Georgia&#8217;s Democrat senator Jon Ossoff has made healthcare one of the central themes of his 2026 re-election campaign. In speeches, social media posts, and interviews, the first-term lawmaker particularly speaks about protecting mothers, preserving labor and delivery services, and ensuring that women have access to quality maternity care.
But those arguments have increasingly collided with another part of his record.
Last year, Ossoff <a href="https://x.com/ossoff/status/1968345283227795584?s=20">blasted</a> Republicans over closure of labor and delivery services at St. Mary&#8217;s Sacred Heart Hospital in Lavonia, warning that women in northeast Georgia would be forced to travel farther to give birth safely. The message was straightforward: women need access to maternity care, and policymakers should protect it.
Yet when the debate shifts from hospital access to questions of biological sex and gender identity, Ossoff has taken a markedly different position.
Among the votes drawing renewed scrutiny is his <a href="https://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_votes/vote1172/vote_117_2_00319.htm">opposition</a> to a Senate motion that sought to define pregnancy-related programs around the biological reality of pregnancy itself. The proposal would have clarified that federal pregnancy programs are intended for those capable of becoming pregnant. Ossoff voted against it, along with all other Democrats.
That vote may seem obscure compared to a hospital closure or a Medicaid debate, but it raises a larger question: if pregnancy and maternity care are issues specifically affecting women, why oppose efforts to define them as such?
Healthcare has become one of the senator&#8217;s <a href="https://georgiarecorder.com/2025/12/22/bookman-republicans-need-to-accept-that-most-americans-think-health-care-should-be-available-to-all/">preferred political battlegrounds</a> ahead of the midterms. Ossoff routinely frames debates through the language of mothers, pregnant women, and families. His criticism of the St. Mary&#8217;s decision was built around the image of women going into labor and needing care close to home.
At the same time, his voting record reflects support for a broader Left-wing framework that increasingly avoids sex-based definitions in favor of language based on so-called gender identity.
Ossoff posted his criticism of the GOP over St. Mary&#8217;s labor and delivery services closure as the Republican-controlled Congress and the Trump administration scaled back some health spending. The hospital, however, said the decision followed roughly 18 months of review and was driven by a combination of factors, according to reporting by the <a href="https://dailycaller.com/2025/09/22/jon-ossoff-big-beautiful-bill-rural-hospital/">Daily Caller</a>. 
Among the reasons for the decision were physician recruitment challenges, demographic changes, and declining utilization rates. Financial records also showed the facility had struggled for years before the announcement, yet Ossoff reduced the issue to a partisan attack.
Now, the debate is no longer simply about healthcare. It is about whether voters see Ossoff as a principled advocate or a politician whose definitions change depending on which argument is most useful at the moment. For a candidate asking Georgians to trust him on healthcare, that distinction could matter even more in the coming months. 
In Tuesday&#8217;s runoff election for the GOP primary, Georgia Republicans elected U.S. Rep. Mike Collins (R-GA) to face off against Ossoff in November. Collins entered Tuesday&#8217;s election after an endorsement from President Trump. November&#8217;s general election is expected to be one of the most closely watched Senate races in the country.
Ossoff did not respond to a request for comment.

Jon Ossoff

Jon Ossoff Opposed Measure To Block Men From Receiving Maternity Care

Democrats

Georgia

Businessman Rick Jackson has won the Republican nomination for governor of Georgia, defeating Trump-endorsed Lt. Gov. Burt Jones in one of the most expensive and closely watched primary battles of the 2026 cycle.
Decision Desk HQ projected Jackson as the winner Tuesday night, capping a campaign in which the healthcare executive spent more than $100 million of his own fortune to overcome endorsements from both President Donald Trump and outgoing Republican Gov. Brian Kemp. Jackson will now face former Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms, who secured the Democratic nomination in May, in what is expected to be one of the most competitive governor&#8217;s races in the country.
The result represents a rare setback for Trump&#8217;s endorsement operation. The president backed Jones nearly a year ago and repeatedly reaffirmed his support throughout the campaign. Kemp, despite his often-complicated relationship with Trump, <a href="https://www.politico.com/news/2026/06/16/georgia-brian-kemp-senate-governor-races-00962993">joined</a> the President and also endorsed Jones on Sunday.
Yet Jackson&#8217;s massive personal spending transformed the race. A relative political outsider, Jackson built statewide name recognition through an unprecedented advertising blitz centered on immigration enforcement, tax cuts, healthcare manufacturing, and his personal story of growing up in Georgia&#8217;s foster care system before becoming a billionaire entrepreneur.
The contest also revealed an unusual split within the Trump political orbit. While President Trump stood firmly behind Jones, Donald Trump Jr. <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/house-divided-don-jr-praises-governor-hopeful-running-against-trumps-pick">publicly praised</a> Jackson on the eve of the election, highlighting his investments in domestic pharmaceutical manufacturing and energy infrastructure. Trump Jr. stopped short of issuing a formal endorsement but described Jackson as a &#8220;good man&#8221; who had helped advance America First economic priorities.
&#8220;Regardless of what happens in the Georgia Governor&#8217;s race tomorrow, we should celebrate the patriots building up MAGA and an America First economy like Rick Jackson has,&#8221; Trump Jr. wrote Monday. Jackson&#8217;s victory suggests that enormous personal wealth and outsider appeal can still overcome even the combined political weight of political kingpins like Trump and Kemp in a Republican primary. The race was widely viewed as a test of influence for both men. Trump remains the dominant figure in Republican politics nationally, while Kemp leaves office as one of the most popular governors in the country and a potential 2028 presidential contender.
Attention now shifts to the general election, where Jackson will face Bottoms, the former Atlanta mayor and Biden administration official who has long been considered one of Georgia Democrats&#8217; strongest statewide candidates.
With Georgia continuing to occupy the center of the nation&#8217;s political battleground map — perhaps only behind Pennsylvania in swing-state importance — the Jackson-Bottoms contest is expected to become one of the most closely watched governor&#8217;s races in America this November.

GOP Gubernatorial Candidate Rick Jackson Holds Primary Election Night Event

Trump And Trump Jr. Split In Georgia. Voters Chose One.

Politics

Two people were shot Tuesday afternoon inside a Delaware hospital, prompting a massive police response, a campus lockdown, and an active search for the suspected gunman.
 The shooting occurred around 3:30 p.m. at Wilmington Hospital, a ChristianaCare facility in Wilmington, Delaware, per <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/us/search-underway-suspect-after-2-people-shot-inside-delaware-hospital-police">Fox News</a>,.
According to the Wilmington Police Department, officers responding to the scene located two victims suffering from gunshot wounds inside the hospital. Authorities have not released the identities of the victims or provided an update on their conditions.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">
BREAKING: Heavy police presence at a hospital in Wilmington, Delaware following reports of a shooting. <a href="https://t.co/e90rdP8vGi">pic.twitter.com/e90rdP8vGi</a>
— Breaking911 (@Breaking911) <a href="https://x.com/Breaking911/status/2066986046072459388?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 16, 2026</a></blockquote>
Law enforcement sources told local media that preliminary information suggests the shooting involved hospital employees, with one employee allegedly opening fire on two coworkers.
Police said a suspect has been identified, though officials have not publicly released the individual&#8217;s name. Authorities are <a href="https://nypost.com/2026/06/16/us-news/details-of-us-iran-deal-revealed-timeline-for-us-withdrawal-300b-fund-hormuz-passage/">actively searching</a> for the suspect and investigating a possible vehicle connected to the shooting.
Following the incident, Wilmington Hospital was placed on lockdown and the emergency department was diverted as officers secured the campus. Video from the scene showed hospital employees being escorted from the building with their hands raised while heavily armed law enforcement officers established a perimeter around the facility.
&#8220;At this time, police have located two gunshot victims,&#8221; the Wilmington Police Department said in a statement. &#8220;The hospital remains locked down and police continue to ask the public to avoid the area.&#8221;
ChristianaCare confirmed the shooting and said it is working closely with law enforcement.
&#8220;This is an active police investigation,&#8221; the hospital said in a statement. &#8220;We are taking all appropriate steps to ensure the safety of our patients, caregivers and visitors.&#8221;
The motive remains unclear, and the investigation is ongoing.

President-Elect Biden And Vice President-Elect Harris Receive Second Round Of COVID-19 Vaccination

Two Shot In Delaware Hospital, Suspect Remains At Large

Crime

Shooting

Violent Crime

After months of global attention focused on the conflict with Iran and instability in the Middle East, President Donald Trump signaled Tuesday that the United States is preparing to turn its attention back toward Russia&#8217;s war in Ukraine, including the possible return of sanctions on Russian oil exports.
Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the Group of Seven summit in Evian-les-Bains, France, Trump suggested the temporary easing of some sanctions on Russian oil could soon come to an end now that energy markets have stabilized following and an agreement with Iran has been reached.
“Soon we&#8217;ll be able to do that because the oil is now flowing,” Trump <a href="https://apnews.com/article/g7-iran-ukraine-trump-macron-zelenskyy-e7fad4eabaae8181f70fa5a0b9e499b2">said</a>. “We&#8217;re in a position to do that soon.” The comments mark one of the clearest indications yet that the administration is preparing to resume economic pressure on Moscow after spending much of the spring focused on preventing a broader regional war in the Middle East.
During the height of the Iran conflict, Washington eased certain restrictions on Russian oil shipments in an effort to keep global energy prices from spiraling upward. Oil markets have since calmed following the Gulf ceasefire and the reopening of shipping lanes through the Strait of Hormuz.
Trump told reporters that Iran would soon be “back in the rearview mirror,” allowing the administration to return its focus to ending the war in Ukraine.
The shift comes as European allies are dramatically increasing pressure on the Kremlin. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced a fresh round of sanctions targeting Russia&#8217;s energy sector, financial networks, and the so-called “shadow fleet” of vessels used to circumvent Western restrictions on oil and liquefied natural gas exports.
The new British measures expand sanctions to more than 600 vessels connected to Russia&#8217;s energy trade and target networks accused of helping Moscow acquire Western technology and move money around the globe despite existing restrictions.
“Putin should roll back his tanks, end his barbaric strikes and come to the negotiating table,” Starmer <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/jun/15/starmer-g7-sanctions-russia-nuclear-energy-support-ukraine">said</a> while announcing additional support for Ukraine&#8217;s energy infrastructure.
Canada unveiled its own sanctions package Tuesday, targeting 162 individuals, entities, and vessels linked to Russia&#8217;s war effort. Meanwhile, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen is pushing a new sanctions package aimed at Russia&#8217;s banking, energy, and trade sectors.
The coordinated pressure campaign comes after another <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/one-of-christianitys-holiest-sites-set-ablaze-in-russian-strike">major Russian attack</a> on Ukraine. Hours before the G7 summit opened, Russia launched hundreds of drones and dozens of missiles against Ukrainian cities, killing at least 11 people and damaging civilian infrastructure.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky joined G7 leaders Tuesday for discussions centered on increasing military aid and tightening economic pressure on Moscow.
“The entire Seven supports Ukraine unanimously today,” Zelensky said following the meeting. According to several European officials, leaders at the summit broadly agreed that additional economic pressure will be necessary to force Russian President Vladimir Putin back to the negotiating table.
Some European officials entered the summit uncertain whether the Trump administration would support tougher measures after months of focusing primarily on the Middle East. Those concerns appear to have eased following Trump&#8217;s remarks and the administration&#8217;s willingness to revisit sanctions now that energy markets have stabilized.
While Trump campaigned on ending the Russia-Ukraine war quickly, negotiations have proven far more difficult than anticipated. The president acknowledged Tuesday that resolving the conflict remains challenging but insisted he would continue pushing for an end to the fighting.
“The whole thing is ridiculous,” Trump said. “So, yeah, I&#8217;m going to do whatever I can.”
With the Iran crisis cooling and Western leaders increasingly aligned on raising the cost of Russia&#8217;s war effort, sanctions appear poised to become a central tool once again in the international campaign against Moscow.

President Trump Attends G7 Summit In Evian, France

Trump Says Iran Will Soon Be In ‘Rearview Mirror,’ Wants Sanctions Back On Russian Oil

A bombshell new report released by Restore Britain, led by Member of Parliament Rupert Lowe, alleges that at least 250,000 British girls have been subjected to rape, trafficking, torture, and sexual exploitation by organized migrant rape gangs over the past several decades.
The 218-page report describes the scandal as one of the greatest institutional failures in modern British history — and paints a devastating picture of systematic abuse stretching back 50 years and accuses politicians, police, social services, schools, healthcare providers, and local authorities of repeatedly failing to protect vulnerable children.
“The evidence put to the Inquiry confirms that this scandal constitutes one of the most horrendous failures in the history of the country,” the report states.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
The Rape Gang Inquiry Report.<a href="https://t.co/EuKgGWBRhS">https://t.co/EuKgGWBRhS</a> <a href="https://t.co/SD5G9HPVtV">pic.twitter.com/SD5G9HPVtV</a>
— Rupert Lowe MP (@RupertLowe10) <a href="https://x.com/RupertLowe10/status/2066873370239537189?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 16, 2026</a></blockquote>
According to the inquiry, vulnerable girls, often preteens — overwhelmingly white and from working-class backgrounds — were targeted by organized networks operating across towns and cities throughout the United Kingdom. Victims were allegedly groomed with gifts, alcohol, drugs, and attention before being transported to houses, hotels, restaurants, and apartments where they were repeatedly raped by groups of adult men.
When asked how many men had abused her, one victim, identified only as Chloe in the report, responded, “Hundreds. Hundreds and hundreds and hundreds.”
The report alleges that victims were trafficked between cities, filmed for blackmail, forced into abortions, and in some cases subjected to forced pregnancy, religious conversion, marriage, and overseas trafficking. There were also cases of girls as young as 13 being admitted to sexual health clinics with cases of Chlamydia, Gonorrhea, and Genital Warts.
Restore Britain argues that the true scale of the abuse remains unknown but cites previous estimates suggesting at least 250,000 girls may have been victimized nationwide. The figure stems from extrapolations based on major inquiries conducted in places such as Rotherham and Telford. However, the report adds that “the scale, nature, and characteristics of group-based child sexual exploitation remain impossible to quantify precisely due to inconsistent data collection and historical suppression.”
The inquiry claims it identified evidence of grooming gang activity in at least 149 local authority districts across Britain.
One of the report&#8217;s most damning conclusions concerns the ethnic and religious background of offenders. Citing court records, previous inquiries, and witness testimony, the report argues that a disproportionate number of perpetrators came from Pakistani Muslim backgrounds.
The report points to previous analyses suggesting that approximately 87% of those convicted in major group-based child sexual exploitation cases carried distinctively Muslim names. It further argues that authorities were often reluctant to confront the issue directly out of fear of accusations of racism or concerns about community relations.
“Political correctness, fear of accusations of racism, and fear of losing electoral support from certain demographics have taken precedence over the protection of British children,” the report states. The inquiry reserves some of its harshest criticism for government institutions.
According to the report, police frequently ignored complaints, failed to pursue known offenders, and in some cases treated victims themselves as criminals. Social workers allegedly dismissed concerns raised by parents and whistleblowers, while schools and healthcare providers failed to intervene despite obvious warning signs.
The report also accuses successive governments of avoiding a full accounting of the scandal. While the Labour Party receives particular criticism for resisting deeper investigations, the report argues that Conservative governments also failed to pursue meaningful reforms despite years of mounting evidence.
The publication comes amid renewed national debate over grooming gangs following the release of Baroness Louise Casey&#8217;s government-backed <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/national-audit-on-group-based-child-sexual-exploitation-and-abuse">review</a>, which concluded that authorities had often failed to properly collect ethnicity data and had been reluctant to investigate patterns that could inflame racial tensions.
Restore Britain is calling for a series of sweeping reforms, including tougher sentencing, expanded deportation powers for foreign offenders, mandatory ethnicity recording, institutional accountability measures, and a comprehensive review of past cases.
The organization also says it intends to publish additional witness testimony and pursue legal action against individuals and institutions it believes helped enable the abuse.
For many Britons, however, the report&#8217;s most disturbing conclusion is not merely the scale of the crimes themselves but the allegation that authorities knew what was happening for years and repeatedly failed to act.
If the report&#8217;s findings are accurate, the scandal represents not simply a criminal failure, but a profound failure of Britain&#8217;s political and governing institutions to protect some of the country&#8217;s most vulnerable children.

Football Lads Against Grooming Gangs Protest London

Migrant Rape Gangs Groomed, Victimized Thousands Of Young Girls

Eight people were killed Monday when a B-52 Stratofortress crashed shortly after takeoff at Edwards Air Force Base in California during a routine test mission, Air Force officials confirmed during a Monday press conference.
During the presser Hayes confirmed, &#8220;Edwards Air Force Base experienced a tragedy, and we lost eight great Americans,&#8221; Col. James Hayes, deputy commander of the 412th Test Wing, said.
The <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/breaking-b-52-stratofortress-crashes-near-edwards-air-force-base?author=Jacob+Wheeler&amp;category=undefined&amp;elementPosition=8&amp;row=3&amp;rowHeadline=Latest+News&amp;rowType=Vertical+Carousel&amp;title=B-52+Crashes+Near+Edwards+Air+Force+Base">aircraft went down</a> at approximately 11:20 a.m. local time while supporting a radar modernization program. &#8220;An Air Force B-52 Stratofortress carrying eight people on a routine test mission crashed today shortly after take-off at 11:20 a.m. (PDT),&#8221; Edwards Air Force Base said in a <a href="https://x.com/EdwardsAFB/status/2066647300974518345">statement,</a> &#8220;Initial indications are that the crash was not survivable.&#8221; Hayes later confirmed that assessment. According to Hayes, the bomber took off and &#8220;immediately after takeoff crashed and burst into flames.&#8221;
The victims have not yet been identified as Air Force officials are still notifying next of kin. Hayes revealed that the crew was a mix of military personnel, government civilians, and government contractors supporting the test mission.
The crash occurred entirely within Edwards Air Force Base and remained confined to the runway area. Officials confirmed the aircraft was not carrying any weapons.
Emergency response crews remain on scene as officials work to account for all personnel aboard the aircraft. The crash is currently under investigation.
The B-52 crashed shortly after departing Edwards Air Force Base in California&#8217;s Mojave Desert, roughly 100 miles north of Los Angeles. Following the incident, the airfield was closed and inbound aircraft were diverted.
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Credit: Storyful
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&nbsp;
After reviewing footage of the incident, officials determined there was no possibility of survival. &#8220;It was tragic and unsurvivable,&#8221; Hayes said when asked about the condition of the crash site. The cause of the crash remains unknown.
The Air Force will conduct a multi-stage investigation beginning with an interim safety board, followed by a formal Safety Investigation Board expected to take approximately 30 days. An Accident Investigation Board will then conduct a more extensive review, a process that could take up to six months before findings are publicly released.
Officials declined to answer questions regarding how high the aircraft climbed, how long it remained airborne, the experience level of the crew, or the age and service history of the particular bomber, citing the pending investigation. The B-52 was conducting one of the many test flights routinely flown from Edwards Air Force Base, where test missions occur multiple times each day.
The Boeing B-52 Stratofortress is one of the most recognizable aircraft in the U.S. military and has been in service since the 1950s. The long-range heavy bomber remains a key component of America&#8217;s strategic deterrent and is capable of carrying both conventional and nuclear weapons.
Earlier in the day, Edwards Air Force Base suspended all non-commercial visitor passes and said the installation was focused entirely on emergency response efforts. However the base has now reopened to workers and visitors, but will suspend all flight test operations on the day following the crash. Col. Hayes said the base is “terminating operations tomorrow” and “standing down operations” due to the damaged runway
&#8220;Our thoughts and prayers go out to the family members,&#8221; Hayes said. &#8220;It&#8217;s a tragedy, and this is going to be the worst day of their lives.&#8221;
&nbsp;
This is a developing story and will be updated as more information becomes available.

A B-52H Stratofortress

Eight Confirmed Dead After B-52 Crash Deemed ‘Not Survivable’

As children raced through the halls of the Trump Kennedy Center waving miniature American flags and wearing Minuteman hats, Dr. Ben Carson stood at the center of what he hopes will become a new movement in children&#8217;s education.
The former Housing and Urban Development secretary, 2016 presidential candidate, and renowned neurosurgeon premiered “Star Spangled Adventures: The Movie” on Sunday as part of the <a href="https://americancornerstone.org/">American Cornerstone Institute&#8217;s</a> Little Patriots initiative, an effort designed to teach American history to children through books, films, and educational resources ahead of the nation&#8217;s 250th anniversary.
For Carson, the animated feature is about far more than entertainment. &#8220;In order for people to really develop patriotism, they need to know their history,&#8221; Carson said in an interview with The Daily Wire before the screening. &#8220;I was noticing that fewer and fewer people seem to know their history.&#8221;
The concern is one that animated nearly every aspect of the event. Throughout the afternoon, families packed the venue for patriotic activities before gathering for a screening of the film, which follows Liberty the Eagle through key moments in American history.
Carson argued that too many young Americans are being taught a distorted understanding of the country&#8217;s past. &#8220;Probably the biggest thing that&#8217;s missing is that we have a country with an honorable history,&#8221; Carson said. &#8220;There are those who have taken some of the bad things that have happened and tried to make that characterizing.&#8221;
While acknowledging that America has experienced failures throughout its history, Carson said modern education often focuses exclusively on those failures while ignoring the nation&#8217;s achievements.
The result, he warned, is a generation increasingly vulnerable to ideological movements hostile to America&#8217;s founding principles. &#8220;We look around and we see socialism and communism becoming acceptable,&#8221; Carson said. &#8220;Those things are not compatible with our Constitution.&#8221;
That concern helps explain why Carson chose animation as the medium for his latest project. The challenge, he said, was finding a way to communicate history to children without sacrificing historical accuracy. &#8220;We throw some humor in there, but it&#8217;s heavily weighted with facts,&#8221; Carson said. &#8220;We did it that way so that not only would the little kids enjoy it, but the parents, the grandparents, the teachers would learn also.&#8221;
The film boasts an unusually star-studded cast for an independent patriotic project. Kevin Sorbo voices George Washington, Gary Sinise portrays Robert E. Lee, Pat Boone appears as Abraham Lincoln, and actor John Schneider lends his voice to Revolutionary War militia commander Captain John Parker.
For Schneider, best known for his role on &#8220;The Dukes of Hazzard,&#8221; joining the project required little persuasion. &#8220;I love this country. I was raised to love this country and honor this country,&#8221; Schneider told The Daily Wire on the red carpet.
What motivated him, he said, was seeing what he described as a growing effort to rewrite American history. &#8220;After I turned 50 or so, I started seeing this revisionist history coming in and saying that our country was bad,&#8221; Schneider said. &#8220;It really aggravated me.&#8221;
Standing just steps away from children wearing colonial-era hats and red, white, and blue outfits, Schneider said the event represented something increasingly rare in modern American culture: an unapologetic celebration of the nation itself. &#8220;It&#8217;s so great to be part of something that is defending our history,&#8221; he said.
Among those attending the premiere was longtime Carson mentee and ally Housing and Urban Development Secretary Scott Turner, who described the event as representative of the &#8220;heartbeat of America.&#8221;
&#8220;Patriots — even young patriots, little children — families coming together, celebrating our great country together, celebrating our faith in God together,&#8221; Turner added.
The premiere also served as a launch point for Carson&#8217;s broader educational ambitions. Alongside the film, Carson released a new book, “Built on Faith,” a children’s book discussing America&#8217;s founders and the influence of religious belief in their lives.
According to Carson, “Star Spangled Adventures” is only the beginning. &#8220;There are a lot of creative ventures in the works,&#8221; he said. As America approaches its semiquincentennial celebration in 2026, Carson hopes those projects will help create a generation that understands not only the nation&#8217;s history but its responsibilities.
When asked what he hopes families discuss on the drive home after watching the film, Carson&#8217;s answer was simple. &#8220;How can we see more of this?&#8221; he said. &#8220;How can we get more involved?&#8221;
For Dr. Ben Carson, that conversation may ultimately be the point of all his efforts going forward; the movie itself is only one chapter in a much larger effort to convince America&#8217;s youngest citizens that their country&#8217;s story is worth knowing — and worth defending.

Ben Carson

Ben Carson Wants To Teach America’s Children To Love Their Country Again

America

America 250

Children

Education

A Russian strategic bomber crashed during a training exercise in Siberia on Monday, with dramatic video appearing to show the aircraft plunging nose-first into a wooded area before erupting into a massive fireball.
The aircraft, a Tu-22M3 strategic bomber known by NATO as the &#8220;Backfire,&#8221; went down in Russia&#8217;s Irkutsk region near the village of Kamenka, according to Russian officials. Video circulating on social media shows the bomber rapidly losing altitude before diving into a forested area near the Angara River. Moments later, a huge column of smoke and flames rises above the tree line.
<a href="https://www.jpost.com/international/article-899496">Russia&#8217;s Defense Ministry</a> said the aircraft was conducting a training flight when the crash occurred. Officials stated that all four crew members successfully ejected before impact and survived the incident.
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&#8220;The crew ejected. There is no threat to the pilots&#8217; lives or health,&#8221; the ministry said, according to the Interfax news agency.
Authorities added that the bomber was not carrying a combat payload at the time of the crash and that no casualties or significant damage were reported on the ground. According to <a href="https://www.reuters.com/business/aerospace-defense/russian-strategic-bomber-plane-crashes-siberia-training-exercise-2026-06-15/">Reuters</a>, Irkutsk Governor Igor Kobzev said emergency crews were dispatched to extinguish a fire at the crash site and that all four crew members were transported to a hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
Preliminary reports indicate that an engine failure may have caused the accident.
The Tu-22M3 is a modernized version of the Soviet-era Tu-22 long-range bomber and remains a key component of Russia&#8217;s strategic aviation fleet. The aircraft has been used extensively during Russia&#8217;s military operations in Syria and Ukraine and is capable of carrying cruise missiles as well as Russia&#8217;s air-launched hypersonic Kinzhal missile.
The crash marks another setback for Russia&#8217;s military aviation forces, which have suffered a series of accidents involving aging Soviet-designed aircraft in recent years.
While Russian officials insist the aircraft was lost due to a technical malfunction, the dramatic footage highlights the risks associated with operating decades-old military platforms that continue to form the backbone of much of Russia&#8217;s long-range strike capability.
The incident remains under investigation by the Russian Defense Ministry.

Russian Defence Minister Sergey Shoygu visits Syria’s Latakia

WATCH: Russian Bomber Nosedives Into Massive Explosion During Training Exercise

This article is part of <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/introducing-upstream-a-lifestyle-and-culture-section-of-the-daily-wire" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Upstream,</a> The Daily Wire’s new home for culture and lifestyle. Real human insight and human stories — from our featured writers to you.
***
For decades, He-Man occupied a bizarre corner of pop culture. Eternia wasn&#8217;t just fantasy, nor was it just science fiction. It was an unapologetically expansive fusion of barbarian heroes, laser rifles, ancient castles, flying vehicles, monsters, robots, and cosmic magic. It looked unlike anything else and was incredibly popular for it. Unfortunately, “Masters of the Universe” sands off most of those rough edges.
The biggest problem with the movie isn&#8217;t that it&#8217;s bad. Instead, it&#8217;s frustratingly average, due to an aversion to making strong stylistic decisions.
As a standalone action-adventure film, the movie is perfectly serviceable. The fight scenes are entertaining, the performances are generally solid, and there are enough nostalgic callbacks to keep longtime fans engaged. As a little kid, my Dad put on He-Man cartoons when he got fed up with watching whatever was on Nick Jr. with me, so I have a lot more nostalgia for the iconic 80s franchise than most people my age.
But as an adaptation of one of the strangest and most visually distinctive toy properties of its era, “Masters of the Universe” never figures out what it wants to be. The result is a film caught between reverence and embarrassment.
Rather than embracing the eccentricity of the source material, the filmmakers largely transform Eternia into a familiar modern blockbuster setting. The world often resembles a generic fantasy kingdom with slick science-fiction elements sprinkled on top. Outside of a few standout designs, much of the visual identity that made the 1987 &#8220;Masters of the Universe&#8221; memorable is absent.
That lack of commitment extends beyond the production design. The film never decides whether it wants to celebrate the original cartoon or parody it. Either answer would’ve been more acceptable, and certainly more interesting, than what we got.
Serious emotional moments are frequently interrupted by jokes, nostalgic scenes are undercut by irony, and designed comedic interactions (that are frequently quite funny) feel out of place during major narrative beats when the serious story is being advanced. Worst of all, characters are rarely allowed to sit in heroic moments before the script feels obligated to remind the audience not to take any of it too seriously.
Modern blockbusters have developed a habit of apologizing for their own premises, and &#8220;Masters of the Universe&#8221; certainly falls into that trap. Which is particularly noticeable in its treatment of the heroes.
In the original cartoon, Prince Adam&#8217;s secret wasn&#8217;t that he became a hero when he transformed into He-Man. He was already a hero. The transformation simply gave him greater physical strength. Adam had the courage, wisdom, and self-sacrifice that make a good hero even when he couldn&#8217;t rely on the Sword of Power.
The movie reverses that equation. He-Man often feels like an extension of Adam rather than the culmination of Adam&#8217;s character. It makes the hero more relatable, perhaps, but also less aspirational. He-Man should feel larger than life, instead, he frequently feels like a generic Marvel-esque protagonist wearing He-Man&#8217;s armor.
Nicholas Galitzine does admirable work with the material he&#8217;s given. This is a demanding role for an actor making his debut as a major action lead, and he generally succeeds. Camila Mendes also delivers a solid performance as Teela, though the script doesn&#8217;t give her enough meaningful interactions with her father, Man-At-Arms, to fully sell their familial relationship.
The standout performance belongs to Idris Elba. Initially, Elba&#8217;s Man-At-Arms appears destined to become a one-note tough-guy authority figure. Instead, he develops into one of the film&#8217;s most human characters. Since he is not given much screen time with just his daughter, Man-At-Arms&#8217; scenes mentoring Adam are among the movie&#8217;s strongest emotional moments and provide a glimpse of the richer character work the film occasionally hints at.
Jared Leto&#8217;s Skeletor is less successful; most of that stems from inconsistent characterization. The original Skeletor worked because he was simultaneously threatening and ridiculous. He was often the comic relief while the heroes remained earnest. Here, Skeletor becomes the primary source of dramatic tension while many of the heroes are tasked with delivering jokes. That may make sense according to modern blockbuster logic, but it misses something essential about the source material. The change strips away part of what made the character memorable.
Longtime fans may also be disappointed by how many supporting characters receive minimal attention. Beast Man barely speaks, Trap Jaw functions only as a mini-boss, Tri-Klops effectively disappears, and Battle Cat is sidelined until the last 20 minutes of the film. Several fan favorites are absent altogether. While no adaptation can include everyone, Eternia loses a lot of its personality when so many colorful characters are reduced to background decoration or silent antagonists with no actual character.
The movie is at its best whenever it fully embraces style. The Snake Mountain sequences are excellent: bathed in torchlight, deep reds, blue shadows, carved serpentine architecture, and dramatic color contrasts, they finally feel like the world of Eternia. The action choreography throughout the film is similarly impressive. Rather than relying entirely on standard blockbuster brawling, many fights embrace the exaggerated, almost cartoonish physicality that the source material demands. Those moments stand out because they reveal what the movie could have been.
The soundtrack follows a similar pattern. The original cartoon&#8217;s iconic theme is absent until the end in favor of new material that works well enough but lacks the same emotional impact. A few synth-heavy moments hint at the glam-metal energy that could’ve defined a modern Eternia&#8217;s soundscape, but the film never fully commits to the earnest &#8217;80s vibe. Several licensed song choices are distractingly on-the-nose, undercutting scenes that might have landed more effectively with a lighter touch.
Ultimately, “Masters of the Universe” suffers from a lack of conviction. Whenever the film makes a bold stylistic choice, it works. Whenever it fully embraces the bizarre world that made He-Man famous, it works. Whenever it trusts the audience to take its heroes seriously, it works.
The problem is that those moments are constantly competing with safer, corporate, more familiar blockbuster instincts. The result is a movie that is better than the infamous 1987 live-action adaptation but still falls short of becoming the definitive modern He-Man story fans have waited decades to see.
As an action movie, it&#8217;s enjoyable enough. As a He-Man movie, it&#8217;s harder to recommend without reservations. Fans of the franchise will likely find enough here to justify a trip to the theater. There are genuine crowd-pleasing moments and several sequences that capture the spirit of Eternia. Casual audiences, however, may be better served waiting for streaming.
Grade: C+

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What The New He-Man Movie Gets Wrong About Heroes

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The Department of Justice has approved Paramount Skydance’s proposed $111 billion acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery, clearing one of the biggest regulatory obstacles to a deal that would reshape the entertainment industry.
According to reports from <a href="https://www.politico.com/news/2026/06/12/paramount-acquisition-warner-bros-approved-00960300?_sp_pass_consent=true">Politico</a> and <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2026/06/12/paramount-wbd-merger-approval-doj.html">CNBC</a>, the DOJ&#8217;s Antitrust Division concluded the transaction does not pose a threat to competition and declined to challenge the merger.
The decision paves the way for Paramount to merge with the media giant behind CNN, HBO Max, Warner Bros. Pictures, TBS, TNT, and other major entertainment brands, creating one of the world&#8217;s largest media companies.
The approval is expected to be formally announced on Friday.
Federal regulators reportedly approved the deal without requiring Paramount to divest any assets or accept behavioral remedies, conditions that often accompany major media mergers.
The merger has been among the most closely watched antitrust reviews of President Donald Trump&#8217;s second term because of its size and its potential impact on the media landscape.
Paramount Skydance CEO David Ellison, son of Oracle founder and Trump ally Larry Ellison, reportedly met personally with DOJ officials multiple times during the review process. According to Politico, Ellison spent roughly two hours meeting with Antitrust Division officials and career attorneys several weeks ago to discuss the transaction and its competitive effects.
Throughout the review, Paramount argued that the merger would strengthen competition by creating a larger media company capable of competing against streaming giants and technology firms that increasingly dominate the entertainment business.
Earlier this year, Netflix briefly pursued its own acquisition proposal for Warner Bros. Discovery before dropping out of the bidding process. According to CNBC, Paramount&#8217;s offer values Warner Bros. Discovery at approximately $31 per share.
Despite the federal approval, the deal still faces additional scrutiny.
California Attorney General Rob Bonta, a Democrat, continues to investigate the transaction and could attempt to challenge the merger in court. Attorneys general from several states, including California and New York, monitored portions of the federal review process.
&#8220;The Paramount acquisition of Warner Brothers remains an active investigation,&#8221; a spokesperson for Bonta&#8217;s office told Politico.
The merger must also receive approval from European regulators before it can be finalized. The European Union has opened its own review and set a July deadline for its initial assessment.
On Wednesday, Paramount announced that Australia&#8217;s competition regulator had <a href="https://deadline.com/2026/06/paramount-wbd-mergerl-clears-australia-1236952390/">approved the transaction</a>.
Critics of the merger have warned that it could lead to another round of consolidation-related layoffs across Hollywood. Industry unions and some entertainment advocates have argued that the combined company would likely pursue significant cost-cutting measures.
For Paramount and the Ellisons, the DOJ&#8217;s decision represents a major victory after months of regulatory scrutiny. The company has said it expects the transaction to close by September if all remaining approvals are secured.

In this photo illustration, the Paramount logo is seen

Paramount-Warner Bros. Merger Clears Major Hurdle

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Two people were killed, and 10 victims were reported after a shooting in Midland, Texas, on Friday morning.
Authorities confirmed the suspect is dead after being barricaded inside a building. Officers responding to the scene encountered gunfire, <a href="https://www.texastribune.org/2026/06/12/texas-midland-shooting-suspect-dead/">according</a> to The Texas Tribune.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">
BREAKING: Police are responding to an &#8220;active shooter event&#8221; in Midland, Texas <a href="https://t.co/Kd7UXEOq68">pic.twitter.com/Kd7UXEOq68</a>
— Breaking911 (@Breaking911) <a href="https://x.com/Breaking911/status/2065448691377295840?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 12, 2026</a></blockquote>
Nine victims were transported to Midland Memorial Hospital. Four were undergoing surgery, and five were listed in stable condition. Officials <a href="https://www.facebook.com/CityofMidlandTX/posts/pfbid023ya2fa79vFUNkJ6uYRqZMxLpdBjbu8XA1EJ4CWpbRq3J6hvbduKt5jgZawYpFgQcl">said</a> a perimeter has been established around the suspect, who remains contained as &#8220;armored units &#8230; and partner agencies&#8221; work to resolve the standoff.
The shootings began in southeast Midland and progressed across the southern portion of the city before law enforcement ultimately contained the suspect in southwest Midland. SWAT teams, armored units, and multiple partner agencies responded to the incident.
&#8220;The situation is now secured in that area, but we&#8217;re still asking that all Midlanders stay put,&#8221; Midland Mayor Lori Blong said during a morning news conference. &#8220;If you&#8217;re in that area, you don&#8217;t need to be out and driving around or going to try to see anything.&#8221;
Nine victims were transported to Midland Memorial Hospital. Four were undergoing surgery, and five were listed in stable condition. Officials have not released additional details regarding the conditions of the remaining victims.
Authorities said one victim was pronounced dead at the scene. Police later confirmed the suspect had also died. No law enforcement officers were believed to have been injured during the response. &#8220;The scene remains active and has not been cleared,&#8221; Midland Police said in a social media update. &#8220;Road closures in the area are expected to remain in place for the foreseeable future as the investigation continues.&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
The active shooter incident has been resolved, and the suspect is confirmed deceased. 
The scene remains active and has not been cleared. Road closures in the area are expected to remain in place for the foreseeable future as the investigation continues.<a href="https://x.com/hashtag/midlandtxpd?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#midlandtxpd</a>
— City of Midland (@CityOfMidland) <a href="https://x.com/CityOfMidland/status/2065474314455953567?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 12, 2026</a></blockquote>
A Family Reunification Center has been established at Midland Memorial Hospital. Family members seeking information about loved ones can go to the hospital chapel or call a dedicated hotline established by officials.
&#8220;Our thoughts and prayers are absolutely with the victims and with their families, with our first responders, with all of the medical staff that are responding this morning,&#8221; Blong said.
Authorities have not yet released the identity of the suspect or a possible motive. The investigation remains ongoing.
This is a developing story; please refresh to check for updates.

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At Least Two Dead, Multiple Injured In Texas Shooting

The Trump administration is escalating one of its signature healthcare reforms ahead of the 2026 midterm elections, moving from promises of price transparency to active enforcement against hospitals that continue to hide costs from patients.
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) and Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) <a href="https://x.com/hhsgov/status/2064408871527927856?s=46">announced</a> this week that the grace period for hospital price transparency compliance has officially ended, warning providers that fail to disclose actual prices that they could face penalties of up to $2 million annually.
The move marks a significant step in President Donald Trump&#8217;s long-running effort to force hospitals and insurers to publish real healthcare prices, allowing patients to compare costs before receiving treatment rather than being surprised by bills weeks or months later.
&#8220;For years, hospitals kept Americans in the dark about the true cost of care,&#8221; HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said in a video announcement alongside CMS Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz. &#8220;Families made medical decisions without knowing the price — and too often got hit with bills that drained their savings.&#8221;
&#8220;That ends now,&#8221; Kennedy added. &#8220;Under President Trump&#8217;s leadership, HHS is enforcing hospital price transparency with real consequences.&#8221;
Kennedy and Oz delivered a direct warning to healthcare providers: &#8220;Post your actual prices. Come into compliance immediately — or face serious consequences.&#8221;
The administration&#8217;s enforcement push comes as healthcare affordability remains one of the most pressing concerns for voters heading into the midterm cycle.
According to a March <a href="https://news.gallup.com/poll/707732/healthcare-reclaims-top-spot-among-domestic-worries.aspx?utm_source=tagrss&amp;utm_medium=rss&amp;utm_campaign=syndication">Gallup survey</a>, 61% of Americans say they worry &#8220;a great deal&#8221; about healthcare access and affordability, making it the top domestic concern in the country. Healthcare ranked above inflation, the economy, federal spending, and income inequality, underscoring the political significance of reforms to lower medical costs.
The issue has become a central pillar of Trump&#8217;s healthcare agenda. Shortly after returning to office, Trump signed an executive order directing federal agencies to strengthen enforcement of existing transparency rules and require hospitals and insurers to disclose actual prices rather than estimates.
The administration and supporters argue that transparent pricing injects market competition into a healthcare system where consumers often have little idea what services cost until after treatment.
&#8220;President Trump&#8217;s position on &#8216;maximum&#8217; price transparency is clear: Hospitals must post upfront, actionable prices or face significant fines,&#8221; Cynthia Fisher, founder and chairman of <a href="http://patientrightsadvocate.org/">PatientRightsAdvocate.org</a>, said in a statement to The Daily Wire. &#8220;Today&#8217;s action by Secretary Kennedy and Administrator Oz is a huge win for America&#8217;s patients and a strong warning to hospitals and insurers who have put profits over patients for far too long.&#8221;
Andrew Bremberg, who served as director of the Domestic Policy Council during Trump&#8217;s first administration, said the enforcement effort demonstrates the White House is moving beyond rhetoric and beginning to hold providers accountable.
&#8220;President Trump is doing what his predecessor failed to do and holding hospitals accountable,&#8221; Bremberg exclusively told The Daily Wire. &#8220;The Trump Administration has made maximum price transparency a pillar of their healthcare agenda and by beginning enforcement actions against hospitals, they are putting their policy in action and taking a giant step toward achieving a more affordable healthcare system that puts the American people ahead of hospitals and insurance companies.&#8221;
Bremberg added that transparency has become &#8220;a central focus&#8221; of the administration&#8217;s healthcare efforts and that stronger oversight is intended to ensure patients receive the pricing information they need to make informed decisions.
Advocates argue the stakes extend far beyond politics. More than 100 million Americans carry medical debt, while millions delay treatment because they do not know what care will cost beforehand.
&#8220;This is a major milestone for the MAHA movement,&#8221; said Ilaria Wheeler, director of research for PatientRightsAdvocate.org. &#8220;Price transparency isn&#8217;t a Republican or Democratic issue — it&#8217;s a patient issue.&#8221;
&#8220;By holding hospitals accountable and enforcing healthcare price transparency, President Trump and Secretary Kennedy are making healthcare honest again and giving Americans the certainty they need to seek care without fear of hidden costs or surprise bills,&#8221; Wheeler added.

President Trump Participates In Swearing-In Ceremony For Medicare and Medicaid Services Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz

Americans May Start Seeing Healthcare Costs Decline Ahead Of Midterms Thanks To Trump Move

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