It has long been abundantly clear that there is a strong appetite for political violence and ideological uniformity on the left. A new Young America’s Foundation poll released on Tuesday indicated that this is indeed an intergenerational problem.

Shortly after the assassination of Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk, Echelon Insights conducted a YAF survey of 1,021 registered voters ages 18-29 nationwide.

On the topic of Kirk’s murder on Sept. 10, respondents were asked which of the following two statements they agreed with more: “There is absolutely no justification for murdering someone over their viewpoints” or “Kirk’s viewpoints mean he brought this violence upon himself to an extent.”

Seventy percent of respondents answered that there was no justification for murdering a person over his views. While 90% of conservatives and 75% of moderates answered that there was no justification, 42% of self-described liberal respondents suggested that Kirk had it coming.

‘Three in ten young voters, however, say violence might be justified in some instances to shut those types of speech down.’

Young liberals’ responses to a follow-up question helped clarify that a great many just don’t want conservatives to be able to articulate their views in public.

When asked whether they believed “we are better off when strongly conservative viewpoints are able to be voiced and shared in the public square,” 53% of liberals said conservative viewpoints should be “shut down or kept out of the public square.”

RELATED: Blue cities reject law, reject order — and reject America

Joe Raedle/Getty Images

Only 49% of all respondents supported expressions of conservative viewpoints in public. The statement lacked majority support in part because only 75% of conservatives indicated that society was better off when their viewpoints were not shut down in public.

Although young liberals majoritively favor censorship, YAF noted that a significant percentage of all respondents are far from absolute in their support for free speech.

“Fewer than half of young voters think that negative statements toward racial or ethnic groups or celebrating acts of violence should be protected as free speech — 42% and 48% respectively — and roughly 60% believe such expression should be reportable to employers,” noted YAF spokesman Spencer Brown. “Three in ten young voters, however, say violence might be justified in some instances to shut those types of speech down.”

Other polls in recent months and years have similarly highlighted the violent and censorious mentality that possesses so many on the left.

A Marist Poll conducted in late September found that 10% of Democrats strongly agreed and another 18% agreed with the statement that “Americans may have to resort to violence in order to get the country back on track.”

A survey conducted by the Network Contagion Research Institute and Rutgers University’s Social Perception Lab revealed in April that 55% of respondents who identified as left of center said that assassinating Trump would be at least somewhat justified.

RMG Research asked American adults in the wake of the September 2024 attempt on President Donald Trump’s life whether the country would “be better off if Donald Trump had been killed last weekend?” While 69% of respondents said no, 28% of Democrats answered “yes.”

The desire on the left to see consequence visited upon those who refuse to ideologically fall in line was also manifested during the pandemic, when a poll found that 45% of Democrats strongly or somewhat favored “having federal or state governments require that citizens temporarily live in designated facilities or locations if they refuse to get a COVID-19 vaccine.”

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​Charlie kirk, Turning point usa, Young america’s foundation, Yaf, Poll, Democrat, Liberal, Violence, Liberal violence, Survey, Politics 

Deals? In this economy? Well, yes. The biggest shopping season of the year still kicks off with Black Friday this week, and the discounts are there for those ready to take the plunge. As you shop around for great tech gadgets to bring home for yourself or your loved ones, consult our curated shopping list of the best new phones and tablets to consider this year.

Best phones to buy during Black Friday

2025 was an interesting year for smartphones. From completely new ultrathin handsets that defy physics, to high-resolution cameras with powerful zoom capabilities, to the next generation of foldables, there were plenty of options to fill your pockets. If you’re looking for the best, though, only a few standout hits deserve the top spot on your Black Friday shopping list.

If you’re not sure where to start, here’s what’s worthy of your attention.

Best iPhones for your wish list

For the first time ever, the base model iPhone 17 brought along many of the features once only found in the pricier Pro series, like ProMotion display technology with an extra-smooth 120Hz refresh rate and a 48MP camera that captures sharp images in crisp, clear detail. Starting at $799 MSRP, iPhone 17 is already Apple’s most affordable new phone, and this will get even better with Black Friday discounts.

For users who want a little more from their phone, iPhone 17 Pro Max is my personal favorite from Apple this year. It’s expensive, starting at $1,199, but it features the brand’s fastest phone chip to date that’s built for AI, a sharp triple camera system with hybrid zoom in tow, a vapor chamber that keeps the phone cool during long photo shoots or gaming sessions. Plus, it comes in three fun colors (cosmic orange, deep blue, and silver). Apple rarely runs deals on their own, but if you want to grab a 17 Pro Max for less than retail price, check Amazon, local stores, and carriers for holiday discounts.

Photo courtesy of Apple

One more thing: You might be tempted to spring for the iPhone Air this year, but be warned. It’s more expensive than the base iPhone 17, its battery life will barely get you through a day, and it has fewer cameras than other models. Unless you’re a thin-phone fanatic, it’s better to stay away from this one.

Best Android phones for your wish list

On the Android side, Google and Samsung both launched several new devices in the last half of 2025, and although they cater to different users, any of them would make a great gift for yourself or a loved one.

First, the Google Pixel 10 series continues to carve out a space for itself in the Android market. Just last month, sales hit an all-time record, making Pixel 10 Google’s best-selling phone ever. All three slab Pixel 10 models share the same Tensor G5 chip designed for Gemini Nano (Google’s local version of Gemini) as well as Google’s suite of AI-powered features, including Gemini Live for real-time conversations with Google’s AI, Magic Cue that surfaces important information on your phone when you need it, Call Assist to block spam calls, and more. I personally recommend Pixel 10 Pro (it has a bigger display, more RAM, and better camera features), but if you’re looking for the best value, it’s hard to beat the base Pixel 10 at just $799 before discounts.

RELATED: Here’s how to get the most annoying new update off of your iPhone

Photo by NIC COURY/AFP via Getty Images

The other Android phone that’s good enough to top your Black Friday shopping list is the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold7. As my personal favorite phone of the year, this foldable packs a ton of features into one device. In folded mode, it feels and functions like a regular phone, thanks to its new full-size outer display and ultra-thin frame. When unfolded, it works more like a tablet, making it easier to scroll through the web, read articles and e-books, reply to emails, play games on the bigger screen, and more. If there’s a clear downside, it’s that the Galaxy Z Fold7 is expensive at $1,999.99, but the price isn’t so bad when you think of everything it can do. This single device is a phone, a tablet, an e-reader, and even a desktop PC when connected to a monitor via Samsung DeX. It’s a versatile device for power users who like to do a lot with their phone, and if you use it in place of your other devices, the price starts to make sense, especially if you can find it on sale.

Photo courtesy of Samsung

One more thing: If you’re thinking about getting a Samsung Galaxy S25 series phone for Christmas, hold on just a second. The next-generation Galaxy S26 models are rumored to launch in late February. So unless you get a very good discount on an S25, it might be a better idea to wait and see what comes next.

Best tablets to buy during Black Friday

Tablets always make for great Christmas gifts. They’re usually cheaper than a phone, they don’t require a dedicated data plan, and they excel at all kinds of tasks, including browsing the web, consuming video, reading books, and more. If you’re not sure where to start, there are two tablets worthy of your attention.

Best tablet for Apple fans

Apple just launched its newest batch of iPad Pros in late October. They feature the latest ridiculously fast M5 chips built for AI workloads, video processing, and gaming. They’re impressive, but for most people, the new iPad Pro models are overkill. If you want to get the best gift for most people, look no further than the iPad Air that came out earlier this year. With a more-than-adequate M3 chip, Apple Intelligence-powered features, and Apple Pencil support, it’s a better value, priced at a cool $599 for the 11-inch variant and $799 for the 13-inch model.

Photo courtesy of Apple

Best tablet for Android fans

On the Android side, Samsung basically has the tablet market cornered. The new Tab S11 series landed in September with a new S Pen, upgraded Samsung DeX mode for better dual-screen multitasking with a connected monitor, Galaxy AI features like a drawing assistant and writing tools, and an ultra-thin design that’s both easy to hold and durable. There really isn’t a better tablet for Android fans out there, and this one just happens to start at $799.99 for the Tab S11 and $1,199.99 for the larger Tab S11 Ultra.

Photo courtesy of Samsung

The next level?

Looking for something a little more hands-free? No worries: Check out our top wearables list, coming soon.

​Tech, Black friday 

The global energy system is buckling under the weight of its own contradictions. Electricity demand keeps rising, yet policymakers insist that renewables alone can carry the load. Artificial intelligence, electric vehicles, and a wave of reindustrialization are driving consumption far faster than today’s grid can support. Nowhere is that tension more visible than in the United States, where soaring demand collides with aging infrastructure and unrealistic clean-energy mandates.

America stands at a crossroads. One path deepens dependence on foreign supply chains dominated by China. The other rebuilds domestic energy strength, restores industrial capacity, and creates high-wage jobs. The question isn’t whether a green transition will happen — it is who will own the minerals, the infrastructure, and the economic power behind it.

Energy dominance is not a slogan. It is the practical foundation of American greatness.

Electricity demand jumped nearly 4% in 2024, almost double the decade’s average. Data centers, electrified transport, and manufacturing growth are reshaping the energy landscape. The International Energy Agency projects global data-center power use will more than double by 2030, approaching 1,000 terawatt-hours. In the U.S., these facilities alone could soon account for 10% of national consumption.

Without major investment in reliable, affordable energy, this surge will strain the grid and weaken American competitiveness.

We have already seen the danger of relying on foreign suppliers. While Western governments debated climate rhetoric, China quietly secured control over the minerals the modern economy runs on — lithium, nickel, cobalt, graphite, and rare-earths. Beijing now refines more than 70% of the global supply.

These materials aren’t optional. They are the foundation of EV batteries, grid storage, wind turbines, solar panels, and the defense systems that protect U.S. interests. Allowing China to dominate them puts both the economy and national security in a vulnerable position.

President Trump recognized that threat early. His energy-dominance agenda expanded domestic production, cut regulatory barriers, and revived investment in mining and industrial infrastructure. That legacy now forms the basis for a renewed push to bring extraction, processing, and refining back to U.S. soil.

The economic impact is substantial. Every new lithium mine, copper refinery, or processing plant means high-wage jobs, stronger rural communities, and a revived manufacturing base.

Private enterprise is already moving faster than any government program. BGN International — one of the world’s most dynamic energy and commodities firms — has expanded its American operations in liquefied natural gas and liquefied petroleum gas, the fuels that underpin grid reliability. BGN is also moving aggressively into critical minerals, supplying copper, aluminum, and rare-earth elements essential for the grid, clean-energy systems, and the emerging AI economy.

By linking American producers to global demand, BGN strengthens domestic supply chains and ensures that the value stays in the United States.

Meanwhile, Energy Transfer continues to expand its network of pipelines and terminals that move oil, natural gas, and the feedstocks needed for mineral processing and clean-tech manufacturing. Together, companies like Energy Transfer and BGN form the quiet engine of America’s comeback — building the infrastructure that powers the future, from LNG terminals to mineral-supply hubs in the Midwest.

This is what a real energy transition looks like: not offshoring, not dependence, but American innovation paired with American resources and American workers. The shift to cleaner energy can either hollow out the country or rebuild it. The difference lies in where we source, refine, and transport the materials that make it possible.

RELATED: ‘Reminiscent of the Manhattan Project’: Trump administration launches massive next-gen AI program

Nelson Ching/Bloomberg via Getty Images

Every ton of copper or rare-earth minerals refined at home is another step toward energy security — and another paycheck for an American worker.

America’s shale reserves, its underdeveloped mineral deposits, and its unmatched private-sector capacity give it every advantage in this new industrial age. What the country needs is leadership that understands the link between energy independence, manufacturing strength, and national power.

By investing in the fuels, minerals, and infrastructure that keep the lights on and the factories running, the United States can secure both its prosperity and its freedom.

Energy dominance is not a slogan. It is the practical foundation of American greatness. The world is entering an era in which whoever controls energy and critical-mineral supply chains controls the global economy. By unleashing its entrepreneurs and trusting its workers, America can lead that era on its own terms.

The next American century will not be powered by dependence or bureaucratic mandates but by free enterprise, industrial competence, and the spirit of self-reliance. Critical minerals and energy independence are not merely economic issues. They are matters of national pride, national security, and American leadership.

​Opinion & analysis, America, Industrial, Mining, Rare earth minerals, Donald trump, Energy independence, China, Reindustrialization, Lithium, Nickel, Cobalt, Graphite, Dominance, Refineries, Liquefied natural gas, Artificial intelligence, Economy, Workers, Employment, Kenya, Nathaniel mong’are