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Most people have heard of the Irish goodbye, which involves a sneaky, unannounced exit by someone during an event. It turns out a regional exit based in America often plays out at the end of a meal — and it’s quite the opposite.The “Midwest goodbye” is less about leaving and more about how long it takes to actually get out the door. What starts as a simple attempt to head home can turn into a prolonged process filled with hugs, small talk and repeated attempts to exit even as leftovers are pushed on the person heading out.IS THE ‘IRISH GOODBYE’ RUDE? EXPERTS SAY MOST PEOPLE GET IT WRONGThe term has become a cultural shorthand for the famously long farewells common across the Midwest and is sometimes even dubbed the “Minnesota goodbye,” a reflection of the region’s reputation for generous hosting and hard-to-refuse food offers.Much of it involves “lingering in doorways,” according to the Chicago Tribune. “We spend so much time standing on a threshold, one hand on a doorknob, resisting leftovers, hugging, promising to return, resisting leftovers once again, listening to just one more story, being unable to extract ourselves,” the outlet noted in a 2022 piece.Comedian Charlie Berens also popularized the ritual, joking that it can be broken down into recognizable steps.It starts with a knee slap and saying, “Welp, I s’pose” to signal that one is about to leave, Berens said in a 2023 comedy special, adopting a thick Midwestern accent.POPULAR STEAKHOUSE’S DRESS CODE SPARKS BACKLASH AS DINERS TOLD TO DITCH HATS OR EAT AT THE BARFrom there, the process drags on: Guests stand up, search for their coats, exchange hugs and get pulled back into the conversation.Even reaching the door doesn’t guarantee an exit — as conversations can continue, sometimes shifting to the driveway or even after the car is started. “Whatever you do, don’t roll down your window,” Berens joked.The drawn-out farewell was instantly recognizable to many online as well. In a recent Reddit discussion among Wisconsin natives, commenters traded stories about just how long a Midwest goodbye can last.CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR LIFESTYLE NEWSLETTER”My nephew was visiting and says, ‘Well, I suppose I should get going,'” one person commented. “This was at 11:50 a.m. Then he stayed for an entire Packers game.” The person added, “This is the most Wisconsin goodbye one can have.”Others described the ritual as nearly impossible to interrupt.”One does not simply cut off a Midwest goodbye. The only way out is through,” another user wrote.CLICK HERE FOR MORE LIFESTYLE STORIESSome people said using the Irish goodbye is the only way to avoid it.”The Midwest goodbye, at its heart, is a bear hug around whatever time is left,” the Tribune article noted.The drawn-out exit reflects something deeper than habit, agreed Richie Frieman, a Baltimore-based author and etiquette expert known as the “Modern Manners Guy.”TEST YOURSELF WITH OUR LATEST LIFESTYLE QUIZ”The Midwest goodbye is the purest sign of comfort, enjoyment and care when it comes to exiting a social setting,” Frieman told Fox News Digital.It’s a sign of respect, he said. “Does it take longer than a simple wave to the room of people from the doorway? Yes. But is it the kindest way to show someone’s appreciation for the invite and the work put into it? Yes, as well.”Of course, it can be “rather exhausting,” Frieman noted.For those hoping to escape their next Midwest dinner party without seeming rude, he said the key is to be intentional.”The most polite way to shorten the Midwest goodbye is to A, plan ahead because you know it takes long, and B, set a mental clock for each interaction,” he said.Overall, Frieman advised, “It’s best to read the room and do your best to make it out before the host brings out the vacuum to clean up.”

Maryland Democratic Senator Chris Van Hollen got called out for lying about the reason Democrats defunded the Department of Homeland Security during an argument with ABC’s This Week host Jonathan Karl on Sunday.
Karl questioned why the Democratic Party is withholding funding from the Department of Homeland Security, which oversees the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), the Federal Emergency Response Acency (FEMA), and the US Coast Guard, when ICE remains funded to the tune of $75 billion through the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, passed last year.
The current shutdown, which has been ongoing for more than 40 days, has caused massive delays and chaos at airports across the country, leading Trump to deploy ICE to assist with airport security and sign an executive order to ensure TSA agents are paid.
“And yet, the only thing that has been assured throughout all of this is that ICE already has the money because, as you said, $75 billion passed in the budget bill last year. So, you’re holding up the entirety of the Department of Homeland Security because you object to ICE and you want changes to ICE, but through it all, ICE continues to have the money it needs,” Karl said.
Van Hollen responded by claiming it was a “false statement,” and that the Democrats are “not holding up all of the money for all the Department of Homeland Security.” He continued, “We have said repeatedly, repeatedly, we should fund TSA, we should fund FEMA, we should fund the Coast Guard,” noting that they are in fact holding that funding hostage in order to reform Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
“And fighting over that additional $10 billion, you are holding up the rest of Department Homeland Security,” Karl fired back, leading Van Hollen to become visibly frustrated and continue lying..
“We’re not holding it up!” he stammered, throwing his arms in the air. “No, John, we’re not holding it up. We have now voted 10 times,” he continued, before Karl interrupted and shut him down.
“Right, but you’re holding it up unless it doesn’t include money for ICE. That’s just a fact,” he said.
WATCH:

TRANSCRIPT:
Karl: I guess what’s confusing here is you have fought and blocked the funding for the Department of Homeland Security because you object, as you just outlined, to what ICE has been doing, and you wanted to force changes. And yet, the only thing that has been assured throughout all of this is that ICE already has the money because, as you said, $75 billion passed in the budget bill last year. So, you’re holding up the entirety of the Department of Homeland Security because you object to ICE and you want changes to ICE. But through it all, ICE continues to have the money it needs.
And yet, the only thing that has been assured throughout all of this is that ICE already has the money because, as you said, $75 billion passed in the budget bill last year. So, you’re holding up the entirety of the Department of Homeland Security because you object to ICE and you want changes to ICE, but through it all, ICE continues to have the money it needs.
Van Hollen: John, we’re not holding up all of the money for all the Department of Homeland Security. That’s just a false statement. We have said repeatedly, repeatedly, we should fund TSA, we should fund FEMA, we should fund the Coast Guard.
We are not prepared to give ice another $10 billion on top of the monies they already have and are using in many of these lawless operations. We’re not going to give them another $10 billion unless they make fundemental reform, including holding people accountable for the killing of American citizens.
Karl: And fighting over that additional $10 billion, you are holding up the rest of Department Homeland Security.
Van Hollen: We’re not holding it up!
Karl: I mean, you’re saying—
Van Hollen: No, John, we’re not holding it up. We have now voted 10 times—
Karl: Right, but you’re holding it up unless it doesn’t include money for ICE. That’s just a fact.
The post WATCH: Senator Chris Van Hollen CALLED OUT by Leftist ABC Host for Lying About Defunding Homeland Security in Brutal Exchange appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.

Pentagon Eyes ‘Weeks’ Of Ground Operations In Iran As IRGC Threatens Tit-For-Tat Strikes On Universities

Summary

Report says Pentagon has been weeks in preparing ground operations as initial Marines arrive in region (WaPo).

Foreign ministers of regional countries seeking peace & offramp in Pakistan meeting on Sunday.

After two Iranian university campuses struck by attacks, IRGC issues warning for American university campuses in Middle East.

Not just ‘damaged’ but obliterated: images show destroyed US AWACS jet at Saudi Airbase. 

*  *  *

‘Weeks’ of Ground Ops Under Preparation: WaPo

Iran’s parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, the man who many believe is de facto running the country during wartime, has said United States is busy plotting a ground attack despite publicly engaging in diplomatic efforts aimed at finding a ceasefire.

Fresh reporting in The Washington Post suggests he could be right: “The Pentagon is preparing for weeks of ground operations in Iran, U.S. officials said, as thousands of American soldiers and Marines arrive in the Middle East for what could become a dangerous new phase of the war should President Donald Trump choose to escalate,” the Saturday night report indicated. WaPo further says the plans have been at least weeks in development, writing “Any potential ground operation would fall short of a full-scale invasion and could instead involve raids by a mixture of Special Operations forces and conventional infantry troops, said the officials. All spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss highly sensitive military plans that have been in development for weeks.”
Bombed-out classroom of Iran’s University of Science and Technology, via @Helyeh_Doutaghi

It should be obvious to all what an ultra high-risk gambit this would be, and geography certainly isn’t in US forces’ favor. The report continues, “Such a mission could expose U.S. personnel to an array of threats, including Iranian drones and missiles, ground fire and improvised explosives. It was unclear Saturday whether Trump would approve all, some or none of the Pentagon’s plans.”

Scramble to Find Offramp: Summit in Islamabad

Several regional countries are meeting in Islamabad to try and forge a path toward ceasefire and peace. The four foreign ministers representing Pakistan, Turkey, Egypt, and Saudi Arabia began consultations Sunday.

The Pakistani government said over the weekend that its prime minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif is working to “create a conducive environment” for peace negotiations and direct talks between Tehran and Washington as the war reaches one month. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian is being kept abreast of developments in communications with Pakistan. Some progress emerging?…

Iran has agreed to allow 20 Pakistani-flagged ships to pass through the Strait of Hormuz unharmed, Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar announced Saturday.

Oil tanker carrying Saudi crude to Pakistan.
Map frm @Kpler pic.twitter.com/qSUSTca7k1
— Anas Alhajji (@anasalhajji) March 29, 2026
Pezeshkian told PM Sharif in a Saturday call that “Attacks on infrastructure and assassinations by aggressors show they cannot be trusted.” 

As for the Sunday summit in Pakistan, one question that must be asked is where are the US negotiators? Days ago there was chatter that VP J.D. Vance or perhaps Witkoff or Kushner might be in Pakistan, working on the sidelines, but it’s unclear what Washington’s posture on diplomacy is at this point.

The Consultations among the Foreign Ministers of Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Türkiye, and Egypt have commenced in Islamabad on 29 March 2026.
Convened at the invitation of Deputy Prime Minister / Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar @MIshaqDar50, the Foreign Ministers during… pic.twitter.com/5capTCXUNO
— Ministry of Foreign Affairs – Pakistan (@ForeignOfficePk) March 29, 2026
Attacks on Universities, Infrastructure

The last 48 hours saw new US-Israeli attacks on Iran’s university of science and technology in the northeast of the capital. Buildings were severely damaged – but reports of casualties have not emerged.

Israel has made it clear it is going after an array of targets, including civilian infrastructure in Iran. Iran has over the weekend retaliated in kind, sending more missiles on Israel. Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) is now warning that American university campuses in the Middle East are now fair game. The statement said this is because two Iranian universities have been struck. The IRGC says American universities are now “legitimate targets” unless the US officially condemns the attacks on Iranian schools by noon on Monday, according to Fars.

Tit-for-tat attacks on infrastructure escalating:

⚡️BREAKING
An Iranian missile has just struck Israel’s crucial Rotem Chemicals Plant
The plant produces sapphire domes for defence missiles and also helps Israel’s nuclear weapons program pic.twitter.com/VuAikqH6ws
— Iran Observer (@IranObserver0) March 29, 2026
The IRGC has gone so far as to release a statement urging staff, faculty, and students to vacate and stay away from theses campuses. Some notable American university branches in the Gulf (among dozens) include Texas A&M University in Qatar and New York University in the United Arab Emirates.

Not Just ‘Damaged’ but Obliterated: Images of US AWACS Jet At Saudi Airbase

Images have emerged revealing that the Wall Street Journal’s initial report that the half-billion-dollar aircraft was merely “damaged” was an enormous understatement. Rather, a large portion of the fuselage has been obliterated, along with the distinctive 30-foot-diameter, 6-foot-thick rotating radar dome that’s mounted atop AWACS aircraft. We took a closer look at the photo set here. 

The images of the destroyed E-3 Sentry were first posted on the Air Force amn/nco/snco Facebook page:

“The loss of this E-3 is incredibly problematic, given how crucial these battle managers are to everything from airspace deconfliction, aircraft deconfliction, targeting, and providing other lethal effects that the entire force needs for the battle space,” Heather Penney, a former F-16 pilot and director of studies and research at AFA’s Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies, told Air & Space Forces Magazine. If this has been carefully kept under wraps until now, what else is the White House and Pentagon not telling the public?

Tyler Durden
Sun, 03/29/2026 – 11:05

American Olympic runner Nikki Hiltz, who identifies as transgender non-binary, reacted to the International Olympic Committee’s (IOC) policy to bar males from women’s competitions on Friday.The IOC announced its new policy on Thursday. The organization said it will employ genetic testing to verify the biological sex of competitors in women’s events.CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM”All Olympic athletes competing in women’s sports are now required to undergo genetic sex testing,” Hiltz wrote in a post on Instagram Stories. “Attacks on trans people have consistently led to more policing and regulation of ALL women’s bodies. Everyone is hurt by transphobia.”Y’all already know where I stand on this but this policy is so f—ing stupid and is not solving a problem that exists. I don’t know who needs to hear this but ZERO trans women competed in the Paris Olympics. Only ONE trans woman weightlifter competed in Tokyo 2021 and she did not win a medal. Can we please stop obsessing over trans people? And idk maybe focus our time, energy, and resources into real problems women’s sports face?”Hiltz, who won a silver medal in the 2024 World Indoor Championships and a gold in the 2019 Pan American Games, competed in the 2024 Paris Olympics.The IOC said that eligibility for events in the women’s category is “now limited to biological females, determined on the basis of a one-time SRY gene screening.””Evidence‑based and expert‑informed, the policy – applicable for the LA28 Olympic Games onwards – protects fairness, safety and integrity in the female category.”The testing can be conducted via saliva, cheek swab or blood sample.STEPHEN A SMITH SAYS THERE IS ‘NO EXCUSE’ FOR ‘BIOLOGICAL MEN’ COMPETING IN WOMEN’S SPORTSThe IOC said it came to the decision to implement the policy after consulting with a panel of experts, with the goal of providing equal opportunity for women in sport.”The policy was developed on the basis that it is universally accepted that providing for a female category is necessary to allow both males and females equal access to elite sport,” the IOC said in an announcement.”It was guided by the IOC’s modern goals relating to equality (equal opportunities for female athletes in finals, on podiums and in championships); enhancing Olympic value (featuring both women’s and men’s finals in every sport); and visibility and inspiration (celebrating female athletes on the Olympic podium to inspire and represent women and girls worldwide).”IOC President Kirsty Coventry suggested that the continued enabling of males in women’s sports is “not safe” in the announcement.”As a former athlete, I passionately believe in the rights of all Olympians to take part in fair competition. The policy that we have announced is based on science and has been led by medical experts. At the Olympic Games, even the smallest margins can be the difference between victory and defeat,” Coventry said.”So, it is absolutely clear that it would not be fair for biological males to compete in the female category. In addition, in some sports it would simply not be safe.”Fox News’ Jackson Thompson contributed to this report.Follow Fox News Digital’s sports coverage on X and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.

Sen. Mazie Hirono, D-Hawaii, intended to hit President Donald Trump amid nationwide “No Kings” protests, but instead Republicans argued her comment admits the flimsy case being made.”Donald Trump is not, never will be, and has never been a king. #NoKings,” Hirono’s Saturday morning X post read as left-wing protesters marched in various anti-Trump demonstrations.The remarks landed with rare agreement from figures on the right, though.”So you agree – you think your ‘no kings’ rallies are stupid…,” replied Rep. Chip Roy, R-Texas, who once backed Trump’s 2024 Republican primary opposition from Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis.JANE FONDA WARNS AMERICA FACES ‘EXISTENTIAL’ CRISIS AS SHE URGES TURNOUT AT ‘NO KINGS’ PROTESTS”Roger that!” Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, wrote on X.Social media reacted in wild agreement even from the right, with some noting that the 2024 November election was a “no Kings” protest and some referencing Independence Day as America’s true “no Kings” protest.NANCY PELOSI SWIPES AT TRUMP, ACCUSING HIM OF CROWNING HIMSELF AS ‘KING’One post even noted the irony of “no kings” protests in London, where the United Kingdom actually has a king.More than 3,200 events had been planned in all 50 states, after the two previous nationwide events attracted millions of participants.Large rallies took place in New York, Dallas, Philadelphia, and Washington, but two-thirds of “no kings” events were happening outside major cities, a nearly 40% jump for smaller communities from the movement’s first mobilization last June, organizers said.LEADER SCALISE: DEMOCRATS CHEER ‘NO KINGS’ PROTESTS, BUT LET SHUTDOWN DEVASTATE FAMILIESVideo and photos shared on social media showed protesters marching for “no kings,” while waving red flags associated with communist dictatorships.”These Hate America Rallies are where the far-left’s most violent, deranged fantasies get a microphone and House Democrats get their marching orders,” National Republican Congressional Committee spokesman Mike Marinella wrote in a statement Saturday.”Voters will punish Democrats for gleefully standing shouder-to-shoulder with radicals who call for assassinations and violence.”JOHN CUSACK TELLS TRUMP TO ‘GO TO HELL’ AT CHICAGO ‘NO KINGS’ PROTESTTrump has long rebuked the “no kings” protest mantra.”I’m not a king — I work my a– off to make America great,” Trump said during last October’s congressional recess protests. “That’s the difference.”Trump rebuked the protests as “small, crazy, and totally out of touch with real Americans.”CHIP ROY SAYS DEMOCRATIC PARTY TAKING ITS ‘DYING BREATHS’Hirono was not the only Democrat figure targeted for social media trolling Saturday. The RNC Research X account shared video of Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., getting emotional during a “no kings” rally speech, rebuking America as no beacon of hope but “authoritarianism.”‘NO KINGS’ PROTESTS LARGELY COMPRISED OF PEOPLE FROM ONE DEMOGRAPHIC: EXPERTSOmar and Minnesota’s Democratic Gov. Tim Walz have been under fire for allegations of fraud among the Somali community in their state, and Vice President JD Vance last week alleged to have evidence that Omar violated immigration law.Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, replied to a Fox News investigation that revealed ‘No Kings’ protests were backed by network of 500 organizations, finding many tied to socialist and communist groups.”Lefty billionaires & communists,” Cruz wrote. “There’s a shock….”The first “no kings” event, on Trump’s birthday, June 14, last year, drew an estimated 4 million to 6 million people across roughly 2,100 sites nationwide. The second mobilization in October involved an estimated 7 million participants in more than 2,700 cities, according to a crowdsourcing analysis published by prominent data journalist G. Elliott Morris.The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Late-night host Jimmy Kimmel attended the “No Kings” protests over the weekend, according to a post on Instagram, in which he held a poster that said “Enough Already” and included an image of President Donald Trump wearing a crown.Kimmel was photographed alongside two of his children, who also held signs, and his father, who held a sign that read “Deport ICE,” while wearing a “Barack Obama” hat. “Great turnout at #NoKings,” Kimmel wrote in the caption.The liberal late-night host attended a “No Kings” protest in June 2025 with his parents, applauding the turnout of the anti-Trump “No Kings” movement. The “No Kings” movement crystalized in reaction to the president’s second term, and has resulted in multiple days of protest across the country since Trump took office.JIMMY KIMMEL ATTENDS LOS ANGELES ANTI-ICE PROTEST WITH WIFE AND CHILDRENKimmel has attended multiple protests in President Donald Trump’s second term, including an anti-ICE protest a few weeks ago, alongside his family, according to a post on his Instagram.Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., posted a picture of Kimmel on X. He wrote, “Look who I ran into at the No Kings rally in Torrance, California.”During one of Kimmel’s monologues in October 2025, the liberal late-night host defended the “No Kings” rallies, saying the cause reflects what those who fought for American independence believed in. “There is nothing more American than a political protest. The American Revolution was a ‘No Kings’ protest,” Kimmel said.JIMMY KIMMEL DISPLAYS T-SHIRT WITH MINNEAPOLIS MAYOR’S CALL FOR ICE TO ‘GET THE F— OUT’ OF CITYKimmel accused Republican critics of the protests at the time of double standards.”So just to be clear, peacefully protesting a wannabe dictator means you hate America. Attacking the Capitol to overturn America? Patriotic walking tour,” he said, grilling Republicans who have accused liberals of overplaying the destruction of the Jan. 6 Capitol riot.He also encouraged viewers planning to attend the October protests to make signs mocking Trump’s weight. CLICK HERE FOR MORE COVERAGE OF MEDIA AND CULTURE”And if you are planning to go to the rally, and you’re going to be making your own sign –– everybody there has a sign — I just want to ask you to remember our president is very sensitive about his weight, so please do not use the word ‘Shamussolini’ to describe him, or “Engorge Washington,” or ‘King Hungry the Eighth.’””It’s rude, and he will throw you in jail,” Kimmel added. 

A 48-year-old divorced massage therapist who had recently moved to Los Angeles and was living with her much-younger transgender romantic partner was shot multiple times and killed in their Beverly Grove home last weekend, in what police described as a “domestic dispute.”
Carla Maribel Rodriguez was found shot inside the $2.4 million house shortly before 8:30 a.m. last Sunday after police were called with reports of gunfire.
Rodriguez died after being rushed to the hospital.
Her beloved dog, Prince, was also shot and killed.
Los Angeles police arrested 27-year-old Emily Emerald Vogdt at the residence.
Vogdt, who identifies as a trans man and uses her middle name “Emerald,” is being held at the Century Regional Detention Center, an all-female jail in Lynwood, on $3.075 million bail, which was increased from an initial $2 million due to the severity of the charges.
The alleged murderer appeared in court on Thursday, but the arraignment was postponed until April 29.
Investigators told Rodriguez’s family that Vogdt had been “very possessive and obsessed” with the victim and that the shooting stemmed from a domestic dispute.
Family members believe Rodriguez may have been planning to leave the relationship.
Rodriguez’s brother, Joshua Vasquez, 39, confirmed to the New York Post that authorities described Vogdt as transitioning to become a man.
The family and friends had assumed Rodriguez was dating a biological male.
Rodriguez had boasted about Vogdt on Facebook, calling her “the peanut butter to my jelly” and saying that she was “in love.”
The victim’s close friend, Jacqueline Dobson, 64, told the Post that she never met Vogdt but recalled Rodriguez calling her “wonderful.”
Dobson admitted she had grown suspicious about how the couple afforded their extravagant lifestyle, which included luxury trips to Aspen and Solvang for Christmas and New Year’s, a February getaway to Mammoth, and a three-day stay at the five-star Ritz-Carlton in Dana Point overlooking the cliffs.
The couple also drove a black Lamborghini Urus valued at around $250,000. Detectives removed a rifle case from the vehicle during the investigation.
Rodriguez’s aunt, Marcella Garcia, 59, said no one in the family had ever met Vogdt.
Garcia noted that Rodriguez had told her she was “trying something different” but provided no further details about her lover being transgender.
After seeing photos online, Garcia described the suspect as “a little strange and weird looking.”
The Post reports:
Records show Vogdt stood to inherit a family trust valued at approximately $2.9 million, tied to a commercial property on Ventura Boulevard in Sherman Oaks.
The trust was established by Vogdt’s grandmother, Paula Vogdt, and passed to her daughter, Anita Vogdt, in 2013.
Anita died in 2022, leaving Vogdt as the sole heir. Despite this, Rodriguez had told her mother she was paying $1,000 per month to live in the Airbnb property the couple shared.
A dog sitter confirmed the couple’s odd relationship, saying the pair lived in separate bedrooms. She also said she had been unaware Vogdt was biologically female.
This incident comes amid a wave of high-profile shootings involving transgender individuals in recent months.
In February, Jesse Van Rootselaar, who identified as transgender, carried out a mass shooting in Tumbler Ridge, British Columbia, killing eight people, including students and a teacher, before dying by suicide.
That same month, Robert Dorgan, who also identified as transgender, gunned down family members at a high school hockey game in Pawtucket, Rhode Island, killing three before taking his own life.
The post More Trans Violence: LA Woman and Her Dog Shot to Death by Obsessive 27-Year-Old Transgender Partner, Family Shocked by Hidden Identity appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.

Finland Member of Parliament Päivi Räsänen was convicted by the country’s Supreme Court on a count of hate speech for a decades-old pamphlet referring to homosexuality as a “developmental disorder.”The Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF) International, which represents Räsänen, announced the narrow 3-2 ruling on Thursday. Räsänen was previously acquitted on the charge by two lower courts.PROSECUTOR IN FINLAND’S ‘BIBLE TRIAL’ QUESTIONS LAWMAKER OVER BIBLICAL INTERPRETATION, DOCUMENTARY SHOWSThe charge centered on a pamphlet Räsänen originally published in 2004 titled, “Male and Female He Created Them: Homosexual Relationships Challenge the Christian Understanding of Humanity” where she argued that homosexuality could be considered a “negative developmental disorder.””[T]he scientific material unequivocally proves that homosexuality is a disorder of psycho-sexual development. Those who claim that homosexuality is a natural ‘healthy’ variety of sexuality nullify the evidentiary value found in family background studies for political reasons,” Räsänen wrote.According to ADF International, the court found Räsänen guilty of having “made available to the public and kept available to the public opinions that insult homosexuals as a group on the basis of their sexual orientation,” though the pamphlet was published years before the law was passed.LAWMAKER ON TRIAL IN EUROPE FOR RELIGIOUS VIEWS A ‘CAUTIONARY TALE’ FOR THE US, SAYS LAWYER”I am shocked and profoundly disappointed that the court has failed to recognize my basic human right to freedom of expression. I stand by the teachings of my Christian faith, and will continue to defend my and every person’s right to share their convictions in the public square,” Räsänen said in a statement after the ruling.Räsänen added that she plans to appeal the case to the European Court of Human Rights to help prevent “other innocent people from experiencing the same ordeal for simply sharing their beliefs.”In an editorial on Friday, The Washington Post opined of Räsänen, “That she was prosecuted for either is the real crime.” The editorial was titled, “A free-speech farce in Finland.” Mentioning the co-defendent in the case, the editorial added, “If Finland is able to do this to a sitting member of its legislature and a clergyman who chairs an international organization with millions of members, no less notable person can feel comfortable expressing similar views in public.”The court imposed an approximately $2,100 fine on Räsänen and demanded that the pamphlet be “removed from public access and destroyed.”  FINNISH LAWMAKER BEING CHARGED FOR EXPRESSING HER RELIGIOUS VIEWS SPEAKS OUT, CALLS THE CASE ‘DANGEROUS’Fox News Digital reached out to the Supreme Court of Finland and the Office of the Prosecutor General of Finland for comment.Räsänen was also unanimously acquitted by the court for a 2019 tweet where she questioned her church’s sponsorship of an LGBTQ Pride event, and linked to an Instagram post with a picture of Romans 1:24-27.Executive Director of ADF International Paul Coleman celebrated Räsänen’s acquittal but lamented her charge as an “example of state censorship.””Freedom of speech is a cornerstone of democracy. It is right that the Court has acquitted Päivi Räsänen for her 2019 Bible verse tweet. However, the conviction for a simple church pamphlet published decades ago – before the law under which she has been convicted was even passed – is an outrageous example of state censorship. This decision will create a severe chilling effect for everyone’s right to speak freely,” Coleman said.

A Southwest seating policy has ignited a heated fat-shaming debate on TikTok and Instagram, with passengers strongly divided over whether the rule is just “common sense” — or “anxiety-inducing.”Several passengers have gone viral in recent weeks for saying the airline’s new “customer of size” policy has been humiliating. But many travelers praise the airline, noting that it’s unfair of others to “spill over” into the next seat. The policy asks passengers who need extra space to purchase a second seat in advance. It also allows the airline to make the determination on a case-by-case basis — citing safety reasons and overall passenger comfort.PASSENGERS RIP AIRLINE FOR NEW SEATING POLICY: ‘IT IS AS BAD AS EVERYONE IS SAYING’But as some people see it, the policy doesn’t clearly define the criteria that’s used — making the rules feel arbitrary, critics say.”We began communicating changes to our policy — which is in line with industry standards — almost a year ago and continued reiterating those changes directly to customers throughout the summer,” Southwest Airlines told Fox News Digital in response to a request for comment. The extra seat rule, as well as other policies, went into effect Jan. 27, the company said.If a second seat is purchased at the airport, travelers must pay the current same-day fare, which may be higher than their original ticket price.BAGGAGE HANDLER SLAMMED AFTER VIRAL VIDEO SHOWS GUITARS VIOLENTLY TOSSED ON TARMACThe airline says the armrest serves as a boundary between seats. It also notes it may require a passenger to obtain an extra seat at its own discretion for safety reasons.Meg Elison, an author in the San Francisco Bay Area known for discussing body positivity issues, related on social media that she recently took a trip in which she had to fly six times in five days. On her first flight, the gate agents didn’t ask her to buy a second seat, she said.On her second leg between St. Louis, Missouri and Little Rock, Arkansas, she was stopped by an agent, she recounted.OUT-OF-CONTROL AIRLINE PASSENGER CAUGHT ON VIDEO RIPPING INTO FLIGHT CREW IN ‘SAD’ MELTDOWN”My gate agent immediately walked away from me without saying anything to my face,” she said in a TikTok video.”The supervisor came back and said, ‘You’re going to have to buy a second seat.'”Elison said she believes the policy is inconsistent. She told followers she’d bought a second seat in the past to have extra space — so she doesn’t understand why the airline didn’t notify her in advance this time around.CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR LIFESTYLE NEWSLETTEROne of her followers responded with her own experience. “I had to fly Southwest for a work trip last month, and it was the most anxiety-inducing experience I have had in years.”The thought of having to purchase a second seat and explain that on my petty cash reconciliation notes to my employer nearly sent me into cardiac arrest!” the follower added.Another frequent Southwest traveler said she had a similar experience.”It ruined our trip,” the woman said in a TikTok video. “If I had gotten in the seat and someone had complained, and I’m encroaching in the space, I get that. The problem is, what is your process, Southwest?”CLICK HERE FOR MORE LIFESTYLE STORIESHer followers were divided about that experience.One said, “I’m sorry, dear. … Having to share my seat with someone who was much larger than their seats was incredibly stressful. I had a full panic attack because that person was literally on me.”Another commenter had more sympathy. “The policy seems arbitrary and capricious on top of being somewhat discriminatory,” the person wrote.Southwest Airlines maintains a clear point of view. “Our policy is well-defined on our website and has instructions on how to book a second seat at booking,” the airline said.TEST YOURSELF WITH OUR LATEST LIFESTYLE QUIZ”We ask customers who may need an extra seat to let us know in advance of their day of travel so we can do our best to accommodate their needs,” the airline continued.”Our goal is always to provide a comfortable experience for everyone on board. However, with assigned seating, adjacent seats may sometimes already be occupied.”Many Southwest passengers have been applauding the change.One Instagram user wrote, “Good! Nothing should be free. If you need two seats, you buy them.”Another simply said, “Seems like common sense to me.”Southwest’s customer support online help center lays out its position on the seating policy, including this note: “If you require more than one seat, we strongly recommend that you book both seats when making your reservation to ensure availability.”