Texas flooding: Dozens killed following sudden burst of extreme rainfall

FLASH FLOODING ALERT

Texas Hill Country Floods: Death Toll Rises as Chaos Unfolds! — devastating Texas floods 2025, Texas Hill Country rain emergency, Fredericksburg flood rescue efforts.  “Texas Hill Country Floods Claim lives: Are We Prepared for Nature’s Fury?”  Bing Videos

—————–

Texas Hill Country flooding the night of July 3rd, Fredericksburg rescue operations, devastating rain events 2025. Fredericksburg experienced heavy flooding in 2025 1 2 .

The river reached its peak due to heavy rainfall in the Shenandoah Valley 3. At least six confirmed fatalities have been reported, and the community is in a state of emergency 4.

Devastating Floods Impact Texas Hill Country 

The Texas Hill Country has recently experienced catastrophic flooding following a night of relentless rain. As reported by journalist Lara Logan on Twitter, the region is grappling with the aftermath of these severe weather conditions. With at least six confirmed fatalities, local law enforcement anticipates that this number may rise as rescue operations continue. The community is currently in a state of emergency, with many residents seeking safety and assistance.

Ongoing Rescue Operations

Rescue operations are actively underway in Fredericksburg and surrounding areas, where first responders are working tirelessly to assist those affected by the flooding. The swift response from local and state authorities demonstrates the urgency of the situation as they navigate challenging conditions to reach individuals in need. The severity of the flooding has prompted officials to issue warnings and advisories, urging residents to stay indoors and avoid flooded areas.

Community Resilience

Despite the chaos, there are moments of gratitude and hope amidst the disaster. Lara Logan expressed her appreciation for the prayers and support received from the community, highlighting the spirit of resilience that characterizes the Texas Hill Country. 

Residents are coming together to support one another, showcasing the strength and unity that can emerge in times of crisis. Local shelters and organizations are mobilizing to provide food, water, and shelter for those displaced by the floods.

The Importance of Preparedness

This tragic event serves as a reminder of the importance of being prepared for natural disasters. Communities in flood-prone areas must have emergency plans in place, including evacuation routes, communication strategies, and access to resources. Residents are encouraged to stay informed about weather conditions and to heed warnings from local authorities. Preparedness can make a significant difference in minimizing the impact of such devastating events.

Call for Support

As the situation evolves, the community is calling for support from both local and national organizations. Donations of food, clothing, and financial assistance are crucial for recovery efforts. Those wishing to help can reach out to local charities or contribute to established relief funds aimed at supporting the affected individuals and families.

The Aftermath and Future Outlook

In the coming days, the Texas Hill Country will face the daunting task of recovery and rebuilding. The impact of the flooding will be felt long after the rains have stopped, as communities work to restore normalcy and provide aid to those in need. It is imperative for residents to come together and support each other during this challenging time, and for authorities to prioritize recovery efforts to ensure the safety and well-being of all affected.

The recent floods in Texas Hill Country have not only caused significant damage but have also tested the resilience of the community. As rescue operations continue and recovery efforts begin, the importance of preparedness, community support, and awareness becomes ever more evident.

The road ahead may be difficult, but with solidarity and also determination, recovery is possible. Shocking video shows how quickly the Texas flood waters rose over 20 feet in as little as 37 minutes

LIVE: Flooding in Texas latest from Kerr County, Camp Mystic | FOX 4 News

Devastating floods here in the Texas Hill Country where it poured with rain all night. When you think of Texas, images of sprawling landscapes, charming small towns, and sunshine often come to mind.

However, in recent days, the Texas Hill Country has faced a starkly different reality. The area has been rocked by **devastating floods**, with relentless rain pouring down for hours on end. As the situation evolves, the local community is grappling with the aftermath of the torrential downpour that has left many in dire circumstances.

Heavy rainfall can lead to catastrophic outcomes, and the Texas Hill Country is no stranger to this. Flooding can cause significant damage to homes, infrastructure, and the environment. This wasn’t just a light drizzle; it was a night filled with intense storms that resulted in a precarious situation for many residents. The local authorities are overwhelmed with the task of responding to the crisis, and tragically, the reports indicate that at least six lives have been lost, with the number expected to rise as rescue operations are still ongoing.

At least six officially confirmed dead w law enforcement indicating number expected to rise

The heart-wrenching news of loss is difficult to process. As of now, at least six individuals have been confirmed dead due to the flooding, a stark reminder of the power of nature and the dangers that severe weather can pose. The local law enforcement agencies are working tirelessly to assess the damage and locate missing persons, and they have indicated that the death toll may increase in the coming days.

It’s essential to recognize the human aspect of these tragedies. Each number represents a life lost, a family forever changed, and a community in mourning. The emotional toll on families and friends is immeasurable. As these rescue operations continue, the community is coming together to support one another, demonstrating resilience in the face of adversity.

Rescue ops ongoing

As rain continues to fall and the floodwaters rise, rescue operations are a top priority for local authorities. They are employing all available resources to reach those stranded or in need of assistance. Emergency services are working around the clock, navigating hazardous conditions to save lives and provide aid.

The stories emerging from these rescue efforts are both inspiring and heartbreaking. First responders, volunteers, and community members are coming together to help those affected. Whether it’s providing food, shelter, or simply a listening ear, the spirit of solidarity is evident. For many, it’s a powerful reminder of the importance of community during trying times.

We’re safe for now in Fredericksburg – thank you for your prayers

While many are facing unimaginable challenges, there are those who have found safety amidst the chaos. In Fredericksburg, a small town in the heart of the Texas Hill Country, residents are breathing a sigh of relief as they navigate the aftermath of the storm. It’s a moment of gratitude, recognizing how fortunate they are to be safe when so many others are not.

The outpouring of support from friends, family, and even strangers has been heartwarming. People are coming together in prayer and solidarity, reminding everyone that they’re not alone in this struggle. The community is banding together, showing that even in the darkest times, hope and kindness can shine through.

The impact of climate change on severe weather events

As we reflect on the devastating floods in the Texas Hill Country, it’s important to consider the broader implications of climate change. Severe weather events, including floods, hurricanes, and droughts, are becoming increasingly common and intense. Scientists have long warned that climate change could lead to more extreme weather patterns, and many communities are already feeling the effects.

The Texas Hill Country, known for its rolling hills and beautiful rivers, is not immune to these changes. As the climate continues to shift, communities must prepare for the possibility of more frequent and severe flooding. This includes investing in infrastructure, emergency response plans, and community education to ensure residents are equipped to handle such crises.

Texas camper who survived flood speaks out

What can you do to help?

In the wake of such tragedies, many people wonder how they can help those affected by the flooding. Here are a few ways you can make a difference:

1. **Donate to local charities**: Many organizations are on the ground providing relief to those impacted by the floods. Consider donating to local charities that are working directly with affected families.

2. **Volunteer your time**: If you’re in the area, look for opportunities to volunteer with rescue efforts or local organizations providing support. Every little bit helps.

3. **Spread awareness**: Share information about the flooding and the need for assistance on social media. The more people know about the situation, the more support can be mobilized.

4. **Check in on loved ones**: Reach out to friends and family in the affected areas to see how they’re doing. Sometimes, just knowing someone cares can make a world of difference.

Looking ahead

As the rain finally begins to ease, the focus will shift to recovery and rebuilding in the Texas Hill Country. It’s crucial for the community to come together to support one another, addressing both immediate needs and long-term recovery efforts. The road ahead may be challenging, but with resilience, hope, and collective action, the community can rebuild stronger than before.

In times of crisis, it’s essential to remember the power of unity and compassion. The Texas Hill Country will need all the support it can get as it navigates the aftermath of this devastating event. Each person’s contribution, no matter how small, can help bring about healing and recovery.

As we keep those affected by the floods in our thoughts and prayers, let’s also take action to support them in any way we can. Whether through donations, volunteering, or simply spreading the word, every effort counts in the journey toward recovery. 

Prayer for Healing, Restoration, and Unity Amid Disaster.

Authorities are still assessing the deadly effects of heavy rains that caused devastating flash floods in Texas Hill Country, leaving at least 32 people dead and many others missing as frantic parents sought word about their daughters unaccounted for at a girls camp near the Guadalupe River. 

In this heartfelt prayer, I lift up the nations and communities affected by recent floods, storms, Tennessee, 2021 Kentucky, 2022; Iowa 2024; Hurricane Helene, 2024 & Texas 2025 and past wildfires out west. 

We seek God’s comfort for those grieving loss, healing for broken hearts, and strength to face the challenges ahead. May His peace surround those in despair, guiding them toward restoration and hope. We pray for unity among nations, compassion for one another, and a renewed commitment to care for God’s creation.

Join me in this prayer for healing, resilience, and renewal as we stand together in faith, supporting those in need and trusting in God’s mercy. Pray with me to prevent the future.

Comparing The American States With The Lowest & Highest Life Expectancy

America is ready to celebrate its 250th birthday. But are Americans?

Death toll from Texas floods reaches 59, including 21 children

‘Get Right with God’: Student Miraculously Survives Being Sucked From Car by EF-3 Tornado | CBN News

The Grace Of God – Search Videos

The expression “Caught by the Grace of God” conveys a sense of gratitude or acknowledgment that something good has occurred, often unexpectedly or against the odds, and is attributed to a higher power’s favor or intervention 1. The phrase is often used in religious contexts, such as in the Bible, where it signifies redemption and salvation 2.

Nine PBS on Instagram: “The EF3 tornado that hit St. Louis on May 16 injured at least 38 people, including 20-year-old Mya Grimes. N Grimes was swept away from her car by the tornado while home for summer break from Jackson State University.  Bing Videos

Jackson State University athlete Mya Grimes is known for her strength and resilience as a standout in the long jump, triple jump, and high jump. But nothing could have prepared the 20-year-old HBCU track star for the life-threatening ordeal she faced when an EF3 tornado tore through St. Louis on May 16.  

Grimes, a rising senior, was driving home when powerful winds suddenly engulfed her car. “My dad called and told me to just get home. I was trying,” she said in a harrowing interview with KMOV-TV. As the storm intensified, her vehicle was tossed violently, spinning out of control before the windshield shattered. Grimes was ejected from the car, tumbling nearly 40 yards before landing near the intersection of Union and Washington.

Bloodied and disoriented, she crawled through the debris until she found a metal pole to cling to for safety. “I was just trying to make it,” she said. Miraculously, an ambulance spotted her moments later and rushed her to the hospital. She escaped with cuts and burns, but no broken bones.

Her mother, who had been on the phone when the storm struck, described the moment as terrifying. “It’s nothing short of a miracle,” she said. The family is now sharing Mya’s story as a testament to God’s grace and St. Louis’s resilience.

Grimes’s courage and survival reflect the determination she brings to the track — a true embodiment of strength both on and off the field. Her story is a powerful reminder of faith, perseverance, and the enduring spirit of HBCU student-athletes at Jackson State University.

‘A true nightmare’: College student recounts surviving EF-3 tornado after being thrown from her car

Mya Grimes didn’t know May 16th would be the day her life would change forever.

A 20-year-old sophomore at Jackson State University, Mya was just trying to make it home. Her classes were done. Her week was full. And like any college student balancing books, dreams, and destiny, she was looking forward to rest.

But heaven had already scheduled a miracle.

As she drove through the streets of St. Louis that day, the weather turned quickly. Dark skies rolled in. The atmosphere shifted. Winds picked up with a voice of their own. In what felt like moments, an EF3 tornado was upon her—screaming through the city with 152-mile-per-hour winds.

“I didn’t even see it coming,” Mya later said. “It just… happened. One moment I was driving. The next, I was fighting for my life.”

The tornado shattered her car windows. It forced the driver’s side door wide open. Though Mya was wearing her seatbelt, the storm still pulled her from the vehicle. Thrown 40 yards down the road—yes, forty—her body collided with the street, glass, and debris. Her skin was cut. Her spirit was shaken. But her soul was still anchored.

And just before she was ripped from the car, Mya did something powerful: she picked up the phone and called her mother.

Three chilling words made it through the line: “It’s taking me.”

For any mother, that call would’ve been paralyzing. For Tina Grimes, Mya’s mom, it was both heartbreaking and divine. Because although her daughter’s voice was trembling—her voice was still alive.

And somehow, Mya held on.  

With adrenaline pumping and the storm still roaring, she clung to a nearby light pole—bloodied, bruised, but breathing. She doesn’t even remember how she got there. Some might call it instinct. But we call it intercession. The Holy Spirit covered what her hands couldn’t.

When first responders arrived, they were stunned. The paramedic told her, “You’re lucky to be alive.” But Mya wasn’t lucky—she was covered. Heaven had already assigned angels to surround her.

Her injuries included deep cuts from shattered glass and trauma from being dragged across pavement—but she walked away. Not just physically, but spiritually—she walked away with purpose, with power, and with a new level of praise.

“This wasn’t just a storm,” Mya shared. “It was a wake-up call. It reminded me that I have a reason to be here. I’ve got something I’m supposed to do with my life.”  Bing Videos

I love this and so glad God spared her life!!! Amen!!! 

The Bigger Picture: When God Preserves the Young

Mya’s miracle isn’t just about survival—it’s about preservation. At only 20 years old, her life is now stamped with oil. What she went through should’ve taken her out. The storm should’ve silenced her. But God had another plan.

There are women twice her age still trying to find the courage to tell their story—and yet this young woman is standing in the middle of her trauma, declaring the goodness of God.

Her journey reminds us of a powerful truth: you don’t have to be old to be anointed. You don’t have to be seasoned to be selected. And you don’t have to be perfect to be protected.

She didn’t have time to pray a fancy prayer. She didn’t quote 10 scriptures. She didn’t have her oil in hand. But what she did have was a praying mama, a call on her life, and a God who was not finished with her yet.

Whether you’re 20 or 60, your survival isn’t random. You were kept for a reason. Some of you were tossed emotionally. Others were dragged through financial winds, betrayal, or burnout. But just like Mya, you didn’t break—you bent. You didn’t die—you developed.

So the next time you wonder if your story matters—remember Mya. A college student, thrown from her car by a tornado… and still here to tell the story.

The storm might’ve thrown her. But grace caught her.

College Student Caught in Dangerous Tornado on Her Way Home

Jane McLelland – Search Videos beat cervical, lung, and blood cancers using the missing link to defeat cancer: starving it. She is partnering with Life Extension® to help other patients achieve the same results.

Scientifically reviewed by Dr. Gary Gonzalez, MD, in October 2024. Written by: Laurie Mathena.

McLelland was reluctant about writing her book, but she felt she had a duty to share with the world what she had discovered—and what had saved her life.

Jane McLelland shouldn’t be alive.

According to doctors and cancer statistics, she should have lived only about 12 weeks after receiving her diagnosis of stage IV cancer.

But McLelland refused to go down without a fight. Taking matters into her own hands, she dug through medical journals, poring over long-forgotten research and overlooked evidence, looking for clues to overcoming her cancer.

Along the way, she discovered a missing link to defeating cancer: starving it. Based on this concept, she developed her own cancer-starving cocktail—utilizing diet, supplements, and off-label drugs—that proved to be more effective than any current cancer treatment.

Now, 18 years later, after suffering from cervical cancer, secondary lung cancer, and treatment-related myelodysplasia, she is alive, well, and cancer-free.

And she has made it her life’s mission to help other cancer patients achieve the same results.

This is Jane’s remarkable story.

Strike One: Jane’s First Cancer Diagnosis

You have cervical cancer.

When Jane McLelland first heard the devastating news, she was only 30 years old. Just three days later, she underwent a complete, radical hysterectomy, followed by months of chemotherapy and radiation.

A cancer diagnosis was terrifying enough, but what McLelland struggled with most was the fact that she would never be able to have her own biological children.

“I was massively depressed. With cervical cancer, it’s not just about having a lump cut off,” she said. “Knowing that I would never have my own children was utterly devastating.”

What made the diagnosis even more tragic was the fact that McLelland’s doctor had misdiagnosed her for years. Since cervical cancer is highly treatable in its early stages, her tragedy could have been avoided.

After treatment, McLelland believed she was out of the woods. But two short years later, her mother’s cancer diagnosis was the wake-up call she needed.

A Wake-up Call

In 1996, McLelland’s mother received her own devastating news: She had stage IV breast cancer.

After an initial breast cancer diagnosis and treatment a few years earlier, the cancer had come back with a vengeance, and she died within a few months.

But McLelland says that her mother’s death is what ultimately saved her life.

“My mother’s cancer was a huge wake-up call to me to re-evaluate the situation I’d found myself in. For the first time ever, I realized I was only one step away from terminal cancer,” McLelland said. “That’s when I started looking at diet and supplementation in more detail as a way to combat cancer.”

In the early stages of her research, McLelland first learned that glucose feeds most cancers and that IGF-1 (an insulin-like growth factor hormone found in high levels in dairy and meat) also helped to drive its growth.

So, she modified her diet, cutting out simple carbohydrates and removing dairy and most meat. She cut out foods like potatoes and tomatoes because they caused an inflammatory reaction in her body (and she had learned that inflammation was a driving force for cancer). She also started drinking green tea, juicing, and taking numerous supplements.

Unfortunately, just a few months later, Jane started coughing up blood, and found out that her worst nightmare had come true: Her cervical cancer had spread to her lungs.

She now had stage IV, terminal cancer.

Strike Two

Just like the cervical cancer, Jane’s lung cancer was initially misdiagnosed (this time as a chest infection). But the benefit of having the improperly read X-ray from four months prior—along with the properly diagnosed X-ray—was the ability to see the rate at which the cancer was growing.

McLelland had repeatedly been told that diet had no impact on cancer, but the fact that her lung tumor had remained the size of a golf ball—and the fact that there were no tumors in other locations in her body—proved to her that the dietary changes she had already made were making a difference.

“You could see that my approach had slowed the tumor’s growth,” said McLelland. “I may have had that tumor for a long time. That was actually quite reassuring for me.”

This time, Jane would not be rushed into a hasty treatment decision. She delayed surgery and dove even deeper into cancer research. That’s when she learned that in order to fully eradicate her cancer, she’d have to attack it in a different way: by starving it.

Starving Cancer

The idea behind starving cancer cells is nothing new. In 1931, Otto Warburg was awarded the Nobel Prize for his discovery that cancer cells have an altered metabolism. Since then, more research has expanded on his initial studies, and has revealed that cancer cells require a tremendous amount of three fuel sources in order to survive: glucose, glutamine (an amino acid), and lipids.

Mainstream medicine ignores this simple fact, focusing instead on using chemotherapy and radiation therapy to target the tumor’s abnormal, fast-dividing cells. Given that chemotherapy often has poor outcomes for stage IV cancer, McLelland determined that she had to attack her cancer from two fronts: starve the cancer’s stem cells, and then kill them when they’re in a weakened state. Cancer stem cells are dangerous because they are more resistant to conventional treatment and are capable of producing new malignant cells that are more difficult to eradicate.

This one-sided approach is why mainstream treatments can appear to work for a time, only to have the cancer come back more aggressively in the future. It is also why the percentage of positive outcomes in a stage IV patient is, too often, zero.

On the other hand, starving the cancer by cutting off the supply to its three main fuel sources attacks the elusive stem cell. Based on that research, McLelland determined that she had to attack her cancer from two fronts: starve the cancer’s stem cells, and then kill them when they’re in a weakened state.

Jane McLelland’s Key Cancer-Starving Supplements:

• Quercetin
• Silibinin
• Berberine
• Polydatin
• Vitamin C
• Vitamin D

• Indole-3-carbinol
• Curcumin
• Ursolic acid
• EGCG (green tea)
• Sodium selenite
• Niacin*

• Hydroxycitrate
• Sea buckthorn oil
• Omega-3 fish oils
• Bergamot
• Luteolin
• Artemisinin (pulsed)

Working Together

McLelland underwent surgery to remove the tumor in her lung, and she endured six months of chemo (at a much lower dose than that recommended by her oncologist). But this time, she also employed a strategy to starve the cancer’s stem cells.

Her diet and numerous supplements were already helping on that front—particularly berberine, hydroxycitrate, gymnema, curcumin, niacin, and pycnogenol—all of which were inhibiting key pathways that are abnormal in cancer. She also underwent treatment with high-dose intravenous vitamin C.

“Intravenous vitamin C has been shown to target cancer stem cells, the original cancer cells that are responsible for chemo and radiotherapy resistance, because it stops a key step in the process of glycolysis, effectively starving the cancer as well as triggering apoptosis, or cell death,” said McLelland. “It helps block off one of cancer’s main energy supply lines.”

To her doctor’s utter amazement, it appeared that McLelland had beaten the odds once again. Nine months later, she was not only alive, but her cancer blood markers were good.

Those months turned into years of living cancer-free.

Still, McLelland lived with the constant realization that her cancer could always come back. And four years later, it did.

Strike Three

McLelland’s cervical cancer markers were in the normal range. But in 2003, she received yet another death sentence: treatment-related myelodysplasia, a form of bone marrow mutation that may progress to leukemia.

What had gone wrong?

“I couldn’t understand why I was controlling one cancer without controlling the other,” said McLelland. “But it’s all about metabolism. The metabolism of my leukemia was totally different from that of my cervical cancer. So, with my low glycemic index diet, I was controlling the cervical cancer, but I wasn’t controlling the leukemia, which instead thrives on proteins.”

She had to cut off the fuel supply line to this new cancer. In order to do that, she would need to bring in the “big guns”—off-label drugs. In doing so, she serendipitously reduced the nutrient supply to her first cancer as well.

McLelland’s Big Guns

McLelland discovered that there were numerous drugs on the market designed for other purposes (like heart disease or infections) that could go beyond diet and supplements to effectively cut off cancer’s various fuel lines. These drugs are considered “off-label,” since they were developed for conditions other than cancer.

The first big gun was a cardiovascular drug called dipyridamole, which stops protein from getting into the cancer cell, a key factor in starving leukemia, according to McLelland.

This was exactly what she needed, McLelland decided.

She made another critical finding when she picked up an issue of Life Extension® Magazine that she says played a key role in saving her life.

From Life Extension, she learned about a novel combination of a statin (lovastatin) plus a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (etodolac).

“I already knew that statins would be potentially useful against cervical cancer. But research had also shown that they caused apoptosis in acute myeloid leukemias. I also had overlooked the fact that NSAIDs could cause cell death (apoptosis),” said McLelland. “What I learned from the Life Extension article was that there was a synergy between the two drugs, making them far more potent when taken together.”

She later learned that statins also block the cell surface receptor Glut1, which is used by most cancers to access more glucose. Another key, off-label drug McLelland learned about from reading Life Extension was the diabetes drug, metformin. Metformin is critical for starving cancer because it cuts off cancer’s supply to glucose & insulin and reduces IGF-1.

“I recognized that Life Extension was ahead of its time. It was providing information that nobody else seemed to be providing, and piecing together research and reporting on it before anybody else did,” said McLelland. “Life Extension really was instrumental in helping me survive.”

Years later, she also discovered the anti-cancer effects of the antibiotic doxycycline (which slows the creation of new cancer cells) and of the anti-worming drug mebendazole (which stops the cancer cells from being able to take on more glucose).

“All of these drugs are cheap and off-patent, which is why they have largely been ignored by the pharmaceutical industry, despite research supporting their effectiveness against cancer,” said McLelland.

According to McLelland, drugs like these are necessary because cancer cells rely on the same fuel the rest of your body requires to live. You can cut down on glucose, protein, and fat, but you can’t remove enough from your diet to starve the cancer cells without starving your own body in the process. These drugs solve that problem because they allow your body to access the nutrients it needs, while blocking the cancer’s access to them.

After intensive research, McLelland concluded that all of these drugs would starve the cancer from different angles: dipyridamole cut off cancer’s access to protein, metformin cut off access to glucose, and the statin cut off access to fat. Once the cancer cells were in their weakened state, the addition of etodolac could help finish them off.

McLelland believed she had finally found out how to beat her cancer once and for all. And her test results proved her right. Blood tests revealed that her TM2PK tumor markers (a marker of abnormal glycolysis) had dropped from 397 to 21.5—just slightly above a “normal” reading of 15.

She had done the impossible. Her cocktail of cheap, off-label drugs—in addition to diet and supplementation—had halted the progression of myelodysplasia.

Spreading the Word

In 2018, McLelland chronicled her cancer journey—including detailed information on her science-backed approach to cancer—in her book, How to Starve Cancer Without Starving Yourself.

McLelland was reluctant about writing her book, but she felt she had a duty to share with the world what she had discovered—and what had saved her life.

“I didn’t want to have to relive everything,” said McLelland, “but I knew I had information I had to pass on. It was a social responsibility to provide people with information they weren’t getting elsewhere.”

That information has already saved countless lives.

One man who followed her protocol took his PSA numbers from 1008 down to .67. She’s also helped a stage IV pancreatic cancer patient achieve full remission—another success story unheard of in the medical world.

And a breast cancer patient who was told by her oncologist she was going to die is still alive and well, going to the gym, working as a nurse, and living a full life—all as a result of following McLelland’s approach to starving her cancer.

But McLelland cautioned that we have to start looking at cancer differently.

“People are always looking for the disappearance of tumors, but we have to rethink how we evaluate success with cancer,” she said. “I have a huge number of people following my protocol who still have tumors in their bodies that are no longer growing. Success is not necessarily about getting rid of the tumor. You can live with the tumor quite happily as long as it’s not pressing on something vital.”

Utilizing the Metro Map

McLelland created a diagram depicting her approach to starving cancer that she calls the “Metro Map,” based on an analogy of an underground metro system.

If one tunnel is blocked, the trains will be rerouted through a different tunnel, but will ultimately keep running. Cancer is the same way. If you cut off one fuel source, it will simply “reroute,” using a different source for energy.

McLelland’s system simply boils down to this: You have to cut off all fuel sources at the same time in order to effectively weaken cancer.

“The Metro Map is the key to starving the cancer.

Once you’ve done that, killing it becomes much easier,” said McLelland.

She lists several off-label drugs (like chloroquine and loratadine), supplements (like curcumin, resveratrol, and quercetin), and treatments (like intravenous vitamin C, and following a low-glycemic diet). According to McLelland, all have been shown to block one or more of cancer’s three main fuel lines.

However, McLelland cautions that there is no one-size-fits-all approach. Her own experience with her various forms of cancer highlight that fact. Instead, McLelland’s approach focuses on learning which fuel sources your particular cancer uses—and then creating a targeted treatment plan based on that information.

In her book, McLelland provides all the information a cancer patient might need to point them in the right direction for developing a protocol to starve their cancer.

“The book is a starting point,” said McLelland.

Not a Death Sentence

Item #34162

For people currently struggling with a cancer diagnosis, McLelland has an important message: Never give up.

“I do believe we already have every drug and every supplement that we need to beat cancer. The key is getting the right combinations to people at the right time,” said McLelland. “Yes, in certain circumstances there can be too much damage to the body from the cancer itself. But if you can get to people before that, I cannot see why patients can’t be rescued even from advanced malignancies. Stage IV cancer should not be a death sentence, in my view.”

McLelland herself is the living, breathing proof of that belief.

Now, 18 years after her initial cancer diagnosis—after battling cervical, lung, and blood cancers—McLelland is living the life of her dreams. She married the love of her life, and through the selflessness of a surrogate, was able to have two sons of her own.

“I didn’t even think I was going to be alive, and I certainly didn’t expect to have a family,” said McLelland. “I have to pinch myself to believe it sometimes.”

If you have any questions on the scientific content of this article, please call a Life Extension® Wellness Specialist at 1-866-864-3027.

To order a copy of How to Survive Cancer Without Starving Yourself, call 1-800-544-4440.

Fasting may offer potential benefits in cancer treatment by enhancing the effectiveness of therapies and improving immune responses, but it also carries risks and should be approached cautiously.

Potential Benefits of Fasting in Cancer Treatment

1. Targeting Cancer Cells: Research suggests that fasting can selectively target cancer cells, making them more vulnerable during treatment. Healthy cells can enter a protective state during fasting, while cancer cells, which cannot adapt as easily, may struggle to survive without nutrients. 1
2. Enhancing Immune Function: Fasting has been shown to reprogram natural killer cells, a type of immune cell that plays a crucial role in fighting cancer. This reprogramming helps these cells survive in the challenging tumor environment and improves their ability to combat cancer. 1
3. Metabolic Changes: Fasting can lead to metabolic changes that may help in reducing insulin growth factor (IGF-1) levels, which are associated with increased cancer risk. It may also enhance autophagy, a process that helps clear damaged cells and supports cellular health. 2
4. 3 Sources

Risks and Considerations

1. Malnutrition: Fasting can lead to malnutrition, especially in cancer patients who may already be at risk due to their condition. This can exacerbate fatigue, slow healing, and negatively impact overall health. 1
2. Individual Variability: The safety and efficacy of fasting can vary significantly among individuals. Factors such as the type of cancer, treatment regimen, and overall health must be considered. It is crucial for patients to consult with their healthcare team before starting any fasting regimen. 2
3. Not a Standalone Treatment: While fasting may complement cancer treatment, it should not be viewed as a standalone solution. The adaptability of cancer cells means that simply fasting may not effectively “starve” them, as they can switch to alternative energy sources. 1
4. 2 Sources

Conclusion

Fasting may provide some benefits in the context of cancer treatment, particularly in enhancing the effectiveness of therapies and improving immune responses. However, it is essential for cancer patients to approach fasting with caution and under medical supervision to avoid potential risks such as malnutrition. Consulting with healthcare professionals is crucial to determine the best approach tailored to individual needs and circumstances.

Intermittent fasting and religious fasting during cancer treatment: What to know | MD Anderson Cancer Center

Cancer Dies When You Eat These 12 Foods (Cancer SECRETS)

Does Fasting Starve Cancer? – theoncologydietitian.com

Top Causes of Breast Cancer (NOT What You Think)

Do Cancer Advice Hope Inspire Healing

Fasting and cancer reddit – Search Videos

fasting and cancer cure – Search Videos

fasting and cancer reddit – Search

The Neuroscientist Who Lost Her Mind | Psychology Today

What’s it like to Have Dementia

When Dr. Barbara Lipska’s hand disappeared in front of her face,

Her first thought was a brain tumor.

She understood exactly what that diagnosis would mean because, in addition to losing her first husband to brain cancer and battling breast cancer herself, she had dedicated her life to studying brain abnormalities in rats and the frozen brains of humans as the director of the human brain bank at the National Institute of Mental Health.

A Neuroscientist with First-Hand Experience Explains

The 7 Stages of Dementia: Symptoms and What to Expect

Barbara’s instincts were right, several melanoma tumors were growing in her prefrontal cortex and over the course of her treatment, there would be as many as 18 at a time. The moment she lost sight of her hand would mark the beginning of a harrowing journey that involved several experimental treatments including surgery, radiation, and an immunotherapy clinical trial. Her diagnosis should have been a death sentence, and many of the treatments came with difficult and painful side effects, but at the time of this writing, Barbara is fortunately in remission.

While new tumors continued to grow, the treatment caused significant brain swelling putting pressure on the prefrontal cortex and mimicking symptoms of the very dementia patients she had studied in her lab. For months, Barbara experiences cognitive changes in many of the same brain areas commonly affected by dementia.

“Dementia is not a specific disease. It’s an overall term that describes a group of symptoms associated with a decline in memory or other thinking skills severe enough to reduce a person’s ability to perform everyday activities.” – Alz.org

People with dementia are often unable to describe what their experience feels like, so Dr. Barbara Lipska’s journey is incredible not just because of her recovery, but her ability to tell us exactly what it was like to live with dementia symptoms with the clear hindsight of someone with regained cognitive ability. She has shared her insights by chronicling her experiences in her novel, The Neuroscientist Who Lost Her Mind.

“It was difficult, at first, to pinpoint the changes in my behavior, because they came on slowly. I didn’t suddenly become someone else. Rather, some of my normal traits and behaviors became exaggerated and distorted, as if I were turning into a caricature of myself.” – Barbara Lipska, NYT

Awareness

A recurring theme throughout Barbara’s experience is the fact that despite being expertly trained in the symptoms and what they meant, she was unable to recognize them in herself. It felt like the world, the people around her, even the neighborhood had all changed rather than her perception. This meant that surprisingly, despite a dire diagnosis, Barbara was calm and assured in her sanity and slightly frustrated that everyone else was causing a fuss. The very part of her brain that was affected was also the part that was responsible for letting her know something was wrong. She is able to describe her experiences now with an awareness that simply was not possible while she was experiencing symptoms.

“Strangely, I wasn’t worried. Like so many patients with mental illness, whose brains I had studied for a lifetime, I was losing my grasp on reality.

 I felt certain that there was nothing wrong with my brain. This wasn’t just wishful thinking, or extreme denial; my worldview made perfect sense to me. I still saw myself as a scientist — a master of the rational — and was in fact still working hard on other people’s brains, not able to see that my own was crashing.” – Barbara Lipska, NYT

Surprisingly, for Barbara, it was the look on other peoples faces and the changes in independence and routine that caused concern and stress rather than the fear of a progressing disease. That very fact that stopped her from being afraid while she was in danger is the thing that scares her the most now that she is out of harm’s way.

“I lost insight. I lost awareness that I am not behaving normally, which is the most frightening thing now and it will be probably until I die because when it happens again, if it happens again, I will not be able to recognize it.” – Barbara Lipska, Salon

Confusion

In addition to starting with visual hallucinations like the loss of her hand or face-blindness, Barbara had difficulty recognizing things and places she knew well. As an athlete, Barbara loved to run, bike, and swim, but often found herself lost in her own neighborhood or on familiar paths.

“I would read a paragraph and forget it instantly. I got lost driving home from work on a route I had taken for decades. I went running in the woods outside my house, barely dressed.” – Barbara Lipska, NYT

Due to the distorted awareness, she wondered why things had moved or who had moved them rather than accept her own difficulty getting around. This caused mistrust with her loved ones who, she believed, were moving things around in her home in a conspiracy against her. Her overwhelming feelings when confused were more around irritation than fear.

‘The Neuroscientist Who Lost Her Mind’ Tells How A Brain Doctor Coped With Cancer : Shots – Health News : NPR

In the tradition of My Stroke of Insight and Brain on Fire,

this powerful memoir recounts Barbara Lipska’s deadly brain cancer and explains its unforgettable lessons about the brain and mind. Neuroscientist Lipska was diagnosed early in 2015 with metastatic melanoma in her brain’s frontal lobe. 

Personality Changes

Barbara was always a strong and assertive woman, but as her brain swelled, she became impulsive, impatient, and easily irritated. The focus required to bond with others was simply not possible.

“I had no time for anything — not even for the things that I really enjoyed, like talking to my children and my sister on the telephone. I would cut them off mid sentence, running somewhere to do something of great importance, though what exactly, I couldn’t say. I became rude, and snapped at anyone who threatened to distract me.” – Barbara Lipska, NYT

Although these personality changes were painful for her family, they ultimately saved her life. The people around her were able to try and make sense of the confusion and other symptoms to a point, but the change in her personality caused them to bring her back to the doctor for a scan and discover the extreme swelling in her brain. Although the doctors didn’t ask about personality changes, they were the key to her recovery showing just how important the insights of friends and family can be.

Body-Budgeting

Barbara’s irritability also came from the fact that she had difficulty anticipating the needs of her body. There was no longer a build up towards hunger, fatigue, or even the need to urinate that she had once experienced. With the inability to plan ahead for her body’s needs, urges came on quickly and furiously shutting down her ability to focus on anything else.

For example, once, Barbara became hungry while out with her family. For her, the hunger demanded that she get home and cook dinner and she was unable to think about anything else. Although she experienced confusion in the kitchen and trouble finding things, her family’s offers to help felt like getting in the way of her single focus to solve the problem. She was frustrated and short with them, even though they were presenting solutions to the problem because her body-budget was out of alignment and she simply could not spare the energy to hear them.

 It can be emotionally hard on caregivers dealing with dementia patients, particularly when they are members of your own family. It is difficult not to take things personally particularly when the people you love become irritable and short and can’t explain why. Barbara’s memoir helps create context for some of this behavior, the demands on her body and attention.

“The underlying causes of mental illness are rarely as clear as metastatic brain cancer. And yet I felt I understood for the first time what many of the patients I study go through — the fear and confusion of living in a world that doesn’t make sense; a world in which the past is forgotten and the future is utterly unpredictable.” – Barbara Lipska, NYT

Ultimately it is important to remember that mental illness does not always reflect the patient’s full intentions, and certainly not their love for their family, but a wide range of very real demands on their body and mental faculties.

“The neuroscientist who lost her mind.” returns from the madness – Search

Living with dementia can feel like a gradual unraveling of self, memory, and independence, marked by emotional, cognitive, and social challenges.

Cognitive Changes

Dementia is characterized by a significant decline in cognitive functions, including memory, reasoning, and the ability to perform everyday tasks. Individuals often experience short-term memory loss, confusion, and difficulty with language and conversation. Many describe their experience as living in a constant present, where the past fades and the future feels unreachable. This cognitive decline can lead to feelings of frustration and helplessness as familiar routines become challenging. 

carepredict.com+1

Emotional Experience

The emotional toll of dementia is profound. In the early stages, individuals may sense that something is wrong, leading to feelings of confusion and fear. As the condition progresses, they may experience anxiety, depression, fear of being alone and isolation. The inability to communicate effectively can exacerbate these feelings, leading to withdrawal from social interactions and a sense of loneliness. 

Verywell Mind+1

Social Impact

Dementia not only affects the individual but also has a significant impact on relationships with family and friends. Caregivers often face a balancing act of providing support while dealing with their own feelings of grief and loss. The changes in behavior and personality can strain relationships, making it difficult for loved ones to understand what the person with dementia is experiencing. 

www.nhs.uk+1

Personal Accounts

Dr. Barbara Lipska, a neuroscientist who experienced dementia symptoms, described her journey as a slow transformation where her normal traits became exaggerated. She noted that despite her expertise, she struggled to recognize the changes in herself, feeling as if the world around her had changed instead. This highlights the disorienting nature of dementia, where individuals may feel calm and assured in their sanity, even as their cognitive abilities decline. 

carepredict.com

Simulated Experiences

Programs like the Virtual Dementia Tour allow participants to experience the challenges faced by those with dementia. Participants report feelings of vulnerability, confusion, and frustration when attempting to complete simple tasks in a simulated environment that mimics the sensory overload often experienced by individuals with dementia. 

carehome.co.uk

Conclusion

Overall, living with dementia is a complex and deeply emotional experience that varies from person to person. It involves navigating cognitive decline, emotional challenges, and social changes, all of which can significantly impact daily life. Understanding these experiences can foster empathy and support for those affected by dementia and their caregivers.

Terrifying Truth Behind Lyme Disease? – What You Need To Know! – Search Images

The Hidden Truth About Lyme Disease: What You Haven’t Been Told

The True Origins of Lyme Disease

DR. JOSH AXE

Dr. Josh Axe DNM, DC, CNS, is a certified doctor of natural medicine, doctor of chiropractic, clinical nutritionist and founder of one of the largest natural health websites in the world, draxe.com. He is the founder of The Health Institute, bestselling author of Eat Dirt and Ancient Remedies, and the co-founder of Ancient Nutrition and founder of Leaders.com. Most Importantly: Deep dive into extraditing a tick correctly – Images

The scary truth about Lyme Disease

Lyme disease is one of the most misunderstood and misdiagnosed conditions today. 

While many people associate it with a tick bite and a bullseye rash, the reality is far more complex. Symptoms can vary widely, testing is often inaccurate, and for some, the effects of Lyme linger long after treatment.

In this blog, we’ll uncover little-known facts about Lyme disease, explore its impact on mitochondrial health, and discuss holistic approaches that could make all the difference in recovery. 

Whether you’re battling Lyme or simply want to be informed, this is essential information you won’t want to miss. For more on this topic, watch the latest episode here.

How Are Lyme Disease Symptoms Not the Same for Everyone?

Many people assume that Lyme disease presents in a predictable way, but symptoms vary widely from person to person. This variability is due in part to mitochondrial dysfunction and cellular energy imbalances caused by the Lyme bacteria (Borrelia burgdorferi).

For instance:

• Approximately 7% of people with Lyme disease experience no noticeable symptoms at all.
• One in six Lyme patients never develop the classic bullseye rash.
• Some may primarily experience fatigue and joint pain, while others may suffer from headaches, neurological symptoms, or cardiovascular issues.

This wide range of symptoms makes Lyme disease difficult to diagnose and often leads to misdiagnosis.

Antibiotics Don’t Always Cure Lyme Disease

Borrelia burgdorferi is a highly adaptable bacteria. Once transmitted through a deer tick or black tick bite, it can evade the immune system and persist in different tissues and organs. 

Even after antibiotic treatment, some people continue to experience chronic symptoms because the bacteria can relocate, survive, and multiply. This is one of the reasons why focusing on immune function and mitochondrial repair is critical to overcoming chronic Lyme disease.

What Is The Connection Between Lyme Disease and Mitochondrial Function?

According to the International Lyme and Associated Diseases Education Foundation, restoring mitochondrial function is key to healing from chronic Lyme disease. Here’s why:

• Lyme bacteria hijack energy production: Mitochondria, known as the “powerhouses of the cell,” are responsible for generating the energy needed for cellular function. Borrelia burgdorferi can damage mitochondria, leading to severe fatigue and neurological issues.
• Oxidative stress: Lyme disease patients often have elevated levels of mitochondrial superoxide, a reactive oxygen species that damages cells and impairs mitochondrial efficiency.
• Neurological impact: Mitochondrial dysfunction can contribute to cognitive difficulties, mood disorders, and neuroinflammation.

Additionally, Lyme disease disrupts the gut microbiome, impacting neurotransmitter production. Biofilms formed by the bacteria can deplete essential nutrients like magnesium, zinc, and iron—nutrients that play a crucial role in neurotransmitter function (dopamine, serotonin, and GABA). These disruptions may lead to cognitive impairment, mood disorders, and even symptoms resembling PTSD.

Lyme Disease: The Hidden Epidemic

Startling Lyme Disease Statistics

• The CDC estimates that 476,000 people per year in the U.S. develop Lyme disease, yet only about 60,000 cases are officially reported.
• The actual number of cases could be 6 to 12 times higher than reported.
• Many cases go undiagnosed or are misdiagnosed as fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, depression, or autoimmune disorders.

Why Lyme Disease Often Goes Undetected

• Symptoms mimic other conditions: Many Lyme patients are misdiagnosed with other chronic illnesses.
• Stealth infections: Lyme bacteria can hide in tissues, avoiding immune detection.
• Inaccurate testing: Standard Lyme disease tests, like the ELISA and Western blot, are notoriously unreliable, especially in early or chronic Lyme.
• Delayed diagnosis: One study found that 54% of patients without a rash were misdiagnosed, and 23% of those with a rash were initially missed.

The Rising Threat of Lyme Disease

According to Johns Hopkins, Lyme disease is the most common tick-borne illness in the U.S., and cases have more than doubled over the past two decades due to:

• Increased tick populations
• Ecological changes, including climate shifts
• Increased global travel

Many people live with Lyme disease for years without knowing it, mistaking symptoms for aging or other chronic conditions.

What Happens if Lyme Disease is Never Treated?

Untreated Lyme disease can have devastating consequences, including:

• Posttreatment Lyme Disease Syndrome (PTLDS): Up to 20% of treated Lyme patients develop long-term symptoms.
• Neurological Damage: Brain inflammation can cause memory loss, depression, anxiety, and even dementia-like symptoms.
• Lyme Carditis: In rare cases, Lyme bacteria infect the heart, leading to life-threatening complications like cardiac arrest.
• Autoimmune Activation: Chronic Lyme can trigger autoimmune conditions like lupus and rheumatoid arthritis.

The longer Lyme disease persists, the harder it is to treat.

Top 6 Remedies for Lyme Disease Recovery

1. Anti-Inflammatory, Antioxidant-Rich Diet
   • Eliminate processed foods, added sugars, and inflammatory triggers.
   • Focus on nutrient-dense foods like leafy greens, berries, wild-caught fish, and healthy fats.
   • Support the immune system with vitamin C, zinc, selenium, and vitamin D.
2. Adaptogenic Herbs & Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM)
   • Herbs like ginseng, astragalus, and codonopsis boost immune resilience.
   • Functional mushrooms (reishi, cordyceps) enhance immune defense.
   • Acupuncture and Qi Gong improve energy flow and immune balance.
3. Red Light Therapy
   • Supports mitochondrial function, improves circulation, and reduces inflammation.
   • Studies show it enhances tissue repair and immune function.
4. Ozone Therapy
   • Increases oxygenation, creating an inhospitable environment for Lyme bacteria.
   • Enhances detoxification and immune response.
5. RIFE Therapy
   • Uses electromagnetic frequencies to target Lyme bacteria.
   • Some patients report significant symptom improvement, though research is still developing.
6. High-Dose Probiotics & Natural Antimicrobials
   • Supports gut health and balances the microbiome.
   • Natural antimicrobials like garlic, oregano oil, and berberine help fight infections.
   • Herbal protocols like Bill Rawls Lyme Awareness, Buhner’s Lyme Protocol and Cowden Lyme Protocol help disrupt biofilms and weaken bacteria.

Terrifying Truth Behind Lyme Disease? – What You Need To Know! – Search

Are There Real-Life Lyme Recovery Stories?

McKenzie Vath, a well-known wellness advocate, battled Lyme for years before turning to holistic therapies like ozone therapy and RIFE treatments, which significantly improved her symptoms.

Case Study 1: Jamie (28-year-old female)

Jamie suffered from anxiety, depression, and fatigue due to undiagnosed Lyme. After 18 months on a comprehensive treatment protocol, she regained mental clarity, left a toxic marriage, and took control of her life.

Case Study 2: Jessica (16-year-old with social difficulties)

Jessica struggled with severe depression and was often misinterpreted as angry due to Lyme-related cranial nerve dysfunction. Once on a Lyme treatment protocol, her energy and social skills improved, and she was finally able to connect with peers.

The Road to Recovery: Healing from Lyme for Good

Lyme disease is often misunderstood and misdiagnosed, leaving many to suffer needlessly. 

While antibiotics are a common treatment, chronic Lyme often requires a more comprehensive approach focusing on mitochondrial health, immune balance, and gut restoration. 

With the right combination of therapies—including diet, herbal medicine, detox strategies, and alternative therapies—many individuals have been able to regain their health and vitality.

If you suspect you may have Lyme disease or have been struggling with unexplained chronic symptoms, consider a holistic approach to support your recovery and long-term wellness.

For more on this topic, watch The Dr. Josh Axe Show “The Most Misdiagnosed Disease in America (How to Heal from Lyme Disease)”

The scary truth about Lyme Disease || Bing Videos

Get Bitten (actually, don’t) with Kris Newby on the Secret History of Lyme!

Under Our Skin: Part 1 & 2 (Both Lyme Disease Movies In One Video – Is Lyme Disease A Bioweapon?)

Medicare and Medicaid Cuts in Trump’s Big, Beautiful Bill: What’s at Stake

Updated: June 9, 2025, 11:08 PM  Digital Team

Seniors, veterans, and healthcare advocates are pushing back as President Trump’s massive tax bill sparks fears of deep cuts to Medicare and Medicaid.

President Donald Trump’s recently unveiled “Big, Beautiful” bill—a sweeping package of tax cuts and entitlement reforms—has ignited controversy on Capitol Hill and beyond. While the legislation promises significant tax relief, critics warn that it could come at the expense of key social safety net programs like  Medicare and Medicaid.

What’s in Trump’s ‘Big, Beautiful’ Bill?

The bill, which recently passed the House and is now before the Senate, aims to make Trump-era tax cuts permanent while expanding deductions for families and small businesses.

But the legislation also includes provisions that would dramatically reduce federal spending on Medicare and Medicaid over the next decade.

Budget analysts estimate the bill could lead to:

• Over $3 trillion in tax cuts
• Roughly $2 trillion in spending reductions to Medicare and Medicaid
• Caps on future benefit growth tied to inflation

Supporters argue that these reforms are necessary to reduce the federal deficit and ensure the long-term solvency of entitlement programs. But opponents say they threaten to dismantle essential healthcare protections for millions of Americans.

Seniors and Low-Income Families at Risk

Medicare currently provides health insurance to more than 65 million Americans, mostly seniors. Medicaid, covers about 83 million low-income individuals, including children, people with disabilities, and elderly nursing home residents.

Under the proposed bill:

• Medicare Advantage plans may see funding rollbacks, potentially leading to higher premiums or reduced coverage.
• Medicaid expansion under the Affordable Care Act could be reversed, leaving millions uninsured.
• Cost-sharing requirements may increase, especially for prescription drugs and long-term care services.

Health policy experts warn that such changes would hit seniors, rural communities, and disabled Americans the hardest, undoing decades of bipartisan efforts to protect these populations.  

Trump Base Responds With Concern

Many of Trump’s most loyal supporters—older, working-class voters—are expressing alarm over the potential cuts.

“We voted for lower taxes, not to lose our Medicare,” said Carol H., a 74-year-old retiree from Ohio who relies on Medicare for her cancer treatments. “This bill feels like a betrayal.”

Polling from Pew Research and Gallup in May 2025 shows a sharp divide among Republicans: While many still back Trump’s broader economic agenda, a growing number are uneasy with threats to programs they depend on in retirement.

Political Fallout Ahead of 2026 Elections

With the Senate poised for a narrow vote and the 2026 midterms on the horizon, Democrats are seizing on the bill as a major campaign issue.

Sen. Patty Murray (D-WA) said the bill “puts Wall Street above Main Street, gutting the programs families rely on to survive.”  

Meanwhile, some Republicans are distancing themselves from the bill’s more controversial provisions, with Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME) calling for “protections for the most vulnerable Americans.”

What’s Next for Medicare and Medicaid? 

The Senate is expected to debate amendments to the bill over the coming weeks. Advocates are urging constituents to call their lawmakers and attend town halls to voice opposition.

If the bill passes unchanged, major structural changes to Medicare and Medicaid could begin as early as Fiscal Year 2026, reshaping healthcare access for tens of millions of Americans.

---

Stay informed and protect your health. Medicare and Medicaid provide essential coverage for over 150 million Americans — understanding your eligibility, benefits, and upcoming policy changes is vital to maintaining access to care.

For personalized assistance or the latest updates, visit Medicare.gov, Medicaid.gov, or call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227).

How Trump could change Medicare : Shots – Health News : NPR

How Dr. Oz And Trump Could Affect Medicare And Medicaid

How Trump bill Medicaid cuts will impact U.S. health care

Are people Really Going to lose medicare and medicaid – Search

Demonstrators protested Medicaid cuts outside of the Capitol last week.

Credit…Joe Raedle/Getty Images

Margot Sanger-Katz
By Margot Sanger-Katz

Reporting from Washington

Published June 29, 2025
Updated July 1, 2025
Republicans’ marquee domestic policy bill that is making its way through the Senate would result in deeper cuts and more Americans losing health insurance coverage than the original measure that passed the House last month, according to new estimates from the Congressional Budget Office.

According to a report published late Saturday night, the legislation would mean 11.8 million more Americans would become uninsured by 2034. Federal spending on Medicaid, Medicare and Obamacare would be reduced by more than $1.1 trillion over that period — with more than $1 trillion of those cuts coming from Medicaid alone.

The fresh estimates make official what many analysts had already predicted and some Republican lawmakers had feared. The size and scope of the health care cuts in the bill, particularly from Medicaid, have been hotly debated, with fiscal hawks pressing for bigger reductions and other Republicans resisting them as they consider the impact on their constituents and health providers in their districts and states.

They are also at odds with President Trump’s vow not to touch Medicaid except to do away with waste and fraud.

The scale of the proposed reductions in Medicaid is unprecedented in the history of the program, which has tended to expand coverage over time since its creation in 1965.

The cuts in the bill are achieved through numerous provisions, but the bulk of the Medicaid savings come from two big features.

One would establish a new, strict national work requirement for some people on the program, who would need to demonstrate they had worked at least 80 hours the month before they sign up, or qualified for an exemption. The Senate version applies this provision to the poor parents of children older than 14 in addition to childless adults without disabilities, the group targeted by the House version. The budget office estimated that that provision alone would reduce federal spending by more than $325 billion over the decade.

The second big source of savings comes from new restrictions on a strategy many states use to finance Medicaid, by imposing taxes on medical providers to leverage a larger federal contribution. The bill’s restrictions on provider taxes and a related mechanism known as state directed payments would cut spending by a combined $375 billion, according to the report. The House bill would freeze the tax rate for most states, but the Senate version would require many states to lower their existing taxes, beginning in 2027.

The provider tax provisions are controversial among senators. Several who represent states with poor, rural populations have objected to the scale of the cuts, including Senators Susan Collins of Maine, Josh Hawley of Missouri, and Thom Tillis of North Carolina. Senate leaders added a last-minute provision Saturday to try to alleviate that concern — a $25 billion fund to support rural health care providers.

But Mr. Tillis voted against a procedural move to advance the bill on Saturday, citing the Medicaid effects as too extreme for his state, and said he would oppose the bill. Mr. Hawley, who voted in favor of taking up the bill, said he would back the measure even as he denounced the Medicaid cuts as “bad.”

The specifics of the legislation remain in flux. The Senate’s parliamentarian, who is reviewing provisions to ensure they comply with the chamber’s rules, is continuing to evaluate a few health care provisions.

Just Sunday morning, she ruled that several health care provisions violated the rules. 

Her ruling included two that would cause more spending on Medicare and Medicaid in Alaska and Hawaii,, according to the Senate Budget Committee. Republicans had added them in part to win over Senator Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, who had raised concerns about the Medicaid cuts and who voted on Saturday night to take up the bill.

The parliamentarian also identified problems with several provisions that would increase paperwork requirements for people enrolling in Medicaid, and the repeal of a regulation that would require a minimum staffing ratio in nursing homes paid by Medicaid.

Just after the late-night procedural vote to bring up the bill, Senator Ron Johnson of Wisconsin, who had initially voted to block it but then switched at the last moment, told reporters that he would propose an amendment that would cut Medicaid even further. His proposal would slowly reduce federal spending on people who have become eligible for Medicaid because of an expansion created by the Affordable Care Act. That change, if it were added, would likely increase the size of the cuts substantially and add to the number of Americans who would lose Medicaid coverage.

Are people Really Going to lose medicare and medicaid – Search

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

What’s Next for the Fuzzy Big Beautiful Bill?

While the Senate’s passage is a major win for President Trump and GOP leadership, the bill’s future remains uncertain. The House of Representatives must now reconcile its own version with the Senate’s amendments—a process complicated by deep divisions within the Republican caucus. Speaker Mike Johnson can afford to lose only three GOP votes if he hopes to pass the bill along party lines.

Fiscal conservatives in the House are alarmed by the projected increase in the national debt, while moderates are uneasy about the deep cuts to Medicaid and nutrition assistance. With the July 4 deadline looming, the coming days will determine whether the “big, beautiful bill” becomes law or stalls in the face of intraparty resistance.

Key Takeaways

• The “big, beautiful bill” passed the Senate by a single vote, with Vice President Vance breaking the tie.
• Only three Republican senators—Tillis, Paul, and Collins—voted against the bill, joining all Democrats in opposition.
• The measure now faces a challenging path in the House, where GOP unity is far from assured.

As the nation watches, the fate of the big beautiful bill will hinge on whether House Republicans can bridge their differences and deliver President Trump’s signature legislation before the Independence Day deadline. Which Senators Voted for the Big Beautiful Bill? Full Breakdown of the Historic Senate Vote

Margot Sanger-Katz is a reporter covering health care policy and public health for the Upshot section of The Times.

Senate Version of Trump’s Policy Bill Would Slash Medicaid Spending Even More – The New York Times

We Asked ChatGPT What Would Happen to the Economy If Every American Had the Same Net Worth

Trump pledged not to cut Medicare – but his budget bill does just that | Morningstar

Trump signs controversial spending bill during White House 4th of July celebrations

How Much Debt The Average American Is In, How It Compares Globally

How America’s Income Gap Compares To The Rest Of The World

How Deep in Debt is America Compared to Other Countries?

What Trump Has Done With Medicare So Far | Kiplinger

is medicare going away under trump – Search

Josh Turner – Unsung Hero (Official Music Video)

A Capitol Fourth 2025 | PBS

Norway’s record-breaking 96.9% EV market share offers crucial lessons

Norway’s EV Dominance: A Roadmap for Global Success | EV Magazine

how did Norway get converted over to EV Quickly – Search Videos

Why EVs are so Hot in Norway – Search

By Stella Nolan
Norway’s record 96.9% EV market share offers crucial lessons on policy consistency, charging infrastructure & consumer incentives to accelerate adoption. The EV revolution is well underway, with Norway leading the charge globally.

With an unprecedented 96.9% EV market share achieved in January 2025, Norway has set a benchmark that other countries are eager to emulate. Adam Rodgers, Global Business Development Director at Easee, brings nearly a decade of experience in the EV and mobility space to shed light on Norway’s success and what it means for the global EV transition.

Norway’s high adoption of electric vehicles (EVs) can be attributed to a combination of taxation rules, incentives, and government policies¹²³⁴.

 Despite the cold climate, Norway’s EV market has thrived, these vehicles have significantly reduced greenhouse gas emissions⁵.


Adam Rodgers, Global Business Development Director at Easee

Norway’s incentive programme: A blueprint for success
Norway’s world-leading EV adoption rate results from a strategic, long-term approach to incentivisation. “Norway’s world-leading EV adoption rate of 96.9% in January 2025 is the result of a long-term and well-structured incentive programme that focuses on creating a seamless transition,” explains Adam.

The Nordic nation’s approach has been multi-faceted, combining financial incentives with practical advantages that make EV ownership genuinely appealing. Adam points out that “Norway’s financial incentives included reduced import duties between 1990 to 2022 and certain exemptions from VAT, significantly reducing the upfront buying cost compared to other vehicles.”

Beyond fiscal measures, Norway implemented everyday benefits that enhanced the EV ownership experience. “Practical incentives, such as access to bus lanes, reduced toll fees and preferential parking, make EV ownership not just the affordable and sustainable option, but genuinely advantageous in day-to-day life,” Adam highlights.

Interview with Christina Bu, Norwegian Electric Vehicle Association

Policy consistency: The cornerstone of consumer confidence

A critical factor in Norway’s success has been the unwavering commitment to EV-friendly policies regardless of political changes. “One of the most critical factors in Norway’s success has been consumer confidence in government policies. Despite changes in government, the policy has remained consistent, offering clear direction to the industry and consumers,” notes Adam.

The consistency starkly contrasts the approach seen in other countries like the UK, where policy shifts have created uncertainty. “By comparison, in the UK, the date for the ban on ICE vehicles shifted backwards, before being brought forward again to the original 2030 deadline,” Adam observes.

The lesson is clear: “The Norwegian model shows that government support plays a critical role in fast-tracking the uptake of EVs. Continuity of policy and government-led support for electrification is vital to build long-term consumer confidence.”

Kristine Bu, General Secretary of the Norwegian EV Association
Adam’s sentiment echoes Kristine Bu, General Secretary of the Norwegian EV Association, who praised Norway’s long-term strategy for transitioning to electric mobility. Reflecting on the country’s progress, she stated, “The goal set by the Storting (Norwegian parliament) in 2016 has been like a beacon that has led us in the right direction”.

Charging infrastructure: The backbone of EV adoption

Norway’s impressive charging network has been instrumental in alleviating range anxiety and supporting widespread EV adoption. “One of the biggest factors behind Norway’s success is its extensive charging infrastructure, which supports an effortless charging experience. The country has 447 chargers per 100,000 people versus just 89 per 100,000 in the UK,” Adam explains.

The contrast with other nations is striking. While the UK has made progress, with public charging points increasing from 28,500 in 2022 to more than 75,000 as of February 2025, geographical disparities remain problematic. “London has 250 charging devices per 100,000 people compared to Northern Ireland with just 36 per 100,000 people,” points out Adam.

Private companies have been pivotal in building robust networks.

“In Norway, Easee, for example, has installed almost 300,000 chargers,” Adam adds, highlighting the role that businesses like his own have played in supporting infrastructure development.

“In Norway, Easee, for example, has installed almost 300,000 chargers.”

Barriers to adoption in other markets
Despite Norway’s success, EV market penetration elsewhere lags significantly. “Norway’s high EV market share contrasts sharply with other countries, for example, in 2024, 13.6% in Europe and 6% in the US,” notes Adam.

Several key barriers continue to impede adoption:

Cost concerns: While the initial purchase price of EVs has been a deterrent, the market is evolving. “A new study revealed that used fuel engines are on average US$3,317 more expensive than EV models of the same age, mileage and manufacturer, which means motorists could save money by opting for a secondhand EV rather than its combustion engine equal,” Adam explains.

Charging infrastructure gaps: “Charging infrastructure is another major challenge. Whilst Norway has built a vast network of chargers and is now focusing on expanding its fast-charging stations, other countries, such as the UK, have a way to go to build their initial charging infrastructure,” says Adam.

Consumer education: Misunderstandings about EV technology remain prevalent. “Many people are still hesitant to switch to EVs due to misconceptions about charging times, battery lifespan and overall reliability. Governments and manufacturers must do more to educate consumers about the benefits of EVs whilst addressing concerns,” Adam advises.

Looking ahead: The next 12-18 months

The coming year and a half will be pivotal for global EV adoption. In the UK, progress is evident, but challenges remain. “Looking ahead, the next 12 to 18 months will be critical for the global EV market. In the UK, it is incredibly positive to see battery EVs holding a 23.7% market share. The Labour government’s reinstatement of the 2030 ICE ban offered the clarity the industry needed to make progress,” Adam observes. 

Norwegian EV Associations answer to G.M. and Will Ferrell. Bring it on!

The secondhand EV market offers particular promise for broadening access.

“We are at a pivotal stage in the EV transition, witnessing a significant rise of secondhand EVs in the market. In January 2025 secondhand EVs contributed for 17% of car dealers’ stock,” notes Adam. “With more EVs on the market, affordability will improve, creating greater accessibility to the benefits of electrification to a broader range of motorists.”

Norway’s remarkable success in EV adoption provides valuable lessons for countries worldwide. Through consistent policy support, comprehensive incentives and robust charging infrastructure, Norway demonstrated a near-complete transition to EVs is achievable.

As Adam highlights, the key to success is making the transition “effortless” for consumers. It requires a holistic approach that addresses financial barriers, practical concerns and education gaps. With the right strategies, other nations can accelerate their EV revolutions and move closer to a sustainable transportation future.

Norway offers both inspiration and practical guidance for countries like the U.K. with ambitious targets such as the 2030 ICE ban. Also, the global shift to EVs can gain the momentum needed to address transportation’s climate impact by applying these lessons and maintaining consistent support for electrification.

Stay informed and inspired with the EV Magazine community by signing up for our free weekly newsletter.  Each week, receive the latest industry news and in-depth insights into the world of electric vehicles, sustainability and cutting-edge innovations. Subscribe now, don’t miss the opportunity in the fast-evolving EV industry.

More than 1 in 4 cars sold worldwide this year is set to be electric as EV sales continue to grow – News – IEA

The United States vs. The Top Countries Leading Electric Vehicle Adoption — Induct EV

Alternative Fuels Data Center: Maps and Data – Electric Vehicle Registrations by State

Which Country Has the Highest Percentage of Electric Cars? – Future Flux Tech

2025 EV Sales Surge: Which Countries Are Winning the Electric Race?

Is the Renewable Energy Boom Destroying the Environment? | Watch

Countries with highest percentages of electric vehicles – Search

Is the Future of Renewable Energy Inevitable? – Search Videos

America’s Extreme Heat Crisis Will Last For Decades | Watch

Chart: Which countries buy the most EVs? | Canary Media

Electric vehicles (EVs) have one really big problem

Map shows states with biggest housing shortages

Biggest solar farm in Arizona – Search Videos

Spain is on fire, climate change is already here

Do We Really Need Electric Cars? | Watch

▄︻デ4̷3̷2̷0̷0̷0̷══━一 @x77389867 Jun 6

The Inversion of the Republic 

This is not where the war began, but where we pick up the threads… America was built on a spiritual contradiction—one that was never resolved, only masked. On the surface, it was a Christian nation: publicly moral, revivalist, oriented toward God. The First and Second Great Awakenings lit up the population from below—fierce, emotional, sincere movements of repentance and redemption. 

These were not controlled. They were eruptions. 

But underneath that visible layer, something else was taking shape. Some of the Founders—particularly those influenced by Enlightenment philosophy and Freemasonry—saw America as more than just a free republic. They envisioned it as a New Atlantis: a symbolic project, designed to encode divine order into the very structure of the state. 

Not anti-Christian, but not explicitly Christian either. 

It was a parallel layer—ritual, architectural, initiatory. This hidden layer wasn’t broadcast to the masses. It was built into the layout of Washington D.C., the Great Seal, the dollar.

A network of symbols meant to elevate, guide, and bind the nation to a higher pattern.

A republic not just of laws, but of meaning. 

Pledge of Allegiance via Red Skelton 1969 Masterpiece

The plan, if there was one, was noble in aspiration—at least in its early form. But it was fragile. Because if that symbolic scaffolding were ever hijacked—if the structures meant to reflect divine order were hollowed out or inverted—then what you’d be left with is a simulation of virtue. A republic of icons whose meaning has been forgotten. People are still mouthing the words, but no longer connected to the source. Before the scaffolding could even be inverted, the financial machinery was already taking shape. 

In 1791, the First Bank of the United States was chartered—modeled explicitly on the Bank of England. It created a central node for sovereign debt issuance and credit control.

While nominally American, the system was tied by contracts and intermediaries to foreign capital—including Rothschild-linked European banking houses consolidating control over bond markets and trade finance across the Atlantic. Some recognized the danger.

 In 1798, George Washington replied to a letter from Reverend G.W. Snyder, who had sent him a copy of Proofs of a Conspiracy. The book alleged that Illuminist agents had infiltrated Continental Freemasonry to subvert religion, monarchy, and moral order. Washington answered: “It was not my intention to doubt that the doctrines of the Illuminati… had not spread in the United States.

 On the contrary, no one is more truly satisfied with this fact than I am.” He clarified that most American Masons were loyal—but he saw that the symbolic layer itself was now exposed. It could be worn without being inhabited. 

The republic still spoke the words. 

But something else could soon move through them. In 1816, the Second Bank of the United States was created. It expanded the power of the first: more centralized credit, more foreign access, more leverage over state governments and frontier economies. Once again, European firms—several with documented Rothschild affiliations—were active in bond underwriting and debt placement. 

Andrew Jackson made this conflict explicit. 

He called the bank a monster. He accused it of subverting the republic. He shut it down. The institution died. The architecture did not. And while America fought to remain sovereign, a new current was rising abroad. In 1848, The Communist Manifesto was published in London—written by Karl Marx—of Jewish descent—and Friedrich Engels. Engels was heir to a textile empire. 

Marx lived much of his life under Engels’ financial patronage. 

Their vision promised liberation—but demanded obliteration: of faith, of family, of property, of memory. It was Christianity inverted—offering heaven on earth, enforced by men who believed in neither heaven nor earth, only the dialectic. It spread through Europe as a theory. But it was never just theory. It was a symbolic weapon—deployed not by the poor, but by those who sought to reengineer the world through destruction. The fire had been lit—quiet at first, burning underground. 

America hadn’t felt its heat. Its fracture would come from within. 

The Civil War was more than a battle over slavery or federalism. It was a spiritual rift: two incompatible visions of sovereignty. One rooted in local identity, agrarian covenant, and decentralized virtue. The other, in industrial scale, central authority, and financial abstraction. Lincoln issued greenbacks—currency tied not to gold, but to the will of the republic. It bypassed private banking. He was killed. 

What followed was not Reconstruction. 

It was a Reconstitution. The 14th Amendment was written to protect freedmen—but by 1886, it had been redirected. In Santa Clara v. In The Southern Pacific, the Court accepted—without ruling—that corporations were “persons” under its protection. From that sleight, corporate personhood was born. Washington D.C. was corporatized in 1871. 

Railroads carved debt corridors through sovereign soil. 

Legal abstractions replaced covenantal trust. Wall Street rose, flanked by its European patrons. In 1873, Congress demonetized silver. The move came without public debate—drafted largely by lawyers connected to international bond firms. The dollar was now tied solely to gold. Liquidity dried up. Farmers collapsed. Credit moved east. The public called it what it was: the Crime of ’73. 

What followed was an open revolt. 

The Populist movement. The Greenback Party. The People’s Party.

Millions rose in the name of labor, land, and sovereignty.

And in 1896, William Jennings Bryan spoke the final warning: “You shall not press down upon the brow of labor this crown of thorns, You shall not crucify mankind upon a cross of gold.” The architecture held. Bryan lost. But the meaning remained. This was the last time the collective American soul rose in open rebellion against financial abstraction. What followed was consolidation.

 In 1907, a banking panic—engineered by the same class who offered its solution—was used to justify a new institution: Private, central, and untouchable. The seizure wasn’t limited to finance. It moved in parallel through faith. In 1909, a new annotated Bible began circulating—compiled by Cyrus Scofield, funded by Zionist financiers, and distributed by Oxford Press.

 It introduced a theology foreign to Christian tradition: that the modern State of Israel would fulfill prophecy, that war in the Middle East was a divine obligation, and that American power was an instrument of redemption. This framework spread quietly but thoroughly. 

By the time the institutions were fully captured, the faith that might have resisted had already been rewritten. And while theology was being rewritten, the machinery of money moved forward. Congressman Charles Lindbergh Sr. warned: “This act establishes the most gigantic trust on earth… When the President signs this act, the invisible government by the money power… will be legalized.” 

Others never got the chance. 

In 1912, the Titanic sank. Among the dead were several of the most prominent opponents of central banking consolidation—men like Benjamin Guggenheim, Isidor Straus, and John Jacob Astor IV. They were among the wealthiest men in America—publicly or privately opposed to the creation of a European-style central bank. All of them declined invitations to the Federal Reserve planning meeting on Jekyll Island. All of them perished. 

In 1913, the Federal Reserve Act was signed. Monetary sovereignty was gone. That same year, the 16th Amendment was ratified. The state could now extract labor permanently. The citizen was no longer sovereign. He was rented. The monetary control architecture was in place. 

The system could now expand—without asking the soul for permission. Then came the war. World War I was not America’s fight. But it became America’s burden. J.P. Morgan—agent of Rothschild London—became the official purchasing agent for the British war effort. Billions flowed through him. When Britain’s collapse threatened that exposure, American entry became “necessary.” 

The press was managed. Dissent was criminalized. 

The Creel Committee rewired the American psyche—propaganda now had a home. By 1917, America had become an instrument. The republic served the system. What followed was not peace, but profit. The Roaring Twenties were a fever dream—consumer credit, speculative bubbles, and mass media hypnotics. 

New industries rose, backed by Wall Street and foreign capital. 

The culture was softened. The dollar was stretched. The spirit was lulled. In 1920, Henry Ford began publishing The International Jew—a serialized exposé blaming financial collapse and global unrest on a Jewish conspiracy. It circulated widely and drew international criticism. Lawsuits followed. 

Ford eventually retracted the material and issued a public apology. 

But the signal had already escaped. Then came the crash. In 1929, the speculative tower collapsed—just as engineered liquidity was withdrawn. Fortunes vanished. Land was seized. Independence was lost. The solution? Centralization. FDR’s New Deal was not rescue—it was reprogramming. The gold standard was severed for citizens. 

Private ownership of gold became a crime.

The dollar was devalued. The people became wards. Federal agencies expanded in every direction—symbolically replacing the Church and the family. The soul was not asked to rise. It was promised relief. The Crown watched with approval. In Britain, Rothschild interests consolidated oil, banking, and war production. In America, they funded influence, press organs, and industrial leverage. 

Then came the second war. 

But this was no simple battle of good versus evil. In the 1930s, British elites quietly backed Hitler’s rise. Prince Edward, later the Duke of Windsor, toured Germany, met with Hitler, and praised the regime. He wasn’t alone. Many in the aristocracy saw fascism as a bulwark against Bolshevism—and a tool to preserve capital.S39 Ep5

Hannah Arendt: Facing Tyranny

Premiere: 6/27/2025 | 01:23:45 | TV-PG | 

Discover Hannah Arendt, one of the most fearless political thinkers of the 20th century, who transformed her time as a political prisoner and refugee during World War II into daring insights about totalitarianism which continue to resonate today. 

 Hannah Arendt: Facing Tyranny – Watch the documentary now! | American Masters | PBSStreaming until: 7/26/2025 @ 2:59 AM EDT

Across the Atlantic, American industrialists moved in parallel. Ford’s German factories remained active during the Nazi rise. General Motors’ Opel division supplied the Reich’s military vehicles. Standard Oil provided critical fuel additives to the Luftwaffe. IBM leased punch-card systems that enabled racial census tracking. Wall Street financiers facilitated German reindustrialization. Prescott Bush profited through Nazi-linked business ties until federal intervention forced divestment.

 It wasn’t loyalty. It was an alignment. Hitler crushed communists, broke unions, stabilized industry, and brought order. Fascism was seen not as evil—but efficient. Then he broke from the script. He seized control of Germany’s central bank. He issued debt-free currency. He made trade deals that bypassed Rothschild-linked financial networks. He moved toward full sovereignty—financial, industrial, and symbolic. 

That couldn’t be allowed.

The same powers that helped him rise turned to destroy him. Even as Hitler broke from international finance, a separate alignment formed. Zionist leaders cooperated with the regime to relocate Jews and capital to Palestine—a shared logic of removal, leveraged toward divergent ends. Still—the war claimed many lives. Hundreds of thousands were imprisoned, displaced, and subjected to brutal conditions. Many died—of exhaustion, starvation, and disease. 

The records were incomplete. The truth was fragmented. 

But the story that followed was not. After the war, the story took shape. The suffering was real—but its framing had long been prepared. The phrase ‘six million Jews’ in danger had appeared in Western newspapers for decades—long before the camps. The number was not discovered. It echoed. A new moral architecture began to rise—not from memory, but from design. Guilt was institutionalized. Doubt was criminalized. 

The war had ended, but its image became permanent.

In the West they thought they won, but the trea·son·ous control apparatus hardened. America inherited the empire—more than symbolically, a fusion of intelligence wings. Not by conquest. By consolidation. It held the sword, the screen, and the seal. And when the war ended, the mask did not fall. It fused to the face.

The war was over. America had emerged intact—prosperous, confident, ascendant The good guys had triumphed. The future looked clean. But beneath that surface, a deeper program was unfolding. Control didn’t shift. It clarified. The same class that had dominated European finance, media, and theory now embedded itself more fully in America. Nominally secular, ethnically Jewish, and ideologically hostile to Christian order, they viewed the nation not as a home, but as a host. 

The outward detachment masked an inner fixation—a drive not to escape religion, but to replace it. Hollywood was already theirs. Publishing was already theirs. Psychiatry, law, critical theory—each offered newfronts.

They did not attack America from the outside. 

They reprogrammed it from within. In film, they inverted myth into parody. In psychology, they reframed faith as pathology and tradition as trauma. In courts, they banned prayer, protected filth, and renamed it freedom. In schools, they cut the root—Scripture, memory, reverence—and called it neutrality. This was not neutrality. It was a reversal. They removed the Logos and installed abstraction.

They severed the covenant and called it emancipation. 
The system had a guardian—installed early, kept in place for nearly fifty years. He did not change with administrations. He enforced what remained hidden. J. Edgar Hoover ruled the FBI like a silent sovereign. He amassed blackmail on senators, journalists, generals, and presidents. He did not enforce law—he enforced stasis. Hoover himself was compromised. 

A closeted degenerate obsessed with controlling the sexuality of others, he served as the perfect mask: private inversion enforcing public conformity. He neutralized populists, moralists, and dissidents. But he never touched the network above him. His loyalty was not to the nation. It was to the structure. For a moment, the system allowed a response. 

Senator Joseph McCarthy became its avatar—not of justice, but of containment. He was permitted to speak of subversion, foreign loyalties, Communist infiltration. But only within limits. He named agents. He exposed cells. But he never touched the deeper architecture—ethnic cohesion, metaphysical hostility, civilizational revenge. 

He was permitted to gesture. He was not permitted to strike.

And so they buried him. While the public was fed a drama of enemies and hearings, another layer was unfolding beneath the surface—quieter, deeper, more permanent. In 1953, the CIA launched MKULTRA—an official program of psychic experimentation. 

Under the direction of Allen Dulles, researchers explored how to dissolve identity, fracture will, and reprogram belief. Hypnosis, electroshock, and psychedelic compounds became tools of control. LSD was one of them. It was used on prisoners, veterans, dissidents. In the years that followed, men like Charles Manson and Ted Kaczynski would emerge from its wake—shattered, weaponized, redirected.

 Others—perhaps Sirhan Sirhan—were never given the chance to remain whole. But the compound slipped containment. LSD spread beyond the lab and into the culture. What was meant to simulate the sacred sometimes became a glimpse of it. Not everyone saw visions. But some saw structure. Some saw energy. Some saw that the world was not as fixed as they had been told. 

It was not delivered as Logos. But it moved toward coherence.

Some returned from it not scattered, but sharpened. What was meant to disorient became, for a few, the beginning of pattern. An opening the system could not fully close. While minds were being broken in secret, narratives were being shaped in public. 

Operation Mockingbird began quietly—before most knew there was a war for perception. Journalists were recruited, editors cultivated, networks guided. News became orchestration. The CIA called it the Mighty Wurlitzer: a machine to play public opinion like an organ. If MKULTRA fragmented the soul, Mockingbird told it what to believe.

Reality itself became programmable.

A spiritual anesthesia fell over the country. Eisenhower gave his farewell address in 1961. He warned of “unwarranted influence,” of a military-industrial complex that had slipped beyond democratic control. But it was not a warning. It was a benediction.

A handoff. The republic was no longer guarded. It was managed. The soul was pacified.

The symbols remained. But the current beneath them had been reversed. It was the quietest decade. But the deepest foundations were laid. And then—someone rose. Not from the system, but from within the nation. Someone sovereign. Someone human. 

In 1960, John F. Kennedy entered the presidency. He did not rise from the structure. He rose in spite of it. Catholic, charismatic, independently wealthy, beloved—he was not installed. He was chosen. He was no saint. His appetites were real. His family was already entangled with the machinery of power. But his instincts were sovereign. And his faith marked him.

The only Catholic ever to hold the office, he represented a tradition long opposed—ritually, philosophically, theologically—by those who now held cultural and financial control. He was not just outside the system. In their eyes, he was of the wrong priesthood. From the beginning, he moved against the current. He refused to back the CIA’s Bay of Pigs invasion in 1961.

The agency expected escalation. He withdrew. Trust was broken. He rejected Operation Northwoods—a proposal by the Joint Chiefs to launch false-flag terror attacks on Americans to justify war in Cuba. He didn’t escalate. He shut it down.

He sidelined the military during the Cuban Missile Crisis, choosing negotiation over provocation. He spoke of peace—not containment, not leverage. Peace. He signed the Nuclear Test Ban Treaty in 1963. He began drawing down troops in Vietnam.

He issued Executive Order 11110 —a direct challenge to the Federal Reserve.

And he demanded inspections of Israel’s Dimona nuclear facility. He warned Ben-Gurion: the United States would not support an unregulated Israeli nuclear program. Ben-Gurion resigned.

None of these moves stood alone. But together, they formed a pattern. Kennedy was not challenging policy. He was challenging structure.

On November 22, 1963, John F. Kennedy was executed in public view. Not assassinated—executed. In Dallas. In the open. A ritual severing of flesh from structure. The sovereign body was destroyed. The machine remained untouched.

George HW Bush Executed JFK – Search

Beneath the presidency, the old machinery remained intact.

Prescott Bush had financed Nazi industry and helped manage the transition to the postwar global order. His son, George, moved quietly through Yale, Skull and Bones—preparing, insulating, obeying. These were not elected men. They were initiated. Their power was not visibility. It was continuity.

Kennedy had threatened that continuity.

The Warren Commission sealed the lie. The public was told to forget what it saw. What followed was not an investigation. It was an initiation. The people became participants in their own dismemberment. They watched the king fall and accepted the substitution: image for power, spectacle for truth.

After this, no president would be sovereign. Not fully. Not structurally.

The prince was shattered.

And the system was now safe.

Pay No Attention to the Man Behind the Curtain

This line is spoken by The Wizard of Oz, played by Frank Morgan, in the film The Wizard of Oz, directed by Victor Fleming (1939).

If you were in Dorothy’s shoes (or should we say slippers?), the name the Wizard of Oz would sound magical. 

Who is this grand Wizard of Oz? He must be amazing, right?

Well, it turns out the Wizard of Oz isn’t all he’s cracked up to be. 

Did the Wizard of OZ have a Communist Overture – Search

When Dorothy, the Tin Man, the Cowardly Lion, and the Scarecrow all find the Wizard, they hear a loud voice booming all around them, telling them to come back another time. It almost sounds as if the Wizard of Oz is some kind of god, sending his message down from the clouds.

But then Toto, Dorothy’s dog, discovers that the Wizard is no god. In fact, he’s just a guy operating a bunch of controls behind a green curtain. When Toto rips the curtain to the side, the Wizard of Oz realizes he’s been found out, and tries to cover it up by shouting over his loudspeaker, “Pay no attention to that man behind the curtain!”

Yeah, nice try, buddy.

I moved from a big city to a remote island in Washington that doesn’t have a grocery store or gas station and I’ve never been happier.

Living in solitude can offer profound benefits for self-discovery, creativity, and mental clarity, but it also requires intentionality and self-awareness.

Benefits of Solitude

1. Self-Discovery and Reflection: Solitude provides a unique opportunity to connect with oneself, allowing for deep introspection and self-reflection. It helps individuals understand their feelings, desires, and values without external influences. 2
2. Creativity Boost: Many artists, writers, and thinkers have attributed their best work to time spent alone. Solitude can stimulate creativity by providing a quiet space for ideas to flourish and for individuals to tap into their intuition. 2
3. Mental Clarity: Being alone can help clear the mind of distractions, enabling better focus and decision-making. It allows for contemplation of life’s complexities and can lead to significant personal insights. 2
4. Emotional Regulation: Solitude can facilitate emotional processing, helping individuals confront and understand their feelings. This can lead to healthier emotional regulation and stress relief. 2

Practical Tips for Embracing Solitude

• Choose the Right Environment: Select a location that allows for solitude, whether it’s your home, a cabin in the woods, or a quiet space in nature. Ensure you have access to necessities like food and water. 1
• Start Small: If you’re new to solitude, consider starting with short periods of alone time. Gradually increase the duration as you become more comfortable with being alone. 1
• Engage in Solitary Activities: Find hobbies or activities that you enjoy doing alone, such as reading, writing, or hiking. This can make your time in solitude more fulfilling and enjoyable. 2
• Limit Distractions: When you choose to spend time alone, minimize distractions like phones or social media. This will help you fully engage with your thoughts and feelings. 1
• Inform Others: If you plan to live in solitude for an extended period, communicate your intentions to friends and family. This can help manage their expectations and support your journey. 1

Conclusion

Living in solitude can be a rewarding experience that fosters personal growth, creativity, and emotional well-being. By embracing solitude intentionally and thoughtfully, individuals can unlock the many benefits it offers while also learning to navigate the challenges that may arise. Whether for a short period or a more extended commitment, solitude can lead to profound insights and a deeper understanding of oneself.

Insider@insider.com (Blakely Spoor)

Tue, July 1, 2025 at 8:43 AM EDT

Blakely Spoor is a writer and photographer based in the Pacific Northwest, known for her evocative storytelling and love of nature. She’s currently working on a publication called Cabin Nine, which celebrates the spirit of the region. After college, she made a bold move from Nashville to a remote island in Washington’s San Juan Islands—a place with no grocery store or gas station, where most residents are decades older than her.

Her writing often explores themes of solitude, community, and the beauty of slower living. You can find her recollections and essays on  Madison Spain Club a Substack she co-authors with Savannah Spoor. It’s full of poetic musings, seasonal updates, and heartfelt observations from island life.

Tell me more about Blakely Spoor’s publications.

Blakely Spoor’s writing paints a vivid portrait of life in the Pacific Northwest, often blending personal reflection with natural imagery and themes of solitude, community, and nostalgia.

 Cabin Nine This is her current project—a publication that serves as an ode to the Pacific Northwest. It’s inspired by her experiences living on a remote island in Washington, where she’s surrounded by wildlife, driftwood beaches, and a slower pace of life.

Can you summarize her book ‘Cabin Nine’?

Archive – Cabin Nine

Blakely Spoor is pouring her love for the Pacific Northwest.

Into a new project called Cabin Nine:

A publication that captures the spirit of the region through writing and photography. Known for her evocative storytelling and deep connection to nature, Spoor draws inspiration from her life on a remote island in Washington—where there’s no grocery store or gas station, just quiet beauty and a slower pace.

If you’re into forest paths, coastal fog, and the kind of introspection that only moss-covered solitude can offer, Cabin Nine might be your next favorite read. Want to explore what themes or visuals she’s weaving into it?

What aspects of the Pacific Northwest inspire her work?

Blakely Spoor finds deep inspiration in the natural beauty and quiet rhythms of the Pacific Northwest. Her writing and photography often reflect:

 Forest Wanderings – She’s known for meandering through enchanted forest paths, capturing the lush greenery and misty atmosphere that define the region.

 Agate Collecting – Spoor has a fondness for beachcombing and collecting agates, a hobby that connects her to the geological and coastal character of the area.

 Remote Island Living – After moving from Nashville to a secluded island in Washington with no grocery store or gas station, she’s embraced a slower, more intentional lifestyle. This shift deeply influences her storytelling, emphasizing solitude, simplicity, and connection to place.

 Local Culture – Exploring neighborhood coffee shops and small communities adds a human layer to her work, blending nature with the warmth of local life.

Her project Cabin Nine is a tribute to these elements—an ode to the Pacific Northwest’s quiet magic. Want to dive into how she translates these inspirations into visual storytelling?

How does her remote island living influence her storytelling?

Blakely Spoor’s life on a remote island in Washington profoundly shapes her storytelling by infusing it with solitude, intentionality, and sensory detail. After leaving Nashville, she moved to a cabin in the San Juan Islands—no grocery store, no gas station, and neighbors mostly decades older. This shift from urban bustle to quiet isolation gives her work a reflective, almost meditative tone.

Here’s how that lifestyle seeps into her creative voice:

 Nature as a Narrative Anchor – Her daily walks along rocky beaches and views of seals, eagles, and shorebirds become recurring motifs. These moments aren’t just scenic—they’re emotional touchstones that ground her stories in place.

 Embracing Imperfection – The cabin she lives in was built in two weeks and wasn’t meant for full-time living. Its creaky windows and rotting deck symbolize a kind of raw authenticity that she channels into her writing.

 Planning and Resourcefulness – With limited access to supplies and only one public access point, her life requires meticulous planning. That sense of intentional living translates into storytelling that’s deliberate and deeply personal.

 Intergenerational Connection – Most of her neighbors are 30+ years older, which adds layers of wisdom and perspective to her narratives. She often reflects on these relationships and the quiet strength of community.

Her storytelling isn’t just about the Pacific Northwest—it’s shaped by the rhythms of living slowly, listening deeply, and finding meaning in the mundane. Want to explore how she brings these themes into Cabin Nine visually?

1 Cabin Nine | Substack

A pocket of our pacific northwest world – Cabin Nine

Blakely Spoor’s Cabin Nine isn’t a traditional book—it’s more of an ongoing publication or creative project that celebrates the spirit of the Pacific Northwest. While there isn’t a formal summary available like you’d find on a book jacket, here’s what we know:

 Essence of Cabin Nine It’s a deeply personal and atmospheric tribute to life on a remote island in Washington’s San Juan Islands. Spoor draws from her own experience living in a cabin with no grocery store or gas station, surrounded by seals, shorebirds, and driftwood beaches.

 Themes and Style

• Nature and solitude
• Community and intergenerational friendships
• Reflections on slow living and intentional choices
• Visual storytelling through photography and Super 8 footage

 Tone and Voice Her writing is nostalgic, poetic, and grounded in real-life moments—like watching seals bob in the waves from her kitchen window or walking the rocky beach each morning.

If you’re drawn to quiet, reflective narratives that feel like a handwritten letter from a friend, Cabin Nine might be right up your alley. Want help finding where to read or subscribe to it?

 Madison Spain Club on Substack Blakely co-authors this with Savannah Spoor. It’s a collection of essays and reflections that explore themes like:

• The Weight of an Offering – thoughts on giving and receiving
• Island Time – updates from life on the island
• Autumn on the Island – seasonal reflections and Super 8 footage
• From a Morning at the Coffee Shop – musings on unexpected community
• Lessons from an Anthropologist – stories of friendship and resilience

 Personal Essays She’s also written about her move from Nashville to a remote island in Washington, describing the challenges and joys of living in a place with no grocery store or gas station. Her reflections highlight the beauty of simplicity and the unexpected friendships she’s formed with older neighbors.

If you’re into slow living, nature writing, or heartfelt storytelling, her work is a cozy rabbit hole worth exploring. Want me to pull up one of her essays or help you subscribe to her Substack?

Blakely Spoor’s writing style is intimate, lyrical, and deeply rooted in place. 

Here’s a breakdown of the key elements that define her voice:

 Tone Her tone is reflective and tender, often tinged with nostalgia. Whether she’s writing about island life or a morning coffee shop encounter, there’s a quiet reverence for the ordinary.

 Diction Spoor favors poetic, sensory-rich language. She uses simple words with emotional weight, often choosing metaphors drawn from nature or domestic life—like “the breakfast loaf” or “the weight of an offering.”

 Syntax Her sentence structure tends to be flowing and rhythmic, with a mix of short, emphatic lines and longer, meandering thoughts. This creates a meditative pace that mirrors the slow-living themes she explores.

 Imagery Visual detail is central to her style. As a photographer, she brings a keen eye to her writing, painting scenes with texture and light—whether it’s moss-covered paths or the glow of a kitchen window.

 Themes Spoor’s work often circles around solitude, community, memory, and the tension between modern life and timeless rituals. She writes with a sense of longing, but also deep appreciation.

Her style feels like a handwritten letter tucked into a book—personal, thoughtful, and quietly profound. Want me to compare her style to another writer or analyze a specific piece more closely?

 Blakely Spoor has contributed a number of thoughtful essays and reflections, many of which appear on the Substack publication Madison Spain Club. Here are a few standout pieces:

 “The Weight of an Offering” – A meditation on giving and receiving, co-written with Savannah Spoor  “Lost to Our Generation” – A nostalgic look at traditions and values they hope to revive  “Island Time” – musings from life on a remote island  “From a Morning at the Coffee Shop” –  

“The Breakfast Loaf” – A playful dive into food blogging and cozy routines!!!

A heartfelt piece about unexpected community 

She also penned a travel article for Tripadvisor titled “A self-guided tour of Nashville’s coolest murals”, offering a vibrant itinerary through the city’s street art scene. If you’re drawn to poetic storytelling and reflections on slow living, her work is a lovely place to linger. Want me to pull quotes or explore themes from one of these?

We are two sisters who have been hip-to-hip since birth.

From our birth town of Las Vegas, to our stint at maritime life on Bainbridge Island, Washington, – Search Videos to living nestled between exploding volcanoes in Antigua, Guatemala, to finally growing roots among the wild rivers and towering mountains of Ketchum, Idaho—we’ve been around. College took us to Nashville, Tennessee, and now, we navigate the awkward season of “post-grad” life.

 Madison Spain Club is a flow of consciousness for our crazy little lives. It is meant to give you a candid and real glimpse into our worlds, as if you were having a conversation with a close friend over coffee. We surprise ourselves with new words, lessons, and stories every Sunday. Get cozy and settle in, we are so happy to have you here .

<3 XOXO, Blakely & Savannah

I moved from Nashville to a remote island in Washington.

• After college, I moved from Nashville to a remote island in Washington.
• There’s no grocery store or gas station here, and most residents are at least 30 years my senior.
• Living here full-time requires careful planning, but it’s one of the best decisions I’ve ever made.

Last summer, I felt stuck. I was a year out of college and living in Nashville, with no idea where to go next.

Most of my friends were headed to New York City, with a few straying from the norm by going to other big cities, like Denver or Dallas. I, however, veered entirely off the norm — practically skidding on two wheels — by moving to a tiny, remote spot in Washington’s San Juan Islands where I spent summers as a kid in my family’s cabin.

The small island wasn’t on my short list of places to move postgrad. In fact, it wasn’t on any of my lists. However, the appeal of a slower pace of life, coupled with the quintessential feelings of being lost in my 20s, compelled me to try living there.

Living here is unlike anything I’ve experienced before

I have a gorgeous view from my kitchen window.  Blakely Spoor

My family’s 40-year-old cabin was built in just two weeks and was never meant to be lived in full-time. It has single-pane glass windows that creak with every gust of wind, and the rotting deck grows even more rotted with each rainy season that passes.

It’s a far cry from my high-rise existence in Nashville, but it has its benefits. 

The beaches, scattered with sun-worn driftwood, stretch on for miles, with scarcely another person in sight. 

While sitting at my kitchen table, I watch seals bobbing in the waves, shorebirds diving for their dinner, eagles scanning the land down below, and geese flapping their strong wings as they take off.  Almost every morning, I walk the rocky expanse of beach that lies outside my front door.

Every Unknown, Every Crossroad – by Blakely Spoor

However, life on the island has its quirks.

Gone are the days of my convenient city existence, where everything I needed was within a few-mile radius. In fact, my new home has no grocery store, no gas station, and only one point of public access.

Trips to the mainland can only be made via a small water taxi, which operates a handful of times throughout the week. Thankfully, modernity has started to catch up, with the frequency of the island taxi runs increasing and even enabling local grocery delivery through Instacart.

Living here full-time requires meticulous planning, thorough lists and a sprinkle of resourcefulness.

I’ve even formed unlikely friendships with my older neighbors

In Nashville, I was surrounded by neighbors on the 15th floor of an apartment building — yet I never met a single one of them. Here, however, it didn’t take long for me to form close bonds with the locals.

They’re a hearty, salty, rugged bunch, and I quickly learned that I would do best to avoid getting on their bad side. They’re the kind of people who can catch, kill, and fix anything, and most of them are at least 30 years my senior.

I, on the other hand — young, bright-eyed, and with little to no hard skills — definitely did not fit the mold of an island resident. Despite this, I was welcomed into the community with open arms.

On the eve of the first bad winter storm, my 75-year-old neighbor came barreling down the dirt road in his mandarin-orange 1970s pick-up. He wanted to ensure I was prepared for the storm and even offered his place up the hill in case of a power outage.

He, along with our 92-year-old neighbor — another gruff but gentle gentleman — would become my most dutiful, watchful caretakers. We exchange chocolate chip cookies for backyard apples, compare foraged beach treasures, and grab groceries for each other in town.

On the island, looking out for others in your community is the most valuable form of currency.

I couldn’t be happier with my decision to embrace island life

I feel so lucky to live on the island.  Blakely Spoor

Living in Solitude – Search

Here, I’ve found a sense of community that I never knew before. I’ve discovered a lifestyle that is filled with adventure, joy, and the kind of self-confidence that only comes from learning resourcefulness.

Every day, I’m lucky to experience a connection with — and reverence for — the natural world that surrounds me.

I know my life looks different than that of my peers.

There are no coffee shops to frequent every morning, no going to restaurants with friends on a Friday night, and don’t even get me started on the dating scene. It’s the last place anyone would expect a 23-year-old to choose to live, let alone love. 

Blakely Spoor – Search

Those of you who grew up in a rural setting/small town but now live in an urban area/big city (or vice-versa), what motivated your relocation? : r/AskAnAmerican

Earth’s Energy Imbalance Is More Than Double What It Should Be – And We Don’t Know Why

I moved from a big city to a remote island in Washington that doesn’t have a grocery store or gas station. I’ve never been happier. – DNyuz

I moved from a big city to a remote island in Washington that doesn’t have a grocery store or gas station. I’ve never been happier.

I moved from a big city to a remote island in Washington that doesn’t have a grocery store or gas station. I’ve never been happier. | Business Insider Africa

Sandwiched Between Pittsburgh And Erie Is A Lakeside Borough With Antique Shops And Nearby Parks

Pennsylvania’s Mile-Long Island Is A Scenic, Walkable, Recreational Jewel With Fantastic Amenities

Nashville Through The Years – by Blakely Spoor

https://www.instagram.com/blakelymspoor/

Nashville murals: A self-guided tour of the best artwork – Tripadvisor

Blakely Spoor (@blakelymspoor) • Instagram photos and videos

A Pilgrimage Home – by Blakely Spoor and Savannah Spoor

Blakely Spoor – Freelance Writer – Self-employed | LinkedIn

#nashville #washington #travel #moving #relocation

Life, Changes – by Blakely Spoor and Savannah Spoor

Welcoming Spring – by Savannah Spoor and Blakely Spoor

Heavy on Our Hearts – by Blakely Spoor – Madison Spain Club

Five Lessons from Starting a Business – by Blakely Spoor

johnny bench holding 7 baseballs – Search

HOW MANY BASEBALLS CAN I HOLD IN ONE HAND? IRL BASEBALL CHALLENGE
Johnny Lee Bench — born on December 07, 1947, in Binger, Oklahoma is an American former professional baseball catcher who played in the Major Leagues for the Cincinnati Reds from 1967 to 1983 and is a member of the National Baseball Hall of Fame. Bench, a 14-time All-Star selection and a two-time National League Most Valuable Player, was a key member of The Big Red Machine, which won six division titles, four National League pennants, and two World Series championships.ESPN has called him the greatest catcher in baseball history… (wikipedia)

Johnny Bench QUOTES

The most validating thing was when my picture was on my first bubble gum card. That was in ’68 for me. I was finally on the Topps card.

A catcher and his body are like the outlaw and his horse. He’s got to ride that nag till it drops.

You have to be the one setting your own goals, trying to achieve those goals.

Joe Morgan was the one guy that absolutely put our team really over the top. … Then we had George Foster come in; Ken Griffey Sr. was as good a two-place hitter as there has ever been in the game, and Cesar Geronimo won four Gold Glove awards. I mean, how could you ask for a better team?

I’ve seldom seen a horny player walk into a bar and not let out exactly what he did for a living.

Johnny Bench’s Dad Was Laughing At Him

Did Johnny Bench catch a pitch bare-handed? – Search

Yes, Johnny Bench did catch a pitch barehanded to prove a point to his pitcher, Jim Maloney. Bench, frustrated with Maloney’s reluctance to throw a fastball despite Bench calling for it, dropped his glove and caught Maloney’s fastball barehanded to demonstrate that it wasn’t as effective as Maloney thought according to a Facebook post and a YouTube short.

 This happened during a game where Bench was catching for Maloney. 

MLB Legend Johnny Bench talks to Charlie Boots catching BARE HANDED!

Reds Hall of Famer Johnny Bench Talks Pete Rose, Mantle, Aaron & More w/Dan Patrick | Full Interview

BINGER, OKLAHOMA Tiny Hometown of JOHNNY BENCH – House & Museum

Small town, USA // Binger, Oklahoma // population 428

Trained by his father Ted to throw 254 feet – twice the distance from home plate to second base – from a crouch, Bench boasted that he could “throw out any runner alive.” Born on Dec. 7, 1947 in Oklahoma City, Bench grew up in the small town of Binger, Okla.  Bench led his league three times in caught stealing percentage, Rodriguez nine times. For their careers, Bench had a 43 percent caught stealing rate against a league average of 35 percent.

Long days outdoors may have contributed to his legendary baseball status, but they were also silently having harmful consequences on his health. Later, in his retirement, Bench would be diagnosed with skin cancer.

The greatest catcher in baseball history

As the leader of the “Big Red Machine” of the 1970s, Bench led Cincinnati to two World Series titles and four National League championships. On an individual level, he won two Most Valuable Player (MVP) awards, one World Series MVP award, Rookie of the Year honors and 10 Golden Gloves. In 1989, he was inducted to the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York. Bench hit 389 home runs, but he was perhaps best known for his rocket arm and his endurance, catching 100 games or more for 13 consecutive seasons in the often-blazing sun, before ending his career at third base — a less physically grueling position.

Getting real about non-melanoma skin cancer

Eventually, Bench’s many years of prolonged sun exposure took a toll. In 2012, he was diagnosed with a non-melanoma skin cancer called basal cell carcinoma (BCC) — the most common type of skin cancer in the United States 1 — and again recently during a routine doctor visit. Of the roughly 2 million U.S. cases of BCC diagnosed each year, 95% are caught at an early stage2 and can be removed like Bench’s case, before becoming advanced. However, in rare cases, BCC can grow deep into surrounding tissue or spread to other organs or other parts of the body.1 

While early-stage BCC may be cured by surgery or radiation, progression to advanced disease is often difficult to treat and associated with a relatively higher risk of returning and poorer outcomes. 2 Treatment options for advanced BCC and CSCC are available and include surgery, radiation and systemic therapy. Patients should speak with their physician to find a treatment option that’s most appropriate for them. 3 In retirement, Bench has become a vocal champion for efforts to get real about skin cancer and continues to be proactive about sun protection throughout the year — especially in the summertime.

1 Johnny Bench Talks Baseball & Non-Melanoma Skin Cancer With Wills & Snyder | Newsradio WTAM 1100

2 Johnny Bench, legendary Reds catcher “Gets Real” about skin cancer – 9&10 News

3 The Short Cut: How to “Catch” Non-Melanoma Skin Cancer Early with Johnny Bench

4 How to “Catch” Non-Melanoma Skin Cancer Before it Advances | Cincy Lifestyle

How one of the greatest catchers in baseball history is fighting non-melanoma skin cancer

By Brandpoint June 28, 2023 7:01 am

(BPT) – Johnny Bench earned nearly every conceivable Major League Baseball accolade and accomplishment during his 17-year career with the Cincinnati Reds. His natural talent paired with his dedication to practice and play for hours every day — often in the hot sun — is why many consider him to be the greatest catcher to ever play the game.

Long days outdoors may have contributed to his legendary baseball status, but they were also silently having harmful consequences on his health. Later, in his retirement, Bench would be diagnosed with skin cancer.

The greatest catcher in baseball history

As the leader of the “Big Red Machine” of the 1970s, Bench led Cincinnati to two World Series titles and four National League championships. On an individual level, he won two Most Valuable Player (MVP) awards, one World Series MVP award, Rookie of the Year honors and 10 Golden Gloves. In 1989, he was inducted to the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York. Bench hit 389 home runs, but he was perhaps best known for his rocket arm and his endurance, catching 100 games or more for 13 consecutive seasons in the often-blazing sun, before ending his career at third base — a less physically grueling position.

Getting real about non-melanoma skin cancer

Eventually, Bench’s many years of prolonged sun exposure took a toll. In 2012, he was diagnosed with a non-melanoma skin cancer called basal cell carcinoma (BCC) — the most common type of skin cancer in the United States 1  — and again recently during a routine doctor visit.

Of the roughly 2 million U.S. cases of BCC diagnosed each year, 95% are caught at an early stage and can be removed like Bench’s case, before becoming advanced. 2 However, in rare cases, BCC can grow deep into surrounding tissue or spread to other organs or other parts of the body. 1  

While early-stage BCC may be cured by surgery or radiation, progression to advanced disease is often difficult to treat and associated with a relatively higher risk of returning and poorer outcomes. Treatment options for advanced BCC and CSCC are available and include surgery, radiation and systemic therapy.

Patients should speak with their physician to find a treatment option that’s most appropriate for them. 3 In retirement, Bench has become a vocal champion for efforts to get real about skin cancer and continues to be proactive about sun protection throughout the year — especially in the summertime.

Bench on how to “catch” skin cancer before it advances

Today, the Hall of Famer has been working with Regeneron since 2022 to share his experience with BCC, raise awareness of non-melanoma skin cancers and help people catch skin cancer before it advances so they can receive appropriate, effective treatment. Bench encourages everyone, especially outdoor enthusiasts, to conduct regular skin exams, including areas commonly exposed to the sun like the ears, face and hands.1  

If a spot or mark is new, changing or unusual, Bench encourages people to see a dermatologist. 4 Those who have previously been diagnosed with a non-melanoma skin cancer are at a higher risk of developing it again. 1 ,4   ABCC or CSCC that keeps coming back could be a sign the cancer has advanced. 5

---

1 American Cancer Society. What Are Basal and Squamous Cell Skin Cancers? Accessed April 2023. – Search

2 Data on File. Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. skin cancer 2024 – Search Videos

3 JNCCN 360 – Advanced Skin Cancers – Basal Cell Skin Cancer: Updated NCCN Guidelines Focus on Risk Stratification

4 Cancer.net. Skin Cancer (Non-Melanoma). Accessed April 2023. – Search

5 Migden, M. et al. Emerging trends in the treatment of advanced basal cell carcinoma. Cancer Treatment Reviews 2018 Mar; 64:1-10 

Chemical Peel & Microneedling: Best Skincare Routine for Post-Treatment | #SKINCARE

GDL: How to catch non-melanoma skin cancer before it advances

Johnny Bench, a former Cincinnati Reds catcher and Major League Baseball Hall of Famer, has joined forces with certified dermatologist Dr. Maritza Perez to discuss skin cancer prevention. They aim to help people catch non-melanoma skin cancer in its earlier stages so they can receive appropriate treatment before it advances,

_____________________________________________________________________________________________

Bench, now 77, continues to enjoy time outdoors but takes extra precautions to protect himself and encourages others to do the same. “Now I wear my sunglasses and my big hat every time I’m on the golf course or go out fishing,” he said.

Cincinnati Reds Big Red Machine Reunion Great 8 Ceremony Sept 6 2013 FoxSports Download

‘I want it to be something special’: Iconic Big Red Machine holds 50th anniversary reunion

50 Years Later: The 1975 Big Red Machine Starting Lineup & Baseball Cards Tribute

Reds celebrate 50th anniversary of Big Red Machine | 06/28/2025 | MLB.com

What Was The Big Red Machine’s Impact On Baseball? – Epic Sports Tales

Johnny Bench delivers his Hall of Fame speech

Johnny Bench on Letterman, May 5, 1983

Pete Rose Memorial Visitation Video

1975 World Series – Search Videos

The 1975 Cincinnati Reds season was the 106th season for the franchise in Major League Baseball, and their 6th and 5th full season at Riverfront Stadium. The Reds dominated the league all season long and won the National League West with a record of 108–54, the best record in MLB and finished 20 games ahead of the Los Angeles Dodgers.

The Reds went on to win the NLCS by defeating the Pittsburgh Pirates in three straight games, and the World Series in seven games over the Boston Red Sox. The Reds were managed by Sparky Anderson and played their home games at Riverfront Stadium.

It was the first World Series championship for Cincinnati since 1940. The 1975 Reds are one of the few teams to consistently challenge the 1927 New York Yankees for the title of the best team in major league history.

The Reds drew 2,315,603 fans to Riverfront Stadium, went 64–17 at home in 1975, which remains the best home record ever by a National League team. It is currently the second-best home record in MLB history …. behind the 1961 Yankees …. who also went 65-16.   1975 Reds Season Highlights – Search

1976 World Series – Search Videos

The 1976 Cincinnati Reds season was the 107th season for the franchise in Major League Baseball, and their 7th and 6th full seasons at Riverfront Stadium. The Reds entered the season as the reigning World Series champions. The Reds dominated the league all season and won their second consecutive National League West title with a record of 102–60, finishing ten games ahead of the Los Angeles Dodgers. 

With the best record in baseball, they went on to defeat the Philadelphia Phillies in the NLCS in three straight games to reach the World Series. They proceeded to win the title in four straight games over the New York Yankees. They were the third and most recent National League team to achieve this distinction, and the first since the 1921–22 New York Giants. 

The Reds drew 2,629,708 fans to their home games at Riverfront Stadium, an all-time franchise attendance record.^[1] As mentioned above, the Reds swept through the entire postseason with their sweeps of the Phillies and Yankees, achieving a record of 7-0. As of 2025, the Reds are the only team in baseball history to sweep through an entire postseason in the divisional era. 1976 Reds Season Highlights – Search