Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadA couple of weeks ago, I asked the Mind4Survival Facebook group a simple question: “If you could pressure-test one part of your plan this weekend, what would it be?” The answers came from several members of the Mind4Survival Facebook group—people just like you. They were all honest and thoughtful responses about the gaps they wanted to close. Four of their responses stood out, and they inspired a list of simple, effective tests you can run this weekend to strengthen your own plans. TL;DR: Test your preparedness plan by running a simple drill this weekend…

Avid adventurers know that Montana is much more than just Glacier and Yellowstone. Ever wanted to fly fish a remote river, stay at a real-deal dude ranch, or head out on a multiday backpacking expedition without a soul in sight? The Treasure State’s got you covered. With so much on offer, it’s the ideal state for car-camping road trippers and RVers alike. Welcoming small towns with epic music festivals and vibrant tribal communities await when travelers aren’t exploring wildflower-studded plains or summiting mountains. Below, we’ll get into some of the best ways to experience Montana in all its glory. Multiday…

From the moment the role of ATF director began requiring Senate confirmation, the job has been a political headache. While Biden was able to get Steve Dettelbach through the process, it wasn’t his first choice at all. Trump had difficulty getting anyone confirmed during his first term as well. In fact, the role sat vacant for years, and it’s vacant once again.As noted on Wednesday, though, ATF Deputy Director Robert Cekada has gotten the nod.And gun rights groups are thrilled with the decision.President Trump’s nominee to head the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives…

Reports out of New York indicate a significant surge in gun ownership and firearms training among Jewish New Yorkers as Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani prepares to take office. The New York Post has described Mamdani as a “Muslim radical socialist,” and concerns over rising anti-Semitic rhetoric and violence have triggered a wave of preparation across the city’s Jewish community. According to The Times of Israel, Jewish gun owners, instructors, and security professionals in the city are seeing heavy demand for concealed carry permits and firearms training. The trend reflects growing unease about the kind of social climate Mamdani’s administration may bring,…

The Marine Corps family lost one of its own when veteran Steven M. Lipscomb, who had survived a roadside bomb while serving in Iraq, was killed trying to save a crew of coal miners in West Virginia. An Act of BraveryThe accident occurred on Nov. 8 at the Rolling Thunder Mine in Nicholas County. According to the Department of War, the incident happened while miners were conducting routine work at the mine. Suddenly, a large amount of water rushed into the shaft, trapping crew members inside. Lipscomb, managing the crew, jumped in to rescue his workers and was last seen trying…

Google CEO  Sundar Pichai has warned people against “blindly” trusting artificial intelligence. Pichai stated that the AI engines remain vulnerable in terms of factual accuracy and cannot be fully trusted. In an interview with the BBC, which aired on Tuesday, Pichai urged users to rely on a broad range of search tools rather than depending solely on artificial intelligence. AI tools are helpful “if you want to creatively write something,” but users “have to learn to use these tools for what they’re good at, and not blindly trust everything they say,” Pichai said. “The current state-of-the-art AI technology is prone to some errors.”…

The search for a missing California fisherman came to a tragic end this week. Mikey Rijavec, a San Diego–based angler with a large following on social media, went missing on Nov. 11 while fishing alone off the coast of Southern California. That led to a massive rescue effort that included both U.S. and Mexican authorities. But the search ended when Rijavec’s body was found in the water this week near San Cristobal, Mexico, according to an update on a GoFundMe page raising money for the search efforts. Gregory Rijavec, Mikey’s brother, wrote on Nov. 16 that the “countless people involved…

I confess that I didn’t realize today was “Trans Day of Remembrance” until I saw a tweet from Giffords that tries to put a pro-gun control spin on the murders of transgenders. I also didn’t realize that it’s also National Peanut Butter Fudge Day, National Rural Health Day, National Hug-a-Runner Day, and (my favorite) National Absurdity Day, bu there you go.  Giffords, in its post, wrote, “This Transgender Day of Remembrance, we honor the lives stolen from us in violent acts of hate and bigotry. At least 27 trans people were killed this year according…

Defense technology and national security companies and contractors are trying to ramp up production after a record-setting government shutdown that lasted over 40 days and limited funding mechanisms.The 43-day shutdown concluded Nov. 12 when enough Senate Democrats crossed the aisle despite their party not reaching a long-term solution for Obamacare-related extensions. President Donald Trump signed a congressional bill keeping the government funded until Jan. 30, 2026, with benefits for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), women, infants and children (WIC) benefits, and the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) being funded until September 2026.The shutdown impacted millions of Americans in myriad ways, notably…

The Bond Arms BullPup9 is one of the most mechanically unusual, historically interesting, and unexpectedly refined pistols to hit the concealed-carry world in the last two decades. In a market saturated with polymer-frame micro-compacts that all follow the same basic formula, the BullPup9 is the firearm equivalent of a gifted nonconformist — it knows the rules, understands the rules, and confidently decides it can design a better set of rules. This handgun doesn’t just shrink typical 9mm architecture — it reimagines it from the inside out. Its origins lie not in a corporate design committee but in the mind of…

I was somewhere between the glowing skeleton LED suits and a jazz trio when the mushrooms kicked in. Around me, people buzzed excitedly, staring at Chris Benchetler’s trippy paintings and art displays, chatting about the innovation and insanity that went into the film we were all about to watch. Celebrities like pro skier Michelle Parker, pro surfer Rob Machado, and pro mycologist Paul Stamets milled about. It was a who’s who of action sports, psychedelic mushrooms, and the Grateful Dead. Benchetler’s new film, Mountains of the Moon, had brought us all to Santa Monica, Calif., for the world premiere of…

There’s something very elitist about anti-gun politicians and celebrities, especially those who have the resources to hire protective details for themselves, even as they work to deny you and me the ability to protect ourselves. In other words, they act as if the only people deserving of being kept safe are those who can outsource it.Take Sen. Raphael Warnock of Georgia (please?) for example.The senator–who unfortunately represents me–is a noted proponent of gun control. He has been since he took office back in 2020.And, it seems, that he’s spent millions on private security during that…