One one my biggest worries about VPNs is the amount of trust users need to place in them, and how opaque most of them are about who owns them and what sorts of data they retain.
A new study found that many commercials VPNS are (often surreptitiously) owned by Chinese companies.
Starting from version 1.26.7, VeraCrypt discontinued support for the TrueCrypt format to prioritize the highest security standards. However, recognizing the transitionary needs of our users, we have preserved version 1.25.9, the last to support the TrueCrypt format.
On this page, users can find download links for version 1.25.9, specifically provided for converting TrueCrypt volumes to the more secure VeraCrypt format. We strongly recommend transitioning to VeraCrypt volumes and using our latest releases for ongoing encryption needs, as they encompass the latest security enhancements.
"Today, I am announcing a new visa restriction policy that will apply to foreign nationals who are responsible for censorship of protected expression in the United States," Rubio declared. "It is unacceptable for foreign officials to issue or threaten arrest warrants on U.S. citizens or U.S. residents for social media posts on American platforms while physically present on U.S. soil."
The Secretary of State also objects to foreign officials demanding that social media platforms adopt global rules that would infringe on American rights. Rubio further expanded on these actions in a post on X.
“For too long, Americans have been fined, harassed, and even charged by foreign authorities for exercising their free speech rights,” Rubio wrote on X. "Free speech is essential to the American way of life — a birthright over which foreign governments have no authority.”
He added, "Foreigners who work to undermine the rights of Americans should not enjoy the privilege of traveling to our country.". //
“Whether in Latin America, Europe, or elsewhere, the days of passive treatment for those who work to undermine the rights of Americans are over," he said in a separate X post.
RedRaider85
an hour ago edited
Margaret, I don’t really care.
That sums up my feelings about Tapper suddenly tacking slightly to the right while trying to sale his book.
SCOTUS Takes Up the Power of Nationwide Injunctions and the Threat to Executive Authority.
May 16, 2025
Mark Twain once used the word, Podunk to describe a small, unimportant town. Today, a Podunk pettifogger from just such a place thinks he is David taking on Goliath. But this time, Goliath is the duly elected President of the United States. //
The Presidential Executive Order (EO) has become the way to govern Washington at a time when Congress is entirely dysfunctional. However, the vast network of federal district judges, who are, by definition, supposed to be apolitical and neutral, often rule against the EO. They do so increasingly on a "nationwide" basis, far beyond the districts their courtrooms oversee.
It has become a pressing and multifaceted issue. The United States federal judiciary has 677 district court judges (across 94 districts, including territorial courts like those in Puerto Rico and Guam). These are lifetime appointments under Article III of the Constitution. When an activist federal judge deems the underlying challenge to an EO from a plaintiff noteworthy, the judge sets out to ensure "uniform relief" across the entire country through a nationwide injunction. Even the nine Appeals Courts do not have such a reach. Even the Supreme Court doesn't have the same power unless at least five justices agree! //
Expectedly, Justice Clarence Thomas expressed his displeasure again at nationwide injunctions, pointing out that the U.S. judicial system operated without them until the 1960s, so why were they necessary now? Justice Samuel Alito, who has previously been a skeptic, hinted that he would vote to scale them back.
Chief Justice John Roberts focused on the procedural aspects of nationwide injunctions, suggesting that the Supreme Court has become more efficient at handling emergency cases expeditiously. He undercut the concerns of Justices Barrett, Gorsuch, and Sotomayor.
Justice Brett Kavanaugh had the best legal solution by suggesting that class-action lawsuits could serve as an alternative to nationwide injunctions. His questioning was a rare demonstration of principled legal analysis, not tainted by politics.
"Federal district judges are appointed by the president, confirmed by the Senate, and serve lifetime terms. There are currently 677 such judges in the U.S. Do you support or oppose individual district judges having the authority to block or halt a president’s policy nationwide?"
A solid majority of Americans say yes. Specifically, 56% said they either support such powers "strongly" (31%) or "somewhat" (26%), while just 28% said they oppose it either "somewhat" (13%) or "strongly" (15%). A sizeable 16% said they weren't sure. //
Democrats are most supportive, with 71% saying the support the judges, just 14% saying they oppose them. Among independents, that majority falls to 54% support, and rises to 30% opposition. The surprise comes among Republicans, where a plurality of 48% support judges over presidents, while 40% support it. //
But the numbers shifted somewhat with our second question: "Do you agree or disagree that federal judges should serve for a limited term rather than a lifetime appointment?"
The answer was even more overwhelming, this time not in favor of the judges. Overall, 71% said they either agree "strongly" (41%) or "somewhat" (30%), while the disagree category mustered only 16% for disagree "somewhat" (9%) or "strongly" (7%). //
Overall, 64% said they supported arresting judges who break laws either "strongly" (43%) or "somewhat" (21%). Just 22% opposed the idea, 10% "strongly" and 12% "somewhat." //
According to the Congressional Research Service, federal judges issued 17 separate injunctions against Trump from the time he re-entered office on Jan. 20 through March 27.
This is nothing new. In 2019, William Barr, Trump's second attorney general, complained about judicial injunctions directed at Trump.
"Since President Trump took office, federal district courts have issued 37 nationwide injunctions against the executive branch," Barr said. "That’s more than one a month."
"By comparison," the nation's former top lawyer added, "during President Obama’s first two years, district courts issued two nationwide injunctions against the executive branch, both of which were vacated by the Ninth Circuit. And according to the Department’s best estimates, courts issued only 27 nationwide injunctions in all of the 20th century (emphasis ours)." //
Americans' appetite for enabling federal judges to halt presidential actions willy-nilly may soon be tempered by a Supreme Court decision that limits those powers. If so, it should not be politics. It should be because the Constitution does not allow it.
///
That's democracy. But what is consistent with Constitutional Law? Districts should not have jurisdiction beyond their district.
Force, Fracture, or Fatigue. What Will It Take to Break Putin? //
After two years of crippling sanctions, sweeping NATO expansion, financial isolation, and relentless diplomacy, Putin still hasn’t blinked. As the front lines harden and global patience wears thin, one question remains: What will it take to break his will to fight? China remains silent, quietly enabling the Kremlin. If peace is to be forced, Trump must make Beijing understand there will be a price for helping Putin hold the line.
Amajority of voters say America is headed in the right direction. That has never happened in the nearly 20 years Rasmussen Reports has been posing the question.
A Rasmussen survey taken May 18-May 22 and released Sunday said 48% of Americans say the country is headed in the “right direction,” while 47% say the U.S. is on the “wrong track.” Five percent are “Not Sure.”
Rasmussen’s Mark Mitchell put the numbers in context, saying, “In 20 years, the % of people who say the U.S. is headed in the right direction has never been higher than today.”
The pollster began conducting its right track-wrong track surveys in 2006. //
RealClearPolitics is also seeing a huge swing toward optimism. A November 2024 survey indicated 63% believed America was on the wrong track, with only 26% saying the U.S. was on the right track. A difference of 37 points. Today, 51% say America’s on the wrong track, with 44% saying we’re on the right track. A difference of seven points. That’s a 30-point improvement in a matter of months.
President Joe Biden, with strong backing from environmental lobbyists and a last-minute defection from West Virginia Senator Joe Manchin, pushed through the Inflation Reduction Act and the Infrastructure Bill. These measures allocated billions of dollars in federal credits and loan guarantees to favored industries, all under the banner of environmental protection.
What followed was a Soviet-style industrial strategy in which a handful of Washington bureaucrats determined the winners and losers of America's energy future. //
Biden's green agenda had another critical flaw: financing. Much of it depended on borrowing from China—ironically benefiting Chinese companies dominating the very industries Biden sought to boost. Since the launch of China's "Made in China 2025" initiative, Chinese firms—heavily subsidized by their government—have taken over more than 85% of the global rooftop solar panel market. Battery components for solar installations have even higher Chinese market dominance. In effect, Biden borrowed money from China to finance the growth of Chinese companies that sold solar products to U.S. installers.
The new House bill aims to dismantle this entire framework in one stroke. It eliminates the trading of green credits between corporations, revokes low-interest green loans, and entirely phases out subsidies for renewable energy initiatives.
To those who claim this approach is irresponsible, we pose a simple question: How many more decades should the green energy sector rely on government aid to stay afloat? Sustainable energy and transition projects are essential, but they must prove their viability in the open market—just like oil and gas companies do every day. This is classic Adam Smith-style capitalism: let competition and innovation—not government favoritism—determine success.
Trump also supports nuclear power, one of the cleanest and most efficient methods of generating electricity. //
By issuing appropriate permitting waivers, Trump aims to unlock this potential, even if a modest federal investment is necessary to overcome ideological resistance from the Left.
Democrats demonstrated their inability to connect with middle America when the DNC elected their slate of officers. It started with this tossed salad of words:
“Our rules specify that when we have a non-binary candidate or officer, the non-binary individual is counted as neither male nor female, and the remaining six offices must be gender balanced with the results of the previous four elections.”
Sure, the words are simple, but the meaning? It’s nonsense. //
In a recent interview Jake Tapper noted that the Democratic party isn’t connecting with his 15-year-old son – noting that his son plays linebacker on his high school football team. Tapper’s son isn’t an outlier. He’s likely what “middle-America” would call a “dude”. The DNC would refer to him as a cis-gendered privileged patriarchal white male. //
The 1982 movie “The Verdict” didn’t cause or motivate me to become a lawyer, but 10 seconds of dialogue stayed with me when I started litigating. The takeaway was: speak English. Plain English. //
The doctor is asked to explain what happened to the woman:
Ed Concannon: Why wasn't she getting oxygen?
Dr. Towler: Well, many reasons, really...
Ed Concannon: Tell me one.
Dr. Towler: She'd aspirated vomitus into her mask.
Ed Concannon: She threw up in her mask. Now cut the bullshit, please. Just say it: She threw up in her mask. //
Of course there is the caveat that assumes Republicans won’t step on rakes but as long as Democrats continue to aspirate lexiconic vomitus into and at middle America, Democrats will continue to lose elections. //
GBenton
11 hours ago
yeah, it's more than "out of touch" - that's a symptom. They can't "just stop".
The left hates America, especially middle America. They want to transform the country into a socialist paradise where they RULE.
They can't stop because having control over us and being scolds and cancel culture and Woke conformity codes is their reason for being in politics - not "service".
They just forgot how to hide it. //
GBenton
10 hours ago
If America is like the human body and the people are the cells then the left is cancer.
If cancer asks, "how can we spread more, be more widely accepted and grow?" the answer is - you can't. You'll kill the body.
Same with leftism.
You could say that the prohibition of religious freedom for anyone would be a real knock to the health and vibrancy of the United States, but this applies to Christianity more than any other religion in the world. Without Christianity, it all falls apart. Christianity is the cornerstone from which all other religions enjoy their existence within its borders.
Historically, other religions are not so accommodating to others, especially when they become nationalistic, and that surprisingly includes Buddhism. The only other religions aside from Christianity that allow for other religions to be practiced freely are Judaism and Sikhism, but since the United States has been a Christian nation from the beginning, the freedom to practice your beliefs relies on Christian foundations.
And before someone says, "Atheism would allow it," I've already given you a few examples of atheist governments above that treat Christianity as a danger. Atheist-based states don't like it when the people hold something higher in authority than it. However, atheists also appreciate their free speech rights, and many of these rights are a thing because Christianity made it so.
Moreover, it's these Christian foundations that allow for the greatest of our God-given rights, free speech, which goes hand-in-hand with the freedom to practice religion. The freedom to voice your faith cannot be restricted, as the profession of faith requires speech. There's a reason why the left often tries to tie hate speech to Christian beliefs. //
Moreover, the entirety of our rights as citizens of the United States are the end result of Christian philosophy. No matter your belief, Christianity's moral teachings and societal influence are what keep the United States free and healthy.
If Democrats were allowed to restrict it or terminate it, the bottom would fall out of this nation. Your God-given rights would mean nothing because the people in charge wouldn't recognize any god but themselves. //
Retired Professor
6 hours ago
The first stage of this is to restrict the exercise of religion to churches and other such contained venues. That's what Obama clearly wanted to do. Street corner evangelism? Disrupts traffic and "public safety." Voluntary prayer groups in public schools? Violates the (so-called) "wall of separation." Prayer before a city council meeting? Same.
I could go on, but this has been the tactic of the Left ever since the days of Earl Warren. We won't win that battle until Jesus comes back, but meanwhile we still have to fight. //
Platypus
3 hours ago
I recommend the book, The Normal Christian Life by Watchman Nee... a Chinese believer that was
educated in the west but also spent decades in a Chinese prison. He also wrote several other books
all of them worth reading.
Eric Daugherty
@EricLDaugh
·
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🚨 BREAKING: Trump just confirmed he told Israel to not attack Iran.
REPORTER: Did you warn PM Netanyahu against taking action against Iran?
TRUMP: "Well...yes, I did."
"I did. Yeah."
"I said, I don't think it's appropriate right now."
PRESIDENT OF PEACE.
1:15 PM · May 28, 2025. //
There have been indications, as recently as last week, that Israel may be planning an attack on Iran's nuclear facilities.
The US has obtained new intelligence suggesting that Israel is making preparations to strike Iranian nuclear facilities, even as the Trump administration has been pursuing a diplomatic deal with Tehran, multiple US officials familiar with the latest intelligence told CNN.
The history of Western nations making deals with Iran has not been a happy one.
Eric Daugherty
@EricLDaugh
·
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🚨 TRUMP FAKE NEWS SMACKDOWN: He has to explain Art of the Deal over and over again!
REPORTER: People say, 'Trump always chickens out on his tariffs.'
TRUMP: "You ask a nasty question like that? It's called NEGOTIATION."
"Don't ever say what you said. That's a NASTY question." Show more
Last edited
12:41 PM · May 28, 2025
The term “TACO trade,” or “Trump Always Chickens Out" on tariffs, was coined by Financial Times columnist Robert Armstrong in a May article. Other liberals and folks like the TDS-addled Lincoln Project weirdos have been trying to mock Trump with variations of it since: //
Ashram, the Black Knight
2 hours ago edited
If you consider Trump's criticism of your question a "badge of honor," then that just confirms your bias and your tendency to never give the current administration a fair shake, Casella.
You should have your press credentials pulled.
Yuval Raphael defied gravity May 17 in much the same motif the fictional character, Elphaba in Wicked, has been defying gravity since 2003.
It was not consciously intended by the Israel Eurovision team, but Yuval Raphael defied gravity May 17 in much the same motif the fictional character, Elphaba in Wicked, has been defying gravity since 2003 – rising above her tormentors and would-be killers in song.
“Elphaba, the Wicked Witch” the greatest musical theatrical moment thus far of the 21st century, has been closing out Act 1 of Wicked on Broadway and around the globe to thrilled, sold-out audiences daily, rising to the sky in song. Dressed in her wing-dress of magic black, Raphael ascended the European set stairs to soar, singing of love and determination – our song.
Yuval Raphael – New Day Will Rise
English translation
English, French, Hebrew
Original lyrics
A watchdog representing energy workers is raising red flags after conducting a review of significant executive orders signed by autopen under the previous administration and finding "no evidence" that President Biden was aware of them. //
"This autopen scandal is evidence that these green EOs are invalid, and the instigators should be thoroughly investigated by the DOJ for violating the trust of the American people and perpetuating a great fraud on the nation," asserted Turner. //
Oversight Project
@ItsYourGov
·
Follow
Recall that former President Biden admitted to @SpeakerJohnson that he did not remember signing an executive order pausing LNG exports.
So, who signed it?
For investigators to determine whether then-President Biden actually ordered the signature of relevant legal documents, or Show more
2:10 PM · Mar 6, 2025. //
The problem, according to constitutional scholar Jonathan Turley, is that Presidents have the right to use the autopen, and courts aren't necessarily going to buy into theories about someone using it on Biden's behalf.
All the more reason for Congress to start calling in witnesses and get to the bottom of this. If Biden legitimately signed them, case closed. If he didn't - a scandal beyond comprehension. Either way, the American people have a right to know. There surely must be an electronic paper trail showing who initiated these autopen signatures and when. //
Retired Professor pat
6 hours ago
Notice that President Trump videos almost every one of his signing sessions? I gave him that piece of advice, to avoid this kind of charge against him later on, and I'm sure that's the reason he's doing it. ;-)
Project Veritas issued a statement on their website:
Project Veritas today released Part One of an explosive undercover investigation revealing shocking truths about who truly controlled the Biden White House. Through covert meetings with David Hogg, Vice Chair of the Democratic National Committee, and Deterrian Jones, former staffer in the Biden White House Office of Digital Strategy, Veritas uncovered a web of influence centered around Jill Biden’s Chief of Staff, Anthony Bernal, and a tight-knit inner circle. //
In the video, a Project Veritas undercover reporter asked Hogg, “The foundational question for me is, how corrupt is the DNC if so many knew or few people knew about Biden?”
Hogg’s answer: “The bigger issue was like the inner circle that was around Biden. That’s it. Like Jill Biden’s Chief of Staff [Anthony Bernal] had an enormous amount of power.”
Dating back 1,600 years ago, the colorful mosaic portrays hunting scenes, animals, and daily life in 55 medallions – a 'story that connects past, present, and future'
The European Broadcasting Union (EBU) released the official video of the Eurovision 2025 record on Friday, sparking a major controversy. Yuval Raphael, who finished second in the contest with "New Day Will Rise," does not appear anywhere in this music compilation. The Israeli singer had won the audience's vote before climbing to second overall, compensating for her fifteenth place among the jurors. Despite this remarkable success, no footage of her performance is included in the official montage, unlike the representatives of Austria, Estonia, Sweden, Germany, and France. //
This is not an isolated case. In 2023, Noa Kirel, third place in the contest, appeared in the official clip. The following year, Eden Golan, who came fifth, was absent. According to observers, this recurrence contributes to a "clear trend" of gradually excluding Israeli representatives from the official Eurovision productions. The EBU has not responded to these allegations, which tarnish the contest's image of neutrality.
Zechariah 3:2 New International Version
The LORD said to Satan, "The LORD rebuke you, Satan! The LORD, who has chosen Jerusalem, rebuke you! Is not this man a burning stick snatched from the fire?" //
When trying to identify the source of an NT citation of the OT it is important to consider the Greek OT, from which most NT citations of the OT employ. Please add Zech 3:2 from BES [Brenton's English Septuagint] to your scriptures in your question. blueletterbible.org/bes/zec/3/2/s_914002 //
A:
This is a contentious question and has been much debated even from the time of Origen. According to Origen, the account of Michael disputing with Satan over the body of Moses, is attributed to material contained in the Testament of Moses [also known as, "The Apocalypse of Moses", or, "The Assumption of Moses"]. However, about one third of the text of the Testament of Moses is now missing and there is no mention of such an incident in the text that remains.
Modern critical scholarship (with which I only rarely agree) suggest that this part of Jude is a midrash of Zech 3 and material from the Testament of Moses [eg, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Assumption_of_Moses ]. Certainly, Jude quotes often from both the OT pseudepigrapha, eg, Jude 14, 15 quotes 1 Enoch 1:9.
The idea of the LORD rebuking people is a regular theme in the OT, for example: [....]