“I was at a dinner party recently, and one of the guests exclaimed, ‘I’d rather be single and die alone than marry a Republican!’”   That’s what director Raymond O. Caldwell wrote in the official program for what some reviewers call Folger Shakespeare Library’s “partisan” take on the Bard’s classic tragedy “Romeo and Juliet.”   In Caldwell’s version of the play, as noted in reviews by The Washington Post and MD Theatre Guide, Democrats and Republicans face off in modern-day Washington.   In fact, in this adaptation in the nation’s capital, Juliet’s mother is Hispanic (Puerto Rican) and her father is white; her family wears red-hued costumes (apparently representing the Trumps or Republicans). Romeo and his family are black, for the most part, and they wear shades of blue (apparently representing Kamala Harris or Democrats).   The cast also changes the sexes of some of Shakespeare’s well-known characters in the play, including Mercutio, Romeo’s close friend, and Tybalt, the offspring of Lady Capulet’s brother. Giovanna Alcântara Drummond as Mercutio, left, gets the better of Alina Collins Maldonado as Tybalt, Lady Capulet’s niece, in “Romeo and Juliet.” (Erika Nizborski/Folger Shakespeare Library) The director calls the nation’s capital a highly politicized city and the right setting for a variety of reasons.   “I chose Washington, D.C., as a setting because it’s a deeply political city, and sometimes we don’t really think about the way politics play out on the bodies of young people,” Caldwell said in an interview with Folger Shakespeare Library. Audiences for this “Romeo and Juliet” were confronted throughout with interwoven themes of modern political rivalry. Some were thrilled with this particular modernization of one of Shakespeare’s most enduring plays, but others were discontented with the messaging, judging by interviews conducted by The Daily Signal on several days this month.  “It seemed to me, as a viewer, like their goal might have been to reinforce the stereotypes that we have of Republicans, especially seeing as Juliet’s dad, the way he was portrayed as this abusive, white, heterosexual man,” college student Ashley DeVore told The Daily Signal.   “They were just kind of trying to reinforce all the negative stereotypes that people have of Republicans,” DeVore said. “So, I think that was a kind of a cheap shot at, specifically, men who are conservative.”   Another college student, Larisa Perez, echoing such sentiments, pointed out that the actor playing Juliet’s father used a southern accent. The stagers of the play were trying to paint that character in particular as a racist, she said.  “Of course, he was a white male. Of course, being depicted as like a pseudo-Trump,” Perez told The Daily Signal. “And then, he was portrayed in the play as hitting his wife. Like a wife beater, essentially.”  “So I thought that was, like, a completely unfair and inappropriate categorization of Trump,” she said. “… Now, I’m not sure 100% if that was the case, but this symbol seemed to imply that it was.”   Others disagreed, saying that Caldwell’s production for Folger Shakespeare Library wasn’t biased or divisive.   “I felt like it was very tastefully done and not in a politically divisive way,” one 26-year-old woman, who requested anonymity, told The Daily Signal.   Some members of the audience said the play’s deep themes were difficult to process in this adaptation.   “I thought maybe it was a little heavy-handed … the messaging,” said Margaret, an audience member in her 30s who didn’t want to give her last name and said she had not seen a production of “Romeo and Juliet” before. “It was an interesting theme to pick out for sure.”   A mother of teenagers, who also said she wanted to remain anonymous, said she appreciated that the play involved socio-political issues that confront young people today.     “They completely modernized it, and so you saw that within the play,” she said. “You saw the underlying issues that teens and … young adults have to deal with and struggle with.”   Actors interviewed said their own personal and political beliefs didn’t affect how they portrayed their characters.   “It has nothing to do with what I believe,” Gabriel Alejandro, who played Count Paris, one of Juliet’s suitors, said. “It’s like what my character is, their affiliation, their beliefs—that’s what I’m showing on stage. It doesn’t matter what’s happening outside.”   Luz Nicolas, who played the Nurse, told The Daily Signal that, after the Nov. 5 election, many in the cast and crew were feeling “sensitive.”  “The first show after Election Day was very sensitive, you know, to be on the stage and celebrate life and theater and art,” Nicolas said Nov. 6.   “It was sensitive today,” she added. “I think all the moments at the end of the show—the family’s confrontation after Romeo and Juliet are found dead—it was … a lot to take in.”   Lady Capulet (Fran Tapia) and Lord Capulet (Todd Scofield) react to the death of Tybalt (Alina Collins Maldonado) in “Romeo and Juliet.” (Erika Nizborski/Folger Shakespeare Library) The play, which opened Oct. 1, ran until Nov. 10.   Caldwell and other members of the production’s creative team didn’t reply to The Daily Signal’s requests for comment by publication time. A spokesperson for Folger Shakespeare Library, however, replied to a request for comment. “Shakespeare’s plays are excellent vehicles for understanding and reflecting on the nuances of our lived experiences, and he explored the attachment humans have to tribalism in ‘Romeo and Juliet,’ including the tragic impact on young people and their blossoming love,” the spokesperson said Monday. “In this production, the characters were not exact representations of real political leaders, but they showed the dire effects that these political divisions, the corresponding violent rhetoric, and isolationism can have on today’s youth.” Modern adaptations of Shakespeare can work well, Matthew Spalding, dean of Hillsdale College’s Van Andel Graduate School of Government in the nation’s capital, told The Daily Signal in an email.  But, Spalding added, to “make Romeo and Juliet a war between the families of Donald Trump and Kamala Harris was silly.”  The Hillsdale scholar also had an issue with the use of Elvis Presley’s “I Can’t Help Falling in Love.”  “To play an Elvis song at the last scene, at the height of the tragedy, was absurd,” Spalding said. “But the production was true to the original text, and it is simply impossible for any adaptive production to overcome the absolute beauty and emotional power of Shakespeare’s words. That is the lesson here.”  The post Shakespeare’s ‘Romeo and Juliet’ Revamped: A Political Twist Sparks Heated Debate Among Audiences  appeared first on The Daily Signal.

Four friends recreated a nostalgic vacation photo from 50 years ago, bringing back cherished memories and showcasing the enduring bond they've shared. The heartwarming moment captures both the passage of time and the timeless joy of their friendship.

Patrick Bet-David may have just released his most important and powerful interview ever…. This one was an absolute rollercoaster in so many ways. It begins with Bet-David basically reading a disclaimer on what you’re about to watch in the interview, and I almost feel I need to give a similar disclaimer here. This woman, Anneke Lucas, who claims to be a sex trafficking survivor, absolutely drops a bunch of bombshells including naming the David Rockefeller and the Rothschilds as running a worldwide sex trafficking network and specifically those men of sex trafficking and abusing her.  Those are her allegations. But then Bet-David does what only he can do….he presses her on some details, like why she claims she didn’t recognize David Rockefeller until decades later, she claims she had no idea who he was.  He was just “David” despite living in New York City and David Rockefeller being quite well known (have you heard of Rockefeller Center?). Things become contentious. Then Anneke says there is a living H0llywood starlet who was in the ring (actually she says many were) but she specifically starts talking about one who is still alive and extremely well known. Bet-David asks here why she won’t name her and asks if it’s because she’s still alive. Things get VERY tense. At several points, she seems to side with her abusers, which is well known as Stockholm Syndrome, but things get awkward again when Bet-David pushes her on it. It’s a complete rollercoaster of an interview, and I’d love to hear what you think. Do you trust her? Is she going to blow the lid off this whole worldwide network? Why won’t she name more?  Do more?  Should she?  These are all questions Bet-David presses her on. Could this evil cabal finally be brought down through exposure? Could she lead the way? They FALL in Fall? A January of Justice? These are all things we’ve heard. Is it starting? Bet-David brings up the hundreds of thousands of missing kids in the USA multiple times in this interview, and it’s impossible to not notice the Donald J. Trump signature on the wall behind Anneke. This one really has everything and I really want to know what you think. Watch here: You can get her book on Amazon here: FULL INTERVIEW TRANSCRIPT: Patrick Bet-David: I want to start off by saying this is a very disturbing and uncomfortable interview to watch. If you’re watching this with your kids—they’re 12, 10, 14 years old—this is not the one for them. This is 18 and above. If later on you feel comfortable as a parent to have them watch it, then do it. You’re going to see every emotion in here. There was extreme tension in certain moments—tears, laughter, tension, debate. I had to bring my booker, Tony, in because some of the accusations made needed clarification. Tony came in here because she shared some names she’s never shared before. Two of the names she mentioned were individuals she was trafficked to as a child. One of them, she claims, was a powerful billionaire, someone you know by name. She described attending Bilderberg event parties in Europe and returning with reports for this billionaire after her abusers exploited her at 9, 10, 11 years old. What that information was used for—your imagination can take it where it will. The reason I wanted to have this conversation is not because it’s a podcast people will eagerly anticipate. It’s because this is something we have to talk about. In America, there are 359,000 missing children as of 2022, according to the FBI. What more do we need to do? Sit around and not talk about it? Some might say, “It’s too disturbing.” But someone’s child is missing, and we must bring light to this. I feel it’s our responsibility. Every once in a while, I do interviews like this because I believe we have to address these things. Many of the claims she made were shocking—Prime Ministers, billionaires. She was pressed on some of these claims, and I encourage you to do your own due diligence as you listen to this. It’s not easy to talk about stories like this. It takes immense courage to come forward. While I believe in “innocent until proven guilty,” I also believe it’s essential to research and understand for yourself. If you’re someone as interested in this issue as I am, I think this interview will resonate with you. Having said that, here’s my conversation with Anneke Lucas. Patrick Bet-David: They wanted to control… everyone. Patrick Bet-David: Did you ever meet him? Anneke Lucas: Meet him? Oh, yeah. Patrick Bet-David: What was he like? Anneke Lucas: Horrendous. Patrick Bet-David: Unpack it. Anneke Lucas: He loved being behind the scenes, creating this elite sex slave who was going to make him millions. It’s a $150 billion-a-year industry. This is a global elite network. It’s not just a network of friends. There’s infighting among them, too. Patrick Bet-David: Mind control training at 9 years old? Anneke Lucas: Yeah. Patrick Bet-David: Why did they take you there? Was it politically related, business, or celebrity? Anneke Lucas: Celebrity.   Patrick Bet-David: You’ve never talked about this. Anneke Lucas: I’ve never said his name. I can’t just flop these names out. Patrick Bet-David: Is this someone we’d know? Anneke Lucas: Definitely. Patrick Bet-David: Alive or dead? Anneke Lucas: I didn’t think this was going to be the kind of conversation we’d have. Patrick Bet-David: For the audience, I want to clarify. You told Tony you wanted to name names. Anneke Lucas: No, I didn’t say that at all. Patrick Bet-David: What was your training like? Anneke Lucas: That week, I was sleeping with men and reporting on their weaknesses or sexual preferences. It was all part of their control. Patrick Bet-David: Did you ever think you would make it through? Anneke Lucas: I feel I wasn’t supposed to. I had a near-death experience. Patrick Bet-David: And you came back. Anneke Lucas: Yes. Patrick Bet-David: Your story is one of survival. Anneke Lucas: Thank you. Patrick Bet-David: Why would they need to train you for this? Anneke Lucas: He had plans for me. He wanted me to know how to behave in elite environments, to know how to eat, recognize good clothes, and be comfortable in those spaces. Patrick Bet-David: So you were being groomed for a specific role? Anneke Lucas: Exactly. He wanted to make me into an elite sex slave, famous in France. With that fame, I was meant to attract the most powerful men in the world. Patrick Bet-David: And then report back on them? Anneke Lucas: Yes. It was all part of his plan. Patrick Bet-David: Did you ever rebel? Anneke Lucas: Yes. After I rebelled, I was immediately tortured, thrown in a cage, and retrained for days. It was brutal. Patrick Bet-David: Who was involved in that? Anneke Lucas: Hans Harmsen was there. He was in charge of the mind control training.   Patrick Bet-David: Who was Hans Harmsen? Anneke Lucas: He was a bureaucrat in Nazi Germany, responsible for forced sterilizations and eugenics experiments. He later became a key figure in my mind control training, a part of David Rockefeller’s special project. Patrick Bet-David: How did you meet David Rockefeller? Anneke Lucas: I didn’t know it was him at the time. I only realized it later when I saw his face in 2017, the year he died. Patrick Bet-David: So you didn’t know who he was until decades later? Anneke Lucas: Exactly. I knew him as David. They never used his full name around me. Patrick Bet-David: What was he like? Anneke Lucas: He was a pedophile. There are many survivors who were abused by him. He had this excitement when he was around children. It’s like he was trying to revive something dead inside himself. Patrick Bet-David: Where did this training take place? Anneke Lucas: In several of his estates—Westchester, New York City, and Maine. I was taken to a Rothschild property at one point as well. Rockefeller sought their permission to proceed with his plans for me. Patrick Bet-David: What kind of plans? Anneke Lucas: He wanted to create an elite sex slave who could infiltrate powerful circles and report back to him. Patrick Bet-David: Why would someone like him, with all his wealth, do that? Anneke Lucas: He was driven by his perversions and a desire for control. It wasn’t about money; it was about power. Patrick Bet-David: What about the people around him—his staff? Anneke Lucas: They acted like everything was normal, even when they saw me in bed with him. They treated me very nicely, as if nothing was wrong. Patrick Bet-David: And they never questioned it? Anneke Lucas: No. They were either controlled themselves or carefully selected for their loyalty. Patrick Bet-David: You mentioned you were taken to Germany. What happened there? Anneke Lucas: I was sent to a facility in Heidelberg for mind control training. It was precise and scientific, designed to create a high-functioning tool for their purposes. Patrick Bet-David: What kind of training? Anneke Lucas: It was based on torture. They’d strangle me until I fainted, forcing my intuition to sharpen. They wanted me to predict people’s behaviors and weaknesses without reasoning. Patrick Bet-David: Who orchestrated this? Anneke Lucas: David Rockefeller and Hans Harmsen. I was one of Rockefeller’s special projects.   Patrick Bet-David: When you came across Hans Harmsen’s photo later in life, what happened? Anneke Lucas: It triggered a programmed reaction. His face was tied to my memories of being strangled and tortured. I had to work through years of healing, meditation, and yoga to undo the physical and emotional trauma tied to his image. Patrick Bet-David: What about the training itself? Anneke Lucas: It was all about dissociation. Trauma splits the mind, creating separate parts or “alters” that could be programmed to perform specific tasks. They used my trauma to control me and make me compliant. Patrick Bet-David: You mentioned being trafficked internationally. What was your experience in the U.S.? Anneke Lucas: In the summer of 1972, I spent a month being trafficked in the United States by a powerful billionaire. He trained me in his homes in Westchester, New York City, and Maine, preparing me for life among the elite. Patrick Bet-David: Was this training purely about social etiquette? Anneke Lucas: No, it included sexual training as well. He wanted me to be comfortable in elite environments while also serving his perverse needs. Patrick Bet-David: Did you interact with others in his circle? Anneke Lucas: Yes. I was taken to meet a Rothschild on an island in the northeastern U.S. The billionaire sought their approval for the plans he had for me. Patrick Bet-David: What plans? Anneke Lucas: He wanted to create an elite sex slave who could become famous, infiltrate powerful circles, and gather information for him. Patrick Bet-David: You mentioned rituals. What were they? Anneke Lucas: These were satanic rituals, staged to demonstrate loyalty to their network. They were horrific. Patrick Bet-David: You said you eventually rebelled. What happened then? Anneke Lucas: After I rebelled, I was tortured and thrown into a dungeon for several days. They tried to retrain me through brutal methods, but ultimately, I was rejected from their inner circle. Patrick Bet-David: Who tortured you? Anneke Lucas: Hans Harmsen was directly involved. David Rockefeller was there for parts of it, verbally demeaning me and reinforcing my “worthlessness.” Patrick Bet-David: How did you escape this life? Anneke Lucas: A year later, I was rescued by a gangster who took an interest in me. However, that relationship was extremely violent. Eventually, I had a near-death experience, which marked a turning point. Patrick Bet-David: What was the near-death experience like? Anneke Lucas: It was beautiful and transformative. I felt an overwhelming sense of love and connection to the divine. It gave me the strength to survive and eventually heal.   Patrick Bet-David: After the near-death experience, how did your healing process begin? Anneke Lucas: It was a long journey. I’ve spent over 30 years healing from the abuse. I’ve worked through the trauma, learned to understand the dynamics of power and control, and developed methods to help others who’ve been through similar experiences. Patrick Bet-David: Did you ever reconnect with your mother? Anneke Lucas: I forgave her before she died. I called her to tell her I forgave her, but we didn’t reconnect deeply. She never changed, and the reality of who she was became clear to me as I healed. Patrick Bet-David: What about your stepfather? Anneke Lucas: He turned a blind eye to everything. I tried to tell him about the abuse, but he didn’t believe me. Patrick Bet-David: How did your mother justify the bruises and signs of abuse? Anneke Lucas: She made up stories, like saying I was a tomboy who climbed trees, even though I wasn’t. She would do anything to cover up the truth. Patrick Bet-David: You mentioned being emotionally attached to some of your abusers. How do you explain that? Anneke Lucas: It’s difficult to understand, but as a child, you crave love and connection, even from those who harm you. Some of the perpetrators saw qualities in me—intelligence, beauty—that my mother never acknowledged. That validation created an emotional attachment, twisted as it was. Patrick Bet-David: Did you ever feel safer in the network than with your mother? Anneke Lucas: At times, yes. The network was horrific, but the constant projection of my mother’s sadism and her complete disregard for me as a person were incredibly hard to live with. Patrick Bet-David: You mentioned being trafficked in Germany. What was your role there? Anneke Lucas: I was taken to a facility in Heidelberg for mind control training. The training involved torture and psychological manipulation to create a high-functioning tool for their purposes. Patrick Bet-David: What was the training like? Anneke Lucas: It was precise and calculated. They’d use techniques like strangling me until I fainted, forcing my intuition to sharpen. It was both punishment and conditioning. Patrick Bet-David: Did you encounter other survivors from this program? Anneke Lucas: Yes, I’ve met other survivors who went through similar experiences under David Rockefeller and Hans Harmsen. Patrick Bet-David: What do you think kept you alive? Anneke Lucas: I believe there was a spiritual presence with me, even in the darkest moments. That presence, along with the insights I gained during my near-death experience, helped me survive and heal. Patrick Bet-David: Do you believe in justice for the perpetrators? Anneke Lucas: I trust in spiritual justice more than earthly justice. Many of these individuals died without being held accountable, but I believe their actions will have consequences beyond this life. Patrick Bet-David: You’ve spoken about division and control. What role do you think the network plays in that? Anneke Lucas: The network thrives on division and manipulation. They use media, social issues, and power dynamics to keep people distracted and fighting each other, so they don’t look at the real source of control.   Patrick Bet-David: You mentioned rituals. What purpose do these rituals serve in the network? Anneke Lucas: The rituals are meant to solidify loyalty to the network and to Satan. They involve acts of extreme violence and depravity, designed to break individuals and bind them to the network’s control. Patrick Bet-David: What happens to those who refuse to participate? Anneke Lucas: They’re often eliminated or ostracized. It’s a system of absolute control, and rebellion is not tolerated. Patrick Bet-David: You’ve said the network includes powerful figures—Prime Ministers, billionaires, and others. How does this network stay hidden? Anneke Lucas: They control media and public perception. They use their resources to craft and protect their images while silencing those who try to expose them. Patrick Bet-David: Do you believe this network still exists today? Anneke Lucas: Absolutely. Nothing has happened to dismantle it. It’s still operating, using the same methods of control and manipulation. Patrick Bet-David: What role does social media play in this system? Anneke Lucas: Social media is another tool for control. It’s used to spread propaganda, create division, and distract people from the truth. Patrick Bet-David: How can people protect themselves and their children? Anneke Lucas: Awareness is key. Educate yourself about the signs of trafficking, manipulation, and abuse. Protect your children by fostering open communication and vigilance. Patrick Bet-David: You’ve spoken about healing. What has that process been like for you? Anneke Lucas: Healing is a long and arduous journey. It involves confronting the trauma, working through the pain, and reclaiming your sense of self. I’ve also developed a psychological healing modality that helps others address power dynamics and unresolved emotional wounds. Patrick Bet-David: What’s your message to survivors? Anneke Lucas: You are not alone. Healing is possible, and there is light beyond the darkness. It takes courage, but you can find peace and purpose again. Patrick Bet-David: Thank you for sharing your story, Anneke. Anneke Lucas: Thank you for giving me the platform to speak. Patrick Bet-David: It’s a difficult conversation, but it’s one we need to have. RELATED REPORTS: EXTREMELY GRAPHIC: Survivor of a Diddy Party Tells All Paris Hilton EXPOSES Her Child Abuse and MKUltra [Warning: Graphic Content] WARNING: GRAPHIC — Ricky Schroeder EXPOSES The Satanic Sacrifice Ritual He Witnessed As A Young Kid Paris Hilton: “They Held Me Down, Spread My Legs…” [WARNING: Graphic]

Axios CEO Jim VandeHei had a public meltdown over Elon Musk’s comments telling X users “you are the media now.” “Everything we do is under fire. Elon Musk sits on Twitter every day or X today saying like, ‘We are the media!’ ‘You are the media!’ My message to Elon Musk is bulls***,” VandeHei said. “You having a blue checkmark, a Twitter handle and 300 words of cleverness doesn’t make you a reporter. You don’t do that by popping off on Twitter. You don’t do that by having an opinion. You do it by doing the hard work,” he continued. An MSNBC panel applauded the tirade. “Social media people lying every day, every hour, every minute about the news, what you do matters. What the New York Times does matters. What the Wall Street Journal does matters,” Joe Scarborough said. “What NBC News and MSNBC reporters do matters. It matters,” he added. WATCH: NEW Axios CEO melts down over @elonmusk telling ? users “You are the media now” — mounts passionate defense of dying legacy media: "My message to Elon Musk is b*llshit. You're not the media!" The MSNBC panel applauds: “Social media people lying every day, every hour, every… pic.twitter.com/SBwgI9hFfC — Western Lensman (@WesternLensman) November 25, 2024 “You are the media now,” Elon Musk has echoed on X. You are the media now https://t.co/3wkI9h0IuM — Elon Musk (@elonmusk) November 25, 2024 You are the media now. ? what you know. ? what you hear. ? what you see. https://t.co/AVsmM0ZSVd — Elon Musk (@elonmusk) November 22, 2024 “The legacy media forgot that honesty really is the best policy. Now you are the media,” Musk commented. The legacy media forgot that honesty really is the best policy. Now you are the media. — Elon Musk (@elonmusk) November 25, 2024 “Yeah, whatever lmao. You are the media now. And legacy media know it,” Musk responded to VandeHei’s tirade. Yeah, whatever lmao. You are the media now. And legacy media know it. https://t.co/TWemmwMoqd — Elon Musk (@elonmusk) November 25, 2024 Daily Mail reports: VandeHei gave a blistering speech at the National Press Club on Thursday in Washington D.C. after he and his publication’s co-founder, Mike Allen, won the Fourth Estate award. During his acceptance speech, the veteran journalist focused on Musk’s claim that the media has been replaced by ‘citizen journalists,’ branding the idea ‘bulls***.’ ‘I hate this d*** debate about “Oh, we don’t need the media,” like it’s not true!’ VandeHei said. ‘I love this country, I am a beneficiary of this country. Like some dipsh** from Wisconsin who can come and start two companies, be up here, win an award, sit next to Mikey, I’m a beneficiary of it,’ VandeHei said, referring to himself. The Oshkosh, Wisconsin native started out at a local outlet before moving on to The Wall Street Journal and The Washington Post as a national political reporter. He later co-founded Politico and is now at his current role as CEO for Axios. VandeHei continued his rant while targeting Musk for claiming that anyone can be a journalist through social media. The Axios CEO had a different tone in comments made earlier this month. “Legacy media is just not as important as it thinks it is,” VandeHei said. “Joe Rogan’s more important than any of us,” he continued. “Right wing discourse is now taking place on X. It’s not Fox. X is what matters,” he added. VandeHei called Elon Musk arguably the “most powerful civilian in the history of the country.” WATCH: FLASHBACK – AXIOS CEO: "? IS WHAT MATTERS" My, my, how things have changed in 2 weeks… Jim VandeHei, Axios: “Media is just not as important as it thinks it is. pic.twitter.com/pytHF5o13D https://t.co/vU0POBdpJo — Mario Nawfal (@MarioNawfal) November 25, 2024 Additional coverage from MSNBC:

Dr. Marty Makary has blasted the role of the United States government in perpetuating the Covid plandemic hoax, blasting officials including Anthony Fauci for spreading misinformation, restricting freedoms, and damaging public health. President-elect Donald Trump [...] The post Trump’s FDA Nominee Blasts Covid Plandemic: ‘Greatest Source of Misinfo Was US Government’ appeared first on The People's Voice.