Latest news with #WesternCivilization
Gizmodo
13-06-2025
- Politics
- Gizmodo
The Manosphere Is at War With Itself Over Israel's Strike on Iran
From the outside, the manosphere often appears monolithic: a band of hyper-online masculinity influencers united in their war against feminism, political correctness, and what they see as the softening of Western civilization. Whether it's red-pillers, tradCons, incels, nationalists, or so-called alpha gurus, their message is usually loud, synchronized, and singular. But beneath the surface, the ecosystem is messy and fragmented. These men can't even agree on what a 'true alpha' is, other than to claim, for self-serving and brand-conscious reasons, that Donald Trump and Elon Musk are the ideal masculine archetypes. Now, a geopolitical crisis has cracked the whole thing wide open. For months, speculation swirled that Israel would launch a preventive strike on Iran. Inside the manosphere, this prospect was a source of simmering tension. Some influencers warned of a coming World War 3. Others tried to keep their feeds focused on fitness, feminism, and Western decline. But when Israel launched a large-scale airstrike on Iranian nuclear facilities late Thursday night, June 12, the fallout across the online masculinity space was immediate and brutal. The strike has exposed a bitter ideological rift. On one side are those rallying behind Israel, defending what they see as the values of Western civilization and Judeo-Christian supremacy. On the other flank are anti-interventionists, neo-traditionalists, and Muslim influencers who either support Iran or reject the idea of U.S. involvement in yet another Middle East conflict. What's unfolding is an identity crisis for a movement built on certainty and dominance. Ben Shapiro, co-founder of The Daily Wire, is leading the charge on the pro-Israel front. A longtime vocal supporter of Israel, Shapiro went live on YouTube shortly after the strike, streaming for over an hour to explain 'Why Israel was 100% right to do it.' His post on X and Daily Wire's live feed have been viewed by hundreds of thousands of users. Shapiro, who is Jewish, has since flooded his feed with support for Israel and shared any coverage that reinforces the idea that Trump and other global powers are backing the attack. To his 7.8 million followers, the message is clear: Israel isn't alone. But while Shapiro affirms Israel's role in defending the West, most of the manosphere's power players are sounding the alarm, and they are not on his side. Tucker Carlson, with 16.3 million followers on X, used his newsletter to blast the Trump administration's response, particularly that of Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Rubio said the U.S. was not involved in the attack, a claim Carlson flatly rejects. 'The U.S. says it was 'not involved.' That's not true,' Carlson wrote on June 13. 'This could be the final newsletter before an all-out war.' He warned that Iran's threat to retaliate will escalate and that American citizens may be the ones paying the price. Charlie Kirk echoed the warning. With 5 million followers, Kirk warned that Iran could strike American military bases more easily than Israeli targets and argued that involvement in this conflict would be catastrophic. 'Dragging America into this war might be irrational and suicidal,' he wrote, comparing the situation to Ukraine. 'In any drawn-out war with Iran, America loses—even if we win.' Andrew Tate, the controversial influencer and recent Muslim convert, took a more ironic route. He reposted a thread skewering the language used to defend Israeli military actions. The post satirically lists 'rules' for discussing Israeli wars, including: 'Rule 1: Israel is never the aggressor' and 'Rule 14: The U.S. government has never lied about anything, ever.' Here's the thread he reposted. Myron Gaines, a fellow Muslim and co-host of Fresh & Fit, was more direct. 'I hope Trump doesn't make the same mistake Bush did and tarnish his legacy with more foreign wars in the Middle East that do NOTHING for the United States,' he wrote. Just hours before the strike, Matt Walsh, another Daily Wire personality, warned his 5 million followers that Iran poses no credible threat to the U.S. 'We do not need to get involved in yet another war in the Middle East for reasons that have nothing to do with defending our own nation,' he declared to his 3.7 million followers on X. The fallout is even more complex because many of these figures are stalwart Trump supporters. Now, they find themselves in opposition to Trump's foreign policy, or at least to the narratives being pushed by those closest to him. It's a splintering that no one in the movement seems to know how to manage. The divide is between entire ideological tribes that make up the masculinity ecosystem. The Christian nationalists find themselves at odds with pro-Muslim influencers. The Western traditionalists now clash with isolationist libertarians. The common ground that once united them—feminism bad, Trump good—is no longer enough. More fringe figures, like Nick Fuentes, are also weighing in, using the moment to amplify their openly anti-Israel stance. This rift matters. If Israel's strike escalates into a wider conflict, or if U.S. troops are drawn in, the fracture in the manosphere may become permanent. Influencers who have built empires on the illusion of ideological clarity are being forced to confront contradictions they'd rather ignore. Christian nationalists are struggling to square support for Israel with growing resentment among their base. Muslim influencers can no longer co-sign Western dominance while denouncing Western intervention. And libertarians are finding themselves surrounded by warhawks in their own movement. This is a test of what the manosphere really stands for when the stakes are higher than culture wars. What began as a fight about masculinity is now a battle over war, empire, and whose lives are worth defending. The grift is straining. The alliances are buckling. And no matter who wins this war, the brand may never be the same.
Yahoo
12-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Aaron Reitz, former top DOJ official and Paxton aide, launches bid for Texas attorney general
Aaron Reitz, a former senior official at the Department of Justice and veteran of the Texas conservative legal movement, is running for Texas attorney general. Reitz made his rumored bid public Thursday morning, launching a campaign website that touts his experience "on the frontlines of our state's and nation's most important battles." 'We are in a fight for the soul of Texas, our nation and Western Civilization itself,' Reitz said in a press release. 'If we lose Texas, we lose the Republic. As attorney general, I'll use every ounce of legal firepower to defend President Trump, crush the radical Left, advance the America and Texas First agenda, and look out for everyday Texans.' Until recently, Reitz led the DOJ's Office of Legal Policy, a high-ranking department that advises the Trump administration on legal strategy, legislation and judicial appointments. He left the post Wednesday, penning a resignation letter to Attorney General Pam Bondi in which he touted the agency's strides in restoring "a justice system corroded by left-wing lawfare" during the 72 days he spent there. Before joining the Trump administration, Reitz was chief of staff to U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, and deputy attorney general for legal strategy under Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton. Reitz is the second candidate to declare for the March 2026 Republican primary to succeed Paxton, who is forgoing reelection to challenge GOP Sen. John Cornyn of Texas. State Sen. Mayes Middleton, a Republican from Galveston, entered the race for attorney general in April. Middleton brings more electoral experience than Reitz, whose one effort to run for the state House earned him less than 15% of the primary vote. But Reitz brings experience in the trenches of the conservative legal juggernaut that is the Texas Office of the Attorney General. He led the agency's barrage of lawsuits against the Biden administration, including the failed attempt to overturn the results of the 2020 election in four key battleground states. A slew of Trump officials applauded Reitz's service and cheered his return to Texas on X. FBI Director Kash Patel, who also rose to his perch through conservative legal circles, voiced tacit support for Reitz's attorney general bid Wednesday, calling him "a personal friend, great American, and a relentless advocate for law and order" before adding, "now it's time to deliver on his next mission." On a 2021 podcast, Reitz laid out his philosophy that the Texas attorney general's office considers itself to be at war with 'the forces that want to destroy the American order, root and branch.' 'Our soldiers are lawyers, and our weapons are lawsuits, and our tactic is lawfare,' he said. 'This is the project that we're engaged in.' On the campaign website, he said Texas had 'the single most important state attorney general office in the country,' and if elected, he would ensure its 'full weight' is behind Trump's agenda. 'This is how we will defend the sovereignty of the United States at our southern border, preserve Texans' Constitutional rights, eradicate wokeness in all its forms, and ensure every Texan has a chance to succeed,' the website says. In nominating Reitz to the Justice Department, Trump called him a 'true MAGA attorney, a warrior for our Constitution.' The Senate Judiciary Committee approved his nomination on a party-line vote, after significant pushback from Democrats. Sen. Dick Durbin of Illinois, the top Democrat on the panel, called him a 'danger to the rule of law' and 'completely unfit to serve in any role in the Department of Justice.' Democrats homed in on Reitz's statement from his confirmation hearing that there is 'no hard and fast rule' on whether public officials are always bound by court rulings, as well as thousands of deleted tweets showing his staunch opposition to gay marriage, abortion and criminal justice reform. Reitz, a graduate of Texas A&M University and the University of Texas School of Law, also served in the Marine Corps. He was deployed to Afghanistan and remains a member of the Marine Corps Reserve. Disclosure: Texas A&M University has been a financial supporter of The Texas Tribune, a nonprofit, nonpartisan news organization that is funded in part by donations from members, foundations and corporate sponsors. Financial supporters play no role in the Tribune's journalism. Find a complete list of them here. Big news: 20 more speakers join the TribFest lineup! New additions include Margaret Spellings, former U.S. secretary of education and CEO of the Bipartisan Policy Center; Michael Curry, former presiding bishop and primate of The Episcopal Church; Beto O'Rourke, former U.S. Representative, D-El Paso; Joe Lonsdale, entrepreneur, founder and managing partner at 8VC; and Katie Phang, journalist and trial lawyer. Get tickets. TribFest 2025 is presented by JPMorganChase.
Fox News
12-06-2025
- Politics
- Fox News
FIRST ON FOX: High ranking DOJ official resigns post to run for attorney general in red state
FIRST ON FOX: Aaron Reitz, a top official in President Donald Trump's Department of Justice, has resigned his post in the administration to run for attorney general of Texas, entering what he is calling a "fight for the soul of Texas." Reitz, a former Marine and chief of staff to Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, served in the Trump administration under U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi as the assistant attorney general for the Office of Legal Policy. Following speculation of a possible run for Texas attorney general, one of the most powerful positions in the state, Reitz resigned his position with the DOJ on Wednesday and officially launched his campaign the day after. "If we lose Texas, we lose the Republic," Reitz said in a statement sent to Fox News Digital. "This is no time for half-measures or untested cowards," he said, adding, "We are in a fight for the soul of Texas, our nation, and Western civilization itself." "As Attorney General, I'll use every ounce of legal firepower to defend President Trump, crush the radical Left, advance the America and Texas First agenda, and look out for everyday Texans," he said. This comes as current Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton is running in hopes of replacing incumbent Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, in one of the most hotly contested primary races of the year. Reitz pledged to partner with the Trump administration to "clean up the border catastrophe with mass deportations and enhanced border security, take down the Soros-backed district attorneys, obliterate woke indoctrination, expose and root out election fraud, and defend our Constitutional rights without apology." Reitz touted his conservative bona fides, saying, "I've spent my entire career in the trenches with the toughest conservatives in America." He is likely to garner endorsements from some of the country's leading Republicans, with DOJ officials, including Bondi, giving him a string of fond farewells after he announced his departure. In an X post Bondi said: "I'm proud to have worked with @aaron_reitz at @TheJusticeDept. Aaron played a central role in our work to Make America Safe Again — his next chapter will surely contribute to @POTUS's mission, and I look forward to seeing what Aaron does next in his home state of Texas!" FBI Director Kash Patel also chimed in, saying "Aaron is a personal friend, great American, and a relentless advocate for law and order. Thanks for serving our country, now it's time to deliver on his next mission. Good luck." Before serving in the Trump administration and on Cruz's staff, Reitz previously held the position of Texas Deputy Attorney General for Legal Strategy under Paxton. In December, Paxton spoke very highly of Reitz, saying, "he's a proven and effective fighter for our Constitution and American Values" who was "our 'offensive coordinator' leading my very aggressive Texas-v-Biden docket." Paxton said that while working in his office Reitz "spearheaded some of our agency's most consequential actions on border security, immigration, Big Tech, Covid, energy, the environment, and election integrity." Texas Republican state Senator Mayes Middleton, another pro-Trump conservative, is also running for attorney general.
Yahoo
11-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Speaker Johnson to address Israeli Knesset
Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) will travel to Israel later this month and address the Knesset, the country's lawmaking body, as the top lawmaker condemns the spate of antisemitic attacks that have taken place in the U.S. The speech — set to take place on June 22 — will make Johnson the third Speaker of the House in history to address the Israeli parliament: Former Speaker Newt Gingrich (R-Ga.) was the first in 1998, followed by former Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) in 2023. 'It will be one of the highest honors of my life to address the Israeli Knesset at this fateful moment,' Johnson said in a statement on Wednesday. 'Our ties run deeper than military partnerships and trade agreements. We're bound by the same beliefs, the same psalms, and the same sacred pursuit of liberty.' Johnson is expected to meet with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during his trip, though the details are not yet confirmed. The speech comes more than a year and a half into Israel's war with Hamas, which began in October 2023 when the U.S.-designated terrorist organization launched an attack on Israel. The conflict has led to the death of hundreds of Israelis and tens of thousands of Palestinians. The address is also taking place amid a string of antisemitic attacks in the U.S., which Johnson has strongly condemned. Most recently, he and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) held a vigil on the Capitol steps to honor the Israeli embassy staffers who were fatally shot outside the Capital Jewish Museum in Washington, D.C. 'Today, the State of Israel and Jewish people around the world face grave threats, and it is our moral imperative to stand by our sister democracy,' Johnson said in his statement on Wednesday. 'As terror and vile antisemitic ideology threaten Western Civilization, Israel must know that when America said, 'Never Again,' we meant it.' The U.S.-Israeli relationship has been a key theme throughout Johnson's tenure as Speaker. The Louisiana Republican was elected to the top job weeks after Hamas attacked Israel, he oversaw the approval of billions of dollars in aid for Tel Aviv — after first trying to pair the funding with cuts to the IRS, which drew criticism — and he invited Netanyahu to the Capitol to deliver remarks to a joint session of Congress, which Johnson presided over. Speaker of the Knesset Amir Ohana called Johnson 'a great friend of the State of Israel and the Jewish people.' 'From the moment he was elected, he not only expressed his support through words but also took decisive action, even at the risk of his position, to support Israel in its most challenging moments,' Ohana added in a statement. 'I hold him in great esteem, believe he is highly deserving of addressing the Knesset, and look forward to hosting him and hearing his words to the nation.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
The Hill
11-06-2025
- Politics
- The Hill
Speaker Johnson to address Israeli Knesset
Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) will travel to Israel later this month and address the Knesset, the country's lawmaking body, as the top lawmaker condemns the spate of antisemitic attacks that have taken place in the U.S. The speech — set to take place on June 22 — will make Johnson the third Speaker of the House in history to address the Israeli parliament: Former Speaker Newt Gingrich (R-Ga.) was the first in 1998, followed by former Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) in 2023. 'It will be one of the highest honors of my life to address the Israeli Knesset at this fateful moment,' Johnson said in a statement on Wednesday. 'Our ties run deeper than military partnerships and trade agreements. We're bound by the same beliefs, the same psalms, and the same sacred pursuit of liberty.' Johnson is expected to meet with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during his trip, though the details are not yet confirmed. The speech comes more than a year and a half into Israel's war with Hamas, which began in October 2023 when the U.S.-designated terrorist organization launched an attack on Israel. The conflict has led to the death of hundreds of Israelis and tens of thousands of Palestinians. The address is also taking place amid a string of antisemitic attacks in the U.S., which Johnson has strongly condemned. Most recently, he and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) held a vigil on the Capitol steps to honor the Israeli embassy staffers who were fatally shot outside the Capital Jewish Museum in Washington, D.C. 'Today, the State of Israel and Jewish people around the world face grave threats, and it is our moral imperative to stand by our sister democracy,' Johnson said in his statement on Wednesday. 'As terror and vile antisemitic ideology threaten Western Civilization, Israel must know that when America said, 'Never Again,' we meant it.' The U.S.-Israeli relationship has been a key theme throughout Johnson's tenure as Speaker. The Louisiana Republican was elected to the top job weeks after Hamas attacked Israel, he oversaw the approval of billions of dollars in aid for Tel Aviv — after first trying to pair the funding with cuts to the IRS, which drew criticism — and he invited Netanyahu to the Capitol to deliver remarks to a joint session of Congress, which Johnson presided over. Speaker of the Knesset Amir Ohana called Johnson 'a great friend of the State of Israel and the Jewish people.' 'From the moment he was elected, he not only expressed his support through words but also took decisive action, even at the risk of his position, to support Israel in its most challenging moments,' Ohana added in a statement. 'I hold him in great esteem, believe he is highly deserving of addressing the Knesset, and look forward to hosting him and hearing his words to the nation.'
