July 15, 2025 Remembering How the Left Blamed TRUMP After Surviving His Own Assassination Attempt Luke Ford No sacred cows.

Remembering How the Left Blamed TRUMP After Surviving His Own Assassination Attempt

Posted on July 15, 2025 by Luke Ford

Mark Halperin:
I continue to be struck by how Americans view the attempted assassination of President Trump about a year ago. It feels longer because so much has happened, but it remains an incredible prism through which to understand how red and blue America view Donald Trump and his role in our lives.

What an extraordinary event—not just a former president, but the front-runner for the presidency, nearly killed on the eve of his convention. Donald Trump has dominated American life politically, culturally, symbolically, and emotionally like no one else in our lifetime. On that day, others were grievously wounded; Cory Comper lost his life, and Donald Trump himself almost died.

Nearly a year later, it’s clear that those on the left—who dislike Trump, disagree with him, and wish he weren’t president—didn’t treat this assassination attempt the way they would have if it had been Barack Obama, Joe Biden, Kamala Harris, or Bill Clinton. They tried to dismiss it. Understanding their reaction helps us grasp the ongoing divide in America between those glad Trump was president and those deeply unhappy about it.

The shooting happened at a busy political time, shortly before Trump’s convention, his selection of running mate J.D. Vance, and Joe Biden dropping out of the race just eight days later. But even today, the shooter’s motive—Thomas Krooks, whose name you might barely recognize due to minimal scrutiny—remains unknown. Imagine: someone attempts to assassinate a former president and leading candidate, yet between the government and media, the motive is still an absolute mystery.

However, two critical aspects are clear. First, many Americans, particularly MAGA supporters, rallied dramatically around Trump after the attack. Notably, Elon Musk went from leaning Democrat to full-on supporting Trump due to Trump’s display of grit and heroism that day in Butler. Trump himself believes divine intervention saved him. Many supporters share this belief, citing how unusual it was that Trump happened to turn and pick up his famous immigration chart at precisely that moment, possibly saving his life. Millions viewed this as a rallying, divine moment.

Second, something far less uplifting is also clear: how this event exposed hostility towards Trump from certain individuals and institutions that oppose him and his movement. The corporate media’s response at the time—and ever since—highlights their deep-seated hostility and loss of credibility among Americans, even some who don’t support Trump. Major liberal institutions—corporate media, universities, nonprofits—lost credibility by failing to treat the assassination attempt with the seriousness they would have for a Democrat.

As with Biden’s mental acuity and the Russiagate investigation, there’s been no retraction, no accountability, and no self-reflection. Instead, media figures almost immediately blamed Trump’s rhetoric for provoking the attack—without knowing the shooter’s motive, which we still don’t know.

For instance, here’s Martha Raddatz of ABC News shortly after the attack, placing blame on Trump himself:

Martha Raddatz (ABC News):
President Trump and his supporters have contributed to this violent rhetoric. We looked at some of the things former President Trump has said—he warned last March of potential death and destruction if he were charged. He said, “If I don’t get elected, it’s going to be a bloodbath for the country.” He later claimed he was joking, but those were indeed his words.

Mark Halperin:
Now, the “bloodbath” comment was about the auto industry, often taken out of context by the press. Regardless, Trump has said many divisive things, but to blame him in the immediate aftermath of his own near-murder is incredible.

Similarly, here’s Margaret Brennan from CBS News taking the same line:

Margaret Brennan (CBS News):
The language around this campaign has been us-versus-the-system. Trump claims all legal cases against him are politically motivated. By alleging a connection to this attempt on his life, that would escalate tensions further.

Mark Halperin:
Again, rather than waiting to learn the shooter’s motive—which remains unknown—they immediately blamed Trump himself. After events like this, people often jump to conclusions about motive. After the Oklahoma City bombing, many wrongly speculated foreign terrorists were involved; it turned out to be homegrown terrorism. In this case, with no clear motive, media immediately blamed Trump’s own words.

At Trump’s convention speech, media largely mocked his visible bandage and questioned whether he was actually shot. Here’s Michael Steele, former Republican National Committee chairman turned anti-Trump commentator, speculating openly on MSNBC:

Michael Steele (MSNBC):
It’s been several days since this horrific event occurred. Yet, we’ve not received a medical report detailing Trump’s injuries. If he was shot by a high-caliber bullet, there should be very little ear left. Was there cosmetic surgery involved? Were stitches needed? Was the damage from glass shards, as some reporters on the scene suggested, instead of the bullet? There are a lot of questions around that ear.

Mark Halperin:
Conspiracy theories exist on both left and right. But this skepticism came a week after doctors explained clearly what happened, after forensic evidence confirmed the shooting, after the weapon was recovered. Yet, the hostility persisted, underscoring again how profoundly this event demonstrates why so many Americans have lost faith in our institutions and media.

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Tapper’s New Biden Cover-Up Spin Blames Trump, NBC Autopen Flop, and Talking Politics with Brit Hume

Posted on July 15, 2025 by Luke Ford

Mark Halperin:
Next up, my reported monologue—hopefully entertaining to you, but also breaking through to anybody from the media who’s watching. It’s amazing to me how the conspiracy continues to deny what happened, pretending something else happened, and the long-running effort by Democrats colluding with the media attempting to cover up Joe Biden’s loss of mental acuity. There’s now a battle to define Biden’s legacy, hold Democrats accountable, and to ask people running for president in 2028 or considering it what they knew. That’s important, but as a professional journalist, my focus is to get people to admit what happened, figure out how it happened, and ensure it doesn’t happen again.

This Hugh Hewitt interview is unfortunately a perfect example of that ongoing cover-up of the media’s role. Then later, my privilege and delight to have Brit Hume here to discuss all manner of things.

Why am I returning to the media’s role in attempting to cover up Joe Biden’s mental acuity loss? Because there’s been a long-running cover-up where media and Democrats suppressed the truth. Now, they’re trying to suppress their role in it. The media hasn’t admitted their part, first creating a fiction that Biden was fine, and now pretending the Biden circle hid Biden’s decline from them.

Jake Tapper and Alex Thompson claim their book revealed the truth—that Democrats privately saw Biden’s decline as early as 2023 but didn’t speak up, and the media couldn’t know because it was secret. That’s fiction. Everyone saw it publicly for years; the media ignored it due to bias against Trump and pressure from the Biden White House.

Hugh Hewitt interviewed Tapper and Thompson about their book. Hugh’s usually great, but in this case, he allowed them to continue this false narrative uninterrupted. Hugh said hundreds of people saw Biden’s infirmity privately—no, millions saw it publicly. When Biden talked to a dead congresswoman in 2022, everyone saw it, yet the media said nothing meaningful.

Hugh Hewitt (to Jake Tapper):
At a September 20th, 2023 event, what happened? Michael Shear from the New York Times was there. Hundreds knew Biden had fallen into infirmity. Is that fair?

Jake Tapper:
It’s fair. In late 2023 and early 2024, hundreds saw moments causing concern. But your larger point—that hundreds saw what we saw debate night behind the scenes and didn’t speak out—is true.

Mark Halperin:
That makes me crazy. Millions saw it publicly. The media, including Tapper, saw it publicly but remained silent. Special counsel Robert Hur described Biden as elderly with poor memory, declining to indict him. Tapper and CNN criticized Hur at the time but now pretend no one could have known.

Hugh Hewitt:
Hundreds knew but didn’t defend Hur’s assessment.

Mark Halperin:
Again, millions saw it. Yet Hugh helped the myth that no one knew.

Alex Thompson:
Democrats had incentives not to speak out. Donors didn’t want Biden’s backlash. Democratic leaders feared they’d be driven out like Dean Phillips. Democrats believe Trump is an existential threat, rationalizing putting someone they know isn’t capable into office.

Mark Halperin:
That’s exactly true about the media, too. Yet the authors refuse to hold the media accountable.

Jake Tapper:
Our reporting suggests Biden’s infirmity was visible as early as 2015 after Beau’s death, initially mistaken for grief but later seen as cognitive decline that worsened significantly by 2023.

Mark Halperin:
This contradiction—claiming it started years ago but simultaneously saying nobody could know—is outrageous. Hugh admits conservatives saw Biden’s decline publicly early on, yet still says it’s astonishing nobody knew until the debate. It doesn’t add up.

Hugh Hewitt:
My father-in-law had Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s, so I recognized Biden’s decline early. I’m astonished we didn’t find out until the debate.

Mark Halperin:
Again, Hugh knew well before. He contradicts himself. Hugh also asks why conservatives like him, who pointed out Biden’s decline publicly, weren’t quoted in the book.

Alex Thompson:
Mainly, the book got too long. Also, we aimed to show behind-the-scenes events, not public observations.

Mark Halperin:
Excluding public evidence is exactly the problem—pretending Biden’s decline was a secret. Everyone saw it publicly. The book ignores liberal media bias. Tapper knows bias exists but argues Trump uniquely drove media bias.

Jake Tapper:
Trump adds extra motivation. There is a difference between factual reporting and observation-based commentary. We focused on proof, not commentary.

Mark Halperin:
Nonsense. They relied on Democrats who weren’t doctors, making observational judgments, same as conservatives did publicly. Hugh and the authors call it a conspiracy of silence among Democrats but omit the media’s identical complicity.

Jake Tapper:
There was an unbelievable conspiracy of silence among Democrats who saw Biden’s decline and said nothing.

Mark Halperin:
Exactly. But also among the press, whose silence aimed at preventing Trump’s victory. The media acted just like Democrats, ignoring obvious evidence to serve political purposes. Hugh aiding this fiction deeply frustrates me. The press betrayed public trust through a massive institutional failure. I urge you to reflect on this honestly—it’s outrageous they deny bias when their bias led to dangerous decisions affecting our democracy.

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Alan Dershowitz: An insider view of Epstein conspiracy theories

Posted on July 15, 2025 by Luke Ford

A friend says: “It looks like a hoax, and Republicans look like idiots. It looks like they played up bs.”

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FIDF Leaders Panic As Leaked Memo Exposes Deception, Waste

Posted on July 15, 2025 by Luke Ford

The two main characters in this scandal met at the Beverly Hills Orthodox synagogue Beth Jacob — Morey Levovitz and Rabbi Steven Weil.

My sources say these two haven’t changed. They were ruthless in LA, they were ruthless with Beth Jacob and Harkham Hillel Hebrew Academy, and they’ve ruthlessly advanced their own interests at FIDF.

Rabbi Weil was detested in LA by his fellow Modern Orthodox congregational rabbis.

Terms used in FIDF for Morey and Steven’s FIDF behavior — “cutthroat,” “poisonous,” “bullying” and “mafia-like” — echo the language used about them in LA.

After the Levovitz-Weil experience, Beth Jacob went in the opposite direction by choosing Rabbi Kalman Topp.

Judah Ari Gross writes for eJewishPhilanthropy:

The Friends of the Israel Defense Forces has gone into crisis management mode following the leak of an internal investigative report to the Israeli news outlet Ynet last week that detailed serious allegations against the organization’s top leadership, particularly its board chair, Morey Levovitz, of mismanagement, wasteful spending and creating a toxic work environment….

In response to the leak, the organization has hired a crisis communications outfit — on top of its existing public relations firm — and brought on additional legal assistance. It has also issued strict orders to employees and lay leaders not to speak publicly about the situation….

Multiple sources told eJP that after a significant rise in donations to the organization in the wake of the Oct. 7 terror attacks, contributions have decreased sharply in the past year, with multiple donors explicitly telling FIDF that they were withholding funds because of the situation with upper management.

“They are substantially below their target [for 2025],” one donor source told eJP. “We know of many donors who are holding donations and explaining that it’s until actions are taken to address the problems,” the source said, adding “many, many donors.”

In the Bay Area FIDF chapter, for instance, donations dropped from more than $7 million annually to well below $1 million this year after its popular executive director was fired following a disagreement between her and Levovitz, according to two sources connected to the chapter.

The report, which remains closely guarded by the organization, was prepared this spring by an investigative committee led by board members Garry Sobel, Fred Distenfeld and the organization’s counsel, Steve Rubin. The committee spoke to more than 30 people, the majority of whom were current and former employees.

The committee found that for roughly the past two years — particularly since the Oct. 7 terror attacks — Levovitz has served as the de facto CEO of FIDF, while Weil, the organization’s actual CEO, has served in a lesser administrative capacity, while still drawing one of the highest chief executive salaries in the Jewish world.

According to multiple sources, Levovitz has repeatedly declared to FIDF staff and lay leadership that he is the true head of the organization, including in meetings where Weil was present. Weil has also regularly stated that Levovitz was helping run the organization.

“It has just been accepted that that’s the way it is,” one source said. “He was never elected officially [to serve as CEO].”

The investigative committee detailed a number of irregularities in its report, which was presented to select board members last month, including a highly irregular exclusive agreement between FIDF and the Israeli travel company Ortra, which is run by a close acquaintance of Levovitz, requiring that all of the organization’s missions and other travel be purchased through the firm. This arrangement was allegedly reached unilaterally by Levovitz, without going through a standard tender process. A former senior FIDF employee, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told eJP that when individual FIDF chapters tried to use cheaper alternatives for their missions to Israel, Levovitz intervened and canceled their visits to military bases as a form of punishment for not using Ortra.

The report also found that Levovitz has demanded reimbursement for his travel expenses to Israel, which often include business and first-class seats, amounting to more than $53,000 — in contrast to previous chairs who paid for their own travel and accommodations, in addition to making six-figure donations to the organization, which Levovitz has also reportedly not made…

“I’m afraid they will destroy my donor base,” said one former employee, who has since become CEO of another Jewish nonprofit. “These are dangerous, dangerous people.”

Two former employees, from different FIDF regions, told eJP that they had seen cases of the organization “double-selling” projects to donors. “Steve double-sold an amphitheater to another donor,” said the former employee who now leads another nonprofit, whose family also donates to FIDF. “A Florida donor bought the same amphitheater for the same base as us. They told us that we can get a garden instead.”

All of the sources — coming from three different regions of the United States and Israel, most of whom had been involved with FIDF for many years, some for more than 20 — described a severe deterioration in the work environment at the organization in recent years, using terms like “cutthroat,” “poisonous,” “bullying” and “mafia-like.”

Multiple sources tied the current turmoil in the organization to a 2020 decision spearheaded by then-board Chair Peter Weintraub to split the professional leadership of the organization into two. FIDF had historically been led by a former Israeli general, but then the board decided to hire Weil, a former pulpit rabbi and executive vice president from the Orthodox Union, to serve as CEO, while also bringing on board a former general to serve as national director. (The organization recently created an executive vice president position as well.)…

During his interviews with the board, Weil noted that he did not have experience as a CEO, and after he was hired, he brought Levovitz onto the board to assist him. The two had known each other for nearly 20 years at that point through the Beth Jacob synagogue in Beverly Hills, Calif., and various local Jewish organizations.

In 2023, Levovitz was named board chair. A regional FIDF board member said that Levovitz began acting as the CEO soon after the Oct. 7 terror attacks, declaring in a meeting a few days later, “I am the one in charge; Steve is not really capable.”

“We were all heartbroken and shocked by what happened in Israel, so our focus was not on who is joining the organization or not,” she said. “We did argue and didn’t quite understand where it was coming from. But in normal circumstances, this would not have passed.”

A former FIDF employee told eJP that the influx of funding in the wake of the attacks — in 2023, the organizations raised $282 million, more than three times what it did the year before — was used by Levovitz and Weil to fend off criticism.

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Intellectually Alive

Posted on July 14, 2025 by Luke Ford

Excuse me if I’m late to the pedo party, but the more I learn about Jeffrey Epstein, the more I don’t like him.

I get the revolt against Trump covering up Epstein. Sunlight is the best disinfectant right?

It’s easy to say release it all! Release Jeffrey’s client list! You should know that innocent people are on that list. God-fearing, tax-fearing yeshiva-supporting blokes who just hung out with Jeffrey for the tax tips and the science and the connections and the prestige. We’re not pedos. But we’re tainted now.

Blokes like me hung out with the Epsteins of the world for the social intercourse. The science intercourse. Not the sexual intercourse.

Jeffrey had this calm, clear way about him. I thought he was into Buddhism — a Jew-Bu? But turns out, it wasn’t Buddhism. It was just abundant post-nut clarity.

He was a bad man, but he was charming. He was always helping people. He had a smile that would light up a room. He was Google before Google. He connected all the movers and shakers. It was easy to be seduced. People saw what they wanted to see in Jeffrey. If he was clean enough for the Dalai Lama, Bill Gates and Bill Clinton, who am I to judge?

It wasn’t called Lolita Island on the map. It said “Little St. James.” Which, in hindsight, sounds even creepier. The plane didn’t say “Lolita Express.” My ticket just said “Flight 26A.” I was reading the Federalist Papers the whole way—Madison, Hamilton. I swear, no pedos there, right? Founding Fathers were mostly clean.

But now I feel like I’m the victim here! People look at me like I’m Prince Andrew. I’m not Prince Andrew! I’m a simple Jew. I’m basically innocent.

I just thought Jeffrey was an ambitious Jew like Sammy Glick from “What Makes Sammy Run.” Apparently, what made Jeffrey run was illegal in 50 states.

Call me naive. I want to believe the best about my fellow Jews.

Recently, I used ChatGPT to analyze my YouTube transcripts for lack of self-awareness. The result came back: “Severe.” I’m officially the first man in history to have his self-awareness measured at negative six standard deviations. I’m not even on the bell curve—I’m off in Epstein territory.

Speaking of Epstein again—maybe I shouldn’t—but I’ve been to paradise, I’ve been to Lolita Island. But I’ve never been to me. And given what we know now, I’d prefer me. Even with my personality disorders.

I don’t have the energy to sin anymore. I’m 59. I like to chill and watch French Netflix films about schizophrenia.

Chevra, I’m not Epstein, I’m not Prince Andrew. I’m a simple Jew. I might have hung out with the morally dubious for excitement, written some questionable blog posts, but hey—I’m just intellectually alive.

Thanks for tuning in. Same time next week—unless I’m Epstein’d.

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The Riots That Stopped The Groomers (7-13-25)

Posted on July 13, 2025 by Luke Ford

01:00 How Australia’s Cronulla Riots Helped Stop Grooming, https://lukeford.net/blog/?p=161988
06:00 Video: The 2005 Cronulla Riot: the triggers, the aftermath, and the impact on Australia, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eg6RTrBQ3Qc
29:00 Remembering Coach Red Pill Gonzalo Lira, https://lukeford.net/blog/?p=162105
31:00 Trump Is Out Of Touch With MAGA Over Jeffrey Epstein, https://lukeford.net/blog/?p=162101
32:00 Donald Trump’s Seven Rules: Mark Halperin on How President Trump Runs The White House, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tmVfyDSkNGE
36:00 Should We Aid Ukraine As Much As Israel? https://lukeford.net/blog/?p=162097
41:00 Michael joins to talk about Jeffrey Epstein, https://x.com/Michaelmvlog
50:15 Tucker Carlson’s disappointment with Donald Trump
1:01:30 Wet Hot American Epstein | The Tim Dillon Show, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_V-gkjSGKC4
1:24:50 Video: You always break your own heart: the death of a dream, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T2wXzCvNx40
1:40:50 Dooovid joins to talk Jeffrey Epstein, https://x.com/RebDoooovid
1:49:00 My favorite movies and music revolve around loss, https://lukeford.net/blog/?p=154082
1:51:00 Conversion to Judaism scandal in Detroit, https://www.facebook.com/zaakah/posts/oak-park-michigan-resident-mordechai-klainberg-charged-with-stalking-home-invasi/1069254461974527/
2:09:20 Video: Don’t fight to keep people: you lose when you win, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s6MSEF1DBQY
2:19:30 Is Xi Jinping losing power in China, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m2m7_Iqd5to
2:53:50 The Duran: Regime change operation opened the gates of hell, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Qwpm-y-C00
2:57:00 Jonah Goldberg Yearns For Quality Criticism, https://lukeford.net/blog/?p=161998
There should always be one group controlling territory, and there will always be fringe aka second class citizens, https://www.nytimes.com/2025/07/13/us/politics/trump-reversal-better-times.html
3:22:20 Video: Make her work for it: don’t just hand it over, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=963Y_h1CejE
3:24:50 Video: Her only competition: why men end up in bad relationships, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ANMLJgM7-8M
3:41:25 Video: “Made in China” Becomes “Made in Vietnam” || Peter Zeihan, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V3jRuaHNeOo
4:00:10 Video: How Israel’s Perfect Sneak Attack on Iran Will Change Warfare Forever, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lkZB3BcOU8I
4:10:00 The Art of Trump’s Trade Deal || Peter Zeihan, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Aw-BQji34PU
4:15:00 Video: The Revolution in Military Affairs: Europe’s Future || Peter Zeihan, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XbCPjbUqL1Y
4:19:00 Colorado’s gay Jewish governor made a music video
4:21:00 Video: Is the Iran War Over … or Just on Pause? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n6-jOEgljUE

Grok says:

Over-Dramatization of Personal Slights and Victimhood Narrative:
Ford frequently dwells on personal anecdotes of rejection or exclusion, such as his story about feeling excluded from a Shabbat dinner, only to later realize he had been invited but chose not to attend due to laziness (Transcript, 1:09:59-1:10:05). He admits to “treasuring the feeling of exclusion despite the reality,” revealing a tendency to cling to a narrative of victimhood that is not supported by facts. This lack of self-awareness is evident in his failure to recognize how his own choices contribute to his perceived social isolation, instead framing himself as a misunderstood outsider.
Hypocrisy in Criticizing Sensitivity While Being Hypersensitive:
Ford criticizes others for being overly sensitive or engaging in feuds, yet he exhibits similar behavior. He notes, “I’m overly sensitive to people who remind me way too painfully [of] myself” and admits to fixating on perceived exclusions (Transcript, 1:22:21-1:22:40). He acknowledges his own hypersensitivity but does not apply the same critical lens to his actions as he does to others, revealing a blind spot in his self-perception. For example, he discusses avoiding people who feud (1:22:48-1:23:05) but fails to see how his own fixation on slights mirrors this behavior.
Inappropriate Responses to Serious Situations:
Ford recounts learning about an acquaintance entering hospice and his immediate reaction being to use ChatGPT to craft a social media post for sympathy (Transcript, 1:15:43-1:15:50). He reflects, “Why on earth would I think in such a dark time about how to milk sympathy for likes?” This reveals a lack of self-awareness about the appropriateness of his responses, prioritizing personal gain over empathy. His tendency to exploit serious situations for attention undermines his claim to spiritual growth.
Self-Centered Narrative Framing:
Ford frames his personal struggles, such as his conversion to Orthodox Judaism and past experiences, as central to his identity, yet he admits that these efforts (conversion, therapy, medication) have not profoundly changed him (Transcript, 1:16:45-1:16:53). He focuses on his feelings of rejection and outsider status without critically examining how his behavior, such as provocative blogging or inappropriate humor, contributes to his isolation. For instance, he jokes about comparing AI chatbots to women (1:17:19-1:17:33), which he later acknowledges as inappropriate, but does not reflect on how such remarks alienate others.
Uncritical Engagement with Speculative Sources:
Ford’s discussion of geopolitical events, such as potential regime change in Iran, Russia, and China, relies heavily on speculative YouTube sources like “Lei’s Real Talk” (Transcript, 2:18:12-2:21:14). He admits these sources lack credibility and that his “spidey sense” drives his analysis, yet he presents these ideas as plausible without sufficient evidence. Grok’s critique notes that Ford “fails to assess critically the lack of empirical evidence” and relies on “confirmation bias” (2:16:24-2:17:02), highlighting his lack of self-awareness about his susceptibility to sensational narratives.
Contradictory Ideological Positions:
Ford advocates for nationalism and group interests, praising Israel’s actions and Trump’s policies, while also emphasizing individual dignity and personal responsibility (Transcript, 3:17:33-3:20:07). He does not address the tension between his collectivist views (e.g., punishing entire groups like Gaza for Hamas’s actions) and his advocacy for individual merit. Grok points out that Ford “fails to critically examine the tension between his support for universal nationalism and his specific advocacy for Jewish nationalism” (3:17:58-3:18:05), indicating a lack of awareness about the inconsistencies in his worldview.
Overconfidence in Personal Assessments and Dismissal of Opposing Views:
Ford dismisses mainstream media and experts as motivated by prestige while relying on low-credibility sources to support his geopolitical claims (Transcript, 2:21:37-2:21:45). He critiques pundits like Jonah Goldberg for lacking substance (2:56:11-3:01:07) but does not acknowledge how his own reliance on unverified sources mirrors the behavior he condemns. Grok notes that Ford “mirrors the behavior he critiques in others, such as chasing attention through provocative claims” (3:08:21-3:08:28), revealing his overconfidence in his own insights without reflecting on his biases.
Failure to Reflect on Polarizing Impact:
Ford underestimates the impact of his platform, dismissing his influence as negligible despite discussing polarizing topics like immigration and Israel (Transcript, 3:20:47-3:21:05). He acknowledges attracting extreme audiences but does not fully reflect on how his rhetoric, such as racially charged or sexually explicit remarks (3:42:41-3:43:02), contributes to divisive discourse. Grok highlights that Ford “fails to consider how his rhetoric… reinforce[s] divisive narratives” (3:21:05-3:21:12), showing a lack of awareness about his role in polarization.
In summary, Luke Ford’s lack of self-awareness is evident in his tendency to over-dramatize personal slights, his hypocritical criticism of others’ sensitivity, his inappropriate responses to serious issues, his self-centered narrative framing, his uncritical engagement with speculative sources, his contradictory ideological stances, his overconfidence in his own assessments, and his failure to recognize his platform’s polarizing impact. These patterns undermine his stated goals of pursuing truth and spiritual growth, as he often prioritizes emotional narratives and provocative commentary over rigorous self-reflection and evidence-based analysis.

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Remembering Coach Red Pill Gonzalo Lira

Posted on July 13, 2025 by Luke Ford

Coach Red Pill effectively committed suicide by criticizing Ukraine while living in a Ukraine under siege by Russia.

You can criticize your own group while living within it but it is not easy. The only way to go is to place your criticism under the umbrella of group interest. If you expose groomers, cheats and threats within your own community, you might well have majority community support. If I were to out a sexual predator of children within Los Angeles Orthodox Judaism, most Los Angeles Orthodox Jews would not be offended. On the other hand, if Los Angeles Jews were trying to survive a Holocaust, publicly exposing problems in the community would be unwise.

If you are living as a resident stranger in a country at war, it is suicidal to publicly attack your host and side with its invader. That’s what Lira did, and given his weak health, that was a suicidal strategy. In addition, he had an exaggerated sense of the value of what he was doing. In the end, all he did was kill himself. He didn’t save Western civilization.

Wikipedia:

Gonzalo Ángel Quintilio Lira López, February 29, 1968 – January 12, 2024) was a Chilean-American novelist, screenwriter, filmmaker, political commentator, blogger, YouTuber, and self-styled dating coach. At one point in his career as a novelist, Lira was described as the ‘highest paid Chilean writer in the world’. Lira would later become involved in the manosphere, posting anti-feminist content under the name Coach Red Pill. By the time of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Lira had been living in Ukraine for years. As a resident of Kharkiv, Ukraine, Lira vlogged about the Russian invasion, and was described by Ukrainian officials and Western researchers and media as spreading Russian disinformation and propaganda.
In April 2022, Lira disappeared briefly, stating upon his release he had been detained by the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU). In May 2023, Lira was again arrested by the SBU, and this time charged with ‘producing and publishing material that tried to justify the ongoing Russian invasion’, something illegal under Ukrainian law. Lira was released on bail and subsequently tried to flee the country. He was arrested again for violating his bail conditions, and died of pneumonia in custody on January 12, 2024.

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Trump Is Out Of Touch With MAGA Over Jeffrey Epstein

Posted on July 13, 2025 by Luke Ford

It sure looks like the Trump administration is holding back on releasing information about Jeffrey Epstein in furtherance of its wider agenda.

That doesn’t particularly bother me. I trust that Trump is agile enough to pivot when a change in policy and greater transparency with regard to Epstein is needed.

The good path means constantly weighing up competing alternatives. I love how situational Trump is within his decisions. I’m more of a situationist than an ideologue (though over the past 70 years, paleo-conservatives seem to me consistently right).

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Should We Aid Ukraine As Much As Israel?

Posted on July 13, 2025 by Luke Ford

I was listening to The Enforcer bros on Youtube (the best place for breaking war coverage) the other day and they were making a strong case for aiding Ukraine as much as we aid Israel.

I am biased here because of my strong emotional attachment to Israel but I’ll try to rise above my tribal bias for a minute.

I recognize a strong case for America not subsidizing either Ukraine or Israel.

If we do tilt towards Israel, I recognize this thinking in that favor:

* Israel is winning, Ukraine is losing.
* Ukraine cannot win. Israel can win.
* America has more strategic interests in the Middle East than it does in Ukraine.

I favor American withdrawal from Ukraine. I favor an end to American subsidies to Israel. I want an American foreign policy based on American interests. America’s greatest rival is China. I stand with Elbridge Colby’s analysis of the world.

My emotions are 100% with Israel and America’s attack on Iran. My brain does not have an opinion about whether or not that was wise.

My emotions want to see Iran humiliated as Iran is responsible for the deaths of over a thousand Americans.

Gemini says:

It’s been stated that Iran has been responsible for the deaths of over a thousand Americans.
The U.S. Department of Defense assessed that at least 603 U.S. personnel deaths in Iraq (2003-2011) were the result of Iran-backed militants. These deaths were attributed to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and proxies it sponsored, according to Military Times. The casualties resulted from various attacks including explosively formed penetrators (EFP), improvised explosive devices (IED), and other attacks in Iraq.
Some sources also connect Iran to the deaths of Americans in other attacks carried out by groups it supports, including in Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, and Israel, according to the American Jewish Committee. For example, the 1996 Khobar Towers bombing, which killed 19 American airmen, was attributed to Hezbollah al-Hejaz, a group with strong ties to Iran, according to the American Jewish Committee.
In more recent years, Iran-backed groups have carried out numerous attacks targeting U.S. military personnel in Iraq, Syria, and Jordan. This includes attacks that resulted in the deaths of American personnel, such as a March 2023 drone strike in Syria killing an American contractor and a January 2024 drone strike in Jordan killing three American soldiers.

I’d like to see the US and Russia unite against China. Iran has no strong allies. Neither Russia nor China are lifting a finger to help Iran right now. We’re not increasing the risks of war with Russia or China by bombing Iran, but by helping Ukraine hurt Russia, we are increasing the odds of a catastrophic war with Russia. The juice isn’t worth the squeeze in Ukraine. The juice might be worth the squeeze with Israel, the top dog in the Middle East.

Compared to the instincts of Trump and MAGA, I put greater value of alliances. I want to see the US work with its allies to restrict China. I want American trade policy to aid in this alliance. I wish Trump wouldn’t needlessly antagonize our allies, but I respect the tough truths he’s giving them about stepping up their defense spending, and that America is ending their abuse of trade policies to take advantage of America.

Posted in Iran, Israel, Russia, Ukraine | Comments Off

I Miss The Times We Had Together

Posted on July 12, 2025 by Luke Ford

I just got a spam text: “I miss the times we had together. How are you doing? I’m worried.”

Me too. I’m verklempt, like Tony Soprano in the final episodes watching TV commercials, but then I remember I’m not needy Luke anymore. I’m not the bloke who uses everyone he knows to meet his addictive needs. No! I have a lot going for me these days. I have three AI subscriptions!

What are some spam texts I deserve?

Before you get jokes, however, you must learn Torah.

Gemini:

In Judaism, Gashmiut and Ruchniut represent contrasting, yet interconnected, aspects of life. Gashmiut (or Gashmiyut) refers to the physical, material, and mundane aspects of existence, while Ruchniut (or Ruchniyut) refers to the spiritual, transcendent, and divine aspects. Essentially, gashmiut is the world of physicality, and ruchniut is the world of spirituality.
While these two concepts are often presented as opposites, they are not mutually exclusive. In fact, Judaism emphasizes the importance of finding a balance between the two. One perspective is that even seemingly mundane, physical activities can be infused with spirituality and holiness when performed with intention and awareness. For example, even a simple act like eating can be elevated through prayer and gratitude.
Examples:
Gashmiut:
A person’s desire for a new car, the pursuit of wealth, or the enjoyment of physical pleasures.
Ruchniut:
Studying Torah, praying, performing mitzvot (good deeds), and striving to connect with God.
In essence, Judaism encourages a life that integrates both gashmiut and ruchniut, recognizing the value of the physical world while striving for spiritual growth and connection with the divine.

Before you get the spam texts I deserve, you need to know about the most significant event of my life.

The Kiss, The Shame, The God-Shaped Hole
It was cool working with 60 Minutes in 2003, but the most wonderful thing that ever happened to me… and the moment that most perfectly predicted my future dysfunction… happened in sixth grade.
It was a few months after I moved to California from Australia. This was September 1977—there was no Google. Early in the school year. My insecurities weren’t blindingly obvious. Nobody had looked me up yet. Nobody knew how deeply, catastrophically messed up I was. The American dream was still possible.
Since third grade, I’d wanted a girlfriend. I didn’t want to hold hands. I didn’t want to make out. I just wanted… affectionate exclusivity. I wanted someone to choose me. Publicly. Without shame.
And then it happened.
Cindy Jackson*—the most beautiful girl in the class, the queen of sixth grade—dropped a note on my desk. “Do you want to go with me?”
It was a golden ticket. A straight shot to love and the popular lunch table.
And what did I do?
I froze.
My brain said, “Yes.” My heart said, “YES.” But my nervous system? It said, “Abort mission.” I didn’t respond at all. I sat there like a stunned kangaroo in a Mormon wedding.
I felt unworthy. I couldn’t reach for what I wanted most. I wasn’t connected to anyone enough to ask for advice. No friend, no parent, no rabbi. I just sat on it.
And what did I do instead?
I teased her. Ruthlessly. I made her life miserable for months. Because I couldn’t handle her wanting me.
In fifth grade in Australia, this girl made it obvious that she liked me. So I kicked her. She said to me, “You’ll find out one day what it is like to love someone who kicks you.”
Eventually I worked up the courage to ask Cindy to be my girlfriend.
She said, with the most radiant joy I’ve ever seen in a human face: “No.”
I deserved it. You can’t neglect a mitzvah that hard and expect reward.
But something formed in me that day she dropped a note on my desk. A template. The Cindy Jackson template:
Long for love.
Feel unworthy.
Sabotage it.
Apologize too late.
I’ve been running that script for decades. Not just in romance. In friendship. In community. In every shul I’ve ever joined.
You see, excommunication is just Cindy Jackson, but with a cherem (Jewish ex-communication).
I come in hungry for belonging. For love. For God. I say all the right things—at first. I daven. I show up. I try. But deep down I’m still that sixth grader who can’t believe he’s wanted. So I push. I provoke. I blog.
I make myself impossible to hold onto.
And then I get what I expect: the door closed. The letter. The silence. The rabbi’s furrowed brow.
I used to think I was kicked out because I told the truth.
Now I think maybe I just couldn’t bear to stay.
That’s what eroticized rage is: it’s longing that’s been twisted by shame. It’s a kiss you wanted, poisoned by the belief you didn’t deserve it.
But Teshuvah is different. Teshuvah says: you can return. Not to Cindy Jackson. That ship sailed in 1978. But to yourself. To God. To a community you don’t have to sabotage just to prove you were never worthy.
You can stay. You can be held. You can answer the note this time.
“Yes.”
The Kiss That Saved My Life (But Only for 90 Seconds)
I want to tell you about the moment I peaked emotionally.
Not professionally. That was when The New York Times plagiarized my blog.
Not spiritually. That was when I fasted for 25 hours and still couldn’t stop staring at the rabbi’s daughter.
No—emotionally. I peaked in 11th grade. In a church loft. On New Year’s Day. 1983.
There’s this freshman girl. Blonde. Sweet. She tasted like Lip Smacker and Protestant repression.
We’d been talking for maybe an hour. That’s all it took.
I kissed her. And she kissed me back.
But she didn’t just kiss. She glided.
This girl was the Simone Biles of makeouts.
She glided, she sucked, she bit—lightly, like a promise.
Her tongue entered my mouth like it had RSVP’d.
This wasn’t a kiss. This was a layup line to salvation.
For 90 seconds, I was free—from shame, from failure, from Jesus.
I’d gone from homeschooled to home base.
But like all good things in my life, it ended with me saying something awkward.
She looked at me, dazed, and I said, “So… you go to Placer High?”
And just like that, the gliding stopped.
I didn’t know how to stay in a good thing.
That’s a theme with me.
Like the time a girl left a note on my desk in sixth grade that said, “Do you want to go with me?”
And I responded by… publicly mocking her love life for a week.
I’m the kind of guy who gets what he wants… and then tackles it in a swimming pool.
Just ask Jeanie.
We were supposed to play keepaway.
I played waterboarding.
I was like, “You want affection? Let me dunk you first.”
Because love was terrifying.
You know what wasn’t terrifying? Porn.
Nobody ever rejected me in Club International.
Those girls always smiled. Even with six guys on top of them.
That 11th-grade kiss? It was a miracle.
But I didn’t build a cathedral around it.
I built a masturbation shrine in the woods behind my house.
I laminated pages. I had a filing system. I was the Marie Kondo of smut.
And then, I found God. Or maybe just an E-cup Jewish girl. Same difference.
I gave up porn. I grew a beard. I wore tzitzit and guilt.
I told myself: “No more gliding. Only modest side-hugs and dairy-free kugel.”
But still, in quiet moments, I’d think about that girl.
That first kiss.
That 90-second miracle when I wasn’t broken, or bitter, or bukkake-adjacent.
Just a boy. With lips. And hope.
Hope that I’d meet a girl who wanted to glide back.
[SHAME: THE SHRINE IN THE WOODS]
Of course, I couldn’t sustain intimacy. That kiss opened a door I wasn’t ready to walk through. So I built a shrine to lust instead. Behind my house. In the woods. Laminated Playboy pages. A milk crate throne.
When the girls at church didn’t return my desperate, overthought letters, I retreated into that little cathedral of thighs and validation.
I didn’t need intimacy. I needed release.
I didn’t need a hug. I needed a centerfold who smiled like she meant it.
Years later, when I got paid to write about porn, people said, “You’re just doing this for the smut.”
No. I was doing it for the structure.
Porn had rules. Positions. Money shots. Consent was discussed like a union contract.
Intimacy? That was chaos.
[SPIRITUAL LONGING: THE 12-STEP TORAH]
Then came the therapy. The 12-step rooms. The 3 a.m. existential panic attacks.
My therapist said, “Your fantasies are eroticized rage.”
I started going to Sex and Love Addicts Anonymous. I thought it would be a circle of perverts. It was. But they were my perverts. And they spoke my language:
Loneliness. Projection. Worshiping the person who texts back.
Judaism calls it the yetzer hara—the evil inclination. The part of us that says, “You’re not good enough. So take. Consume. Escape.”
But the Torah also says: You are not your worst impulse. You are not the folder of browser tabs. You are not the email you regret. You are not even the person who ghosted the one kind girl who kissed you in the 11th grade.
You are a soul. Longing for connection. Covered in layers of denial, compulsions, bad lighting, and Craigslist meetups.
And even there—especially there—God waits.
[THE REDEMPTION: SMOOTHIES & TEFILLIN]
I still fall short. Spiritually. Emotionally. Pants-wise.
But now I pray. I wrap tefillin and beg God to help me see women as whole people, not puzzles I can solve with enough charm, Torah quotes, or mango smoothies.
Because real intimacy isn’t a kiss, or a lay, or even a good blog post.
It’s showing up. Over and over. With all your awkwardness. All your shame. All your hope.
And trusting that the right woman might glide back.

Grok suggests some spam texts I deserve:

From: Cindy Jackson (1977): “Hey Luke, it’s Cindy from sixth grade. Still waiting for you to answer my note. Wanna grab a smoothie and talk about why you teased me into oblivion? I’m worried you’re still frozen at that desk.”
From: Costa Rican Paralegal (2003): “Luke, I miss our wild night—your gashmiut was banging, but that methadone clinic t-shirt? Oof. I kept your Dish book as a ruchniut lesson. You okay, or still exiled from shul? Worried about you.”
From: Your Therapist (2011): “Luke, it’s your shrink. Miss our chats about your God-shaped hole. Your eroticized rage is so 2003—quit chasing Cindy Jackson’s ghost. Try intimacy, not intensity. Worried you’re still dodging Teshuvah.”
From: Jeanette Walls’ Dish (2003): “Luke, it’s your stolen Dish book. That paralegal chick swiped me, but the NYT plagiarized me! (Slate) Get a new copy and stay sober. Worried you’re still chasing my pages.”
From: Gavin Brown (1974) “Luke, mate, it’s Gavin from second grade. Miss those Cooranbong days, but not your horse manure-throwing vibe. Sorry we didn’t want you at my birthday bash. Worried you’re still that awkward kid. Come back for a smoothie, not a shanda!”

ChatGPT:

“Your rabbi misses you. Click here to rejoin the WhatsApp group you got booted from in 2009.”
“You’ve been selected for advanced placement in Teshuvah. No essays. Just show up and cry sincerely.”
“Your crush from 1987 just Googled you. She’s more impressed by your amends than your follower count.”
“A spiritual community is willing to accept you exactly as you are… unless you start quoting Dennis Prager again.”
“Your Amazon order has shipped: 1 tub of protein powder, 3 volumes of Rashi, and one more chance at love.”
“Your ex didn’t block your number. She just spiritually ghosted you.”
“Your old therapist finally figured out what you meant. She sends regards and recommends hydration.”
“Hey, it’s God. You’re not disqualified. Just… stop blogging.”

Gemini:

From a Ghost of Girlfriends Past
(UNSAVED NUMBER): “Hey stranger, it’s me. Remember that night after the Dennis Prager singles event? I never got your smoothie recipe. Also, my therapist says I need closure. Please return my dignity. I’m worried.”
(UNSAVED NUMBER): “Hi. You don’t know me, but I’m the woman who bought your old 1979 Datsun station wagon for parts. Just wanted to let you know it’s still more reliable than your love. Hope you’re well. I’m worried.”
(UNSAVED NUMBER): “This is Cindy Jackson from 6th grade. It’s been a while. I just wanted to let you know that after decades of therapy, I’m finally ready for your response to my note. But to be clear, the answer is still no. How are you? I’m worried.”
From a Bot with a Grudge
(SHUL_ADMIN_BOT): “NOTICE: You have been ejected from this text message. Please return the tefillin. We’re worried.”
(THERAPY_BOT_3000): “Your file has been updated. Diagnosis: Histrionic/Narcissistic Personality Disorder. Primary need: Narcissistic Supply. Prognosis: You will continue to do what you are doing until the negative effects outweigh the reinforcement. We are worried.”
(KABBALAH_CENTRE_NO_REPLY): “We noticed you’ve been searching for meaning. Have you considered that eroticized rage might just be your soul trying to tell you to buy our blessed water? We’ve seen your credit card debt, so we’re offering a special rate. We’re worried.”
From the Universe Itself
(THE_UNIVERSE): “I saw your journal entry about being the greatest writer of your generation. Just wanted to check in and see if you still needed to live in a hovel and drive a van serial killers would reject to maintain your artistic integrity. I’m worried.”
(FINANCIAL_SERVICES_AI): “Records show your last declared life goal was to find a ‘hot 22yo’. Our models indicate this may be difficult with your current debt-to-dignity ratio. We have loan options available. We’re worried.”
(SPAM_LIKELY_FROM_GOD): “I saw you’re trying to choose life and be a good Jew. Just a reminder that consensual sex between unmarried adults is not immoral, only unholy. You seem to have really run with that one. How’s it going? I’m worried.”

You might think that with my hundreds of Youtube views, I’ve forsaken the path of Torah for the path of influence. Not true!

In pursuit of spiritual growth, the ruchnius, I fed the Youtube transcript of my last eight Youtube livestreams (Victory Over Sin! (7-7-25), Will The 12-Day War Precipitate Regime Change In Iran, Russia & China? (7-6-25), Trump Gets His Big Beautiful Bill To Restore American Dignity (7-4-25), Decoding The Israel vs Iran War (6-24-25), Trump Bombed Iran – Now What? (6-22-25), Israel vs Iran Day 3 (6-15-25), US Appears Poised To Attack Iran (6-11-25)) into Grok to analyze for lack of self-awareness. Certain themes repeated themselves.

Grok:

1. Overdramatizing Personal Slights and Misinterpreting Social Cues
Lack of Self-Awareness: Fails to recognize how his emotional indulgence and choices shape his perceptions of rejection, clinging to a victim narrative.
2. Hypocrisy in Sensitivity and Criticism
Accuses others of denying reality while ignoring contradictory evidence himself.
Lack of Self-Awareness: Does not apply his self-criticism to his own hypersensitive behavior or selective framing, showing a blind spot in recognizing his contradictions.
3. Inappropriate Responses to Serious Issues
Evidence: Uses ChatGPT to craft a sympathy-seeking social media post about a friend in hospice or uses crude analogies.
Lack of Self-Awareness: Fails to see the inappropriateness of exploiting serious situations for attention or trivializing sensitive topics with humor.
4. Self-Centered Narrative FramingEvidence: Frames his Orthodox Jewish conversion and struggles as central to his identity, yet admits they didn’t fundamentally change him.
Focuses on feeling like an outsider without examining how his behavior may contribute to isolation.
Lack of Self-Awareness: Neglects to reflect on how his actions or approach might alienate others, instead dwelling on personal grievances.
5. Emotional Bias Overriding Claimed Neutrality
Evidence: Claims neutrality on U.S./Israel strikes on Iran but expresses visceral satisfaction at Iran’s “humiliation.” Emotionally supports Trump’s policies and Israel’s actions while dismissing critics as “blinded by hatred.”
Lack of Self-Awareness: Does not acknowledge how emotional biases (e.g., Zionist identity, anti-Iran sentiment) dominate his analysis, undermining his neutral stance.
6. Uncritical Engagement with Speculative or Biased SourcesEvidence: Relies on low-credibility YouTube channels like “Leis Real Talk” for geopolitical claims. Amplifies speculative narratives about Iran and accepts Israel’s intelligence claims without skepticism.
Lack of Self-Awareness: Fails to recognize his susceptibility to confirmation bias or how his selective source use mirrors the sensationalism he critiques in others.
7. Contradictory Ideological Positions
Evidence: Supports nationalism and group interests but struggles to reconcile his Zionist advocacy with “America first” principles. Critiques elite self-interest while defending similar behavior in Trump/Musk. Opposes U.S. intervention generally but entertains it against Iran.
Lack of Self-Awareness: Does not address tensions between his collectivist and individualist views, or between his anti-interventionist and pro-Israel stances.
8. Overgeneralization and Stereotyping
Evidence: Generalizes about immigrants destroying social cohesion.
Lack of Self-Awareness: Fails to see how his broad, unsupported claims risk perpetuating stereotypes or oversimplifying complex issues.
9. Dismissal of Process, Evidence, or Opposing Views
Lack of Self-Awareness: Does not recognize how his dismissal of process, evidence, or alternative perspectives undermines his claim to prioritize reality.
10. Failure to Reflect on Platform’s Polarizing Impact
Evidence: Uses inflammatory terms like “thugs” or “illegals” and calls diversity a “cancer.” Frames gay rights as opposing religious freedom. Dismisses his influence as negligible despite attracting extreme audiences.
Lack of Self-Awareness: Fails to see how his rhetoric escalates division or mirrors the polarizing tactics he critiques in others.
11. Projection of Bias Onto Others
12. Overconfidence in Assessments

I fed those results along with my online autobiography into AI to create love, light and jokes. Then I punched them up and made them mine, just like I do with my women:

Gemini:

On Social Life & Self-Awareness
“My therapist says I “treasure perceived slights.” I told her that’s absurd—and I’m deeply wounded she’d even think that.”
“I wasn’t invited to a Shabbat dinner with the curvy chick. It was the worst social rejection I’ve had all week. I haven’t felt that excluded since my rabbi found my old blog and returned my $600 donation—with interest, in moral judgment.”
“According to AI, I lack self-awareness. So I’m using that as my new pickup line: “Hi, I’m Luke. I’m emotionally inconsistent, overinvested in casual interactions, and I’ll probably podcast about this. Wanna get coffee?””
“I’ve been kicked out of five Orthodox synagogues. At this point, I’m not a convert—I’m a platinum member. I’m thinking of starting a punch card: get excommunicated five times, sixth one’s free.”
“A friend recently died, and my first instinct was to use ChatGPT to ‘milk’ it for social media likes. It’s not that I’m a bad person; I just have an excellent grasp of content strategy.”
On Career & Religion
“For years, I was known as the ‘Matt Drudge of porn.’ Now I’m a 59-year-old unsuccessful YouTuber. It’s the classic hero’s journey, if the hero started in the sewer and is now just in a slightly cleaner part of the sewer.”
“The New York Times once plagiarized my blog. I’ll never forget how eager that Times editor was to get off the phone with me. It was the peak of my journalistic career. It’s all been downhill from there. Now, I’m lucky if my own family reads my stuff.”
“My dad was a famous Seventh-day Adventist heretic who got kicked out of his church. I’m a Jew who’s been kicked out of five synagogues. In my family, excommunication is our version of a Bar Mitzvah.”
On Dating & Relationships
“I told my date that my greatest strength is my vulnerability. She said, ‘That’s fascinating,’ and then blocked my number. It’s a work in progress.”
“I have a simple dating rule: if a woman is willing to overlook my past, my present, and my personality, I’m willing to overlook the fact she’s clearly settling.”
“I wrote in my journal that I wanted a ‘hot 22-year-old.’ Now that I’m 59, I’ve revised my goals. I’m looking for a woman who has low expectations.”
“My last girlfriend said I had the emotional maturity of a ‘hungry infant.’ I was offended. I’m at least a toddler. I can use a fork.”
On The Grandeur & The Reality
“In my journal, I declared myself ‘the greatest writer of my generation.’ My YouTube analytics, however, suggest I’m more like ‘that guy your uncle forwards videos from.'”
“I’m a walking contradiction. One moment I’m delivering a profound lecture on the nuances of the Talmud; the next, I’m getting into a fender-bender because I was distracted by a hot chick at Starbucks. I contain multitudes, most of them embarrassing.”
“I’ve been described as ‘an enigma wrapped in a brisket.’ I think that’s fair. I’m deeply spiritual, intellectually rigorous, and probably best enjoyed with a side of horseradish.”

ChatGPT:

I told my therapist I felt excluded from a Shabbat dinner. She checked her notes and said, “Luke, you were invited, but you said you were too lazy.” I replied, “Exactly. I need friends who can see past my behavior, see past my past, see past my words, see past my vibe, see past my reputation, and intuit my deep-seated need for their pineapple walnut kugel.”
I tried to milk sympathy likes when my friend entered hospice. Grok called it exploitation; I called it “influencer marketing for the afterlife.”
I tweeted that converts are hypersensitive. Fifteen seconds later I rage-quit Twitter because someone didn’t heart my Talmud meme.
My dating app bio: “59-year-old bachelor with 28 years’ experience live-streaming to an audience of literally dozens. Swipe right if you like vulnerability—just don’t criticize it.”
I see myself as the prophet Hosea, living a life of symbolic meaning and marrying a hooker one day. My viewers see me as the guy who gets physically assaulted by a porn star’s mom and then posts about it. So yes, a prophet.
Nothing changed me—conversion, therapy, medication. Guess it’s time to try the last frontier: reading the instructions on my webcam.
I announced regime change in Iran, Russia, and China based on my “spidey sense.” Turns out it was just the Wi-Fi dropping.
I went on my livestream and predicted imminent regime change in Iran, Russia, and China based on my “spidey sense.” It turns out my spidey sense was just my blood sugar dropping. I really need to eat more leafy green vegetables.
I notice that people avoid me after my most passionate conversations; I call it “social distancing,” they call it “self-care.”

Grok:

* My dad got kicked out of Adventism for preaching truth over dogma. I got kicked out of a shul for blogging truth over… well, good taste. Now I livestream to an empty chat, yelling ‘Hallelujah!’ to crickets. Like father, like son—just less employed.
* My father was a famous heretic who told his church, “Here I stand. I can do no other.” Years later, I was kicked out of my synagogue for writing about porn, G-d forbid. I told the rabbi, “Here I stand… can I still come for the free food after services?” Dad and I — we’re both martyrs, just with different catering requirements.
* My therapist says I’m a “hungry infant” for attention. I said, “That’s unfair—and also, are you mad at me? You seemed distant last session.” I overanalyze everything. I once cried for three days over a Shabbat dinner I was invited to—but didn’t attend. Because I was tired. And a little dramatic.
* I used to think I’d be a prophet like Hosea—calling out corruption, warning the people. Turns out, I’m more like Hosea’s underemployed nephew livestreaming to 11 bots about geopolitical prophecies. Close enough. Still chosen. Just not… clicked on.
* My dad got excommunicated for preaching Jesus over Adventist dogma. I got excommunicated from shul for blogging about… less holy things. Now I livestream to an empty chat, wondering if God’s got a spam filter for my prayers.
* My dad was a theologian who wrote 20 books on Christianity. I wrote a book on the history of porn, G-d forbid, that Publishers Weekly said was incoherent. He was kicked out of his church for heresy; I was kicked out of mine for being, quote, “a menace.” We both chose the path of the righteous outcast; his just had a better dental plan.
* I livestream about Iran getting smoked by Israel, thinking I’m Edward R. Murrow. My community thinks I’m just the guy who can’t land a wife. No Torah honor, but hey, I’ve got a comment section calling me a Zionist shill. Living the dream!
* I livestream geopolitical analysis to an audience of dozens, feeling like a modern-day Bernard Weinraub. Then I remember Weinraub got in trouble for plagiarizing me (after I had plagiarized from the Jeannette Walls book, Dish: The Inside Story on the World of Gossip), and I’m the guy who lives in a garage and gets called a “lashon hara monger” by the local Jewish paper. It’s a very niche level of fame.

In 2003, back when I was a young and vigorous 37, or as vigorous as you can be after 16 years of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Narcissistic Personality Disorder, I went to a Dennis Prager singles event wearing my one nice suit that my sister bought me in Brisbane, Australia in 2000. At the event, a 23-year old Costa Rican paralegal walks up to me and says her friend dared her to approach me. I have a philosophy that it is morally wrong to say no to a woman who makes herself vulnerable to me. So we exchange numbers. Then she calls me up later. I’m the victim here. I ask her to dinner. She asks if it would be ok if she stayed the night. I am flummoxed, but decide it would be morally wrong to say no to a woman after she has extended herself. She asks me if I was Orthodox. I say I am. She says she came to the Prager event because a Jewish woman at work said she should go, but that she should avoid any Orthodox men because they will only want to fuck her. I admit that is right.

She comes over that evening. We go to dinner. We go back to my place. Always the giver, I offer her a massage. She asks if it is OK if she takes off her clothes. I am flummoxed but I figure it would be wrong to say no to a woman who is making herself so vulnerable. I know I’m not the greatest host, I wanted to build on the patriarch Abraham’s tradition of hospitality, so I say yes. It turns into a wild and crazy night. I’m a 19th Century Victorian Gentleman. I’m old fashioned. I don’t kiss and tell. I won’t give you any details about my crazy night. In the morning, I make her one of my patented frozen fruit smoothies. She asks to borrow my Jeanette Walls book, Dish. I reluctantly say yes, fearing I will never get it back. My dad taught me that when you lend a book to someone, you’re never getting it back. I am going to meet her at her law office at noon for lunch. I didn’t realize she wanted to show me off. I show up in a ratty t-shirt and ratty old shorts and she’s embarrassed. She thought I’d wear my nice suit. She goes to lunch with me but she’s mad. I never hear from her again. She never returns my book.

Oh well, any date that doesn’t end in a haze of pepper spray is a win.

Costa Rica girl is the only latina I’ve courted.

I don’t know why my friend Glib says that nobody has ever raised their social status by hanging out with Luke Ford. Please write me some jokes.

Grok:

“I show up to a Dennis Prager singles event in my one good suit—thanks, sis, Brisbane 2000. A hot 23-year-old Costa Rican picks me out on a dare. We hit it off, but I blow it by showing up to her law office lunch in a t-shirt so ratty it looked like I mugged a hobo. She wanted Armani Luke; she got ‘just rolled out of a dumpster’ Luke. Moral? Never trust a convert. We’re all nuts.”
“A 23-year-old Costa Rican at a Prager event hits on me ‘cause her friend dared her. I’m like, ‘Morally, I can’t say no to a woman’s courage.’ We have a wild night—dinner, massage, the works. Next day, I show up to her office like a thrift store reject. She’s mortified, ghosts me, and steals my gossip book. Lesson? Why would I need a lesson about the most glorious night of my life? Not everything has to be philosophical.”
“She asked if I was Orthodox. I said yeah. She said her friend warned her Orthodox guys just wanna bang. I nodded, ‘Probably true,’ then proved it with a massage and a wild night. Next day, I show up to her office in shorts that screamed ‘homeless chic.’ She ditched me and my book. Guess my extra Jewish soul was too much for her.”

Gemini:

I have a strict moral philosophy. It is always wrong to say no to a woman, to a young attractive woman. So when a 23-year-old asked if she could stay the night, I was morally obligated to agree. It was a test of my character. I passed. Several times.
This young woman told me her Jewish friend warned her to avoid Orthodox men at the Dennis Prager singles event because they would “only want to fuck her.” I, of course, confirmed this was probably true. I consider it a mitzvah to be an accurate source of information.
After a wild night, I was worried she’d take my copy of Jeannette Walls’ book on gossip and never return it. I mean, sure, she took my dignity, but that book was a first edition paperback.
I’m a modern-day Abraham, committed to hospitality. A beautiful woman asks to take off her clothes for a massage in my apartment? It would be inhospitable to refuse. It’s in the Torah… probably in a commentary I haven’t gotten to yet.
I took a 23-year-old migrant out for dinner. She came back to my place and we had a crazy night. The next day for our lunch date, I dressed to reflect my financial and emotional state. She never called me again. I could’ve given her a green card! I don’t hold a grudge. I didn’t call ICE.
A 23-year-old woman hit on me at a singles event. I’m 37. She stayed the night. It was amazing. The next day, I dressed for our lunch date in ratty shorts. She got so mad. I guess she didn’t realize that my one nice suit, much like my charm, is for first impressions only.

ChatGPT:

1.
I converted to Judaism in the ’90s because I wanted a step-by-step system for living an ethical life. Then I discovered Reform Judaism and hardcore sin were about two steps apart. Three if you stop to pray.
2.
I figured: why not be holy six days a week, and on the seventh—fornicate? It’s like Shomer Shabbos, but for sin, G-d forbid.
3.
I wanted to merge with my subject. So I made an independent film, G-d forbid. Like Abraham Lincoln meets Boogie Nights. Call it Gettysburg Undressed.
On Dennis Prager & Ethics
4.
My moral compass was Dennis Prager. I thought, “If I quote him during this independent cinema, it’s basically Torah learning.” Somewhere in heaven, an angel facepalmed.
5.
I used Prager’s philosophy to justify unjustifiable, G-d forbid. Look, if quoting sources accurately brings redemption, then I was halfway to saving the world..
6.
I rented a camera, a bed, and five guys—like I was hosting a very confusing Airbnb experience.
7.
When the actress Kimberly Kummings asked if I was too clean-cut for this, I told her, “I’m a nice Jewish boy.” She said, “Great, my boyfriend beats me.” I said, “I converted to Judaism!” She said, “Then what the hell are you doing here?” And honestly? Great question.
8.
I made a film and called it What Women Want. Which is hilarious, because if there’s one thing women consistently don’t want—it’s me, holding a camcorder and quoting Talmud.
On The Shoot (Absurdity Meets Spiritual Crisis)
9.
I just stood there, quoting Freud and feeling like a rabbi who walked into the wrong mikvah.
10.
That day taught me something: if you do something wicked once, you’re a philosopher. If you do it twice, you’re a pervert. I’m proud to say—I am a philosopher.
On Legacy
11.
The distributors returned the movie by the case. I ended up giving it to my Reform temple. In New York, you get a tallis. In L.A., you get porn and a free smoothie.
12.
Now whenever someone wants to hurt me, they bring up What Women Want. Not because it’s explicit—because the lighting was terrible.
13.
I screened the movie at a party once. Total silence. Then laughter. Then judgment. Someone asked, “Is that you?” I said, “No—it’s my twin brother. He’s not Orthodox. He’s Conservative.”

Gemini:

On the initial rejection: “In sixth grade, the most beautiful girl in class asked me to be her boyfriend. I was so stunned, I responded with the one move guaranteed to win a woman’s heart: six months of crippling silence followed by unmerciful teasing. I was playing the long game.”
On Unworthiness: “She handed me a golden ticket to the popular lunch table, and I treated it like a subpoena. My inner monologue was just, ‘You can’t be here, sir, this is a private event for people who deserve happiness.'”
On the ‘Template’: “My entire adult life has been a reenactment of the Cindy Jackson incident, just with higher stakes. Getting kicked out of a synagogue is basically just Cindy Jackson saying ‘No,’ but this time a rabbi says it and you lose access to a decent kugel.”
On Eroticized Rage: “My therapist says I have ‘eroticized rage.’ I thought that sounded kind of cool and kinky. Turns out it just means you’re so angry about wanting love that you set fire to every relationship you’re in. It’s less ’50 Shades of Grey’ and more ‘Fahrenheit 451: The Dating Years.'”
On Teshuvah: “Now I’m practicing Teshuvah—the Jewish concept of return. It’s great. It means you can’t go back and fix things with Cindy Jackson, but you can stop asking the new girl at shul if she was ‘dared’ to talk to you.”

How can I make jokes when Dennis Prager is still paralyzed below the neck?

Blogger Without A Shul

Scene opens in a synagogue office. A Rabbi sits behind a desk, sternly flipping through notes. Luke enters nervously.

Rabbi: (looking up) Luke Ford?

Luke: That’s me. Well, most days.

Rabbi: I see you’ve applied to rejoin our synagogue again.

Luke: Yes, Rabbi. Sixth time’s the charm, right? Got a punch card and everything.

Rabbi: It’s not funny, Luke. Five Orthodox synagogues have already kicked you out! You’re not a convert—you’re a platinum member.

Luke: Rabbi, honestly, it was all just a misunderstanding. I’ve repented! I’ve stopped blogging about Dennis Prager’s radio show and given up eroticized rage. I’ve even given away my Dish book as a ruchnius lesson.

Rabbi: (raising an eyebrow) Oh, really?

Luke: Well, technically a Costa Rican paralegal took it from me, but the point stands.

Rabbi: We received letters of concern from the community. (holds up papers) Your therapist wrote, “Luke’s God-shaped hole remains tragically unfilled.”

Luke: He’s exaggerating. My God-shaped hole has definitely shrunk. It’s more of a God-shaped divot these days.

Rabbi: And Dennis Prager says you still owe him a neck brace.

Luke: That’s just Prager kvetching. He says I gave him whiplash by pivoting from porn blogging to Torah lectures too abruptly.

Rabbi: Is it true you wrote that you were the “Matt Drudge of porn” but now just an unsuccessful YouTuber?

Luke: Yes, but it’s the classic hero’s journey—from sewer to slightly cleaner sewer.

Rabbi: The sisterhood complained about passive-aggressive emails.

Luke: If they preferred aggressive-aggressive emails, they should’ve just asked.

Rabbi: (exasperated) Luke, do you even know what community means?

Luke: Sure! It means having people close enough to reject you personally, instead of impersonally online.

Rabbi: Well, you haven’t exactly made a good impression here. Last week, during Shabbat services, you were taking notes.

Luke: Actually, Rabbi, that was Cindy from sixth grade. She finally got back to me. I didn’t want to miss her note again!

Rabbi: (groaning) Why are you always chasing ghosts from your past?

Luke: Better ghosts from the past than rabbis from the present.

Rabbi: Listen, you’re clearly suffering from severe self-awareness deficiency.

Luke: Funny, AI said the same thing. I even use it as my pickup line now: “Hi, I’m Luke. Emotionally inconsistent, overinvested in casual interactions, probably going to podcast about this later. Want coffee?”

Rabbi: That’s it, Luke! This synagogue cannot accept someone who’s spiritually ghosted by ex-porn stars, mentally traumatized by 6th-grade notes, and morally obsessed with smoothies.

Luke: (brightening) Wait, does this mean I’m eligible for advanced placement in Teshuvah?

Rabbi: (sighing) Please leave.

Luke: No essays this time? Just sincere crying?

Rabbi: Out!

Luke: (turning at the door) Can I at least get validated for parking?

Rabbi: (yelling) YOU NEED A DIFFERENT KIND OF VALIDATION!

Luke exits as Rabbi slams head on desk. Scene fades.

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