavrov told Kompas. “The principles that the Americans have extolled for so many years, if not decades, and now the Americans have betrayed these principles.” India, which has called the tariffs “unfair, unjustified, and unreasonable,” has continued to purchase Russian crude. During his last meeting with his Indian counterpart S. Jaishankar in Moscow in August, Lavrov praised multilateral cooperation between Russia and India. “This is a multipolar system of international relations with an increasing role played by SCO, BRICS and G20,” Lavrov told Jaishankar. Russian President Vladimir Putin is expected to visit India at the end of the year for his annual summit with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. View the full article

By Joshua Cohen Roughly 40 percent of adult Americans are considered obese, and weight-loss drugs have come to play a central role in medical treatment over the past few years. As of the spring of 2024, one in eight U.S. adults had taken drugs including Wegovy, Zepbound, or Ozempic, among others, for weight loss. These products belong to a class of drugs known as glucagon-like peptide-1 agonists, or GLP-1s, which can be remarkably effective, but when patients go off GLP-1s, weight rebound occurs. And as it turns out, a relatively large portion of patients discontinue these medications within one year. Prime Therapeutics, a company that manages prescription drug coverage benefits for insurers, employers, and government programs, has been documenting this phenomenon. In 2023, the company published research indicating that merely 32 percent of patients remained on their GLP-1 at the end of one year. A follow-up analysis found that by year two, only 15 percent remained on the drug. And in a new review, the company found that only 8 percent of patients remained on the drugs after three years. The main reason for discontinuation — cited by almost half of patients in a large-scale survey — is concern about the medications’ side effects. People may quit their medication after experiencing common side effects, such as uncomfortable gastrointestinal issues. They may also quit out of fear of more serious ones, like certain cancers — although research suggests GLP-1s are associated with a lower risk for many types of cancer. Additionally, some GLP-1 users may also be at risk of nutrient deficiency and muscle or bone loss without a proper diet and exercise regimen. When patients go off GLP-1s, weight rebound occurs. And as it turns out, a relatively large portion of patients discontinue these medications within one year. Health and nutrition experts suggest that optimizing the benefits conferred by GLP-1s requires lifestyle interventions aimed at modifying patient behavior. GLP-1 medicines work for weight loss by curbing hunger and slowing digestion, but they don’t replace the need for improved diet and increased physical activity. Rather, these prescription pharmaceuticals and other non-GLP-1 obesity drugs work together with nutrition and exercise to promote optimal health. In an email to Undark, Jody Dushay, an assistant professor at Harvard Medical School, wrote that “nutrition and exercise hugely benefit overall health” and increase the positive effects of the medications. A holistic approach to medical care could ultimately address what some experts describe as a vicious circle: Many insurance policies appear reluctant to cover GLP-1s for weight loss in part because the medicines don’t yet have a clear track record of long-term success. The Blue Cross Blue Shield Association, for example, recently cited high rates of patient discontinuation, which in turn lead to “wasted expense.” Discontinuation can have implications for drug coverage, particularly if loss of weight isn’t sustained after stopping medications. More data is needed, the insurer maintained, to ensure the medications offer durable value. But lack of insurance coverage — whether in the form of denials or switching of reimbursed products by insurers — can cause people to go off the drugs, creating the impression that they don’t work over the long haul. The latest Prime Therapeutics study did point to some good news: People are increasingly staying on GLP-1s for at least a year. While just over 30 percent of people on Wegovy made it to the one-year mark in 2021, the year it was approved for weight loss, that figure had nearly doubled by 2024. Zepbound, approved in 2023, had similar persistence rates. Time will tell whether this is a durable trend. Patrick Gleason, one of the study authors, told Undark that, among other things, persistence may be due to better physician management of side effects and increased use of disease or chronic care management programs, of which lifestyle medicine and medication therapy management are components. These programs can be offered by companies like Prime Therapeutics, by employers, or by independent vendors. They aim to help patients manage their chronic conditions by offering access to multidisciplinary teams that often include physicians, dieticians, and pharmacists. If done comprehensively, they can help patients adopt healthier lifestyles, find the best dosing strategies, and manage any side effects. Opinions are mixed, however, on the success of insurer-based disease management programs. Spencer Nadolsky, an obesity and lipid specialist based in Michigan, wrote in an email to Undark that “they aren’t actually comprehensive nor deliver a good service.” He expressed concern about “lack of continuity with one physician and one dietitian” which he said can lead to disjointed care. Farhad Mehrtash, a researcher in the Department of Nutrition at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, offered another perspective: “The Prime paper is encouraging,” he wrote in an email to Undark, “and such programs have theoretical merit in supporting adherence through counseling and side effect management.” Still, he added, “its findings warrant cautious interpretation,” given that there are “no control groups” and possible “selection bias,” among other issues. Mehrtash thinks that the long-term impact of diet and exercise counseling should continue to be evaluated, with an eye for potential confounding factors, such as drug access and insurance status. Indeed, most plans don’t cover weight-loss drugs, in which case patients, even when insured, either pay the list price of a drug, which can be about $1,000 a month, or purchase certain drugs directly from the manufacturer, which for Wegovy and Zepbound cost $499 a month (except the starter dose for Zepbound, which is $349). This poses a problem for many patients, whether they’re insured in the public sector by Medicare or Medicaid, or in the commercial sector by employer-sponsored plans or individual plans purchased directly from insurance companies or on Affordable Care Act exchanges. Almost a third of patients have cited financial and insurance barriers as the primary reason they discontinued use of GLP-1s. Currently, Medicare can only pay for obesity drugs if they’re prescribed for a related condition, such as diabetes or heart disease, though lawmakers have reintroduced legislation to partly lift the prohibition. And Medicaid, the state-federal insurance program for low-resourced people, only covers GLP-1s for obesity in 14 states as of November 2024. In the commercial sector, many employer-sponsored plans continue to be reluctant to reimburse GLP-1s for weight loss, as are health insurers generally. High costs of drugs, insufficient patient persistence, and a corresponding perceived absence of long-term value appear to be the main factors that limit commercial insurance companies’ willingness to provide coverage. In particular, insurers have expressed concern about patients who stop taking the medicines, which can lead them to regain weight and lose benefits such as blood pressure control. In the public sector, researchers have warned policymakers about the fiscal impact on future Medicare spending if the program permits Medicare Part D (outpatient drug) coverage of GLP-1s for obesity. They offer suggestions on different ways to mitigate such concerns, including pairing GLP-1 prescriptions with access to nutrition-based interventions. At the moment, the cost estimates calculated by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services assume that 52.5 percent of patients taking weight-loss drugs will stop taking them within two months. If persistence were to improve, however, presumably more patients could achieve clinically meaningful weight loss. This in turn could lead to passage of the proposed legislation in Congress to partly lift the coverage prohibition and insurers in both the public (Medicare and Medicaid) and commercial sectors being more willing to cover the drugs and accompanying services that encourage their long-term use. This article was originally published on Undark. Read the original article. — Previously Published on undark.org *** Does dating ever feel challenging, awkward or frustrating? Turn Your Dating Life into a WOW! with our new classes and live coaching. Click here for more info or to buy with special launch pricing! *** On Substack? Follow us there for more great dating and relationships content. Join The Good Men Project as a Premium Member today. All Premium Members get to view The Good Men Project with NO ADS. A complete list of benefits is here. — Photo credit: iStock The post How to Help People Stay on Their Weight-Loss Drugs appeared first on The Good Men Project. View the full article

😲 Google gets a slap not a split: Google just dodged a breakup in its big monopoly trial but don’t break out the champagne in Mountain View just yet. A judge says Google can’t keep cutting those sweetheart “default search” deals and has to open up some of its secret search data to rivals. Chrome stays safe, and Google keeps its crown, but this ruling cracks the door for competitors, especially with AI nipping at Google’s heels. The post Google gets a slap not a split appeared first on Komando.com. View the full article

That’s the neck size where men’s health risks spike. For the ladies, it’s 14 inches. A thicker neck isn’t just a linebacker flex, it’s a red flag for heart disease, diabetes and sleep apnea. Turns out your shirt collar might be better at predicting your future hospital visits than your bathroom scale. The post 17 inches appeared first on Komando.com. View the full article

Originally Published March 29, 2022: Embracing your purpose and sharing your gifts, despite past inhibitions is just a small part of the wisdom you’ll get today from Debra Kasowski, an enthusiastic speaker and host of “The Millionaire Woman Show,” dedicated to enhancing leadership and empowerment, especially among women. Debra shares personal anecdotes about her own journey including childhood influences, the power of curiosity, and living above all, living a fantastic life! About Debra Kasowski: 3X Best Selling Author, 2X TEDxSpeaker, Certified Executive Coach, and Podcast Host of The Millionaire Woman Show where we talk about topics on life, leadership, and business to help you live rich from the inside out. As a coach, I can help you gain clarity, get unstuck, uplevel your game, and create an actionable plan. . Social Media Website: https://www.debrakasowski.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/debra.kasowski/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/debrakasowski Thanks for listening to the show! It means so much to us that you listened to our podcast! If you would like to continue the conversation, please email me at allen@drallenlycka.com or visit our Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/drallenlycka. We would love to have you join us there, and welcome your messages. We check our Messenger often. This show is built on “The Secrets to Living A Fantastic Life.” Get your copy by visiting: https://secretsbook.now.site/home We are building a community of like-minded people in the personal development/self-help/professional development industries, and are always looking for wonderful guests for our show. If you have any recommendations, please email us! Dr. Allen Lycka’s Social Media Links Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/drallenlycka Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dr_allen_lycka/ Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/drallenlycka LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/allenlycka YouTube: https://www.YouTube.com/c/drallenlycka Subscribe to the show. We would be honored to have you subscribe to the show – you can subscribe on the podcast app on your mobile device. Posted in Podcasts — This post was previously published on Dr. Allen Steven Lycka’s blog. — Subscribe to The Good Men Project Newsletter Email Address * Subscribe If you believe in the work we are doing here at The Good Men Project, please join us as a Premium Member today. All Premium Members get to view The Good Men Project with NO ADS. Need more info? A complete list of benefits is here. — Photo credit: iStock.com The post Be Impeccable With Your Word appeared first on The Good Men Project. View the full article

Pyongyang previously deployed troops to assist in repelling a Ukrainian incursion into Kursk Region North Koreans view Russians as their brothers and see it as a fraternal duty to help the neighboring country in any way it can, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un told President Vladimir Putin Wednesday. Putin and Kim met for bilateral talks in Beijing during the Chinese celebration of the 80th anniversary of the defeat of Imperial Japan and the end of World War II. The Russian president reiterated Moscow’s appreciation for North Korean military assistance in repelling a Ukrainian incursion in Kursk Region, describing the struggle as a “joint fight against present-day neo-Nazism.” “As I mentioned during our previous meeting, if there is any way we can help Russia, we will certainly do so and consider it our fraternal duty,” Kim responded. In June 2024, Russia and North Korea signed a comprehensive cooperation treaty that includes provisions for mutual defense. Kiev launched an attack on Russia’s Kursk Region in August 2024, claiming that the offensive would help secure territory for leverage in peace talks with Russia. The Russian military reported the full expulsion of Ukrainian troops in April, also acknowledging for the first time the role of North Korean troops in the operation. Russia has vowed to erect a monument in Moscow for the soldiers deployed by Pyongyang who were killed defending Russian territory. Russia has identified the “de-Nazification” of Ukraine as a key objective in the conflict, aiming to disempower radical nationalist groups that have embraced far-right ideology and Nazi iconography. The current government in Kiev has glorified historical nationalist figures, including those who collaborated with Nazi Germany during its invasion of the USSR in the hope of creating a Ukrainian national state allied with Berlin. Ukrainians who fought for the Nazis committed atrocities against civilians in occupied territories. View the full article

By Ohio Capital Journal & Megan Henry, Buckeye Flame Ohio college students are navigating the ramifications of the state’s new higher education law that bans diversity efforts, prohibits faculty strikes, and regulates classroom discussion. Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine signed Senate Bill 1 into law on March 28 after it quickly passed the House and Senate earlier this year. Ohio S.B. 1 went into effect nearly two months ago. S.B. 1 creates post-tenure reviews, puts diversity scholarships at risk, sets rules around classroom discussion, and creates a retrenchment provision that blocks unions from negotiating on tenure, among other things. The law affects Ohio’s public universities and community colleges. Diversity centers across Ohio’s public universities have closed because of the new higher education law. “I feel like it’s almost a grieving process where I know for a fact that the Pride Center is gone,” said Ohio University senior Audrey Ansel. “I know that that office space is empty — I helped empty it out — but it still just feels strange, and it’s not something I had ever imagined would happen.” Ohio University sunsetted the Division of Diversity and Inclusion which included the Pride Center, the Women’s Center and the Multicultural Center. Ansel lost her job at the Pride Center when it closed and has been unable to find a different job on campus. “It is just frustrating having done all of that work and (having) put so much of myself into the Pride Center for three years,” Ansel said. “I will always be proud of that, but it’s hard when that physical representation of that work is gone.” The Pride Center was a big reason Ansel chose to go to OU. “I don’t regret going to school here, and I’ll never regret going to school here. … But it feels like a betrayal,” she said. OU’s Pride Center served not only the campus community, but also the city of Athens. “This (was) a hub for queer people in southern Ohio,” Ansel said. “I think that was something that was unique about the Pride Center, was that it wasn’t just exclusive to students, and I always appreciated that. … Community members are going to suffer without that resource.” Kent State University’s LBGTQ+ Living-Learning Community was one of the main reasons Chloe Ripoli chose to go to Kent State, but it now no longer exists because of the new law. “As someone who got to experience the LLC the last year that it was in place, knowing that no one else would have that experience was really heartbreaking to me,” said Ripoli, a 19-year-old sophomore. Ripoli was planning on going to the LGBTQ+ Center more this year, but is unable to do so since the new law closed the center. “I no longer have access to that safe space,” Ripoli said. Nica Delgado, a graduate student at Kent State, said she previously found solace at the E. Timothy Moore Student Multicultural Center during her undergraduate years at Kent State. “It gave me a community that I could lean on,” she said. “It also provided a space that I knew on campus was for me.” The center closed after S.B. 1 took effect this summer. “It makes me fearful for the safety of students to not have that space that is for them,” Delgado said. Members of Youngstown State University’s chapter of the Ohio Education Association tried unsuccessfully to get a referendum on the Nov. 4 ballot to stop S.B. 1., but fell about 53,000 signatures short. — Previously Published on thebuckeyeflame Subscribe to The Good Men Project Newsletter Email Address * Subscribe If you believe in the work we are doing here at The Good Men Project, please join us as a Premium Member today. All Premium Members get to view The Good Men Project with NO ADS. Need more info? A complete list of benefits is here. — Photo credit: Ohio college students and protesters rally at the Statehouse on March 19, 2025, against Senate Bill 1, a higher education overhaul that bans diversity efforts and faculty strikes, and sets rules around classroom discussion, among other things. (Photo by David DeWitt, Ohio Capital Journal.) The post ‘It Feels Like a Betrayal.’ Ohio College Students Experiencing Effects of New Higher Education Law appeared first on The Good Men Project. View the full article

Islamabad has expressed interest in expanding its relationship with Moscow in multiple areas Islamabad respects Moscow’s relationship with New Delhi, Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif told Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday. In a meeting held after the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit in Tianjin, China, Sharif said Pakistan would like to enhance its ties with Russia. ”We respect your relationship with India, that's perfectly fine, but we also want to build strong relations, and these relations will be supplementary and complimentary for the progress and prosperity of the region,” Sharif said. Putin’s Monday meeting in Tianjin with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, first in his limousine and then at delegation-level talks, received a significant amount of media attention across South Asia. On Tuesday, Sharif thanked Putin for “supporting Pakistan and trying to have a balancing act in the region.” Sharif expressed Islamabad's interest in expanding its ties with Moscow in multiple areas, such as trade, energy, agriculture, investment, defense, artificial intelligence, education, culture, and people-to-people exchanges, according to a Radio Pakistan report. ❗️"We Respect Russia's Relations with India" - Pakistan PM Sharif to Putin https://t.co/9f7JEhjbT1 pic.twitter.com/meqFETLujp — RT_India (@RT_India_news) September 2, 2025 “Unfortunately, due to a number of objective circumstances, our trade turnover has decreased,” Putin told Sharif. “Literally by an insignificant amount, but nevertheless, this is a good signal for us to analyze the situation and work on it.” Putin also extended his condolences to the Pakistani people for the loss of live on account of the floods in the South Asian country. “Regrettably, Pakistan is facing new calamities,” he told Sharif, according to TASS. “We were sitting next to each other at the SCO session and you told me about that. We hope that your country will cope with these difficulties and problems under your leadership.” Putin and Sharif are among a number of world leaders who are attending commemorations in Beijing, marking the 80th anniversary of the end of the Second World War in Asia. View the full article

By Alex Brown Federal immigration officials in Washington state arrived on the scene of the largest wildfire in the state on Wednesday and arrested two firefighters who had been working to contain the blaze. Wildfire veterans say it’s nearly unprecedented for federal agents to conduct immigration enforcement near the front lines of an active wildfire. Some fear the raid could reverberate throughout the wildland fire community, making it more difficult to fully staff the crews putting out blazes at the peak of fire season in the West. “There’s a lot of brown bodies out there on the fire line,” said Bobbie Scopa, who had a 45-year career as a firefighter and now serves as executive secretary with Grassroots Wildland Firefighters, a nonprofit that advocates on behalf of wildfire professionals. Scopa noted that President Donald Trump’s immigration crackdown has swept up even some workers who are in the country legally. “When the rumble from this goes around, we’re going to have contractors unable to put out as many crews as they were,” she said. “We don’t know what the requirement is not to get shipped off by ICE [U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement]. Even if you’re a citizen and you look the wrong way, you could still get picked up.” On Wednesday morning, U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents pulled aside two crews of firefighters that had been working for companies contracted to help fight the Washington fire. The Bear Gulch Fire, spreading through rugged terrain in and around Olympic National Park, has burned nearly 9,000 acres. “They were told they were going to cut firewood,” said Scott Polhamus, secretary of the Organization of Fire Contractors and Affiliates, a nonprofit industry group. “The people that were supposed to meet them never showed up, and eventually immigration showed up instead.” Many contract crews rely heavily on immigrant labor. “[Immigrants] make up a huge portion of forestry and fire, they’re an integral part of this industry,” Polhamus said. Now, wildland fire veterans fear that the immigrants who have been protecting communities from fires could make fire camps a target for immigration officials who are trying to meet deportation quotes. And more high-profile raids on fire crews could cause many in the workforce to reconsider their profession. “If you’re a migrant worker and this starts happening, are you going to keep on doing that and risk getting picked up?” Scopa said. “If [immigration authorities] keep visiting fire camps, we will definitely have fewer contract crews.” In a news release, U.S. Border Patrol said the operation was the result of an investigation by the federal Bureau of Land Management. Federal agents, the release said, found discrepancies on the rosters provided by contract fire companies. Immigration officers arrested two people who were in the country illegally, the release said, while removing 42 additional firefighters from the fire scene. The release said the government has terminated its contracts with the companies. Table Rock Forestry Inc., a member of the Organization of Fire Contractors and Affiliates, was one of the companies whose workers were checked, Polhamus said. The company was able to show that its firefighters all had legal H-2B visas, he said, which allow foreign nationals to fill temporary, nonagricultural jobs. Still, the company’s crew was demobilized and sent home, which he said was allegedly due to a half-hour discrepancy on a time sheet. The company has not yet gotten official word from the feds about its contract, Polhamus said. Neither Table Rock Forestry nor the other company targeted by the raid responded to requests for comment. The Border Patrol statement said the operation did not interfere with firefighting operations. Tom Stokesberry, public information officer with California Interagency Incident Management Team 7, which oversaw the fire crews until Thursday, said the team was aware of the Border Patrol raid. Incident management teams deploy across the country to help coordinate the response to large fires. He would not comment on whether the raid affected wildfire operations. Polhamus, along with many others in the wildland firefighter community, said it is widely believed that the same incident management team called immigration authorities to investigate another Hispanic crew last year. The raid this week took place on the California team’s last day in charge of the fire, hours before a Washington team took command. While most fire crews with government agencies hire only U.S. citizens, officials also contract with private companies to help fight many wildfires. Those companies often hire workers on H-2B visas or immigrants who are working to earn their U.S. citizenship. The effects of workers being detained could go well beyond those individuals, experts said. If a crew loses two or three members, it may no longer meet the specifications it needs to fulfill its contract. That could result in the entire crew being grounded — without pay — until replacements arrive. “We utilize thousands and thousands of contract firefighters,” Scopa said. “It absolutely could impact our ability to manage fires if we’re losing crews.” While firefighting contracting companies have varying opinions on the hiring of workers without legal status, Polhamus said, there’s consensus throughout the industry that conducting an immigration raid at the scene of an active wildfire was dangerous and irresponsible. Washington Public Lands Commissioner Dave Upthegrove, who heads the state’s lead wildfire response agency, issued a statement that the state is still gathering details on the Border Patrol operation. “[T]he Trump administration’s crude and inhumane approach to immigration enforcement has intentionally and unnecessarily stoked fear and mistrust among members of the public —including firefighters putting their lives on the line to protect our State,” he said in the statement. Nevada Current is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Nevada Current maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Hugh Jackson for questions: info@nevadacurrent.com. — Republished with permission from Nevada Current Join The Good Men Project as a Premium Member today. All Premium Members get to view The Good Men Project with NO ADS. A complete list of benefits is here. — Photo credit: unsplash The post Immigration Raid at Washington Blaze Stokes Fear in Wildfire Crews Nationwide appeared first on The Good Men Project. View the full article

By Sophie Hurwitz, Grist “This story was originally published by Grist. Sign up for Grist’s weekly newsletter here.” When a mile-wide tornado hit St. Louis on May 16, DeAmon White hopped in his car and rushed home. As he navigated downed trees and power lines, turning his 10-minute commute into a three-hour slog, he worried whether his family, neighbors, and home made it through unscathed. When he turned the corner onto his block, White’s heart sank. The entire back wall of his house had been blown off. Chunks of ceiling plaster littered the floor, windows were shattered, and much of his property was damaged beyond repair. Next, White checked on his mother, Bobbie, who lives a five-minute walk away. The third floor of her home was gone. But miraculously, her front yard flower garden made it through the 150 mph winds unscathed. Damage to DeAmon White’s home in St. Louis from an EF-3 tornado on May 16. Courtesy of DeAmon White The St. Louis storm, an EF-3, was just one of 60 tornadoes that tore through Missouri, Illinois, Kentucky, Wisconsin, Minnesota, and the Carolinas over 48 hours in May, killing at least 26 people and injuring 168. DeAmon and Bobbie considered themselves lucky: A neighbor of theirs had his leg impaled by a pole that flew through his window. Bobbie went to her sister’s house to get some sleep; DeAmon spent the night in his truck, trading shifts with neighbors to fend off looters. The next morning, at 8 a.m., the phone calls started: Would he be interested in selling his home? “They were aggressively going at it,” he said. This continued for the next two weeks, with half a dozen calls every single day. They’re “vultures,” Bobbie and DeAmon both called the speculators. Some walked down the street with flyers, some texted, and some called. In White’s West End neighborhood, an estimated 63 percent of renters and 49 percent of homeowners are uninsured. For many North St. Louis residents, their homes are their only major asset, meaning they don’t have the cash on hand necessary to rebuild without insurance. And when federal aid is slow to arrive, quick offers to buy a home in cash can look like a lifeline. “Hi, this is Paul with H.B. LLC,” read one text sent to a homeowner just north of the tornado’s path on August 4. “Touching base with you … is this Steven?” Grist tried contacting several of these numbers, but most were not set up to receive call- or text-backs. One, however, did pick up. A woman, sounding like she was in a call center, asked if there was a property to sell. “We’re a ‘we buy homes’ company,” she said, but repeatedly refused to give Grist the company name. Eight months earlier and 600 miles away, Gina Miceli’s community in Fairview, North Carolina, was devastated by Hurricane Helene, which triggered hundreds of landslides. The rushing earth swallowed up homes and cars and killed 15 of her neighbors. In the months following, she received near-constant texts asking if she’d be open to selling her family’s two plots of land. “They text really chummy, so they sound like they already know you,” Miceli said. “‘Hey, Gina, it’s so-and-so!’ It’s very, very creepy.” “Let me know your price,” said one text on July 9, signed simply, “Bella.” “Hi there Gina, hope you’re having a great day,” said another exactly two weeks later. “My name is Christine, I am a land buyer. I’m reaching out to see if you have any plans to sell the lot.” The text was signed by “Twin Acres.” Twin Acres is not a registered real estate broker. Grist’s attempt to text the number back went unanswered. Sometimes, Miceli said, she answers the texts. “It depends on my mood. I think there’s been a time or two I’ve said, ‘Go to hell.’” She has no plans to leave. She’s raising her family in the home her husband’s grandparents bought, and she owns a local brewery. Some theorists call this phenomenon “disaster gentrification,” when real estate investors flood a disaster zone to buy up damaged properties for cheap. Samantha Montano, a professor of emergency management and author of the book Disasterology, spent years living and working in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina and saw it happen with her own eyes. In areas like the Lower Ninth Ward, some people displaced by the storm didn’t have the resources to return. Speculators rushed in. Some landowners became instant millionaires, selling their properties to out-of-state developers hoping to rebuild and flip their property. “The issue of gentrification in New Orleans was there from the beginning,” Montano said. “There were many groups who were warning about that, advocating for housing policy and other recovery policies to account for gentrification. [They] tried to prevent it.” Twenty years later, the demographics of New Orleans have shifted: Lower-income and Black residents have been displaced, and whiter, wealthier new residents took their place. “Certainly that is all very much intertwined in the recovery and in who had access to the resources to return and rebuild — and who didn’t,” she said. In the wake of the Eaton Fire in Altadena, California, earlier this year, half of home purchases were by limited liability corporations, according to Dwell, the home design news site. That’s nearly double what they typically represent compared to individuals buying homes. Just six companies — among them Ocean Development Inc. and Black Lion Properties LLC — dominated those transactions in Altadena, spending millions of dollars to purchase destroyed properties in historically Black neighborhoods. It’s difficult to find out who these companies are: Often, they contact potential sellers through fake phone numbers or under names that aren’t necessarily attached to real corporations. The value of disaster-struck land consistently bounces back fast, meaning that buyers can flip the land or homes — sometimes even without making repairs. As climate change fuels more frequent severe natural disasters across the United States, “disaster investors” seem set to make greater profits than ever — and communities like North St. Louis stand to bear the burden. Justin Stoler, a University of Miami researcher working on urban health disparities, recently published a paper on hazard gentrification. This phenomenon, Stoler told Grist, diverges from our standard understanding of gentrification in its speed. “It’s typically happening in a very punctuated, short-term manner. It doesn’t necessarily take years and decades to roll out.” “People’s lives are completely upended, and they’ve got to make difficult choices,” Stoler said. “And opportunistic entities, companies, investors try to step in and get a good deal. You end up with this system where people are exploiting the misfortunes of others.” In DeAmon White’s neighborhood, he saw the signs of gentrification long before the tornado: A community barbershop replaced by a trendy new restaurant; a former school turned into an upscale apartment building inhabited by law students; and “just a lot of white folks moving into what they used to call ‘the hood,’ you know?” he said. And investors were already circling. Signs with “WE BUY UGLY HOUSES” could be found on utility poles and in mailboxes before the May storm. These are markers of real estate wholesalers and house-flippers looking for a quick sale. But they increased in frequency and aggressiveness after the neighborhood was turned to rubble, he said. It’s a little too soon to say whether the St. Louis tornado will lead to big land buys. But signs — and Zillow search results — are pointing in that direction. At least 10 severely damaged homes in the tornado’s path have gone up for sale on the real estate platform Zillow in recent weeks. Each one is labeled not as a home for locals to move into, but as an investment opportunity: 4641 Maffit Avenue “offers investment potential” for rehab or brick salvage, with a starting bid of $20,000; 4236 East Sacramento Avenue — “Investor Special!! Tornado damaged property” — in the historic Ville neighborhood is going for $30,000. 100 days after the storm, many St. Louis neighborhoods remain as damaged as they were the day of the tornado in May. Debris still litters streets and yards, blue tarps still stand in for caved-in roofs, and windows are still boarded up — even as the weather cools. Community activist organizations are providing aid where they can. One group, The People’s Response, which mobilized some 10,000 volunteers, estimates that over 2,000 St. Louis households still require housing and shelter assistance. But even with a robust volunteer network, $30 million from an NFL settlement redirected toward tornado relief, and FEMA aid (slowly) arriving, homeowners have been left in the lurch for months, facing a difficult decision about how — or even whether — to rebuild. Deserai Anderson Crow, who researches community resilience at the University of Colorado-Boulder, says what is happening in St. Louis follows a pattern similar to other extreme weather disasters: Those who rebuild are more often than not landlords looking for renters, rather than people who intend to live in the homes they’re rebuilding. “It’s a predatory renting cycle,” Crow said. “These huge industrial-rental landlords are trying to snap up disaster-affected homes because they assume, correctly, that a lot of people want to get out from under those mortgages as quickly as possible, and that they just don’t have the emotional bandwidth or financial bandwidth to deal with rebuilding.” Bobbie White’s damaged home was built in 1901, back when St. Louis was a thriving Mississippi River transit hub. One of the industries that built St. Louis was brickmaking, with the materials renowned worldwide for their strength and quality. Bobbie’s home, and others on her block, are made of those bricks. “A lot of these houses are 100-year-old structures,” DeAmon said. What is built in their stead likely won’t be as unique or sturdy, and yet will cost far more, he lamented — prices out of reach for many in the neighborhood today. Stacey Sanders, president of the St. Louis Association of Realtors, says she’s been inundated with reports of speedy post-disaster sale offers. But they often come with red flags: For one thing, multigenerational homes may not have access to a title, or the title might be in the name of a deceased family member. Sometimes, resolving title issues can take years. Many of the storm-impacted multigenerational homes are in that legal category. Those “heirs’ property” homeowners are stuck, Sanders said. Without a title, it can be harder to access FEMA benefits, filing an insurance claim is extremely difficult, and sales without a title are legally dubious at best. When Sanders’ own home and car were hit by a tornado this March, “we had letters, door hangers, people knocking on the door, doing everything.” They were either selling her on repairs or selling her on a home purchase. She was, as a professional real estate agent, able to access resources and recover her damaged property. But she worries others may have a harder time. “It might be the easiest and the quickest way,” Sanders said, “ but it’s not always the best way to go.” “A lot of the people that are out making these offers on houses are not doing it because they’re like, ‘Oh, these poor people, let’s give them a fair shake,’” she said. Instead, they’re seeing “desperate people” and chasing an opportunity to buy property for far less than it is worth. There are options to curb this mass sell-off. One tactic, Crow, of the University of Colorado, said, is providing a few months of bridge funding so residents can stay and navigate the rebuilding process. Another is to stymie buyers: This June, the Ohio Senate passed a bill requiring real estate wholesalers to tell homeowners when they may be selling their homes for less than market value. Pennsylvania passed a similar law in January. The market in Missouri, however, remains unregulated at both the local and state level, according to attorney Peter Hoffman of Legal Services of Eastern Missouri, a nonprofit that has been providing pro bono services to tornado victims. “They find people in vulnerable situations that maybe don’t have equal access to information,” Hoffman said. Those issues — redlining, displacement, exploitation — existed before the tornado. But the storm, he said, brought them to the light. Talking on the phone between orders of fish, fried okra, and potato salad while at his restaurant, Ozell’s Kitchen and Food Mart, DeAmon White reflected on the last few months. Rebuilding his home has been hard. Though he does have insurance, he expects his home won’t be livable until February or March, the better part of a year after the tornado. Because he’s disabled, with a partially amputated foot, he stays mostly on the first floor of his mother’s house. A neighbor of his is still living in a camper on her lot. Others, he said, took the offer to sell. Right now, there are only four families left on his block. On August 21, White said, his mother received an offer in the mail: A man named Chris wanted to buy her home for about two-thirds of what it was worth. “I really would like the people who are in the line of gentrification to realize what it is they have, and if they can, don’t sell out,” White said. “I know money talks, and when you’re in a stressful situation you got to do what you got to do, but resist, you know?” This article originally appeared in Grist at https://grist.org/housing/disasters-destroyed-their-homes-then-the-real-estate-vultures-swooped-in/. Grist is a nonprofit, independent media organization dedicated to telling stories of climate solutions and a just future. Learn more at Grist.org — This story was produced by The 74, a non-profit, independent news organization focused on education in America. — Subscribe to The Good Men Project Newsletter Email Address * Subscribe If you believe in the work we are doing here at The Good Men Project, please join us as a Premium Member today. All Premium Members get to view The Good Men Project with NO ADS. Need more info? A complete list of benefits is here. — Photo credit: iStock.com The post Disasters Destroyed Their Homes. Then the Real Estate ‘Vultures’ Swooped In. appeared first on The Good Men Project. View the full article

The president said the troops sent by Kim Jong-un to Kursk Region demonstrated courage and heroism Russian President Vladimir Putin has expressed his gratitude to North Korean soldiers who helped Moscow’s forces defend Kursk Region from a Ukrainian incursion. Putin made the statement during a meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un in China on Wednesday. DETAILS TO FOLLOW View the full article