Latest news with #NavySEALs
The Hill
5 days ago
- Politics
- The Hill
The Epstein fallout finally reveals Trump's Achilles heel
MAGA conspiracy theorists had to engage in Simone Biles-level mental gymnastics over the years as they have seen countless claims by Donald Trump be debunked or turned into nothingburgers. It turns out Barack Obama was an American citizen the whole time. Osama Bin Laden was actually killed by Navy SEALs. John F. Kennedy Jr. is not coming back. The 'Pizzagate' restaurant was really just a place that sold pizza. And of course, the election of 2020 was not stolen. These conspiracy-lovers never faltered in their support for the president, even as they continually had to explain why the claims he made kept turning out to be false. Because their gymnastics mostly lead to the ultimate conspiracy: the deep state. It's easy to see why people would embrace the idea of a deep state and why they viewed Trump as the person to fight against it. In 1958, 73 percent of Americans trusted the government. That number is now at 22 percent. Vietnam, Watergate and Iraq, among other disasters, led to drops in government trust. It is not just MAGA voters who feel this way. Black Americans, ultra-liberals, women, libertarians, Indigenous Americans and a whole slew of other demographics all have legitimate reasons not to trust Washington. We all know this is one of the reasons for Trump's electoral success and continued support. Even during his first term, as his promises to lock up Hillary Clinton went broken, there was an excuse. The deep state was working against him. He needed total control of the government to finally dismantle the vast shadow government that thwarted his plans in the first term. People believed him and supported the Department of Government Efficiency, dubious federal appointments, the dismantling of government agencies and purges on non-loyalists as proof that the deep state would finally be destroyed. Then came the current Jeffrey Epstein public relations nightmare. Now, Trump finds himself in a very unusual position. The very case he used to illustrate the scope of the deep state is now revealing to his most ardent supporters that the emperor is naked — and perhaps they'll even conclude that he might even be on this alleged Epstein list himself. Non-MAGA conspiracy theorists aren't shocked at all. All you have to do is Google ' Trump and Epstein ' and you will see dozens of photos of them hanging out in various places over a long period of time. (For what it's worth, the same applies when you Google ' Trump and Diddy '). It is well known that the two have had a connection. But MAGA supporters wanted to see these files because they are convinced that it reveals not just the elites who were involved in the trafficking of women, but also that the federal system went to great lengths to protect said elites. Now, MAGA loyalists are seeing their deep-state savior do everything possible to hide, minimize and convince them that the conspiracy he has been selling them never existed in the first place. For Democrats, this is the Achilles heel they have long searched for. Trump can no longer claim there is a conspiracy that blocks transparency when it comes to Jeffrey Epstein. So now, the conspiracy has reached its end. It will be virtually impossible for Trump not to release files that he and his attorney general, Pam Bondi, both said existed, before saying they didn't. And any release of files after this last week's circus will only cast additional doubts on their authenticity. Trump already took to social media to say the files were written by Barack Obama and Joe Biden, a post that appeared after his own Department of Justice last week said there were no files. Trump infamously claimed he loved the ' poorly educated,' but these people aren't that. They have had a deep distrust of the government for some time. Now will this Epstein fiasco make people trust the government more than Trump? No. But it can undermine the trust Trump has with his base. Every Democrat who is even thinking of running in 2028 should already be calling for Trump to release the files and reminding his voters that he alone is keeping them from being released. And they should do this with any conspiracy that Trump floats from here on out, because he can no longer pretend there is a deep state in the way. Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.) is already leading the way, pushing for a House vote to demand the release of the files. House Republicans might have to choose between their loyalty to Trump and having their vote eternally memorialized as protection of the deep state. For the upcoming race, all Democratic candidates should badger their Republican counterparts on why they are supporting Trump's lack of transparency. Of course, Trump and his acolytes will have talking points, but if this weekend's Truth Social post is an indication, it will be hard to spin this one. Democrats have been waiting for years to fracture the trust between Trump and his most ardent supporters. They finally have an arrow to aim at his Achilles heel. The only question is whether they will hit it or miss. Jos Joseph is a published writer and is a graduate of the Harvard Extension School and Ohio State University. He is a Marine veteran who served in Iraq. He currently lives in Anaheim, Calif.
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
‘The Terminal List: Dark Wolf' Teaser: Taylor Kitsch & Chris Pratt Find 'The Only Way Out Is Right Through It'
'When we step on that battlefield we fight for each other.' So begins the first trailer for The Terminal List: Dark Wolf, Prime Video's prequel series starring Taylor Kitsch, Chris Pratt and Tom Hopper. Co-created by The Terminal List author Jack Carr, and Season 1 creator-showrunner David DiGilio, the origin series follows Ben Edwards (Kitsch) throughout his journey from the Navy SEALs to the clandestine side of CIA Special Operations, exploring the darker side of warfare and the human cost that comes with it. Pratt reprises his role as James Reece. More from Deadline 'Clarkson's Farm' Producer Expectation Partners With Plegazoid; Prime Video Yorkshire Ripper Doc; Louis Theroux's Agency Sold; 'Screen Players Film Club' Podcast Launches - Global Briefs 'Étoile' Cast Unpack Feelings About Prime Video Cancellation: "I Thought About Starting A GoFundMe!" 'We Were Liars': Candice King Unpacks The Inevitable "Regression" Of The Sinclair Sisters In Prime Video Series 'I need two shooters for a time sensitive op. I'm offering a chance you a chance to finish what you started, and to keep your brothers from danger,' a voiceover is heard in the trailer. It ends with the ominous 'The only way out is right through it.' Additional cast includes Robert Wisdom as Jed Haverford, Luke Hemsworth as Jules Landry, Dar Salim as Mohammed Farooq, Rona-Lee Shimon as Eliza Perash, Shiraz Tzarfati as Tal Varon and Jared Shaw as Ernest 'Boozer' Vickers. The series is executive produced by Kitsch alongside Pratt through Indivisible Productions, writer and showrunner DiGilio, Carr, Antoine Fuqua and Kat Samick through Hill District Media, former Army Ranger and writer Max Adams, and former Navy SEAL, writer, and technical advisor Jared Shaw, as well as Emmy-winning (Shōgun) pilot director Frederick E.O. Toye. The series is produced by Amazon MGM Studios and MRC/Civic Center Media.[youtube Best of Deadline 2025 TV Series Renewals: Photo Gallery 'Poker Face' Season 2 Guest Stars: From Katie Holmes To Simon Hellberg Everything We Know About 'The Devil Wears Prada 2'
Forbes
11-07-2025
- Health
- Forbes
Leading Without Fear: The Case For Trust-Driven Healthcare Leadership
Paula Ferrada is the Chair, Department of Surgery – IFMC and System Chief for Trauma and Acute Care Surgery at Inova Healthcare System. As a trauma surgeon, I have witnessed injuries that are, sadly, unsurvivable. I've stood over patients whose lives hung by a thread—some saved, others lost. And I've come to understand, more deeply with each experience, that what stands between life and death in those moments is not just the skill of the surgeon. It is the power of a team. From the moment a critically injured patient rolls through the emergency department doors, a choreography of urgency unfolds. Nurses, emergency physicians, anesthesiologists, respiratory therapists, radiology techs and operating room (OR) staff are each poised, responsive and trusted to do their part. There is no time to waste, no room for ego. In those high-stress, high-stakes moments, the team matters more than any individual's technical brilliance. This is why compassionate leadership and psychological safety are not abstract ideals in healthcare—they are life-saving imperatives. Leading Through Trust, Not Fear Simon Sinek once shared that the Navy SEALs, when choosing their most elite team members, value trust over performance. In healthcare, the stakes may not be combat, but they are just as real. We make decisions every day that determine whether someone will live or die. And like elite military units, the strongest healthcare teams are built not just on capability but on relationships. This is especially true in trauma care, where every second matters. Trust accelerates action. It removes doubt, energizes communication and reduces cognitive load. In environments where people feel safe to speak up, ask questions and admit uncertainty, the entire system becomes more adaptive and, ultimately, more effective. Safety Drives Performance Kostas Dervitsiotis writes that trust is essential for performance and adaptation in high-reliability environments. This applies directly to trauma care, where adaptation is not a luxury—it's survival. Psychologically safe teams are faster, smarter and more agile. They debrief after cases without fear of blame, improve continuously and support one another through the emotional toll of the work. In 2014, Weller, Boyd and Cumin found how tribalism in healthcare—rigid silos between doctors, nurses and staff—creates dangerous communication breakdowns. When we dismantle those barriers through compassionate leadership, we allow for collective excellence. Nurses speak up, techs are heard and surgeons lead by example. The result is a cohesive unit that performs under pressure because it is built on mutual respect. I've seen firsthand how a shift in culture—grounded in trust and psychological safety—can transform a healthcare system. At our institution, we made a deliberate investment in fostering open communication, mutual respect and team accountability across disciplines. The results were unmistakable: We improved efficiency without sacrificing safety. Our teams became faster, more agile and more responsive—yet never at the expense of our patients' well-being. We saw fewer complications, stronger coordination and greater consistency in surgical outcomes. Errors were caught before they reached the patient. And most importantly, team members felt safe to speak up about processes, concerns and how we could be better. These gains didn't come from control or compliance—they came from creating a space where people felt empowered to do their best work and trusted to act in service of the patient. It's a model of leadership that is not only sustainable but essential. Compassion Is Not Soft, It's Strategic We must reframe compassion not as a "soft skill" but as a strategic imperative. When leaders model vulnerability, curiosity and emotional intelligence, they foster environments where people feel safe to contribute fully. Husebø and Olsen (2016) found that clinical leadership development improves responsiveness, quality and trust—especially in emergency settings. These are not secondary gains. They are central to operational success. At our hospital, surgical efficiency increased alongside safety. First-case on-time starts improved from 52% to 74%. We created additional access points for patients and surgeons by developing flexible scheduling systems. And we built leadership development meetings into our workflows to promote continuous learning and shared accountability. Brené Brown says, "You can't get to courage without walking through vulnerability." When we allow ourselves and our teams to lead with curiosity instead of judgment—to replace shame and blame with questions and learning—we create the conditions for excellence. Shame and blame are inversely proportional to accountability. When team members feel shame, they shut down. When they feel safe, they lean in. What Structural Safety Looks Like Compassionate leadership also shows up in system design. It's in how we staff our teams, schedule our shifts and support mental wellness. It's in the way we conduct debriefs—not to assign blame but to learn. It's in policies that prioritize recovery, rest and resilience. These values travel. I've seen them take root across continents in my global trauma work. From Latin America to the U.S., the most successful trauma teams share a common thread: They are led by people who understand that excellence requires empathy. Building Teams That Save Lives When we invest in compassionate leadership and psychological safety, we're not just creating better workplaces but better outcomes. Fewer medical errors. Greater staff retention. Higher patient satisfaction. Stronger innovation. Healthcare is not just a science—it is a human endeavor. And at its best, it is led by those who understand that leading with trust, humility and compassion is not only good leadership—it is lifesaving leadership. As Brené Brown reminds us: 'Vulnerability is the birthplace of innovation, creativity and change.' In medicine, it is also the birthplace of trust—and trust saves lives. Forbes Business Council is the foremost growth and networking organization for business owners and leaders. Do I qualify?
USA Today
03-07-2025
- Entertainment
- USA Today
These are the 10 best movies of 2025. Did your picks make our list?
Tom Cruise doing daredevil stuff on a biplane. Brad Pitt driving really, really fast. Dragons, vampires, killer toy monkeys and a dancing Tom Hiddleston. And it's only July, folks! Here in the season of blockbusters, we've already seen a slew of movies that are worthy of a "best of" list. We're still months away from fall film festivals and Oscar season, yet there are flicks making a move for best picture, like Ryan Coogler's horror movie "Sinners." The good stuff includes a couple of Stephen King adaptations, a few franchise installments and one live-action remake of an animated classic. (Sorry, "Snow White," we're not talking about you. Or you, "Lilo & Stitch.") Here are 2025's best movies so far, ranked: 10. 'The Monkey' A movie that goes as deep on themes of mortality as it does on buckets of blood. Osgood Perkins' gory and gloriously absurd horror comedy, based on a Stephen King short story, unleashes Theo James in a dual role as estranged twins whose childhoods were marked by a cursed monkey toy. The bros thought they destroyed it, but it's back with a vengeance, sparking creative deaths and complicating their lives in an extremely demented, intriguingly insightful tale. Where to watch: Apple TV, Amazon, Fandango at Home 9. 'Warfare' A crew of Hollywood up-and-comers (Will Poulter, Kit Connor, Joseph Quinn, Charles Melton, Michael Gandolfini and more) play Navy SEALs on a surveillance mission caught in the middle of a harrowing standoff with Iraqi insurgents. Directors Alex Garland and Ray Mendoza, an ex-soldier whose experience was the basis for the film, put viewers though unflinchingly brutal moments that feel uncannily real and unlike any other war story. Where to watch: Apple TV, Amazon, Fandango at Home 8. 'Black Bag' In Steven Soderbergh's effortlessly cool spy thriller, a British intelligence officer (Michael Fassbender) is tasked with sussing out the culprit who leaked a top-secret software program and betrayed their country. There's a delicious whodunit aspect to it, too, as the list of five potentially traitorous suspects includes the operative's own high-profile wife (Cate Blanchett). A wickedly talented ensemble and great character work make it a scintillating watch. Where to watch: Apple TV, Amazon, Fandango at Home, Peacock 7. 'Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning' Who knows if this is the last time Tom Cruise will dangle perilously off a plane or go spelunking in a submarine? (Chances are, not likely.) But this franchise installment does nicely wrap a 30-year-old story line for Cruise's secret agent Ethan Hunt, who battles a villainous AI in a high-stakes quest to keep mankind from being wiped out. While the action scenes are aces, the film also makes a compelling argument for why the world is worth saving at all. Where to watch: In theaters 6. 'How to Train Your Dragon' Whether we like it or not, we're in the era of every animated classic getting turned into a live-action remake. This soaring adventure, however, is one that actually reaches the heights of the amazing original outing. A Viking teen (Mason Thames) becomes besties with an adorable dragon and gets his friends and family to reconsider their hatred of the beasts in a coming-of-age movie filled with great flying sequences and all the feels. Where to watch: In theaters 5. '28 Years Later' Don't call it a zombie movie. As good as "28 Days Later" was, this horror sequel succeeds at being something more. Nearly three decades after the rage virus infected the U.K., a young boy (Alfie Williams) on a remote island ventures to the mainland, runs afoul of monstrous figures and meets a strange doctor (Ralph Fiennes) in a quest to help his sick mom (Jodie Comer). The rare scary movie that's also a thoughtful exploration of family, tribalism and remembering the dead. Where to watch: In theaters 4. 'Magazine Dreams' A stirring, dark drama that many people will never watch because of Jonathan Majors' legal troubles. Still, the man is an exceptional talent, both phenomenal and frightening as a troubled amateur bodybuilder in Elijah Bynum's intoxicating cautionary tale. Majors' painfully awkward gym rat goes down a spectacularly bad path of protein shakes, steroids, rage issues, misplaced idolatry and macho posedowns in an effort to craft the perfect physique. Where to watch: Apple TV, Amazon, Fandango at Home 3. 'Ballerina' Throwing dinner plates and breaking bones, Ana de Armas is a one-woman wrecking crew in this impressive "John Wick" spinoff. Yes, the franchise's main man, Keanu Reeves, shows up as well, but the action flick keeps its focus on de Armas' dancer/assassin as she's introduced into a dangerous landscape and then goes rogue on a revenge mission. It's packed with stellar brawls, superb gunfights and one unforgettable flamethrower faceoff. Where to watch: Apple TV, Amazon, Fandango at Home 2. 'Sinners' Is it a gangster film? Yes! Is it a vampire movie? You bet! Is it a musical? That, too! Ryan Coogler pulls up something devilishly spectacular with this genre-bending, 1930s-set flick, with a never-better Michael B. Jordan pulling double duty as twins come home to Mississippi and having their party crashed by a band of charismatic bloodsuckers. Coogler also tackles racism and cultural appropriation in a fright fest that's mesmerizing and meaningful. Where to watch: Max (on July 4), Apple TV, Amazon, Fandango at Home 1. 'The Life of Chuck' The only Stephen King adaptation where you'll feel better about life, the universe and everything after watching it. Mike Flanagan's soulful three-act character study is a life told in reverse, where the confusion caused by the end of the world leads to a child finding his artistic self after navigating tragedy. Did we mention the surprise Tom Hiddleston dance break in the middle of it? "Chuck" is a must-see film that warms hearts, captures minds and blows up convention. Where to watch: In theaters
Entrepreneur
25-06-2025
- Business
- Entrepreneur
Are Leaders Made Or Born? This Navy SEAL Commander Says It's Neither.
What makes someone a leader? It's a question that has sparked countless debates in boardrooms, offices and business schools around the world. But according to one retired Navy SEAL commander, we've been asking the wrong question entirely. Rich Diviney is the founder of Attributes Incorporated. Rich spent more than 20 years leading Navy SEALs and has now transitioned that experience into helping corporations, sports teams and individual leaders become better at their jobs. His latest book, Masters of Uncertainty, looks at how leaders deal with uncertain environments. Related: This Neuroscientist-Turned-Entrepreneur Says Leaders Should Be a Little Naive — Here's Why It Works
