I. AMERICA’S CHOICE: NATIONAL DIVORCE OR CIVIL WAR - LEWROCKWELL By Grant M. Dahl
The current political structure of the United States is not viable long-term due to extensive differences among its people and a centralized authority. These differences, combined with a "one-size-fits-all" mentality, have led to an extremely volatile situation nationwide, fueling a mad scramble for power.
Elites from both the political Left and Right are actively working to escalate volatility to a breaking point. They believe the resulting chaos will provide the opportunity to usher in a new system of all-out control over the "unwashed masses".
America’s Founding Fathers designed an intricate system of checks and balances, the Bill of Rights, and principles of self-government that proved formidable obstacles to Globalist control structures during the COVID hysteria. The Elites recognized that these founding principles would have to be removed and destroyed for any new system of tyranny to reach full implementation.
The Elites' new series of attacks is designed to provoke conflict and distrust within America by weaponizing the law against large segments of the population. This strategy aims to sow rampant distrust against those with different ideological views and against the legal systems themselves, ultimately creating an atmosphere of anger and helplessness to be funneled into an attack against America’s founding principles.
With respect for America’s founding principles greatly compromised, political fervor is being whipped into a power-hungry frenzy on all sides of the political divide. The Elites' goal is for all factions to adopt a "one-size-fits-all" mentality, seeking the complete destruction of opponents as the ultimate good, thereby unleashing the final stage: a "State of Emergency known as 'War'".
Civil war is presented as a tool to destroy freedoms, typically initiated when groups establish competing governing bodies to carry out the non-electoral removal of current power holders. This method, historically used by Communists, results in legacies of pain, exhaustion, bitterness, and lost freedoms, often leading to long-term tyranny as chaos eliminates reliance on precedent and dismantles checks and balances.
"National Divorce" is proposed as a way to preserve freedoms, drawing a parallel to the American Founders' choice to withdraw from London's jurisdiction rather than overthrow it. This approach, motivated by the preservation of freedoms and self-governing principles rather than power acquisition, fosters a "well-working order" and avoids political voids that power-hungry individuals might exploit.
The Elites are attempting to implement a global totalitarian model, described as a system that historical dictators could only have dreamed of, by using chaos as their primary weapon. Their aim is to uproot old traditions and principles, replacing them with a new secular dogma based solely on their whims and basest passions.
Even if the Elites’ plans for totalitarian control fail, the chaos unleashed by domestic war presents a significant risk, as cunning and ambitious individuals could still seize power and implement their own tyranny. This means the struggle could be for nothing, as self-government principles might not remain to check the new power holders, leading to continued conflict or long-term tyranny.
National Divorce offers the least danger to America’s foundational freedoms and principles, allowing for defensive consolidation to preserve these values. While it wouldn't guarantee avoiding war, any conflict would transform into one of self-defense, making it harder for the Elites to break an opposition alliance, and paving a smoother path to rebuild based on founding principles.
II. END OF THE PENNY AND THE NEXT PHASE OF CURRENCY DEBASEMENT - LEWROCKWELL By Doug Casey
President Trump ordered the cessation of penny minting, citing that each coin costs more than its face value to produce. Doug Casey states the actual cost is 3.7 cents, and views this move as a consequence of the currency itself being destroyed rather than just an uneconomical production.
The debasement of U.S. coinage is a long-standing trend, with the intrinsic value of the penny steadily reduced since its inception as pure copper in 1793. This process culminated in 1982 when copper was replaced with zinc disguised by a copper coating, which the author calls a "genuine fraud".
The elimination of the penny follows a historical pattern of stripping intrinsic value from U.S. currency, with gold removed in 1933, silver in 1964, and copper in 1982. This trend suggests that eventually all coins, then paper currency, will disappear, leading to a point where the government even fined people for melting pennies and nickels for their metal content.
The symbolic significance of U.S. coin designs has deteriorated, shifting from depicting symbols of Liberty, Indians, or eagles to featuring portraits of dead presidents, beginning with Abraham Lincoln in 1909. This change mirrors the transformation of Rome from a republic, where coins bore ideals, to an empire, where money became propaganda displaying emperors' portraits while its silver content dwindled.
The practice of putting recently deceased politicians, such as Franklin Roosevelt and John F. Kennedy, on coins is deemed "highly inappropriate for a free republic" and symptomatic of the "degradation and politicization of the currency". Even the nation's first motto, "Mind your business," was replaced by "In God We Trust" in 1864, a shift considered questionable for mixing religious concepts with national currency.
All U.S. coinage is predicted to be phased out because it is "basically worthless," with the nickel costing nearly 14 cents to produce and quarters being "nearly worthless". This means coins are no longer worth collecting, which previously "inculcated the value of money and saving" in children, as they have become "slugs without any intrinsic value".
The government's reluctance to issue higher-denomination bills, despite the $100 bill's purchasing power drastically decreasing, indicates a desire to eliminate all paper currency and monetary privacy. This move is interpreted as a clear step towards a digital currency, which would put individuals "completely under the thumb of the Authorities".
The dollar is predicted to "suffer the fate of every other fiat currency from time immemorial," being inflated or digitized out of existence, driven by escalating government deficits. This will lead to extremely high currency inflation, causing a loss of faith in the dollar both internationally and domestically, potentially resulting in a "multilevel catastrophe".
III. ISRAEL’S ATTACK ON IRAN: THE VIOLENT NEW WORLD BEING BORN IS GOING TO HORRIFY YOU - THE UNZ REVIEW By Jonathan Cook
Western politicians and media are attempting to spin Israel's "unmistakable war of aggression against Iran" as a "defensive" move, despite Iran being in nuclear negotiations with the United States when the attack occurred. This narrative relies on an "entirely evidence-free" claim by Benjamin Netanyahu, made since 1992, that Iran is on the cusp of producing a nuclear bomb.
U.S. intelligence, including a statement from Trump's head of national intelligence, Tulsi Gabbard, explicitly stated in March that "Iran is not building a nuclear weapon and Supreme Leader [Ali] Khameini has not authorised a nuclear weapons programme". Despite this, Trump publicly rebuked his intelligence chief's verdict and appeared ready to join Israel’s attack, sending warplanes and demanding Iran's "unconditional surrender".
Israel maintains a nuclear arsenal of at least 100 warheads while refusing to sign the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and denying access to international monitors, unlike Iran. The West's cooperation with Israel's policy of "ambiguity" regarding its nuclear weapons is necessary because U.S. law prohibits military aid to states with undeclared nuclear weapons, yet Israel is the largest recipient.
The "Samson option"—Israel's threat to use its nuclear arsenal rather than face an existential threat—is employed to project "unrestrained military power" across the oil-rich Middle East, ensuring Israel remains the sole nuclear-armed state. Israeli governments define "existential" threats as any challenge to its status as a settler-colonial state that occupies and forcibly uproots Palestinians.
Israel's attack on Iran is characterized as an indisputably illegal "preventive" war under international law, as it is based on a potential future threat rather than an "imminent, credible and severe threat" that would justify a "pre-emptive" strike. This stands in stark contrast to the West's condemnation of Russia's actions in Ukraine as "unconscionable," highlighting a significant double standard.
Israel's pretexts for its aggression are a "moving target," shifting from an implausible nuclear threat to concerns about Iran's ballistic missile program, even citing Iranian missile strikes that were direct responses to Israeli attacks. The author notes that Israel's argument blaming Hamas for Palestinian deaths by claiming fighters hide among civilians can now be applied to Israel itself, as it places key military installations in densely populated areas like Tel Aviv.
The true objective of Israel's attack on Iran is "regime change" in Tehran, aiming to transform Iran into a "compliant, lightly armed regime completely under Israel’s thumb". The Western media supports this goal by providing platforms for figures like Reza Pahlavi, son of the ousted Iranian Shah, to call for uprisings against the current leadership.
Iran's development of a "crescent of resistance" across the region—including Hezbollah in Lebanon, and ties in Syria, Iraq, and Yemen—and its consistent support for the Palestinian people, including Hamas, are identified as the "real trigger" for Israel's war of aggression. This strategy serves as Iran's military deterrence against Israeli and Western belligerence, given Iran's oil/gas reserves and its refusal to be a Western client state.
Neoconservatives, who strongly support Israeli hegemony in the Middle East, exploited the 9/11 attacks as an opportunity to erode Iranian power, with General Wesley Clark being told of a plan to "take out seven countries in five years," many of which were part of the "Shia crescent". Iran was noted as the seventh and final, and most challenging, state on this list.
The violence over the past 20 months, including the destruction in Gaza and attacks on Hezbollah and Syria, are seen as "preconditions for launching the current war of aggression on Iran". This aligns with a Pentagon plan for "global full-spectrum dominance," aiming for a unipolar world where the U.S. is unconstrained by military rivals or international law, and controlled by a "tiny, unaccountable elite, enriched by wars".
Commenters on the article discuss the influence of a "huge financial monopoly" with a "Jewish nature" that reportedly controls major institutions in the Collective West, prioritizing its "Zionist project of Israel". This monopoly is alleged to have financed the establishment of Israel and, through entities like the Rothschild bank, influenced British and later American military and political actions.
Some commentators offer a metaphysical interpretation, viewing Zionism as a "covenantal enactment" and "geopolitical extension of a metaphysical pact" between a tribal deity and a chosen people. This perspective suggests that Judaism acts as a "simulation anchor" for an "Archontic system" designed to suppress gnosis and extract "loosh" (emotional/spiritual energy).
The alliance between Zionism and the Western empire, particularly the United States, is described as "ritualistic" and based on the "energetic extraction" of loosh through "endless war in the Middle East, surveillance, censorship, cultural decay, and economic manipulation". The suffering of both Arabs and Americans is seen as "sacrificial fuel" for this system, with the "Samson Option" embodying the "theology of the Demiurge in action".
The "weaponization of victimhood" is identified as a powerful tool of the "covenant engine," where maintaining the eternal victim status of Jews (via the Holocaust, pogroms, and antisemitism) frames any critique of Jewish power or Zionist violence as persecution. This inversion creates a "total narrative control" through taboo, making it difficult for even educated individuals to question Judaism as part of a metaphysical control system.
IV. MAHA IN MIDDLE SCHOOL - LEWROCKWELL By Dr. Naomi Wolf
Dr. Naomi Wolf expresses concern that the MAHA (Make America Health Again) leadership is at risk of derailment due to an "oddly adolescent, somewhat cult-y, and far too personalized approach to the challenges and rigors of national politics". She writes this essay from a place of "love and support for the MAGA/MAHA alliance," hoping for a swift course-correction.
Wolf, along with colleagues, co-authored an open letter criticizing HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s announcements about revised CDC recommendations for the mRNA injection, pointing out that the recommendations still targeted sick kids and pregnant women and that the mRNA platform was not pulled from the market. This letter aimed to highlight unmet key MAHA policy goals, despite generating supportive press coverage.
National politics operates as a "chaotic, tug-of-war dynamic," where "principals" like Secretary Kennedy and President Trump must navigate competing agendas and avoid provoking "the ire of the biggest investors in both parties’ campaigns," such as Big Pharma. Experienced politicians understand that public outcry from their base is beneficial, providing "cover to deliver outcomes that their voters want, but that lobbyists and special interests do not want the voters to receive".
Former Vice President Al Gore advised citizens to organize and form "formal pressure groups" to "publicly press on the Principal and his or her team" if they want specific outcomes. He used AARP as an example of an effective pressure group that gave the elderly power and a voice, illustrating how such groups can "make" politicians deliver results.
MAHA insiders and associated "helpers" are criticized for resorting to "middle-school mean-girl tactics" and "adolescent personal attacks" rather than engaging in "serious adult national politics". For instance, HHS advisor Calley Means reportedly called Dr. Wolf "unhinged" for questioning his company’s business model and later acted as a "gatekeeper" preventing her team from attending a Senate hearing on Pfizer Papers.
Dr. Robert Malone publicly labeled Dr. Wolf’s group of signatories a "hate group" and implied "nefarious motivations," asserting that "a clique of historically liberal women influencers" were "actively seeking to divide the MAHA movement". He subtly smeared Nicole Shanahan, a donor to the movement, by using "dog-whistle" language referencing her meeting her husband at "Burning Man" in a way that suggests "slut-shaming".
Dr. Malone's comments included a serious implicit threat against Nicole Shanahan, portraying her expectations as a donor as "influence peddling," an offense "close to bribery or coercion," implying the Trump team could recast her actions as illegal. He also suggested that Dr. Wolf was too "stupid to figure out her own opposition to some of his views" and was being manipulated by "chaos agents" in a "Twitter Twat".
V. NEWS YOU MAY HAVE MISSED, INCLUDING 700 INDIANS POSING AS AI - THE EXPOSE By Rhoda Wilson
The article compiles current political narratives on protests, immigration, energy policy, and technological advancements, including topics like "elite-encouraged violence" during protests and mass migration. It also touches on claims about artificial intelligence and issues within the NHS.
The phrase "mostly peaceful" used to describe protests, like those following George Floyd's killing, which included violent incidents, is criticized as an attempt to downplay the severity of the unrest. Matt Taibbi argues this approach is counterproductive, alienating "moderate voters who are turned off by the radicalism and lawlessness".
The narrative promoted by the "open border left" that mass migration is necessary to fill labor shortages is dismissed as "false" and economically burdensome for wealthy nations. However, new studies suggest a significant number of "self-deportations" for every formal deportation, implying that cutting off illegal employers and government handouts is effective in reducing illegal immigration.
Despite claims of a rapid "energy transition" in the U.S., traditional energy sources such as natural gas, crude oil, and coal continue to dominate the market, collectively accounting for approximately 35 times more energy production than solar and wind combined. Wind and solar power are described as "uneconomic" and "government dependent," requiring extensive and repeated subsidies to compete with fossil fuels.
The article cautions against purchasing Electric Vehicles (EVs) due to various risks, including "EV Fires," which are depicted as cars turning into "flamethrowers". EV buses are highlighted as particularly problematic, costing twice as much as diesel buses, having less range, and being more susceptible to extreme weather, leading to "terrible" fire hazards.
The book "The Deep State Goes Viral" by Debbie Lerman is summarized as an investigation into the U.S. COVID pandemic response, portraying it as a "military-intelligence operation with little connection to health, medicine, and science". The book raises questions about the operation's leadership, goals, and the true purpose of mRNA technology, documenting "devastating consequences" like injuries, deaths, and economic plunder.
A London startup, Builder.ai, backed by Microsoft and promoted as an AI innovator, went bankrupt after revelations that its "no-code development platform" was primarily powered by "700 human engineers in India, not AI". The company's AI assistant, "Natasha," was found to be a facade for manual handling of customer requests by human developers.
While the claim of "700 engineers posing as AI" at Builder.ai is debated, some engineers who worked there state the company did build an AI code generator, Natasha. The company's collapse, however, was ultimately attributed to "allegations of accounting fraud," which led to lenders withdrawing their capital.
The UK's National Health Service (NHS) is characterized as a "sinkhole," with an additional £29 billion poured into it despite its significant failures, including "rock-bottom satisfaction," "massive waiting lists," and "crumbling infrastructure". The NHS's projected expenditure is set to make it a European economy larger than both Greece and soon Portugal.
A U.S. court legalized "Murder By Hospital" by ruling in favor of a hospital in the first wrongful death jury trial where a death was listed as COVID on the death certificate. This occurred despite "Many expert witnesses testified that Grace had been killed by the hospital’s protocols".
VI. PLANT-BASED (PEA) PROTEIN IS TOTALLY WORTHLESS FOR HUMANS - JOACHIM BARTOLL OFFICIAL By Joachim Bartoll
A 5-day randomized crossover trial involving vegetarian men and women showed that increasing pea protein intake from 1.2 g/kg/day to 2.0 g/kg/day did not improve exercise recovery in terms of strength, jump height, or muscle soreness. The author interprets these results as evidence that plant-based protein is "totally useless, worthless and incompatible with human physiology".
The author asserts that 1.2 grams of protein per kilogram of body weight per day is barely sufficient for sedentary individuals and inadequate for those pursuing athletic performance or muscle growth, potentially leading to burnout. Plant-based protein is considered "extremely less bioavailable" for humans, with only 50 to 75% absorption at best, due to being bound by fiber, starches, and blocked by antinutrients.
Plant-based proteins are deemed "pretty much worthless" because they "either lack or are severely low in several important amino acids," requiring the consumption of "pounds of crap" to meet protein needs. This is contrasted with animal-based protein, which is described as "bioavailable and can be used by your body for what it is intended to".
The author claims that plant-based food is a "total waste of resources, money, and are extremely toxic to the environment," citing practices such as monocropping, pesticide use, and extensive global transportation and processing. He notes that numerous studies demonstrate improvements in recovery, performance, muscle mass, and strength when animal protein is added to the diet.
It is claimed that "any proclaimed 'vegan' bodybuilder or athlete lies about their diets and usually consumes eggs/egg whites and/or white fish and takes copious amounts of performance enhancing drugs". Such individuals are also said to "crash and burn within months or a few years" due to injuries or burnout, attributed to a lack of cholesterol, omega-3, and saturated fats in their diets.
The author directly links pea protein to "the evil Jesuit-controlled puppet Bill Gates," and his "network of Jesuit-sponsored schools and anti-human companies of Impossible Foods and Beyond Meat". He dismissively states that Gates can "shove his worthless pea protein up his ass".
Joachim Bartoll is identified as the founder of the first Health & Fitness internet community, Ironmag (1996), a former Editor-in-Chief for health and extreme sports magazines, and the founder of Sweden’s largest discussion board, Kolozzeum. He is a prolific writer with over 600 officially published and 1600 self-published articles, 8 books, and works as an "Elite-level trainer/coach, nutritionist and body transformation specialist" with over 1100 clients.
Bartoll describes his personal journey, including 17 years of "wasted studies in Western ‘Modern’ Medicine and Pharmacology," becoming an animal-based nutritionist in 2018, and studying Biology, Microbiology, Biochemistry, The Terrain Theory, and German New Medicine. He credits these studies with helping him heal his cancer, failing organs, and lifelong asthma and allergies in 2018, leading to no sickness since.
VII. THE REAL NATIONAL EMERGENCY: ENDLESS WARS, FAILING INFRASTRUCTURE, AND A DYING REPUBLIC - LEWROCKWELL By John & Nisha Whitehead
The United States is accused of "stealing from its own people to fund a global empire," echoing President Dwight D. Eisenhower's warning that military spending is a "theft from those who hunger and are not fed". In 2025 alone, the U.S. launched airstrikes in Yemen, bombed Houthi targets, and escalated its military presence in the Middle East, moving closer to direct war with Iran in support of Israel.
The ongoing wars are not for national defense but for "empire maintenance," serving to "prop up a military-industrial complex that has its sights set on world domination" and profits from perpetual conflict. This system enriches defense contractors while domestic infrastructure like schools and bridges deteriorate, and veterans are neglected.
The U.S. military maintains a vast global footprint, with over 1.3 million active-duty personnel, more than 200,000 stationed overseas in nearly every country, and operating approximately 800 bases in 160 countries at an annual cost exceeding $156 billion. These forces are deployed to "guard oil fields, build foreign infrastructure and protect the financial interests of the corporate elite," rather than safeguarding American freedoms at home.
War spending is "bankrupting America," with the U.S. accounting for almost 50% of the world's total military expenditure, surpassing the combined spending of the next 19 largest military nations. Since 2001, the U.S. government has spent over $10 trillion waging endless wars, much of it borrowed and wasted, at a rate exceeding $32 million per hour.
Corruption within the military-industrial complex is rampant, with defense contractors "massively overcharging taxpayers for mundane parts". Examples include a 4-cent metal pin costing $71 and a $7.71 part costing $1,678.61, illustrating an "accepted form of corruption" and the lack of public control over government.
The U.S. government's military interventions are making the world "more dangerous," with estimates of a bomb dropped every 12 minutes somewhere in the world and approximately 500,000 deaths directly contributed to by the U.S. since 9/11, all funded by taxpayers. These actions also result in "blowback"—unintended consequences—such as the 9/11 attacks, the Boston Marathon Bombing, and the militarization of domestic police forces.
The militarization of America, through which military equipment from wars is transferred to local police, is identified as a form of "blowback" that turns the homeland into a "battlefield". James Madison's warning that "no nation could preserve its freedom in the midst of continual warfare" is invoked, as war leads to armies, debts, taxes, and ultimately, the "domination of the few".
The nation's infrastructure is in disrepair, public schools are underfunded, mental health care is collapsing, and basic needs like housing and clean water are unmet, while the government prioritizes funding proxy wars and military projects abroad. This situation is described as "moral bankruptcy" and a self-inflicted collapse, where national strength is siphoned off to feed a war machine that yields "death, debt, and dysfunction".
The U.S. is "well embarked upon the course of non-democratic empire," risking the fate of ancient Rome, which lost its democracy by attempting to retain its empire. This trajectory embodies President Dwight Eisenhower's warning against the "unwarranted influence" of the military-industrial complex endangering American liberties and democratic processes.
VIII. TRUMP, ISRAEL, AND THE DEATH OF MAGA - LEWROCKWELL By Donald Jeffries
The author notes a persistent mainstream and alternative media narrative of being "on the brink of WWIII" for three to four years, questioning if the current situation is genuinely different. Israel's recent attack on Iran, launched in the midst of peace negotiations, "changed the equation," despite Trump's previous anti-war rhetoric.
Iran has been the "primary target of Zionists for decades," labeled a "state sponsor of terrorism" with persistent, unfounded claims by Benjamin Netanyahu since 1979 that it is on the verge of developing nuclear weapons. The author points out the "chutzpah" in blaming Iranians when they were bombed first.
The double standard regarding nuclear weapons is highlighted, with Israel maintaining an arsenal while allegedly fearing Iran's potential program, despite Israel's own nuclear work angering President Kennedy before his assassination. The author questions the subjective nature of the term "terrorist," comparing historical groups like the Irgun Gang to modern ones like Hamas.
Many prominent Trump supporters, including Tucker Carlson, Steve Bannon, and Marjorie Taylor Greene, have turned against him, viewing his stance on Israel as a "bombed bridge too far" and antithetical to an "America First" policy. Trump's dismissal of Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard's assessment that Iran had no nuclear weapons further illustrates this divergence.
An "America First" foreign policy is described as a "nonnegotiable issue" for most MAGA supporters, and if Trump involves Americans in war over Israel's "squabbles," he will be seen as no different from past presidents. The author suggests that "probably 100 million Americans are fed up with the two party duopoly, and want something that represents their interests".
Since November 22, 1963, there has been little criticism of Israel from within Washington, D.C., with politicians who dared to speak out against AIPAC or the "Jewish lobby," like Rep. Paul Findley and Pete McCloskey, reportedly seeing their political careers ended. James Trafficant was expelled from Congress and sentenced to seven years in prison for his criticism of Israel.
Rep. Thomas Massie's interview with Tucker Carlson exposed AIPAC's alleged practice of assigning a "babysitter" to every politician, and the unexplained sudden death of Massie's wife after he ejected them from his office is noted. Massie has introduced a bill to ensure Congress debates and votes on any declaration of war, highlighting that Congress has not declared war since WWII despite continuous U.S. military engagements.
Iran is stated to have "never done anything to us" beyond the 1980 hostage situation, which may have been a reaction to U.S. meddling, including the 1953 CIA overthrow of Mohammad Mossadegh and backing Iraq in its war with Iran. Trump's assassination of Iranian General Qasem Soleimani and his two bombings of Syria are cited as actions taken "because Israel ordered him to," serving Israel's interests rather than America's.
IX. CELEBRITY IQS By Miles Mathis
The author, Miles Mathis, disputes the highly inflated IQ claims attributed to various public figures, especially the reported 187 IQ for Joe Biden, which would place him above Einstein and Newton. Mathis notes that Biden has no confirmed IQ scores or academic records and was accused of plagiarism, graduating near the bottom of his law school class, leading Mathis to estimate Biden's IQ at 95.
Trump's alleged IQs of 148 or 156 are also dismissed as unsubstantiated, with no verifiable data or test scores ever released, and his lawyers have reportedly threatened anyone who releases his academic records. Mathis estimates Trump's IQ at 105, stating he is "smarter than Biden, but that ain't saying much".
Abraham Lincoln's estimated IQ of 148 is questioned, given his self-taught legal education and reportedly receiving a law license based on "good character" rather than passing a bar exam, as he "never went to school". Mathis speculates Lincoln had a "substandard IQ of about 90," characteristic of "frontmen" chosen for their appearance rather than true intelligence.
Barack Obama's claimed IQ of 145 is labeled "a joke," as he, like Trump, has not released his academic records, with threats made against schools for disclosure, suggesting his records are "likely all fake". Mathis expresses doubt about Obama's attendance at Harvard Law or Columbia and notes his reliance on a Teleprompter, even once stating there were 54 states, leading to an estimated IQ of 98.
Mark Zuckerberg's purported IQ of 152 is deemed "no chance that is true," citing his lack of notable youth achievements and claiming that his supposed creation, Synapse, was merely a song list. Facebook's widespread success is attributed to backing from the CIA through DARPA for spying, with Zuckerberg merely acting as a "front".
Dean Simonton's 2006 estimations of Presidential IQs, which concluded no president had an IQ less than 130, are criticized as "shameless toadyism" and "empty promotion" designed to make famous people seem superior. Mathis highlights the absurdity of claiming George W. Bush had a Mensa IQ, given his public gaffes and being called "the idiot son" by Reagan.
Mathis provides his own academic background, including high scores on the GRE and PSAT, graduating summa cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa, and winning national Latin championships, to assert his "insight into this question" of intelligence. He notes that he never took an IQ test himself, finding them "a joke" due to what he perceived as "wrong or ambiguous answers".
The author criticizes the promotion of exaggerated IQs for current celebrities like Lady Gaga (166), Quentin Tarantino (160), Vin Diesel (137), and Snoop Dogg (147), stating such claims are "based on nothing" and often originate from "fake story[s]" by a Mexican online site. He points out that Marilyn vos Savant, whose official IQ score is 228, is often dishonestly listed with a lower score than these celebrities.
Mathis offers his own lower IQ estimates for several celebrities, placing Snoop Dogg and Taylor Swift in the 90s, and Tiger Woods not above 115, suggesting that truly intelligent people would find such careers boring. He also expresses skepticism about Bill Gates' claimed SAT score and estimated IQ of 160, citing Gates' perceived "subnormal" speaking ability and past falsehoods, estimating his IQ in the 95 range.
True historical geniuses like Leonardo da Vinci (estimated at least 300 IQ), Archimedes, Democritus, Aristotle, Goethe, Tesla, and Galileo are cited as examples of genuinely high intelligence, far surpassing any contemporary celebrities. Mathis asserts that "no current celebrities, movie stars, musicians, or sports stars come within 60 points of these guys".I. AMERICA’S CHOICE: NATIONAL DIVORCE OR CIVIL WAR - LEWROCKWELL By Grant M. Dahl
The current political structure of the United States is not viable long-term due to extensive differences among its people and a centralized authority. These differences, combined with a "one-size-fits-all" mentality, have led to an extremely volatile situation nationwide, fueling a mad scramble for power.
Elites from both the political Left and Right are actively working to escalate volatility to a breaking point. They believe the resulting chaos will provide the opportunity to usher in a new system of all-out control over the "unwashed masses".
America’s Founding Fathers designed an intricate system of checks and balances, the Bill of Rights, and principles of self-government that proved formidable obstacles to Globalist control structures during the COVID hysteria. The Elites recognized that these founding principles would have to be removed and destroyed for any new system of tyranny to reach full implementation.
The Elites' new series of attacks is designed to provoke conflict and distrust within America by weaponizing the law against large segments of the population. This strategy aims to sow rampant distrust against those with different ideological views and against the legal systems themselves, ultimately creating an atmosphere of anger and helplessness to be funneled into an attack against America’s founding principles.
With respect for America’s founding principles greatly compromised, political fervor is being whipped into a power-hungry frenzy on all sides of the political divide. The Elites' goal is for all factions to adopt a "one-size-fits-all" mentality, seeking the complete destruction of opponents as the ultimate good, thereby unleashing the final stage: a "State of Emergency known as 'War'".
Civil war is presented as a tool to destroy freedoms, typically initiated when groups establish competing governing bodies to carry out the non-electoral removal of current power holders. This method, historically used by Communists, results in legacies of pain, exhaustion, bitterness, and lost freedoms, often leading to long-term tyranny as chaos eliminates reliance on precedent and dismantles checks and balances.
"National Divorce" is proposed as a way to preserve freedoms, drawing a parallel to the American Founders' choice to withdraw from London's jurisdiction rather than overthrow it. This approach, motivated by the preservation of freedoms and self-governing principles rather than power acquisition, fosters a "well-working order" and avoids political voids that power-hungry individuals might exploit.
The Elites are attempting to implement a global totalitarian model, described as a system that historical dictators could only have dreamed of, by using chaos as their primary weapon. Their aim is to uproot old traditions and principles, replacing them with a new secular dogma based solely on their whims and basest passions.
Even if the Elites’ plans for totalitarian control fail, the chaos unleashed by domestic war presents a significant risk, as cunning and ambitious individuals could still seize power and implement their own tyranny. This means the struggle could be for nothing, as self-government principles might not remain to check the new power holders, leading to continued conflict or long-term tyranny.
National Divorce offers the least danger to America’s foundational freedoms and principles, allowing for defensive consolidation to preserve these values. While it wouldn't guarantee avoiding war, any conflict would transform into one of self-defense, making it harder for the Elites to break an opposition alliance, and paving a smoother path to rebuild based on founding principles.
II. END OF THE PENNY AND THE NEXT PHASE OF CURRENCY DEBASEMENT - LEWROCKWELL By Doug Casey
President Trump ordered the cessation of penny minting, citing that each coin costs more than its face value to produce. Doug Casey states the actual cost is 3.7 cents, and views this move as a consequence of the currency itself being destroyed rather than just an uneconomical production.
The debasement of U.S. coinage is a long-standing trend, with the intrinsic value of the penny steadily reduced since its inception as pure copper in 1793. This process culminated in 1982 when copper was replaced with zinc disguised by a copper coating, which the author calls a "genuine fraud".
The elimination of the penny follows a historical pattern of stripping intrinsic value from U.S. currency, with gold removed in 1933, silver in 1964, and copper in 1982. This trend suggests that eventually all coins, then paper currency, will disappear, leading to a point where the government even fined people for melting pennies and nickels for their metal content.
The symbolic significance of U.S. coin designs has deteriorated, shifting from depicting symbols of Liberty, Indians, or eagles to featuring portraits of dead presidents, beginning with Abraham Lincoln in 1909. This change mirrors the transformation of Rome from a republic, where coins bore ideals, to an empire, where money became propaganda displaying emperors' portraits while its silver content dwindled.
The practice of putting recently deceased politicians, such as Franklin Roosevelt and John F. Kennedy, on coins is deemed "highly inappropriate for a free republic" and symptomatic of the "degradation and politicization of the currency". Even the nation's first motto, "Mind your business," was replaced by "In God We Trust" in 1864, a shift considered questionable for mixing religious concepts with national currency.
All U.S. coinage is predicted to be phased out because it is "basically worthless," with the nickel costing nearly 14 cents to produce and quarters being "nearly worthless". This means coins are no longer worth collecting, which previously "inculcated the value of money and saving" in children, as they have become "slugs without any intrinsic value".
The government's reluctance to issue higher-denomination bills, despite the $100 bill's purchasing power drastically decreasing, indicates a desire to eliminate all paper currency and monetary privacy. This move is interpreted as a clear step towards a digital currency, which would put individuals "completely under the thumb of the Authorities".
The dollar is predicted to "suffer the fate of every other fiat currency from time immemorial," being inflated or digitized out of existence, driven by escalating government deficits. This will lead to extremely high currency inflation, causing a loss of faith in the dollar both internationally and domestically, potentially resulting in a "multilevel catastrophe".
III. ISRAEL’S ATTACK ON IRAN: THE VIOLENT NEW WORLD BEING BORN IS GOING TO HORRIFY YOU - THE UNZ REVIEW By Jonathan Cook
Western politicians and media are attempting to spin Israel's "unmistakable war of aggression against Iran" as a "defensive" move, despite Iran being in nuclear negotiations with the United States when the attack occurred. This narrative relies on an "entirely evidence-free" claim by Benjamin Netanyahu, made since 1992, that Iran is on the cusp of producing a nuclear bomb.
U.S. intelligence, including a statement from Trump's head of national intelligence, Tulsi Gabbard, explicitly stated in March that "Iran is not building a nuclear weapon and Supreme Leader [Ali] Khameini has not authorised a nuclear weapons programme". Despite this, Trump publicly rebuked his intelligence chief's verdict and appeared ready to join Israel’s attack, sending warplanes and demanding Iran's "unconditional surrender".
Israel maintains a nuclear arsenal of at least 100 warheads while refusing to sign the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and denying access to international monitors, unlike Iran. The West's cooperation with Israel's policy of "ambiguity" regarding its nuclear weapons is necessary because U.S. law prohibits military aid to states with undeclared nuclear weapons, yet Israel is the largest recipient.
The "Samson option"—Israel's threat to use its nuclear arsenal rather than face an existential threat—is employed to project "unrestrained military power" across the oil-rich Middle East, ensuring Israel remains the sole nuclear-armed state. Israeli governments define "existential" threats as any challenge to its status as a settler-colonial state that occupies and forcibly uproots Palestinians.
Israel's attack on Iran is characterized as an indisputably illegal "preventive" war under international law, as it is based on a potential future threat rather than an "imminent, credible and severe threat" that would justify a "pre-emptive" strike. This stands in stark contrast to the West's condemnation of Russia's actions in Ukraine as "unconscionable," highlighting a significant double standard.
Israel's pretexts for its aggression are a "moving target," shifting from an implausible nuclear threat to concerns about Iran's ballistic missile program, even citing Iranian missile strikes that were direct responses to Israeli attacks. The author notes that Israel's argument blaming Hamas for Palestinian deaths by claiming fighters hide among civilians can now be applied to Israel itself, as it places key military installations in densely populated areas like Tel Aviv.
The true objective of Israel's attack on Iran is "regime change" in Tehran, aiming to transform Iran into a "compliant, lightly armed regime completely under Israel’s thumb". The Western media supports this goal by providing platforms for figures like Reza Pahlavi, son of the ousted Iranian Shah, to call for uprisings against the current leadership.
Iran's development of a "crescent of resistance" across the region—including Hezbollah in Lebanon, and ties in Syria, Iraq, and Yemen—and its consistent support for the Palestinian people, including Hamas, are identified as the "real trigger" for Israel's war of aggression. This strategy serves as Iran's military deterrence against Israeli and Western belligerence, given Iran's oil/gas reserves and its refusal to be a Western client state.
Neoconservatives, who strongly support Israeli hegemony in the Middle East, exploited the 9/11 attacks as an opportunity to erode Iranian power, with General Wesley Clark being told of a plan to "take out seven countries in five years," many of which were part of the "Shia crescent". Iran was noted as the seventh and final, and most challenging, state on this list.
The violence over the past 20 months, including the destruction in Gaza and attacks on Hezbollah and Syria, are seen as "preconditions for launching the current war of aggression on Iran". This aligns with a Pentagon plan for "global full-spectrum dominance," aiming for a unipolar world where the U.S. is unconstrained by military rivals or international law, and controlled by a "tiny, unaccountable elite, enriched by wars".
Commenters on the article discuss the influence of a "huge financial monopoly" with a "Jewish nature" that reportedly controls major institutions in the Collective West, prioritizing its "Zionist project of Israel". This monopoly is alleged to have financed the establishment of Israel and, through entities like the Rothschild bank, influenced British and later American military and political actions.
Some commentators offer a metaphysical interpretation, viewing Zionism as a "covenantal enactment" and "geopolitical extension of a metaphysical pact" between a tribal deity and a chosen people. This perspective suggests that Judaism acts as a "simulation anchor" for an "Archontic system" designed to suppress gnosis and extract "loosh" (emotional/spiritual energy).
The alliance between Zionism and the Western empire, particularly the United States, is described as "ritualistic" and based on the "energetic extraction" of loosh through "endless war in the Middle East, surveillance, censorship, cultural decay, and economic manipulation". The suffering of both Arabs and Americans is seen as "sacrificial fuel" for this system, with the "Samson Option" embodying the "theology of the Demiurge in action".
The "weaponization of victimhood" is identified as a powerful tool of the "covenant engine," where maintaining the eternal victim status of Jews (via the Holocaust, pogroms, and antisemitism) frames any critique of Jewish power or Zionist violence as persecution. This inversion creates a "total narrative control" through taboo, making it difficult for even educated individuals to question Judaism as part of a metaphysical control system.
IV. MAHA IN MIDDLE SCHOOL - LEWROCKWELL By Dr. Naomi Wolf
Dr. Naomi Wolf expresses concern that the MAHA (Make America Health Again) leadership is at risk of derailment due to an "oddly adolescent, somewhat cult-y, and far too personalized approach to the challenges and rigors of national politics". She writes this essay from a place of "love and support for the MAGA/MAHA alliance," hoping for a swift course-correction.
Wolf, along with colleagues, co-authored an open letter criticizing HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s announcements about revised CDC recommendations for the mRNA injection, pointing out that the recommendations still targeted sick kids and pregnant women and that the mRNA platform was not pulled from the market. This letter aimed to highlight unmet key MAHA policy goals, despite generating supportive press coverage.
National politics operates as a "chaotic, tug-of-war dynamic," where "principals" like Secretary Kennedy and President Trump must navigate competing agendas and avoid provoking "the ire of the biggest investors in both parties’ campaigns," such as Big Pharma. Experienced politicians understand that public outcry from their base is beneficial, providing "cover to deliver outcomes that their voters want, but that lobbyists and special interests do not want the voters to receive".
Former Vice President Al Gore advised citizens to organize and form "formal pressure groups" to "publicly press on the Principal and his or her team" if they want specific outcomes. He used AARP as an example of an effective pressure group that gave the elderly power and a voice, illustrating how such groups can "make" politicians deliver results.
MAHA insiders and associated "helpers" are criticized for resorting to "middle-school mean-girl tactics" and "adolescent personal attacks" rather than engaging in "serious adult national politics". For instance, HHS advisor Calley Means reportedly called Dr. Wolf "unhinged" for questioning his company’s business model and later acted as a "gatekeeper" preventing her team from attending a Senate hearing on Pfizer Papers.
Dr. Robert Malone publicly labeled Dr. Wolf’s group of signatories a "hate group" and implied "nefarious motivations," asserting that "a clique of historically liberal women influencers" were "actively seeking to divide the MAHA movement". He subtly smeared Nicole Shanahan, a donor to the movement, by using "dog-whistle" language referencing her meeting her husband at "Burning Man" in a way that suggests "slut-shaming".
Dr. Malone's comments included a serious implicit threat against Nicole Shanahan, portraying her expectations as a donor as "influence peddling," an offense "close to bribery or coercion," implying the Trump team could recast her actions as illegal. He also suggested that Dr. Wolf was too "stupid to figure out her own opposition to some of his views" and was being manipulated by "chaos agents" in a "Twitter Twat".
V. NEWS YOU MAY HAVE MISSED, INCLUDING 700 INDIANS POSING AS AI - THE EXPOSE By Rhoda Wilson
The article compiles current political narratives on protests, immigration, energy policy, and technological advancements, including topics like "elite-encouraged violence" during protests and mass migration. It also touches on claims about artificial intelligence and issues within the NHS.
The phrase "mostly peaceful" used to describe protests, like those following George Floyd's killing, which included violent incidents, is criticized as an attempt to downplay the severity of the unrest. Matt Taibbi argues this approach is counterproductive, alienating "moderate voters who are turned off by the radicalism and lawlessness".
The narrative promoted by the "open border left" that mass migration is necessary to fill labor shortages is dismissed as "false" and economically burdensome for wealthy nations. However, new studies suggest a significant number of "self-deportations" for every formal deportation, implying that cutting off illegal employers and government handouts is effective in reducing illegal immigration.
Despite claims of a rapid "energy transition" in the U.S., traditional energy sources such as natural gas, crude oil, and coal continue to dominate the market, collectively accounting for approximately 35 times more energy production than solar and wind combined. Wind and solar power are described as "uneconomic" and "government dependent," requiring extensive and repeated subsidies to compete with fossil fuels.
The article cautions against purchasing Electric Vehicles (EVs) due to various risks, including "EV Fires," which are depicted as cars turning into "flamethrowers". EV buses are highlighted as particularly problematic, costing twice as much as diesel buses, having less range, and being more susceptible to extreme weather, leading to "terrible" fire hazards.
The book "The Deep State Goes Viral" by Debbie Lerman is summarized as an investigation into the U.S. COVID pandemic response, portraying it as a "military-intelligence operation with little connection to health, medicine, and science". The book raises questions about the operation's leadership, goals, and the true purpose of mRNA technology, documenting "devastating consequences" like injuries, deaths, and economic plunder.
A London startup, Builder.ai, backed by Microsoft and promoted as an AI innovator, went bankrupt after revelations that its "no-code development platform" was primarily powered by "700 human engineers in India, not AI". The company's AI assistant, "Natasha," was found to be a facade for manual handling of customer requests by human developers.
While the claim of "700 engineers posing as AI" at Builder.ai is debated, some engineers who worked there state the company did build an AI code generator, Natasha. The company's collapse, however, was ultimately attributed to "allegations of accounting fraud," which led to lenders withdrawing their capital.
The UK's National Health Service (NHS) is characterized as a "sinkhole," with an additional £29 billion poured into it despite its significant failures, including "rock-bottom satisfaction," "massive waiting lists," and "crumbling infrastructure". The NHS's projected expenditure is set to make it a European economy larger than both Greece and soon Portugal.
A U.S. court legalized "Murder By Hospital" by ruling in favor of a hospital in the first wrongful death jury trial where a death was listed as COVID on the death certificate, despite "Many expert witnesses testified that Grace had been killed by the hospital’s protocols".
VI. PLANT-BASED (PEA) PROTEIN IS TOTALLY WORTHLESS FOR HUMANS - JOACHIM BARTOLL OFFICIAL By Joachim Bartoll
A 5-day randomized crossover trial involving vegetarian men and women showed that increasing pea protein intake from 1.2 g/kg/day to 2.0 g/kg/day did not improve exercise recovery in terms of strength, jump height, or muscle soreness. The author interprets these results as evidence that plant-based protein is "totally useless, worthless and incompatible with human physiology".
The author asserts that 1.2 grams of protein per kilogram of body weight per day is barely sufficient for sedentary individuals and inadequate for those pursuing athletic performance or muscle growth, potentially leading to burnout. Plant-based protein is considered "extremely less bioavailable" for humans, with only 50 to 75% absorption at best, due to being bound by fiber, starches, and blocked by antinutrients.
Plant-based proteins are deemed "pretty much worthless" because they "either lack or are severely low in several important amino acids," requiring the consumption of "pounds of crap" to meet protein needs. This is contrasted with animal-based protein, which is described as "bioavailable and can be used by your body for what it is intended to".
The author claims that plant-based food is a "total waste of resources, money, and are extremely toxic to the environment," citing practices such as monocropping, pesticide use, and extensive global transportation and processing. He notes that numerous studies demonstrate improvements in recovery, performance, muscle mass, and strength when animal protein is added to the diet.
It is claimed that "any proclaimed 'vegan' bodybuilder or athlete lies about their diets and usually consumes eggs/egg whites and/or white fish and takes copious amounts of performance enhancing drugs". Such individuals are also said to "crash and burn within months or a few years" due to injuries or burnout, attributed to a lack of cholesterol, omega-3, and saturated fats in their diets.
The author directly links pea protein to "the evil Jesuit-controlled puppet Bill Gates," and his "network of Jesuit-sponsored schools and anti-human companies of Impossible Foods and Beyond Meat". He dismissively states that Gates can "shove his worthless pea protein up his ass".
Joachim Bartoll is identified as the founder of the first Health & Fitness internet community, Ironmag (1996), a former Editor-in-Chief for health and extreme sports magazines, and the founder of Sweden’s largest discussion board, Kolozzeum. He is a prolific writer with over 600 officially published and 1600 self-published articles, 8 books, and works as an "Elite-level trainer/coach, nutritionist and body transformation specialist" with over 1100 clients.
Bartoll describes his personal journey, including 17 years of "wasted studies in Western ‘Modern’ Medicine and Pharmacology," becoming an animal-based nutritionist in 2018, and studying Biology, Microbiology, Biochemistry, The Terrain Theory, and German New Medicine. He credits these studies with helping him heal his cancer, failing organs, and lifelong asthma and allergies in 2018, leading to no sickness since.
VII. THE REAL NATIONAL EMERGENCY: ENDLESS WARS, FAILING INFRASTRUCTURE, AND A DYING REPUBLIC - LEWROCKWELL By John & Nisha Whitehead
The United States is accused of "stealing from its own people to fund a global empire," echoing President Dwight D. Eisenhower's warning that military spending is a "theft from those who hunger and are not fed". In 2025 alone, the U.S. launched airstrikes in Yemen, bombed Houthi targets, and escalated its military presence in the Middle East, moving closer to direct war with Iran in support of Israel.
The ongoing wars are not for national defense but for "empire maintenance," serving to "prop up a military-industrial complex that has its sights set on world domination" and profits from perpetual conflict. This system enriches defense contractors while domestic infrastructure like schools and bridges deteriorate, and veterans are neglected.
The U.S. military maintains a vast global footprint, with over 1.3 million active-duty personnel, more than 200,000 stationed overseas in nearly every country, and operating approximately 800 bases in 160 countries at an annual cost exceeding $156 billion. These forces are deployed to "guard oil fields, build foreign infrastructure and protect the financial interests of the corporate elite," rather than safeguarding American freedoms at home.
War spending is "bankrupting America," with the U.S. accounting for almost 50% of the world's total military expenditure, surpassing the combined spending of the next 19 largest military nations. Since 2001, the U.S. government has spent over $10 trillion waging endless wars, much of it borrowed and wasted, at a rate exceeding $32 million per hour.
Corruption within the military-industrial complex is rampant, with defense contractors "massively overcharging taxpayers for mundane parts". Examples include a 4-cent metal pin costing $71 and a $7.71 part costing $1,678.61, illustrating an "accepted form of corruption" and the lack of public control over government.
The U.S. government's military interventions are making the world "more dangerous," with estimates of a bomb dropped every 12 minutes somewhere in the world and approximately 500,000 deaths directly contributed to by the U.S. since 9/11, all funded by taxpayers. These actions also result in "blowback"—unintended consequences—such as the 9/11 attacks, the Boston Marathon Bombing, and the militarization of domestic police forces.
The militarization of America, through which military equipment from wars is transferred to local police, is identified as a form of "blowback" that turns the homeland into a "battlefield". James Madison's warning that "no nation could preserve its freedom in the midst of continual warfare" is invoked, as war leads to armies, debts, taxes, and ultimately, the "domination of the few".
The nation's infrastructure is in disrepair, public schools are underfunded, mental health care is collapsing, and basic needs like housing and clean water are unmet, while the government prioritizes funding proxy wars and military projects abroad. This situation is described as "moral bankruptcy" and a self-inflicted collapse, where national strength is siphoned off to feed a war machine that yields "death, debt, and dysfunction".
The U.S. is "well embarked upon the course of non-democratic empire," risking the fate of ancient Rome, which lost its democracy by attempting to retain its empire. This trajectory embodies President Dwight Eisenhower's warning against the "unwarranted influence" of the military-industrial complex endangering American liberties and democratic processes.
VIII. TRUMP, ISRAEL, AND THE DEATH OF MAGA - LEWROCKWELL By Donald Jeffries
The author notes a persistent mainstream and alternative media narrative of being "on the brink of WWIII" for three to four years, questioning if the current situation is genuinely different. Israel's recent attack on Iran, launched in the midst of peace negotiations, "changed the equation," despite Trump's previous anti-war rhetoric.
Zionists have targeted Iran as the "primary target" for decades, labeled it a "state sponsor of terrorism" with persistent, unfounded claims by Benjamin Netanyahu since 1979 that it is on the verge of developing nuclear weapons. The author points out the "chutzpah" in blaming Iranians when they were bombed first.
The double standard regarding nuclear weapons is highlighted, with Israel maintaining an arsenal while allegedly fearing Iran's potential program, despite Israel's own nuclear work angering President Kennedy before his assassination. The author contrasts the subjective nature of the term "terrorist," comparing historical groups like the Irgun Gang to modern ones like Hamas.
Many prominent Trump supporters, including Tucker Carlson, Steve Bannon, and Marjorie Taylor Greene, have turned against him, viewing his stance on Israel as a "bombed bridge too far" and antithetical to an "America First" policy. Trump's dismissal of Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard's assessment that Iran had no nuclear weapons further illustrates this divergence.
An "America First" foreign policy is described as a "nonnegotiable issue" for most MAGA supporters, and if Trump involves Americans in war over Israel's "squabbles," he will be seen as no different from past presidents. The author suggests that "probably 100 million Americans are fed up with the two party duopoly, and want something that represents their interests".
Since November 22, 1963, there has been little criticism of Israel from within Washington, D.C., with politicians who dared to speak out against AIPAC or the "Jewish lobby," like Rep. Paul Findley and Pete McCloskey, reportedly seeing their political careers ended. James Trafficant was expelled from Congress and sentenced to seven years in prison for his criticism of Israel.
Rep. Thomas Massie's interview with Tucker Carlson exposed AIPAC's alleged practice of assigning a "babysitter" to every politician, and the unexplained sudden death of Massie's wife after he ejected them from his office is noted. Massie has introduced a bill to ensure Congress debates and votes on any declaration of war, highlighting that Congress has not declared war since WWII despite continuous U.S. military engagements.
Iran is stated to have "never done anything to us" beyond the 1980 hostage situation, which may have been a reaction to U.S. meddling, including the 1953 CIA overthrow of Mohammad Mossadegh and backing Iraq in its war with Iran. Trump's assassination of Iranian General Qasem Soleimani and his two bombings of Syria are cited as actions taken "because Israel ordered him to," serving Israel's interests rather than America's.
IX. CELEBRITY IQS By Miles Mathis
The author, Miles Mathis, disputes the highly inflated IQ claims attributed to various public figures, especially the reported 187 IQ for Joe Biden, which would place him above Einstein and Newton. Mathis notes that Biden has no confirmed IQ scores or academic records and was accused of plagiarism, graduating near the bottom of his law school class, leading Mathis to estimate Biden's IQ at 95.
Trump's alleged IQs of 148 or 156 are also dismissed as unsubstantiated, with no verifiable data or test scores ever released, and his lawyers have reportedly threatened anyone who releases his academic records. Mathis estimates Trump's IQ at 105, stating he is "smarter than Biden, but that ain't saying much".
Abraham Lincoln's estimated IQ of 148 is questioned, given his self-taught legal education and reportedly receiving a law license based on "good character" rather than passing a bar exam, as he "never went to school". Mathis speculates Lincoln had a "substandard IQ of about 90," characteristic of "frontmen" chosen for their appearance rather than true intelligence.
Barack Obama's claimed IQ of 145 is labeled "a joke," as he, like Trump, has not released his academic records, with threats made against schools for disclosure, suggesting his records are "likely all fake". Mathis expresses doubt about Obama's attendance at Harvard Law or Columbia and notes his reliance on a Teleprompter, even once stating there were 54 states, leading to an estimated IQ of 98.
Mark Zuckerberg's purported IQ of 152 is deemed "no chance that is true," citing his lack of notable youth achievements and claiming that his supposed creation, Synapse, was merely a song list. Facebook's widespread success is attributed to backing from the CIA through DARPA for spying, with Zuckerberg merely acting as a "front".
Dean Simonton's 2006 estimations of Presidential IQs, which concluded no president had an IQ less than 130, are criticized as "shameless toadyism" and "empty promotion" designed to make famous people seem superior. Mathis highlights the absurdity of claiming George W. Bush had a Mensa IQ, given his public gaffes and being called "the idiot son" by Reagan.
Mathis provides his own academic background, including high scores on the GRE and PSAT, graduating summa cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa, and winning national Latin championships, to assert his "insight into this question" of intelligence. He notes that he never took an IQ test himself, finding them "a joke" due to what he perceived as "wrong or ambiguous answers".
The author criticizes the promotion of exaggerated IQs for current celebrities like Lady Gaga (166), Quentin Tarantino (160), Vin Diesel (137), and Snoop Dogg (147), stating such claims are "based on nothing" and often originate from "fake story[s]" by a Mexican online site. He points out that Marilyn vos Savant, whose official IQ score is 228, is often dishonestly listed with a lower score than these celebrities.
Mathis offers his own lower IQ estimates for several celebrities, placing Snoop Dogg and Taylor Swift in the 90s, and Tiger Woods not above 115, suggesting that truly intelligent people would find such careers boring. He also expresses skepticism about Bill Gates' claimed SAT score and estimated IQ of 160, citing Gates' perceived "subnormal" speaking ability and past falsehoods, estimating his IQ in the 95 range.
True historical geniuses like Leonardo da Vinci (estimated at least 300 IQ), Archimedes, Democritus, Aristotle, Goethe, Tesla, and Galileo are cited as examples of genuinely high intelligence, far surpassing any contemporary celebrities. Mathis asserts that "no current celebrities, movie stars, musicians, or sports stars come within 60 points of these guys".
I. Executive Summary
This C&C News update covers a range of current events, with a significant focus on the growing influence and strategic shifts of the Heritage Foundation, particularly concerning its stance on COVID-19 vaccines and its "Project 2025" initiative. Other key topics include a legal setback for California Governor Gavin Newsom against President Trump, the defunding of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) grants by the USDA, governmental assistance for East Palestine victims, the censorship of JD Vance on BlueSky, and an analysis of the "missile math" in the ongoing Israel-Iran conflict. The overarching tone is optimistic from a conservative viewpoint, highlighting perceived wins for the Trump administration and conservative policies.
II. Main Themes & Key Ideas
A. The Heritage Foundation's Evolving Influence and "Project 2025"
The article heavily emphasizes the Heritage Foundation's role as "the single most influential conservative think tank anywhere in the world." It describes Heritage as an "idea factory" that "can literally write tomorrow’s laws today," shaping policy, media narratives, and public perception.
"Shadow Government" & Legislative Origins: The author acknowledges critics who view think tanks like Heritage as an "unelected 'shadow government in waiting'," noting that "most legislation does not begin in Congress... but issues out of legislative food trucks that serve up pre-packaged laws and executive orders." This model, however, is presented as a necessary counterpunch to a pre-existing liberal think tank ecosystem.
"Project 2025": Heritage's "sweeping blueprint to empower President Trump to take immediate, aggressive control of the federal government starting on Day One" is highlighted. This four-part plan aims to "deconstruct the administrative state, centralize executive power, push aggressive policy reversals (immigration, climate, education, public health, etc), and pack government with 10,000+ pre-vetted, loyal conservatives." The author notes its comparison to "FDR’s New Deal and even the Federalist Papers themselves," calling it "prepackaged regime change within the executive branch, by legal means."
Shift on COVID-19 Vaccines: A significant development is Heritage's apparent pivot on vaccine criticism. Initially cautious and focusing on mandates rather than vaccine efficacy ("We are not against the vaccine. We are against the government forcing people to take it."), the author suggests a major shift. Following a private roundtable with "MAHA influencers," where Heritage "asked us for suggestions about how the vaccines could be rolled back," the author concludes that "it appears the nation’s most influential think tank is preparing to wade into anti-vaccine waters." This is presented as profoundly encouraging, with the prediction that "if Heritage joins the fight, the covid mRNA vaccines’ days are numbered."
B. Legal and Policy Wins for the Trump Administration/Conservative Agenda
The article details several instances perceived as successes for conservative policies and the current (implied Trump) administration.
Newsom's Legal Setback (California National Guard): California Governor Gavin Newsom "suffers legal setback as Ninth Circuit defers to Trump." The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals renewed its stay on a lower court order, allowing President Trump to retain control of the California National Guard during the recent "LA Riots." The court ruled that "courts must defer to the President in emergencies."
USDA Guts DEI Grants: The USDA has "slashed DEI funding, redirects $148M to rural priorities," a move described as further "starving chaotic, cash-strapped DNC." Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins stated this was about "cutting the millions of dollars that are being wasted on woke DEI propaganda," redirecting funds to "rural economic revitalization, infrastructure, and energy independence."
C. Addressing East Palestine & Censorship Concerns
The article highlights perceived progress on issues that have garnered conservative attention and concern.
East Palestine Victims Get Help: The NIH is "launching long-term health studies of East Palestine train crash," a development welcomed after the Biden Administration was accused of ignoring the disaster. The article recounts the "chemical catastrophe" of the vinyl chloride spill and "controlled burn," which resulted in an "apocalyptic plume" and immediate environmental damage. This study is seen as a "lifeline" to provide "desperately needed" data for residents' lawyers.
JD Vance Censored on BlueSky: Vice-President JD Vance's BlueSky account was "immediately suspended" after his first post, then restored, but became "the most individually blocked account on the progressive platform." This is presented as an example of "progressive purity levels... cranked down far too tightly to allow any fascist propaganda by Trump’s vice president into progressives’ safe space."
D. The Israel-Iran Conflict: A "Missile Measuring Contest"
The conflict is framed as a critical "competition of numbers" where the key unknown is whether "Iran run[s] out of flying armaments before Israel runs out of air defenses."
Depleting Interceptors: The article cites the Wall Street Journal report (two days prior) indicating "Israel was already running low on defensive missiles." Experts suggest that "Neither the U.S. nor the Israelis can continue to sit and intercept missiles all day."
Uncertainty of Launchers: While Netanyahu promised to destroy "all of Iran’s missile launchers," the author questions how he could know "how many launchers Iran has got." This lack of transparency on "closely guarded secrets" makes the outcome unpredictable.
US Involvement and Options: The author asserts that the "US will not stand by and watch Israel bombed to smithereens," but notes that a ground invasion of Iran is politically problematic and impractical. The article suggests that "unless something miraculous manifests, a diplomatic solution seems the only sensible option."
III. Key Quotes
On Heritage's influence: "Heritage is probably the single most influential conservative think tank anywhere in the world. Nobody else matches Heritage’s combination of donor firepower, staff size, lobbying influence, and its direct pipeline to government."
On Heritage's legislative power: "a top-tier think tank like Heritage can literally write tomorrow’s laws today."
On "Project 2025": "It’s not just a policy shift. It’s prepackaged regime change within the executive branch, by legal means."
On Heritage's vaccine pivot: "Based on what I saw at Heritage on Tuesday, it appears the nation’s most influential think tank is preparing to wade into anti-vaccine waters... if Heritage joins the fight, the covid mRNA vaccines’ days are numbered."
On Newsom's legal loss: "the Ninth Circuit renewed its stay of Judge Breyer’s order, properly concluding that courts must defer to the President in emergencies."
On USDA DEI cuts: "Putting American Farmers First means cutting the millions of dollars that are being wasted on woke DEI propaganda." - Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins.
On East Palestine: "The East Palestine disaster began not with a bang, but with the shriek of steel against steel... a chemical catastrophe cloaked in smoke and bureaucratic silence."
On the Israel-Iran conflict: "The conflict has become a competition of numbers. Will Iran run out of flying armaments before Israel runs out of air defenses?"
On missile defense challenges: "Neither the U.S. nor the Israelis can continue to sit and intercept missiles all day." - Tom Karako, Director of the Missile Defense Project at the Center for Strategic and International Studies.
IV. Author's Stance/Bias
The author, Jeff Childers of C&C News, exhibits a clear conservative and pro-Trump bias. The language used consistently praises conservative actions and outcomes while framing progressive efforts negatively. For example, Gavin Newsom is called "oily" and "oleaginous," DEI grants are "untestable and unmeasurable gibberish," and BlueSky is described as having "progressive purity levels... cranked down far too tightly." The article explicitly aims to "spread optimism and hope" from this perspective.
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I. ☕️ MISSILE MEASURING CONTESTS ☙ Friday, June 20, 2025 ☙ C&C NEWS 🦠 AND Jeff Childers
Heritage Foundation's Global Influence The Heritage Foundation is generally regarded as the most influential conservative think tank in the US, the ‘king’ (if you will) of the conservative policy hill. Nobody else matches Heritage’s combination of donor firepower, staff size, lobbying influence, and its direct pipeline to government.
Role of Think Tanks as Idea Factories Think tanks are the political world’s idea factories — part research lab, part strategy shop, part PR machine. They cook up white papers, issue policy briefs, and publish op-eds aimed at shaping how lawmakers think, how media frames the issues, and how the public perceives political debates.
Direct Legislative Influence of Top Think Tanks Their influence depends on their proximity to power: a top-tier think tank like Heritage can literally write tomorrow’s laws today, while lesser outfits crank out ‘studies’ that no one reads. The best ones don’t just comment on policy— they create it.
Heritage's Role in Media Incubation On top of its legislative and lobbying roles, it has evolved into an incubator for influential conservative media. For instance, Heritage started Townhall.com in 1995, and sold it to Salem Media in 2006.
Criticisms of Think Tanks as "Shadow Governments" Critics argue that think tanks function more like an unelected “shadow government in waiting,” drafting laws in secret and pushing partisan personnel into new administrations. Critics complain this blurs the line between democratic governance and autocratic private policymaking.
Origins of Conservative Think Tanks progressives started it; the conservative think tank ecosystem arose as a counterpunch to the blooming post-WWII army of liberal NGOs, lobbying firms, academic institutions, and foundations, which minted the model.
Founding of Heritage in 1973 So they founded Heritage (1973) as a deliberate institutional weapon: part lobbying shop, part public relations firm, and part policy mill. It marked an activist shift away from the older, more reserved think tank model, like RAND or Brookings, which were academic, bipartisan, and painfully slow-moving.
Heritage's Design for Speed and Ideology Heritage was designed to be fast, ideological, and effective— operating at the speed of modern politics and media.
Project 2025's Objective Last year, Heritage became a liberal epithet and progressive bogeyman thanks to “Project 2025,” its sweeping blueprint to empower President Trump to take immediate, aggressive control of the federal government starting on Day One. Officially titled the “2025 Presidential Transition Project,” it was a four-part plan to deconstruct the administrative state, centralize executive power, push aggressive policy reversals (immigration, climate, education, public health, etc), and pack government with 10,000+ pre-vetted, loyal conservatives.
Historical Significance of Project 2025 It’s still early. But Project 2025 is already one of the most ambitious and influential policy initiatives in U.S. history. It has been compared to FDR’s New Deal and even the Federalist Papers themselves.
Heritage's Evolving Pandemic Stance During the first, chaotic months of the pandemic, Heritage was cautious, and supported limited mitigations. However, by mid-2020, Heritage had pivoted and begun criticizing extended shutdowns, school closures, and the economic wreckage caused by the indefinite exercise of emergency powers.
Heritage's Anti-Mandate Activism By 2021, it had joined the anti-mandate wars, and filed amicus briefs in some of the biggest pandemic lawsuits, such as the case challenging OSHA’s vaccine-or-repeat-test rules and the CMS mandates. In its legal briefs, Heritage described vaccine mandates as unconstitutional and an “abuse of executive power”.
Reshaping the Conservative Post-Pandemic Agenda Unquestionably, Heritage helped reshape the post-pandemic conservative agenda into one of dark skepticism toward technocracy and deep distrust of “experts”. It became a central intellectual force behind the anti-mandate movement— focusing on constitutional arguments, economic liberty, and parental control over health decisions.
Heritage's Historical Vaccine Position There has long been one missing piece: Heritage has never directly criticized the vaccines. Heritage has consistently and carefully framed its jab position as, “We are not against the vaccine. We are against the government forcing people to take it”.
Anticipated Shift in Heritage's Vaccine Stance Based on what I saw at Heritage on Tuesday, it appears the nation’s most influential think tank is preparing to wade into anti-vaccine waters. They did not take any clear position on the issue; but the fact that they organized the meeting, asked the questions, listened carefully, and engaged dynamically was incredibly encouraging.
Legal Setback for Governor Gavin Newsom California Governor Gavin Newsom sued after President Trump issued an order taking control of the state’s National Guard during last week’s “mostly peaceful” LA Riots. Yesterday, having reviewed the briefs, the Ninth Circuit renewed its stay of Judge Breyer’s order, properly concluding that courts must defer to the President in emergencies, and holding that the government had made the minimal showing that its actions were rational.
Ninth Circuit's Deference to Presidential Emergency Powers Yesterday, having reviewed the briefs, the Ninth Circuit renewed its stay of Judge Breyer’s order, properly concluding that courts must defer to the President in emergencies, and holding that the government had made the minimal showing that its actions were rational. It did not completely agree with all the government’s arguments; for example, it rejected the idea that courts lack any jurisdiction to hear any objection to federalization of a state’s national guard.
USDA's Cuts to DEI Funding This week, more bad news emerged for the DNC’s cash crunch. On Wednesday, Agriculture Daily ran a very encouraging story headlined, “USDA slashes DEI funding, redirects $148M to rural priorities”.
USDA's New Funding Priorities “Putting American Farmers First means cutting the millions of dollars that are being wasted on woke DEI propaganda,” Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins said. Instead, grant applications will now be judged solely on project merit and alignment with funding priorities, including rural economic revitalization, infrastructure, and energy independence — goals Rollins described as “tangible improvements in rural America”.
NIH Initiative for East Palestine Health Studies Yesterday, the Hill ran a great story headlined, “NIH launching long-term health studies of East Palestine train crash”. Secretary Kennedy and NIH Director Bhattacharya explained that the new program will assess the effects of chemical exposure in East Palestine and its surrounding communities, in both the short and long terms.
Details of the East Palestine Disaster On February 3, 2023, a Norfolk Southern freight train, a mile and a half long and burdened with hazardous cargo, derailed in the quiet village of East Palestine, Ohio. Thirty-eight cars jumped the rails. Eleven of them carried toxic chemicals.
East Palestine Residents' Post-Derailment Experience Within hours, birds dropped from the sky. The people of East Palestine were told to return home, to breathe air officials hadn’t tested properly, to drink from wells that reeked of sweet poison.
JD Vance's BlueSky Account Incident Speaking of Vice-President JD Vance, he bravely joined BlueSky this week— and his account was immediately suspended. After enduring hours of relentless mocking, BlueSky grudgingly restored the Vice-President’s account.
BlueSky's Perceived "Progressive Purity" To be fair, and using common sense, Vance never had a chance. At this point, progressive purity levels are cranked down far too tightly to allow any fascist propaganda by Trump’s vice president into progressives’ safe space.
Trump's Reported Delay on Iran Strike This morning, Bloomberg ran a story headlined, “Trump Hints He’ll Hold Off Iran Strike, Give Diplomacy Time”. Bloomberg reported this morning that Trump said he thinks he will wait two more weeks before deciding whether to join Israeli bombing against Iran’s nuclear sites.
Israel's Defensive Missile Shortages According to the Wall Street Journal — two days ago — Israel was already running low on defensive missiles. If it can’t destroy enough Iranian launchers, can Israel survive two more weeks of Iranian missile and drone strikes?.
The Conflict as a "Competition of Numbers" The conflict has become a competition of numbers. Will Iran run out of flying armaments before Israel runs out of air defenses?.
Secrecy Surrounding Military Inventories Nobody knows, including the parties to the conflict, since those particular numbers are some of the most closely guarded secrets of all. The IDF unsurprisingly and unhelpfully declined the Journal’s request for comment by politely saying, “Unfortunately, we are unable to comment on matters related to munitions”.
U.S. Commitment to Israel's Defense Obviously, whether anyone likes it or not, the US will not stand by and watch Israel bombed to smithereens after its Iron Dome missile shield begins to malfunction, even if Israel started the fight.
Limited Military Options and Diplomatic Imperative A ground invasion of Iran would be the next military move. But Israel lacks the numbers, and is already fiercely fighting both Hamas and Hezbollah on the ground in two different spots.