Marina Orlova, an estate agent from Tomsk, made the comment in a casual conversation during a podcast hosted by a friend. When asked how a woman over 30 with limited income could afford to buy a flat, Orlova replied: “That’s easy. You find a man serving in the SVO [special military operation]. He doesn’t come back, and you get the money.”
In a bizarre twist of modern warfare and desperation, a disturbing new trend has emerged in Russia. Nicknamed the new "Black Widows" — not for their association with terrorism, but for their calculated pursuit of financial gain through war widowhood — some Russian women are reportedly marrying soldiers bound for Ukraine with one chilling expectation: that they may not come back.
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Netanyahu was once Israeli Finance Minister - and it shows. He understands a lot about economics, and is worth listening to in order to get a sense for where Israel's economy is headed.
Three Houthi drones were fired at Israel on Sunday. Two were shot down and the third struck the airport in Eilat, Wounding to his Israelis and causing the airspace to be shut down.
Episode 622 - Field Producer Dennis Azato and Chuck Reminisce
My erstwhile field producer and cameraman Dennis Azato has accompanied me on ten years of adventures across the globe. Today he joins me in Ukraine and we spend some time remembering our many trips together.
Episode 622 - Field Producer Dennis Azato and Chuck Reminisce
Episode 622 - Field Producer Dennis Azato and Chuck Reminisce
Unconfronted pride is a serious problem among believers. If one is struggling with an outward sin such as drinking, or drugs, or sexual perversion - they are more likely to be dealt with properly, than one who walks in persistent pride. It's a serious sin that's often treated as insignificant, or ignored altogether, despite it being the cause of Satan's condemnation (1 Timothy 3:6). But our God is greatly concerned with the state of our hearts; as it is written, "clean the inside of the cup first (Matthew 23:26)," and "guard your heart at all times (Proverbs 4:23)"
Moreover, to maintain a good conscience before God, we must confront (persistent) pride in our fellowship. We must deal with it first in ourselves, and then in anyone we fellowship with. For if left unchecked, it's like a spiritual cancer, that will bring corruption to the Body (Galatians 6:8) As it is written, "a little leaven leavens the whole lump"(Galatians 5:9), and "bad company corrupts good morals" (1 Corinthians 15:33)....
This was the letter that was written and sent to the Prince of Qatar 2 weeks ago. To the most noble Ruler of Qatar. Sir, I feel moved to write you concerning what I am hearing from The Lord God who I strive to follow
I will write it down as I hear it for your concideration. Thus saith The Lord God of Israel, The God of Abraham, The God of Ishmael, The God of Adnan,
What fault have you found in Me says The Lord God, have I not kept My Word to Ishmael and raised up 12 princes and made them to be a great
nation? But you have have made my blessing into that which should not be. You use my kindness to sow division against your brother Isaac
and call behind closed doors for His death, you keep that wicked man Haman who hates my heritage and allow Him to hurt Me through my Son Israel.
I will send confusion into to your land and cast fire on your walls if you do not repent. Consider your ways for I will judge you with
a rod of iron, repent for I come quickly saith The Mighty God. Amen
Forgotten Not Gone (FNG) is a veteran-run nonprofit on a mission to fight veteran suicide through activity and community. Instead of pills or isolation, they get vets moving—most famously with their Veteran Trike Brigade, where recumbent trikes become a tool for healing, connection, and hope. Built by veterans who know the struggle firsthand, FNG has helped thousands rediscover purpose, camaraderie, and life after service.
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“We’re Not the Department of Woke”: What Hegseth Really Told America’s Generals
Secretary of War Pete Hegseth hauled every U.S. flag officer—generals and admirals, more than 800 of them—into Quantico. Not a Zoom, not a memo, not a mil-spec Teams call where everybody’s muted and nobody knows it. In person. Fly in, sit down, look the man in the eye.
Why? Because he wanted to deliver a change of era, not just a change of policy.
There was plenty of speculation beforehand—some of it silly (coup, anyone?). I told you last week the simplest answer was the right one: he was going to reset the culture of the U.S. military. And that’s exactly what he did. Trump showed up and spoke too, but let’s be honest—his improv rallies don’t land like a disciplined, written, memorized commander’s brief. Hegseth’s remarks were the speech I’ve been praying to hear from a SecDef—or in this case, a Secretary of War—since before the Obama years.
From Defense to War
Hegseth’s core thesis was simple enough to tattoo on a forearm: we fight wars to win. Defense is constant; war is rare, decisive, and done on our terms. We do not hobble warfighters with needlessly restrictive rules of engagement. We intimidate, demoralize, hunt, and—if necessary—kill the enemies of the United States. Full stop.
That’s not bloodlust. That’s clarity. And clarity saves lives—ours.
The Standards Are Back (and Some of You Won’t Like It)
This is where some folks in that auditorium started sweating through their Class As.
Hegseth rolled out ten directives—think of them as the “1991 Test.” If you served back then, you know the vibe: meritocracy, combat readiness, no social engineering, no endless PowerPoints replacing range time.
One combat standard. Every designated combat-arms job returns to the highest male standard of performance—because physics doesn’t care about feelings. Women who meet the standard? Welcome. But there’s no “pink PT chart” in a firefight.
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Why Trump’s Portland Guard Order Isn’t “Fascism,” It’s Familiar — And Necessary
A lot went down over the weekend: a cluster of targeted violent incidents nationwide, and a political fistfight over President Trump’s decision to federalize 200 Oregon National Guard soldiers for duty in Portland under Title 10.
Online, the usual chorus is screaming “authoritarian!” and “fascist!” Let’s slow down, look at what’s actually happening, and stack it against history and the law.
What Trump Ordered — And Why It Matters
The order: At the request of DHS, the Secretary of War Pete Hegseth federalized roughly 200 Oregon Guard troops to help protect federal facilities in Portland (notably the ICE facility) and restore order around recurring violent “protests.”
Immediate response: Oregon’s governor, Portland’s mayor Keith Wilson, and a constellation of activist groups filed lawsuits alleging constitutional violations and abuse of the Insurrection Act.
The rhetoric: Social feeds lit up with claims this is a “loyalty test,” “martial law,” and a “dry run” for wider crackdowns.
Reality check: Courts have long given presidents wide discretion to define when conditions for the Insurrection Act (10 U.S.C. §§ 251–253) are met. If federal law is being obstructed, federal property attacked, or civil rights denied and local authorities are unwilling or unable to act, the President may federalize Guard units and even deploy active-duty forces. That’s black-letter law, not a Twitter take.
“Isn’t That Posse Comitatus?” Yes — And No
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