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Perhaps, and we'll get to an answer – or at least an argument for it – shortly. The better question created by the last two pontificates is this: Has the Catholic Church abandoned St. Thomas Aquinas' deeply considered and scripturally rooted "Just War Doctrine" in exchange for flabby and fashionable pacifism dressed up as Christianity? We can address both questions without indulging in ad hominems and invective, I assure you, even when public officials (such as President Trump) can't restrain their frustration enough to keep the debate on point. The second question matters more than the first, especially in a...

The average American is aware of the periodic claim that “the end is near.” When Y2K was approaching, outcries of doom, global disruption, and Armageddon were widespread. Hal Lindsey achieved nationwide attention over thirty years ago with his national bestseller The Late Great Planet Earth (1970). A more recent repackaging of the dispensational brand of premillennialism is the popular Left Behind book series (see “The Official…”). Every so often, a religious figure captures national attention, announcing the impending return of Jesus—even to the point of setting a date—only to fade into the anonymity from which he arose when his claim...

At least two oil and chemical tankers were forced to turn away from the Strait of Hormuz on Monday after the United States moved to enforce a naval blockade, according to maritime tracking data. One of the vessels, Rich Starry, which had listed its destination as China, reportedly reversed course within minutes of the blockade taking effect, data from MarineTraffic showed. Responding to the developments, China issued a strong message signalling it would continue its maritime activity in the region. Defence Minister Dong Jun said Chinese vessels would keep operating in the area and warned against external interference. “Our ships...

Pakistan’s prime minister asks US President Donald Trump to postpone his deadline for Iran by two weeks and implement a truce for that same period, also urging Tehran to allow maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz during that time. “To allow diplomacy to run its course, I earnestly request President Trump to extend the deadline for two weeks,” writes Shehbaz Sharif, whose government is serving as a mediator between Iran and the United States.“Pakistan, in all sincerity, requests the Iranian brothers to open Strait of Hormuz for a corresponding period of two weeks as a goodwill gesture,” he writes...

Mutually assured destruction as a deterrent against use of nuclear weapons has undoubtedly been a crucial reason why they haven't been used. Would a nuclear Iran, if it continued as the present theocracy, be dissuaded from using nuclear weapons because of the fear of reprisal? It's a critical question.

An official from one of the countries mediating between the US and Iran tells The Times of Israel that US President Donald Trump appears to be leaning toward ordering a major US ground operation against Iran, with Washington convinced Tehran will buckle under such military pressure. The official intimately familiar with the mediation efforts says the US privately recognizes that Iran is not likely to agree to the concessions presented in Washington’s 15-point plan and has dispatched thousands of troops to the region in order to capture Tehran’s Kharg Island on Trump’s orders. A second official from a mediating country...

“The king’s heart is in the hand of the LORD, as the rivers of water: he turneth it whithersoever he will.” – Proverbs 21:1 One of the oldest themes in the Bible is God putting his will into the hearts of rulers to do what he wants them to do. In fact, he not only chooses the rulers, raises them up or takes them out, but he decides what they will do during their administration, or during the period of their rule, even though they think they are in charge. Fox News, Reuters, and Axios are all reporting that Ali...

As wellness conversations broaden beyond abstinence, new research explores cannabis through a harm-reduction lens and what it could mean for moderating alcohol consumption.-A 2025 Brown University study found that inhaling cannabis with active THC reduced short-term alcohol consumption and delayed drinking among heavy drinkers in a lab setting. Participants also reported a decreased urge to drink compared to a placebo. -The study used cannabis containing 7.2% THC and does not address long-term drinking habits or effects in people who don’t already use marijuana. -Experts warn that replacing alcohol with cannabis poses risks, including dependency and psychiatric side effects, especially with...

Senate Majority Leader John Thune urged President Donald Trump on Wednesday to deliver a swift endorsement of Texas Sen. John Cornyn to potentially forestall what is widely expected to be an expensive and nasty primary runoff against Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton. Thune told reporters he hasn’t yet spoken to Trump since the election returns from Tuesday’s primary came in but indicated he intends to personally redouble his efforts, saying Wednesday that “hopefully” the president will give Cornyn his influential nod. “[If] Trump endorses early, it saves everybody a lot of money, and … 10 weeks of a spirited campaign...

Europe faces parallel challenges that policymakers have yet to connect: a pressing military recruitment shortage and an ongoing migration challenge. While politicians wring their hands over both issues separately, an opportunity has been hiding in plain sight. European countries should create a pathway to citizenship for immigrants willing to serve in their armed forces. Europe’s manpower crisis is real. According to recent defense reporting, in 2025 Germany’s Bundeswehr saw recruiting continue to fall behind targets, despite recruitment campaigns. The United Kingdom continues to fall short of its annual recruitment goal, with more service members leaving than joining. France, Italy, and...

U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer on Sunday said the Trump administration would need guidance from the courts on how to handle tariff refunds after the Supreme Court struck down duties authorized under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act. “Well, we need the court to tell us what to do. They’ve created a situation where they struck down the tariffs and gave zero guidance on this,” Greer said during an appearance on ABC’s “This Week.” “Historically, you know, as a trade attorney, in my experience, courts will normally give you some instruction on what to do, when.” “The Court of International...

Full video without the music. At one point the poster says "He's running!" a second later and he is no longer running....

The Trump administration has officially rolled out TrumpRx, a new government-backed online platform designed to spotlight lower cash prices for prescription medications and expand access to direct-purchase drug options. The initiative is part of a broader push by President Trump to tackle one of the most politically sensitive and financially burdensome issues facing Americans today: the rising cost of prescription drugs.The website does not sell medications itself. Instead, it functions as a searchable pricing hub that shows discounted cash prices for certain brand-name drugs and directs patients to approved partners where those medications can be purchased. While supporters say TrumpRx...

A quiet cold war is happening across America — one that many Americans might not be aware of if they’re not tuned into the changes underway in America’s Christian communities. On one side is the religious right’s use of scripture and faith to justify and defend President Donald Trump’s agenda — and growing Christian nationalist sentiment. On the other side is the reshaping of the American Catholic Church, under Pope Leo XIV. Through new appointments, orders to his bishops to speak out about immigration, and public comments critiquing the direction of the US under Trump, the pope is setting up...

Me looking for all parents screaming about losing their daycare.....

The list of 70 names in Genesis 10 is often called the Table of Nations because each man named was the original ancestor of an ethnic group that later became a nation. These post-diluvian men are the sons and descendants of Noah’s three sons. Japeth was Noah’s eldest son. His descendants are mentioned in Genesis 10:2-5. Japeth had seven sons. “The sons of Japheth: Gomer, and Magog, and Madai, and Javan, and Tubal, and Meshech, and Tiras” (Genesis 10:2). Three of these names appear in the prophecy of Ezekiel 38-39. Magog, the second son of Japeth, fathered the children who...

The FBI recently raided Fulton County’s Election Hub and Operations Center. What comes next? The FBI raided Fulton County’s Election Hub and Operations Center. The raid was authorized by a judge’s warrant, which is under seal. However, some news organizations have gotten a copy and are reporting that the FBI is seeking several types of records. ABC News reports: The search warrant authorized the FBI to search for “all physical ballots from the 2020 General Election,” in addition to tabulator tapes from voting machines and 2020 voter rolls, among other documents. It is likely that the warrant also includes items...

Signal chats have reportedly been used in Minnesota to coordinate rapid responses to ICE activity and alert or deploy anti-ICE agitators, according to multiple reports.Independent journalist Cam Higby has published screenshots and descriptions of Signal chats he says were used to share ICE vehicle locations and coordinate additional agitators, claims DX could not independently verify.

VIDEOIs the Lt. Governor of Minnesota, the hijab wearing Peggy Flanagan, one of the ringleaders of the insurrection in Minneapolis? Signal Chat information released by Cam Higby indicates that Flanagan might be one of the signal administrators in the organized effort to impede ICE in their work. Hopefully an investigation into this matter will resolve whether or not she is guilty of insurrectionist activities. Keep in mind that Flanagan is currently a candidate for U.S. Senator from the Somali flag state of Minnesota.

Except for his early SNL career and the first Vacation movie, I've always considered Chevy Chase to be a poor actor and not particularly funny. And he has a reputation as a jerk. They didn't let him do a skit or appear on stage at the SNL 50 year anniversary show. Apparently a lot of people don't like Chevy Chase and he's difficult to work with. A clip from the CNN "I'm Chevy Chase and You're Not" special made him look like he was nasty to the female interviewer, telling her she's not intelligent enough to understand him. Having watched...