<p>The Supreme Court on Thursday <a href="https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/24pdf/24-320_m648.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">unanimously ruled</a> that disabled veterans were entitled to retroactive compensation.</p>
<p>The case, <i>Soto</i> v. <i>United States</i>, began as a class action lawsuit led by Simon Soto, who served in the Marines for six years until he was medically retired. Soto served for part of this time in Mortuary Affairs, where he was “assigned to ‘search for, recover, and process the remains’ of war casualties.’” He struggled to return to civil life and was later diagnosed with a 100% disability rating for post-traumatic stress disorder by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), signifying “[t]otal occupational and social impairment.”</p>
<p>Soto applied for combat-related special compensation (CRSC), which is intended to offset the portion of retirement pay veterans are required to waive in order to receive disability benefits from the VA. Originally available only to veterans with 20 or more years of service, Congress extended special compensation to all veterans in 2008.</p>
<p>Soto applied for CRSC in 2016, and was found eligible. The government gave him retroactive compensation for his waived retirement pay, but capped it at six years, citing the Barring Act, which “subjects most claims to a six-year limitations period.” But the Barring Act also said that if “another law” allows the government to adjudicate settlements with the government, the six-year ceiling is not applicable.</p>
<p>Soto filed a class action lawsuit with other veterans whose compensation was limited under the Barring Act. They argued that the combat-related special compensation falls under the Barring Act’s loophole for superseding laws. The government argued that the statute establishing combat-related special compensation lacked the “specific language” needed to establish this.</p>
<p>A district court ruled in favor of Soto, and a federal circuit ruled in favor of the government, sending the case to the Supreme Court.</p>
<p>Justice Clarence Thomas delivered the opinion of the court, which emphasized that Congress isn’t limited by specific language arguments.</p>
<p>“As this Court has repeatedly explained, Congress &#8216;need not state its intent in any particular way,” and &#8216;[w]e have never required that Congress use magic words.&#8217;”</p>
<p>The Court ruled that there is sufficient basis for “another law” in the combat-related special compensation statute, ultimately deciding that Soto and his fellow veterans, whom they described as a “group of exceptionally deserving claimants”, can receive full disability compensation for their service.</p>


Clarence Thomas

Supreme Court Rules Unanimously In Favor Of Back Pay For Disabled Vets

Supreme Court

Veterans

<p>Veterans Affairs Secretary Doug Collins said that after a weekend of violent riots — during which property was vandalized and police officers and federal agents were targeted by protesters in the streets of Los Angeles — a local VA clinic was forced to close its doors.</p>
<p>Collins issued the statement on Monday afternoon, one day after President Donald Trump deployed National Guard troops to the California city in an effort to get the riots under control and protect the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents who were attempting to enforce federal immigration laws.</p>
<p>The VA secretary shared a photo showing the side of the Los Angeles VA building spray-painted with threats and profanities aimed at federal officials, adding, &#8220;To the violent mobs in Los Angeles rioting in support of illegal immigrants and against the rule of law – Your actions are interfering with Veterans’ health care.&#8221;</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">To ensure the safety of Veterans and employees, <a href="https://twitter.com/DeptVetAffairs?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@DeptVetAffairs</a> had to make the difficult decision to temporarily close its LA Ambulatory Care Center. The clinic will reopen as soon as it is safe to do so, and in the meantime, in-person appointments at the facility are being…</p>
<p>— VA Secretary Doug Collins (@SecVetAffairs) <a href="https://twitter.com/SecVetAffairs/status/1932141182404186216?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 9, 2025</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<p>&#8220;To ensure the safety of Veterans and employees, @DeptVetAffairs had to make the difficult decision to temporarily close its LA Ambulatory Care Center. The clinic will reopen as soon as it is safe to do so, and in the meantime, in-person appointments at the facility are being rescheduled or shifted to telehealth,&#8221; he added.</p>
<p><a href="https://get.dailywire.com/gift/?utm_medium=website&amp;utm_source=wisepops&amp;utm_campaign=dad&amp;utm_content=fathersdaygiftpopups" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Gift Dad an All Access Membership. Use code DAD40 at checkout to save 40%!</strong></a></p>
<p>In an effort to contain the riots, the Trump administration also deployed a number of U.S. Marines from nearby Camp Pendleton, some of whom were expected to relieve the National Guard troops who had already been in the city for nearly two days. Of the 2,000 National Guard troops who were initially deployed to Los Angeles, only approximately 300 have been actively engaged on the streets.</p>


Senate Nomination Hearing Held For Doug Collins To Be Veterans Affairs Secretary

Veterans Affairs Sec Says ‘Violent Mobs In Los Angeles’ Forced Veterans Clinic To Close

Department of Veterans Affairs

Doug Collins

Health Care

Military

U.S.

Veterans Affairs (VA)

<p>As a medic, my grandfather sat by countless hospital beds during the Korean War.</p>
<p>He would write letters home for men who knew they might never see their families again. Those moments became powerful memories for him. They were a weight he carried for decades. He bore the burden of memory — a burden we are now in danger of forgetting.</p>
<p>Memorial Day isn’t just a holiday. It’s a defiant stand against our own human tendency to let the sacrifices of the fallen fade into the noise of our fast-paced lives. We must remember, because the stories of those who gave everything for our freedom are the part of our story that makes everything possible for us in our current time.</p>
<p>My grandfather carried with him that weight of remembering until his final days. My wife’s grandfather, a bomber pilot in Vietnam, carried a similar burden. Like my grandfather, he rarely spoke of his service. But when those of us in the family who served sit with him, he begins to share.</p>
<p>His stories are vivid, etched with the clarity of a man who could never forget the skies he flew or the comrades who didn’t return. He holds on to the memories, because they matter. Listening to him, I have come to realize how vital it is to hold those stories close. They aren’t just his — they’re ours. They are American stories. Stories of our country&#8217;s finest, who died so that my children and I can be free.</p>
<p>Our culture, driven by a relentless news cycle and a forward-looking obsession, often forgets. It’s our own human nature to let the past slip away, to assume our freedoms and comforts are a given. But this forgetting comes at a cost. As my grandfather’s stories taught me, memory is not passive. It is an active choice, a discipline.</p>
<p>Scripture repeatedly underscores this truth. Deuteronomy 5:15 tells us to “Remember that you were slaves in Egypt and that the Lord your God brought you out of there with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm.&#8221;</p>
<p>God commands His people to remember. Why? Because without memory, we lose our sense of who we are. We begin to think history began with us, ignoring the countless souls who have paved our way. Memorial Day is our national reminder of this truth, a day to recall the men and women who laid down their lives so we might live free.</p>
<p>The weight of memory is not meant to crush us but to ground us. It reminds us that our freedom is not free—it was purchased at a great price. The families of the fallen walk among us, carrying their own quiet burdens. We honor them by listening to their stories, by reading about the sacrifices made, by teaching our children the names and deeds of those who served. My grandfather never forgot. My wife’s grandfather never forgot. Their memories shaped them, and now they shape us.</p>
<p>There is something else about remembering those who died so that we might live. It reminds us that their sacrifice demands our action. They gave their lives so that we can live. We have an obligation to take that seriously and live with meaning. We have a duty to march forward and seek victory. To do what is good. To live our lives, and pass our heritage down to our children. If we do not, we belittle the sacrifices made on our behalf.</p>
<p>It is time for us all to discipline ourselves and remember. We must be thankful for the sacrifice and embrace our great heritage. We must live our lives like they have been protected at great cost — because they have been. We must remember.</p>
<p>* * *</p>
<p><em>Daniel Hayworth is the Lead Pastor of Vintage Church Harker Heights near Fort Hood, Texas, where he lives with his wife and four children. </em></p>
<p><i data-stringify-type="italic">The views expressed in this piece are those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of The Daily Wire.</i></p>


BULGARIA-NATO-DEFENCE-MILITARY-EXERCISE

The Weight Of Memory: Why Memorial Day Matters

Memorial Day

Soldiers

<p>With Memorial Day so near, I’m thinking of active-duty military, their families, and our veterans.</p>
<p>It’s impossible to let this national day of commemoration pass without addressing the tragic statistics of military and veteran suicide. Twenty-two veterans commit suicide each day. That’s one veteran every 65 minutes.</p>
<p>A 2024 Pentagon study revealed another devastating statistic: American soldiers are now <a href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2024/06/11/military-suicide-defense-department-pentagon-study/73983842007/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">more likely</a> to die from suicide than from any other cause. In an attempt to provide help and resources for our struggling veterans, the <a href="https://988lifeline.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Suicide Crisis Hotline</a>, and organizations such as the Military Suicide Awareness have been created. But is it enough?</p>
<p>Our soldiers may no longer be fighting in traditional ground wars. But those engaged in remote operations can nonetheless suffer invisible wounds just as crippling as an IED blast.</p>
<p>Almost 7% of veterans will <a href="https://www.ptsd.va.gov/understand/common/common_veterans.asp" target="_blank" rel="noopener">suffer from PTSD</a> in their lifetime. These struggles not only affect veterans, but can have a cascading impact on their families, too. It is vital to recognize the great impact active duty and veteran life has on our military families. In 2022, for example, 146 military family members died by suicide, including 83 spouses and 53 dependents, the majority of whom were under 18.</p>
<p>Often, military spouses are expected to be the glue that holds the family together. We are expected to be resilient and strong despite the deployments, raising children alone while repeatedly losing community because of frequent relocations.</p>
<p>But military spouses often suffer in silence. Depression, under the best of circumstances, is isolating. But when you experience frequent moves and loss of community and support, it only adds to that sense of loneliness and having to “deal with it” on your own.</p>
<p>I struggled with the shame and embarrassment for not being able to “tough it out” and handle everything while my spouse was away serving. I struggled with the guilt of not feeling strong enough. It is an isolating battle, and it’s almost easier to sink into yourself rather than risk judgment or become a poor reflection on your spouse when you finally do ask for help.</p>
<p>These struggles are often overlooked by both the military and civilian communities. But they shouldn’t be.</p>
<p>We as a society need to end the stigma surrounding mental health for our soldiers and our military families. Supporting our veterans and military families starts with compassion, education, and collective action.</p>
<p>It’s time to share stories of veterans and spouses who have sought help and found healing to inspire hope and reassurance. We need to launch mentorship programs that pair a healed service member or spouse with one facing struggles to foster encouragement and fellowship. We can establish essential services, including support groups, counseling, and mental health-informed medical care, to support their journey to healing.</p>
<p>This is a time for our leaders — both military and civilian — to step up and speak openly about the mental health situation affecting our veterans and military families. Their actions and policies set the tone for whether mental health is seen as a weakness or a priority. We need to make it a priority.</p>
<p>Together, let’s strive to serve our veterans and their families through initiatives like #988, volunteering, and raising awareness. Together, 22-a-day may become a thing of the past, and our soldiers and their families can find hope for the future.</p>
<p><i>Dani Pettrey is the bestselling author and military spouse. Her latest novel, “Two Seconds Too Late,” features a veteran battling PTSD and depression.</i></p>
<p><i data-stringify-type="italic">The views expressed in this piece are those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of The Daily Wire.</i></p>


1st Infantry Division Soldiers Return Home To Fort Knox From Afghanistan

This Memorial Day, We Should Think About Military Families

PTSD

<p>With so many veterans&#8217; charities and organizations operating, it can be difficult for those who want to help America&#8217;s veterans ensure that their donations are going to the people they&#8217;re intended to help.</p>
<p>One group says it has the solution.</p>
<p><a href="https://charitiesforvets.org/about-us/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Charities for Vets</a> uses a straightforward rating process to help donors easily determine which veteran-focused organizations are managing their funds efficiently and getting the most money to the intended recipients.</p>
<p>Richard Berman, Executive Director of the RAM Foundation, told The Daily Wire he launched Charities for Vets because he saw just how many philanthropic groups were not using their resources effectively — and because, ultimately, the people that would be hurt by waste and abuse in charitable organizations would be those the charities were intended to help.</p>
<p>&#8220;We talk so often about &#8216;waste, fraud, and abuse,'&#8221; Berman said. &#8220;How many people are abusing their donors’ trusts by not delivering on the services they’ve promised?&#8221;</p>
<p>Charities For Vets answers those questions with a simple process. The group evaluates charities using data gleaned from IRS forms and other official filings, with the goal of determining &#8220;who is wasting money?</p>
<p>Berman explained what he believed set Charities for Vets apart from other watchdog organizations.</p>
<p>&#8220;There are a lot of watchdogs already out there, and I wouldn’t have done this if I thought they were doing a good job or if I didn’t think I could do it better,&#8221; he told The Daily Wire. &#8220;People are contributing money to organizations that are poorly run, and average small donors often don’t know those ratings even exist — or won’t pay for subscription to access the information.&#8221;</p>
<p>He also noted that Charities For Vets scores organizations differently from other watchdogs. While some organizations gave ratings for different areas and then averaged them, he said, Charities For Vets scores each area, &#8220;and a fail in any area results in a &#8216;not-recommended&#8217; status.&#8221;</p>
<p>&#8220;We have told people that if we have given you a poor rating, we will consider unique situations and change recommendations — and year to year, they can see changes in status if they are doing better or worse in any area. We have seen new heads of charities come in, call us, and make changes accordingly,&#8221; Berman added. &#8220;We are very sensitive to not making a mistake — a personal responsibility on my part. We are all volunteers. No one has any incentive to do anything different than call balls and strikes.&#8221;</p>
<p>Vietnam veteran and retired Marine Corps Colonel Pete Metzger, a member of the Charities For Vets advisory board, told The Daily Wire that Berman recruited him forthe project. Once he saw the concept, he was sold.</p>
<p>&#8220;It sounded to me like third grade common sense, and that&#8217;s important for an infantry guy. If people are going to give money, and thank God they do, the money ought to be going to where they think it’s going,&#8221; he said, adding, &#8220;The genius is in its simplicity, it’s not complicated at all. If you want to give some money, and we hope you do, just go to the website and look for the recommendation. It&#8217;s like a Consumer Report, but for charities instead of vacuum cleaners.&#8221;</p>
<p>Metzger went on to say that the results already seemed to be speaking for themselves.</p>
<p>&#8220;From 2022 to 2023, the charities that we did not recommend saw a drop in donations of 11.25%, or $125 million. Those that we recommended saw their donations increase by $23 million — and those that we highly recommended had an increase of $65 million.&#8221;</p>
<p>&#8220;We&#8217;re not in the business to stop people from donating, we just want to divert funds to the charities that are doing the right things and encourage the charities that aren’t to fix things,&#8221; Metzger added.</p>
<p>Fellow advisory board member and retired Navy Commander Kirk Lippold told The Daily Wire that the project held a special meaning for him: he was Commander of the USS Cole when it was attacked by terrorists in 2000.</p>
<p>Knowing what it was like to watch service members and their families who were dependent on the help they received from charitable organizations, Lippold said that it was doubly important to make sure that those charities were being smart with the money coming in from donors.</p>
<p>For some that earned a &#8220;not recommended&#8221; rating, he said that it wasn&#8217;t necessarily about the organizations being bad.</p>
<p>&#8220;It’s not that these organizations don’t do good things, it’s that they’re spending too much money on overhead and fundraising — too little ultimately gets to the people who are supposed to be getting it.&#8221;</p>
<p>&#8220;Americans are incredibly ingenious and hardworking, and they always want to see their money spent efficiently and effectively. This process is the best way I&#8217;ve seen to ensure that the vast majority of it is going to the people who need that help,&#8221; Lippold said. &#8220;Our organization is the gold standard that we want people to turn to in order to determine which organizations give the most to the veterans who serve our great nation.&#8221;</p>
<p>One thing all three men stressed was that ratings were not permanent. Every year, Charities for Vets evaluates the top 100 military charities — and if those organizations make changes for better or for worse, those changes will be reflected in their ratings for that year.</p>
<p>They&#8217;re also open to challenges from organizations that feel they&#8217;ve been evaluated unfairly.</p>
<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s possible that either we miss something or they might report things in way that we can’t easily see what they’re doing. We are always willing to have a conversation about whether we’ve evaluated them fairly,&#8221; Lippold said, adding that if new information presents a different picture, that rating can change.</p>
<p>&#8220;And we do have organizations that are still very upset about getting a &#8216;not recommended&#8217; rating,&#8221; he said. &#8220;But this is the gold standard, and you can get as upset as you want, but we’re not going to change our criteria.&#8221;</p>
<p>Charities for Vets is run entirely by volunteers. Donations to their organization are used instead to promote their service and connect more people to military charities that are most effective at getting donations to the intended recipients.</p>
<p>&#8220;For every $50,000 we get in donations, we reach a million people,&#8221; Metzger said.</p>


Flags In Takes Place At Arlington National Cemetery Ahead Of Memorial Day

‘America, We Have A Problem’: Non-Profit Reveals Who’s Really Supporting Veterans

'America, We Have A Problem': Non-Profit Cuts Through Ads To See Who's Really Supporting Veterans

Media

<p>Today is Armed Forces Day, an occasion to express gratitude and respect for those men and women making the sacrifice to serve our country in uniform. This year, I can think of no better way to honor their commitment to duty than to give those reentering civilian life a shot at gainful employment.</p>
<p>Few people truly understand how hard it is to transition out of the military. In uniform, your mission is clear. Your role is defined. You live with structure, purpose, and a sense of belonging. But when service ends, the system that trained you offers little preparation for what comes next.</p>
<p>Sadly, this transition is often treated like a final administrative task rather than the critical life shift it truly is. You get a checklist, a few briefings, and a polite nod toward civilian life. But those things do not prepare you for the deeper shift — how to rebuild your purpose, your identity, and your worth in a world that operates differently.</p>
<p>When the structure and rhythm of military life disappear, veterans are suddenly confronted with a vacuum. The transition programs that are supposed to help prove unproductive because they are still led by people who don’t understand what it takes to succeed after service.</p>
<p>Our servicemen and women get stuck with outdated processes that are heavy on structure and light on relevance, leaving them unprepared for today’s fast-moving economy. If we continue with this approach,  we will keep losing people after the fight is over.</p>
<p>And it isn’t just veterans who are suffering. The economy is feeling the strain as well.</p>
<p>Industries from tech to logistics to healthcare are scrambling to find people who can build teams, make decisions, and lead under pressure. They spend hundreds of thousands of dollars to find qualified candidates, only to be disappointed because they don’t have the grit and follow-through to overcome the challenges faced by today’s organizations.</p>
<p>Hiring managers complain that new workers are entitled, lazy, and don’t take initiative. They say they’re tired of seeing the same resumes and hiring employees who don’t move the needle. But they overlook the group that can address these problems and more: veterans.</p>
<p>Veterans have developed leadership skills, adaptability, and mission-driven focus through years of training and real-world experience. Simply by enlisting, they demonstrated that they are willing to work for something bigger than themselves and make the sacrifices necessary to achieve it.</p>
<p>I have seen how the military trains men and women to lead, build teams, persevere, and thrive under pressure — traits companies claim to need. Yet too often, there is a disconnect. Too often, veterans are overlooked because they do not have the “experience” or necessary qualifications.</p>
<p>These things are undoubtedly important, but should not be the only consideration. When they are, two catastrophic things happen: companies miss out on thousands of uniquely qualified candidates, and veterans are left to suffer.</p>
<p>What could be a wonderful partnership becomes another statistic of veteran unemployment and corporate leadership struggles.</p>
<p>It&#8217;s not that veterans are not capable or that companies don&#8217;t care. The system was simply not built to align the two sides properly.</p>
<p>But that just isn’t good enough for our economy — or our veterans.</p>
<p>We need a new way forward, one that recognizes the immense, ever-changing challenges today’s organizations face while simultaneously valuing the skills veterans have developed through their service — even if they don’t show up on the job experience section in a resume.</p>
<p>It’s time for companies to consider veterans&#8217; unique skills and experiences. They might be exactly what the economy needs because, right now, America isn’t short on workers — it’s short on leaders.</p>
<p>Translating that experience into civilian terms is not simple. But it is possible.</p>
<p>For me, education was part of that process. I chose to study at Pepperdine University, where I was challenged to think differently, expand my leadership skills beyond the military, and see the civilian world not as foreign ground but as a new mission to master.</p>
<p>These years reminded me that growth does not stop when the uniform comes off. It simply changes form, morphing into another kind of challenge. And it&#8217;s one I believe veterans are perfectly suited to meet.</p>
<p>The solution, however,  isn’t more hiring initiatives, which soon become quotas and occasions for empty virtue signaling. Instead, we need deliberate pathways that match veterans’ capabilities and values with organizations willing to put leadership potential to work.</p>
<p>It is not about charity. It’s about putting proven leadership where it belongs — in the fight, making an impact. This can and does lead to real careers, authentic leadership, and incredible results.</p>
<p>If you are serious about building a team that can survive and thrive in the real world, stop overlooking veterans. We don&#8217;t need favors. We need opportunities. And the world needs what we have to offer. So this Armed Forces Day, America’s companies can show their gratitude by trusting those who have already proven they can lead.</p>
<p><em>Kenny Spratt is the founder and CEO of TalentBase, a Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business specializing in connecting highly-skilled veterans to meaningful career opportunities across the private sector.</em></p>
<p><i data-stringify-type="italic">The views expressed in this piece are those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of The Daily Wire.</i></p>


Army’s New Pre-Basic Training Prep Course Helps Potential Soldiers Qualify For Enlistment

American Companies Should Stop Overlooking Veterans

Employers

U.S. Army

<p style="font-weight: 400;">After Los Angeles Lakers star Lebron James — who has a long-standing history of flopping on the floor to draw unwarranted fouls from the opposition — flopped one time too many in Wednesday’s playoff game against the Minnesota Timberwolves, as a Minnesota combat veteran and former state representative who had both of his legs blown off in Iraq offered a deathless response on X.</p>
<p style="font-weight: 400;">“I had less of a reaction when my legs were blown off,” John Kriesel, who now serves as director of veteran services for Anoka County, reacted. Kriesel was awarded the Purple Heart and Bronze Star medal after serving in Iraq; in 2006, he was injured by an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) that blew up. He is also the author of the autobiography S<em>till Standing</em>.</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">I had less of a reaction when my legs were blown off. <a href="https://t.co/2gWk1EtRzH">https://t.co/2gWk1EtRzH</a></p>
<p>— John Kriesel (@johnkriesel) <a href="https://twitter.com/johnkriesel/status/1917976625112584332?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 1, 2025</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<p>The Timberwolves won the game 103-96, eliminating the Lakers from the playoffs.</p>
<p style="font-weight: 400;">There were multiple hilarious responses to Kriesel’s post, including:</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">A player for the Dallas Stars hockey team died on the bench (flatlined for 2 minutes), was resuscitated in the hallway, and asked to go back into the game.<a href="https://t.co/XfSdKgHlo3">https://t.co/XfSdKgHlo3</a></p>
<p>— Slim Tidings (@drfeedbacker) <a href="https://twitter.com/drfeedbacker/status/1918096265818083701?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 2, 2025</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Falls can be deadly for elderly men like LeBron. He could break a hip, be hospitalized and contract staphylococcal infection.</p>
<p>— Greg Brown (@the_Greglodon) <a href="https://twitter.com/the_Greglodon/status/1918109860270653733?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 2, 2025</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">He is a DIVA &#8211;his name should never be in the same sentence as MJ, Bird or Barkley &#8211;seriously <a href="https://t.co/xBKPVbkSEo">pic.twitter.com/xBKPVbkSEo</a></p>
<p>— AJH (@UnamedLocation) <a href="https://twitter.com/UnamedLocation/status/1918082924622082507?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 1, 2025</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<p style="font-weight: 400;">“Poor LeBron, all 6’9, 250 pounds of him, ran into Minnesota’s Donte Divincenzo, 6’4, 203 pounds, during Wednesday’s Lakers playoff exit and…couldn’t get up.&#8221;</p>
<p style="font-weight: 400;">&#8220;Divincenzo, 47 pounds lighter, had no such problem,” Outkick <a href="https://www.outkick.com/sports/lebron-james-has-hall-fame-worthy-flop-sad-lakers-playoff-exit">mocked</a>. “LeBron was on the ground for more than 20 seconds. Men have been hit by prime Mike Tyson and stayed on the canvas for less time than LeBron sprawled himself out on the hardwood.”</p>
<p style="font-weight: 400;">Earlier in the series, James got caught after a flop, taking a surreptitious look, apparently to see if the refs had called a foul.</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">LeBron think he slick 🤣<br />
(h/t bonbaguy23/TT) <a href="https://t.co/10OAMCcEJS">pic.twitter.com/10OAMCcEJS</a></p>
<p>— Overtime (@overtime) <a href="https://twitter.com/overtime/status/1915127592258310587?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 23, 2025</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<p style="font-weight: 400;">“James was hit in the face by Timberwolves forward Julius Randle, 30, in the fourth quarter of Game 2 in Los Angeles&#8217; first-round playoff series, and stayed on the floor for several minutes as referees discussed the call,” People Magazine <a href="https://people.com/lebron-james-caught-flopping-fans-think-lakers-playoff-win-11721511">reported</a>.</p>
<p style="font-weight: 400;">In a loss to the Boston Celtics during the regular season, James flopped again. Sports Illustrated wrote that he “may have added a lamentable lowlight to his highlight reel with a brutal flop late in the game.”</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Don’t ever compare this man to Jordan again <a href="https://t.co/Il9ccLztkt">pic.twitter.com/Il9ccLztkt</a></p>
<p>— Samantha (@SN1onX) <a href="https://twitter.com/SN1onX/status/1898585868106870808?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 9, 2025</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<p style="font-weight: 400;">There have even been videos featuring James’ legendary flopping habits:</p>
<p><iframe loading="lazy" title="Lebron FLOPS from Level 1 to 100" width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/N7cZn9bgATE?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe></p>
<blockquote class="tiktok-embed" cite="https://www.tiktok.com/@instabucketz/video/7337784992405277994" data-video-id="7337784992405277994" data-embed-from="oembed" style="max-width:605px; min-width:325px;">
<section> <a target="_blank" title="@instabucketz" href="https://www.tiktok.com/@instabucketz?refer=embed">@instabucketz</a> </p>
<p>1 minute of LeBron James flopping 😂 Le🩴 <a title="instabucketz" target="_blank" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/instabucketz?refer=embed">#instabucketz</a> <a title="basketball" target="_blank" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/basketball?refer=embed">#basketball</a> <a title="basketball" target="_blank" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/basketball?refer=embed">#basketball</a> </p>
<p> <a target="_blank" title="♬ original sound - Instabucketz" href="https://www.tiktok.com/music/original-sound-7337785051411647274?refer=embed">♬ original sound &#8211; Instabucketz</a> </section>
</blockquote>
<p> <script async src="https://www.tiktok.com/embed.js"></script></p>


Minnesota Timberwolves v Los Angeles Lakers – Game Five

LeBron Flops One Time Too Many, Provoking Deathless Response From Iraq Combat Vet

Celebrities

Iraq

LeBron James

Los Angeles Lakers

Minnesota

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Actor Gary Sinise says that his new veteran-focused film, “Brothers After War,” was made in part to forge a connection between the military and &#8220;the average American.&#8221;</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Sinise is an executive producer on the project, teaming up with filmmaker and director Jake Rademacher.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">A </span><a href="https://brothersafterwar.com/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">synopsis</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> of the film says: “Jake Rademacher reconnects with his brothers and elite Soldiers and Marines he embedded with during the Iraq War. Intercutting footage past and present, he leads us on an insightful, humorous, and moving journey as we watch warfighters explore loss, meaning, and hope on their path from warfighter to veteran.”</span></p>
<p><iframe loading="lazy" title="&quot;Brothers After War&quot; Trailer" width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/zdNwYJ4S6Ag?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe></p>
<p>Rademacher and Sinise sat down with <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/podcasts/morning-wire">Morning Wire</a> for an interview about the film, which will be released in full on Saturday.</p>
<p>The director said one of his goals was to present the service members as &#8220;three-dimensional&#8221; characters with both flaws and virtues. &#8220;<span style="font-weight: 400;">Oftentimes when you see documentaries, people cherrypick sad stories. They&#8217;re not really in the community, somebody&#8217;s kind of doing their drive by film about it,&#8221; Rademacher said.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">&#8220;I&#8217;ve got to actually spend a day with these people,&#8221; he continued. &#8220;I&#8217;ve got to embed in their life. Now I embedded with them in the foxholes&#8230; I got to jump out of an airplane with them or go scuba diving, or get weapons training, which I did all of that.&#8221;</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;"> The filmmaker said he wanted to show that the subjects of the documentary are &#8220;highly functioning people&#8221; who are &#8220;still carrying some of the invisible wounds of war.&#8221; </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">&#8220;They still have some work to do. And, and I&#8217;ll show their vulnerability, but I also want to show their strength,&#8221; he said. &#8220;T</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">hat&#8217;s the power of the movie. It makes tough subjects easier to talk about.&#8221;</span></p>
<p>Sinise referenced his iconic role playing Lieutenant Dan in the classic &#8220;Forrest Gump.&#8221;</p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">He said t</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">he &#8220;good thing&#8221; about that fictional story is that it can represent healing, which is possible for veterans going through a tough time. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">&#8220;The good thing about [Lieutenant Dan&#8217;s] story is that it&#8217;s a happy ending at the end, right? You&#8217;ve got a guy who goes off to war. He&#8217;s serving during a time of conflict in our own country about whether he should have even been in the war or not. He has to isolate,&#8221; Sinise said. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">&#8220;He drowns himself in alcohol and disappears, but then, thankfully, at the end of that story, he&#8217;s standing up again. He&#8217;s making peace and he&#8217;s moving on. &#8230;That&#8217;s the story that we want for every single person who goes and serves in the military and comes home from war and defends our country. We want them to be okay. We want them to move on.&#8221;</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“We want [veterans] to know that there’s a way to share their stories,” Sinise said of the documentary project during an </span><a href="https://www.newsmax.com/newsmax-tv/sinise-veterans-brothers/2025/02/22/id/1200100/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">interview</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> with Newsmax. “Their stories are important. And I think by seeing this film and seeing the veterans in this film sharing their stories on camera for the world to see, it’s going to be very, very encouraging for somebody who may just need to talk about something but hasn’t been able to do it.”</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“There’s a big disconnect between the average American who doesn’t have a relationship to anybody in the military and our military, the people that actually serve our country,” the actor said. “So maybe &#8216;Brothers After War&#8217; can help bridge that disconnect. That’s what we hope.”</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The 69-year-old star founded the Gary Sinise Foundation in 2011 and has been advocating for veterans ever since through outreach, visiting service members and veterans around the world, and calling attention to issues that matter to them.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">He also helped fund this new documentary and </span><a href="https://www.military.com/off-duty/movies/2025/02/26/why-gary-sinise-wants-every-us-service-member-and-veteran-see-brothers-after-war.html"><span style="font-weight: 400;">partnered with</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> Regal Cinema to make a record donation ($150,000) to entertainment nonprofit Vet Tix so free tickets to the film are available. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“Brothers After War” hits theaters on Friday, February 28. Participating theaters can be found on the film&#8217;s official </span><a href="https://tickets.brothersafterwar.com/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">website</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">. </span></p>


Gary Sinise

Gary Sinise Wants His New Movie ‘Brothers After War’ To Connect ‘Average American’ And Military

Gary Sinise Hopes His New Veteran-Focused Movie Will Connect Civilians And Military

Entertainment

Movies

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Hollywood star Rob Lowe celebrated all that veterans and first responders have done in a Super Bowl LIX ad that most people probably didn’t see even though it aired during the Philadelphia Eagles 40-22 victory against the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">In the 30 second ad — which only aired in</span><span style="font-weight: 400;"> local markets in Colorado and Wyoming — Lowe provides a voice over</span><span style="font-weight: 400;"> for an ad for the White Heart Foundation, a charity that focuses on providing </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">mental health support for veterans and first responders &#8230; according to its </span><a href="https://www.whiteheart.org/history"><span style="font-weight: 400;">website</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">They’ve had our backs — now let’s have theirs,” Lowe captioned his post. “Veterans and first responders face unique mental health challenges, but they don’t have to face them alone.”</span></p>
<blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/reel/DF3iBypSqIR/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14">
<div style="padding: 16px;">
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<div style="flex-direction: row; align-items: center;">
<div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div>
<div style="flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;">
<div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div>
<div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div>
</div>
</div>
<div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div>
<div style="height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div>
<div style="padding-top: 8px;">
<div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div>
</div>
<div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"></div>
<div style="flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;">
<div>
<div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px;"></div>
<div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"></div>
<div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px;"></div>
</div>
<div style="margin-left: 8px;">
<div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"></div>
<div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent;"></div>
</div>
<div style="margin-left: auto;">
<div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent;"></div>
<div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px;"></div>
<div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent;"></div>
</div>
</div>
<div style="flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;">
<div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"></div>
<div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"></div>
</div>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/DF3iBypSqIR/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by White Heart Foundation (@whiteheart)</a></p>
</div>
</blockquote>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“Our program provides the support, resources, and community they deserve,” he added. “Join us in making a difference and give hope today. Visit Whiteheart.org.”</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The ad opens with the message, “It’s a thankless job, you exist to provide hope, but the trauma you face doesn’t just stay on the job,” Lowe said. “It follows you home. This is the sacrifice you make so that others can have hope.”</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“But everyone deserves hope. Even heroes,” it added. “Join us as we provide hope for America’s heroes. The White Heart Foundation.”</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Throughout the ad, there are numerous images of military honors and medals, juxtaposed with images of </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">fires and accidents. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">It was just one of several patriotic commercials that aired during the big game on Sunday, including a Jeep ad featuring actor Harrison Ford that also got a lot of attention.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“Freedom is for everybody. But it isn’t free. It’s earned,” Ford said in the </span><a href="https://x.com/MAC_Arms/status/1888947531083567317"><span style="font-weight: 400;">ad</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> which aLeo featured images of the American flag. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“There are real heroes in the world, but not the ones in the movies,” he added. “Real heroes are humble, and they’re not driven by pride … The most sacred thing in life isn’t the path. It’s the freedom to choose it.”</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Another </span><a href="https://x.com/TheCalvinCooli1/status/1888729012358234224"><span style="font-weight: 400;">ad</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> features actor Brad Pitt and celebrates America’s history, showcasing an image of the Founding Fathers signing the Declaration of Independence and talking about celebrating the glory of the game not as individuals but as one. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“We, the people. Today we come together, not just these players and coaches or these teams and sides. We, all of us, the dreamers, the warriors, the builders and believers,” Pitt said. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“Brought together to celebrate our greatest game, the game that teaches us what we can achieve when we gather together in a that most American of formations, the one most fundamental to every play call in every game, the huddle,” he added. “Think about it. When we are bound by a common goal, we have reached heights, authored achievements, pushed progress, not alone but together, in ways that have lifted the world and one another.”</span></p>


Family waving American flags

Rob Lowe Celebrates Veterans And First Responders In Patriotic Super Bowl Ad You Might’ve Missed

Rob Lowe Celebrates Veterans And First Responders In Patriotic Super Bowl Ad You Might've Missed

Brad Pitt

First Responders

Harrison Ford

Patriotic

Rob Lowe

Super Bowl

Cabinet 4

Trump Confirmation Hearings Begin With Pete Hegseth: Live Updates

Donald Trump

Pentagon

Pete Hegseth

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">NFL analyst and “Good Morning America” host </span><a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/michael-strahan-breaks-silence-after-hes-accused-of-being-disrespectful-during-national-anthem"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Michael Strahan</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> apologized and talked about how much he loves the military after he was accused of being “disrespectful” during the playing of the national anthem at a pre-Veteran’s Day broadcast celebration.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">In a video he posted on his </span><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DCS74WZxOr2/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Instagram</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, Strahan said he wanted to address the backlash, saying that not placing his hand over his chest while the anthem played was in no way “protesting” or making some kind of statement.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“The only statement that should be made and that I wanna make is that I love the military,” Strahan said. “I’ve always loved the military, and I will always love the military. I do so many programs to help veterans and soldiers. I grew up on a military base with a father who was a major in the Army.”</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“My brother, my sister, my cousins, they all served in the military — I’m a military brat,” he added. “And so the fact of somebody saying that, you know, I’m unpatriotic, couldn’t be any further from the truth. And if you want the truth, I’ll tell you: The truth is that I was caught up in the moment.”</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“I’m looking at all these young sailors standing there at attention before the national anthem played, and I’m thinking to myself, ‘How incredible. How incredible to be that young and to know that you wanna do this.’ Strahan continued. “Like, it’s such a commitment, but you’re willing to commit to something that you know gives us our freedoms, plain and simple. I’m just sitting there in amazement.”</span></p>
<blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/reel/DCS74WZxOr2/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14">
<div style="padding: 16px;">
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<div style="flex-direction: row; align-items: center;">
<div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div>
<div style="flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;">
<div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div>
<div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div>
</div>
</div>
<div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div>
<div style="height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div>
<div style="padding-top: 8px;">
<div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div>
</div>
<div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"></div>
<div style="flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;">
<div>
<div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px;"></div>
<div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"></div>
<div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px;"></div>
</div>
<div style="margin-left: 8px;">
<div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"></div>
<div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent;"></div>
</div>
<div style="margin-left: auto;">
<div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent;"></div>
<div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px;"></div>
<div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent;"></div>
</div>
</div>
<div style="flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;">
<div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"></div>
<div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"></div>
</div>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/DCS74WZxOr2/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by michaelstrahan (@michaelstrahan)</a></p>
</div>
</blockquote>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Strahan said by the time he looked back at his cohosts and saw them with their hand over their heart, he had a moment of “somewhat panic.”</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“I’m like, ‘Do I be the fool that puts his hand over his heart after or do I just stand here with my hand in front of me respectfully?’ Which, that’s what I did, that’s what happened,” he added.</span></p>
<p><a href="https://www.amiracist.com/?_gl=1*jtghwp*_gcl_au*ODQ1NjYzNTg2LjE3Mjg5MDk3OTE.*_ga*MTc2NzM0NDQ2NS4xNzI4OTA5Nzkx*_ga_CZKR9ZYKJP*MTczMDEyMDgwOS40OS4xLjE3MzAxMjA4MzkuMzAuMC4w" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>MATT WALSH’S ‘AM I RACIST?’ NOW STREAMING ON DAILYWIRE+</strong></a></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“If that offended any of our military and veterans, I apologize to you because that was never my intent,” Strahan said, as he closed out his video noting again how much love he has for those who serve.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">On Sunday, the “Fox NFL Sunday” show was broadcast from the Naval Base in San Diego, and Strahan’s cohosts stood and put their right hands over their hearts while the anthem played. However, viewers noticed that Strahan instead folded his hands in front of him, and that upset many watching, who accused him of being “disrespectful,” the </span><a href="https://nypost.com/2024/11/11/sports/michael-strahan-facing-fierce-backlash-for-how-he-stood-during-national-anthem/?utm_medium=social&amp;utm_source=twitter&amp;utm_campaign=nypost"><span style="font-weight: 400;">New York Post</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> noted.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">On Monday, the former NFL player did not exactly address the backlash and instead posted a message and pictures on his </span><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DCOqk6VR0k7/?img_index=2"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Instagram</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> honoring his father Maj. Gene W. Strahan, Sr. — and all those who serve — on Veteran’s Day amid the criticism.</span></p>
<p><strong>Related: <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/michael-strahan-breaks-silence-after-hes-accused-of-being-disrespectful-during-national-anthem" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Michael Strahan Breaks Silence After He’s Accused of Being ‘Disrespectful’ During National Anthem</a></strong></p>


Nickelodeon Kids’ Choice Sports 2019 – Red Carpet

‘I Love The Military’: Michael Strahan Apologizes For National Anthem Moment

'I Love The Military’: Michael Strahan Apologizes For National Anthem Moment

Good Morning America

Veterans Day

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">I’m proud to have served my country, and I know firsthand the sacrifices that come with wearing the uniform. Our veterans deserve the best, and under President Trump’s leadership, we made historic strides to ensure our heroes receive the care they earned. But under Biden and Harris, we’ve seen our veterans once again pushed aside for the sake of political agendas. The current state of the Department of Veteran Affairs is unacceptable, and it’s time to fix this once and for all. Together with President Trump, we’ll restore the honor and support our veterans deserve.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Under President Trump’s first term, we achieved monumental progress for our nation’s veterans. For instance, he signed the VA Choice and VA MISSION Acts, granting our heroes the permanent option to see their own doctors and access care at non-VA facilities. These reforms made a real impact: 3 in 4 veterans reported improvements at their local VA, with shorter wait times and expanded community care options.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">But now, the Biden-Harris administration has allowed our VA system to crumble under the weight of mismanagement, waste, fraud, and leftist initiatives that prioritize bureaucrats over veterans. This has resulted in tragic setbacks for those who have given everything for this country.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The good news? We have a golden opportunity to fix the VA once and for all — and we will. Here’s how:</span></p>
<h3><strong>Just Say No To DEI</strong></h3>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">In a second Trump administration, merit-based hiring and evaluation must be a top priority.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Let’s ensure that the VA hires and promotes employees based on skills, performance, and dedication to veterans. This approach will strengthen the workforce and ensure veterans are served by the most qualified individuals.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">DEI mandates are having destructive and measurable impacts on the VA system. For example, the group Do No Harm recently uncovered that the Biden-Harris administration focused on “diversity” programs even as veterans faced a massive claims backlog.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">On day one, President Trump can sign an executive order directing each department head to eliminate required employee trainings that surround, involve, relate, or have any nexus to: &#8220;gender identity,&#8221; &#8220;Critical Race Theory,&#8221; &#8220;implicit bias,&#8221; &#8220;diversity, equity, and inclusion,&#8221; or in any way scapegoats and entire group of people for the outcomes of any other group.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">And in Congress, we can pass new legislation codifying that order and ensuring that our federal government is making hiring decisions based on merit and job performance.</span></p>
<h3><strong>Restore Accountability</strong></h3>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">In their final days in office, the Biden administration recently reinstated thousands of VA employees terminated under President Trump’s first administration.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">This included employees engaging in conduct such as sleeping on the job and employees who gained unauthorized access to patient medical records.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Not only were they reinstated but these employees cumulatively received over $134 million in back pay.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Under President Trump, we must again terminate these employees.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Because President Trump will not surrender to Democrat-aligned government unions. And for us in Congress, let’s use this opportunity to build on the 2017 Veterans Affairs Accountability and Whistleblower Protection Act to ensure that employees who fail our veterans will pay the price.</span></p>
<h3><strong>Increasing Choice, Quality Of Care, And Contract Competency</strong></h3>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">It’s long past due to enhance the VA&#8217;s ability to develop and manage contracts that focus on real service outcomes, prioritizing contracts with vendors who demonstrate proven capabilities to meet veterans&#8217; needs effectively and efficiently.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Under President Trump&#8217;s leadership, Congress in 2018 passed the VA MISSION ACT to create a VA community care network, allowing veterans to receive timely and quality care from both VA and non-VA providers.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">This program is vital for veterans to have the flexibility and choice they need to get the best care possible. But in their final days in office, Biden bureaucrats are quietly aiming to overhaul the entire CCN structure by reducing the number of geographic regions in the entire country from 5 to just 2.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">This is good for the swamp, but it’s terrible for veterans. Such an extreme decision would only reduce choice and decrease quality of care.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The good news is, President Trump and the incoming Veterans Health Administration leadership can end this scheme on day one.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">And in Congress, we can pass legislation to protect veterans’ healthcare and ensure that decisions on who provides and administers that care is based on merit, capability and performance.</span></p>
<h3><strong>Benefits Delayed Are Benefits Denied</strong></h3>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">We must ensure that veterans receive the benefits they have earned through their service. The responsibility should be on the VA, not the veteran, to get benefits decisions correct, and VA officials should be held accountable for delays and failures.</span></p>
<h3><strong>Coordinate With DOD On Medical Documentation</strong></h3>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">It’s time to streamline the VA claims process for transitioning service members, reducing backlogs, and improving access to care. This can be done through increased coordination with Department of Defense (DoD) hospitals to document service-related injuries and conditions as they happen. Our veterans can’t afford delays.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Our veterans didn’t back down when duty called, and now it’s our turn to serve them. Under the leadership of President Trump, we will make the VA a place where our heroes receive the respect, care, and resources they rightfully deserve.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The Biden administration’s incompetence has cost veterans precious time and benefits. But with Trump back in the White House, and fighters like me in Congress, we will restore the VA to its former greatness. We will make sure no veteran is left behind — no more red tape, no more delays, just action and results.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">This Veterans Day, let’s not just thank those who served; let’s commit to fighting for them as hard as they fought for us. Together, we’ll honor their sacrifice, fix the VA, and build an America worthy of the brave men and women who defended it.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Because when it comes to our veterans, failure is not an option. Let’s get to work!</span></p>
<p>* * *</p>
<p><em><a href="https://twitter.com/AbrahamHamadeh?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Abe Hamadeh</a> is a <span style="font-weight: 400;"> former U.S. Army Intelligence Officer </span>and proud to now represent Arizona’s 8th Congressional District. Endorsed by President Donald Trump, Abe is on a mission to secure our border, protect our rights, and defend America’s greatness for future generations.</em></p>
<p><em>The views expressed in this piece are those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of The Daily Wire.</em></p>


Veteran American Flag, Military Uniform, Freedom Concept: Fourth of July or Veteran’s Day

Menu