Civic Context Digest

MEN, WE HATE THE JACKHAMMER: THE S*X COMPLAINTS WOMEN NEVER TALK ABOUT

If there's one thing New York City women excel at more than anyone else, it's transforming Sunday brunch into an art form.Once a day reserved for church confessions, Sunday has become synonymous with that most sacred of meals. Never at home (always an upmarket café or bar), it is now customary to set aside two hours for bottomless drinks served alongside saucy revelations - oh, and a croissant or two, because it's always wise to line the stomach.Instead of seeking absolution from a priest - who, let's face it, would require an Olympic-sized pool of holy water to wash away our sins - we prefer to toast with champagne these days.And nothing cleanses the soul quite like a good catch-up with the girls.And so, it was in a Manhattan bar last Sunday when I discovered we women have a problematic s*x issue... and over a mimosa (okay, three mimosas) my friends and I decided it was about time we rectify this.A friend was discussing her recent rendezvous with a man she had been crushing on for months - only to discover he was rubbish in the bedroom. Yep, old mate was a dud root, as we Aussies like to say.As she tried to justify breaking it off with him, I instead suggested she give him some pointers to steer him in the right direction. Think of it like a performance review. A boozy brunch in the Big Apple inspired Mail+ columnist Jana Hocking's latest Sealed Section column all about the s*x complaints women are too afraid to tell their husbands and boyfriends'Oh, no, I couldn't! You know how fragile men's egos are!' she said. Sadly, we all agreed.Yes, in an era where honest conversations about intimacy are finally becoming less taboo, many women are still too shy to ask for what they really want in the bedroom. And only a vanishingly small number are brave enough to give their men some gentle feedback from time to time.So I put it out there on Instagram and asked women to share with me, anonymously, what s*x complaints they are too wary to tell their husbands, boyfriends and FWBs.The answers that filled my inbox were candid - and sometimes humorous - observations about what really turns them off in the bedroom.Reading through them all, I quickly noticed a few recurring themes...Going silentSurprisingly, the most common complaint I received was about men being completely silent during s*x. To Jana's surprise, she was flooded with DMs from women who don't understand why the men in their lives go completely silent during s*x (stock image posed by models) Having finally broken my dry spell this week (hold your applause) with a man who was deliciously vocal, I have to say, I get it! Kelly* told me her ex-husband refused to make a sound in the bedroom.'He always said, "I'm not a loud moaner," which I respected, but it left me feeling like he wasn't enjoying it. I mean, he did finish quickly sometimes so I knew I was doing something right, but I would have loved a good old "oh god, that feels amazing" every now and then.'Silence can be confusing to women because it makes it nearly impossible to tell if your partner is having fun or just going through the motions. For many of us, a little vocal feedback goes a long way. If you tell us what you like, and give us a little reassurance, we'll give you a lot more in return. Trust me!The foreplay fiascoThis was another hot topic. Men just going straight for pe*******on with no warm-up. Camilla, one of my followers who recently moved here from Mexico, told me: 'I've found Australian men don't have a strong foreplay game.'I'm Latina, and before I moved here, our men (specifically Mexican) really knew what they were doing.'The message is clear: good s*x isn't just about the main event. It's about the build-up, the anticipation, the playful exploration that sets the stage for an unforgettable experience.To conclude: don't rush in just because you're at full-mast.The lazy loverAh yes, the boring old routine. Get home, have dinner, watch TV and then a quick bonk in bed before lights out. Oh, so many women know it so well. It might be good enough for some blokes, but the routine and predictability can kill the spark. Sally* vented in my DMs: 'Lazy, same old, same old s*x. Get it out of the bedroom and f**k me over the kitchen table, for god's sake!' I feel your pain, Sally. Mix it up a little, gents, and surprise us with a cheeky good time outside the bedroom once in a while. Changing location can really reignite the fire.Jackhammering... just don'tLet me put it bluntly, fellas, we hate jackhammering.Now, for the uninitiated, jackhammering is pretty much what it sounds like: relentless, machine-like thrusting, usually when the woman is on top and the man is below. 'Jackhammering' is a common complaint from women (stock image posed by models)Yes, it can be a fun (albeit eye-popping) experience in short bursts, but it can also be tiresome, uncomfortable and, when overdone, just plain boring.Within minutes of putting a callout on social media, one woman slid straight into my DMs and raged: 'Stop the jackhammer! Slow the f**k down, mate!' Also, consider the case of Laura* and her boyfriend Mike*. In their early days together, Mike believed his aggressive, high-energy approach was a real crowd-pleaser and showed off his s*xual stamina.However, Laura soon found Mike's athletic enthusiasm was really just his routine, mechanical approach to s*x, and she soon grew tired of it. You see, fellas, with jackhammering, we get that feeling of being 'f***ed' - which every lady needs from time to time - but there's no tenderness. We never get that feeling that our bodies are in sync. We feel like bystanders rather than participants.Laura's plea to her boyfriend was simple: a gentler, more measured pace is so much better than a non-stop barrage.And if we want some jackhammering, we'll ask!The movement dilemma'Sometimes we want you to just stay still while we're on top... STOP moving.'In many relationships, intimacy is about finding a mutual rhythm. Catherine* provided a telling example of a mistake so many men are making in bed.Whenever she took charge in the cowgirl position, her lover's habit of fidgeting, shifting and trying to thrust disrupted the moment. 'It's like he's trying to get me to do three different positions in under five minutes,' she said.Instead of allowing Catherine to express herself and hit just the right spot, his constant motion broke the connection and made it almost impossible for her climax. How did she fix the problem? A few stern words: 'Don't move... please!'And, voilà, a few minutes of her man staying perfectly still while she worked her magic on top was all she needed for a spectacular finale.See, lads? Sometimes the easiest way to show you care is by doing nothing at all! Just sit back and enjoy the show.Yes, we know when you're on Vi**raHere's a spoiler for the men who like to take 'performance enhancers' in the bedroom: your little secret is written all over your face and lips.Yes, we can usually tell when you're on Vi**ra because you get so flushed! Oh, and you always want to go for round two (or even three!) even though we're exhausted.Now this isn't usually an issue for the gentlemen with actual ED. I'm talking to those younger guys who don't really need it but fancy themselves as 's*xual athletes'. Here's a spoiler for the men who take 'performance enhancers' in the bedroom: your little secret is written all over your (very flushed!) face and lips (stock image of Vi**ra pills)Ask any woman out there - we've all encountered a man who wants to be 'up all night' and is ready to go again after a suspiciously short time frame. It's tiring!So when Shondra* slid into my DMs with a similar confession, I was relieved I wasn't the only one to notice this trend.She told me their intimacy had turned into a never-ending series of 'rounds' that felt less like shared passion and more like a competition. Her boyfriend's use of s*x drugs was unmistakable, not just from his flushed face, but from the way he was able to keep going even after they'd both climaxed. While his intentions were to please, his overzealous approach sometimes left her questioning whether it was about genuine connection or merely the influence of a pill.Similarly, another woman told me: 'If neither of you is going to get to the finish line, I wish the guy would just stop instead of going on and on and on.' The takeaway? Sometimes less is more. Oh, and pen*ses aren't meant to be hard for hours at a time.TikTok tricks gone wrongNow don't get me wrong, we love a man who does his research on how to get a woman off. Kings, all of you, but no… that trick you learned on TikTok doesn't work.Social media trends have a way of invading even the most personal spaces. We've all embarrassed ourselves trying to learn some ridiculous new dance for the 'Tok.But one of my followers, Nina*, recalled an evening with her boyfriend, who was eager to impress with a new 'technique' he'd seen by some former p**n star online.It was a tip on 'going downtown' on a woman. Rather than enhancing the experience, the overly choreographed move felt forced, out of place and didn't match his flow.In her words, he was like 'a slobbering dog', leaving Nina bewildered and, honestly, a bit amused by it all.The incident served as a reminder that while experimentation can be fun, not every viral trend translates to real-life chemistry. Authentic connection beats a scripted move any day of the week.Beyond size: embracing authenticity'Stop obsessing over your size. We (mostly) don't care.'I feel like I harp on about this one a lot, so I was chuffed to have some reassurance in my DMs that I'm bang on the money. Yes, in a world saturated with insecurities and unrealistic standards, many women appreciate partners who are more focused on emotional connection than on physical attributes.Rachel's* story is a case in point. Her boyfriend used to always be preoccupied with comparing himself to other men and obsessing over measurements.Yet Rachel found that genuine affection, good humour and acts of kindness were far more important to her. What she truly wanted was a partner who valued intimacy and pleasure over superficial benchmarks like, 'Am I bigger than your ex?'Eventually he got over it.Look, lads, I know the size thing will always weigh on your mind. After all, it's not a muscle you can work out at the gym to make bigger; you're stuck with what you were born with (unless you want to fork out thousands for some awful plastic surgery).So yes, my heart kind of breaks for you if you feel you don't measure up. But take it from me, we honestly couldn't care less.The p**n problem'Yes, we can tell when you watch too much p**n.'I'll be honest with you – when a guy takes forever to climax, I always think to myself, 'Oh, he definitely watched p**n today, or masturbated, or both.' It's kind of annoying!Sometimes a nice 10-minute roll in the hay is all we need, but when a guy has already blown his load, it can take a lot longer for him to finish. And, just like the jackhammer, it gets tedious and boring.However, for my friend Emily* the intrusion of p**n into her partner's life began to set unrealistic expectations in the bedroom. Sometimes he would try to copy scenarios that were better suited to the screen than a real-life relationship. Emily noticed the spontaneity and natural rhythm of their intimacy were compromised by some ridiculous moves that only women in p**n could make look pleasurable.One day he even suggested light choking because 'all women love it'. No, no, I think you will find that's not true. Oh, men, you can be so naïve sometimes…So what's the solution?1. Be vocal, tell us what you like, and reassure us with a simple 'that feels amazing'2. Slow it down, and focus on how our body reacts. Don't simply plow away at us3. Stop getting your s*x tips from p**n4. Relax about the size of your old fella5. Mix it up. Why not get a bit raunchy outside of the bedroom every now and then?6. Stop thinking we want an eight-hour s*x marathon. Sometimes a qu**ky is just as fun, as long as we both get off.It's really quite simple when you think about it!

SHE KILLED HER 3 KIDS WHILE HEARING VOICES – THE REAL REASON WILL HAUNT YOU

Lindsay Clancy seemed like a loving mom. Then one day, she strangled her three children, ages 5, 3, and 8 months, and jumped from a second-story window. Her defense? Postpartum psychosis—a rare condition that can make new mothers hear voices commanding them to harm their own babies. Doctors say it can strike without warning, even in women with no history of mental illness. But here's the twist: her lawyers claim she was overmedicated with 13 different psychiatric drugs in just four months. Was this a tragedy of mental illness—or a medical system failure? The trial is exposing secrets most people don't know.
This case is absolutely terrifying. The full breakdown explains how postpartum psychosis can appear out of nowhere—definitely worth a watch: https://geni.us/https-CBSnews

F1 STARS SUMMONED FOR 'DANGEROUS' MOVE – WHAT THEY DID NEXT WILL SHOCK YOU

Carlos Sainz and Max Verstappen are both getting called to the stewards' office after a wild practice session at the Hungarian GP. It started when Verstappen nearly rear-ended Sainz's slow Williams, screaming 'unbelievable' on the radio. But here's the twist: Sainz claims he lost radio because a cable disconnected. Then things got even weirder when Sainz deliberately crowded another driver off the track in frustration. The FIA isn't letting either of them off easy. But what nobody knew was that Verstappen's reaction might've been even more controversial than Sainz's mistake...
This whole situation is wild. Full breakdown of the drama here: https://geni.us/https-FoxNews

CHARLI XCX JUST KILLED 'BRAT SUMMER' – BUT WHAT SHE REPLACED IT WITH IS GENIUS

You remember 'Brat summer,' right? Lime green, dance beats, and Charli XCX becoming a household name. Well, she just pulled the ultimate pivot. Her new album ditches the club bangers for grinding guitars and raw, Pixies-style indie rock. And it's not just a sound change—she's spilling everything. Identity crisis, marriage doubts, even a wink at her 'bad girl' reputation. But the real twist? The album artwork features three legends—John Cale, Marc Jacobs, and Martin Scorsese. No green, no Brat. Just Charli, stripped down. What she says about fame next will make you rethink everything.
Okay this album switch-up is wild. I thought Brat was peak but this new direction hits different. Full breakdown here if you're curious: https://geni.us/www-Nytimes-com

A CHICKEN WRAP COST HER £760 – WAITROSE SAID IT WAS HER FAULT

You bite into a soft chicken wrap from Waitrose, expecting an easy lunch. Instead, you hit something rock-hard, shattering your dental crown. The pain is excruciating, and the bill? £760. When she complained, Waitrose blamed a tiny disclaimer on the package about bones. They offered a £4 voucher. But when she tried to get the foreign object tested, the supermarket sent back a different piece of meat. The real shock? What happened in court left her silenced.
This is wild. The ending got me, check it out: https://geni.us/httpsCBS-news

DEA AGENT CLEARED AFTER FATAL BURGER KING SHOOTING – BUT THIS VIDEO CHANGES EVERYTHING

You've seen the headlines: a DEA agent walks after shooting a Burger King employee. But the security footage released by the prosecutor tells a story that's way more complicated. Darrin Pigram was 41, wanted on a warrant, and the agent says he reached for a gun. But here's the twist – no body cameras, no audio, and the video cuts at the critical moment. What the prosecutor didn't tell you about those final seconds will make you question everything.
This whole case is wild. The video doesn't show the actual shot but the tension is unreal. Full breakdown here if you want to see it: https://geni.us/https-CNN

OIL JUST HIT $100 AGAIN – HERE’S WHY YOUR WALLET IS NEXT

Global oil prices just surged past $100 a barrel for the first time in months. The trigger? Houthi attacks on Saudi tankers in the Red Sea. That’s already pushing gas above $4 a gallon nationwide, with diesel hitting $5.20. But here’s the scary part: the Fed’s next interest rate decision is days away, and this could reignite inflation. The question nobody’s asking yet is how high prices could go if the conflict escalates. The full breakdown is wild.
This one hit different after I saw gas prices jump near me. Full story’s here if you wanna know what’s coming next: https://geni.us/httpsCBS-news

CANELO FINALLY BREAKS SILENCE – WHY HE NEVER FOUGHT BENAVIDEZ

Boxing fans have been waiting years for this. Canelo Alvarez just sat down and revealed why the David Benavidez fight never actually happened. He gets real about the delays, the Crawford fight that felt 'off,' and even his unexpected take on Jake Paul. But the real reason he dodged Benavidez? It's not what you think. Watch the full breakdown before it gets taken down:
Bro, Canelo finally said it. The ending caught me off guard. Full video's here if you're curious: https://geni.us/https-CNNnews

THE 3 CHARLOTTE FC STARS WHO COULD DESTROY ATLANTA UNITED TONIGHT

Charlotte FC is back for the second half of the 2026 MLS season, and they're kicking things off with a rivalry matchup against Atlanta United. But here's the thing—three of their own players were just named MLS All-Stars, and they've got a history of crushing Atlanta. Tim Ream, Pep Biel, and Ashley Westwood are about to take the field, and one of them has already scored the last two match-winning goals against the 5-Stripes. But what nobody knew was that Kristijan Kahlina, their goalkeeper, has a 77.8 save percentage against Atlanta—and half of all meetings between these teams ended in a shutout.
This rivalry is wild, and the stats on Kahlina are insane. Full video's here if you're curious: https://geni.us/www-ABCnews

WHY ENGLAND'S WATER CRISIS COULD SPARK A POLITICAL REVOLUTION

Andy Burnham just became PM, and he's already picking a fight with the water companies. Privatization has left Thames Water £20 billion in debt, pipes leaking everywhere, and sewage in the rivers. The public is furious about rising bills and wasted water. Burnham sees this as a huge political opportunity—he wants to nationalize Thames Water. But here's the twist: fixing this mess might be impossible without a total overhaul. What happens when a populist leader takes on a broken system? The answer could reshape British politics.
This is wild—didn't realize how bad the water situation is in the UK. Full story here if you're curious: https://geni.us/www-CNN-com