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Yahoo
a day ago
- Health
- Yahoo
How Democrats can make "Speaking with American Men" a success
After losing big with men under 30 in the 2024 election, Democrats have spent $20 million on a program called 'Speaking with American Men' (SAM) to help figure out which 'spaces' they need to show up in to fare better with this demographic. A smart place to start would be the gym; the booming men's fitness market is expected to more than double by 2029, growth driven by men under 25, who are joining gyms almost twice as fast as women. And as SAM co-director Ilyse Hogue and I wrote here last year, the right has done an excellent job parlaying young men's healthy interest in exercise into an embrace of reactionary politics. But it doesn't need to be that way. Across the political spectrum, craving the surefire sense of accomplishment the gym provides is an age-old response to an unstable political and economic environment. And historically, championing physical fitness with appeals to American manliness has not been a partisan issue. If the SAM initiative is going to net the Democrats more than online snark, its leaders should appreciate that this history suggests the party's path forward might just begin at the gym. In the vast digital universe targeting young men, the idea that exercise is imperative to self-actualization is inescapable. It's most obvious in fitness-focused influencers like Ashton Hall, whose six-hour 'morning routine' recently racked up nearly a billion views on X. But plenty of public figures with grander concerns insist exercise is integral to achievement. Take Andrew Tate's obsession with 'plummeting masculinity' or Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s quest to make America healthy again. A commitment to early-morning workouts, Tate advises, is Step 1 to asserting alpha dominance. Performing pullups, as the septuagenarian Kennedy does shirtless at Gold's Gym, is proof of political power. Such encouragement spans the political spectrum. While it's become more common to see Republicans like Paul Ryan or Pete Hegseth flaunting their fitness, Presidents Barack Obama and Joe Biden often promoted exercise as a personal and policy priority, and former Rep. Jamaal Bowman went viral in 2023 for benching 405 pounds while wearing a Working Families Party T-shirt. Online, progressive streamer Hasan Piker expounds on his diet and fitness regimen as readily as he opines on capitalism and climate change. He recently met up with fellow streamer and 'big Trump guy' Bradley Martyn at a rare site of common ground: the weight room. When Piker, with mock seriousness, announced to his followers that he and Martyn hoped to inspire 'the young men out there who are lost — who feel anchorless, rudderless — by lifting some heavy weights,' he articulated an idea that long predates the so-called right-wing 'manosphere.' For more than a century, in moments of upheaval that raise questions about what it means to be a man, men have reliably sought a sense of agency in exercise. When the world feels confusing or out of control, make a man of yourself, beginning with your body is an especially enticing proposition. If, despite one's best efforts, landing a rewarding career or a loving mate proves elusive, then why not capture a sense of self-efficacy at the squat rack? Jeff Bezos and Mark Zuckerberg's billions may be out of reach, but attaining their newly sculpted bodies only takes some discipline and protein shakes. The social and economic roots of the American man's fixation on fitness date to the early 20th century. As urbanization and compulsory education laws kept middle-class, mostly white boys in schools staffed by women, psychologist G. Stanley Hall worried in 1904 that they were being weakened by the 'social instincts of girls' and prescribed rough sports such as wrestling and boxing to counter what he called the dangerous 'repressions of modern life.' Although the white-collar careers to which upwardly mobile young men aspired conferred superiority over the sweaty masses, this prestige came at a cost: so-called 'desk diseases,' as 19th-century doctors styled them, marked by sloped shoulders and sagging paunches. And President Teddy Roosevelt touted 'the strenuous life' as a way for young men to resolve the paradox of progress. During the Depression, as men of all classes reckoned with the emasculation of joblessness, bodybuilder and entrepreneur Charles Atlas successfully peddled an inexpensive mail-order muscle-building regimen that promised to unlock 'he-man living' and 'make you a new man.' To combat concerns at the time that caring for one's body and appearance was somehow effeminate, Atlas promised men that a muscular physique would inspire adoration in women and command the respect and fear of other men. The unprecedented prosperity of the 1950s, with its many desk jobs, televisions and time-saving appliances, ushered in yet more anxiety about the softening of the American male — among members of both major political parties. Worried that the sudden glut of leisure risked rendering boys unfit for military duty, Republican President Dwight D. Eisenhower's administration launched what would become the Presidential Council on Youth Fitness in 1957. 'We are not a nation of softies,' Vice President Richard Nixon warned at its launch, 'but we could become one.' In the December 1960 issue of Sports Illustrated, President-elect John F. Kennedy, a Democrat, amplified this concern that 'soft Americans' who languished on the sofa, or as spectators in the stands, represented a national security and a moral hazard. A vigorous American man, he insisted, must be on the move — a lesson he reinforced in countless photos of him swimming, sailing, tossing a football or challenging the military (and his brother Robert) to hike 50 miles in 20 hours. The tumult of the 1970s, with its 'stagflation,' second-wave feminism and general loss of faith in government and the military coincided with another wave of male fitness boosterism. 'If neither our doctors nor the government can be expected to bring us good health, to whom can we look?' wrote running proselytizer Jim Fixx in his 1977 bestseller 'The Complete Book of Running.' 'The answer is plain: to ourselves.' Given the many physical and mental benefits of exercise, the latest push for men to self-actualize through fitness is hardly a negative — or necessarily partisan — development. Experts agree that exercise is close to a 'magic pill' for its many health benefits. Gyms have also never been more inclusive: Weight rooms welcome women and men frequent studio classes. It's progress, surely, that no one needs the reassurance Arnold Schwarzenegger offered in 1977, that 'men shouldn't feel like f--s just because they want to have nice-looking bodies.' Yet destabilizing moments like the one we are now living through reveal an enduring dynamic: Men are encouraged with particular urgency to get moving when their social status feels in flux. Generation after generation, boosters sell men the irresistible idea that at the gym, if nowhere else, the sweat of your brow is all that stands between you and success. It's an understandable, even healthy impulse, and Democrats would do well to start rebuilding their political muscle quite literally, by seeking to identify with the guy at the gym. This article was originally published on
Yahoo
3 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Democrats need to embrace males with affection, not political strategy, NYT columnist argues
New York Times opinion columnist David French suggested the Democratic Party's $20 million effort to address their fallout with male voters might be the wrong approach, arguing that men needed to be embraced with "sincere affection." "Speaking with American Men: A Strategic Plan" is Democrats' $20 million project to "study the syntax, language and content that gains attention and virality in these spaces" of male voters, the Times reported Sunday. Known as "SAM," the study will specifically examine young male voters and how the party can connect with the demographic. Additionally, the study advised rolling out pro-Democrat ads in video games. French acknowledged the Democratic Party's fallout with young male voters, as the voting bloc was instrumental in re-electing President Donald Trump, but argued the party was "getting the challenge of reaching young men backward," because the "manosphere is not about politics." "You can't write a history of the manosphere without acknowledging that it was a response to a genuine crisis," French added. "Slogans like 'the future is female' created the impression that the sexes were in competition, and for women to win, men had to lose." Fetterman Hits Party's Losses Among Young Male Voters: 'Its Undeniable That Democrats Have Lost A Lot' The headline for French's column read, "The Democrats' 20-Million-Dollar-Man Problem." Read On The Fox News App The term "manosphere" has been used to describe podcasters or online personalities that appeal to male listeners and viewers. French also pointed to the American Psychological Association's study from 2019, which deemed traditional masculinity as "harmful." The study described it as being "marked by stoicism, competitiveness, dominance and aggression." The NYT columnist wrote, "The message seemed clear. Men, you don't have a problem; you are the problem." The 2024 election cycle included a push from both Kamala Harris and Donald Trump's campaigns to speak to podcasters and other non-traditional media voices. 'The View' Hosts Clash Over Whether Racism, Sexism Played Role In Trump Election Victory The NYT reported that part of the Democrats' push to regain support from young male voters is to "shift from a moralizing tone." "The manosphere succeeded not by refusing to condemn men and not by avoiding a moralizing tone, but by choosing to love them and by choosing to help them," French wrote. French also argued that the "manosphere" has been planting "seeds for its own failure," and Trump's involvement with it means that many men are "doubling down on the worst versions of themselves." Click Here For More Coverage Of Media And Culture French said men needed to be embraced with "sincere affection." "The answer to the manosphere's dark turn is rooted in embracing men with sincere affection, shunning the zero-sum calculus of the gender wars and offering a vision of masculine virtue that inspires men to heroic acts of compassion rather than vicious acts of aggression," French added. "America doesn't need a left-wing version of Joe Rogan. What it needs is our parents, pastors, teachers and coaches to fill the void in young men's hearts. Our sons should not have to turn to books or podcasts or social media to hear this simple and powerful message: I like you. I want you to live a good life. Let me show you how," the New York Times columnist concluded. Fox News' Emma Colton contributed to this article source: Democrats need to embrace males with affection, not political strategy, NYT columnist argues
Fox News
3 days ago
- General
- Fox News
Democrats need to embrace males with affection, not political strategy, NYT columnist argues
New York Times opinion columnist David French suggested the Democratic Party's $20 million effort to address their fallout with male voters might be the wrong approach, arguing that men needed to be embraced with "sincere affection." "Speaking with American Men: A Strategic Plan" is Democrats' $20 million project to "study the syntax, language and content that gains attention and virality in these spaces" of male voters, the Times reported Sunday. Known as "SAM," the study will specifically examine young male voters and how the party can connect with the demographic. Additionally, the study advised rolling out pro-Democrat ads in video games. French acknowledged the Democratic Party's fallout with young male voters, as the voting bloc was instrumental in re-electing President Donald Trump, but argued the party was "getting the challenge of reaching young men backward," because the "manosphere is not about politics." "You can't write a history of the manosphere without acknowledging that it was a response to a genuine crisis," French added. "Slogans like 'the future is female' created the impression that the sexes were in competition, and for women to win, men had to lose." The headline for French's column read, "The Democrats' 20-Million-Dollar-Man Problem." The term "manosphere" has been used to describe podcasters or online personalities that appeal to male listeners and viewers. French also pointed to the American Psychological Association's study from 2019, which deemed traditional masculinity as "harmful." The study described it as being "marked by stoicism, competitiveness, dominance and aggression." The NYT columnist wrote, "The message seemed clear. Men, you don't have a problem; you are the problem." The 2024 election cycle included a push from both Kamala Harris and Donald Trump's campaigns to speak to podcasters and other non-traditional media voices. The NYT reported that part of the Democrats' push to regain support from young male voters is to "shift from a moralizing tone." "The manosphere succeeded not by refusing to condemn men and not by avoiding a moralizing tone, but by choosing to love them and by choosing to help them," French wrote. French also argued that the "manosphere" has been planting "seeds for its own failure," and Trump's involvement with it means that many men are "doubling down on the worst versions of themselves." French said men needed to be embraced with "sincere affection." "The answer to the manosphere's dark turn is rooted in embracing men with sincere affection, shunning the zero-sum calculus of the gender wars and offering a vision of masculine virtue that inspires men to heroic acts of compassion rather than vicious acts of aggression," French added. "America doesn't need a left-wing version of Joe Rogan. What it needs is our parents, pastors, teachers and coaches to fill the void in young men's hearts. Our sons should not have to turn to books or podcasts or social media to hear this simple and powerful message: I like you. I want you to live a good life. Let me show you how," the New York Times columnist concluded.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
2 Cash-Producing Stocks for Long-Term Investors and 1 to Steer Clear Of
A company that generates cash isn't automatically a winner. Some businesses stockpile cash but fail to reinvest wisely, limiting their ability to expand. Not all companies are created equal, and StockStory is here to surface the ones with real upside. That said, here are two cash-producing companies that excel at turning cash into shareholder value and one best left off your watchlist. Trailing 12-Month Free Cash Flow Margin: 9.1% Known for its flavorful beverages challenging the status quo, Boston Beer (NYSE:SAM) is a pioneer in craft brewing and a symbol of American innovation in the alcoholic beverage industry. Why Does SAM Worry Us? Muted 1.7% annual revenue growth over the last three years shows its demand lagged behind its consumer staples peers Smaller revenue base of $2.04 billion means it hasn't achieved the economies of scale that some industry juggernauts enjoy Demand will likely fall over the next 12 months as Wall Street expects flat revenue Boston Beer is trading at $231.24 per share, or 22.7x forward P/E. To fully understand why you should be careful with SAM, check out our full research report (it's free). Trailing 12-Month Free Cash Flow Margin: 22.5% Founded in 1949, Grand Canyon Education (NASDAQ:LOPE) is an educational services provider known for its operation at Grand Canyon University. Why Are We Positive On LOPE? Disciplined cost controls and effective management resulted in a strong two-year operating margin of 26.5% ROIC punches in at 30.2%, illustrating management's expertise in identifying profitable investments, and its rising returns show it's making even more lucrative bets At $192.01 per share, Grand Canyon Education trades at 21.9x forward P/E. Is now a good time to buy? See for yourself in our in-depth research report, it's free. Trailing 12-Month Free Cash Flow Margin: 26.7% With roots dating back to 1891 and a portfolio that includes the blockbuster cancer immunotherapy Keytruda, Merck (NYSE:MRK) develops and sells prescription medicines, vaccines, and animal health products across oncology, infectious diseases, cardiovascular, and other therapeutic areas. Why Are We Fans of MRK? Unparalleled scale of $63.92 billion in revenue gives it negotiating leverage and staying power in an industry with high barriers to entry Free cash flow margin expanded by 11.2 percentage points over the last five years, providing additional flexibility for investments and share buybacks/dividends Industry-leading 15.6% return on capital demonstrates management's skill in finding high-return investments Merck's stock price of $76.27 implies a valuation ratio of 8.4x forward P/E. Is now the right time to buy? Find out in our full research report, it's free. Donald Trump's victory in the 2024 U.S. Presidential Election sent major indices to all-time highs, but stocks have retraced as investors debate the health of the economy and the potential impact of tariffs. While this leaves much uncertainty around 2025, a few companies are poised for long-term gains regardless of the political or macroeconomic climate, like our Top 9 Market-Beating Stocks. This is a curated list of our High Quality stocks that have generated a market-beating return of 183% over the last five years (as of March 31st 2025). Stocks that made our list in 2020 include now familiar names such as Nvidia (+1,545% between March 2020 and March 2025) as well as under-the-radar businesses like the once-micro-cap company Kadant (+351% five-year return). Find your next big winner with StockStory today for free.
The Print
3 days ago
- The Print
India used this battlefield hack to keep Soviet-era missile systems firing against Pakistan in Op Sindoor
During Operation Sindoor, the armed forces maintained the operational readiness of Pechora and Osa-AK missile systems through a logistical workaround, 'cannibalisation', wherein functional components from inactive units were transferred to active ones. This enabled the legacy systems to remain combat-ready and engage a range of aerial threats, including UAVs, loitering munitions and missiles. Among the aerial defence systems that stood their ground were the Soviet origin surface-to-air missile systems like the Pechora and Osa-AK. Despite severe spare shortages, their combat readiness was sustained through a battlefield hack — cannibalising parts from inactive units to keep others operational. New Delhi: As Pakistan launched waves of aerial attacks between 7 and 10 May, India's multi-layered air defence network stood firm. A mix of legacy Soviet-era systems and cutting-edge indigenous and imported platforms blunted threats across key fronts, protecting military bases and civilian areas and minimising damage. With conventional supply chains no longer producing spares for these decades-old platforms, this method became essential. By systematically repurposing critical parts, the forces ensured that at least a portion of the SAM batteries stayed deployable throughout the operation. Designed to counter fast-moving aerial targets, the Pechora (S-125 Neva/Pechora), inducted by the Indian Air Force (IAF) in the early 1970s, is a medium-range surface-to-air missile system with a strike envelope of 25 km in range and 18 km in altitude. The Osa-AK (SA-8 Gecko), a short-range, highly mobile SAM system, features all-in-one tracked launchers equipped with onboard radar and six ready-to-fire missiles, making it especially effective in defending forward airbases and command facilities. Sources in the defence and security establishment said that anything detachable and reusable, such as radar transceivers, fire-control processors, command modules and data-link terminals, was identified, tested and reassigned wherever needed. This ensured that at least a portion of the ageing missile batteries remained functional and ready to intercept incoming threats. 'These legacy systems mostly have parts no longer in production. To keep the systems fully operational, the forces repurposed components from one unit to maintain two others in combat-ready condition,' said one of the sources. As far back as 2010–2011, the IAF had issued global tenders to procure spares supporting its ageing Russian-origin surface-to-air missile systems and fighter platforms. While some parts were sourced through international vendors, parallel efforts were also launched to develop indigenous alternatives, including joint ventures with Russian firms and defence public sector undertakings such as Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL). Despite these measures, gaps in availability persisted, particularly for high-end components including radar modules, electronic guidance units and missile interface assemblies. These shortages mainly stemmed as these legacy systems are no longer in production, making cannibalisation the only viable stopgap arrangement. Though considered ageing by the early 2000s, modernisation of the Pechora system began with a Rs 2,000 crore project launched in 2016 in partnership with BEL and Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) to upgrade 60 firing units. This effort enhanced radar performance and replaced obsolete electronics, extending the system's service life. Meanwhile, Osa-AK units have undergone periodic overhauls through similar Indian-Russian collaborations, ensuring that their radars and missiles remain serviceable. These legacy platforms, the sources said, provided coverage across vast stretches of northern and western India, including Punjab, Gujarat, and Jammu & Kashmir, where newer systems were either deployed elsewhere or kept in reserve. 'Even the older and battle-proven air defence weapons like the Pechora, Osa-AK and AD guns performed effectively in countering the Pakistani threat vectors….our wall of air defence was impossible to breach,' Air Marshal A.K. Bharti, Director General Air Operations, said at a press conference. That wall, as it turns out, was built not just with newly acquired cutting-edge platforms like MRSAM, but also with decades-old systems brought back to life through ingenuity and improvisation. (Edited by Tony Rai) Also Read: What's a National Security Strategy & why CDS Gen Chauhan feels India doesn't need one on paper
