The PBS News Hour on Wednesday continued to act as a get-out-the-vote movement for the Harris/Walz Democratic presidential campaign, with the second guest appearance on the program of Abdullah Hahmoud, the controversial Democratic Muslim mayor of Dearborn, Michigan. It wasn’t a challenging interview, but instead a delicate probe to see if the pick of Walz (and not the Jewish Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, who was left unmentioned) would satisfy the pro-Hamas contingent among Arab voters in Michigan. Nawaz certainly didn’t address the anti-semitism and celebration of terrorists within the mosques in Dearborn, or the disgusting signs like “Genocide Joe” that appeared in the story’s introductory montage. Anchor Amna Nawaz: ….When President Biden was the Democratic candidate, he faced intense scrutiny from many Muslim and Arab Americans in [Michigan] over his handling of the Israel-Hamas war. Some of the criticism came in the form of a protest vote, with more than 100,000 people voting uncommitted in Michigan's Democratic primary. The city of Dearborn is home to one of the largest populations of Muslim Americans in the country, many with Middle Eastern or North African roots, and its mayor, Abdullah Hammoud, joins me now. Mr. Mayor, welcome back. Thanks for being with us. So, back in January, you spoke with my colleague, Laura Barron-Lopez. You said back then that there seems to be no real difference between former President Trump and current President Biden, who was then the Democratic nominee. And back then, you refused to meet with the Biden campaign staff. The ticket has now changed. How do you view this new ticket? Would you meet with the Harris/Walz ticket today? Hammoud sounded placated. Dearborn Mayor Abdullah Hammoud (D): ….since President Biden has stepped aside and Vice President Harris has become the nominee for Democratic Party, we believe the door is cracked open, that there's now opportunity to have dialogue, for us to understand how Vice President Harris will differentiate herself from President Biden on the path for Gaza. We believe that there has to be a course-correction…. Nawaz: When you say that the door has been cracked open, is that based, as you say, just on what you have heard from her so far in the way of messaging or something else? Hammoud: We believe that there's been some good-faith measures, for example, not standing behind the war criminal Benjamin Netanyahu as he addressed Congress… After that smear, he praised Harris’s pick for VP, Tim Walz, for having “recognized the situation in Gaza is intolerable.” Instead of acting like a journalist and challenging Hammoud on his smear of Netanyahu or the left’s racially tinged rejection of PA Gov. Josh Shapiro as a VP candidate, Nawaz eagerly pressed her get-out-the-vote mission for Michigan Muslims. Nawaz: So, if there is to be a meeting of some kind, what do you specifically want to hear from Harris or Walz that would help to lock up your support and that of your community? After Hammoud called for “a permanent cease-fire" (how convenient for Hamas), Nawaz framed the left-wing issue as a potential deal-breaker for Democrats. Nawaz: Mr. Mayor, we saw that this issue of U.S. policy towards Israel, the mounting death toll of Palestinians, was enough of an animating issue for thousands of people to vote uncommitted back during the primaries. Come November, do you still think it will be an influential factor? And if people don't hear what they want to hear, will they vote for a third party? Will they stay at home? What happens? Nawaz didn't mention how segments of the Arab-American community in Dearborn were steeped in pro-Hamas hatred of Israel, as the Wall Street Journal noted. Hammoud also received a sympathetic News Hour interview in January regarding his snub of President Joe Biden over the president’s support for Israel against Hamas. This segment was brought to you in part by Consumer Cellular. A transcript is available: PBS News Hour 8/7/24 7:14:02 p.m. (ET) Amna Nawaz: Well, tonight, Paris and Walz are continuing their battleground state tour with a rally in Detroit, Michigan. When President Biden was the Democratic candidate, he faced intense scrutiny from many Muslim and Arab Americans in the state over his handling of the Israel-Hamas war. Some of the criticism came in the form of a protest vote, with more than 100,000 people voting uncommitted in Michigan's Democratic primary. The city of Dearborn is home to one of the largest populations of Muslim Americans in the country, many with Middle Eastern or North African roots. And its mayor, Abdullah Hammoud, joins me now. Mr. Mayor, welcome back. Thanks for being with us. So, back in January, you spoke with my colleague Laura Barron-Lopez. You said back then that there seems to be no real difference between former President Trump and current President Biden, who was then the Democratic nominee. And back then, you had refused to meet with the Biden campaign staff. The ticket has now changed. How do you view this new ticket? Would you meet with the Harris/Walz ticket today? Abdullah Hammoud (D), Mayor of Dearborn, Michigan: You know, as I have expressed, since President Biden has stepped aside and Vice President Harris has become the nominee for Democratic Party, we believe the door is cracked open, that there's now opportunity to have dialogue, for us to understand how Vice President Harris will differentiate herself from President Biden on the path for Gaza. We believe that there has to be a course-correction. We have seen thus far that he she has demonstrated being tough on rhetoric as it pertains to the remarks she made following your private meeting with Benjamin Netanyahu. But more than just being tough on rhetoric, we're hoping that she pairs that rhetoric with tough policy. Amna Nawaz: When you say that the door has been cracked open, is that based, as you say, just on what you have heard from her so far in the way of messaging or something else? Abdullah Hammoud: We believe that there's been some good-faith measures, for example, not standing behind the war criminal Benjamin Netanyahu as he addressed Congress, the remarks that she made following her private meeting where it was the first time in a long time that me and the community felt an individual such as the vice president humanized Palestinians, recognized the suffering and even brought forth that Palestinians deserve the right to self-determination. And then, most recently, as we have also seen with her V.P. pick with — her V.P. in Governor Walz of Minnesota, this is a governor who may be the only governor in the country who when the uncommitted vote sprung up in his state as well, he congratulated the uncommitted voters. He thanked them for participating and engaging civically. And he recognized the situation in Gaza is intolerable, that the party should be listening to them, and we should — and that we should course-correct on the issue of Gaza. Amna Nawaz: So, if there is to be a meeting of some kind, what do you specifically want to hear from Harris or Walz that would help to lock up your support and that of your community? Abdullah Hammoud: Based on the conversations I have had with many constituents and many thought leaders in this space, be they Palestinian-Americans, Arab Americans, Muslim Americans or broader anti-war pro justice Americans, the focal points are the following. We really want to anchor down on the idea of a permanent cease-fire being called for because we believe that's the only pathway to the release of all hostages and prisoners in the situation and the only way to get access to unfettered humanitarian aid into Gaza and beyond. Second, the upholding of international law. The ICC and the ICJ have now litigated this issue. We believe that this should be the shield for Vice President Harris and Governor Walz on this issue. And we think that an offensive arms embargo makes sense. We can follow the lead of the U.K. in this situation. And thirdly is a concrete timeline and table of how we get towards a just Palestinian state, because a return to the status quo was no longer not only acceptable, but also not feasible. The U.N. is saying that at the earliest it would take 15 to 20 years to clear any debris and rubble from the from the destruction that the IDF has done all over Gaza and, at minimum, two or three decades to begin the reconstruction of Gaza to give Palestinians a feeling of hope again. Amna Nawaz: Mr. Mayor, as you have seen, amid all the discontent, the frustration with the Biden administration's policy in Israel and towards Gaza, we have seen the Trump team conducting a lot of outreach in Michigan. We know his former Cabinet official Richard Grenell, for example, has been on the ground and others. Is any of that outreach working? Is there an opportunity there for the Trump/Vance ticket? Abdullah Hammoud: There is no opportunity whatsoever. They have certainly reached out to some members, but the individuals they have spoken with don't represent or speak on behalf of the community in any regard. I can tell you that nobody who I have spoken with, even some of the conservative constituents that I represent, have also expressed great disdain for the Trump/Vance ticket, because they understand what a Trump presidency represents. This is an individual who is vocal about wanting to bring back a Muslim ban in new fashion and new order. This is the president who moved the embassy to Jerusalem, who eliminated all humanitarian aid relief toward Palestinians in the budget that he passed during his time. This is somebody that recognized the annexation of the Golan Heights and the annexation of illegal settlements. This is somebody that armed Saudi Arabia that killed 30,000 people in Yemen. And so we very much understand what Trump represents as a president and that is not something anybody wants to see this November. Amna Nawaz: Mr. Mayor, we saw that this issue of U.S. policy towards Israel, the mounting death toll of Palestinians was enough of an animating issue for thousands of people to vote uncommitted back during the primaries. Come November, do you still think it will be an influential factor? And if people don't hear what they want to hear, will they vote for a third party? Will they stay at home? What happens. Abdullah Hammoud: (audio gap) I look at the primary elections that just happened this week and the primaries here in Michigan. You saw apathy. People did not turn out because they were not excited at what was at the top of the ticket. And the apathy and the feeling of dehumanization from all of the talk that has happened at the podiums from the White House has kept people at home. What inspires and draws people to come out on November is hope. People want a hopeful message. People want to see that their values and principles are represented in the candidate who wants to seek the highest office in the globe.And the issues that we care about are not issues that only people in Dearborn care forever or Arab Americans and Muslim Americans. These are issues that are popular amongst Americans from coast to coast. The majority of Americans want to see a permanent cease-fire. And so I think it prudent of the presidential candidates to listen to the new center of not only their parties, but the new center of America, that times have changed. And being very hard-line on Israel is no longer good policy. People want international law upheld. And I think it's time that we moved along with the center of the people. Amna Nawaz: That is the mayor of Dearborn, Michigan, Abdullah Hammoud, joining us tonight. Mr. Mayor, thank you. We appreciate your time. Abdullah Hammoud: Thank you.

I keynoted a banquet for conservative members of the Minnesota state legislature in March. They were demoralized — and this was already a veteran group used to serving in a state that not even Ronald Reagan could win.“He California-ed our state in one legislative session.”“How is it possible your Iowa moved so far right while we moved so far to the left?”“I don’t think we will ever recover from what has happened to our state.”These were all things I heard from people who lived through what happens when a certain kind of leftist gains power, just two hours away from my home. And I fear these are the things we’re all going to be saying four years from now if we lose the election to Kamala Harris and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz in November.But if you are among the ones who truly think masses of normies are going to knowingly accept open and unabashed Marxism in 2024 and then immediately learn some cosmic lesson, turn right around in 2028, and vote for a candidate demonstrably to the right of Donald Trump such as Ron DeSantis, then I have Western European nations with “conservative leaders” like the Tories and Emmanuel Macron to sell you.This isn’t about Trump. This is about us right now. Will it be Trump’s New York of the 1980s and ’90s, or will it be the progressive hellholes of today?That’s not how this works. That’s not how any of this works.Ask California, a state where Republicans once won seven out of 10 elections and midwifed the Reagan revolution. Today, Republicans are lucky to garner 40% statewide in any presidential election. It is gone for good, minus any kind of heaven-sent revival, and is now the chief exporter nationwide for the spirit of the age.It is far more likely the United States will go the way of California and Western Europe than go further right in response to a 2024 Republican defeat. Because it was a disruptive Trump who was the gateway to a ruthless DeSantis being elected in Florida in the first place. And nobody knows that math better than DeSantis, which is why he ran for president this cycle despite long odds against him. He said this was the election we could not afford a mulligan on the entire time he ran, so if that now means raising tens of millions of dollars for the man who beat him, then that is what he is going to do.DeSantis is setting aside pride, ego, and ambition for something more important than any of those things — the country. This is a terminal election from a worldview perspective. The differences in worldview have never been starker, and the fact that Trump is the GOP candidate makes that fact stand out all the more.I have fundamental philosophical and ethical differences with Trump. Frankly, I’m not sure how a Bible-believing Christian could not. But the differences I have with him are dwarfed by the tyranny and depravity the Harris-Walz ticket represents. This will be the most significant election in terms of conflicting worldviews that I have ever voted in, and I believe it could be the last one we vote in if the worst-case scenario currently unfolding in Orwellian England happens here.Some of you think you’re being principled by making this all about Trump. The reality is you risk being every bit as narcissistic as you claim he is. You have put Trump and your feelings for him ahead of your own self-interests and the interests of your own family and country — which is fundamentally no different than what you accuse the most grifty Trump shills of doing.Mark my words, if Harris and Walz win, you’re going to wish you had a do-over as you watch them appoint Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito’s successors.As you watch them turn this country into a rape-fugee zoo like the U.K.As you watch them mandate more poison jabs.As you watch them fund ayatollahs and more wars in which your sons and daughters will fight and die.As you watch them slaughter children nationwide as long as a pinky toe remains in the birth canal.As you watch them impose “no free speech for misinformation.”As you watch them put the Green New Deal on steroids.As you watch them poisonously race-bait the country in ways that would make Barack Obama blush.As you watch them impose San Francisco and Minneapolis on the entire country. I hope you like poop maps and child porn, because that’s what you’re going to get.This isn’t about Trump, nor is this about pining for a future that isn’t remotely guaranteed. This is about us and about us right now. Will it be Trump’s New York of the 1980s and ’90s, or will it be the progressive hellholes of today?One isn’t close to perfect but doesn’t hate you or promise to destroy you. The other is hell on earth. Choose you this day whom ye will serve, while you still have a choice.

Christians risk falling for anything when the church fails to cultivate sharp-minded disciples. Many lack a well-honed "bologna detector" that can discern truth from error, fact from conspiracy, and biblical ideas from mere human opinions. This describes a significant portion of American Christianity right now, evident every day on social media as Christians share the latest conspiracies or claim to see biblical prophecies unfolding. After the recent assassination attempt on Donald Trump, many such claims spread like wildfire online. Some linked Trump’s bloody right ear to Leviticus 8:23, which mentions blood on the right lobe of Aaron the priest. Others referred to the time of the shooting — 6:11 pm — to Ephesians 6:11, “Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.” This isn't a new phenomenon. In the 1970s and 1980s, Christians warned that barcodes used for commerce were the "marks of the beast" as described in Revelation 13:16-18. Many still believe microchips and other technologies are potential "marks." These claims and interpretations are not only incorrect but also make Christians appear unserious.But why are Christians vulnerable to believing these ideas? How did we get here?The church's witness and effectiveness hinge on our ability to think deeply, engage rigorously with scripture, and equip believers to stand firm in a world awash with deception. For the better part of 2,000 years, Christianity grounded its identity on truth claims. Theologians and pastors labored to present the truth of God, as revealed in scripture, in a coherent, rational, and consistent form. Creeds, confessions, and catechisms emerged throughout Christian history as believers passed the principles of the faith to the next generation. Christianity wasn’t based on feelings. It proclaimed truth. It offered a comprehensive worldview on God, creation, humanity, sin, redemption, ethics, vocation, family, marriage, sexuality, and more. This is why Jude 3 says, “Contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints.” There is a faith — with principles, precepts, and claims — that embodies the heart of Christianity. It is a faith delivered as a coherent whole. Christians well-versed in the truth claims of the faith were marked by wisdom and discernment. Mature believers knew what they believed and could articulate their faith and defend it. They knew how to weigh claims and test them against the scriptures. This is why the apostle Paul exhorts Christians to be transformed by the renewing of their minds so they can discern God’s will in various situations (Romans 12:2). He also says, “We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God” (2 Corinthians 10:5). Many Christians cannot do this today because Christianity in America shifted from a head religion to a heart religion. This shift in American Christianity began during the Enlightenment period. As scientific advances occurred and philosophers spoke openly against Christianity, many Christians retreated from the intellectual arena. Revivalist pastors led movements that stirred emotions but neglected the intellect. Churches seeking to fulfill the great commandment (Matthew 22:36-40) to love God with all their heart, soul, and mind forgot the last one. Feelings and experiences dominated American Christianity as biblical illiteracy spread. At a time when American culture is more ungodly and opposed to truth, the church is less equipped to deal with it than ever before. Many churches teach their people the basic gospel message of Jesus' death and resurrection and the forgiveness of sins found in trusting Christ alone. However, they have not equipped them to face the challenges meeting them in the world. This intellectual deficiency has left Christians susceptible to superficial interpretations and sensationalist claims, undermining their credibility in society. The loss of intellectual rigor is not isolated to the church alone. The education system in America, particularly in higher education, refuses to make students participate in critical thinking skills. Diversity of thought has disappeared. The cultural shift in America promotes fragility and emotional reasoning over critical thinking. Discipleship has to include knowing how to properly read the Bible, interpret passages, understand theology, and discern how ideas in the world stack up against God’s revealed will. Most churches are no different. They stir emotional responses to Jesus while neglecting the theological depth that would strengthen the faith and discernment of her members. An example of this phenomenon is the popularity of Christian music. Many believers today are formed in their faith more by Christian radio than by biblical teaching and theology. Most prefer a music playlist to a book. They listen to feel-good, uplifting Christian songs that have strong melodies and catchy choruses but lack any substantive theology. The result is most Christians tend to have a theology as shallow as the music they listen to. My worship pastor received an invite to join one of the major Christian labels in Nashville for a writing session. He told me after the session that he got his Bible out to help direct lyrics and ideas. One of the longtime songwriters commented, “Wow. You’re the first person to get your Bible out during a write.” That is the state of American Christianity. It pains me to say these things. I love the church. Like the famous English pastor Charles Spurgeon, I believe the local church is the hope of the world. But the church will never be that hope until she returns to a robust commitment to loving God with all her mind. The church must return to the formation of the intellect. Discipleship has to include knowing how to properly read the Bible, interpret passages, understand theology, and discern how ideas in the world stack up against God’s revealed will. We need a revival of intellectual engagement in the church. Church leaders must advocate for disciplined study, logical reasoning, and deeper understanding of Christian doctrine and philosophy. This can be done by incorporating use of creeds, confessions, and catechisms back into our worship gatherings and discipleship efforts. If we fail to do this, Christians will be seen as emotional conspiracy theorists with empty heads. The church's witness and effectiveness hinge on our ability to think deeply, engage rigorously with scripture, and equip believers to stand firm in a world awash with deception.

I’ve spent a lot of 2024 going to bat for Prince of Persia The Lost Crown. Ubisoft brought back one of its best IPs at the start of this year to almost no fanfare, and that’s a massive shame. The Lost Crown is a truly inventive Metroidvania with a plethora of free updates since launch, and it finally came to Steam earlier this month. The launch was met with a ‘mixed’ reception from barely 250 user reviews, and this is nothing short of a travesty. The game’s price has already dropped and it even has a 40% off sale, so now’s the perfect time to give it a try. Continue reading This year’s Prince of Persia Metroidvania is 40% off, and essential MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Prince of Persia The Lost Crown system requirements, Prince of Persia The Lost Crown review, Best single-player games

Call of Duty Black Ops 6 is bringing major changes and new additions to the series staple Zombies mode, from being able to save and quit mid-match to the inclusion of Max Payne-style ‘omnimovement’. To compliment the unique and equally grotesque zombie designs, it’s been revealed that Black Ops 6 Zombies will feature gruesome death animations for the first time as well. Continue reading Black Ops 6 Zombies is upping the gore in one truly gruesome way MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Black Ops 6 release date, Best FPS games, New Warzone season

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