This guy never served. He faked an injury to avoid the draft. None of his children have served. He called those who did serve their country "suckers and losers." He skipped the centenary memorial for servicemen who died in WWI because it was drizzling. This is more than usually repellent.

As with his other religious-themed posts, Trump’s crucifix-kissing AI slop is disturbing on a deeper level for the extent to which it co-opts Christian symbolism for blatantly political and self-serving ends.

Donald Trump Kisses a Golden Crucifix on Truth Social - Opus

Donald Trump loves nothing and no one as much as he loves himself.

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So many great options exist for people who want to start blogging these days. Case in point: @olly.world’s Pagecord, a thoughtfully designed platform that strips away a lot of the cruft to create a pleasant blogging experience that’s good for both pros and newbies.

Pagecord Is a Thoughtfully Simple Blogging Platform - Opus

A fantastic option for people who just want to start blogging with minimal fuss or set-up.

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A prime example of an ’80s “B” movie that’s not great, but is nevertheless better and more enjoyable than it has any right to be. My ★★★ review of Charles Band’s “Trancers” (1984):

Review of “Trancers” by Charles Band (Cultural Diet) - Opus

Music, movie, and anime reviews as well as other bits of pop culture coverage by Jason Morehead.

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Quick reviews of all of the movies, TV series, anime, etc., that I experienced last month, including Halo, The Odyssey, Evangelion, House, Escape from New York, and more.

My Cultural Diet (July 2026): Halo, The Odyssey, Evangelion, House, Escape from New York - Opus

A quick rundown of last month’s cultural experiences.

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This is an absolutely, completely, and totally normal thing for the President of the United States to post on social media for everyone to see.

My streaming recommendations for August 2026 feature Alan Ritchson, A.F.C. Richmond, Green Lantern’s light, velociraptors, the Knight Industries Two Thousand, and more. Full list here: opus.ing/posts/best-s...

Knight Rider: KITT Car in Fog

ALT: Knight Rider: KITT Car in Fog

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I can’t even begin to count how many times I watch “Flight of the Navigator” on VHS as a kid. And it still holds up pretty well. Paul Reubens’ schtick gets a bit tiresome, but the first half is near-perfect in its sense of mystery. Today marks the film’s 40th anniversary. My short review:

“Flight of the Navigator” by Randal Kleiser (My Favorites) - Opus

Music, movie, and anime reviews as well as other bits of pop culture coverage by Jason Morehead.

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I’ve never been much of a list-maker, but for my 50th birthday — which was six months ago today — I decided to try and make definitive lists of my 50 favorite songs, albums, and movies.

One of my all-time favorite films, Friðrik Þór Friðriksson’s “Children of Nature,” had its premiere in Iceland 35 years ago today. It’s a gorgeous film about two senior citizens whose journey back to their childhood home grows increasingly otherworldly. My review:

“Children of Nature” by Friðrik Þór Friðriksson (Review) - Opus

A lyrical film about death, nostalgia, and the importance of honoring the wishes of those whose years are near their end.

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Even with all of the reworked graphics and visual updates, it’s hard not to feel like the entire thing is a bit superfluous and unnecessary, like it’s an extended tech demo more than anything else. My ★★★ review of #Halo: Campaign Evolved: opus.ing/diet/538260

Halo Campaign Evolved Master Chief

ALT: Halo Campaign Evolved Master Chief

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I’ve been listening to the new Durutti Column album all day, and it’s a remarkable piece of work. I’m so glad Vini Reilly’s still with us and still making gorgeous music like this song.

“Your Shadow at Morning” by The Durutti Column - Opus

The Durutti Column’s first album in 16 years is a true rebirth, as evidenced by this standout track.

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Just in time for Communism to hit the headlines again, my new book "The Screen and the Mirror" has a whole chapter on "The Manchurian Candidate" and modern-day McCarthyism! And you can read that chapter for free at @christandpopculture.com. #booksky #filmsky christandpopculture.com/capc-exclusi...

CAPC Exclusive: Read the First Chapter From Gina Dalfonzo's The Screen and the Mirror - Christ and Pop Culture

Gina Dalfonzo's new book considers how flawed movie characters can teach us about our own fallen natures.

christandpopculture.com

Longtime CAPC editor/writer @ginadalfonzo.bsky.social has just published a new book titled “The Screen and the Mirror” on Wipf and Stock. They’ve graciously allowed us to share the opening chapter, which focuses on John Frankenheimer’s “The Manchurian Candidate,” with our readers.

CAPC Exclusive: Read the First Chapter From Gina Dalfonzo's The Screen and the Mirror - Christ and Pop Culture

Gina Dalfonzo's new book considers how flawed movie characters can teach us about our own fallen natures.

christandpopculture.com

Zakè and @milieu.bsky.social’s ambient techno collaboration has been stuck in my head all week long. On a related note, never discount the value of a trumpet denouement in ambient music.

“Pines in Summer Static” by Zakè and Coppice Halifax - Opus

Subtly gorgeous ambient techno that envisions a blend of the natural and the technological.

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“[T]he film made me very nostalgic for the days when I used to be in a band… the scenes of #GlenHansard (lead singer of The Frames, and the male lead) and his friends jamming together, melding somehow into one and creating something much greater than the sum of its parts were just beautiful.”

“Once” by John Carney (Review) - Opus

A very fetching little musical romance that eschews the usual tropes associated with both musicals and romances.

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The only way to beat AI is to make ourselves sound dumber, I guess.

Manisha Krishnan@manishakrishnan.bsky.social · last wk.

Authors and journalists are doing more first-person (hello 2010s blogging) and embracing "mistakes" in writing to prove they're not chatbots. There's even an “anti-Grammarly" app that leaves in typos and signs off "sent from my iPhone" to create more authenticity: www.wired.com/story/more-t...

New from @micahrickard.bsky.social: Alex Garland’s “Annihilation” (2018) uses a blend of sci-fi and horror to encourage us to consider the powers that lie beyond our ability to describe and control. Read the full article: christandpopculture.com/modern-trans...

Natalie Portman in Annihilation

ALT: Natalie Portman in Annihilation

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I’m continually fascinated by the apps made possible by @atproto.com. Case in point, @grain.social, a photo-sharing platform by @chadtmiller.com that feels like a cleaner, simpler Instagram. My full review here:

Grain Is the AT Protocol’s Instagram Alternative - Opus

A simpler, photo-first alternative to the current ad and algorithm-saturated social media landscape.

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A movie that fully and completely embraces the silliness of its subject matter, for better or worse. My ★★★ review of Travis Knight’s “Masters of the Universe” (2026): opus.ing/diet/538143

Pulling The Sword He-man

ALT: Pulling The Sword He-man

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I enjoyed and appreciated the ambitious scope, but it also feels like it could’ve been so much better. My ★★★½ review of Christopher Nolan’s #TheOdyssey (2026): opus.ing/diet/538073

Walking Odysseus

ALT: Walking Odysseus

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Superheroes are dead now, so Hollywood has no choice but to stage incredibly elaborate adaptations of unfilmable science fiction classics. The masses need The Book of the New Sun!

This weekend’s Opus newsletter features articles on “Calvin and Hobbes,” World Cup 2026, the music of David Eugene Edwards, “Dirty Pair,” Charlie Kirk, and much more. Enjoy!

Weekend Reads (July 25, 2026): “Calvin and Hobbes,” World Cup 2026, “Dirty Pair,” Charlie Kirk

Recommended weekend reading material for July 25, 2026.

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2814’s transcendent “Rain Temple” — an album that completely shattered my expectations of what a #vaporwave release could be — was released 10 years ago today. My review from 2016:

“Rain Temple” by 2814 (Review) - Opus

Though created by two vaporwave luminaries, this album’s best moments transcend that genre’s aesthetics.

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I was a bit uncertain about Apple’s upcoming adaptation of William Gibson’s #Neuromancer novel, but this first teaser has me feeling more optimistic.

Apple’s Neuromancer Adaptation Finally Gets a Teaser - Opus

The “unfilmable” cyberpunk classic is finally coming to the screen after 40+ years of failed efforts.

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This Hong Kong response to the “Police Academy” films boasts some of the most delightfully insane action sequences I’ve seen in a long time. My ★★★½ review of Wellson Chin’s “The Inspector Wears Skirts” (1988): opus.ing/diet/538053

Big themes and bravura filmmaking notwithstanding, it’s a surprisingly ineffective film from one of our greatest filmmakers. My ★★ review of Steven Spielberg’s “Disclosure Day” (2026): opus.ing/diet/538021

I didn’t know that I needed this Babymetal/Evangelion crossover in my life.

04. BABYMETAL - Tamashii no Refrain (LIVE "LEGEND 1997" [SU-METAL Seitan Sai] 2013)

YouTube video by Gans Tomas

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If you can believe it, Anno considered an even darker ending at one point, but what he settled on permanently sealed Evangelion’s status as one of the most iconic anime titles of all time. My ★★★★ review of Hideaki Anno and Kazuya Tsurumaki’s “The End of Evangelion” (1997): opus.ing/diet/537811

End Of Evangelion Shinji

ALT: End Of Evangelion Shinji

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For all of its controversies, this year’s #WorldCup also brought me a lot of joy. My latest for @christandpopculture.com lists some of my favorite moments, both on and off the pitch.

Moments of Joy From the 2026 World Cup - Christ and Pop Culture

The whole world coming together proved even more beautiful than the beautiful game itself.

christandpopculture.com