MMN Editor

Rihanna’s star status nearly cost her her life last weekend during an attempted drive-by shooting at her Beverly Hills home.Ivanna Lisette Ortiz allegedly drove up to the “Diamonds” singer’s mansion and fired multiple rounds from a semiautomatic weapon at the house, according to the Los Angeles Police Department.Ortiz, 35, was charged Tuesday with attempted murder and faces life in prison if convicted on the charges.Following the shooting, cryptic posts were unearthed from Ortiz’s social media channels and provided an eye-opening look at overbearing celebrity fans.RIHANNA’S BEVERLY HILLS HOME TARGETED IN BRAZEN DAYLIGHT SHOOTINGAccording to Ortiz’s Facebook, the self-employed suspect addressed Rihanna just weeks before the attack.  “@badgalriri — Are you there?” she wrote. “’Cause I was waiting for your AIDS 5-head self to say something to me directly instead of sneaking around like you’re talking to me where I’m not at.”In a Dec. 20 post, Ortiz wrote that she was “already through with Rihanna,” before referencing another major A-list star.”I restricted that stupid b— Kim Kardashian,” she wrote. “Your turn hiding b—-, stop begging for a look.”Additionally, Ortiz hosted a daily prayer for 60 days on her YouTube channel. In her videos, Ortiz read scripture and often referenced the devil’s presence.ROSIE O’DONNELL CONSIDERS RESTRAINING ORDER AGAINST ALLEGED STALKER WHO HAS A ‘FREAKY FOCUS’ ON HER”God’s presence is here, but so is the devil,” Ortiz said in one video posted in January. “That’s what we need to highlight. Sometimes we think it’s just trials and tribulations, but we need to know and understand that we have an enemy. You have an enemy. There’s an enemy…someone who wants to attack you. There’s someone who wants to see you lose. There’s someone who wants to kill you.””That’s the devil and I rebuke him in the name of Jesus,” she continued. “I’m not going to let him take my dignity or my personality or my character or my heart … That’s Satan. He wants to kill something beautiful, just like his Rihanna.”Ortiz was charged with one count of attempted murder, 10 felony counts of assault with a semiautomatic firearm and three felony counts of shooting at an inhabited dwelling or camper. Her bail was set at $1.875 million. If convicted as charged, Ortiz faces up to life in prison.”Opening fire in any populated neighborhood is extremely dangerous, puts lives at risk and will be fully prosecuted,” Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan J. Hochman said. “Thankfully, no one was injured in this shooting, but this careless violence will not be tolerated in our community. Such shooters will find their next destination to be our jails and prisons.”ARIANA GRANDE SILENCES PHOTOGRAPHERS AT ‘WICKED’ PREMIERE DAYS AFTER FAN RUSHED RED CARPETRihanna’s brush with an unwelcome visitor isn’t anything new by Hollywood standards. Many celebrities – including Ariana Grande and Justin Bieber – have faced similar disturbing encounters.During the worldwide “Wicked: For Good” press tour, Grande was accosted by an overzealous fan at the Singapore premiere.Grande, Cynthia Erivo, Michelle Yeoh and Jeff Goldblum were walking the yellow carpet to celebrate the upcoming release of the second “Wicked” movie when the shocking moment happened.A fan attending the premiere jumped over a barricade and rushed toward Grande, according to multiple videos from the event. Once he reached her, he put his arm around her neck before Grande’s co-star, Cynthia Erivo, immediately jumped in to pull him away.ARIANA GRANDE RUSHED BY FAN AT ‘WICKED’ PREMIERE AFTER BARRICADE JUMPThe “7 Rings” singer received an unwanted surprise from a stalker in 2022 when he violated a restraining order and broke into her Montecito home on her 29th birthday, according to TMZ.Aharon Zebulun Israel Brown pleaded guilty to stalking charges in 2024 and was sentenced to three years in prison.Justin Bieber has had multiple stalkers, including a New Mexico man and his nephew who plotted to murder and castrate the pop singer in 2013.The plan began after a man in prison attempted to contact Bieber with no response. He then recruited his nephew and another man to drive to the “Love Yourself” singer’s home and castrate him with garden shears before murdering him, according to reports.CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR THE ENTERTAINMENT NEWSLETTERBieber was outspoken about his feelings toward people who wait outside his home in a social media post in 2020.”How can you convince yourself it’s not completely inappropriate and disrespectful to wait outside my home to gawk, stare and take pictures as I walk into my apartment,” he wrote at the time. “This is not a hotel. It’s my home.”Taylor Swift has had a number of stalkers throughout her career. Most recently, a Brooklyn man stalked the singer at her NYC home and “across multiple states,” according to police. The man was arrested on July 2 and charged with “stalking and criminal trespass.””You’re dead you know,” the man allegedly spoke into Swift’s Tribeca home intercom on June 12, 2021. “You’re holding her prisoner and I need to set her free.”In 2025, the “Honey” singer was granted a restraining order against an ex-convict who allegedly visited her Los Angeles home several times in the last year.Fox News Digital’s Christina Dugan Ramirez and Lauryn Overhultz contributed to this report.

Iranian authorities say they have arrested dozens of people accused of spying for Israel across several provinces, according to state media reports over the weekend.Fars, a news agency affiliated with Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), reported Sunday the West Azerbaijan prosecutor’s office had arrested 20 individuals in the northwestern city of Urmia for allegedly providing Israel with information about military, police and security sites.On Saturday, Iran’s Ministry of Intelligence said it had arrested several “enemy operatives” across the country, including a 10-member group in Mazandaran province and another 10-member network in Khorasan Razavi province, according to Tasnim, a semi-official news agency.Authorities said the suspects transferred the locations of military installations and economic infrastructure and shared coordinates of public places, academic institutions and research centers with Israel.IRANIAN REGIME SPREADING ANTI-ISRAEL PROPAGANDA ACROSS DOZENS OF SOCIAL MEDIA ACCOUNTS: REPORTIn southern Khuzestan province, intelligence officials also reported arresting a three-person “terrorist team” accused of carrying out armed attacks against security forces and government facilities. The Wall Street Journal reported last week that Israel has relied on tips from ordinary Iranians to identify targets for strikes inside Iran, citing a senior Israeli security official.The newspaper said information about potential targets is sent through Israeli Persian-language social media accounts and is verified by Israeli authorities before strikes are carried out.CIA URGES IRANIANS TO USE BURNER PHONES, TOR TO CONTACT US IN PERSIAN-LANGUAGE VIDEOIn a separate development, Bahraini authorities said Sunday they arrested five people accused of passing sensitive information to the IRGC and helping recruit operatives for potential attacks inside the country.According to a statement from Bahrain’s Police Media Center, the suspects allegedly collected and transmitted coordinates and images of sensitive locations, including hotels, to the IRGC.IRANIAN REGIME SPREADING ANTI-ISRAEL PROPAGANDA ACROSS DOZENS OF SOCIAL MEDIA ACCOUNTS: REPORTOfficials said one suspect previously received training at IRGC camps in “trafficking persons and recruiting operatives to participate in implementing terrorist plots.”The five detainees were referred to Bahrain’s Public Prosecution, while a sixth suspect identified in the case is believed to be a fugitive abroad.

TheStreet aims to feature only the best products and services. If you buy something via one of our links, we may earn a commission.Why we love this dealSpringtime weather can be as erratic as a moody teenager. However, if you want to be ready for whatever may come your way, then you need the right tools.  In the case of the aforementioned teenager, your credit card might be the best cure for their grumpies. As for keeping up with changing weather conditions this time of year, you might want to consider a nice outdoor fire pit as a compliment to your patio set. It allows you to enjoy your home’s outdoor spaces without catching a chill. Walmart has plenty of fire pits to offer shoppers, and one of them has such a low price, it has us all hot and bothered.The Mainstays Cast Iron Outdoor Fire Pit is available for only $40. That’s a small price to pay for hours of warmth while lounging in your backyard. A fire pit like this one changes the whole vibe of your patio and turns it into an inviting sanctuary. Mainstays Cast Iron Outdoor Fire Pit, $40 at Walmart

Courtesy of Walmart

Why do shoppers love it?It’s no surprise that fire pits are very popular buys this time of year. What is surprising, though, is finding one of this quality at such a low price. It’s made of beautiful and durable cast iron. The metal is rustproof and corrosion-resistant. That means it’s perfectly safe to keep outside year-round, and you don’t need to worry about it falling apart prematurely. Iron is also one of the best conductors of heat, so you can be sure that you’ll be getting the most warmth out of every log that you throw onto the fire.The lightweight spark screen that goes over the pit is perfect for keeping unwanted sparks from jumping out. It also offers an attractive way to complete the overall look of the fire pit. It has a diameter of 26 inches and 19 inches high. The pit is large enough to be a gathering place on your patio without taking up too much real estate. The three-legged design is modern, attractive, and lends stability to the pit. At just over 10 pounds, it’s relatively lightweight as well, making it easy to move as you see fit.The iron is very durable and weatherproof, not to mention easy to clean. You can use mild detergent or baking soda mixed with water to clean the surface whenever it’s needed. The beauty of a fire pit like this one is that it serves as a lovely decoration piece, even when it’s not in use. Whether you plan to use it for roasting marshmallows for summertime smores or keeping warm in the face of a springtime cold front, you can’t really go wrong at this price.Related: Walmart’s bestselling whimsical solar lanterns are on sale for $14, and they give major cottagecore vibesDetails to knowMaterial: Cast iron.Dimensions: Diameter of 26 inches and 19 inches high.Additional features: Matching spark guard.Walmart shoppers were very excited about this piece. One shared, “love this fire pit!” They added that it was “sturdy and easy to put together…It will be a great addition to the patio this summer!” Multiple buyers claimed that it took one person less than thirty minutes to assemble. Shop more deals Elposun 3-Piece Outdoor Rocking Chair Set, $190 (was $370) at WalmartVcatnet 8-Piece Sectional Patio Furniture Set, $899 (was $1,249) at WalmartLofka 4-Piece Patio Chairs Set, $200 (was $416) at WalmartThe Mainstays Cast Iron Outdoor Fire Pit will keep your toesies toasted all through the spring. The fact that you’ll only pay $40 is great news, too, especially since that moody teenager of yours still has your credit card.

Companies Are Starting To Enforce AI Use. Is That A Good Or Bad Thing?

Via the AIX Files,

Years ago, I was working on the editorial side for what was then a hot new media company, and found myself spending more and more time with Johan, the lead programmer, and his team, asking them a lot of annoying questions as it was all so new – certainly to me. I was standing over Johan’s left shoulder, mesmerized by whatever new video game he was obsessing over that week…when suddenly, out of nowhere, a spreadsheet and a pie chart appeared on his screen.

“Whatcha got there, Johan?” asked Jim, Johan’s boss, peering over a sheaf of print-outs as he sharked past the cubicle.

“Hey, just looking at some numbers,” Johan replied. Johan had hit the “game key” in the nick of time – in those days, every video game had a game key – ALT-G if memory serves – calling up a slight variation of the same spreadsheet and pie chart.

This would never happen today. First, you’re probably not working in a cubicle, and if you are, it’s not the game key you’d hit to give your boss the impression that you’re actually doing productive work…it would be the “AI key.”

“Tech Firms Aren’t Just Encouraging Their Workers to Use AI. They’re Enforcing It.”

This article appeared in the February 24 edition of the Wall Street Journal. It includes the subtitle: From startups to giants, including Meta and Google, companies are factoring AI use into performance reviews and trying to track productivity gains

Across industries, companies are now enforcing AI use through performance reviews, dashboards that track adoption, and explicit mandates that tie it to compensation and promotion. What began in Silicon Valley has rapidly spread to consulting firms, banks, manufacturers, hospitals, and even government agencies.

As you’d expect, Meta, Google, Amazon, and Microsoft were the first to move from encouragement to enforcement. Employees at these firms now see AI usage metrics appear in quarterly reviews. Non-adopters have reported stalled promotions or explicit warnings that “AI fluency” is a core competency (The Wall Street Journal, Feb 2026, reporting on internal policies).

The trend has jumped sectors. PwC requires every consultant to complete an “AI + Human Skillset” curriculum and incorporates usage into evaluations (Business Insider, Feb 5, 2026). Colgate-Palmolive’s “AI evangelist” tracks adoption across global teams. Major banks have begun tying bonuses to the number of AI-assisted analyses completed. Even some hospitals now require doctors and nurses to use AI-assisted diagnostic tools for certain procedures.

Why the shift to mandates?

Executives cite three main drivers: intense competitive pressure to keep pace with rivals, investor demands for visible returns on massive AI investments, and internal data showing that voluntary adoption plateaus at around 30–40% of employees. “We’ve made it clear: AI is no longer optional. Every employee is expected to use it, and it’s now part of how we evaluate performance,” said Accenture CEO Julie Sweet (Fortune, March 2026).

The claimed benefits are real…on paper. Early internal metrics at several companies show 10–25% gains in task speed for routine work. Cross-functional teams using AI report faster ideation and fewer silos. But the drawbacks and unintended consequences are mounting.

While mandatory AI adoption offers productivity benefits, recent research reveals significant drawbacks that undermine organizational health.

Surveillance and autonomy erosion. By 2025, 70% of large companies monitor employee activity, with 68% of employees opposing AI-powered surveillance and 59% saying digital tracking damages workplace trust. AI monitoring systems now track keystroke patterns, mouse movements, email content, and even biometric data, including stress levels. Amazon employees report that surveillance creates “fear and anxiety, which creates a dangerous work environment”.

Burnout and intensified demands. AI meant to reduce workload is paradoxically accelerating burnout. Research found that AI leads to fatigue, burnout, and a growing sense that work is harder to step away from as organizational expectations for speed rise. A South Korean study shows AI adoption significantly increases job stress and burnout, while 63% of workers report AI-related fatigue driven by stress and heavy workloads.

Collapsing trust. Recent research revealed that while AI usage jumped 13% in 2025, worker confidence plummeted 18%, creating a “toxic relationship” as employees receive tools without training or support. Deloitte’s TrustID Index showed trust in company-provided generative AI fell 31% between May and July 2025, with trust in agentic AI systems dropping 89%.

Retention risks. Without adequate training, 56% of workers receive no recent skills development despite widespread AI adoption, and 85% say they would be more loyal to employers investing in continuing education – top performers become increasingly vulnerable to departure. Analysis warns of an impending “seniority cliff” as companies that stop hiring juniors eliminate the pipeline for developing senior talent with deep institutional knowledge.

Critics argue the enforcement model is shortsighted. 

“You can force usage, but you can’t force wisdom,” said Dr. Ethan Mollick, professor at the Wharton School and author of Co-Intelligence (interview, March 2026). “When AI becomes compulsory, people stop experimenting and start complying — and that’s when the real mistakes happen.” Yet the train has left the station. In boardrooms and earnings calls, executives are increasingly judged on how aggressively they have embedded AI into daily operations.

The message is clear: in 2026, using AI is part of your job. The question companies are only beginning to confront is whether forcing the technology will ultimately make their workforces more cohesive, smarter, and more efficient, or simply more exhausted, distrustful, and replaceable.

Tyler Durden
Sun, 03/15/2026 – 14:00

Apply the DraftKings promo code for Team USA vs. Dominican Republic in the World Baseball Classic semifinal to get $200 in bonus bets if their bet wins.

The courtside clap is now the hottest expression of college hoops fandom in the land — even being adopted by some University of Nebraska fans and leading Barstool Sports to crown LIU as “America’s team.”

Vitamin D supplements may offer researchers a new clue about lingering COVID symptoms that persist after infection, according to a new study.Researchers at Mass General Brigham examined whether high doses of vitamin D could influence COVID-19 outcomes, including the risk of developing long COVID, a condition in which symptoms such as fatigue, shortness of breath and brain fog continue weeks or months after the initial infection.The findings were published in The Journal of Nutrition.HIGHLY CONTAGIOUS VIRUS WITH NO TREATMENT SPREADING RAPIDLY THROUGH WESTERN STATEThe randomized clinical trial included 1,747 adults who had recently tested positive for COVID-19, along with 277 members of their households. Participants were assigned to receive either vitamin D3 supplements or a placebo for four weeks.Dr. JoAnn Manson, senior author of the study and a physician at Mass General Brigham, told Fox News Digital that the results point to a possible benefit related to long-term symptoms.”A key takeaway is that vitamin D supplementation looks promising for reducing the risk of developing long COVID but does not appear to affect the severity of the acute infection,” Manson said.COMBINATION NASAL SPRAY VACCINE COULD PROTECT AGAINST COVID, FLU AND PNEUMONIA AT ONCEResearchers found that vitamin D supplementation did not significantly change short-term outcomes such as symptom severity, hospital visits or emergency care.The study also showed no difference between the vitamin D and placebo groups in the likelihood that household contacts would contract the virus.However, when researchers analyzed participants who closely followed the supplement regimen, they observed a possible difference in lingering symptoms.CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR LIFESTYLE NEWSLETTERAbout 21% of participants who took vitamin D reported at least one ongoing symptom eight weeks after infection, compared with 25% of those who received a placebo.”There’s been tremendous interest in whether vitamin D supplements can be of benefit in COVID, and this is one of the largest and most rigorous randomized trials on the subject,” Manson said in the press release.”While we didn’t find that high-dose vitamin D reduced COVID severity or hospitalizations, we observed a promising signal for long COVID that merits additional research,” she added.CLICK HERE FOR MORE LIFESTYLE STORIESManson said vitamin D may influence longer-term complications because the nutrient plays a role in regulating inflammation in the body.The researchers noted several limitations in the trial. The study had to be conducted remotely during the pandemic, and participants began taking vitamin D several days after their COVID diagnosis.TEST YOURSELF WITH OUR LATEST LIFESTYLE QUIZIdeally, Manson said, supplementation would begin before infection or immediately after diagnosis.She added that larger studies will be needed to confirm whether vitamin D could reduce the risk or severity of long COVID symptoms.Researchers are planning additional trials to examine whether vitamin D supplementation may help treat people already experiencing long COVID.

As Operation Epic Fury reaches its second week, Iran is desperate for something — anything — to show that they have some kind of capacity to rein in U.S. and Israeli air power.
Thus far, they’ve been at a complete loss. The allies have total air superiority over Iranian airspace, as they did during the 12-Day War last summer.
The only planes the Americans had lost up until Thursday were three F-15Es that were downed by friendly fire in Kuwait. Tehran, meanwhile, has been reduced to desultory missile strikes combined with low-tech drone attacks.
Then on Thursday, news came that a KC-135 tanker had crashed in western Iraq while on a mission. According to the Associated Press, the military said in a statement that the accident did not involve either hostile or friendly fire, but that it was unclear how many of the crew were injured, or were even on board the plane.
On Friday, U.S. Central Command revealed the worst-case scenario had come to pass: “All six crew members aboard a U.S. KC-135 refueling aircraft that went down in western Iraq are now confirmed deceased,” a brief media release read.
“The circumstances of the incident are under investigation. However, the loss of the aircraft was not due to hostile fire or friendly fire,” it continued. “The identities of the service members are being withheld until 24 hours after next of kin have been notified.”
A tragedy, to be sure — but not a tragedy precipitated by Iranian air defenses, almost certainly.
That didn’t stop Iranian state media from trying, in the most slipshod way possible, to pretend they did it.
In the early hours of Saturday morning Iran time, Press TV — Iran’s state-run international news network — posted what it said were “images of the six US crew members of the refueling aircraft that was downed by resistance forces in western Iraq on Thursday.”
It wasn’t just that they claimed resistance forces allied with Tehran took the plane down. There were even more problems with this announcement that a glance at the image would have revealed.
If you’ve followed the news any time in the past decade and a half, at least one of those photographs — and possibly two — should look familiar. In the upper right is the picture of Bowe Bergdahl, the U.S. Army soldier who walked off his post in Afghanistan in 2009 and was taken hostage by a Taliban-aligned group. Former President Barack Obama later traded five high-ranking Taliban officials in U.S. custody to get him back.

The Iranians are so bad with their fake claims that they included a photo of Bowe Bergdahl on this. https://t.co/30RHOtNmdS
— Bill Melugin (@BillMelugin_) March 14, 2026

The more eagle-eyed military news followers will recognize the man at the bottom left, meanwhile, as Staff Sgt. Ryan Pitts, who received the Medal of Honor and a Purple Heart, among many decorations, for his bravery in Afghanistan.

Absurdly wrong on a sensitive matter.
Top left: Bowe Bergdahl, court-martialed for deserting his post in Afghanistan.
Bottom right: Ryan Pitts, Medal of Honor recipient.
Have to stay vigilant for accounts like this one, which has more than 56K followers. https://t.co/Uan0z45eox
— Dan Lamothe (@DanLamothe) March 14, 2026

None of these individuals appear to be the service members killed in the crash, although we don’t know their identities as of Friday night. It’s safe to assume that Bergdahl wasn’t involved in any way, though.

Yeah see that was the Secret Joint Airborne Refueling and Paratrooping & Admin Squadron, led by a guy who deserted to the Taliban.
— Cynical Publius (@CynicalPublius) March 14, 2026

And what’s perhaps most insulting is how slapdash this all was. As one commenter noted, even the Bergdahl picture appears to be lifted from his Wikipedia page:

Bowe Bergdahl? Really?
You can’t even troll well. pic.twitter.com/ZFEqDRm2GN
— GlammaSooz (@GlammaSooz) March 14, 2026

Good work. Sure no one will be able to trace that one.
Considering the amount of poorly done AI slop Iranian-run accounts have put out during the hostilities, they were already running on low trust with anyone who thinks critically about this stuff. Remarkable, then, that they could put out propaganda so awful that it made the slop look good by comparison.
This article appeared originally on The Western Journal.
The post Iran Attempts to Take Credit for Downing US Aircraft, Killing Airmen, Then Fakes Evidence in Profoundly Slipshod Way appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.

Pixar’s latest original film and the newest Colleen Hoover romance dominated the box office over Oscars weekend.

Once a niche instrument for occult enthusiasts, mystics, and fringe spiritual groups, tarot cards are a highly trendy item you can pluck off a Walmart shelf today. They’re no longer considered just a tool for divination either. In the modern world, tarot cards are used in many games as well as for self-reflection, spiritual guidance, and storytelling. There are even “Christian” tarot card decks available now.For years, tarot cards were viewed by the majority of Christians as off-limits because of their connection to divination, which Scripture strictly prohibits. But today, views have softened as these colorful, illustrated decks have been absorbed into mainstream culture.But Rick Burgess, BlazeTV host of the spiritual warfare podcast “Strange Encounters,” warns: Tarot cards, regardless of stated purpose or Christian branding, are “highly, highly dangerous.” Rick begins by recounting the strange history of tarot cards.They began as a regular card game — with no spiritual element whatsoever — in Italy in the early to mid-1400s.“But then in the 1780s, French occultists … took these cards, and they started to make it popular that … these cards held some sort of ancient Egyptian secrets, and this is when they started the fortune-telling,” Rick recounts.“I don’t want to be sitting down anywhere throwing out a bunch of cards that are used by the occult for some sort of fortune-telling because we know that that’s divination, and the Bible completely, I mean, rejects that. How this has crept into Christianity, I will never know,” he adds.Rick then reads from Deuteronomy 18:10-12: “Let no one be found among you who sacrifices their son or daughter in the fire, who practices divination or sorcery, interprets omens, engages in witchcraft, or casts spells, or who is a medium or spiritist or who consults the dead. Anyone who does these things is detestable to the LORD; because of these same detestable practices the LORD your God will drive out those nations before you.”To those who think tarot cards, psychic mediums, and fortune tellers are all a hoax, Rick issues this dire warning: “If you start dabbling in these cards, it opens the user up to demonic forces because what you’re saying to demonic forces is, instead of seeking guidance from God, … you want to seek guidance from whoever shows up.”And spiritual beings do show up, he insists. But they’re never on your side.“Evil spirits — that’s who you’re going to deal with,” he says.“You may very well get a supernatural message from these cards. … But it’s not from God, and that’s where the caution is. … It’s misplaced trust. We trust in God and God alone.”To hear more of Rick’s biblical wisdom, watch the full episode above.Want more from Rick Burgess?To enjoy more bold talk and big laughs, subscribe to BlazeTV — the largest multi-platform network of voices who love America, defend the Constitution, and live the American dream.