After a whirlwind PR tour touting climate-change scientists as superheroes, “Twisters” director Lee Isaac Chung appears to be strongly backing away from those sentiments.

“Twisters,” the sequel to the 1996 natural disaster film “Twister,” is about a group of scientists who are trying to collect data in hopes of “taming” or lessening the destructive impact of tornadoes.

It’s a schlocky, pseudo-sci-fi summer blockbuster in every sense of the word, which is why the movie raised a few eyebrows when it was seemingly a vehicle to push climate-change alarmism.

In late June, Chung spoke to The Hollywood Reporter and seemed almost eager — at least in the Reporter’s characterization — to push “Twisters” as a champion for climate-change policies.

“Anytime Hollywood is doing anything with climate change, I think we have to stay positive and let people have fun,” Chung told the outlet. “As a production, we want to inspire people to embrace the natural world.

“That can go quite a long ways toward influencing people to make good choices in their relationship with nature, to study what’s happening on this Earth and to figure out how can we become better caretakers of the planet.”

Elsewhere in the Reporter piece, the piece claimed, “Chung says that he hopes his summer blockbuster will inspire people to regard climate scientists as the real superheroes.”

Now?

Chung couldn’t distance himself any more from that sort of messaging.

“I just wanted to make sure that with the movie, we don’t ever feel like (it) is putting forward any message,” Chung told CNN. “I just don’t feel like films are meant to be message-oriented.”

“I wanted to make sure that we are never creating a feeling that we’re preaching a message, because that’s certainly not what I think cinema should be about,” Chung added. “I think it should be a reflection of the world.”

Again, that’s starkly different messaging than what was seen in the Reporter piece.

Speaking of The Hollywood Reporter, the entertainment news outlet appeared to be flabbergasted at the film’s lack of climate-change narrative in its assessment of the messaging in “Twisters.”

The outlet called the lack of direct reference to climate change as “rather surprising,” and even took a jab at Chung’s assertion that movies should “be a reflection of the world.”

The Reporter, rather snidely, added “Or, at least, a reflection of studio caution during polarized times when looking for a summer movie hit” on top of Chung’s previous statement.

It should be noted that one of the biggest (surprise) blockbuster hits of the year is Disney’s “Inside Out 2,” which is actually bereft of activist messaging.

“Twisters” is currently in theaters.

This article appeared originally on The Western Journal.

The post Curious: ‘Twisters’ Director Backs Off of Climate-Change Narrative After Previously Embracing It appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.

Is Joe Biden still alive?

Last Wednesday Joe Biden announced he tested positive for Covid. He said he would be isolating as he recovers.

I tested positive for COVID-19 this afternoon, but I am feeling good and thank everyone for the well wishes.

I will be isolating as I recover, and during this time I will continue to work to get the job done for the American people.

— President Biden (@POTUS) July 17, 2024

The last time Joe Biden was seen in public he was struggling to walk.

WATCH:

As fully-vaccinated Joe Biden struggles up the steps with COVID you gotta wonder if that’s the end for his presidency. Deceptive dems will keep right on with their lies regardless. pic.twitter.com/4fWgyunBSm

— Chad Prather (@WatchChad) July 17, 2024

Biden very slowly descended the shorter staircase Wednesday evening as he arrived in Rehoboth Beach.

WATCH:

A maskless Biden VERY SLOWLY descends the short stairs as he arrives in Delaware for his “self-isolation” after allegedly testing positive for COVID pic.twitter.com/dGOAQ1wtTe

— RNC Research (@RNCResearch) July 18, 2024

Joe Biden needed help getting into his presidential motorcade after he deplaned Wednesday night.

Joe Biden demonstrating rigidity common with Parkinson’s. His aide here has to physically push him into the car and straighten out his legs. #joesgottago #PresidentialElection2024 pic.twitter.com/PCoQswsChe

— James Ruport (@JamesRuport) July 18, 2024

Is Biden even alive?

Joe Biden officially dropped out of the 2024 presidential race on Sunday.

Biden made the announcement on X like a coward. He has been hiding out at his Rehoboth Beach house for four days.

Fox News hosts Bret Baier and Dana Perino asked for proof of life.

“Not physically seeing Biden – not addressing a camera in Delaware, let alone an Oval Office statement like LBJ did…it is disconcerting, isn’t it?” Bret Baier said.

“Right! They didn’t even release a White House still photograph. Nothing! I hope he’s fine, but you can forgive people for wondering if we are really living Weekend at Bernie’s right now. Like, proof of life, please! Let’s see it!” Dana Perino said.

WATCH:

BAIER: Not physically seeing Biden – not addressing a camera in Delaware, let alone an Oval Office statement like LBJ did.

PERINO: They didn’t even release a WH still photograph. Nothing. I hope he’s fine, but you can forgive people for wondering if we are really living Weekend… pic.twitter.com/j549P87mIp

— Trump War Room (@TrumpWarRoom) July 21, 2024

The post Is Joe Biden Alive? Fox News Hosts Ask For Proof of Life – Biden Hasn’t Been Seen Publicly in Four Days Since ‘Covid Diagnosis’ (VIDEO) appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.

As the Biden regime continues to change its story on the attempted assassination of President Trump we are learning more about Old Joe’s despicable policies.

Joe Biden denied Robert Kennedy, Jr. Secret Servive protection despite the fact that his father, the former US Attorney General, and his uncle, President John F. Kennedy, were both assassinated in the 1960s.

Robert Kennedy repeatedly requested Secret Service protection but Joe Biden refused his requests.

Kennedy begged for Secret Service protection after an intruder broke into his home twice in one day.

RFK Jr. Implores Biden for Secret Service Protection After Intruder Arrested at His Home Twice in One Day

President Donald Trump was nearly killed in an assassination attempt 8 days ago that is still unexplained. The Biden regime continues to make up new stories about the young killer who murdered one man and nearly killed President Trump.

The Trump campaign had regularly requested additional security from the Biden regime over the past two years.

The Biden regime refused the requests.

Trump was nearly shot dead at his Butler, Pennsylvania rally eight days ago.

But Joe Biden did beef up security for President Zelensky from Ukraine when he came to the United States.

Via Mike Davis.

The Biden administration beefed up Secret Service protection for President Zelenskyy.

And denied beefed up Secret Service protection for President Trump. pic.twitter.com/cYxTVF400A

— Mike Davis (@mrddmia) July 21, 2024

The post Joe Biden Beefed Up Security for Volodymyr Zelensky but Refused Security Requests from His Political Opponents Robert Kennedy, Jr. and Donald Trump appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.

This story originally was published by Real Clear Wire

By Paul K. Van Riper
Real Clear Wire

The Marine Corps’ current use of wargames is incomplete, faulty and commandeered by recent military leaders to justify their foregone decisions about how to structure the Corps.

With decades of experience supervising the conduct of wargames, as well as participating in a multitude of games, I am troubled that military leaders make critical decisions on the structure and equipping of operational forces based on games that ignored critical warfighting functions.

In an article published in the Marine Corps Times this March, writer Irene Loewenson reported that personnel who ran the Marine Corps Force Design 2030 (Force Design) wargames admit they did not test all seven Marine Corps warfighting functions, including logistics and command and control. Nonetheless, former Commandant General David Berger cited the results of these wargames as support for a fundamental overhaul of the Marine Corps.

I know of no other case where the Marine Corps made important decisions on its future force structure without fully examining the effect on all seven warfighting functions: command and control; fires; force protection; information; intelligence; logistics; and maneuver.

According to Loewenson’s article, a Wargaming Division spokesman indicated the Marine Corps is now attempting to rectify the mistake by belatedly examining logistics and other warfighting functions glossed over in the original Force Design wargames. This sounds like a case of closing the barn door after the horse has bolted. General Berger had already made critical decisions leading to the divesture of weapons and equipment and cuts in force structure.

Loewenson’s article also raises concerns about the combat or force development process.

Properly done, this process begins with the identification of a military problem, then moves to one or more conceptual solutions, which are in turn modified and elaborated upon in workshops and conferences. Only when developers consider an operational concept sufficiently mature do they examine it in a series of wargames to ensure the seven warfighting functions adequately support the concept.

If operational concepts show promise in these wargames, then they undergo further analyses before evaluations in field exercises. Concepts that developers determine mature enough to implement lead to the creation of requirement documents for new or modified doctrine, organizational structures, training programs, material solutions (weapons and equipment), leader development programs, personnel actions and the construction or modification of facilities.

But there is little evidence the Marine Corps used its combat development process to create Force Design.

Rather, there is ample evidence the Marine Corps made decisions to divest weapons and equipment and stand down units before conducting the Force Design wargames. The current Commandant, General Eric Smith, claims the Marine Corps couldn’t wait until the concepts were “totally fleshed-out” before implementing them.

I know of no other case where the Marine Corps short-circuited the combat development process before implementing a concept. Past leaders certainly never made the fundamental, Corps-wide changes that then-Commandant General Berger did from 2019 through 2023.

I have read the 17 pages of notes revealed by one identified and two anonymous individuals involved in the wargames. These officials reported inappropriate manipulation of the games and their results. Their notes contain observations such as these:

• “MCWL [Marine Corps Warfighting Lab] leaders have been pressured to put their ‘thumbs on the scale’ in ways that appear to ‘validate’ early FD [Force Design] decisions […]”
• “FD 2030 is the answer so now figure out how to employ it […]”
• “in short there has been a clear desire to support and shape CMC’s [the Commandant’s] preferred outcomes.”

General Smith stated that the Force Design wargames were “one element in the Corps’ ‘virtuous cycle’ of learning,” but the three whistleblowers who participated in the games maintain the wargames were anything but upright and honest.

In conclusion, the Congressionally mandated independent study (section 1076) of the implementation of Force Design must be thorough and comprehensive. Furthermore, if leaders manipulated these wargames to achieve a certain outcome, they owe it to their Marines and to their country to articulate the consequent risks to national security.

Lieutenant General Paul K. Van Riper is a retired infantry officer whose last assignment was as the Commanding General of the Marine Corps Combat Development Command. While on active duty and in retirement he participated in a host of Joint, Navy, Army, and Marine Corps wargames, most notably as the Red Team leader in Millennium Challenge 2002. 

The post Flawed Wargames Imperil National Security appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.

This article originally appeared on WND.com

Guest by post by Bob Unruh

Officials in Colorado’s government, those responsible for the state Capitol building in the crime-ridden downtown Denver, decided to eject a man from the facility.

Because they didn’t like his shirt.

And now word comes from the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression that it has dispatched a letter asking them to correct the situation, or “face a First Amendment lawsuit.”

Colorado is noted for its attempts to force people to speak its leftist-approved messages, regarding Christianity, homosexuality, transgenderism and the like. It has lost twice at the Supreme Court in recent years on that very topic.

The newest situation developed when Jeffrey Hunt was forced out of the Capitol’s senate gallery.

So FIRE is demanding that the sergeants-at-arms allow Coloradans to silently and respectfully express their opinions with pins and apparent at the Capitol.

Hunt told Fire, “I was shocked when I was asked to leave the senate gallery simply for wearing a pro-life sweatshirt. I felt like I was being targeted for expressing my American right to free speech. My goal with this case is to make sure this type of censorship doesn’t happen to anyone else, especially in the heart of our state’s democracy.”

He’s a radio host, and former employee of Colorado Christian University, which also calls itself “Pro-Life U.”

March 21, 2023, he was at the state senate with members of a group to oppose three leftist proposals that would set up a state assault on pro-life crisis pregnancy centers.

He wore a sweatshirt with the logo “Pro-Life U.”

And security official Ben Trujillo ordered him out because that is a “political statement.”

Trujillo and his chief, Frank Lombardi, “gave Hunt a choice: Remove the sweatshirt and re-enter the gallery or wait outside the gallery. Hunt chose the latter.”

Josh Bleisch, FIRE lawyer, said, “If there’s anywhere people’s First Amendment rights should be safe, it’s in their state capitol. Hunt had every right to be there silently expressing his opinion.”

Ironically, those security officers just a few weeks earlier had allowed students advocating for gun control to wear slogans insisting on that political agenda in the Capitol.

“Officials can’t kick you out of public galleries just because they don’t like the message on your shirt,” said FIRE attorney Raul Ruiz. “We look forward to vindicating Hunt’s rights, and the rights of every American, regardless of their opinions.”

The security officers have a deadline only days away to respond, or FIRE will sue.

Copyright 2024 WND News Center

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