Armed Forces Brewing Company, a right-wing pander brand, has filed a $50 million lawsuit against individuals and groups who criticized its business practices. The brewery, which closed in March 2025 after a short tenure in Norfolk, alleges a coordinated campaign of defamation and interference designed to destroy the company. Critics, however, contend that the lawsuit is a retaliation against local residents and activists who voiced valid concerns about the brewery’s behavior and ideology, rather than a legitimate response to unlawful actions. The company, led by CEO Alan Beal, has consistently blamed a “woke mob” for its closure and continues to claim persecution despite its controversial marketing and public incidents.
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A year after customers placed $100 deposits for a Trump-branded gold phone, not one has shipped, and recent changes to the preorder terms and conditions have raised concerns about their eventual delivery. The company, T1 Mobile LLC, updated its terms to state it “does not guarantee that a Device will be produced or made available for purchase,” making the deposit a conditional opportunity at the company’s discretion. This update follows multiple release date pushbacks for the “T1” phone, which was initially slated to ship in August 2025. While the phone has reportedly achieved necessary certifications for U.S. release, its features have been redesigned multiple times, and its advertised “made in America” origin has shifted to “designed with American values in mind.”
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It’s rather striking that JD Vance’s new memoir, detailing his journey to Catholicism, features a cover image that appears to depict a Methodist church. This juxtaposition immediately sparks a conversation about sincerity, branding, and the potentially performative nature of faith in the public sphere, especially for a figure like Vance. The visual discrepancy raises eyebrows and prompts questions about the care and attention paid to such a significant detail in a book that purports to explore a deeply personal conversion.
The choice of a Methodist church on the cover of a book about becoming Catholic suggests a significant oversight, or perhaps something more calculated.… Continue reading
The Trump administration is set to implement an unprecedented change to US currency, with President Trump’s signature slated to appear on all denominations of American bills. This marks the first time in 165 years that the treasurer’s signature will be replaced, and the first time in US history that the sitting president’s autograph will be featured. The decision, intended to be a lasting one, comes as the nation approaches its 250th anniversary and follows other efforts to brand government institutions and symbols with the president’s likeness.
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The recent stunt where Donald Trump attempted to mix his campaign efforts with fast food culture has left me both bemused and slightly horrified. Selling “MAGADonald’s” shirts for a whopping $100 is undeniably a move that screams opportunism, but it’s also a fascinating case study in the art of marketing—and manipulation. The phrase “I HAVE a McGift FOR YOU!” strikes me as something out of a satirical cartoon; it encapsulates the absurdity of political branding in today’s world.
As a society, we’ve been subjected to countless instances of shameless self-promotion and commercialization by influential figures, but this particular stunt feels like a new low, or perhaps a new peak depending on how one looks at it.… Continue reading
John Q. Hosedrinker 
Matt Underwood