(5/5) He ended with the words “Liberté, égalité, fraternité” as a reminder that this moment was bigger than politics. It was about humanity. One of the most respected voices in film stood up not to divide us, but to remind us of what we share. That’s what real leadership looks like.

(4/5) He didn’t call for violence. He called for passion. For action. For every citizen, not just Americans, to stand up for the soul of their culture. “We have to act now,” he said. Not as partisans, but as people who care about truth, beauty, and freedom of expression.

(3/5) “Art is inclusive. It brings people together… That’s why art is a threat,” he said. In a world so divided, hearing that from someone we all grew up watching felt like a rallying cry. De Niro reminded us that storytelling and creativity are how we connect, grow, and understand one another.

(2/5) He didn’t hold back. De Niro called out Donald as “America’s philistine president” for gutting arts funding, targeting education, and threatening 100 percent tariffs on foreign films. But this wasn’t just criticism. It was a wake-up call to defend what unites us: art, truth, and democracy.

(6/6) This is not harmless. It’s manipulation. When people repeat lies often enough they become part of the culture. If we want a healthy democracy, we need to recognize these tactics and stop letting fear replace facts.

(5/6) The problem grows when trusted people start repeating this stuff. Teachers, pastors, and parents pass it along in schools and churches. That gives it ‘credibility’ and makes it part of everyday conversations and even local elections.

(4/6) Kirk doesn’t stop with furries. He spreads lies about election fraud, vaccines, and so-called population replacement. These aren’t random. They are fear-based narratives designed to keep people angry and loyal to a certain worldview.

(3/6) These lies distract from real issues in education. They fuel panic and outrage, pulling focus from real challenges like funding, staffing, and student well-being. Suddenly the debate becomes about something that was never happening.

(2/6) A woman once asked Kirk if the furry story was real. He said yes and told her to reevaluate where she gets her news. She replied with a shocked wow. It shows how easily adults fall for something when it confirms what they want to believe.

(7/7) Finally, Speaker Mike Johnson weakly argued for permitting congressional stock trading, claiming it compensates for stagnant congressional salaries. Critics quickly noted this justification ignores glaring ethical conflicts.

(6/7) Adding to her troubles, Noem failed to convincingly address controversy around a personal story from her book, where she openly described shooting her own dog, “Cricket,” a decision she defended as necessary but admitted made people uncomfortable.

(5/7) Noem struggled badly to justify detaining a Venezuelan gay makeup artist who legally sought asylum but was inexplicably sent to a supermax prison in El Salvador. Her defense? His tattoos saying “mom” and “dad,” without further evidence.

(4/7) Democratic Congressman Bennie Thompson delivered a sharp jab at Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, criticizing her for prioritizing “photo ops and costume changes” over effectively managing taxpayer-funded programs. The comment visibly stung.

(3/7) Kennedy stumbled awkwardly when asked if he’d vaccinate a hypothetical child against measles. Instead of answering directly, he dodged repeatedly, saying he didn’t want to give medical advice, despite aiming to oversee health policies.

(2/7) During RFK Jr.’s testimony, a protester was aggressively removed after quietly holding up a sign. The Capitol police officer seemed overly enthusiastic about ejecting a middle-aged woman, adding to the hearing’s bizarre atmosphere.

(7/7) This episode highlights the GOP’s consistent pattern of selective outrage and moral flexibility shifting ethical standards depending on who holds power. Johnson’s awkward responses show the party’s struggle to justify Trump’s ongoing scandals.

(6/7) The Republican-led investigations into Biden found no substantial evidence of wrongdoing despite extensive efforts. Yet Johnson continues defending Trump whose actions openly violate ethical standards far more seriously.

(5/7) Reporters pointed out the absurdity of Johnson’s claim noting that corruption does not become acceptable simply because it is done openly. Johnson looked visibly uncomfortable stammering and avoiding eye contact as he realized his position was indefensible.

(4/7) When confronted on his hypocrisy for aggressively investigating Biden while ignoring Trump’s far more blatant corruption Johnson argued that Trump’s actions were acceptable because they were done publicly. This justification drew sharp criticism.