Happy Thursday!

Grab your Brew, we’re going overseas, before heading into some dark waters.

John and Jason Go “Big Picture” With NATO and the War in Ukraine

NATO met the last two days in Lithuania to welcome Sweden into the organization and discuss the ongoing war in Ukraine. On Wednesday, Joe Biden met with Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to discuss Ukraine’s desire to join NATO. Zelenskyy leaves with no invite, but more security guarantees.

Seems a perfect time to go “big picture” on the complicated conflict. And John Zmirak and Jason Jones have done just that. Jason’s just returned from Ukraine, where he’s been organizing humanitarian efforts in the war ravaged land.

Last evening we published Part One of their conversation … or actually, more accurately, learned debate: “Do We Face August 2023 … or August 2014? Pushing Back from the Brink of Nuclear War.”

Manson Family Killer Leslie Van Houten Released on Parole

During the Manson Family murderers, Leslie Van Houten held down Rosemary LaBianca as others stabbed her. And stabbed her. And stabbed her. She herself then stabbed LaBianca more than a dozen times. Overall, LaBianca was stabbed 41 times. Leslie Van Houten is a free woman today, after being sprung on parole.

She was released Tuesday after Gov. Gavin Newsom announced he would not fight a decision by the California State Court of Appeals. We can talk about the ghastly idea that a willing participant in one of the most heinous and famous mass murders is walking free. We can also talk about the idea of redemption. Van Houten did serve over a half a century and, after earning her bachelors and masters in counseling, has been working as a tutor in the prison.

But something else in the AP story caught my eye, buried down at the bottom:

Ms. Van Houten, a former high school cheerleader and homecoming princess, saw her life spiral out of control at 14 following her parents’ divorce. She turned to drugs and became pregnant but said her mother forced her to abort the fetus and bury it in the family’s backyard.

Yes, Van Houten is responsible for her own actions. Yes, Charles Manson was as evil as they come. But can we not also talk about the cost of divorce and the trauma of an abortion … a forced one at that? What made a bright, shining student easy prey for Manson? Were the tools used in the abortion any different than the knife she wielded? Was the violence done the baby in her womb so different from the violence she brought down on Mrs. LaBianca?

Do we focus on the Manson Family so we don’t have to focus on the destruction done to our own families?

All Babylon, No Bee … Maybe: Trans Activist Wants Uterus Transplant … So He Can Get Pregnant and Have an Abortion.

In the future, when someone wants one short clip to describe 2023, this could be the one:

Male trans activist fantasizes about getting a uterus transplant so he can get pregnant and get an abortion pic.twitter.com/l48OWkzDuh

— Libs of TikTok (@libsoftiktok) July 11, 2023

A male trans activist expressing the wish to have a uterus implant for the purpose of getting pregnant … and becoming the first transgender to have an abortion. (Seemingly, just to spite “transphobes” and “homophobes” and to see what they make of his actions.)

The scary part? In three years, this person will probably be elected to head a local school board. Or named by somebody “Woman of the Year.” (Though we can pray for a radical transformation … of the Jesus kind.)

One little flag. Mr. “I Want a Uterus So I Can Get Pregnant and Have an Abortion Just to Watch Conservatives Have a Cow” peeks down at a couple crucial points in the clip, suggesting he’s reading off a script. So we might be wise to keep in our back pocket the possibility this character is trying to punk us.

Heartbeat, It’s a Love Beat: Iowa Passes Six-Week Abortion Ban

(10 points for anyone who gets the song reference.)

Late Tuesday night, the Iowa legislature struck a blow for life by passing a ban on most abortions after six weeks … a so called “Heartbeat” bill.

Republican Gov. Kim Reynolds says she will sign the bill on Friday.

“The Iowa Supreme Court questioned whether this legislature would pass the same law they did in 2018, and today they have a clear answer,” Reynolds said. “The voices of Iowans and their democratically elected representatives cannot be ignored any longer, and justice for the unborn should not be delayed.”

Currently, Iowa law protects unborn babies after 20 weeks.

After the vote, protesters shouted “Shame! Shame!” A good trade for future shouts of “Mommy! Mommy!”

The ACLU, Planned Parenthood and the Emma Goldman abortion mill in Iowa filed suit Wednesday challenging the state’s effort to protect life.

Jewel Stands Up for Sound of Freedom

Canadian singer (and sometime actress) Jewel is standing up for Sound of Freedom. (Where’s the rest of the entertainment elite?)

Jewel posted a response to Elon Musk’s suggestion that producers post the movie for free on his Twitter platform to help spread the message. The singer sang the movie’s praises, while blasting those trying to politicize the film.

“It saddens me that some media is trying to politicize this movie. This is not left or right. It’s about millions of kids being trafficked, and no matter what your faith or creed, we need to protect all the vulnerable kids rather than fight over philosophical differences.”

It saddens me that some media is trying to politicize this movie. This is not left or right. It’s about millions of kids being trafficked, and no matter what your faith or creed, we need to protect all the vulnerable kids rather than fight over philosophical differences. pic.twitter.com/aKjCtUlmi3

— Jewel (@jeweljk) July 10, 2023

Meanwhile, Stream contributor Chenyuan Snider opens her heart in a powerful way on how the movie opened her eyes. She bravely shares a memory of when she may well have missed an opportunity to protect a young girl.

Please check out: “Sound of Freedom Opened My Eyes.”

And again, you can be part of the solution. To help extend the arms of those lifting children out of sexual slavery. To add muscle to those arms knocking down hotel room doors. Consider partnering with The Stream’s LOI brethren at Rescue LIFE.

Not long ago, Rescue LIFE helped rescue a girl literally just yards from her being disappeared forever. A few seconds later, and she would have been gone. Those who donated to Rescue LIFE and prayed for the teams on the ground know they made the difference in those few seconds between a life of sex slavery and a life of restoration. We don’t want to miss the next little girl by just a few seconds.

“Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.” (2 Corinthians 3:17 NIV)

Along The Stream

Our Nancy Flory interviews author, media host and speaker Laine Lawson Craft on “The Parent’s Battle Plan.” What every parent with a prodigal should know.

PS: “Heartbeat (It’s Love Beat)” was a massive hit by a group of two brothers and three sisters called “The DeFranco Family.” (Think an Italian-American version of the Osmonds, even down to the costumes.) The song was released 50 years ago this summer, reaching number 3 in November, 1973.

Al Perrotta is the Managing Editor of The Stream, chief barista for The Brew and co-author, with John Zmirak, of The Politically Incorrect Guide to Immigration. You can follow him at @StreamingAl at GETTR, Gab, Parler, and now at TRUTH Social.