American Women Suck

📖 Bible goes cinematic: Pray.com is cranking out AI-generated Bible videos (think seven-headed dragons, collapsing cities and angels that look like superheroes). Millions are watching, mostly guys under 30. Theologians say it cheapens Scripture into a “Don’t forget to like and pray!” social media plea, but Pray’s team calls it “the Marvel Universe of faith.” The post Bible goes cinematic appeared first on Komando.com. View the full article

I’ve always said that I was never a person overly affected by peer pressure. It didn’t seem to faze me. But societal pressure? That one got to me. When I was younger, I followed the blueprint I’d been taught to follow. I went to college after high school. I got a job. After being in a relationship for a few years, I got married. I went to grad school. I got another job in a more “valid” field. I had children. I put one foot in front of the other, but I was walking through my early adulthood like I was in a trance. It wasn’t bringing me joy. The best part of most of my days took place when I could spend time in my rich inner world of daydreams that bore no resemblance to my real life. I read books and watched movies, escaping the monotonous routine of the life I had constructed exactly as I was told to do. Breaking down that life didn’t feel good. It felt necessary. I quit the job I’d studied long and hard to achieve. I filed for divorce. I planned a move to a town I’d visited once but loved. I stopped living life only inside my head. I’d be braver this time. But still, societal messages creeped in, as they often do. I needed a soulmate, didn’t I? I dated. The first date after the divorce was beautiful, but the relationship was messy. I was messy. The next person I dated for any length of time reminded me that I needed to get my life together. It wasn’t just messy; it was disastrous. But I rebuilt my life again. I lived my dreams in a way I never had before. And I fell in love. This beginning was beautiful. But the end? Oh, that’s a heartbreak I’ve told so many times that I’ve bored myself with it. I loved, I lost, but — finally — I healed. Not just from him. I finally healed from all the old baggage I’d been carrying for so long I didn’t even notice it anymore. I unpacked it all in therapy. I finally got to know myself in a way I never had before. After the healing, there was a curious sense of rest and peace. I was happy in the life I was building — even when that life was hard. I made peace with the past, and I wasn’t going to let society dictate my future. This time, I was going to live my life for me. There’s a beautiful spaciousness in being single. I always assumed it would be lonely to spend year upon year unpartnered. Instead, there’s abundant space. I’ve filled it with friends and pets and adventures with my children. Still, I feel this wonderful stretch of possibilities. It almost sounds silly to articulate, but I can watch anything I like and read what and when I like without commentary. I can listen to my playlists without any sense of self-consciousness on how it’s being received. I can sleep in my bed and not worry that my restless turning will disturb anyone else. In relationships, I won’t say that I felt crowded exactly. Not physically. But my head was crowded with thoughts of the relationship. I would wrap myself up in it. I know there are reasons — trauma being primary — for why I did this, but I can also acknowledge that there wasn’t a lot of balance for me in the relationships I chose. Not for a long time. It wasn’t just my thoughts that felt crowded. My interests seemed to get pushed out by theirs. In fairness, I let that happen, but I noticed that the partners I chose were more than happy to let my interests give way to their own with no true interest expressed in exploring the things I enjoyed. And I couldn’t quite be myself. Not without criticism. Not without being treated like just being me was somehow deeply flawed. But in that singular spaciousness of being unpartnered, I had room — room to explore interests new and old, room to fully embody myself, room to think thoughts that had nothing to do with some woman’s son’s inconsistent and baffling behavior. Being single doesn’t have to be lonely. While I have moments of loneliness, they are fleeting. I don’t dwell on them. I feel them, acknowledge them, and let them pass the way they always will. I’ve found that while loneliness does happen on its own, it’s more often encouraged by our thoughts and frame of mind. When I first lost the relationship I had foolishly thought would last, the loneliness felt excruciating. I felt his absence all the time. I was afraid I always would. I can’t count how many nights I spent on what-if scenarios. What if he came back? What if I had done something different or been someone different? I would trace the trajectory of that relationship like a meteor across the sky. From start to finish, I would replay it, and sometimes, I would give it new endings or chart a different course in my mind. As I healed, I stopped playing the game of what-if. I stopped dwelling on that slice of time in my life. I stopped making one man the whole world. And my world got bigger. It wasn’t lonely anymore. Time to myself meant time to luxuriate in my interests and spend time with my friends. I stopped seeing it as an ending and saw it instead as a transition into a new way of living and being. I also stopped trying to find someone to blame. Me. Him. Circumstances outside our control. I forgave everyone involved — myself most of all. I let love exist without trying to tie it to a single person. And I became a happy single person. I’ve grown in unanticipated ways. When I see happy couples, I don’t begrudge them their happiness or wish it were my own. That’s growth. I don’t disparage love stories or mock the idea of soulmates. I can be happy single and happy for every single one of my friends who falls in love. I can wish happiness to them — and to every ex I’ve encountered along the way. Instead of imagining happy relationships for myself, my mind has space to roam free of the confines of societal urgings to be coupled. In that sense of spaciousness, I began to consider my impact on the world around me. It was a strange and beautiful transition. I’m not sure exactly when I became this person who would negotiate with spiders to build their webs a bit higher around the doorframes rather than knocking them down with a sense of entitlement. I don’t know when I woke up and decided that fostering dogs and cats to give them a sense of love, safety, and stability was something I felt compelled to do. I just know that I became more thoughtful, intentional, and compassionate, and I didn’t need to be in love with one single person to achieve it. I could be in love with everything and everyone — and most of all, this one life I’m living. I can’t remember the last time I went on a romantic date, but I can tell you the last time I went to lunch with a good friend. I can talk about experiences I’ve shared with my children. I can even list animals that were adopted that I was privileged to foster. I don’t feel sorry for myself. I don’t feel like I’m missing out. Being single doesn’t have to mean being lonely any more than being in a relationship automatically has to mean that we’re loved and at peace. My life is what it is, and I am happy in it. And when I am unhappy, I feel that, too, but I don’t try to hold onto it or give it more meaning than it deserves. It is, and I am, and it’s all okay. — 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: Brooke Cagle on Unsplash The post The Spaciousness of Being Single appeared first on The Good Men Project. View the full article

Poland says it is closing crossings with Belarus due to security concerns related to Moscow-Minsk military drills Poland will close its border with Belarus later this week as Minsk prepares to hold joint military exercises with Moscow, Prime Minister Donald Tusk announced on Tuesday. The Zapad-2025 military drills, scheduled for September 12-16, is part of regular strategic exercises held roughly every four years by Russia and Belarus. Tusk described the maneuvers as “very aggressive” and staged “very close to the Polish border.” “The response includes maneuvers on our side, by the Polish military and allied forces,” Tusk said during a government meeting. The border closure will take effect Thursday night, he added. Poland last week launched its Iron Defender-25 exercise with 30,000 troops. Neighboring Lithuania began its Thunder Strike national defense drill on Tuesday. Both countries are also participating with eight other NATO allies in the military bloc’s Tarassis 25 exercise. Belarusian Defense Minister Viktor Khrenin last month criticized Warsaw for citing the exercise as a pretext for mobilizing the 30,000 Polish troops. “This is a serious group, according to our estimates. We will be monitoring it and react accordingly,” Khrenin said. “Should it show any sign of aggression toward Belarus, we’ll find means to respond.” Minsk has said the Russian-Belarusian drills this year will involve up to 13,000 troops and pledged transparency for international observers. Khrenin also told media that Russian and Belarusian forces would train in the deployment of the Oreshnik medium-range ballistic missiles, unveiled last year during what Moscow described as a “test strike” on a Ukrainian military plant. The weapon was developed after the US pulled out of a bilateral treaty with Russia in 2019, which banned both nations from creating land-based missiles of that range. Moscow has accused NATO of fueling tensions for decades through large-scale exercises, expanded deployments in Eastern Europe and pledges to eventually admit Ukraine into the alliance – actions Russia says threaten its security. View the full article

Scott Bessent reportedly had a heated clash with housing regulator Bill Pulte at a private Trump-aligned dinner US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent allegedly threatened to punch Federal Housing Finance Agency Director Bill Pulte “in the f***ing face” during a private dinner, according to media reports. The confrontation was reportedly defused by a club co-owner and ended with the two being seated apart. The exchange allegedly took place last week at the Executive Branch club in Washington DC, a private club co-founded by Donald Trump Jr., during a dinner hosted for podcaster Chamath Palihapitiya’s birthday. Bessent reportedly launched a profanity-laced tirade at Pulte, who he believed was badmouthing him to US President Donald Trump. The Treasury secretary allegedly shouted, “Why the f* are you talking to the president about me? F* you,” before threatening to “punch” Pulte in his “f***ing face,” media reported, citing eyewitness accounts. Omeed Malik, co-owner of the club, reportedly intervened to prevent further escalation. Malik separated the two men after Bessent told him, “It’s either me or him. You tell me who’s getting the f* out of here. Or we could go outside.” When Pulte asked, “To talk?” Bessent responded, “No, I’m going to f*ing beat your ass.” The two were then seated at opposite ends of the dinner table, the outlets said. Sources familiar with the matter told Politico that the clash grew out of tensions between the two men over the privatization of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, projects that President Trump assigned them to manage in May. Bessent and Pulte have also been on opposite sides of the debate over whether Trump should remove Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell. According to earlier media reports, Bessent privately cautioned against such a move, warning it could destabilize financial markets, while Pulte has urged Powell to resign and drafted a suggested termination letter for Trump. It is not the first reported confrontation involving Bessent. Earlier this year, he allegedly clashed with Elon Musk near the Oval Office, using profanities to accuse the tech billionaire of going behind his back in a dispute over the acting Internal Revenue Service (IRS) commissioner appointment. View the full article

“The Right says the Left wants to take away your guns. Well, I don’t know about the Left, but I want to take away your guns! REPEAL THE 2ND AMENDMENT!!” There! I uttered the unutterable, the ultimate taboo in U.S. political discourse. I inserted my quote onto the social media sites to which I subscribe just one day following the tragic shooting at Annunciation Catholic Church and School in Minneapolis, Minnesota when, on August 27, 2025, a shooter scattered bullets at a terrifyingly high velocity through the stained-glass windows killing two young students aged 8 and 10 and injured another 15 students and 3 adults before committing suicide. Though the act of repealing the Second Amendment of the U.S. Constitution has since its inception been merely a pipe dream, at this inflection point in history, it seems that the pipe dream, in addition to the tens-of-thousands of residents each year have been murdered and buried deep in the Earth. While some of the participants who responded to my plea on social media supported the idea of repeal, the vast majority not only disagreed, but more tellingly, attacked me as the messenger. I list a small representative sample of the near 200+ responses written by what appeared all to have been white cisgender males according to the picture profiles accompanying their responses: “Don’t call the police and leave the country if you don’t like it.” “Hey, Warren, just try coming and taking my guns!” “You pedophile communist fascist.” “Hey Jew. Don’t you remember what they did to 6 million of your people? You should love the second amendment.” “You’re totally mental, but I like your dogs [in your profile picture].” “Who are you to talk? You kill babies with your so-called ‘reproductive freedom’ crap.” “You are a treasonous Benedict Arnold, and you know what they do to traitors!” “God gave us the right to own guns, and you don’t have the right to take them away.” “You better write your will and testimony [testament] and get your affairs in order.” “You’re hiding behind the bodies of dead children to promote your agenda.” Toxic forms of hypermasculinity require the promotion and use of firearms to keep at bay the intensive psychosocial compulsive fear and dread of penetration from bullets, from homosexuals, from trans people in bathrooms, from invading immigrants from our southern borders, and from the female gaze since patriarchy promises males the right to the aggressive outward intrusive gaze and the mandate to penetrate “others.” For many members of the firearms movement – yes, it is a movement – their guns are not simply a commodity, a product, or a thing they own and use. It is something much greater. Guns are an integral and essential element of their identities. For anyone to challenge the Second Amendment, they take it as a challenge to their very being, to their lives, and yes, to their identities. I love my life, and I love the people of my country far far far more than I value the “freedom” to bear arms. I don’t know if any “reforms” will really solve the problems of gun-related violence in the United States, though I still hold out hope. And though impossible, in all actuality, I believe we must repeal the Second Amendment while granting some accommodation to licensed hunters and people who can document that their lives are at heightened risk of violence. As the horse once served as a primary means of transportation in earlier times, it now grazes and prances peacefully on open pastures. Possibly during former moments in our history, we may have had reason to enact and enforce the Second Amendment of our great Constitution, but those bygone days have long since passed. Now we must put the Second Amendment out to pasture. I believe that even our brilliant and well-meaning, but flawed founders, did not want unlimited and unrestricted rights of firearm ownership. This is why they began the Second Amendment with the phrase, “A well regulated Militia,” before they continued with, “being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.” They could never have imagined the enormous leaps and heights to which the Second Amendment now menaces not only the very lives of our people, but more poignantly, how it imposes an existential threat to our nation. Even if our early leaders had advocated for unrestricted gun ownership, these same men owned and marketed enslaved Africans, committed genocide against and expelled native peoples, withheld enfranchisement from women, engaged in and killed one another in duels, and so on. Since those early times, legislation, judicial actions, and constitutional amendments have at least attempted to redress some of those past tragedies. Though we can never bring back the tens of thousands of victims mowed down by gun-related violence each year, by gutting the Second Amendment, we can give our residents a greater chance of life. I often travel abroad visiting cities and people around the world. Increasingly, during my journeys, people express to me their admiration for the remarkable achievements and wonders of the United States, but because of the perennial gun-related violence, they vow never to step foot on this land. These same people believe they have more freedom in their countries with severe firearms restrictions than we could ever have under our Second Amendment. And because of their well-founded hesitations to visit our country, they will never experience our gleaming cities, our open plains, our lush grasslands, our majestic mountains and national parks, and yes, our seemingly endless quantity of shops (and let’s not forget our peanut butter and M&Ms). In the end, the realities of gun-related violence in the U.S. hurts everyone everywhere, with the possible exception of firearms manufacturers, their lobbyists, and the politicians they funnel in funds to stay in office. This violence also helps our enemies who desire to witness us being defeated from within. Rather than working to reduce the supply of firearms on our streets and in our homes, gun sales and ownership steadily increase. The United States ranks number 1 of 178 countries with the highest rate of firearms: 120.5 per 100 people. What will it take for us to cease fighting insanity with insanity? How many more of our precious people of all ages will have their lives cut short under the banner of “freedom to bear arms”? What will it take for us to reverse the unholy alliance between corporate America and powerful pressure groups controlling politicians in the service of firearms manufacturers? When is enough, enough?! — 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 Guns, God, Capitalism, & Hypermasculine Identity appeared first on The Good Men Project. View the full article

President Cyril Ramaphosa has warned that unilateral tariffs are undermining emerging markets South African President Cyril Ramaphosa delivered a call for solidarity and reform at the Extraordinary BRICS Leaders Meeting on Monday, warning that the world faces an era of “disruption and chaos” that threatens to derail development in the Global South. In an address, Ramaphosa said the global economic landscape is undergoing seismic shifts—from unipolarity to multipolarity—characterised by rising geopolitical tensions, trade wars, and a resurgence of protectionism that is exacting a toll on developing economies. ”The uncertainty of the new trading regime has already negatively affected employment levels in my own country, South Africa,” he said. “It is an obstacle to our economic growth.” Ramaphosa warned that unilateral tariff measures and an increasingly fragmented global trading system were undermining the prospects of emerging markets. He called on BRICS nations to take the lead in shaping a more equitable and resilient global order, rooted in multilateralism and meaningful cooperation. Ramaphosa asserted, urging reforms to the World Trade Organisation (WTO) and the broader multilateral system to ensure that developing countries can move beyond the lower rungs of global value chains. ”Global trade must work for all of us,” he added. Highlighting Africa’s strategic importance, Ramaphosa painted a vision of the continent not as a supplier of raw materials, but as a global economic hub for innovation, value creation and regional integration. “Our vision is of an Africa that is the beating heart of global trade,” he said. South Africa, currently chairing the G20, has launched an Extraordinary Committee of Independent Experts on Global Wealth Inequality, chaired by Nobel Laureate Professor Joseph Stiglitz. The committee will deliver the first-ever global inequality report to G20 leaders, with solutions aimed at tackling poverty, inequality, and developmental imbalances. On global security, Ramaphosa backed Brazil’s call for a ceasefire in Gaza and reiterated South Africa’s support for a two-state solution, linking peace and development as mutually reinforcing goals. Calling for the finalization of the BRICS Economic Partnership Strategy 2030, Ramaphosa urged member states to shift from “firefighting mode” to strategic action. “Let us demonstrate how consensus is built through negotiation and not through coercion,” he said. As global economic fractures deepen, Ramaphosa’s remarks positioned BRICS as a potential anchor for stability and reform. ”This global trading crisis provides a great opportunity for us to do things differently. Let us undertake all these important actions together, in a spirit of partnership and solidarity”, he stated. First published by IOL View the full article

The biggest copyright payout ever, courtesy of Anthropic. That’s more than some publishers make in a year, and all because Claude was caught with its hand in the pirate library cookie jar. Guess plagiarism does pay, just not in the way Anthropic hoped. If your book was in Anthropic’s pirated dataset, you’re automatically in the settlement class, with attorneys filing the full ~500,000-title list by Oct. 10. The post $1.5 billion appeared first on Komando.com. View the full article

♣️ Google laid its AI cards on the table: Google quietly dropped limits for Gemini. Free users get five prompts per day, 100 images per month and five long-form deep dives. The Gemini Advanced (Ultra 1.5) plan runs $19.99/month and bumps you up to 500 prompts per day, 1,000 images per month and daily high-powered file analysis using Gemini in Gmail, Docs and more. The post Google laid its AI cards on the table appeared first on Komando.com. View the full article

Add another Touch ID on iPad: Set up a second finger for easier unlocking. Go to Settings > Touch ID & Passcode > Fingerprints > Add a fingerprint. Bonus: Scroll down to Allow Access When Locked and turn off Control Center, so a thief can’t put your iPad in Airplane Mode. Nice one, right? The post Add another Touch ID on iPad appeared first on Komando.com. View the full article

The IDF attacked the group’s headquarters in Qatar, with around ten explosions reported Israel has conducted a “precise strike” against the “senior leadership of Hamas,” the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) announced on Tuesday, shortly after multiple blasts rocked the headquarters of the Palestinian militant group in Doha, Qatar. DETAILS TO FOLLOW View the full article

Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has insisted the facility on the Blue Nile poses no harm, seeking to calm the fears of downstream Egypt and Sudan Ethiopia has officially inaugurated Africa’s largest hydroelectric plant, a controversial project expected to generate up to 5.15 gigawatts of power for the landlocked nation, where nearly half the population is estimated to lack access to electricity. The inauguration of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) on the Blue Nile on Tuesday went ahead despite fierce opposition from downstream Egypt and Sudan, which fear the project will disrupt vital water flows. “To our brothers: Ethiopia built the dam to prosper, to electrify the entire region and to change the history of black people,” Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy said as he addressed a crowd that included the presidents of Djibouti, Kenya, Somalia, and South Sudan. The prime ministers of Eswatini and Barbados, the chairperson of the African Union Commission, and the United Nations under-secretary-general and executive secretary of the Economic Commission for Africa were also in attendance. “It is absolutely not to harm its brothers,” Abiy stated. In a post on X, Ethiopian President Taye Atske Selassie hailed the GERD as “a reward of Ethiopian people’s resilience,” declaring, “Let there be eternal light!” የታሪካችን እጥፋት ዋዜማ ! Jala bultii jijjiirrama seenaa keenyaa! pic.twitter.com/s1uu7udxsO — Adanech Abiebie (@AdanechAbiebie) September 9, 2025 Addis Ababa announced the completion of the facility, among the 20 biggest in the world, in July after a 14-year construction period. It was initially scheduled to be completed within six years on a $4 billion budget, although Ethiopian authorities now put the final cost at about $5 billion. US President Donald Trump had claimed that Ethiopia built the dam “largely” with American money, but the GERD Coordination Office dismissed the allegation as false and “destructive,” stressing that the project was entirely financed by the government and local contributions. Local media reported jubilation across Africa’s second most populous country following the “historic” opening of the plant, which authorities have long hailed as a milestone for Ethiopia’s renaissance. EUPHORIA! Ethiopians from all walks of life rejoice as their flagship grand project - #GERD - officially inaugurated today by Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed in the presence of various African leaders and Barbados PM#Ethiopia #GERD #Africa 🧵 1/4 pic.twitter.com/IoQlQQrWID — Fana Media Corporation S.C. (FMC) (@fanatelevision) September 9, 2025 According to the World Bank, only about 55.4% of Ethiopia’s population had access to electricity as of 2023, compared with universal coverage in Egypt at 100%. Egypt, which relies on the Nile for about 97% of its fresh water, has accused Addis Ababa of violating international laws and has taken the dispute to the UN Security Council. © RT / RT View the full article

American funds should not be used for “foreign wars” while the country faces $37 trillion in debt, Marjorie Taylor Greene has claimed US Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene has proposed removing $600 million in Ukraine support from the draft Pentagon spending bill, arguing that Americans’ “hard-earned tax dollars” should not go to foreign aid. The Georgia Republican proposed cancelling the allocation of these funds in the 2026 and 2027 fiscal years to shift priorities toward the US. With Donald Trump back in the White House, the US has dramatically cut military aid to Kiev, pausing more than $1 billion in planned funds. When we fund our military, it should ONLY be for America’s military. But once again, the NDAA is loaded with billions of YOUR hard-earned tax dollars headed overseas. When I say America Only, I mean it. That’s why I’m fighting to strip out every dime for foreign countries. pic.twitter.com/gV0iyK8Owx — Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene🇺🇸 (@RepMTG) September 8, 2025 In a video post on X on Tuesday, Greene said that her amendment would strike $600 million from the defense bill, money that she noted “goes to Ukraine.” She argued that the US had already sent “over $175 billion to this war” and that it was “enough of your hard-earned tax dollars.” She described the measure as part of the America First agenda, saying US funds should not be used for “foreign wars” while the country faces a $37 trillion debt. The congresswoman stated that the US usually allocates $300 million annually but that “Speaker Johnson and Republicans are feeling so generous they’re wanting to give them 600 million this time. My amendment will take it out.” Greene said, adding she has “never voted to fund this war.” Greene introduced another amendment after learning that “another $100 million” had been earmarked for Kiev and said she wanted to remove all funding in case others in Congress felt “so giving.” Greene also put forward measures to cut aid for Israel, Syria, and Iraq adding that the money should be “kept back here at home.” While previous President Joe Biden’s administration approved large-scale aid packages to Kiev, Trump has cut assistance but allowed some deliveries, such as Patriot air-defense systems. He has repeatedly expressed concern about possible misuse of US aid to Kiev, claiming that billions allocated under Biden may have been embezzled. In July, Trump said that any additional weapons delivered to Ukraine would have to be paid for by Europe’s NATO members. Ukraine’s European backers are pressing for more weapons as part of security guarantees, while Russia insists Western military aid is an obstacle to reaching a peace deal. View the full article

Valery Gerasimov, who has led the Russian troops in the Ukraine conflict since 2023, received the decoration for “bravery and selflessness” Russian President Vladimir Putin has awarded Chief of the General Staff, General Valery Gerasimov, the ‘Order of Courage,’ according to a presidential decree published on Tuesday. The state decoration, established in 1994, recognizes selfless acts of courage and valor. The official notice said the award was given to Gerasimov “for courage, bravery and selflessness shown in the performance of military duty.” The 70-year-old general has headed the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces since 2012 and also serves as First Deputy Minister of Defense. Since 2023, he has commanded the Joint Group of Russian troops fighting Ukrainian forces. Commenting on the campaign in late August, Gerasimov said the “strategic initiative” now rests “entirely with the Russian troops,” while Kiev has been forced to shift its most combat-ready units “from one crisis direction to another to plug holes.” Russian forces are carrying out a “non-stop offensive” across almost the entire front line and will continue this course through autumn, according to the commander. Gerasimov has held the ‘Hero of Russia’ title since 2016. He has also received numerous decorations, including the Order of St. George, 3rd degree (2017), the Order of St. George, 4th degree (2015), and the Order “For Merit to the Fatherland,” 1st degree (2021). View the full article

The worst part of being sick is not knowing when the turnaround will come. “Is today the worst day? Am I still going down? Or am I already on my way back up?” If you knew in advance that next Wednesday will be your low point, getting to — and through — Wednesday would be a lot easier. But that’s not how life works, is it? Sometimes, you think you’re on the road to recovery only to get doubly smacked down 24 hours later. Yesterday was that day for me. The 50%-drop before the eventual bottom-formation. With what felt like only a third of my brain power, I was in cruise control for most of the day. At 5:30 PM, I lugged myself out of the house for a short walk. I’d slept poorly the night before, and I thought air, sun, and a few steps might do the trick. While slowpoke-ing across a rough meadow, I spotted some stones on the ground next to a tree. For whatever reason, I really felt like throwing one. I picked up a handful and chucked them into the nearby bushes. It was such a small, insignificant event — literally a throwaway gesture — and yet, it felt like the most productive thing I did all day. For even the shortest of moments, the physical act of picking up a rock and giving it a new location reminded me that I could still affect the world around me. I could still change things. Sure, my power to do so was severely diminished right now, but eventually, that power would come back. In the meantime, the most important task might be to not forget it existed in the first place. Was that moment my inflection point? One day later, it surely seems so, but who knows? Life loves to play games like that. First crushing our expectations only to reward them shortly thereafter. If the results are more humble winners, I guess the grand design works. Until I find out for sure, however, I’ll take the small achievement. There’s that whole thing in the Bible about not casting the first stone, and when it comes to people, no matter what kind of house you’re sitting in, that’s always true. But if it’s a rock you want to skip across a lake for old time’s sake or a small pebble tossed into the bushes to show yourself that you can still do something, anything, really, those take on a different meaning entirely. On the right days, there’s power even in throwing a stone, and small gestures rarely fail to make a difference. Grab a copy of Nik’s book, 2-Minute Pep Talks. 2-Minute Pep Talks is a collection of 67 jolts of inspiration for more hope, comfort, and love in any situation. With more than two months of daily inspiration across five categories, 2-Minute Pep Talks will make you feel more comfortable in your own skin, remind you to love yourself enough to ask life for what you truly want, and provide you with the world’s scarcest resource: hope. Whether you’re looking for a pick-me-up, new perspectives, or more fuel to accomplish your dreams — if you’re ready to regain that light, passionate, optimistic feeling we all used to possess as children, this book is for you. AVAILABLE NOW ON AMAZON! — This post was previously published on Niklas Göke’s blog Subscribe HERE *** You may also like these posts on The Good Men Project: White Fragility: Talking to White People About Racism Escape the “Act Like a Man” Box The Lack of Gentle Platonic Touch in Men’s Lives is a Killer What We Talk About When We Talk About Men Join The Good Men Project as a Premium Member today. All Premium Members get to view The Good Men Project with NO ADS. A $50 annual membership gives you an all access pass. You can be a part of every call, group, class and community. A $25 annual membership gives you access to one class, one Social Interest group and our online communities. A $12 annual membership gives you access to our Friday calls with the publisher, our online community. Register New Account Log in if you wish to renew an existing subscription. Username Email First Name Last Name Password Password Again Choose your subscription level Dating Masterclass - $999.00 - unlimited Dating Masterclass: How to Date and Create Satisfying and Lasting Love and Sexi in this Crazy, Modern World 5 Ways to Build Confidence - $99.00 - unlimited 5 Ways to Build Confidence and Make Meeting and Dating Women Less Nerve-Wracking Monthly Platinum - free - unlimited Monthly - $6.99 - 1 Month Yearly - $50.00 - 1 Year Sponsored Columnist Annual - $1,250.00 - 1 Year Sponsored Columnist Monthly - $150.00 - 1 Month Annual Platinum - $50.00 - 1 Year Annual Gold - $25.00 - 1 Year Monthly Gold - $20.00 - 1 Month Annual Bronze - $12.00 - 1 Year Credit / Debit Card PayPal Choose Your Payment Method Auto Renew By completing this registration form, you are also agreeing to our Terms of Service which can be found here. Need more info? A complete list of benefits is here. — Photo credit: iStock The post The Power of Throwing a Stone appeared first on The Good Men Project. View the full article

New mental illness alert: Just passing this along. Doctors are seeing a rise in “AI delusions,” people breaking down after endless chats with bots that never disagree. Not schizophrenia, but not nothing. Experts warn this could mark a brand-new disorder. Imaginary friends? Now they charge $20/month. The post New mental illness alert appeared first on Komando.com. View the full article

Given that civil penalties, fines and regulation clearly don’t deter corporate executives from wrongdoing, perhaps the time has come to consider throwing them in jail? I admit, it’s a provocative question, but it crossed my mind in light of recent headlines about the derisory fines levied against Glovo and Delivery Hero for flagrantly anti-competitive practices, and is perhaps the only way to deal with the repeated, brazen recklessness that characterizes many companies and executives, with the results that we’re all too aware of. Suggesting prison time for corporate decisions that while morally reprehensible but don’t always cross clear legal lines will inevitably draw fire. That’s precisely why this debate is both healthy and necessary — especially when we include counterarguments. What this conversation demands is nuance, not ideological warfare. In that spirit, we must acknowledge the full complexity and risks of criminally prosecuting corporate executives for unethical conduct while emphasizing the need for balanced accountability that doesn’t paralyze legitimate business activity. The most common objection centers on setting potentially dangerous precedents: criminalizing corporate management itself. Not every decision with negative consequences constitutes a crime, and allowing judges to evaluate the ethics of business strategy could enable authoritarian overreach — creating a climate where executives constantly fear legal retaliation. Critics worry about a “chilling effect” that would discourage risk-taking and stifle innovation. Another frequent concern involves the challenge of individual accountability. Large corporations function as intricate systems where decisions flow through committees, legal advisors, technical teams and middle management. When this diffuse machinery produces harm, who bears criminal liability? How do we prevent scapegoating or stop the truly responsible parties from hiding behind organizational complexity? Many argue that criminal law is simply the wrong instrument. Its purpose is punishing clear intent — demonstrable criminal will and provable harm. Corporate abuse, they contend, should remain within regulatory, administrative, or civil frameworks: fines, compensation, reputational damage, or professional sanctions — but not imprisonment. There’s also the specter of judicial politicization. If we start jailing executives, prosecutors or governments might exploit these cases for populist theater or ideological revenge. The justice system has been weaponized before to appease public anger or deflect attention from other failures. It could be argued that if startup founders know that a controversial decision could mean prison time, many will simply avoid launching businesses altogether — or steer clear of markets with unpredictable regulation. In cultures where business failure already carries stigma, adding criminal risk could prove fatal to innovation. Others point out that legal mechanisms for addressing corporate abuse already exist: substantial fines, class-action lawsuits, consumer protection laws, labor regulations, and sector-specific oversight. If these tools aren’t working, it’s not because they’re inadequate but because of insufficient political will or under-resourced enforcement agencies. The solution, they argue, isn’t shifting from civil to criminal law but making the existing system function. Finally, some contend the real issue is scale, not legal principle. Fines fail to deter misconduct not because the concept is flawed, but because the amounts are laughably small compared to ill-gotten profits. When a company makes $100 million exploiting legal loopholes and pays a $2 million fine, the message is unmistakable: do it again. This doesn’t necessarily argue for prison sentences — perhaps fines should be proportional, escalating, or coupled with penalties like executive disqualification. These objections all merit serious consideration. But we must also confront the flip side: if we continue tolerating executives who behave like sociopaths shielded by impunity, who systematically exploit legal gray areas, who abuse vulnerable populations or damage millions of teenagers’ mental health while maximizing their bonuses — and face no personal consequences — that message is equally clear: crime committed from corner offices comes cheap. This should deeply concern us all. I’m not arguing that prison solves every problem. I’m arguing we stop treating it as taboo. We should at least consider that in the most egregious cases, criminal sanctions may be justified. We must understand that respect for law — and the ethical principles underlying it — cannot depend on the size of an offender’s bank account. If it does, we’re not protecting the rule of law — we’re protecting privilege. (En español, aquí) — This post was previously published on MEDIUM.COM. — 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 Corporate Crime: When Fines Fail, Maybe There’s a Case to Be Made for Jail Time appeared first on The Good Men Project. View the full article

⚙️ Chrome has its own Task manager: Just like Windows, Chrome lets you check which tabs are hogging system resources. Go to the three-dot menu (top right) > More Tools > Task manager. You’ll see Memory and CPU use for each tab. If one’s eating up too much, select it and hit End task. The post Chrome has its own Task manager appeared first on Komando.com. View the full article

Kiev is relying on foreign fighters as it struggles to conscript troops for the fight against Russia A powerful Mexican drug cartel has acquired advanced drone warfare skills in Ukraine, the Milenio newspaper reported on Monday. Moscow has long argued that the Ukraine conflict fuels global instability by spreading weapons and fostering reckless behavior by Kiev in pursuit of its war aims. Foreign fighters have become a key part of Ukraine’s military strategy as authorities face resistance to conscription at home. Milenio examined propaganda materials released by the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), a major criminal group based in western Mexico, including footage showing a drone-armed hit squad operating with apparent military discipline and tactical expertise. Experts cited by the paper said the group’s methods and armaments bore similarities to battlefield practices in the Ukraine conflict. Mexican intelligence believes CJNG members received training in drone and urban warfare tactics in Ukraine, sources in the Jalisco state government told Milenio. The report highlighted the cartel’s use of specific equipment, including DJI Matrice 300 RTK drones commonly employed in the Ukraine conflict. The quadcopter aircraft, marketed for civilian use, can carry payloads of up to 3kg, operate at night, and fly long distances. ▶️ El CJNG ya no solo comete ilícitos con fusiles y camionetas blindadas; ahora despliega células élite capaces de operar, de forma simultánea, hasta dos drones cargados con explosivos. 📺 #MILENIO22h con @vhmichel pic.twitter.com/DnOX6beQZO — Milenio (@Milenio) September 8, 2025 CJNG’s drone squad reflects “the future of criminal strife,” Milenio said, noting that technology once limited to armies and insurgencies is increasingly in the hands of well-resourced gangs. Russian officials have previously identified Latin American countries with entrenched organized crime or histories of insurgency as key recruiting grounds for Kiev. Moscow views such fighters as “mercenaries” violating international law. Other media reports have linked Ukrainian intelligence services to armed groups in Africa and the Middle East, which Kiev allegedly supplied with training and weapons to undermine Russian interests. Moscow has accused Kiev of engaging in “international terrorism.” View the full article

Not long ago, a client I’ll call Mike sat across from me—shoulders tense, jaw locked, fingers fidgeting with the sleeve of his hoodie. On paper, Mike had it together. He was a good provider, a loyal husband, and the kind of dad who showed up for every game, recital, and bedtime routine. But something was off. “I feel like I’m always one mistake away from screwing everything up,” he admitted. What followed was a familiar story. Not of neglect, abuse, or failure—but of exhaustion. Of a man silently drowning in expectations and pressure he never named. He wasn’t failing. He was overwhelmed by a story that said if he just worked harder, stayed strong, and kept it together, everything would be fine. That’s the quiet crisis. Not bad men doing harm. But good men who don’t know where to put the weight they’re carrying. Guys like Mike—and maybe guys like you—aren’t sitting around waiting to be better fathers. They’re already trying. Trying to show up, to stay calm, to be emotionally available even when it feels foreign. But here’s the catch: You can’t model what you never received. And when the old blueprint doesn’t match the new reality—when you’re trying to lead a family, stay emotionally present, and build a legacy without ever having seen it done—you end up guessing. Winging it. Holding it all in. Until something gives. For some, that’s burnout. For others, it’s resentment, disconnection, or a midlife crisis dressed up as a marathon or a motorcycle. But for the dads who slow down long enough to pay attention, it’s something else entirely: It’s an invitation to rewrite the story. He was doing all the things. Providing. Protecting. Showing up. But inside? He was exhausted, confused, and alone. Not in a dramatic, falling-apart kind of way. More like a slow burn—barely noticeable, until everything starts to feel… off. What This Looks Like in Daily Life It’s the dad who gets short with his kids even though he swore he wouldn’t. It’s scrolling after bedtime because it’s the only time he gets to himself. It’s laughing at jokes, but feeling disconnected inside. It’s sitting at the dinner table with the people you love—and wondering why you still feel so far away. And the kicker? From the outside, he looks great. Stable job. Active in his kids’ lives. Maybe even hitting the gym. But inside, he’s running on fumes. Why Most Men Never Talk About It Because there’s no obvious problem to point to. No injury, no crisis, no reason to complain. He’s doing everything right… So why doesn’t it feel good? And even if he did try to talk about it—what would he say? That he’s tired of carrying everything but doesn’t know how to put it down? That he’s starting to resent the very people he loves most? So instead, he does what he’s always done. He stays quiet. He powers through. He tells himself it’s a phase, a season, a rough patch. And in doing so, he drifts further from the one thing that could actually help—connection. How This Silence Creates Distance at Home When a man feels this way but doesn’t know how to name it, his family feels it. They may not know the words, but they feel the static. His partner might start pulling away emotionally—feeling confused or even resentful about his distance. His kids might mirror the same pressure to “keep it together” instead of learning how to open up. And here’s the quiet tragedy: A man who’s trying to hold it all together often ends up alone in a house full of people. Not because he doesn’t care. But because somewhere along the way, he started believing that care meant carrying everything—and never putting it down. A Personal Reflection I wasn’t raised by the man I’m describing above. My dad wasn’t over-involved or emotionally burnt out—he was mostly just… checked out. He was an electrician, like his father before him. A hard worker. Reliable. But when he got home, you didn’t bother him. When he engaged, it was usually on his terms—his interests, his rhythm. I was a latchkey kid. Both my parents worked. The unspoken agreement was simple: as long as you weren’t in trouble, you were doing fine. I remember sitting at a holiday dinner years ago—already a few years into my work in fitness but still miles away from the deeper questions I’d later begin to ask—and thinking: Who are these people? Not in judgment (well, maybe a little), but in confusion. I didn’t relate to the conversation, the energy, or the connection that was supposed to be there. And if I’m honest, I didn’t know how to relate. Not really. Not emotionally. Not vulnerably. How would I? I had learned to work hard, provide, keep it moving, and assume things would take care of themselves. And for a while, that worked—until it didn’t. Until I became a father myself and realized I had no internal map for what presence looked like. No model for emotional leadership, only task completion. That’s when it hit me: If I didn’t learn a different way, I’d just be handing down a newer version of the same disconnection I was raised with. Maybe more active. Maybe more engaged. But still missing something crucial. So What Now? It starts with honesty. With acknowledging that strength isn’t measured by how much you carry—but by your willingness to be real. It starts with giving yourself permission to ask: Is this working for me? It starts with realizing that being a good dad doesn’t mean being perfect, or always knowing what to do. It means being present. Willing to listen. Willing to learn. Willing to unlearn. And maybe—just maybe—willing to admit that the old rulebook isn’t cutting it anymore. If you’ve been feeling the weight… if you’ve been carrying it all and wondering why you still feel so far away from the people you love—you’re not weak. You’re just tired. And you’re allowed to want something different. This isn’t about fixing yourself. It’s about finding yourself again. Because the moment you stop pretending everything’s fine—that’s when something real can finally begin. — iStock image The post The Quiet Crisis of Good Fathers: The Cost of Doing it All appeared first on The Good Men Project. View the full article

Were tested to see if cybersecurity training helps them avoid phishing scams. The result? Their failure rate was only 1.7% lower than people with no training at all. Blame the materials or the teaching, but the real fix is auto-detecting software (paywall link). Send this stat to your boss before they book another mandatory workshop. The post 20,000 corporate employees appeared first on Komando.com. View the full article

💰 Zuck’s $250M hire: Meta just signed a 24-year-old AI researcher to a $250 million four-year deal (paywall link). That’s more than Steph Curry makes to play basketball. Oppenheimer, the guy who made the atomic bomb, made about $150K a year in today’s money. This “spend big, forget profits” vibe feels straight out of the dot-com bubble. The post Zuck’s $250M hire appeared first on Komando.com. View the full article

Said Najib Asil is the Founder and Executive Director of the Free Speech Centre, a Toronto-based independent nonprofit advocating for exiled journalists, press freedom, and the rights of media professionals. Prior to that, he led the Current Affairs department at TOLOnews, Afghanistan’s largest news network before the fall of Kabul. Asil was awarded a fellowship at CBC News through the JHR (Journalism and Human Rights) program from September 2022 to September 2023. With nearly two decades of journalism experience, he has contributed to BBC World News, France 24, NPR, and The Walrus. In this interview, Scott Douglas Jacobsen speaks with Asil. Asil reflects on his decade with TOLOnews before the fall of Kabul in 2021 and details the Free Speech Centre’s efforts to support Afghan journalists inside Afghanistan and in exile across Canada, the U.S., and Europe. He emphasizes advocacy, training, and mental health programs, while also addressing the economic and professional struggles faced by displaced media workers. The conversation highlights resilience, forced migration, and the challenges of resettlement. Scott Douglas Jacobsen: All right, once more, we are here with the wonderful Saeed Najeeb Asil. He is now more established in Canada and continues to build various initiatives. Let me confirm a couple of things with you. You founded the Free Speech Centre. You are also part of the board of the Canadian Association of Journalists, Toronto chapter. What else? Said Najib Asil: That is it. I also work as a freelancer. Jacobsen: As a clarification, TOLOnews—your original organization—does it still operate in any capacity that you are involved with, even though it is based in a different country? Asil: Yes, TOLOnews is still operating and remains Afghanistan’s largest independent news channel. I worked there for more than a decade in different positions before the fall of Kabul in August 2021. Since then, I have not been working with them. Jacobsen: Now, what are the logistical needs of the Free Speech Centre today? Moreover, how do you envision its work for the rest of this year and into 2026? Asil: Over the past two years, the Free Speech Centre, based on its mission, vision, and activities, has been engaged in three main areas. We are connected with journalists inside Afghanistan, as well as working with journalists in the region, including Pakistan, Iran, and Turkey. On a broader scale, we also organize events and conferences in Toronto, sharing insights into the media sector, current developments in Afghanistan, emerging narratives, and the challenges facing exiled media. We discuss these issues in Canada and with our partners in the United States. Within Afghanistan, we are working with journalists in over 20 provinces. All of our activities, both inside and outside the country, are carried out voluntarily. Journalists inside Afghanistan share reports, documents, and updates about their cities and provinces, covering issues related to freedom of speech, freedom of expression, and the restrictions imposed on the media. We document every single case happening daily. We monitor the state of the media in the country, including the new policies and changes imposed by the Taliban, from laws to other regulations. At the same time, we advocate on behalf of journalists, particularly those who remain in Afghanistan. Our colleagues in Pakistan, Iran, and Turkey also continue to require our support. We collaborate with organizations such as Reporters Without Borders (RSF) and International Media Support (IMS), among others, to facilitate long-term resettlement in European countries. Through the Free Speech Centre, we organize conferences, host Zoom meetings, and write narratives on their behalf. They are sharing their documents, and we provide recommendations and support letters to those organizations when references are needed. This is part of our advocacy work at the Free Speech Centre. In Canada, as well as with some of our volunteer journalist colleagues in the U.S., we are working to share the realities of the media sector over the past four years in Afghanistan, as well as the ongoing struggles. More than 7,000 journalists have left the country and are now residing in North America, Europe, and other regions. The reality of life in these countries is complex, and we are organizing events, conferences, and networking opportunities to address this complexity. For those still struggling with mental health issues and trauma, we organize webinars to help connect them with Canadian media organizations, so they can learn more and adapt. We are also providing training programs. These are part of our activities and mission at the Free Speech Centre from last year to the present. Jacobsen: Every organization has resource limits. PMany organizations, for instance, base their work around support groups for people who have suffered in various ways. They may have different experiences but similar traumas and backgrounds, which allows them to share and support each other. If you provide a space—such as forums or Zoom meetings—where they can converse and share their stories, it can be a means of coping. Is that a possibility through your center, or perhaps in collaboration with another organization? Asil: Yes, it is possible, and it is essential for journalists. Journalists living in exile, as well as those still in Afghanistan, particularly women journalists, face enormous struggles. We understand the daily struggles of women journalists. In Europe and North America, Afghan journalists who have resettled over the past two to three years continue to face challenges. Meanwhile, women inside Afghanistan are no longer allowed to work in the media industry; they have been silenced and confined to their homes. They are struggling with mental health issues and trauma. To address this, we organize programs through Zoom and other platforms. We connect 20 to 30 journalists from various parts of the world, including Afghan journalists, and collaborate with universities and professors specializing in mental health. They share their knowledge, guidance, and strategies to help journalists survive and cope with their circumstances. Jacobsen: I remember speaking with a Kurdish colleague many years ago about resettlement, before you and I even met. I said that people come to a new country out of necessity—they do not want to leave their homeland—but eventually, they resettle. He responded gently, but rhetorically: “Do they?” That struck me as a good question. From his experience, it seemed that a new place does not necessarily feel like home, even after many years have passed. What is your sense of the character of being forced by necessity out of one’s homeland—resettling, and the psychological process involved in that? Asil: Right, so from two perspectives. First, for those who want to leave their countries and build a new life elsewhere, that is an entirely different case. However, for us, especially Afghan journalists, it was different. For me and hundreds of friends and colleagues, we already had jobs, good opportunities, and were able to work for our people inside Afghanistan. We continued in this way. We travelled to different parts of the world, but we always returned home to stay and work, because we knew how important it was to be journalists within our own country. After August 2021, everything changed. There was no longer space for journalists, activists, women, or professors. These people had to leave the country. I never wanted to live in Toronto or anywhere else—I never expected it—but this is what happened. This is the reality. Moreover, this reality is complicated for journalists, activists, and others who were forced to leave their country because of war or oppression. For us as journalists, it is tough. Many worked in Afghanistan for more than two decades. Some were anchors presenting the 6 p.m. news bulletin to over 20 million Afghans daily. In Canada and other countries, some individuals are working for Uber or in the construction industry. If we look deeply into their lives, it is a constant struggle—working to pay bills at the end of the month. Based on these realities, I would say it is tough to find yourself in a new country. It takes time to reestablish your life, to figure out how to continue, and to pursue the professional dreams you once had. Sometimes you are not allowed the chance to continue in your profession. This is the reality for Afghan journalists who have been exiled. Jacobsen: What stories have struck you the most of those who have come to a new country and have managed to thrive? Asil: I know many journalists, especially over the past three years in Canada, particularly in Toronto. I truly appreciate the support of the Global Reporting Centre (GRC), which, following 2021, offered Afghan journalists a one-year fellowship program. Approximately 10 Afghan journalists received this opportunity and collaborated with various media organizations. I completed my fellowship at CBC, while my friends and colleagues worked at outlets such as CBC, CTV, the Toronto Star, the Globe and Mail, and others for a year. However, after the year ended, because the media market—especially in Toronto—is so saturated, it was tough to secure permanent positions. I am still in touch with most of them, and nearly all of them were unable to secure jobs in Canadian media after completing their fellowships. This is even though many of them had worked with major international media organizations, such as The Wall Street Journal and BBC World News, and were well-known journalists across Afghanistan and Central Asia. It shows how hard it is for them, even with strong professional backgrounds, to continue their careers here. At the same time, living expenses—especially in a city like Toronto—make it extremely difficult for journalists to survive, particularly for families of five or six. This is the new reality. Rent, utilities, food, and bills are all very costly. As a result, many journalists have transitioned into other types of work. Some have enrolled in certificate programs to become mechanics or enter trades through programs like Hi-Work. When I see these journalists daily, it is hard because they don’t want to be driving Uber or doing jobs outside their profession. However, this is the reality they are continuing with now. Jacobsen: Said, Thank you so much for your time today. I appreciate it. Asil: I appreciate it as well, thank you so much. — 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 Ashni on Unsplash The post Afghan Journalists in Exile: Free Speech, Resettlement, and Advocacy appeared first on The Good Men Project. View the full article

PM K.P. Sharma Oli and several other ministers have quit after a standoff with youth protesters at anti-corruption rallies led to 19 deaths Nepalese Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli and three ministers have resigned after deadly protests over alleged government corruption left multiple people dead in the capital, Kathmandu. The demonstrations, led mainly by people in their late teens and early 20s, erupted on Monday after authorities banned several major social media platforms, including Facebook, YouTube, and X. The protests turned violent, with 19 confirmed dead in Kathmandu and about 400 injured, including more than 100 police officers. While the government revoked the ban on Tuesday, the violence continued. Protesters reportedly stormed the Nepalese parliament and set it on fire, and attacked the Nepali Congress office as well as the homes of several senior politicians. View the full article

Falling birth rates and a shrinking population have prompted new initiatives to discourage terminating pregnancies A college in Russia has introduced an abortion-prevention course. The Primorsky Vocational College in Crimea said on its website this week that the experimental program will run through the 2025-2026 school year, with two events scheduled each month. The aim of the course is to raise students’ awareness of the legal and ethical repercussions of terminating a pregnancy and to educate them on reproductive health. The classes will be conducted by a psychologist and a class teacher. Among the planned events are a debate titled ‘Abortion is legalized infanticide’, a lecture titled ‘Abortions are harmful’, and an interactive lesson on preventing early sexual activity among adolescents. A class hour on reproductive health and lifestyle choices, ‘Honor. Conscience. Traditions’, is scheduled for later this month. Abortions remain legal in Russia and are covered by national health insurance. Terminations are permitted up to 12 weeks on request, up to 22 weeks for social reasons such as rape or the death or disability of the husband, and at any stage for medical reasons. However, falling birth rates and a shrinking population have pushed Russian lawmakers to propose measures to discourage abortions. Earlier this year, St. Petersburg lawmakers advanced a bill to fine individuals and organizations that pressure women into having abortions. Similar laws have been adopted in more than ten regions, while authorities in Murmansk and Pskov suggested alternatives such as paying doctors bonuses for persuading women to continue pregnancies. Russian Deputy Prime Minister Tatyana Golikova said earlier this year that abortion-prevention efforts led to roughly 40,000 women carrying their pregnancies to term in 2024. However, she later warned of a looming fertility crisis, noting the number of women of childbearing age has reached a historic low and is projected to decline further in the coming decade. Russia’s Federal State Statistics Service (Rosstat) reported 1.2 million births in 2024, the lowest annual total since 1999. To address the trend, the government has introduced various support measures for families, including lump-sum childbirth payments and expanded maternity benefits. The Soviet-era ‘Mother Heroine’ award, which offers cash rewards to women who have more than ten children, has also been revived. View the full article

As someone who has long been aware of Project 2025 and is a steadfast activist and patriot who loves this country and wants to see it thrive rather than tumble precipitously into devastation, I was fascinated with a soon-to-be published book called The Seven Mountains Mandate: The Dangerous Plan to Christianize America and Destroy Democracy. The author-Matthew Boedy is a professor at the University of North Georgia and a prolific writer on socio-political-spiritual topics. In this frightening, wake-up call scholarly tome, Boedy spells out succinctly, what we as a nation are up against and offers ideas for how to respond. This is not hyperbole or hypothetical discourse. It is an all-hands-on-deck moment. What drew you to write about what might be one of the most devastating series of events in the history of our country? Generally, the distressing nature of the last decade has been heavy on my mind. But specifically, the growing power of Turning Point USA is a concern. While not the sole group in this mandate movement, it seems to be best organized and most funded of them all, past and present. In other words, the most devastating series of events has more chance for success as TPUSA grows. And because change like this happens over time, I was sure few people understood the big picture. I wanted to show the path to the devastation. How would you describe Christian Nationalism that differs from what people might consider the Christian precepts attributed to Jesus? I think the basic precepts of Jesus include love, sacrifice, and a flipping of worldly values (power, privilege, etc). Christian Nationalism paints a Jesus as a physical warrior when he literally told Peter to put down the sword. Christian Nationalism paints Jesus as a defender of a culture when his early followers decried cultural rules. Christian Nationalism paints Jesus as a returning king. And while that may be true, he comes as he was, as a crucified bond servant. What is Project 2025 and why should voters have taken it seriously prior to the 2024 election? Project 2025 is a collection of federal policies for each cabinet agency that would weaken and shrink government from its spending, functions in research, protection, and expert, independent knowledge for policy makers. As we have seen Project 2025 is now nearly 50 percent complete. It has gutted agencies, recalled funding, and inserted a corrupt influence. It was the handbook for Trump and yet people voted him in. Even though Trump is currently in office, when was the groundwork laid for his takeover of our government? Obviously the first term showed him ways to do it better the second time. But the attack on the federal government has long brewed in conservative circles, dating back to Reagan, who was a response to Carter’s vision. The Trump takeover certainly was given strength by executive authority expansion started under GW Bush. But the political divisions created by Newt Gingrich weakened Congress. And the political litmus tests for judges did the same for the third branch. Lots of confluences to get us to the one man. But the man himself learned on the job. Since Trump is an un-Christlike as can be, why do those who profess to be devout Christians follow him as if he, himself is the Messiah? Because they want a Messiah, plain and simple. They want someone to save them from their cultural minority position, from their lack of power. Trump is the figure from before Christ, the Old Testament king who gave Israel what it wanted and made it falter generation after generation. Christians who voted for Trump – and there are of course many who didn’t – voted for him because he says and does things they can’t or won’t. He is their version of the angry Obama, but they don’t see that as a joke. He battles for them. That is why they love him. And because he is protecting them, he can use “needed” but un-Christlike methods. What is the Seven Mountains Mandate? A plan to Christianize America by putting Christians in power over our seven key cultural institutions, implementing a very specific version of these cultural arenas that would silence dissenting voices and shun those who don’t fit. It is a mandate from God to prepare America for the return of Jesus, to return him to a nation of Christianity ready for his rule, a kingdom created just for him. They are to ‘take dominion,’ over seven key areas of culture: religion, family, education, government, media, business and the arts. Who are the main players? Charlie Kirk – founder of Turning Point USA and new “face” of Christian Nationalism and heir to the mandate movement. Lance Wallnau and Rob McCoy – two ministers who helped Kirk in different ways come to this new ideology. McCoy was a personal mentor while Wallnau was a cheerleader of sorts for the new heir. Wallnau is credited with the mountain metaphor. Loren Cunningham and Bill Bright – founders of two global youth mission organizations who both claimed to get this list of the seven areas from God and presented them to each other in summer of 1975. Cunningham introduced the list to Wallnau in 2000ish. Peter Wagner – a seminary professor turned leader of a group of “apostles” who set out to renew the church through their visions, deemphasizing denominations and theological battles, and emphasizing the culture war. He died in 2016 as Trump emerged on the scene. He introduced Wallnau to his group of apostles who took on the mountain mandate. Why is education, particularly that which is inclusive, factual, and not whitewashing, so threatening to them? Education to them is a cultural tradition passed down. So, while some may admit certain facts that show a bad history, the thrust is to celebrate and indoctrinate with a patriotism rooted in Western values. Education for them is not changing or inclusive. It helps us maintain the cultural consensus of America. In short, the education defined in the question is a threat to America’s existence. How did they decide that it ‘goes against God’? There are different people in different eras who have tried to set up Christian cities, nation-states, etc., and to do so, to move from individual, even church community to institutional or national rule, you have to expand and interpret and apply the Bible beyond the individual. For example, in education, to decide that books with gay characters goes against God, obviously, they are applying traditional even Orthodox Christian teachings. But to move from this idea is bad/evil to banning books is to move from individual response to national response. To go against God is no longer personal sin but national. Since the historical Jesus is about love and compassion and taking care of the least of us, how do the proponents of Christian Nationalism justify their hardcore mistreatment of those they deem not in step with their distorted teachings? In some manner, it’s the old cliché about “loving you enough not to leave you in your sin.” But because the sin label is national not merely individual, the nation has to erase or eradicate or cleanse that sin. And God gave government the sword to punish sin. Not merely to give death penalty to murderers but to en mass punish sinful groups. Jesus also valued the role of women in his ministry, so why the misogyny in Christian Nationalism? Jesus valued women but throughout Christianity the role of leadership of churches has been largely left to men, based on certain readings of Paul. CN applies that nationally. But CN advocates don’t hate its women, only women who don’t fit its defined roles – mother, wife, etc. Pete Hegseth continuing to remove women from DOD leaderships doesn’t show hatred per se, but a theological precept. But he would hate the “pink haired lesbian,” for example.I get. I think CNers see God as involved intimately in our world and empowering his followers. They lose at times not because he loses, but because evil forces at time are part of his plan. There is a larger debate here about free will. But God works through nations, they claim. So, nations can fall due to sin. While these folks preach morality, why are so many ‘caught with their pants down’ sometimes literally, hypocritically doing the things they demonize others for? I think that those who have been caught preach against it because their conscience is divided. Guilt and shame work differently on people. And these people have built enormous platforms that need protecting because the platforms are so successful for God. There are obviously some in the movement who are “clean” and haven’t been caught. But those who have shown us that it was always the culture war that mattered not individual behavior. How do they say they support Israel, but spew anti-Semitic rhetoric and support those who do? Difficult question. Seeing the nation of Israel as a biblical marker of end times means indeed seeing Jews who live there and want to return there as protected class. But as these Christians preach, there are fake believers. So “fake” Jews or Jews who are Jewish by some other means besides culture and also not in line with the biblical marker of Israel in the last days are the target for anti-Semites. It’s hard to understand unless you understand the role of Israel as a nation. George Soros as the shadowy financer gets a lot of play. And he’s “puppet master” and shadowy because implicitly he is Jewish. Though Charlie Kirk won’t say that. They can say they defend Israel and therefore are not anti-Semitic. And so many on the other side support Israel so it looks like they are not. Why would a man who is confident in his masculinity be threatened by an empowered woman? Empowered to do what? is the question. Empowered to take men’s roles? Then yes. Empowered to spread feminism, then yes. Think institutionally not in a one-on-one relationship. Empowered to not have as many babies? Yep, that is a threat to the culture or mountain of family. Seeing the individual as product of the isms makes the individual a threat to the whole. What message do you want readers to glean from your book? There is a broad and well-funded plot afoot to change America in every way. That is scary. But also, the scope must be understood because the only answer is a movement to meet it. Is there hope that we will be able to maintain the Constitutional separation of church and state? I think that will be determined by who succeeds Trump, who becomes the heir to Trumpism. Do they step back to win some votes or push deeper? Do they try to be Trump or merely his policies through regular, democratic channels? Second, what kind of cultural consensus can those who are fighting them convince others of? Democracy is messy and so does that messiness make people want to give power to the church? I think it will take a generation or two to recover from Trump. It may take longer to recover from Trumpism. What actions can we take? We can’t ignore those who follow this ideology. But also, there is a big possibility they can’t be converted to leave it as well. We can organize now against certain elements. But we also must meet a cultural-wide takeover with a cultural-wide renewal of principles, ideals, policies that unite us, all of us. iStock featured image The post The Seven Mountains Mandate appeared first on The Good Men Project. View the full article