The far-left mocked, belittled, and, in Hollywood productions (from Archie Bunker to Al Bundy to Charlie Sheen’s character Charlie Harper in “Two and a Half Men”) parodied manliness into a thin cultural stereotype. With this accomplished, they began to blame masculinity (what they denounce as “toxic masculinity”) for everything they’ve done to men, and/or, especially, to boys.

The left next conveniently spun this into a political and marketing scheme: They defined the enemy as knuckle-dragging Neanderthals on the right, and presented themselves as the ones who could solve the now well-established crisis with boys.

This is a clever political scheme, as manly men don’t tend to vote for Democrats — those men are too self-reliant for the left’s government-empowering, cradle-to-grave entitlement programs — so weakening men, via attacks on strong, caring, protective and chivalrous masculine men, is, to a leftwing political activist, smart politics.

Also, there is an angle here that gives the left a social issue in which they are cast as offering maternal care — this might impress unmarried women and single mothers who are more likely to vote for Democrats.

I’VE BEEN A PASTOR FOR 40 YEARS. YOUNG MEN ARE STRUGGLING AND I THINK I KNOW WHY

Leftists declare traditional masculinity to be toxic. Boys still need heroes. (Frank Miniter’s new book, “Cool Heroes for Boys.”) (iStock)

Now, though it is an inconvenient fact to the far-left that the so-called “manosphere,” a term that includes a lot of new voices — some beneficial to young men and some that are not — is clearly a countermovement to the left’s attacks on masculinity, they can talk this away by claiming toxic masculinity is to blame for all that is negatively impacting young men.

The left can even pretend they are virtuous as they rip down statues of America’s Founding Fathers and all but erase boys’ heroes from school textbooks — a tragedy I am pushing back against with my forthcoming book “Cool Heroes for Boys” — as they frame this as an effort to protect young, impressionable men from historically imperfect men (as if any of us are perfect).

With this all done, some on the left can even use this as a marketing opportunity.

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A current example is Jennifer Siebel Newsom’s — the wife of Calif. Democrat Gov. Gavin Newsom — documentary “The Mask You Live In” (2015). This is a propaganda film on “toxic masculinity” that claims the phrase “be a man” is one of the “most destructive phrases in this society” and asserts that manliness is simply a social construct (no biology involved whatsoever). This film, along with curricula and educational materials, has been marketed to schools, universities and other institutions, many of which are in California, which have paid Jennifer Siebel Newsom’s nonprofit.

Now enter the left’s Elmer Fudd and former nominee for vice president of the United States, Minn. Democrat Gov. Tim Walz, who actually said on a recent podcast with Gov. Newsom: “I think I scare them a little bit [on masculinity]. … My identity is not hunting. My identity is not football coaching. My identity is not, you know, a beard and a truck.”

Actually, those are all stereotypes perpetuated by the left. Manliness is not a guy with bulging biceps either; any reasonable person, after all, would say that if there is, say, a car accident, and some scrawny man saves a life as a muscled jock panics and so is no good to anyone, then the unimpressive-looking guy is manly and the jock is not.

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Clearly, actually being manly is about character, not brawn. It is about competency, not uselessness. It is about actual compassion for others, not feigned virtue signaling. It is about selflessly being willing and able to be a hero even if no one is recording it on their phone. In sum, being a real is about deeper things. It is not, and has never been, misogynistic.

The left next conveniently spun this into a political and marketing scheme: They defined the enemy as knuckle-dragging Neanderthals on the right, and presented themselves as the ones who can solve the now well-established crisis with boys.

An interesting aside is that our teens feel the lack of depth in the left’s attacks on actual manliness; for example, a recent “Teens & Screens” survey from the Center for Scholars & Storyteller at UCLA found that teens want to see more good fathers in television shows and movies.

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The study’s results are interesting, if obvious to any good father.

These UCLA researchers concluded: “Gen Alpha and Gen Z are signaling a profound cultural pivot. They are not asking for the absence of strength, they are asking for a broader definition of it, one that includes the courage to care, the wisdom to ask for help, and the joy found in domestic life.”

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Exactly, being a good man is a complicated thing, but he is not toxic. He is the opposite of toxic. He is a role model who, though certainly not perfect, is nevertheless heroically trying to be the best he can be to and for the rest of us.

Protein is practically everywhere. From protein coffee to protein-labeled desserts, grocery shelves now market the nutrient as a shorthand for “healthy.” 

On social media, influencers promote high-protein meal plans while warning followers to cut back on carbohydrates to lose weight, preserve muscle or adjust to the appetite-suppressing effects of GLP-1 medications.

The shift comes as GLP-1 drugs reshape eating habits and high-protein branding expands across the food industry.

MARTHA STEWART’S CARDIOLOGIST SAYS A SIMPLE SMOOTHIE ADD-IN IS LIKE ‘TAKING OZEMPIC’

At the same time, the newly released Dietary Guidelines for Americans place renewed emphasis on limiting added sugars and refined grains — guidance that some consumers and influencers interpret as support for lower-carbohydrate eating patterns.

But some nutrition experts say that interpretation risks oversimplifying what carbohydrates are — and how they function as part of a healthy diet.

The new Dietary Guidelines for Americans place renewed emphasis on limiting added sugars and refined grains. (realfood.gov)

“I think first and foremost, it’s important for us to talk about what a carbohydrate is,” Florida registered dietitian nutritionist Lee Cotton told Fox News Digital.

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“I think the illusion is [that it’s] just pasta and croissants and doughnuts.“

That perception, she argued, ignores the fact that carbohydrates include fruits, vegetables and whole grains — foods that provide fiber, vitamins and other essential nutrients.

Florida dietitian nutritionist Lee Cotton said carbohydrates also include fruits and vegetables — something many people may forget. (Lindsey Potter)

The new dietary guidelines say Americans should “prioritize fiber-rich whole grains” and “significantly reduce the consumption of highly processed, refined carbohydrates, such as white bread, ready-to-eat or packaged breakfast options, flour tortillas and crackers.”

Low-carb messaging has grown alongside the rapid adoption of GLP-1 medications such as Ozempic and Wegovy. 

These drugs suppress appetite and slow gastric emptying, helping many patients reduce caloric intake and, in clinical studies, achieve significant weight loss and improved metabolic markers.

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“I believe in modern medicine,” she said. “But with these medications, we are stepping away from really [noticing] how our bodies feel and that innate capability for our bodies to feel hunger and satiety.”

Appetite suppression, she warned, can make it easier to overlook balanced nutrition.

In her new book “A Nourishing Perspective,” released earlier this month, Cotton cautions that overly restricting carbs may lead to low energy, digestive issues or nutrient gaps for some individuals.

Cotton cautioned that appetite suppression among GLP-1 users could lead some people to overlook balanced nutrition. (Lindsey Potter)

“If eliminating carbs worked long-term for most people, we wouldn’t keep reinventing low-carb diets every five years,” Cotton told Fox News Digital.

Meanwhile, protein has been elevated to what Cotton calls the “golden child of diet culture.”

She writes in her book, “It’s promoted as the most important macronutrient, but this little trophy winner is no more important than any other nutrient for overall health and wellness.” 

PEOPLE LOST WEIGHT WHILE EATING SIGNIFICANTLY MORE FOOD — HERE’S THE SECRET

The apparent tension reflects a broader divide in how dietary guidance is interpreted. While federal recommendations emphasize improving carbohydrate quality and overall eating patterns, some popular diet approaches focus more directly on reducing total carbohydrate intake.

Dallas-based nutritionist Whitney Stuart said protein and carbs serve complementary roles in a healthy diet.

There has been an increased emphasis on protein, but some health experts say protein is no more or less important than carbs. (iStock)

“When we talk about protein and carbohydrates, I believe they work best together rather than being treated equally,” she told Fox News Digital.

“Think of protein as the building block that helps you feel full, while carbohydrates — especially those high in fiber — provide essential energy, support your digestive health and help keep your metabolism on track.”

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Stuart said she believes the focus should shift from low-carb diets to emphasizing high-fiber carbs.

“The real issue for many Americans isn’t that we eat too many carbs,” she said. “It’s that we don’t get enough fiber.”

A nutritionist told Fox News Digital that most Americans aren’t getting enough fiber in their diets. (iStock)

Carlo Filippone, the New Jersey-based founder of the Chicken Pound meal prep company, said Americans should look at the new food pyramid as a “protein-first” approach.

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“Fill your plate with protein, add veggies next and complex carbs last and least,” he told Fox News Digital. 

“Refined carbs should be a once-in-a-while indulgence.”

The founder of a chicken-based meal prep company said Americans should view the new food pyramid as a “protein-first” approach. (iStock)

Some clinicians have raised concerns about muscle loss among patients who significantly reduce calories without adequate protein. 

This concern has been noted among some who take GLP-1 medications, underscoring the importance of maintaining sufficient protein intake even as overall food consumption declines.

Overly restricting carbs may lead to low energy, digestive issues or nutrient gaps for some individuals.

“The essence of a great nutrition pattern is adequacy, variety and balance when it comes to eating,” Cotton said.

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Cotton’s message is less about defending carbs than restoring proportion.

Cotton told Fox News Digital that adequacy, variety and balance are the “essence of a great nutrition pattern.” (Lindsey Potter)

“Carbohydrates are not always the villain,” she said. 

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“I think like anything else in life, it’s just particularly what your choices are and how they impact your health.“

With the hunt reaching seven weeks Sunday, the family of missing Nancy Guthrie, 84, is “desperately” urging “renewed attention” in a search for answers and their mother, missing since Feb. 1.

“We desperately ask this community for renewed attention to our mom’s case — please consult camera, footage, journal notes, text messages, observations, or conversations that in retrospect may hold significance,” wrote the “The Guthrie Family: Camron and Kristine, Annie and Tommaso, Savannah and Michael” in an Instagram post Saturday night.

“No detail is too small. It may be the key,” the statement, shared on the NBC “Today” and KVOA Instagram pages, reads.

The family outlined “the key timelines” of Jan. 31, the last evening the mother of “Today” co-host Savannah Guthrie was seen alive, the “early morning hours” of Feb. 1, when Nancy Guthrie was reported missing, and “the late evening” of Jan. 11. The latter date’s importance might be tied to door security camera footage related to past revelations of a masked man on her doorstep.

AUTHORITIES PREPARING TO RETURN HOME OF NANCY GUTHRIE BACK TO FAMILY: REPORT

Nancy Guthrie, the mother of “Today” co-host Savannah Guthrie, remains missing and the family is urging renewed attention as the search hits seven weeks Sunday. (Courtesy of NBC)

“We miss our mom with every breath, and we cannot be in peace until she is home,” the statement concluded. “We cannot grieve; we can only ache and wonder. Our focus is solely on finding her and bringing her home.

“We want to celebrate her beautiful and courageous life, but we cannot do that until she is brought to a final place of rest,” the statement said. “Thank you for continuing to pray without ceasing.”

The family said they believe someone in the community may be holding a critical detail, even if they do not yet realize its importance. In their statement, the Guthries wrote, “Someone knows something,” and added that “No detail is too small. It may be the key.”

“We are deeply grateful for the outpouring from neighbors, friends, and the people of Tucson,” the statement, posted just before midnight ET, began. “We are all family now.”

SHERIFF WARNS NANCY GUTHRIE SUSPECT COULD ‘ABSOLUTELY’ STRIKE AGAIN, HINTS AT MOTIVE

“We continue to believe it is Tucsonans, and the greeted Southern Arizona community, that hold the key to finding resolution in this case,” the statement said. “Someone knows something. It’s possible a member of this community has information that they do not even realize is significant.”

Nancy Guthrie disappeared the night of Jan. 31 after a dinner with family and was reported missing Feb. 1 after she did not show up for church. 

Since then, investigators have released video of a suspected abductor at her doorstep and asked residents within a two-mile radius of her Catalina Foothills home to review and submit any unusual footage recorded between Jan. 1 and Feb. 2.

Investigators have also examined reports tied to a masked intruder seen on doorbell cameras and ransom demands involving cryptocurrency. TMZ reported one of the messages described itself as a “highly sophisticated” ransom demand and was forwarded to the FBI. The FBI and the Pima County Sheriff’s Department continue to investigate the suspected abduction.

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A more than $1 million reward is being offered for information leading to Nancy Guthrie’s recovery. Anyone with information is urged to contact the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI or submit a tip through the Pima County Sheriff’s Department or the FBI’s online tip form.

After the cabinet expansion, Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has made the much awaited distribution of departments among the ministers. In this allocation made after the recent swearing in of five new ministers, the Chief Minister has kept many important and sensitive administrative departments with himself. Till now the Chief Minister had the responsibility of more than 35 departments.

According to the released list, the Chief Minister will personally look after major departments like General Administration, Home, Personnel, Vigilance, Appointment and Training and Information and Public Relations. These departments are considered the backbone of governance, through which direct control over administrative decisions and law and order is ensured. At the same time, by dividing other departments among the ministers, their respective responsibilities have been assigned to them, so that effective implementation of departmental work can be ensured. According to sources, this new division will establish better coordination in work and development plans can be implemented faster.

Five posts were vacant for a long time

Recently, while expanding the cabinet, the Chief Minister has given the responsibility of ministerial posts to MLAs Khajan Das, Madan Kaushik, Bharat Singh Choudhary, Pradeep Batra and Ram Singh Kaida. In fact, five posts in the cabinet were lying vacant for a long time, out of which three posts were already vacant, one post became vacant after the death of former minister Chandan Ram Das, while one post became vacant due to the resignation of Prem Chand Agarwal. Under these circumstances, the responsibility of the concerned departments also rested with the Chief Minister.

CM Pushkar Singh Dhami has this department

Council of Ministers, Personnel and Vigilance, Secretariat Administration, Planning, State Property, Information, Home, Revenue, Industrial Development, Industrial Development (Mining), Labour, Drinking Water, Energy, Excise, Justice, Civil Aviation, Finance and Housing

New ministers got these departments

treasure slave

social welfare
minority interest
student welfare
Language

Bharat Singh Chaudhary

rural development
Small and Micro Medium Enterprises
Khadi and village industries

Madan Kaushik

Panchayati Raj
Disaster Management and Rehabilitation
AYUSH and AYUSH education
restructuring
census

Pradeep Batra

transportation
Information Technology and Good Governance
Science Technology
biotechnology

Ram Singh Kaida

urban development
Environmental protection and climate change
watershed management

From a political and administrative point of view, this division is being seen as an attempt to achieve balance. Departments have been reorganized keeping in mind regional and social balance as well as administrative efficiency. Political analysts believe that keeping key administrative departments with the Chief Minister is a strategic step, due to which the main command of the government will remain under his control. Effective distribution of work has been ensured by handing over other departments to ministers. Overall, this departmental division is being considered an important step towards making the working style of the government more coordinated, accountable and result oriented.