Washington Post associate editor and PBS News Hour talking head Jonathan Capehart was triggered on Friday when the American Enterprise Institute’s Danielle Pletka argued that President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris’s record on Russia isn’t the greatest. While he found Pletka’s arguments to be “incredibly insulting,” he never actually debunked them. Host Geoff Bennett began by asking Pletka what has to happen to get Donald Trump to view Ukraine’s success as something that is in the U.S.’s best interest. Pletka responded by putting the question to the side and highlighted several ways the White House hasn’t helped. First she recalled President Zelenskyy’s recent trip to a Pennsylvania munitions factory, “I think he was manipulated, and I think he was manipulated cynically by the White House.”     She defended Zelenskyy going to the factory, but criticized the optics of having Democratic politicians join him, “Now, that wasn't organized by the Ukrainian Embassy. It was organized by the White House. I think Zelenskyy fell into that. I think he exacerbated that problem when he went and gave an interview to a house organ of the Democratic Party, the New Yorker, and made, frankly, let's say, unwise comments.” Despite the differences between Trump and Zelenskyy, Pletka praised both men for being willing to meet with each other. Circling back to Bennett’s original question, Pletka replied, “I think that's really important to understand, because the one thing I haven't seen since this invasion happened is Joe Biden and Kamala Harris stand up and show the necessary bipartisan leadership to sell this to the American people. So what is it going to take? I come back to your original question. It takes leadership. It takes effort. It takes the bully pulpit. People need to be persuaded.” Bennett then tried to defend Biden, “Democrats would make the point that Joe Biden has shown that leadership and that the reason that there is a Western alliance that has been unified in supporting Ukraine is because of that leadership.”     Pletka agreed Democrats “would make that argument,” but rebutted that they are wrong and such assertions would be surprising to the Ukrainians themselves, “Ukrainians will tell you, as will the Republicans on Capitol Hill and most Democrats, that the Biden administration has been a day late and a dollar short in every single weapons transfer to the Ukrainians.” After providing several examples, she added, “Helping people when they're losing is not the best plan. Helping them when they can win is the right plan. That's what I call leadership, not just going and schmoozing at NATO.” Bennett acknowledged the truth behind Pletka’s claims as he turned to Capehart, “What about that, Jonathan? And this is really a bipartisan criticism that the Biden administration, when it comes to giving Ukraine aid, when it comes to giving them the missiles that they have asked for, that the Biden administration has been too slow to get to yes.” He elaborated, “And now the question is, will the West, will the U.S. give Ukraine the authority to shoot Western weapons deeper into Russia? The administration might get to yes on that question too, but at the moment it has taken them weeks and weeks and weeks to get there.” Not having the amenable David Brooks around must have been shocking because Capehart was not happy, “Sorry, I'm just trying to recover from the hurricane of platitudes there.” Capehart then launched into his own platitudes about “we don't want this to flare up into a situation where the United States and the NATO countries are going to have to go to war with Russia” and “They're the ones who pulled together the coalition that has helped Ukraine last in a war that everyone thought would be over in a week.” As for Pletka’s take on Zelenskyy’s trip to Pennsylvania, Capehart declared, “the idea that a wartime president like Zelenskyy could be manipulated by anyone, I think, is unbelievably insulting.” For liberals like Capehart, it is simply taken for granted that Biden is a Churchillian figure standing up to the forces of evil abroad and appeasement at home, but Pletka is right: he has always been one step behind, much to Ukraine’s distress. Here is a transcript for the September 27 show: PBS News Hour 9/28/2024 7:43 PM ET DANIELLE PLETKA: But I want to talk a little bit about Zelenskyy for a second, because I think he was manipulated, and I think he was manipulated cynically by the White House. The trip to Pennsylvania that he was going to do, which was one of many trips that he, the ambassador, Ukrainian leadership, do to thank the American people and the people in factories — I agree totally with, Jonathan, this is a really appropriate thing to do — had none of the senators — Democratic senators on the trip, on the original manifest, had a short meeting with Governor Josh Shapiro to sign a sister city agreement and otherwise was not a political setup, and ended up looking like a campaign visit. Now, that wasn't organized by the Ukrainian Embassy. It was organized by the White House. I think Zelenskyy fell into that. I think he exacerbated that problem when he went and gave an interview to a house organ of the Democratic Party, the New Yorker and made, frankly, let's say, unwise comments. I happen to agree with some of them, but unwise comments about JD Vance. But they created this firestorm. And, actually, I give a lot of credit not just to him in reaching out to Donald Trump to try to fix this, but Donald Trump being gracious and accepting that outreach immediately. So I think that's really important to understand, because the one thing I haven't seen since this invasion happened is Joe Biden and Kamala Harris stand up and show the necessary bipartisan leadership to sell this to the American people. So what is it going to take? I come back to your original question. It takes leadership. It takes effort. It takes the bully pulpit. People need to be persuaded. (Crosstalk) PLETKA: Go ahead. GEOFF BENNETT: Democrats would make the point that Joe Biden has shown that leadership and that the reason that there is a Western alliance that has been unified in supporting Ukraine is because of that leadership. PLETKA: Democrats would make that argument. And Ukrainians will tell you, as will the Republicans on Capitol Hill and most Democrats, that the Biden administration has been a day late and a dollar short in every single weapons transfer to the Ukrainians. When they need HIMARS, HIMARS come a year later. When they need aircraft, aircraft come a year later. When they need ATACMS, they come a year later. When they need to reach into Russia to hit targets where Russians are staging against them and the Biden administration won't let them do it, they finally grudgingly allow them to in the last month. You know, helping people when they're losing is not the best plan. Helping them when they can win is the right plan. That's what I call leadership, not just going and schmoozing at NATO. BENNETT: What about that, Jonathan? And this is really a bipartisan criticism that the Biden administration, when it comes to giving Ukraine aid, when it comes to giving them the missiles that they have asked for, that the Biden administration has been too slow to get to yes. And now the question is, will the West, will the U.S. give Ukraine the authority to shoot Western weapons deeper into Russia? The administration might get to yes on that question too, but at the moment it has taken them weeks and weeks and weeks to get there. JONATHAN CAPEHART: Sorry, I'm just trying to recover from the hurricane of platitudes there. Listen, Geoff. And we can't just be simplistic about this. The hesitation of President Biden here in Russia's war on Ukraine is thinking that, you know what, we don't want this to flare up into a situation where the United States and the NATO countries are going to have to go to war with Russia. I appreciate and applaud the president's reticence and deliberation in helping the Ukrainians, in helping President Zelenskyy. And I'm glad you brought up the major point. The president and the Biden-Harris administration haven't been doing nothing. They're the ones who pulled together the coalition that has helped Ukraine last in a war that everyone thought would be over in a week. And the idea that a wartime president like Zelenskyy could be manipulated by anyone, I think, is unbelievably insulting.

“Four out of 10 Americans believe we are living in the end times,” says Glenn Beck, adding that he’s “one of those four.” Considering the growing globalist agenda, the endless warring, the focus on Israel, and the fact that debauchery of every kind has become commonplace, it’s not surprising that so many believe we’re nearing the end. Glenn invited best-selling author and pastor Max Lucado onto “The Glenn Beck Podcast” to discuss how Christians can prepare for what Lucado calls “the fourth quarter.” Lucado, who says he’s “never tackled this topic” before, just published a book in August called “What Happens Next: A Traveler’s Guide Through the End of This Age.” He gives “two big reasons” for venturing into a subject he’s otherwise avoided. “Number one, I’m getting old. … And then number two, not only am I curious about the future, I'm really concerned about the present. These are really severe times in which we find ourselves,” he tells Glenn. “It's going to get crazy before the end, but we're getting close to the end.” “What are the signs that you say we should be looking for?” asks Glenn. According to Lucado, the most important sign — “the super sign,” he calls it — is “the regathering of the children of Israel to the land of Israel,” which already happened in May 1948. The second sign of encroaching end times is that Israel will be “surrounded and circled by its enemies.” “That's a part of the news every day,” says Lucado. Another sign is “wars and rumors of war,” says Glenn, adding that “[America is] in the rumor of war right now.” According to the teachings of Jesus, says Lucado, more end times signs include “economic turmoil,” “seismic activity,” “persecution of Christians,” “political conflict,” “famines, pestilences, pandemics, ethnic conflicts, false prophets,” and “fearful signs.” “When you compile all of those signs, it sounds like the daily news,” says Lucado. “Except for the super sign [the restoration of Israel’s homeland], haven't we had those same signs before?” asks Glenn. Indeed we have. Glenn points to Nazi Germany as an example. However, according to Lucado, the fact that the super sign has already come to pass gives a heightened meaning to the other signs we’re currently watching unfold. “I do not know the hour, but I do think all of these signs are increasing in intensity and frequency,” he says and points to the scripture that calls these signs “labor pains” that warn of what is to come. “We've never seen Israel surrounded and threatened in such a fashion like this,” says Lucado. “We haven’t seen this kind of evil,” adds Glenn, pointing to the re-emergence of “really old pagan rituals” and “the sacrifice of our children” as examples of the depravity. Lucado also points to the gender confusion that’s become a defining issue of our time. “22% of teenagers in 2021 literally considered orchestrating their own departures — committing suicide,” he says. “These are tragic times in which we live, and I cannot help to think that a large reason is that people don't know what's about to happen.” To hear more of the conversation, watch the episode above. Want more from Glenn Beck?To enjoy more of Glenn’s masterful storytelling, thought-provoking analysis, and uncanny ability to make sense of the chaos, subscribe to BlazeTV — the largest multi-platform network of voices who love America, defend the Constitution, and live the American dream.

India is failing its women. An average of 90 rapes a day are reported in the country, a horrifying statistic that translates to almost four rapes every hour. And it's likely that the real numbers are far higher, as social stigma and mistrust of the legal system keep many rape victims from speaking out. This isn't woke hyperbole. The violence against women in India is systematic. It’s entrenched in its social fabric, perpetuated by institutions that protect the powerful while leaving victims helpless. In March, the gang rape of a Brazilian-Spanish tourist in the eastern state of Jharkhand sparked widespread outrage, yet again exposing how unsafe women are in India, even foreign visitors. The 28-year-old woman and her husband had paused for the night in the Dumki district during a months-long motorcycle tour through Asia. They thought they were stopping for some much-needed rest. Instead, they found horror, their lives forever changed. Shattered lives This tragic event is not an anomaly but part of a broader pattern of violence that women, both Indian and foreign, face within the country. Just recently, in the eastern state of Odisha, a woman was sexually assaulted by a group of cops — within the supposed sanctuary of a police station. When those sworn to uphold the law become the very perpetrators of unimaginable violence, it shows just how bad things are. The recent rape and murder of a trainee doctor at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata only deepens this shocking narrative. After a grueling 36-hour shift, the young woman went to a seminar room to take a nap. Her naked, brutalized body was found the following morning. Incredibly, college authorities initially judged her death a suicide; an autopsy soon revealed she had been raped and murdered. Once again, those responsible attempted to cover up the crime, protecting the institution rather than the victim. A familiar story In India, an incredibly corrupt country, it’s a tale all too familiar. Authorities attempt to obscure the truth, protect reputations, and downplay violence. When a crime as heinous as rape happens, the system scrambles — not to provide justice but to deny the scale of the problem. It’s a symptom of a deeply ingrained societal sickness in which women are conditioned to remain silent and institutions are designed to bury the evidence. Despite India’s image as a rapidly modernizing democracy, a primitive mindset prevails. To those who might dismiss this as narrow-minded xenophobia, consider that this is a nation where the caste system not only exists but reigns supreme. The lowest tier — the "untouchables" — experiences systemic discrimination and ostracism. In India, cows are treated with far more respect than these people. It doesn’t get much more primitive than that. Even in metropolitan cities, where progress is supposed to be the hallmark of modernity, women face the constant threat of harassment, assault, and abuse. The laws exist on paper, but in practice, justice is a distant dream for many victims. What is shocking isn't just the violence but the scale at which society tolerates it. In the West, feminist discourse finds itself detached from real danger, focusing on microaggressions and perceived slights. But in India, the threat to women from men is real. It manifests in blood, broken bones, and brutalized bodies. Exporting evil? This isn't just about local tragedies. Violence of this magnitude doesn't exist in a vacuum. Thanks to a steady flow of immigration, particularly to the U.K., Indians have remained at roughly 8% of the EU's total population over the last few decades. Britain has long struggled with Muslim gangs. However, a lesser-known but equally troubling problem has emerged with young Hindu thugs roaming the streets, contributing to growing unrest. These groups, often fueled by religious and ethnic tensions, have caused chaos in cities like Leicester and Birmingham. The rise of Hindu gangs underscores the deepening divisions and lawlessness in certain parts of England, Wales, and Scotland. Across the Atlantic, Canada has seen a massive rise in Indian immigrants, with numbers skyrocketing from 32,828 in 2013 to 139,715 in 2023, an increase of 326%. As more Indians migrate, the troubling patterns of violence against women appear to follow. Consider the case of Gurpreet Singh Gill, an Indian immigrant in his 40s who sexually assaulted a passenger in his taxi. His plea for leniency in a Canadian Federal Court highlighted the potential collateral damage to his family — his wife could lose their home, his daughter might have to leave private school and stop her dance lessons, and his son had been born just days before his crime. Yet in his rather embarrassing appeal for mercy, as noted in this report, Gill neglected to acknowledge the real victim: the intoxicated young woman he violated in the back of his cab. Then there’s the Indian Canadian who lured a young student to a Toronto hotel room and sexually assaulted her. In July, an Indian man was arrested following a mass groping incident at a water park in Moncton, New Brunswick. Alarmingly, as Indian immigration to Canada rises, recent reports show an increasing trend of Indian migrants illegally crossing into the U.S., favoring this route over the more-discussed southern border. This migration, driven by hopes of better opportunities and laughable deportation laws, brings with it a troubling danger — a pattern of barbaric behavior that is becoming harder to ignore.

Dedicated Atlus fans were exhilarated when the upcoming Metaphor: ReFantazio was announced as getting a lengthy free demo on Steam. For PC players, ReFantazio is one of the most highly anticipated games of the year, coming straight from the minds of the Persona series. However, since the free demo hit Steam, there have been more than a few issues with performance, leading the developers at Studio Zero to recognize the problems and promise to solve them quickly. Continue reading Atlus “actively working” to improve the Metaphor Refantazio Steam demo MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Metaphor Refantazio release date, Best RPG games, Best JRPGs

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