They’re expensive, cause an array of side effects, and eventually stop working.

And yet Ozempic and other GLP1 drugs are more popular than ever — touted by celebrities and prescribed to millions of Americans convinced they’ve found their last, best chance of losing weight.

To those not willing to risk their mental health and quality of life for fleeting victory in their struggle with the scale, Michaels has a message of hope: ‘Weight loss is simple.’

Nonsense, claims fitness and nutrition influencer Jillian Michaels.

‘Zero weight loss’

In an email to Align, Michaels explained why the powerful peptides, which were originally prescribed for Type 2 diabetes and other diseases, are not the best pound-shedding solution for most people.

“The bottom line — they are extremely expensive. You plateau on them. The side effects are scary and the risk of experiencing the more serious ones increases over time,” says Michaels.

The good news? “There is a natural alternative.”

Michaels’ observations about GLP1 drugs reflect the experience of many who have failed to see any progress on the medication. One such user recently called in to the “Mind Pump” fitness podcast: “I’d been on semaglutide [Ozempic] for about six months and saw zero weight loss … it was very, very frustrating.”

He had slightly more success after switching to a different GLP1 drug, the caller said, but he was still worried about the long-term: “My big question here is, what do you do when they don’t work, and what do you do when they stop working?”

Short-term fix

According to Michaels, his case is far from unique. Citing a survey from one of the country’s biggest pharmacy benefit managers, Prime Therapeutics, Michaels noted that “66% of the people put on GLP1 drugs come off them within the first year citing cost, plateau, and side effects. And the risk for more serious side effects actually compounds over time.”

Yet, people remain desperate for these “miracle” drugs, even opting for unvetted knockoffs from online pharmacies. Late last year, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration seized thousands of GLP1 products thought to be counterfeit, according to the New York Post.

Many consumers endanger themselves for what they believe offers their one shot at achieving a healthy weight. “That is simply just not true,” says Michaels, pointing to her record of helping thousands achieve these results with natural solutions.

Depression danger

While Michaels admits her way is not the easiest way, she does consider it the safest, scoffing at drugmakers’ claims that the long-term use of their products carries very little risk.

“I don’t even know how they arrive at that conclusion,” says Michaels. “The side effects are on the box because they are very legitimate.”

Those side effects include nausea, vomiting, blurred vision, stomach upset, and in more serious cases, pancreatitis or kidney failure. The drug has also been linked to over 100 deaths, according to the Daily Mail.

What’s even scarier? The thousands of cases reporting these adverse effects may just be the tip of the iceberg. “The FDA estimates that its Adverse Event Reporting System (AERS) only receives reports for 1–10% of adverse drug events,” says Michaels. The actual number of users experiencing harmful side effects could be tens of thousands more.

Michaels added that people are also more likely to be prescribed an antidepressant after starting a GLP1. This may have something to do with how the drug interacts with the brain’s “pleasure center.”

It’s hypothesized that these drugs impact dopamine release, making substances like food or drugs lose their appeal, continued Michaels. This benefits a person with addiction, Michaels says, but others open the door to depression, malaise, and lack of sex drive due to the same mechanism.

In short, Michaels believes these drugs are only right for a small minority of people such as the morbidly obese with a host of comorbidities or those battling addiction.

“For everyone else, these should NEVER be an option,” says Michaels.

A simpler way

To those not willing to risk their mental health and quality of life for fleeting victory in their struggle with the scale, Michaels has a message of hope: “Weight loss is simple.”

It all comes down to moving more and eating less. “Calories are units of energy. Energy that doesn’t get utilized from calorie intake gets stored as fat,” says Michaels.

In place of paying for Ozempic, Michaels recommends people spend money on goods and services that will encourage moving more and eating less: counseling, healthy food, and membership in a gym or other fitness community.

“Supporting yourself in all the ways possible inside and out goes a long way,” says Michaels.

Those who ditch Ozempic in favor of Michaels’ advice may find themselves experiencing a whole new range of positive “side effects,” including improved mental health, better sleep, and reduced chronic disease, according to a Mind Pump Media article.

​Health, Ozempic, Morgan millan, Jillian michaels, Glp1, Semaglutide, Weight loss, Nutrition, Exercise, Lifestyle 

Democratic California Gov. Gavin Newsom called a special session of the state legislature in order to organize a campaign to resist the policies of President-elect Donald Trump’s second term.

‘We are prepared, and we will do everything necessary to ensure Californians have the support and resources they need to thrive.’

Newsom, who had been a surrogate for President Joe Biden and also for Vice President Kamala Harris, issued a statement announcing the special session for Dec. 2 in Sacramento.

“The freedoms we hold dear in California are under attack — and we won’t sit idle,” said the governor. “California has faced this challenge before, and we know how to respond. We are prepared, and we will do everything necessary to ensure Californians have the support and resources they need to thrive.”

Newsom will ask the legislature, which is firmly controlled by Democrats, to vote for new funding for the attorney general’s office in order to support the mission to defeat Trump’s policies.

“The Governor’s proclamation calls for legislation to provide additional resources to the California Department of Justice and other state entities to pursue robust affirmative litigation against any unlawful actions by the incoming Trump Administration,” the statement read, “as well as defend against federal lawsuits aimed at undermining California’s laws and policies.”

Democratic California Attorney General Rob Bonta said that he has been reviewing 120 lawsuits the state made against Trump policies in his first term in order to prepare for challenges in his second term.

He also made a promise to the state’s illegal aliens that they would use their power to protect them from the president-elect’s policies.

“I can promise to the undocumented immigrant community in California that I and my team have been thinking about you for months, and the harm that might come from the Trump administration 2.0,” said Bonta on Thursday. “We’ll do everything in our power and use the full authority of our office to defend you.”

Democratic attorney generals from other states have announced efforts to resist and challenge the second Trump term.

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​Newsom special session, Newsom vs trump, California resists trump, California vs trump, Politics 

Florida police say that three women were shot and injured during a drunken argument over politics late in the evening after Election Day.

The suspect is still being sought by police according to WFOR-TV.

‘There is no place for violence, especially over a difference of opinion in politics.’

A group of people were drinking at a Miami apartment complex when they began arguing about politics, police said. One of the people then went to a car to retrieve a gun and came back to shoot three of the women in the group.

The women were described as being in their late 20s to early 30s by police. One woman was shot in the stomach and is in critical condition while the other two injured were in stable condition.

“This is something that is of concern to us. There is no place for violence, especially over a difference of opinion in politics,” said Miami Police spokesman Mike Vega to WFOR.

One neighbor told WFOR that she woke up when she heard gunshots at about 12:25 a.m.

“I heard somebody screaming and didn’t want to open the door and put myself at risk. It sounded like four shots,” said Suly Ashe.

“It is horrible. Whoever is president now is president for all of us, whether we are Democrat or Republican,” she added. “It doesn’t matter. It’s our country. It’s very sad that this happened.”

Police are working to name the suspect and are asking for help from anyone who might have information about the incident. They did not release a description of the suspect.

“This is not acceptable. We have to handle our differences and respect each other’s beliefs. We need to either reach an agreement or simply avoid such topics,” said Vega.

A news video report about the incident can be viewed on YouTube.

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​Shooting over politics, Miami shooting, Election day shooting, Argument over politics crime, Politics 

Tom Hanks has had enough of superhero films.

“I think there was a period of time, and I felt that way too, where we would see these fantastic movies, either DC or MCU, in order to see these better versions of ourselves,” Hanks told podcaster Josh Horowitz.

Ol’ Forrest knew what love was, but Hanks is a little lost on what makes audiences go to theaters these days.

“I think we’ve been down that road and had probably 20 years, 15 years, to explore that kind of thing, and now I think we’re in an evolutionary place of, ‘And the story is what? And the theme is what? And the point of this movie is what?’”

That may be true, but he’s not giving us much of a Plan B, is he?

Hanks’ latest, “Here,” reunites him with Jenny of “Forrest Gump” (Robin Wright) and director Robert Zemeckis (“Forrest Gump,” “Cast Away”). Critics skewered “Here,” and it made a paltry $4.8 million in its opening weekend.

The entire movie, which follows a nuclear family over the decades, is set in the clan’s living room. It’s like watching paint dry, but with a de-aged Hanks and Wright holding the brushes.

Ol’ Forrest knew what love was, but Hanks is a little lost on what makes audiences go to theaters these days …

‘Captain’ chaos

At what point will they stop shooting “Captain America: Brave New World”?

The next MCU project is heading to theaters in February, at least on paper. In the real world, the film has endured pricey reshoots to prep it for its cinematic close-up.

The movie technically wrapped in spring 2023, but scary test screenings coaxed Team Disney to bulk up the film. The first new footage came after a 22-day shoot earlier this year. The shoot reportedly added Giancarlo Esposito to the cast in an unnamed role and beefed up some action sequences.

Now, even more reshoots are under way, according to Esposito.

The MCU could use a hit after a string of woke duds. It’s no sure thing that “Brave New World” will end that losing streak, no matter how many times they go back to drawing board. The new film finds Anthony Mackie’s Falcon stepping into the famous red, white, and blue tights previously worn by Chris Evans.

As Evans’ Cap might say about the ongoing reshoots, “I could do this all day …”

Junket junked

Hollywood is having “contractions.”

The industry is in deep economic trouble. L.A.-based productions are down. The box office is running 11% below last year. And the streaming boom has been a bust, at least from a fiscal point of view.

The semi-annual TV Critics Association Winter 2025 Press Tour is the latest casualty. The event allows new and existing shows to promote their casts and storylines, offering panel chats and other promotional perks.

Not this time.

“As you know, Hollywood is in a deep contraction. While several streamers, networks, and studios committed, it was not enough for a full press tour,” said TCA President Jacqueline Cutler.

Meanwhile, many Hollywood stars are shoving their politics down the public’s throat as if consumers have short memories. Will Ferrell comically threatened his fans to vote for Harris … or else.

Is this any way to run a business?

Moore is less

Friends do plenty for their fellow friends. They help them move, watch their dogs when they’re on vacation, and, according to filmmaker Michael Moore, vote for their preferred candidate.

The far-left director pleaded with “non-voters” to get off the couch and vote for Kamala Harris on Election Day. He apparently thinks we’re all on a first-name basis. Is he gonna ask us to drive him to the airport next?

“Can I ask that you do it just as a favor for me? It really is that important to me,” he said of our potential Harris vote. “There is, honestly, too large of a part of me that believes we may be truly at our end.”

This column understands the comedic softball thrown our way, but we refuse to take the bait.

​Michael moore, Election 2024, Tom hanks, Marvel 

A Michigan Democrat won re-election in a landslide despite resigning from his office two months ago after he was arrested for allegedly sexting an underage boy.

Ken Fletcher had been the supervisor in Delta Township, which is about 10 minutes west of Lansing. Fletcher resigned Sept. 3 — a day before he faced child sex crime charges.

Law enforcement agents reportedly were ‘posing as a 15-year-old male on the mobile dating app Grindr from Aug. 13 to Aug. 14’ in order to talk to Fletcher.

Township Manager Brian Reed said Fletcher resigned “effective immediately” during the township board meeting, and the board accepted his resignation. Reed added that the “township has also been made aware of an open criminal investigation unrelated to his duties as supervisor.”

In the recent election, Fletcher received nearly 89% of the vote. He was opposed by two write-in candidates — Saturn Wells, who received just over 11% of the vote, and Richard Ott who did not receive any votes.

Fletcher was arrested Sept. 4 and charged with accosting a child for immoral purposes and using a computer to commit a crime; he pleaded not guilty to the two felonies and was released on bond.

Fletcher, 58, was caught in a sting operation, according to police. He allegedly thought he was talking to a 15-year-old boy on Grindr — the self-proclaimed “world’s largest social networking app for gay, bi, trans, and queer people” — when cops reportedly were posing a teen boy.

WILX-TV obtained documents claiming Fletcher “engaged in an undercover chat with Detective Scheib with the Eaton County Sheriff’s Office.” Law enforcement agents reportedly were “posing as a 15-year-old male on the mobile dating app Grindr from Aug. 13 to Aug. 14” in order to talk to Fletcher.

The outlet noted that Fletcher “continued to send enticing messages and expressed that he was willing to meet the 15-year-old boy at the Lansing Mall for the purpose of ‘just talking.'”

Fletcher was kept on the ballot due to state election law.

Fletcher can accept or decline the office until Jan. 1, 2025.

The New York Post reported that Fletcher’s lawyer, Michael Nichols, said his client was “pleasantly surprised” by the election results.

Nichols wondered to WILX, “The biggest question I think for Ken Fletcher is — is this the right thing for not just me but for the community? Am I still the best person for the job?”

Delta Township Clerk Mary Clark — who has been serving as interim supervisor since Fletcher resigned — said, “There are three choices on his part, and so it’s really kind of presumptive of us to act or decide to act in a certain way before we know what is happening with that position.”

Clark added, “He can vacate the office if he does not get sworn in by then; he could get sworn in and resign, or obviously he could get sworn in and stay.”

Fletcher is scheduled to return to court Nov. 12.

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​Child abuse, Child sex abuse, Child sex crimes, Michigan, Michigan crime, Political scandal, Crime 

So you want to start wearing a tie.

You’ve tossed your hoodies, and you are wearing button-ups these days. You even throw on a sport coat every once in a while. It feels good.

The navy knit tie is the anti-fragile tie for the father of young kids. It’s the fabric and the color.

You are dressing better than 95% of the guys in America in 2024, but you want to go further. You see those old photos, and you want to look like those guys.

You want to wear that mythical garment that was, once upon a time, a staple in every man’s wardrobe. Even the men who worked dirty jobs during the week had ties for church on Sunday and special occasions.

As women wore heels, men wore ties. It wasn’t in the ancient past. It was just yesterday, in the 20th century. But since then, our society has become increasingly informal, and ties have faded from the scene.

You want to wear a tie, but you don’t know where to start. It’s a small piece of fabric, but it’s a big step if you didn’t grow up wearing one. People will notice. It will stick out to some degree. You want to wear a tie for yourself. You aren’t trying to be a show-off or grab attention. You are hesitant.

A beautiful patterned silk is lovely. Ancient madder is luxurious. A bright and bold regimental tie is quintessentially preppy. A kelly-green motif tie is joyous. One can’t help but smile at a light and fluttery bird motif.

But they are all too much for you at this point in your style development. When you imagine wearing all those brilliant ties, an image of you wearing a neon sign around your neck that reads “LOOK AT MY TIE” appears in your mind. You don’t want that. You want to ease in.

So what do you do? Buy a navy knit tie.

A navy knit tie solves the problem perfectly. It’s quiet and simple. There are no stripes or figures that dance around your chest.

The hand is unostentatious. A navy knit doesn’t have any kind of glittery sheen. It doesn’t feel delicate or overly formal. If an elegant micro-pattern feels fine, a knit tie feels coarse. A knit reminds us of a thick rope, something almost utilitarian.

There is a deep texture to it. You can practically see through the fabric of a crunchy knit if you get close enough. When you hold a fine ancient madder, you use your fingers. When you grab onto a knit, you use your whole palm.

A knit tie bridges the gap of formality and informality. Any kind of tie is formal in 2024, but the knit tie dresses itself down. It’s a tie, but it can read as an informal one. A knit gives you plausible deniability in the way a bold motif simply cannot. It doesn’t scream out. It is quiet.

All of this is perfect for the guy who is new to menswear and doesn’t want to stand out. It’s also perfect for the guy who has been wearing ties for years. He doesn’t necessarily want to stand out, either. Clothes aren’t about shock and attention. The beautiful, quiet subtlety of the knit is useful for all men.

And the navy knit is one of my sartorial MVPs. I rely on it all the time. It’s supremely flexible. It works great with a wide variety of shirts and jackets. In many ways, with a navy knit you don’t even need to think. It’s there for you when you need it. When in doubt, I reach for my navy knit.

Maybe you are a father with young kids. They are always jumping on you, pulling on your clothes, and asking to ride on your back. This is no place for a tie, right?

Wrong. The knit tie is kid-friendly. With the more delicate ties you often end up concerned about creases and folds. If your tie falls behind the cushion of the couch and stays there for three weeks, it’s going to end up with some terrible wrinkles and creases.

But not the knit tie. You can crumple up a knit, slip it under your mattress, and wear it the next day. No one will know. Your toddler can pull on it with his little hands, and no damage will be done.

The navy knit tie is the anti-fragile tie for the father of young kids. It’s the fabric and the color. The crunchy, dynamic texture combined with dark, forgiving navy makes the navy knit tie the tie that every new father should buy. J. Press makes a great one.

The navy knit is everything you can ask for. It is versatile, subtle, understated, durable, and classic. It’s the perfect tie to help ease you into the wonderful world of neckwear. Whether you’re a young guy, an old head, a father, or a bachelor, it won’t let you down. Start with a navy knit, and go from there.

​O.w. root, Neckwear, Ties, Navy knit ties, Style advice, J. press, Fatherhood, Men’s style 

The CEO of the Zillow real estate app was pressured in an interview with CNBC to say whether mass deportations would improve the crisis of housing affordability in the U.S.

Jeremy Wacksman was discussing the company’s earnings call on the “Squawk on the Street” show when he was asked about President-elect Donald Trump’s plans for mass deportations.

‘The structural challenges and changes we need to make as a country are really around affordability and availability of supply.’

“Both candidates were talking a lot about housing affordability clearly a front-and-center issue for Americans in the campaign,” said Sara Eisen.

“What President Trump said about it is that a lot of the affordability problem is due to illegal immigration and that after he carries out the largest deportation operation in history, that will ease prices by reducing demand. Do you agree? Are you optimistic that that can help?” she asked.

“The big challenges in the real estate market are affordability and availability. Those are the two structural problems we have to work on,” responded Wacksman.

“Affordability as we talked about, is around what has happened with home prices and inventory, and inventory is our biggest challenge. We are missing listings, listings are up a little bit from last year, but if you look back to pre-pandemic levels, we’re down sharply, and we’re chronically underbuilt as a country.

And so bringing more inventory, more new home starts online, is gonna be one of the things that really helps the supply demand imbalance.

“But have immigrants been a big source of demand for that, and lack of availability?” Eisen pressed.

“We’ve seen demand across all segments, the buyer demand is there,” Wacksman replied.

“Any time rates move a little bit you see demand spike on sites like Zillow,” he added. “The pent up demand, the desire to buy is always there. Again the challenge for buyers is affordability and what they can buy. And so the structural challenges and changes we need to make as a country are really around affordability and availability of supply.”

The housing crisis in the U.S. has led to a shortage in inventory and high prices with some of the worst housing affordability rates in decades.

Economist Chloe East told NPR that illegal immigrants might have a small role on affordability but blamed other factors for the housing crisis. But some research has found that illegal aliens increase demand for limited housing, leading to higher rents and higher prices for housing.

Video of Wacksman’s appearance on CNBC can be viewed on its channel on YouTube.

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​Illegal aliens and housing, Mass deportation and housing, Zillow jeremy wacksman, Zillow ceo on deportation, Politics 

Like many Americans, Pat Gray, Jeffy, and Keith Malinak are breathing a little easier following Donald Trump’s victory because his win means hope for our country.

Trump really captured that feeling of hope in his speech following his historical victory over Kamala Harris.

“I will fight for you, for your family, and your future. Every single day, I will be fighting for you. And with every breath in my body, I will not rest until we have delivered the strong, safe, and prosperous America that our children deserve and that you deserve. This will truly be the Golden Age of America,” he said to a roaring crowd.

He also brought attention to the monumental achievement of his victory made possible by his supporters.

“It’s a political victory that our country has never seen before. … I want to thank the American people for the extraordinary honor of being elected your 45th president,” he said.

His speech also addressed Republicans taking the Senate.

“America has given us an unprecedented and powerful mandate — we have taken back control of the Senate. Wow, that’s good. … The Senate races in Montana, Nevada, Texas, Ohio, … Wisconsin, the great commonwealth of Pennsylvania were all won by the MAGA movement,” he added.

“Yeah!” yells Pat, who can’t contain his excitement.

However, the line that perhaps resonated the most with his supporters was when Trump said, “We don’t have to live like this anymore.”

“That was a great line. So good,” says Pat.

“That really resonated, and I loved it,” adds Jeffy.

To hear more highlights from Trump’s victory speech, watch the clip above.

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​Pat gray, Pat gray unleashed, Blazetv, Blaze media, Trump victory, Trump 2024