At the heart of the Grateful Dead community is an ethos defined by peace, love, and communal harmony—a spirit that took root in the 1960s counterculture of San Francisco. Deadheads embrace open-mindedness, empathy, and a willingness to explore and share new experiences, both musical and personal. Their gatherings emphasize acceptance, freedom of expression, and unity, reflecting the band’s improvisational artistry and refusal to conform to the rigid norms of the corporate music industry.

Across the vast expanse of our universe, as revealed by telescopes like the James Webb and its discoveries of massive galaxies dwarfing our own, we’re reminded that humanity occupies just a tiny corner of an unimaginably vast cosmos. Yet, for millennia, religion has confined itself—and millions of believers—to narrowly defined stories originating from small geographical regions, ultimately dismissing or overshadowing the profound scientific truths that continuously reshape our understanding of reality.

Picture the dystopian alternate 1985 from Back to the Future Part II: a neon-soaked nightmare where Biff Tannen lords over a casino empire, bullies everyone in sight, and manages to build a towering shrine to his own ego in the middle of Hill Valley. Now pause the VHS (or, you know, the streaming video because it’s 2025), squint a little, and ask yourself: “Wait, am I watching a Saturday morning cartoon version of Donald Trump?”

Today, Deshaun T. Durham, a 24-year-old Kansas resident sentenced to 92 months in prison for a first-time cannabis offense, was released from Hutchinson Correctional Facility. This commutation by Governor Laura Kelly is a rare decision to overturn the Kansas Prison Review Board’s rejection of Durham’s clemency application and bring him home for the holidays. After almost 3 years of incarceration and tireless advocacy from the Last Prisoner Project, Deshaun is now free.

Back in the USSR—except it’s not the USSR, it’s the United States in 2025, and we just voted out the Democrats. But before we dive into this political faceplant, let’s take a moment to consider where we stood as the votes were cast:

Somewhere in America, there’s an artist hard at work on a mashup that blends the wild-eyed stare of Beavis from Beavis and Butt-Head with Florida Congressman Matt Gaetz. And while the resemblance may be little more than a punchline on social media, it begs the question: how did Gaetz—a man who, by any sane standard, wouldn’t pass the vetting process for a job at a mall kiosk—get floated as a possible nominee for Attorney General?

South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem’s recent nomination as Secretary of Homeland Security by Donald Trump has sparked both anticipation and controversy. Known for her alignment with Trump’s policy views, Noem is now poised to oversee key federal agencies, including Customs and Border Protection (CBP), Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). Yet, amid discussions of her suitability for the role, another aspect of her record is raising red flags—one that sheds light on her approach to leadership, accountability, and empathy.

In the wake of Donald Trump's recent election victory, concerns are mounting over the potential rollback of environmental protections that could have far-reaching consequences for our planet and future generations. Trump has pledged to withdraw the United States from the Paris Climate Agreement, a move that would undermine global efforts to combat climate change. Additionally, he plans to reduce the size of national monuments, opening these protected lands to drilling and mining activities.

Today marks a pivotal moment in the movement to legalize cannabis as Willie Nelson announces a groundbreaking Cannabis Community Zoom Call. This virtual event will feature a stellar lineup of supporters, including legendary musician Willie Nelson, acclaimed actress and activist Whoopi Goldberg, celebrated artist Brittney Spencer, Grammy-winning singer Margo Price, Colorado Governor Jared Polis, and U.S. Representative Brittany Pettersen.

Project 2025 is an ambitious initiative spearheaded by conservative leaders aiming to restructure key federal agencies and reshape national policies in the coming years. Critics view this project as a significant threat to established democratic norms, environmental protections, and social welfare programs that many Americans rely on.