Casper_D_a_n

🇮🇷 Iran is reportedly strapping mines to dolphins to weaponize the Strait of Hormuz. Yes… Kamikaze dolphins. We are literally living in a simulation.

Who delivered their character most perfectly?

Israel quadruples propaganda budget to $730 M as it loses global ‘war for hearts and minds' —— Israel has approved an unprecedented $730 million public diplomacy budget for 2026—a fourfold increase from the previous year—in a desperate bid to reverse a catastrophic decline in international support, according to a report from The Forward. Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar described the expenditure as a strategic necessity on par with "investing in jets, bombs, and missile interceptors," signaling that the state now views its deteriorating reputation as an existential threat. The massive allocation, which is nearly 50 times pre-2023 levels, will fund AI-driven social media campaigns, paid influencer networks like the "Esther Project," and luxury "lifestyle" delegations for foreign lawmakers and pastors. Despite the record spending, experts and internal critics warn that "no amount of money" can bridge Israel's growing credibility gap. A recent Pew Research Center poll reveals that 60% of Americans now view Israel unfavorably, with support "cratering" among young Republicans, Black Protestants, and the religiously unaffiliated. Analysts point to a "Gaza generation" that increasingly views Israeli policy through the lens of genocide and settler-colonialism, making traditional hasbara (propaganda) ineffective. As one scholar noted, the strategy of spending hundreds of millions on "tactical productions"—such as sitcoms and documentaries—fails to address the "negative realities" on the ground that have turned Israel into a pariah state for a new generation.