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Last Notes

2026-10-11 13:30:00 GMT

Banned Books Week is [baloney](https://bannedbooksweek.org/ ).
Not because nobody ever tries to suppress a book. People do. The lure of the ban hammer is strong.
We are staging arguments over banned books in a country where too many people barely read books.
But let’s be serious. A challenge is not a ban. A school-library dispute is not [the Palmer raids](https://www.history.com/articles/palmer-raids ). A parent objecting to what an 11-year-old reads is not [Anthony Comstock](https://libguides.umn.edu/guide-nyssv ) resurrected.
Words should mean something.
The American Library Association has spent years blurring those distinctions, and every October around this time, we get the same little morality play: librarians as defenders of civilization, readers as brave dissidents, famous novels wrapped in the aura of forbidden fruit.
Last weekend at a Barnes and Noble in Southern California, I saw the display in person.
A table that had been marked “required reading” a few weeks prior was now the “read banned books” table. There sat “The Handmaid’s Tale,” “Nineteen Eighty-Four,” “The Catcher in the Rye,” and all the usual suspects. All for sale.
Some ban!
The ALA will object that it uses “ban” in a fairly narrow sense. A book need not disappear from American commerce to count as banned. Remove it from a school or library collection and the word applies.
That’s exactly the problem.
Removing a book from one institutional collection is not the same as suppressing it from public circulation. A restriction is not automatically a ban. Precision is not too much to ask from an organization supposedly devoted to books.
America has known censorship. Real censorship.
In 1926, H.L. Mencken deliberately sold a copy of the “[Hatrack](https://scholarship.law.umn.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1829&context=concomm )” issue of the American Mercury in Boston after the Watch and Ward Society targeted it as obscene. He got arrested.
He beat the charge.
The Postal Service also declared the issue un-mailable. Had that ruling stood, the government could have put his magazine out of business.
Woodrow Wilson’s government sent [Eugene V. Debs](https://firstamendment.mtsu.edu/article/debs-v-united-states/ ) to prison for an antiwar speech. Federal agents swept up radicals in the Palmer raids. In [**Schenck v. United States**](https://www.oyez.org/cases/1900-1940/249us47 ), the Supreme Court upheld the conviction of a man who distributed anti-draft leaflets.
**RELATED: **[**Don’t fall for the fake ‘banned books’ narrative**](https://www.theblaze.com/lifestyle/don-t-fall-for-the-fake-banned-books-narrative )
Chris Sweda/Chicago Tribune/Tribune News Service/Getty Images
That is what censorship looks like when the government means it.
Yes, school boards still do stupid things.
In 2013, a North Carolina board pulled Ralph Ellison’s “Invisible Man” after one member said he could find “[no literary value](https://www.latimes.com/books/jacketcopy/la-et-jc-ralph-ellison-invisible-man-banned-north-carolina-20130919-story.html )” in it. Nine days later, after national ridicule, the board reversed itself.
In 2010, a Riverside County, California, school district briefly pulled [Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary](https://www.cbsnews.com/news/ban-on-dictionary-with-oral-sex-lifted/ ) because a parent objected to its definition of “oral sex.”
The dictionary came back too.
Somebody does something foolish. Somebody else objects. The fool backs down. That’s generally how freedom works.
And no, [Ron DeSantis](https://www.cnn.com/2024/04/16/politics/desantis-education-book-challenges-reaj ) did **not** “ban books” in Florida. He signed laws governing what public schools may place in classrooms and school libraries.
Calling every restriction a ban is how you turn a policy dispute into a stupid morality play.
Azar Nafisi knows more about actual censorship than most Americans ever will. She lived under the Islamic Republic of Iran. In “[Read Dangerously](https://www.amazon.com/Read-Dangerously-Subversive-Literature-Troubled/dp/0062947362 ),” she writes about “literature as resistance” — literature resisting kings, tyrants, and “the tyrants within us.”
She asks how we confront an enemy without becoming like him or surrendering to him. Good question!
Reading dangerously under tyranny is one possible answer.
But at the risk of stating the obvious, America is not Iran.
And if we are going to use the word “dangerous,” let’s make it mean something.
A dangerous book is not simply one somebody objected to. It may be a book with such a rotten reputation that people condemn it without reading it. A book a publisher drops. A book a retailer refuses to carry. A book that goes out of print and can’t be had for love or money. A book people would rather summarize for you than let you judge for yourself.
Jean Raspail’s “[The Camp of the Saints](https://www.amazon.com/Camp-Saints-Jean-Raspail/dp/B0FG4MJS8K/ )” will do.
First published in France in 1973, the novel imagines a flotilla of impoverished migrants sailing toward Europe. For decades, it has been reduced to a racist anti-immigrant tract.
I have read it. That is not what the book is principally about.
Raspail’s real villains are the politicians, journalists, clergy, and intellectuals who have lost the nerve to defend their own civilization.
For years, English copies were scarce and expensive. A new translation appeared last year. [Amazon briefly pulled the physical edition](https://www.theblaze.com/news/amazon-gives-lame-excuse-for-removing-offensive-dystopian-novel-about-mass-migration-ruining-europe ). People complained. Amazon restored it.
**That** is a dangerous book because its reputation has done much of the work its critics should have done themselves.
**RELATED: **[**Jean Raspail’s notorious — and prophetic — novel returns to America**](https://www.theblaze.com/columns/opinion/jean-raspails-notorious-and-prophetic-novel-returns-to-america )
Pascal Parrot/Sygma/Sygma/Getty Images
So I say read Raspail and Julius Evola and Sam Francis. Read Nafisi and Ralph Ellison and Salman Rushdie.
Read authors who annoy your friends. Read writers your political allies dismiss. Read books with appalling reputations. Read the book everybody quotes and almost nobody seems to have opened.
Or don’t.
There is no virtue in reading a controversial book. Buying “Nineteen Eighty-Four” at Barnes and Noble does not make you Solzhenitsyn.
But please do not pretend.
Do not pretend a challenge is automatically a ban or that a book is unavailable when it is sitting on a table in front of you. Do not pretend reading a famous novel everyone can buy is an act of resistance.
We are staging arguments over banned books in a country where too many people barely read books.
Mencken praised the “gay fellows who heaved dead cats into sanctuaries” and thereby proved “that doubt, after all, was safe.”
He was right.
Read dangerously, if you like. Just read.
https://www.theblaze.com/media-library/read-dangerously-but-please-just-read.jpg?id=68403158&width=980

2026-09-27 10:30:00 GMT

Actress [Tatiana Maslany](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1137209/?ref_=tt_cst_t_1 ) recently called Tom Selleck and Michael Jordan “cowardly” for keeping politics out of much of their work.
Some readers may ask: Who?
If all art is political, as Maslany says, then let the art speak. Give us a performance powerful enough to make us listen.
Maslany won an Emmy for “[Orphan Black](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2234222/?ref_=nm_knf_t_2 )” and starred in Marvel’s “[She-Hulk: Attorney at Law.](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt10857160/?_ssoLoop=1 )” That is a career many actors would envy. Selleck and Jordan, however, are household names whose audiences have stayed with them for decades.
I wonder whether Maslany has thought much about why.
On Mehdi Hasan’s show, Maslany argued that all entertainment is political. Selleck had explained that he saw little sense in alienating half the country when his job was to entertain it. Jordan’s famous line about [Republicans buying sneakers](https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/29130478/michael-jordan-stands-firm-republicans-buy-sneakers-too-quote-says-was-made-jest ) made much the same point. Maslany called that kind of restraint cowardly.
Fame and money can make anyone feel invulnerable. At the height of their fame, Selleck and Jordan could have told audiences what to think at every opportunity. Instead, they showed enough judgment to consider what they might lose by doing so — and whether politics was necessary to the work in the first place.
They built careers that lasted longer than the moment when everybody wanted an autograph.
I have seen this kind of signaling on a much smaller and more personal level. At one teaching hospital where my wife received extensive treatment, some young residents wore pronouns on their badges. None of the attending surgeons who treated Gracie did. I could choose the attending surgeon; the residents came with the package.
Let me be blunt. If you make pronouns part of your professional presentation, I notice. To me, putting them front and center signals concerns I do not want inserted into a relationship built on competence and trust. I could not choose the residents assigned to Gracie’s care. When the choice is mine, however, I make it.
Were the attending surgeons cowards for leaving pronouns off their badges? I have no idea what each of them believed. I know that when Gracie faced another surgery, their personal lives and politics never entered the room or gave me reason to question their judgment.
That becomes rather important when you are standing at an operating room door.
**RELATED: **[**The fourth bus of the Apocalypse**](https://www.theblaze.com/columns/opinion/the-fourth-bus-of-the-apocalypse )
Cem Genco/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images
An entertainer’s public choices work much the same way. Maslany can impugn Selleck and Jordan. She can say whatever she pleases. And I can decline to spend a dime or a minute on her work.
I cannot watch a Robert De Niro movie now without hearing his [political rants](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UHIYnm_uHOw ) instead of his character. When football players began kneeling during the national anthem, I stopped watching. Nearly a decade later, I still have not returned. The NFL went on without me, and I went on without it.
Gillette lost me the same way. When the company aired its commercial about “[toxic masculinity](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UYaY2Kb_PKI ),” I stopped buying its products. I never announced a boycott. I simply bought another razor. My eyebrows went up when I later heard Dana Perino say on “The Five” that her husband, Peter, had done the same.
How many other customers quietly made that decision?
Nobody has to organize a boycott. People can simply find another razor, another movie, or something else to do on Sunday afternoon. The business may never learn why the customer disappeared.
**RELATED: **[**What Montana taught this Southern storyteller about shutting up**](https://www.theblaze.com/columns/opinion/what-montana-taught-this-southern-storyteller-about-shutting-up )
Karla Ann Cote/NurPhoto/Getty Images
Maslany recently turned 41. She is no newcomer waiting for her first break. She knows how much talent and luck it takes to land a role people remember, and she cannot know how many more will come.
Perhaps she will gain admirers for what she said. Perhaps she will never miss a role or a paycheck. Or perhaps some people she hopes will watch her next performance will quietly walk away. Others whose livelihoods depend on her work may absorb some of the cost.
That is the part of celebrity political speech people often miss. The audience does not owe the performer its continued attention.
If all art is political, as Maslany says, then let the art speak. Give us a performance powerful enough to make us listen. Calling two men cowards is easier than producing work people will still want to see decades from now.
Selleck and Jordan understood something about fame while they had plenty of it: An audience does not belong to you.
Maslany is free to speak her mind. The rest of us are just as free to decide whether we want to hear any more.
https://www.theblaze.com/media-library/the-audience-you-may-need-someday.jpg?id=67858647&width=980

2026-09-11 21:10:06 GMT

A Democrat candidate in North Carolina is forcing her party to run the other way after she [appeared](https://www.carolinajournal.com/attack-on-us-soil-comment-sparks-backlash-for-nc-house-candidate/ ) to defend resurfaced comments calling for political violence.
The [website](https://headenfornc.com/ ) for Shelly Headen's campaign says she is a mom, a neighbor, and an advocate, but on [social media](https://x.com/shelly_headen/with_replies ) she advocated for a military strike against many of those neighbors.
When asked about the extremist insults, Headen compared herself to Jesus Christ.
Headen is running for North Carolina's state House District 62 without the support of her party after the comments went public.
"I think our only hope is an attack on US Soil … preferably Alabama, Louisiana … where the stupid people live,” Headen wrote in one post, according to the Carolina Journal.
Another comment said the "MAGA cult may be more destructive and evil than the Nazis" and also accused President Donald Trump of "getting close to surpassing Hitler."
When asked about the extremist insults, Headen compared herself to Jesus Christ.
"I’ve sacrificed myself just like Jesus sacrificed himself on the cross, and Martin Luther King and Abraham Lincoln and all the people that put themselves out there to sacrifice for our country,” Headen said in a statement to [the Assembly](https://www.theassemblync.com/news/politics/democrats-drop-support-headen-violence-against-republicans/ ).
“If a few angry moments on social media are the end, then so be it," she added. "MAGA will keep winning if we continue with not standing up for what’s right."
The North Carolina House Democratic Caucus appeared to disagree with Headen that she was acting like Jesus Christ, and the organization stripped its support from her campaign.
"Shelly Headen’s posts are unacceptable and do not reflect the values we expect of our candidates," claimed Sam Lozier, the communications director for the caucus. "The North Carolina House Democratic Caucus condemns these comments without qualification and will not support Shelly Headen’s candidacy."
**RELATED: **[**14 times 'unhinged' Democrats have called for political violence**](https://www.theblaze.com/news/democrats-political-violence-rhetoric-examples )
Republican state House Speaker Destin Hall [condemned](https://x.com/DestinHall/status/2098042241247740223 ) the "absolutely disgusting" comments.
Headen is running [against](https://ballotpedia.org/Shelly_Headen ) incumbent Republican state Rep. John M. Bust.
*Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. **[Sign up here](https://www.theblaze.com/newsletters/theblaze-articlelink )**! *
https://www.theblaze.com/media-library/democrats-drop-crazed-candidate-over-resurfaced-comments-calling-for-political-violence-and-she-offers-bizarre-excuse.jpg?id=67762289&width=980

2026-08-30 19:00:00 GMT

Abdul El-Sayed did Americans a favor when he sat down with [Jesse Watters on Fox News this week](https://www.foxnews.com/media/michigan-democrat-awkwardly-pivots-circumcision-heated-fox-news-debate-child-sex-changes ). The Michigan U.S. Senate candidate gave us a remarkably clear lesson in the philosophy behind America’s growing democratic socialist movement. The real question is simple: Who owns your property — you or the government?
The most revealing moment was not about Sharia law, [transgender medicine](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iNNKO_SyhSw ), or even socialized health care. It came when Watters pressed El-Sayed about his proposal to [tax the wealth](https://www.realclearmarkets.com/2026/08/26/el-sayeds_wealth_tax_fantasy_could_wreck_michigans_econ_1202602.html ) of Americans with more than $100 million.
Before giving government more power, ask what happens when the people wielding it decide that you, too, have more than you need.
El-Sayed has made the argument before. Billionaires, he says, can surrender a substantial portion of their wealth and still remain billionaires. Their children and grandchildren will still be rich.
Notice the premise. This is not merely an argument that government needs revenue for legitimate functions, nor a dispute over whether the top marginal income-tax rate should be 35% or 39%. The argument is that you possess more than you need — and government gets to decide how much that is.
That is the part Americans need to understand.
Suppose you build a company. You work for decades. You save, invest, and take risks. The company becomes enormously valuable. Under the traditional American understanding, the presumption is that the property is yours. Government may tax under constitutional authority, but it does not acquire an unlimited moral claim on your property because politicians decide you have too much of it.
El-Sayed reverses that presumption. What are you going to do with all that money? Whatever your answer, the socialist argument says it is too much because you have more than you need.
The proper question is not what you intend to do with your property. The proper question is: By what right does the government take it?
That distinction takes us back to 1776. The founders understood that government is necessary to protect life, liberty, property, contracts, and the peaceful exercise of rights.
But precisely because government possesses coercive power, it must be limited. The founders built a constitutional order around the insight that human beings abuse power, so power must be divided, checked, and restrained.
Read the [Declaration of Independence](https://www.archives.gov/founding-docs/declaration-transcript ). The complaint against George III is repeatedly that political power has exceeded its proper bounds. The king interferes with colonial legislatures, imposes taxes without consent, and seeks to subject Americans to “absolute Despotism.”
The central political problem was not how government could solve every problem. It was how citizens could prevent government from becoming one.
**RELATED: **[**The data center mob wants your property rights too**](https://www.theblaze.com/columns/opinion/the-data-center-mob-wants-your-property-rights-too )
Brandon Bell/Getty Images
Compare that instinct with New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s declaration that there is “no problem too large for government to solve, and no concern too small for it to care about.” That is nearly the photographic negative of the American constitutional tradition.
The founders asked: What powers have we actually given government, and how do we limit them? The new socialists ask: What problem is left for government to solve?
El-Sayed’s wealth-tax argument reveals why. Once we abandon the presumption that your property is genuinely yours, the limiting principle becomes hard to locate. If $100 million is too much, why not $50 million? Why not $10 million? If politicians may determine how much wealth you need, why stop with billionaires?
The issue is not whether anyone should feel sorry for billionaires. The issue is who owns the property.
Redistribution is politically easiest when it begins with somebody almost nobody identifies with. He has plenty. You do not. Why shouldn’t government take some?
Because a government powerful enough to decide how much property another person needs has been given a power that does not become harmless merely because its first target is richer than you.
Then there is the comic assumption beneath the argument: Government will spend the money more wisely.
El-Sayed’s home state offers a useful caution. The state auditor found Michigan’s Unemployment Insurance Agency [ineffective](https://bridgemi.com/business-watch/audit-michigan-unemployment-agency-still-struggles-covid-era-claims/ ) during the COVID pandemic. Fraud controls were weakened, billions in improper or fraudulent payments went out, and later audits found serious failures in recovering them.
These are the institutions that will reliably improve on the decisions of people who built billion-dollar companies?
Government has legitimate but limited purposes, and legitimate taxation follows from those purposes. But legitimate taxation does not establish a standing claim to whatever share of your wealth politicians decide you do not need.
This debate is especially important because socialism has found a receptive audience among younger Americans. [Harvard’s 2025 Youth Poll](https://iop.harvard.edu/press-releases/harvard-youth-poll-reveals-mounting-strain-young-americans-financial-institutional ) found support for capitalism among young Americans at only 39%, while nearly half of young Democrats expressed support for socialism.
That is, in part, a failure of education.
We have spent enormous energy teaching young Americans to critique power and too little teaching them why constitutional government was designed to limit it. Much of contemporary oppression theory condemns authorities who presume to know how others should live, then demands political power to impose its own answers.
The next generation needs a different lesson.
**RELATED: **[**The DSA’s history lesson has one big omission**](https://www.theblaze.com/columns/opinion/the-dsas-history-lesson-has-one-big-omission )
Sarah Rice/Getty Images
Your life is your responsibility. Your neighbor’s property belongs to your neighbor. Wealth does not become public property when it crosses an arbitrary number selected by a politician. Government exists to protect rights, not to decide how much prosperity citizens are permitted to enjoy.
Freedom includes choices politicians consider foolish or wasteful. Save your money, give it away, invest it, build a business, leave it to your children, support your church, fund a charity, or buy something ridiculous. Within the law, those decisions belong to you.
That is what limited government protects.
The socialist temptation is perennial because it begins with an attractive promise: Give us more power, and we will use it to make life fairer.
The American answer is older and wiser: Before giving government more power, ask what happens when the people wielding it decide that you, too, have more than you need.
https://www.theblaze.com/media-library/the-government-would-like-to-discuss-your-allowance.jpg?id=67693374&width=980

2026-08-23 20:00:00 GMT

With [crippling anxiety](https://www.newportinstitute.com/resources/mental-health/college-anxiety/ ) and microscopic attention spans, today’s college students are in a bad way.
To compound matters, an increasing number possess [reading skills](https://fortune.com/article/gen-z-college-students-struggling-to-read-books-professors-forced-to-rethink-standards-warn-of-anxiety-lack-of-workplace-prepardness/ ) that appear to have peaked in fifth grade. Yet the moment a literature professor challenges them with a work of fiction, she finds herself ruthlessly punished.
FIRE’s lawsuit seeks to restore sanity to a system that has clearly lost its bearings.
What you are about to read is depressing, but not necessarily surprising. After all, this is a culture already intent on turning literature into scrap metal. For years, ridiculously woke crusaders have worked tirelessly to cancel Shakespeare for wrongthink and forcibly inject modern [queer elements](https://www.lgbtqnation.com/2025/09/university-cancels-shakespeare-play-citing-dei-students-rallied-the-community-put-it-on-anyway/ ) into his work.
Now, the institutional axe swings in whatever direction keeps the peace, chopping down any story that threatens to upset an undergraduate.##
Books smartVinita Prabhakar taught English at South Florida State College for nearly 20 years. Her reward for that service? Being booted out the door because one student had a brief moment of cognitive discomfort and a college president panicked.
The piece of literature in question wasn't a step-by-step guide to urban guerrilla warfare, but a short story featuring a deeply flawed protagonist. Prabhakar assigned Ottessa Moshfegh's ["Bettering Myself"](https://electricliterature.com/bettering-myself-ottessa-moshfegh/ ) for the exact reason professors have assigned challenging literature since the invention of the printing press: to force students to analyze provocative ideas rather than stare blankly at a wall.
Enter [Fred Hawkins](https://www.southflorida.edu/college/administration/office-president ), the college president. Hawkins decided the story was problematic, informed Prabhakar he never wanted to see the text again, and promptly oversaw her suspension.
This level of executive intervention bypassed the entire chain of academic oversight.##
FIRE alarm"Universities can set the curriculum, but that’s very different from a president personally overruling the academic professionals who actually supervise a professor," [Greg Greubel](https://www.fire.org/about-us/our-team/greg-harold-greubel ) told me. Greubel is a senior attorney at FIRE, the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression, who is representing Prabhakar.
While Professor Prabhakar’s academic supervisors explicitly endorsed her pedagogical judgment, President Hawkins personally intervened to crush it because he disliked the story and deemed the matter political.
Greubel warns that if this precedent “is allowed to stand, professors will learn to choose the safest reading rather than the one that best challenges their students."
The interaction between the professor and the student was a textbook case of quality instruction. A student expressed discomfort with the assigned material. Prabhakar didn’t mock the student, nor did she send the student to a re-education camp. She engaged the class in an open and civil debate, processed the critique, and kept the student integrated in the course.
"It is exceptionally unusual, especially because Professor Prabhakar successfully navigated the situation," Greubel notes. "The student raised a concern; Professor Prabhakar addressed it through discussion, and the student continued to participate without incident.”
**RELATED: **[**America is losing its farmers to bankruptcy and suicide**](https://www.theblaze.com/lifestyle/america-is-losing-its-farmers-to-bankruptcy-and-suicide )
Scott Olson/Getty Images##
Protection from paperIn other words, the classroom functioned exactly as higher education was designed to work, right up until the university president intervened and transformed level-headed mentorship into an administrative execution.
Hawkins blew up a functioning pedagogical resolution to protect adults from words on paper. Florida statutory law [explicitly forbids](https://www.leg.state.fl.us/statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&URL=1000-1099/1004/1004.html ) public colleges to baby students who encounter ideas they find objectionable. The state legislature wrote those protections into law precisely to stop neurotic middle managers from gutting course catalogs every time an undergraduate gets a stomachache from a difficult paragraph.
Greubel points directly to this legal framework as a key element of Prabhakar’s defense. "It helps because it shows that, at least at one point, Florida politicians understood the dangers of censoring materials in higher education simply because someone views them as offensive," Greubel explains.
"The law says public colleges should not shield students from ideas they find uncomfortable, unwelcome, or offensive. Yet that is essentially what happened here.”##
No authorityBeyond handing Professor Prabhakar a clear lawsuit, the law reinforces an elementary First Amendment truth. University officials don’t have the constitutional authority to dismantle a curriculum to accommodate their personal sensitivities.
In 1943, the Supreme Court [held ](https://supreme.justia.com/cases/federal/us/319/624/ )in *West* *Virginia* *State* *Board* *of* *Education* *v.* *Barnette* that no official, regardless of title or ego, can determine what constitutes acceptable political, national, or religious orthodoxy. Eighty-three years later, campus administrators behave like absolute monarchs, treating state educational statutes as optional suggestions.
When campus bureaucrats act this way, the primary objective becomes eliminating risk entirely. Between the hyper-progressive crusade to gut classic literature and the reactionary urge to ban anything that causes an emotional tremor, decent literature doesn't stand a chance. Thought-provoking fiction contains risk. Critical analysis contains risk. Therefore, the safest syllabus is a blank stack of paper, and the safest classroom is an entirely neutralized one.##
Justice for Professor PrabhakarFIRE’s lawsuit seeks to restore sanity to a system that has clearly lost its bearings.
"First and foremost, we want Professor Prabhakar back in the classroom, along with appropriate declaratory and injunctive relief to ensure she will not be fired in the future for teaching appropriate materials," Greubel states. "More broadly, we want to establish that public colleges cannot remove professors simply because an administrator, student, or member of the public dislikes assigned material.”
Although colleges retain the right to set academic benchmarks, they have zero authority to purge a professor for teaching legitimate material that directly serves the curriculum.
If an administrator can end an academic’s career over a single short story, the concept of academic freedom is all but dead. And colleges will keep doubling as glorified day-care centers, where adults pay thousands of dollars per semester to be protected from vowels and consonants.
By all accounts, Professor Prabhakar is a consummate professional who takes pride in her work. She has been treated appallingly and deserves justice.
https://www.theblaze.com/media-library/think-woke-is-dead-meet-the-literature-professor-fired-for-teaching-literature.jpg?id=67658420&width=980

2026-08-21 13:15:00 GMT

Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. [launched](https://youtu.be/hWBP4REwZeY ) a cooking series titled "The Real Food Show" last month with the aim of helping Americans prepare healthy and affordable meals.
Despite the show's upbeat, informative, and apolitical nature, the liberal media reflexively found something to whine about.
'Very hard to swallow.'
After CNN's Erin Burnett devoted a segment of her show on Wednesday to attacking the initiative, Kennedy responded by diagnosing the host with "Trump Derangement Syndrome" and giving her something to chew on.##
The showKennedy [announced](https://www.hhs.gov/press-room/secretary-kennedy-launches-real-food-show.html ) the launch of the "The Real Food Show" on July 30, stating, "The Real Food Show reminds Americans that healthy eating starts at home — and that cooking with real food can be simple, affordable, and within reach for every family."
"By bringing people back to the kitchen table, we can strengthen our families, improve our health, build healthy habits that last for generations to come, and Make America Healthy Again," added the HHS secretary.
According to the HHS, each episode features a recipe that uses real, whole-food ingredients; is kid-friendly and easy to prepare; works in a basic home kitchen; and "costs less than $5 per serving whenever possible."
The [premier episode](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r5vKilWJNKo&feature=youtu.be ) featured chef Andrew Gruel, the executive chef of Calico Fish House in Huntington Beach, California, who demonstrated how to prepare salmon cakes and a fresh salad.
##
Liberal gasWeeks after MS NOW [did something similar](https://www.youtube.com/shorts/3HnYYpt13nI ), Burnett's CNN show ran a snark-saturated [report](https://transcripts.cnn.com/show/ebo/date/2026-08-19/segment/01 ) on Wednesday casting doubt on the affordability of the recipes featured in "The Real Food Show."
After accusing Kennedy of incorporating "dubious claims about the food industry, science, and public wellness" into his cooking show, CNN correspondent [Tom Foreman claimed](https://www.thedailybeast.com/rfk-jr-melts-down-at-star-host-after-humiliating-cnn-segment/ ) that "the math doesn't add up in this cooking class."
Foreman purportedly went to a store and bought all of the [ingredients](https://www.hhs.gov/real-food-show/recipes/index.html ) mentioned on the first episode of the HHS cooking show.
"When we started buying ingredients used in the show, even going for the lowest prices at a big competitive chain, the cost heated up fast," said Foreman.
The CNN correspondent, who evidently missed the HHS' note that canned salmon would also work for the recipe, claimed that he couldn't find frozen wild-caught sockeye salmon for under $24.
Burnett's crony also complained that Kennedy had priced just the ingredients used in the recipe.
"That's the trick here, because they're only pricing that one egg out of the carton," said Foreman. "And that gets worse with other things. For example, this red onion, they say they only spent eight cents on this because that's how much they used. Getting the whole onion cost us more than a dollar."
"They're only pricing parts of it. And grocery stores don't sell things that way," added Foreman.
Since CNN priced out every single ingredient for the four-serving meal as it appears whole in stores, not as it appears fractionally in the recipe, it ended up with a price tag of $70.54 instead of the roughly $20 indicated by the HHS show.
Burnett thanked Foreman for his misleading report, which he said was "very hard to swallow."##
Kennedy dishes out a responseKennedy [responded](https://x.com/SecKennedy/status/2090601429131989070?s=20 ) on Thursday to the anti-MAHA segment, writing, "Trump Derangement Syndrome has so debilitated @ErinBurnett that she has abandoned both common sense and basic arithmetic."
"CNN wants us to incorporate the full package price of every ingredient, regardless of what is used in the recipe," continued the HHS secretary. "If you put a squirt of ketchup on your burger, would you be surprised if the restaurant charged you for the whole bottle?"
"The Real Food Show uses standard recipe costing: we count what the recipe actually uses. The rest stays in your kitchen for the next meal — and the meals after that," added Kennedy.
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2026-08-18 19:45:00 GMT

Abdul El-Sayed, the Islamic Democrat hoping to win an open U.S. Senate seat in Michigan, is apparently not the only radical in his family.
Fatten Fathy Elkomy, El-Sayed's [birth mother](https://www.arabamerica.com/abdul-el-sayed-doctor-detroit-americas-first-muslim-governor/ ), long worked for an Islamic organization that was identified by the U.S. Treasury Department in 2004 as a specially designated global terrorist organization, [reported](https://www.themidwesterner.news/2026/08/docs-abdul-el-sayeds-mother-worked-for-designated-terror-group-iara-that-provided-direct-financial-support-to-osama-bin-laden-taliban-hamas/ ) the Midwesterner.
IARA may have 'provided direct financial support' to Osama bin Laden and, by extension, Al-Qaeda and the Taliban.
The Treasury Department [stated](https://home.treasury.gov/news/press-releases/js2025 ) in a release at the time of the terror designation that the international offices of the Islamic African Relief Agency, or IARA, may have "provided direct financial support" to Osama bin Laden and, by extension, Al-Qaeda and the Taliban.
"IARA is identified as a nongovernmental organization (NGO) formerly affiliated with Maktab Al-Khidamat (MK), which was co-founded and financed by UBL [Osama bin Laden] and is the precursor organization of al Qaida," the department said.
"IARA, MK, and UBL commingled funds and cooperated closely in the raising and expenditure of funds. IARA engaged in a joint program with an institute controlled by UBL that was involved in providing assistance to Taliban fighters."
The Treasury Department alleged that IARA leaders — who [secured](https://oig.usaid.gov/node/93 ) agreements with the U.S. Agency for International Development totaling over $1.3 million until USAID terminated those agreements in 1999 — not only hobnobbed with terrorists in Sudan and various Middle Eastern locales but provided hundreds of thousands of dollars to bin Laden two years before the 9/11 attacks via its overseas branches.
Although she was reportedly never charged with a crime or named as a co-conspirator, Elkomy's name appears dozens of times in a [list of exhibits](https://www.themidwesterner.news/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/usg-proposed-exhibit-list.pdf ) filed with the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Missouri in a case against the IARA that resulted in guilty pleas from two of the organization's board members.
**RELATED: [Woke 2.0 is coming ... and it will be worse ](https://www.theblaze.com/columns/opinion/woke-2-0-is-coming-and-it-will-be-worse )**
Sarah Rice/Getty Images
The descriptions reference her alleged involvement with multiple wire transfers, several calls between 1999 and 2002, and a request for $24,607.45 for the IARA's Iraq office that was allegedly sent to Mubarak Hamed.
Hamed, a native of Sudan who served as the executive director of IARA, pleaded guilty in 2010 for his role in a conspiracy to illegally transfer over $1 million to Iraq in violation of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act.
Blaze News reached out to Elkomy and the El-Sayed campaign for comment but did not immediately receive a response.
Greg Manz, Michigan GOP senior communications adviser, told Blaze News:
> This report is deeply troubling. To that end, Abdul El-Sayed has yet to adequately address these reported terrorist connections.
>
> Why hasn’t Abdul unequivocally denounced his mother’s alleged connections to groups associated with the same terrorist groups directly responsible for 9/11? And why does Abdul continue to campaign with communist influencers who think America deserved 9/11?
> Abdul El-Sayed repeatedly surrounds himself with extreme, troublesome figures and consistently refuses to clearly denounce their horrific actions, vile statements, and alarming associations.Elkomy previously denied connections between the IARA and terrorists, [telling](https://www.themidwesterner.news/2026/08/docs-abdul-el-sayeds-mother-worked-for-designated-terror-group-iara-that-provided-direct-financial-support-to-osama-bin-laden-taliban-hamas/ ) the St. Louis Post-Dispatch in 2004, according to the Midwesterner, "I’ve been working there serving orphans and children with at least one deceased parent, and it breaks my heart they’re not going to get any help."
The former IARA member has apparently been following her son's political journey.
When asked who he had heard from after securing the Democratic nomination, El-Sayed [told](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/08/07/us/politics/abdul-el-sayed-michigan-primary-interview.html ) the New York Times earlier this month, "My mom." El-Sayed has also [referenced](https://x.com/AbdulElSayed/status/1964832295396970640?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1964832295396970640%7Ctwgr%5E3d8c389002120419dcddd2f418ed59e1e8631845%7Ctwcon%5Es1_c10&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.themidwesterner.news%2F2026%2F08%2Fdocs-abdul-el-sayeds-mother-worked-for-designated-terror-group-iara-that-provided-direct-financial-support-to-osama-bin-laden-taliban-hamas%2F ) his mother's psychiatric work on the campaign trail.
The Democratic nominee's campaign site does not mention his birth mother in his bio, [noting](https://abdulforsenate.com/about/ ) that "Abdul was raised by his father, Mohamed, an Egyptian immigrant, and his stepmom, Jackie, whose family has lived in Gratiot County, Michigan, since the 1800s."
El-Sayed, whose parents are both Egyptian immigrants, also has a radical half-sister.
Eman Abdelhadi, El-Sayed's half-sister who works as a professor at the University of Chicago, was [arrested](https://www.foxnews.com/politics/el-sayed-half-sister-revealed-radical-professor-arrested-allegedly-assaulting-cop-anti-ice-riot ) last year for allegedly spitting on an Illinois state trooper outside a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility.
Fox News Digital recently [reported](https://www.foxnews.com/politics/el-sayeds-half-sister-offered-oct-7-blessing-one-year-after-hamas-attack-allahu-akbar ) that Abdelhadi, whose so-called scholarship appears to [revolve](https://humdev.uchicago.edu/directory/eman-abdelhadi ) around gender and Islam, also delivered an "October 7 blessing" on the first anniversary of the Hamas terrorist attacks on Israel.
After stating "Allahu Akbar" and noting that "that phrase means God is greater," Abdelhadi said in a video shared on Instagram on Oct. 7, 2024, that "Allahu Akbar" is a phrase she had been "thinking about a lot over the last year, because it's a phrase that reminds us that no matter how great the brutality, the oppression, the intensity of what we're going through, the horizon of justice is just around the corner."
"We have an imperative to not just imagine a better future, but to build one together," added Abdelhadi. "I’ll see you on the streets."
The El-Sayed campaign said of Abdelhadi's radicalism, "Abdul loves his sister and also disagrees with her on a number of political positions and the rhetoric she's chosen to use, including on foreign policy."
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2026-08-18 19:30:00 GMT

Vice President JD Vance is sounding the alarm within his own party.
While rejecting socialism, Vance argued in an interview on Fox News that Republicans cannot dismiss the growing interest young voters have in it — as they are looking for answers in a struggling economy.
“Our response to socialism, which is a dangerous and destructive ideology, it’s been tried in the past and failed, our response to that can’t be just to ignore the economic concerns that I think are feeding this rising interest in socialism,” Vance said.
And Vance is letting those young voters know that they’re not being forgotten.
“And I guess I would say to that young person that you as an American citizen deserve to have a good life in this country, and you deserve to have a government that is making it easier for you to start a family, for you to afford to get a good education, for you to have a good job, for you to afford a home,” he said.###
Vance went on to champion the slow but positive results the Trump administration is seeing.
“We’re seeing trillions of dollars of new investment into this country, which means good middle class jobs for young people, middle income people all across our country. We’re seeing housing prices finally stabilized. They doubled during the Biden administration. They have finally kind of flatlined during the first year and a half of the Trump administration,” he explained.
“We also want to get interest rates down, of course, so that young people can afford a home. We want people to be able to afford the good things about this wonderful country that we all live in,” he continued, before issuing a “warning” to his “fellow Republicans.”
“If we don’t get this right, don’t blame young people for being sympathetic to socialism. We’ve got to blame ourselves,” he added.
And BlazeTV host Pat Gray isn’t impressed with the economy yet either.
“Is it working?” Gray asks. “I hope so. I mean, the prices aren’t coming down yet, but that’s I believe almost entirely due to the Strait of Hormuz. That’s just thrown a monkey wrench into everything.”
“They’re celebrating a slower rate of inflation,” executive producer Keith Malinak says. “Well, it’s still inflation. And we mocked the Biden administration mercilessly for that kind of stance.”##
Want more from Pat Gray?To enjoy more of Pat's biting analysis and signature wit as he restores common sense to a senseless world, [subscribe to BlazeTV](https://get.blazetv.com/pat/?utm_source=theblaze&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=article_shortcode_patgray ) — the largest multi-platform network of voices who love America, defend the Constitution, and live the American dream.
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2026-08-16 08:30:00 GMT

If you were a kid in the 1960s or '70s, chances are you watched "Davey and Goliath" without ever seeking it out. It was just there. On Sunday mornings, when television offered slim pickings for a kid, you might stumble across a slightly stiff clay boy named Davey Hansen and his morose talking dog, Goliath.
“But, Daaavey ...” the dog would protest in his deep, reproachful voice whenever his owner was about to do something foolish.
An entire children's television plot about two boys looking forward to Holy Communion. Try pitching that one today.
Unless you paid attention to the opening credits — the Luther rose, the Lutheran Church credit, and the theme music, Martin Luther's “A Mighty Fortress Is Our God” — you might not even have realized you were watching religious programming. Yes, Davey moved at a less frenetic pace than most children's fare, had no toys or breakfast cereal to sell, and usually learned a lesson before the credits rolled. Otherwise, it was just another kids' show.
Looking back, that's the remarkable part. A church-funded children's show could simply turn up on commercial television alongside everything else, with no explanation required.##
'Gumby' gospelIn 1958, Franklin Clark Fry, president of the United Lutheran Church in America, committed an astonishing $1 million of church money [to creating a television program for children](https://www.goodtimes.sc/archives/metro-santa-cruz/12.14.05/davey-0550.html ). The church's original idea was to put a minister in front of a camera to deliver short sermonettes.
Fortunately, Dick Sutcliffe thought this sounded like terrible television.
Sutcliffe, a former newspaperman working in the church's broadcasting operation, didn't object to the content. As his daughter later recalled his verdict: “The theology is fine, but it's not good for television.”
Instead, he thought about his own young son. “What would I say to Mike about God?” he asked himself. “And how would I say it to him?”
Sutcliffe conceived a series of modern parables and hired Art and Ruth Clokey, the husband-and-wife team behind "Gumby," to make them. Ruth was herself the daughter of a Lutheran minister. Sutcliffe wrote the first script, and the Clokeys produced the 15-minute pilot, “Lost in a Cave,” in 1960.
"Davey and Goliath" premiered in syndication the following February and soon reached nearly 200 television markets — thanks to a distribution strategy hard for television stations to resist: The Lutherans gave it away.
Commercial stations got polished children's programming; the church got access to American living rooms. By 1973, an audience study [estimated](https://www.livinglutheran.org/an-animated-anniversary/ ) that "Davey and Goliath" was reaching 5.1 million people a week.
Imagine a mainline Protestant denomination attempting something that ambitious today.##
God willing"Davey and Goliath" was no "VeggieTales." Still, Davey's family went to church, and God came up a lot.
And the Christianity amounted to considerably more than “be nice.”
In the very first episode, [“Lost in a Cave,”](https://youtu.be/9wLVpge6VDs?si=F6aaCME5U-gwQ7fj ) Davey hears his father say “God willing” and wants to know what he means. His father tells him that God cares about what happens to every one of us because he loves us.
Then Davey gets lost in a cave.
A guide searches for the injured boy and eventually rescues him. Back in the sunlight, Davey grasps the point of the whole adventure: The guide came looking for him when he was lost; God seeks and cares for us when we are lost too.
Other episodes went considerably farther. In “The Family of God,” Davey and his friend Jonathan are downright excited about receiving their first Communion. Another boy, Cisco, is decidedly less impressed: “Communion? Who cares?”
Davey and Jonathan spend much of the episode trying to convince him otherwise. Pastor Miller, meanwhile, visits the Hansen home to make sure Davey understands what he is about to receive, explaining the bread and wine in relation to Jesus' death on the cross and the unity of Christians as the family of Christ.
An entire children's television plot about two boys looking forward to Holy Communion.
Try pitching that one today.##
More than the 'Davey face'For all this God talk, "Davey and Goliath" was very much a product of mainline Protestantism, which by the early 1960s increasingly understood fighting racial prejudice as part of its Christian mission. The show addressed race and integration remarkably early.
Jonathan was black, and Cisco was Hispanic. Jonathan in particular was among television's early examples of a black child depicted simply as the close friend of a white child. “The Polka-Dot Tie,” from 1961, [tackled racial prejudice](https://kids.kiddle.co/Davey_and_Goliath ), and later episodes made an increasingly integrated cast part of Davey's ordinary world.
Sutcliffe's daughter later [offered a wonderfully concise explanation](https://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/25/arts/design/25sutcliffe.html ) of her father's thinking: “Dad would say if we're going to talk about God loving all of us, we ought to get to see more than the Davey face.”
The social message still had an explicitly theological source. God loved everybody, so Davey's little clay world ought to have everybody in it.
**RELATED: **[**When Archie Comics found Jesus: Strange artifacts from a once-Christian culture**](https://www.theblaze.com/lifestyle/when-archie-comics-found-jesus-strange-artifacts-from-a-once-christian-culture )
Albert L. Ortega/Sidney Morning Herald/Getty Images##
Staying power"Davey and Goliath" had surprising staying power. After the initial run of 39 episodes and four specials, the Lutheran Church in America funded another 27 episodes and two specials in the 1970s. The last original special aired in 1975, although reruns remained a Sunday-morning fixture into the early '80s.
Then even that began to change. [According to the Associated Press](https://www.today.com/popculture/davey-goliath-revived-teach-children-wbna6693668 ), commercial stations discovered they could make money selling airtime around other religious programming — much of it produced by conservative Christians — rather than carrying the Lutherans' free little claymation show. "Davey and Goliath" gradually disappeared from mainstream television.
The United Lutheran Church had meanwhile become part of the Lutheran Church in America in 1962. Another [round of mergers in 1988](https://www.elca.org/about-the-elca/who-we-are/history ) produced the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.
Along with churches, pension obligations, and hymnals, the ELCA inherited an unusual piece of intellectual property: **"Davey and Goliath."
And eventually it decided Davey was worth dusting off.##
Snowboard synodalityThe duo's first resurrection was an unlikely one. In 2001, the ELCA licensed "Davey and Goliath" for a [Mountain Dew commercial](https://youtu.be/zvXxNL8Zi38?si=rQm5z7ISvNayDG6K ) that gently spoofed the characters' hopeless squareness. The joke worked precisely because viewers still recognized them. Better yet for the ELCA, the royalties helped finance a proper comeback.
In 2004, after nearly three decades without a new adventure, [Davey and his dog returned](https://www.livinglutheran.org/an-animated-anniversary ) in the hour-long "Davey and Goliath's Snowboard Christmas."
Davey now has two new friends: Sam, who is Jewish, and Yasmeen, who is Muslim. The three go snowboarding while comparing Christmas, Hanukkah, and Ramadan and learning to respect one another's religious traditions. ELCA staff worked with Jewish and Muslim scholars on the script.
ECLA communications director Eric Shafer [described the resulting program](https://www.today.com/popculture/davey-goliath-revived-teach-children-wbna6693668 ) to the Associated Press as “very much an interfaith show about the oneness of the three faces of Abraham.”
In 1961, Davey's lessons about how to treat other people proceeded from a specifically Christian account of reality: God, Scripture, church, Christ on the cross, Holy Communion. By 2004, interfaith understanding and inclusion had moved much closer to the center of what Davey's church wanted him to tell the wider world.
It might be asking a lot of a little clay boy and his talking dog, but "Davey and Goliath" remained in Lutheran hands long enough to become a potent symbol of American religious decline.
Somewhere between the cave and the snowboard slope, "Davey and Goliath" changed — from teaching Christian truths with a light touch to burying them beneath universalist platitudes. And in that journey, you can see American mainline Protestantism changing with it.
https://www.theblaze.com/media-library/what-davey-and-goliath-can-tell-us-about-the-decline-of-american-protestantism.jpg?id=67625921&width=980

2026-08-15 19:00:00 GMT

“A diplomat who says ‘yes’ means ‘maybe,’” the great French statesman Charles-Maurice de Talleyrand is supposed to have said. “A diplomat who says ‘maybe’ means ‘no,’ and a diplomat who says ‘no’ is no diplomat.” Whether Talleyrand actually said it hardly matters. The spirit is right: Diplomacy, like politics, is the art of the possible.
Put another way, diplomacy is the art of getting what you want without needlessly making it impossible for the other side to give it to you.
For the first time in decades, an American secretary of state has a plausible path to the pantheon.
By that standard, the United States has produced few truly great diplomatic tenures in the past half-century. There have been capable secretaries of state and important agreements, but remarkably few achievements with the durability of the great settlements of earlier eras.
Madeleine Albright's tenure remains inseparable from NATO expansion and the deterioration of relations with post-Soviet Russia. Colin Powell's is shadowed by his 2003 presentation at the United Nations and the Iraq War. Condoleezza Rice brought competence, but no settlement that transformed America's strategic position.
Hillary Clinton's much-advertised “reset” with Russia aged badly. John Kerry helped produce the Trans-Pacific Partnership and the Iran nuclear deal, both of which were abandoned by the first Trump administration. Rex Tillerson never found his footing. Mike Pompeo was more effective, but his major diplomatic projects did not fundamentally reorder America's position abroad.
Antony Blinken helped oversee AUKUS with Britain and Australia, an important strategic arrangement, though more an extension and deepening of existing alignments than a new diplomatic architecture.
America's earlier history offers a much higher bar. Thomas Jefferson, John Quincy Adams, William Seward, Hamilton Fish, John Hay, George Marshall, George Kennan, and Henry Kissinger helped shape American diplomacy in ways that outlasted the administrations they served.
Their work changed not merely the headlines of the day but America's long-term position in the world.
A few years ago, almost no one would have guessed that Marco Rubio might be the next American diplomat with [a plausible claim](https://www.thenation.com/article/politics/marco-rubio-neocon-maga/ ) to join that company.
When Trump nominated Rubio for secretary of state, commentators wondered whether he would moderate the president's more unpredictable foreign-policy instincts. [Old Republican voices](https://www.nationalreview.com/news/trump-taps-marco-rubio-as-secretary-of-state/ ), sidelined after Trump's rise, and [left-leaning academics](https://theconversation.com/marco-rubio-trumps-foreign-policy-pick-might-be-a-hopeful-sign-for-nato-243649 ) alike expected friction between Trump and a man long identified with the GOP's interventionist wing.
That prediction has not held up.
**RELATED: [Trump is continuing JFK’s war on communist subversion](https://www.theblaze.com/columns/opinion/trump-is-continuing-jfks-war-on-communist-subversion )**
The senator Trump mocked became his best diplomat Jakub Porzycki/NurPhoto/Getty Images
On his second day in office, [Rubio told State Department personnel](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F96bczMxPvI ) that their mission was to ensure American foreign policy remained centered on the national interest: whatever makes the country “stronger, safer, and more prosperous.”
He added that conflict would sometimes be unavoidable, but never at the expense of national security, the national interest, or America's core values.
The language signaled a break from the old habit of treating international approval as an end in itself.
That shift can be dismissed as political adaptation. It is also evidence that Rubio has absorbed something larger: The pre-Trump Republican foreign policy consensus is gone, and a new one is being built in its place.
At the Munich Security Conference this year, [Rubio delivered a broadside](https://www.state.gov/releases/office-of-the-spokesperson/2026/02/secretary-of-state-marco-rubio-at-the-munich-security-conference ) against unfettered free trade, deindustrialization, mass migration, and an international order detached from the interests and identities of the nations expected to sustain it.
He also spoke explicitly about the shared language, religion, culture, and ancestry connecting Europe and America — language difficult to imagine from a secretary of state only a few years ago.
The record is becoming more substantial.
In 2025, Rubio played an important role as NATO members [agreed to a new 5% defense spending commitment by 2035](https://www.nato.int/en/about-us/official-texts-and-resources/official-texts/2025/06/25/the-hague-summit-declaration ). He has [kept open the possibility of negotiations with Iran](https://www.foxnews.com/politics/rubio-says-us-remains-open-iran-talks-warns-will-be-consequences ), even amid [anger from some Israelis](https://www.pbs.org/newshour/world/israelis-argry-over-u-s-iran-peace-deal-lash-out-at-netanyahu ) over the administration's approach.
He has repeatedly [pursued efforts to bring Ukraine and Russia toward negotiations](https://apnews.com/article/asean-rubio-lavrov-russia-ukraine-502b5eb2dc21caf13fab7928acdc5b1e ) after years in which diplomacy between the two sides largely stagnated.
And on Venezuela, Rubio has been [credited as a central figure in the administration's campaign against Nicolás Maduro](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/07/11/us/politics/how-marco-rubio-runs-venezuela.html ), a dramatic reversal in U.S.-Venezuela relations.
On Cuba, Rubio has [paired pressure with calls for political change and dialogue](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MbmzINhZYW8 ), while also speaking [directly to the Cuban people](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JFFS7os5CCs ).
Rubio has therefore become something unusual: a secretary of state who is not merely influential inside the administration but increasingly visible to the public.
In 2026, he has at times seemed to eclipse nearly every other Cabinet official in political stature. His [popularity among Republican voters](https://www.forbes.com/sites/markjoyella/2026/05/27/cnns-harry-enten-marco-rubio-is-really-really-really-popular-among-republicans/ ) is especially striking for a secretary of state, an office that usually produces prestige without a mass constituency.
Barely 18 months into his tenure, that does not yet make Rubio a great secretary of state. It does make the possibility serious.
**RELATED: [Gen Z is reopening America’s cold cases](https://www.theblaze.com/columns/opinion/gen-z-is-reopening-americas-cold-cases )**
Bettmann/CORBIS/Bettmann Archive/Getty Images
The unanswered questions are enormous: Iran, Venezuela, Cuba, Ukraine, North Korea, and [the Ortega regime's recent actions in Nicaragua](https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/ortega-says-nicaragua-will-no-longer-hold-elections-2026-07-20/ ) could all complicate or diminish his record.
Durability is the test. A diplomatic achievement that vanishes with the next administration is not much of an achievement at all.
But Rubio has already helped push NATO toward higher defense commitments, pursued talks over Ukraine, increased pressure on Cuba and Venezuela, and strengthened Washington's effort to counter Chinese influence around the Panama Canal.
If those gains endure — and if he can turn today's openings into settlements that survive Trump — Rubio's legacy will look very different from that of the secretaries of state who preceded him.
The pantheon is not his yet. But for the first time in decades, an American secretary of state has a plausible path to it.
And why stop there?
https://www.theblaze.com/media-library/the-senator-trump-mocked-became-his-best-diplomat.jpg?id=67615792&width=980

2026-08-14 17:40:00 GMT

Faced in recent years with [accusations](https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-manchester-67583354 ) of racism, Greater Manchester Police — like other law enforcement institutions in the United Kingdom — [embraced](https://www.gmp.police.uk/SysSiteAssets/media/downloads/greater-manchester/about-us/achieving-race-equality-report/achieving-race-equality-report-2024.pdf ) DEI in the extreme, not only [prioritizing](https://www.gmp.police.uk/SysSiteAssets/media/downloads/greater-manchester/about-us/achieving-race-equality-report/achieving-race-equality-report-2024.pdf ) race and ethnicity as factors in its hiring decisions but setting racial quotas.
The force, whose chief constable [denies](https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026/jun/22/top-officer-says-anti-racism-guidance-has-fuelled-myth-of-two-tier-policing ) the existence of [two-tier policing](https://www.theblaze.com/news/footage-uk-police-tried-to-suppress-kills-case-against-white-victim-of-mob-assault-but-two-tier-injustice-continues ) and anti-white animus on the force, was met this week with yet another reminder that [diversity](https://www.gmp.police.uk/SysSiteAssets/foi-media/greater-manchester/policies/gmp-dei-strategy-and-objectives---issue-1---corporate-template.pdf ) is not their strength.
'The victim is our priority.'
Mohammad Hassan, a 23-year-old student officer in training at GMP described as "of Asian-Pakistani ethnicity," was arrested in West Yorkshire over the weekend and charged on Monday with rape and other crimes.
[According](https://www.gmp.police.uk/news/greater-manchester/news/news/2026/august/off-duty-student-officer-arrested-on-suspicion-of-rape-and-kidnap-following-pursuit/ ) to the GMP, officers received a call at 10:18 p.m. on Saturday "where a woman could be heard to be in distress in a vehicle in the Manchester area." Police tracked down the vehicle — but when they approached, the driver fled.
The suspected driver was later identified as Hassan, who was "off-duty" at the time and driving "his personal vehicle," GMP said. He was arrested "on suspicion of kidnap, rape, and dangerous driving."
Ewan Cooper, a senior crown prosecutor, [alleged](https://www.itv.com/news/granada/2026-08-11/trainee-police-officer-in-court-charged-with-rape-and-kidnap ) during a hearing on Tuesday at the Stockport Magistrates' Court that on the night of the rape, Hassan drove at speeds of up to 120 mph.
After a [high-speed chase](https://x.com/europa/status/2087031740418195817?s=20 ) down the M62 highway, police finally stopped and arrested Hassan.
**RELATED: ['Beyond evil': Nightmarish report reveals full scale of mass Islamic rapes of '250,000' white British girls](https://www.theblaze.com/news/beyond-evil-nightmarish-report-reveals-full-scale-of-mass-islamic-rape-of-white-british-girls )**
ANDREW YATES/AFP/Getty Images
Hassan has been formally accused of oral rape, kidnap, strangulation, sexual assault, theft of mobile phone, and dangerous driving.
Assistant Chief Constable Mark Dexter [said](https://www.gmp.police.uk/news/greater-manchester/news/news/2026/august/student-officer-charged-with-rape-and-kidnap/ ) in a statement, "The victim is our priority, and we are ensuring she continues to receive specialist support. Criminal proceedings must now take its course without interference."
"I understand, and share, the feeling among the public and our thousands of hard-working, decent staff who will have seen this news," continued Dexter. "Proceedings are underway and necessary action will be decisively taken within the regulations.
Dexter added that the GMP's Professional Standards Directorate conducted a review and found that Hassan's "vetting was completed without any reason for concern."
The Pakistani trainee, who did not enter a plea this week, has been suspended and has been referred to the Independent Office for Police Conduct for an investigation. He is due in Manchester Crown Court for a hearing on Sept. 15.
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2026-08-13 17:00:00 GMT

For years, Western automakers looked at China and saw the world's greatest growth opportunity.
China looked back and saw something else: teachers.
Semiconductor manufacturing offers the obvious lesson. The United States is now spending enormous sums trying to re-create domestic capacity that took decades to move overseas.
American, German, and Japanese automakers wanted access to more than a billion potential customers. China [frequently required](https://www.wsj.com/articles/china-to-ease-rules-on-foreign-auto-makers-1523963345 ) foreign companies to work with local partners, manufacture inside the country, and share the knowledge that comes with doing so.
The arrangement[ made enormous](https://newsletter.dunneinsights.com/p/the-great-china-joint-venture-boomerang ) amounts of money for Western car companies.
It also helped China learn, very quickly, how to compete with them.
Now Chinese automakers are producing increasingly sophisticated vehicles at prices Western manufacturers struggle to match, and Europe is discovering what happens when those cars arrive in large numbers.
Washington appears determined not to repeat the experiment.##
Saving our spotA bipartisan proposal called the Connected Vehicle Security Act of 2026 [advanced unanimously](https://landline.media/connected-vehicle-security-act-aims-to-combat-automotive-fentanyl/ ) through the Senate Commerce Committee last month. Sponsored in the Senate by Bernie Moreno of Ohio and Elissa Slotkin of Michigan, it would dramatically strengthen restrictions on Chinese vehicles and connected automotive technology entering the United States.
For once, Democrats and Republicans seem to have found something they agree on.
The obvious fear is economic. China can build some astonishingly inexpensive vehicles, particularly EVs, and Chinese manufacturers including BYD, Geely, and others are already putting tremendous pressure on established brands overseas.
But Congress isn't framing this purely as a trade dispute. Modern automobiles are packed with cameras, microphones, GPS equipment, cellular connections, driver-assistance systems, and software capable of receiving remote updates.
That means a connected car is also a data-collection device.##
Fast and firewalledThe Commerce Department [reached the same conclusion](https://www.bis.gov/press-release/commerce-finalizes-rule-secure-connected-vehicle-supply-chains-foreign-adversary-threats ) under the Biden administration. In January 2025, it finalized rules restricting connected-vehicle software and hardware with sufficient ties to China or Russia, citing the possibility of espionage, data collection, sabotage, and remote manipulation.
The new congressional proposal would go farther and put many of those protections into statute, making them much harder for a future administration simply to reverse.
The Senate version would restrict vehicles, software, and components associated with designated foreign adversaries. Supporters specifically argue that Chinese-connected vehicles could funnel sensitive information collected on American roads back to Beijing.
That's not a crazy concern.
A new car can know where you live, where you work, where your children go to school, which military installation you enter every morning, and exactly where the vehicle travels every day.
The debate over Chinese cars therefore isn't really just about whether Americans should be allowed to buy a cheap BYD.
It's about who controls the computers rolling around American streets.##
Training our replacement?There is an uncomfortable part of this story that Western manufacturers don't always like discussing.
China did not learn modern automobile production from scratch. Foreign automakers spent decades helping.
As auto industry commentator [Michael Harley](https://www.forbes.com/sites/michaelharley/ ) recently pointed out [in a conversation with Karl Brauer and me](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xIC8X_muFcw ), intellectual property is only part of what China acquired.
Manufacturing itself is knowledge.
How do you coordinate thousands of suppliers? How do parts arrive at exactly the right moment? How do you engineer a production line? How do you control tolerances, automate assembly, manage quality, and move from prototype to millions of vehicles?
American manufacturers accumulated that knowledge over more than a century.
Chinese companies were able to [compress much](https://www.imd.org/ibyimd/asian-hub/chinas-automotive-odyssey-from-joint-ventures-to-global-ev-dominance/ ) of that learning curve into a few decades while working alongside some of the world's best automotive companies.
Western executives didn't do this because they were stupid. China was simply too attractive to ignore.
For a long time, the bargain worked.
GM [sold enormous numbers of Buicks](https://carnewschina.com/2026/08/11/chevrolet-exits-china-market-after-21-years-shift-focus-to-global-exports/ ) there. [Volkswagen](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2026/07/18/volkswagen-the-downfall-of-a-german-giant/ ) became deeply embedded in the Chinese market. Mercedes-Benz and BMW [treated China as essential to future growth](https://www.bloomberg.com/news/features/2026-08-11/mercedes-bmw-vw-struggle-in-china-with-new-evs-selling-poorly ).
The problem is that China eventually became very good at building its own cars.##
Learning the hard wayThe result is now visible in Europe.
Chinese manufacturers have entered European markets aggressively, particularly with EVs. European governments have responded with tariffs and investigations, but domestic manufacturers are still confronting lower-cost competitors at the same time their Chinese sales are under pressure.
That combination is painful.
For decades, German manufacturers could use strong sales in China to support enormous operations back home.
Now [they're fighting Chinese companies in China](https://www.politico.eu/article/china-germany-car-sales-loss/ ) and increasingly fighting them in Europe too.
That's exactly the scenario American lawmakers want to prevent.
The United States already keeps most Chinese-made EVs out through tariffs and national-security restrictions. The new bill would make the wall substantially higher.
There are complications. [Reuters reported](https://www.reuters.com/business/autos-transportation/us-senate-panel-vote-chinese-vehicle-crackdown-bill-2026-07-22/ ) that the legislation's ownership provisions could even affect Mercedes-Benz because Chinese investors hold nearly 20% of the German company, although lawmakers may revise the language before final passage.
That illustrates how deeply Chinese capital and technology are already woven into the global car business. Untangling it will not be simple.
**RELATED: [The Senate wants to lock the door on cheap Chinese cars — is 'security' the whole story?](https://www.theblaze.com/lifestyle/the-senate-wants-to-lock-the-door-on-cheap-chinese-cars-is-security-the-whole-story )**
CFOTO/Getty Images##
Expensive at any priceConsumers understandably care about price.
If somebody offers an attractive electric SUV for $25,000 while a comparable American vehicle costs $40,000, telling families to spend the extra $15,000 for geopolitical reasons is a difficult sales pitch.
That's precisely what makes China such a formidable competitor.
The Chinese auto industry has enormous manufacturing scale, substantial state support, a massive domestic supply chain, and leadership in battery production.
Americans would benefit in the short term from having access to inexpensive vehicles. The question is what happens afterward.
We've seen this pattern with electronics, consumer goods, pharmaceuticals, and industrial production. Once domestic capability disappears, rebuilding it is painfully slow and enormously expensive.
Semiconductor manufacturing offers the obvious lesson. The United States is now spending enormous sums [trying to re-create domestic capacity](https://www.pwc.com/us/en/library/chips-act.html ) that took decades to move overseas.
Automobile manufacturing is much harder to rebuild than it is to destroy.##
Playing the same gameFree trade works best when everybody is playing something resembling the same game.
China never viewed its automobile industry purely as a collection of private companies competing for customers. It treated automotive manufacturing, batteries, raw materials, and increasingly vehicle software as strategic industries.
America is finally beginning to think strategically too.
There are legitimate questions about exactly how broad the Connected Vehicle Security Act should be, how it treats foreign companies with minority Chinese ownership, and whether some restrictions will increase prices for American consumers.
Congress should work through those problems carefully. But the larger principle is sound. The United States does not need to repeat Europe's mistake simply because a $20,000 Chinese EV looks irresistible today.
Sometimes the cheapest car is not the cheapest decision.
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2026-08-13 14:15:00 GMT

A [Delaware dance instructor](https://www.theblaze.com/tag/delaware ) was arrested for allegedly [sexually abusing teenagers](https://www.theblaze.com/tag/child-sex-crimes ) who attended classes at the studio where she worked, according to authorities. Law enforcement warned there could be more sexual abuse victims.
Delaware State Police said in a [statement](https://dsp.delaware.gov/2026/08/06/state-police-arrest-laurel-dance-studio-instructor-for-sexual-abuse-and-solicitation-of-children-in-ongoing-investigation/ ) that 23-year-old Emily Pryor Albino of Seaford was arrested and charged with four felony counts of first-degree [sexual abuse of a child](https://www.theblaze.com/tag/child-sexual-abuse ) by a person of trust and one felony count of [sexual solicitation of a child](https://www.theblaze.com/tag/child-sex-assault ) using a computer/cell phone/other electronic device
'Further investigation revealed that Pryor Albino also exchanged sexually explicit messages with the two victims.'
According to Delaware [law](https://codes.findlaw.com/de/title-11-crimes-and-criminal-procedure/de-code-sect-11-778/#:~:text=b.%20Sexual%20abuse%20of%20a%20child%20by,be%2010%20years%20at%20Level%20V.%20c. ), a person convicted of first-degree sexual abuse of a child by a person of trust faces a minimum sentence of 10 years in prison and a maximum sentence of life in prison.
An individual convicted of sexual solicitation of a child using a computer/cell phone/other electronic device [faces](https://law.justia.com/codes/delaware/title-11/chapter-42/section-4205/ ) up to 25 years in prison.
Albino was arraigned and committed to the Delaware Department of Correction after her bail was set at $110,000 cash, state police said.
**RELATED: [Teacher who's wife of town police chief, daughter of mayor learns fate after conviction for sexually abusing 15-year-old boy](https://www.theblaze.com/news/teacher-whos-wife-of-town-police-chief-daughter-of-mayor-learns-fate-after-conviction-for-sexually-abusing-15-year-old-boy )**
Police said Emily Pryor Albino is a dance instructor at the X-Treme Dance Studio in Laurel.
Detectives launched an investigation into Albino on Aug. 4 over suspicions that the dance teacher sexually abused two teens who attended the studio, according to police.
"Further investigation revealed that Pryor Albino also exchanged sexually explicit messages with the two victims," the Delaware State Police stated.
Detectives said they have reason to believe there are additional victims involving Albino.
The Delaware State Police Troop 4 Criminal Investigations Unit, in conjunction with the Delaware Department of Justice, is continuing the investigation into the case.
The X-Treme Dance Studio and Delaware state investigators did not immediately respond to the [New York Post](https://www.theblaze.com/r/entryeditor/Representatives%20from%20X-Treme%20Dance%20Studio%20and%20Delaware%20state%20investigators%20were%20not%20immediately%20available%20for%20comment. )'s request for comment.
Those with information about the case or any other victims are urged to contact Detective R. Mitchell by calling 302-752-3794, [Delaware Crime Stoppers](http://delaware.crimestoppersweb.com/sitemenu.aspx?ID=346& ) at 1-800-847-3333, or the official Facebook account of the [Delaware State Police](https://www.facebook.com/DSPNewsroom ) via private message.
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2026-08-09 08:30:00 GMT

*Editor's note: This article is part of a point-counterpoint on Christian nationalism. Read Garen Christopher Kaloustian's argument, “Why ‘Christian nationalists’ are liberals — whether they realize it or not,” here.*
Garen is right about something that many self-described nationalists might rather not admit. Modern political nationalism emerged alongside liberalism, and the two were often allies.
The nationalists of 19th-century Europe were not generally fighting to restore the old order. They were often fighting against it. They wanted Italians to rule Italians, Germans to rule Germans, Hungarians to rule Hungarians. That put them at odds with the great dynastic empires and, frequently, with the Church. Metternich had good reason to regard nationalism and liberalism as related threats.
Conservatives have to conserve something that actually exists. For an American, that something is not the Habsburg Empire or Bourbon France.##
Throne and altarI should disclose my own bias here. I'm Catholic. I recognize the authority of the pope. I have no particular interest in proving that America is, or must remain, a Protestant nation, and I'm considerably more sympathetic than the average American conservative to the old Catholic critique of liberalism. In fact, I tend to see the Protestant Reformation itself as one of the great ruptures that eventually produced the liberal world. When Garen talks about throne and altar, I understand the appeal.
But I'm also an American, and this is where I think his argument goes wrong.
Garen defines nationalism as a doctrine of political legitimacy: Sovereignty belongs to the nation rather than to a king or emperor. Because this transfers legitimacy from the top down to the bottom up, he calls nationalism a species of liberalism. As he puts it, "To actually be conservative is to reject bottom-up legitimacy."
Why?
That might describe a particular kind of European reactionary thought. It does not describe American conservatism as it has existed for more than two centuries.##
America's inheritanceAn American conservative inherits a republic. He inherits the Constitution, representative government, the common law, federalism, Christianity, local institutions, and a political tradition in which the people are understood to possess rights that precede the state. He can argue about how well those things fit together. He can even acknowledge that some of them have roots in liberalism.
What he cannot plausibly do is declare the entire American political inheritance illegitimate. After all, what's "conservative" about asking Americans to overthrow a 250-year-old constitutional order in favor of a European political system that they never had?
The same problem arises with Garen's treatment of Christianity. He's on firmer ground in describing throne-and-altar politics as part of the historic integralist tradition within Christianity. But Christianity itself is not synonymous with monarchy.
As a Catholic, I don't need to speculate much about this. The [Catechism teaches](https://www.vatican.va/content/catechism/en/part_three/section_one/chapter_two/article_2/participation_in_social_life.html ) that political authority ultimately derives from God. But it also explicitly recognizes a diversity of legitimate political regimes. The Church's Compendium of Social Doctrine [goes farther](https://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/pontifical_councils/justpeace/documents/rc_pc_justpeace_doc_20060526_compendio-dott-soc_en.html ): “The subject of political authority is the people considered in its entirety as those who have sovereignty.” The people may entrust the exercise of that sovereignty to elected representatives and replace them when they fail.
That doesn't mean Catholicism embraces simple majoritarianism. [John Paul II warned against](https://www.vatican.va/content/john-paul-ii/en/encyclicals/documents/hf_jp-ii_enc_01051991_centesimus-annus.html ) the idea that truth is “determined by the majority,” and the Church teaches that political authority remains bound by the moral order and the common good. The people can't make something just simply by voting for it.
But that is very different from saying legitimate political authority requires a king. Catholic teaching manages to hold together two ideas Garen treats as opposites: Political authority ultimately comes from God, and the people can nevertheless possess and exercise political sovereignty.
So the choice Garen eventually gives us — Christendom on one side, a liberal empire or balkanized ethnostates on the other — is too neat.
**RELATED: **[**Bernard Nathanson: Abortion architect who found mercy in Christ**](https://www.theblaze.com/lifestyle/bernard-nathanson-abortion-architect-who-found-mercy-in-christ )
Sydney Morning Herald/Antonio Ribiero/Getty Images##
Cherry bombIn fact, Garen makes a distinction that helps explain where I think he goes wrong. Nations and nationalism are not the same thing. Nations are ancient. Nationalism as a political doctrine is modern.
I've been reading Christopher Hibbert's history of the French Revolution, and one little scene in the book captures the ambiguity nicely. [Hibbert describes](https://www.goodreads.com/author/quotes/62108.Christopher_Hibbert ) crowds wandering through the Tuileries after the royal family's flight in 1791: "A cherry hawker sat with her basket on the eiderdown quilt of the Queen’s bed. ‘Now,’ she said. ‘Today, it’s the nation’s turn to be comfortable.'”
What exactly did “the nation” mean to her?
By 1791, the word had acquired a radical political meaning. The revolutionaries claimed that sovereignty belonged to the nation rather than the king. Perhaps our cherry seller had absorbed the new doctrine perfectly well.
But she was also using a word that referred to something considerably older: the people of France. The revolutionaries did not invent them.
France already possessed a people, a history, a culture, a territory, institutions, traditions, and a religious inheritance stretching back centuries. The revolutionary innovation was the claim that this pre-existing nation was now sovereign.##
Americans and AmericaThat is almost exactly the distinction Garen himself makes. And it's why I think he asks his historical argument to do too much. He is right that modern nationalism emerged from the liberal and revolutionary upheavals that challenged Europe's old dynastic order. But he has already conceded that the nation itself is much older. Establishing the liberal genealogy of nationalism therefore doesn't establish that conserving a nation, preferring one's fellow citizens, or preserving a national culture is inherently liberal.
The fact that 19th-century Italian nationalists fought against throne and altar does not tell us whether an American in 2026 should believe that America is a real nation, that its government has particular obligations to Americans, or that its inherited culture is worth preserving.
What today's Christian nationalists generally mean by "nationalism" is not that every ethnic group in America should receive its own sovereign state. They mean something closer to the opposite: They believe Americans themselves constitute a nation, with a particular history and culture rather than merely a common set of administrative boundaries. That nation can include people of different ethnic backgrounds who nevertheless understand themselves to belong to a common people.
They believe citizenship entails obligations that don't extend equally to every person on earth. They believe a government should prefer the interests of its own people. And Christian nationalists add that Christianity is part of the country's inheritance and ought to have some meaningful place in its public life.
You can disagree with any or all of that. But pointing out that 19th-century nationalism helped destroy the Habsburg order doesn't refute it.##
Succession concession?Garen argues that if nationalism is taken seriously as the principle that every distinct people deserves its own sovereign state, then the consistent American nationalist begins to look like a secessionist.
Perhaps. But why must an American nationalist accept that definition? If Americans constitute a nation, there is no nationalist principle requiring the United States to be divided into smaller ethnic republics.
A nation does require common things: a language, institutions, historical memory, loyalties, customs, and some idea of what membership means. It also requires boundaries. A nation that cannot distinguish between its members and everyone else is eventually no nation at all.
Garen's argument about empires has problems of its own. He observes that the three great powers of the present day — the United States, China, and Russia — are enormous, multi-ethnic states capable of projecting power, while many European nation-states are small, dependent, and demographically declining.##
Baby bustTrue enough. But size is not the same thing as political health, and empire is hardly a guarantee of permanence. The Austro-Hungarian Empire disappeared. So did the Ottoman Empire. So did the Russian Empire, followed eventually by the Soviet Union. The British Empire once governed roughly a quarter of the world's population.
Nor is it obvious that Germany's low birth rate or Italy's aging population is the consequence of being a nation-state. Russia, one of Garen's own examples of a successful multi-ethnic empire, [faces serious demographic problems](https://www.russiamatters.org/analysis/russias-demographic-vanishing-act-warning-history ) of its own.
Garen points to the demographic decline of European nation-states, but he never establishes the causal connection. Why would Italians have more children if Italy were incorporated into a large Christian empire? Whatever is causing the fertility collapse across developed societies, Garen hasn't shown that the culprit is the nation-state.
But the larger problem with Garen's argument is his conception of what conservatives are supposed to conserve.##
Nostalgia nationConservatism cannot simply mean fidelity to the political arrangements of Europe before the French Revolution. Conservatives have to conserve something that actually exists. For an American, that something is not the Habsburg Empire or Bourbon France. It is America.
Our inheritance is messy. It contains Christianity and Enlightenment liberalism, English common law and republicanism, individual rights and civic obligations. There are tensions among those things, and Garen is right to point some of them out.
But we don't get to choose our inheritance; the conservative question is what we do with it.
And if there is such a thing as an American conservative, he must presumably believe there is an America to conserve.
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2026-08-08 15:00:00 GMT

The name might sound sweet, but BlazeTV host Sara Gonzales says Americans shouldn't be fooled. A federal proposal dubbed the “Save Our Bacon Act” is making its way through Congress, and Gonzales believes anyone who cares about the welfare of animals — left or right — should oppose it.
“This is the one thing, the unlikely cause bringing liberals and conservatives together. This is the one thing that we can all agree on is that it turns out, no one likes seeing pigs locked in tiny cages,” Gonzales says.
The Save Our Bacon Act, she explains, "would strip rights away from states, which regulate farming pigs.”
“‘We’re just saving the pigs. We’re saving bacon, and we’re just protecting our family farmers.’ It’s actually not. Once you get past the cute acronym, this bill is not really about bacon at all,” she says.###
The bill would “restrict states from imposing certain conditions on the production of livestock products sold within their borders,” which “targets laws like California’s Proposition 12, which was designed to protect animal welfare.”
“If this were passed, it would federally preempt qualifying state and local standards. So then there would be a federal law that would preempt state laws,” Gonzales says.
“Obviously, states, not Washington, D.C., should be free to set their own laws and policies, especially when you think about how states are known for different things, different industries, some agricultural, some not,” she continues.
The purpose of the law being targeted, California Prop 12, was to give animals that we eat a better standard of living while they’re alive.
“Now, I’m not PETA, OK? I’m not PETA ... I’m not a vegan. I love meat. I love eating meat. But I also support the welfare of animals. And I don’t think that we should be forcing pigs into these gestation crates where they can’t move,” Gonzales says.
“During their pregnancies, they’re kept in these crates to prevent them from being able to move. And then when they give birth, they actually have to just nurse through it … they just roll over and the babies just nurse off the pig’s nipples, but they can’t even move,” she continues.
“That is inhumane, guys,” she adds.##
Want more from Sara Gonzales?To enjoy more of Sara's no-holds-barred takes on news and culture, [subscribe to BlazeTV](https://get.blazetv.com/sara/?utm_source=theblaze&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=article_shortcode_saragonzalesunfiltered ) — the largest multi-platform network of voices who love America, defend the Constitution, and live the American dream.
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2026-08-08 12:00:00 GMT

When Chicago police arrested 23-year-old Philip Robinson late last month, police records show he was facing misdemeanor cannabis possession and resisting charges, [CWB Chicago reported](https://cwbchicago.com/2026/08/man-in-custody-for-resisting-cpd-found-with-loaded-gun-in-crotch-at-courthouse-door-officials-say.html ).
The next day — just after 9:30 a.m. July 29 — Robinson was taken for a court appearance, and the outlet said that "ordinarily, he would have been in and out of the courthouse within hours."
'Nice job by our correctional staff catching it upon intake.'
But Robinson's X-ray security screening at the courthouse was anything but ordinary.
"Cook County Sheriff’s Office correctional staff recovered a loaded firearm" from Robinson — who was still in custody — "after it was detected during routine intake screening," the Cook County Sheriff's Office [said](https://www.facebook.com/cookcountysheriff/posts/pfbid02qYVAjY2ab9p51Qm6qjNq4B64A2yto8XuAM9bYoymGeWteJHPXVvK3tnMPxsPUigcl ). "The firearm — a 9mm Taurus loaded with 13 rounds including one in the chamber — was safely recovered before it could enter the secure facility."
The gun was seen in Robinson's groin area, according to an image the sheriff's office released.
With that, the sheriff’s office referred the matter to the "conveniently available prosecutors for approval of felony charges," CWB Chicago said.
The outlet indicated prosecutors signed off on three new counts: possession of a firearm with a revoked Firearm Owner's Identification card, aggravated unlawful possession of a firearm, and unlawful use of a weapon.
**RELATED: **[**Inmate hands judge 'wad' of counterfeit cash to pay bond — then actually tells judge to 'keep the change': Police**](https://www.theblaze.com/news/inmate-hands-judge-wad-of-counterfeit-cash-to-pay-bond-then-actually-tells-judge-to-keep-the-change-police )
What's more, Robinson — who would have been automatically released from custody in connection with the misdemeanor charges under Illinois' SAFE-T Act — got no break after Judge John Hock got word of the suspect's security screening, CWB Chicago said.
Indeed, Robinson was detained pending trial, the outlet said.
While the sheriff's office said, "Nice job by our correctional staff catching it upon intake," CWB Chicago had questions: "Assuming for a moment that Robinson had the firearm as alleged, where did he get it? Or did Chicago police officers not find the firearm while searching him?"
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2026-08-08 09:30:00 GMT

A stretch of roadway near the South Chicago Chapel on East 95th Street was shut down as investigators continued to process the dozens of bodies found improperly stored at the funeral home.
Multiple law enforcement sources [told WGN-TV](https://wgntv.com/news/chicago-news/dozens-decomposing-bodies-chicago-funeral-home/ ) that at least 50 decomposing bodies were found on Thursday stuffed into closets and the garage at the business in Chicago, Illinois.
She was cited for leaving bodies in an unrefrigerated area that had a 'rodent infestation, causing decomposition and maggot infestation.'
The Chicago Police Department said the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation called officers to the business on a "license investigation."
WLS-TV [reported](https://abc7chicago.com/post/cook-county-working-id-decomposing-bodies-found-south-chicago-chapel-funeral-home-east-95th-street-southeast-side/19640296/ ) that the owner of the funeral home was recorded as Clark Morgan, whose name matches that of the person who ran Chicago Heights crematory. That business was shut down after more than 100 bodies were found improperly stored on trailers last year.
Morgan's wife, Johanna, was listed as the funeral director at South Chicago Chapel, but her license was suspended on Wednesday after a history of disciplinary action.
In one incident, she was cited for leaving bodies in an unrefrigerated area that had a "rodent infestation, causing decomposition and maggot infestation."
Residents near the funeral home said they smelled a very foul odor for about a year.
"Every time I come through here, I smell a foul smell in the air, and I was wondering what that smell was, and I kept thinking maybe it was the sewer," Frank Dower said. "That is so awful, but I hope they get it resolved. I hope they get it resolved and put the bodies away properly like they're supposed to be, and justice for the families."
"Oh man, it's awful," Valkiery Velez said. "I've lived here for about a year, and I could smell it this entire year. It's like dead rodents, dead animals. You can smell it, yeah."
Officials said that forensic pathologists found bodies in different states of decomposition.**
****RELATED: **[**Florida man found dead from self-inflicted gunshot wound after being accused of sexually abusing corpse at funeral home**](https://www.theblaze.com/news/corpse-abuse-florida-funeral-home )
The families of the people at the funeral home have been left in limbo as the investigation continues.
"We don't know if Melody is in there or not," Patrice Halliburton said, referring to her sister, who had been cremated at the funeral home. "So right now, we're more fearful that she is than we are angry."
Local Alderman Peter Chico released a statement about the incident Friday.
"I was horrified when I found out about the bodies at the South Chicago Chapel Funeral Home," he said. "My thoughts and prayers go out to the families who may have had loved ones there."
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2026-07-28 23:00:00 GMT

A gun violence prevention program in Orlando, Florida, that received $1.5 million of federal funding [abruptly closed down](https://www.wesh.com/article/orlando-gun-violence-prevention-program-suspends-operations-entire-staff-terminated/73259953 ) on Thursday after several controversies, including the arrest of a "neighborhood change agent."
Operation New Hope CEO and President Reggie Fullwood said in a message to the group's community partners that it had "suspended" operations and terminated all "neighborhood change agents," as well as peacekeepers, mental health therapists, and job coaches.
Prosecutors said the leaks resulted in lost evidence, unrecovered assets, and at least one suspect fleeing arrest.
A source told WESH-TV that the situation was discussed on Friday at the Orlando City Hall.
"Since assuming responsibility for the contract in January, we have encountered numerous employee arrests, significant breaches of trust, and a lack of accountability that have compromised the integrity and effectiveness of the program," Fullwood said.
He confirmed to WESH that a former state juvenile justice probation officer who was arrested for allegedly leaking information to drug traffickers worked for the organization as a change agent.
Crystal Lawson, 32, was fired by the Florida Department of Juvenile Justice in February 2022 over a battery charge. Lawson had been given access to the state's court records database at her job, and that access [was not shut off](https://www.clickorlando.com/news/local/2026/07/20/former-orange-county-probation-officer-accused-of-tipping-off-fentanyl-ring-posts-bond/ ) after she was fired.
An arrest warrant indicated that Lawson was making dozens of unapproved searches on the database and that secret search warrants from the database ended up in the hands of fentanyl traffickers.
Investigators traced the leaks to a person nicknamed "Mel Baby" — and identified him as Melvin Lawson, the father of Crystal Lawson. He allegedly bragged about having the unauthorized access to the state records.
Prosecutors said the leaks resulted in lost evidence, unrecovered assets, and at least one suspect fleeing arrest.
Lawson could face up to 560 years in prison over the 113 felony counts of computer crimes and one other felony count.
**RELATED: **[**Social media influencer arrested after mom's terrifying discovery of cellphone video of her 2-year-old daughter**](https://www.theblaze.com/news/paillet-cellphone-video-abuse-mom )
Lawson was given a bond of $10,000 per felony count, which added up to $1.14 million.
She posted bond and was released.
WESH indicated that it was unclear whether the allegations against Lawson were connected in any way to the Community Violence Intervention program.
The city launched the CVI program in 2022, and Saving Our Streets began operating as part of that mission in 2023. In 2024, the program expanded after receiving a $1.5 million grant from the U.S. Dept. of Justice.
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2026-07-27 23:44:21 GMT

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani (D) has faced intense backlash for his repeated calls to arrest Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
And the latest person to jump into the debate was someone the mayor likely never saw coming: Milwaukee Bucks forward Kyle Kuzma.
‘People cosplaying as things they don’t have the authority, the talent, or the track record to actually be.’
In a post on X, the 2020 NBA champion weighed in on an address Mamdani delivered last week in which the mayor [reaffirmed](https://x.com/NYCMayor/status/2079718073058091261?s=46 )[](https://x.com/NYCMayor/status/2079718073058091261?s=46 ) his belief that Netanyahu should be arrested for serving as “the architect of a horrific genocide against the Palestinian people.”
“I agree with the ICC that Benjamin Netanyahu should be arrested and tried for his crimes,” Mamdani said in the video.
The mayor had previously pledged on the campaign trail — and [reiterated](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/07/18/magazine/zohran-mamdani-interview.html ) in a recent interview with the New York Times — that he would seek to enforce the International Criminal Court’s arrest warrant if Netanyahu were to visit New York City, which the prime minister plans to do when the United Nations General Assembly convenes in September.
Mamdani added, however, that the NYPD lacks the legal authority to execute the ICC's warrant.
**RELATED: **[**Mamdani boycotts NYC Israel Day Parade despite attending other ethnic celebrations**](https://www.theblaze.com/news/mamdani-boycotts-nyc-israel-day-parade-despite-attending-other-ethnic-celebrations )
Responding to the remarks, Kuzma [wrote](https://x.com/kylekuzma/status/2081410969356419322?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E2081410969356419322%7Ctwgr%5E3b38ff241210513b4d78bade2b80d2d6e342c569%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.foxnews.com%2Foutkick-sports%2Fnba-star-rips-socialist-nyc-mayor-zohran-mamdani-mayor-playing-president-netanyahu-video ) in a Sunday post, “This is 2026. People cosplaying as things they don’t have the authority, the talent, or the track record to actually be. Just for content.”
He continued by calling Mamdani “a mayor playing president.”
“Were [sic] raising a generation that learning the reward isn’t in doing the thing it’s in looking like you did the thing,” Kuzma wrote.
“Don't fall for distractions,” he concluded.
In a follow-up post, Kuzma [acknowledged](https://x.com/kylekuzma/status/2081463356049822106 ) the wave of personal attacks he received for criticizing Mamdani.
“X is for conversation, and in today’s age, you cannot have a conversation without being attacked if people don’t agree with what you are saying,” he said.
“But somehow, I am a Zionist because I’m pointing out things that are happening in front of everyone’s face,” he added.
In contrast, San Antonio Spurs superstar Victor Wembanyama liked the video [posted](https://www.instagram.com/reel/DbEw1OaxfOa/?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet ) to the mayor’s official Instagram account.
President Donald Trump also chimed in on Truth Social, dismissing Mamdani’s calls, [writing](https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/116953334292806992 ), “Benjamin Netanyahu will not be arrested, in any way, shape, or form, while in the United States.”
The Netherlands-based ICC [issued](https://www.icc-cpi.int/defendant/netanyahu ) an arrest warrant for Netanyahu in 2024, accusing the prime minister of war crimes, including using "starvation as a method of warfare," as well as “crimes against humanity of murder, persecution, and other inhumane acts."
The United States has not ratified the Rome Statute, which established the ICC, and is therefore not obligated to enforce its arrest warrants.
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2026-07-27 23:20:00 GMT

In an update to the [Seattle shooting that took three lives](https://www.theblaze.com/news/3-killed-4-wounded-in-shooting-at-seattle-food-festival-1-suspect-arrested-the-other-still-on-the-loose ) Sunday evening, it turns out the initially arrested suspect is just 15 years old — and police now are saying there were two other suspects: one who died at the scene and was an acquaintance of the teenage arrestee, and another unknown suspect, the [Associated Press reported](https://apnews.com/article/seattle-center-shooting-food-festival-space-needle-90548c65364e742a97fb7cb0fea31209 ).
"Based on the evidence at the scene, investigators believe" the 15-year-old "and one of the deceased engaged in a gunfight with at least one other unknown suspect," according to a document filed in juvenile court in Seattle, the AP said.
'I heard bang, bang, bang, and I heard yelling, straight yelling.'
Mayor Katie Wilson said at a news conference that the arrested 15-year-old was being held in juvenile detention for investigation of firearms violations and first-degree assault ahead of a Monday afternoon court appearance, the outlet reported.
Authorities earlier Monday said they're still looking for an additional suspect but could not rule out the possibility that individual was among those killed, the AP added.
“We are trying to identify who that person is,” Seattle Police Chief Shon Barnes said, according to the outlet.
Investigators initially believed two suspects were shooting at each other, the AP said, adding that police said late Sunday night it wasn't clear if any of the shooting victims were involved in the confrontation between the two shooters.
More from the outlet:
> The dead were described as two men, ages 19 and 44, and a woman, 56.
> The four wounded included a 2-year-old boy, who was in satisfactory condition Monday. The others — two men, ages 23 and 27, and a woman, 39 — were discharged, a hospital spokesperson said.[CBS News](https://www.cbsnews.com/news/seattle-shooting-bite-of-seattle/ ) said the shooting took place around 6 p.m. near the Seattle Center, a popular tourist spot that includes the Space Needle and the sports arena that's the home of the Seattle Kraken and Seattle Storm. The news network added that the area was filled with attendees of the annual Bite of Seattle food festival.
**RELATED: **[**3 killed, 4 wounded in shooting at Seattle food festival; 1 suspect arrested, the other still on the loose**](https://www.theblaze.com/news/3-killed-4-wounded-in-shooting-at-seattle-food-festival-1-suspect-arrested-the-other-still-on-the-loose )
David Ryder/Getty Images
Witnesses [told KING-TV](https://www.king5.com/article/news/local/shooting-at-bite-of-seattle-leaves-multiple-people-injured/281-dc1d0ac9-434a-4b61-8d1e-2dc20a12d6be ) they heard sounds resembling firecrackers and people fleeing the area and diving for cover.
"I heard bang, bang, bang, and I heard yelling, straight yelling," a witness noted in the KING interview.
Adya Sengupta told the station she took cover in the Seattle Armory and that Seattle Fudge brought dozens of bystanders into the storefront to shelter in the event center.
"Inside the Seattle Armory was crazy; within seconds, maybe 60-plus, people had flooded the doors inside, all running toward that back corner with Seattle Fudge," Sengupta added to KING.
CBS News said the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives indicated Sunday night that several of its agents were at the scene and that Seattle police would lead the investigation. The news network added that Washington Gov. Bob Ferguson (D) said the state SWAT team also responded at the request of Seattle police.
A candlelight vigil was planned Monday night at the center’s International Fountain, the AP reported.
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2026-07-27 23:00:00 GMT

In preparation for Anthony Fauci’s subpoenaed Senate testimony on COVID origins and response set to begin this coming Wednesday, Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) released portions of the embattled doctor’s personal diaries and related emails/documents, highlighting his private doubts about a natural origin, discussions of deleting records, and personal reflections on fame.
On today’s episode of “The Glenn Beck Program,” Glenn dove into the diaries of the “egomaniac monster” and shared what he believes will happen in the upcoming hearing.
Glenn’s head writer and researcher Jason Buttrill begins by reading some of the most jaw-dropping quotes from Fauci’s diary, starting with his admission that the virus, contrary to what the public was told, was **not** of natural origin.
“On January 26, 2020, Fauci writes in his diary, ‘Now, we know the market was not the source ... it was the amplifier,”’ Jason reads, recalling how “anyone that disagreed with natural origin was [called] an idiot and ... shamed.”
“A week later, he convenes a call with 12 scientists. You want to know how many of them thought that it was natural origin spillover from animals? Out of those 12, only two,” he adds, noting how despite the heavy skepticism, “the consensus ... from all the academic papers was that no, this is natural origin.”
Glenn and Jason both speculate that Fauci’s public insistence on a natural origin was self-protective because U.S. funds (under his watch) had gone to the very type of research that could have caused a lab leak in Wuhan.
“We had a law that said you can't do [gain of function research]. ... Come or hell or high water, he would find a way to do it, and then he covered it all up,” says Glenn, “so the guy who is literally, I believe, responsible for millions of dead ... knew it, and he just felt it was too important to let the law stop them, so he found a way around it.”
But perhaps the most shocking entries from Fauci’s diary highlight his inflated ego despite the growing global death toll.
According to the released files, at one point Fauci wrote, “One person said that Tyra Banks was sexy, but that I was even more sexy than she was.”
“Another 1,200 dead this morning ... but on the bright side, I'm the sexiest man alive,” Glenn mocks. “I mean, it’s just horrible.”
Jason follows with another cringeworthy entry: “Press still hot and heavy about me. Multiple stories per day directly or indirectly involving me.”
Glenn highlights another entry where Fauci wrote about being invited to participate in the reality show “Dancing with the Stars.”
“Can you maybe pay attention to the millions that are dying?” he scoffs.
Glenn and Jason then recall the InStyle magazine cover from the magazine’s September 2020 issue, featuring Fauci sitting by a pool, wearing sunglasses and a smug look on his face.
“It's absolutely grotesque,” says Glenn.
“And now reading these diaries and knowing how infatuated he was with all the attention and fame,” Jason sighs.
Glenn notes that since Biden’s broad pardon already shields Fauci from any prosecution for past actions or false statements, he cannot be charged for what he did or said years ago. However, if he is asked the same questions again this week and simply repeats his old answers — now contradicted by new evidence — that would constitute a brand-new false statement under oath, which the pardon does not cover.
Glenn speculates that Fauci’s enormous ego will not allow him to admit he previously lied (even though such an admission would be legally safe under the pardon), leaving him only one practical option: “plead the Fifth.”
“If he pleads the fifth, we know he was lying,” he says.
To hear more, watch the video above.##
Want more from Glenn Beck?To enjoy more of Glenn’s masterful storytelling, thought-provoking analysis, and uncanny ability to make sense of the chaos, [subscribe to BlazeTV](https://get.blazetv.com/glenn/?utm_source=theblaze&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=article_shortcode_glennbeck ) — the largest multi-platform network of voices who love America, defend the Constitution, and live the American dream.
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2026-07-27 22:44:31 GMT

A 30% grocery markdown?
That is the pricing framework that will guide the city’s five government-owned grocery stores, democratic socialist New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani announced during a press conference Monday.
'Our five city-run grocery stores will set prices for this core set of goods at 30% below typical retail prices.'
Standing in front of shelves stocked with produce in a Brooklyn warehouse, Mamdani [addressed](https://x.com/theblaze/status/2081764767778144352?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E2081764767778144352%7Ctwgr%5E6b4cc9c6671c3e2545d524ad19feac6f0d6bdb67%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.theblaze.com%2Fr%2Fentryeditor%2F2677277868publish ) the sharp rise in grocery prices over the past several years, citing a 30% increase since 2019.
To offset that increase, the mayor announced “a collection of essential staples that will be predictably 30% cheaper at all five of our city-run grocery stores.”
The discount will apply to items including fresh produce, meat, seafood, and “20 other essential items like cheese, milk, and bread,” Mamdani said, adding that prices will be set once per month to eliminate week-to-week fluctuations.
“Once a month, our five city-run grocery stores will set prices for this core set of goods at 30% below typical retail prices. No exceptions.”
The mayor has repeatedly pledged — both on the campaign trail and since taking office — to open one of these stores in each of the city’s five boroughs. The first location is expected to open in the Bronx by the end of 2027, with the remaining four stores slated to be operational by the end of his four-year term, including one in East Harlem.
Mamdani also said the city-run grocery stores would not sell cigarettes, alcohol, lottery tickets, or hot food, which are typically among the most profitable products for bodega and convenience store owners. The move is intended to address concerns that the mayor’s initiative could undercut privately owned stores in the surrounding areas.
**RELATED: [Mamdani plan includes 5 city-run grocery markets — with massive price tag](https://www.theblaze.com/news/nyc-mamdani-city-run-stores )**
“We know that a lot of what drives revenue for these bodegas, grocery stores, those are things that make it possible for them to continue to operate. Those are not things we have any interest in competing for,” Mamdani said.
Former Mayor Eric Adams (D) has been a vocal critic of the initiative, [arguing](https://youtube.com/shorts/z4gejBUuUog?si=GTSJCENK-w21XHgN ) that Mamdani's plan would “devastate the local bodegas and local stores and the local supermarkets where they employ people," calling it “not the right thing to do.”
Grocery executive John Catsimatidis, the owner of Gristedes and D’Agostino Supermarkets, has also bashed the proposal. In an op-ed for the Wall Street Journal, Catsimatidis [predicted](https://www.wsj.com/opinion/want-soviet-bread-lines-vote-for-zohran-mamdani-3f4a1434 ) the mayor's program “would collapse our food supply, kill private industry, and drag us down a path toward the bread lines of the old Soviet Union."
Under the current proposal, the city would own the property and cover the costs of construction, rent, and property taxes. A private operator would partner with the city to manage the stores' day-to-day operations, including sourcing products, stocking shelves, and maintaining customer service.
Mamdani is now seeking private operators to run the stores, inviting applicants with grocery management experience to take part in the city’s government-owned retail experiment.
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2026-07-27 22:30:26 GMT

Senator Rand Paul (R-Ky.) is letting Dr. Anthony Fauci speak for himself through a massive collection of "diary" entries during the peak years of the COVID pandemic — and the results have been potentially disastrous for Fauci's apparently carefully curated public image and for some of his associates.
And those associates, it appears, extend well into the fourth estate.
'Jake clearly believes that Trump is totally nuts.'
[Blaze News](https://www.theblaze.com/news/faucis-pandemic-diary-reveals-what-was-really-on-his-mind-as-the-bodies-began-to-drop ) previously reported on the damning new documents exposing Fauci as an apparent fame-obsessed megalomaniac.
However, a name from the mainstream media also continued to appear in the more than 1,100 pages of [documents](https://www.paul.senate.gov/readingroom/ ): CNN anchor Jake Tapper.
"Had dinner at my home with Jake and Jennifer Tapper. Relaxed, good time. Jake clearly believes that Trump is totally nuts," reads an entry dated October 23, 2020.
**RELATED: **[**Diaries expose Fauci obsessing over his own fame during height of COVID as millions died**](https://www.theblaze.com/news/faucis-pandemic-diary-reveals-what-was-really-on-his-mind-as-the-bodies-began-to-drop )
Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images
A review of the documents revealed a disturbing pattern of cooperation between Fauci and Tapper. For example, Fauci wrote a similar entry dated July 1, 2020, in which he explicitly describes their association as a "friendship."
"Had dinner over Jake Tapper and Jen Tapper's home in D.C. Terrific couple. Friendship building," Fauci wrote, according to the documents released by Sen. Paul.
And, of course, as is the nature of many friendships in politics, this friendship apparently served some utility during the pandemic.
In the April 13, 2020, entry, Fauci recorded that he had a phone call with Jake Tapper. He wrote that "Jake wanted to make sure the interview did not cause me any problems." Fauci had [appeared](https://www.cnn.com/videos/politics/2020/04/12/sotu-fauci-full.cnn ) on Jake Tapper's show, "State of the Union," the day before.
Almost exactly a month later, on May 14, 2020, Fauci recorded that there was some "confusion" related to vaccines and school closure. With regard to his messaging in the media, Fauci wrote, "Chris Cuomo and Jake Tapper are trying to clarify this in my defense on their shows."
In another surprising entry, on July 26, 2020, Fauci appears to say that he fed questions to Jake Tapper to correct the narrative about testing as COVID deaths spiked. The entry is worth quoting at some length:
> 5th Day in a row for 1000 deaths/day. Brett Giroir on Tapper (State of the Union) talking bulls**t about testing with Jake pressing him. I gave Jake some questions to ask him. Mark Meadows on This Week with George Stephanopoulos saying that public health measures are not working and we will have to rely on interventions such as vaccines and therapeutics. This is his way of backing out of a failure and trying to get an “October Surprise.” Heads up for him trying to push an early approval of vaccine or even influencing the decision about convalescent sera, which actually do not look too good right now.Fauci is scheduled to give [testimony](https://www.hsgac.senate.gov/hearings/testimony-of-anthony-fauci/ ) before the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs on Wednesday morning.
CNN declined to provide a comment to Blaze News. Representatives for Jake Tapper likewise declined to comment.
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2026-07-27 21:48:59 GMT

On Saturday, Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) released a large batch of emails Anthony Fauci, the architect of the government's coronavirus response, sent to himself as a diary. In one of the entries, Fauci wrote about accusations made in a book co-written by [BlazeTV](https://get.blazetv.com/deace/?utm_source=blazenews&utm_medium=referral ) host[](https://www.theblaze.com/podcasts/steve-deace-show ) Steve Deace.
Fauci railed against the book and its authors, Deace and Todd Erzen, his "Steve Deace Show" co-host, in a diary entry from the height of the coronavirus pandemic period. His criticisms were without evidence, as Fauci admitted that he did not even deign to read it.
'Notice he never disputes anything we wrote. The bestselling book has more footnotes than pages, and it's all been proven true.'
"Two authors named Steve Deace and Todd Erzen wrote a book about me entitled '[Faucian Bargain' - The most powerful and dangerous bureaucrat in American history](https://www.amazon.com/Faucian-Bargain-Powerful-Dangerous-Bureaucrat-ebook/dp/B0917PZ3D3/?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_w=kmycB&content-id=amzn1.sym.3a079c4e-f938-40c9-a0ed-01ef0e9528e9&pf_rd_p=3a079c4e-f938-40c9-a0ed-01ef0e9528e9&pf_rd_r=136-2869362-1210345&pd_rd_wg=WdG5m&pd_rd_r=30175c2a-6c58-4d69-9230-e7b4586e41dd )," Fauci [wrote](https://x.com/theblaze/status/2081773810890555427 ) in the entry released by Senate Homeland Security Committee Chairman Rand Paul.
"It is a cheap paperback of 179 pages which I will not even read but it contains the same sort of nonsense that the other conspiracy theorists have been saying about me," Fauci wrote.
"It is really getting worse and worse in the number of crazy people who are buying into this conspiracy theory and so now we have the book by Robert F Kennedy junior and this book by these two guys as well as a number of right wing columnists," he added.
Deace noted the diary entry release and fired off a scorching response on social media.
>
> [](https://twitter.com/SteveDeaceShow/status/2081756431171334277 )>
"This is quite possibly the greatest compliment of my entire career I will ever receive, to have annoyed the demonic little elf himself," [he posted](https://x.com/SteveDeaceShow/status/2081756431171334277 ).**
**"And notice he never disputes anything we wrote. The bestselling book has more footnotes than pages, and it's all been proven true," Deace added.
Deace reiterated his comment to Blaze News.
"Without question this is the single greatest honor of my career," he wrote.
**RELATED: **[**In 'Faucian Bargain,' Steve Deace and Todd Erzen ask questions of Fauci the media won't**](https://www.theblaze.com/news/faucian-bargain-steve-deace-questions-fauci-media )
The other Fauci diary entries [released](https://www.theblaze.com/news/faucis-pandemic-diary-reveals-what-was-really-on-his-mind-as-the-bodies-began-to-drop ) show the former National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases director gleefully tracking all of the glowing praise he received from the fawning mainstream media.
The book was [published](https://www.theblaze.com/news/faucian-bargain-steve-deace-questions-fauci-media ) in 2021, and the writers provided evidence they believe showed Fauci had become the "most powerful and dangerous bureaucrat in American history."
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2026-07-27 21:35:00 GMT

The [website](https://mygenderdolls.com/ ) for the MyGender Dolls recommends that the "award-winning" and "culturally attuned" dolls with supposedly removable genitals be given to children between 4 and 10 years old.
According to the [New York Post](https://nypost.com/2026/07/25/us-news/taxpayer-funded-transgender-dolls-to-hit-classrooms-this-fall/ ), the transgender-identifying dolls will be provided to teachers for the next school year and were developed at the University of Minnesota Medical School, which receives taxpayer funding.
'It's time to put everyone involved where they belong ... behind bars.'
The dolls have already been used at the medical school's Institute for Sexual and Gender Health to encourage children to "talk about gender and bodies."
"We were able to explore and brainstorm not just what our bodies are able to do now but what we want our bodies to do and look like in the future," Adjunct Assistant Professor Elizabeth Panetta said.
The report of the dolls with "swappable genitals" led to an onslaught of vitriol against Democratic Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz.
"This is sick. It is a complete betrayal of Minnesota parents, students and taxpayers — and it shows just how extreme Tim Walz and [Democratic Sen.] Amy Klobuchar have become," Minnesota GOP Chairman Alex Plechash [responded](https://x.com/mngop/status/2081108510125822372 ).
"Four-year-olds should be learning their letters and numbers — not being encouraged to pull genitalia off dolls and ‘explore’ changing their bodies," he added.
"This is not education. It is taxpayer-funded indoctrination," he continued.
The GOP chided Walz by pointing out that fewer than half of students in Minnesota meet either math or reading standards while Democrats seek to indoctrinate them into the transgender agenda.
Others online were similarly incensed.
"It's time to put everyone involved where they belong ... behind bars," former Major League Baseball pitcher John Rocker [replied](https://x.com/itsJohnRocker/status/2081417707153399910 ).
"These are the most disgraceful things I have ever seen. Anyone gives one of my kids one of those dolls they better have their prayers said and their plot picked. Hell hath no fury when someone messes with one of my kids, period!" one critic [responded](https://x.com/ballew_judith/status/2081553550010671187 ).
"This is getting beyond dystopian ... you are going to end up with children who think their genitals are meant to detach and THAT is REALLY f**king dangerous!" another detractor [replied](https://x.com/PlebLifeBlogger/status/2081431013658353995 ).
"Disgusting — I'd have my kids right out of there before an adult asked my 4yo to play with a dolls [sic] privates," another critic [said](https://x.com/brooklyn47361/status/2081168083050246238 ).
**RELATED: **[**Tim Walz pardons illegal alien despite HORRIFIC child sex crimes — which may shield him from deportation**](https://www.theblaze.com/news/walz-deport-pedophile-pardon-laos )
A spokesperson for the university denied that any public funds were used to develop the trans dolls, but when pressed about the funding, the spokesperson told the Post to file a Freedom of Information Act request.
Tim Walz's office also did not respond to a comment request from the Post.
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2026-07-27 21:00:00 GMT

Marijuana has long been portrayed through film and television as a relatively harmless substance associated with relaxation, laughter, and the “munchies.”
But BlazeTV host Liz Wheeler says the scientific evidence tells a much darker story, and Alex Berenson’s book “Tell Your Children: The Truth About Marijuana, Mental Illness, and Violence” is what ultimately changed her mind.
“Alex Berenson changed my mind on marijuana almost single-handedly,” Wheeler says, before pointing to a study on the drug.
“A recent study shows that if a man uses marijuana, then — even once a week, if he smokes marijuana — then his wife is twice as likely to miscarry. So, even if the woman, the mother, never uses pot and the man smokes once a week, his wife is twice as likely to miscarry,” Wheeler says.###
As devastating as that is, it’s not all marijuana is linked to. The drug is also known to cause psychosis, schizophrenia, and violence.
But most people have no idea.
“The reason that most people think of pot and they think chill and munchies is because of that propaganda that I mentioned that was paid for by this humongous marijuana lobby who obviously stood to profit enormous amounts of money if they were able to farm marijuana,” she explains.
“They first, you know, tried to normalize it by making it a medicinal thing, medical marijuana, and then once it was kind of normalized as medicinal, which obviously had a positive connotation in people’s minds, their goal was actually just recreational legalization,” she says.
And in Colorado, where marijuana was legalized recreationally, Wheeler explains that crimes, car crashes, and ER visits are up.
“I would argue that it’s a net negative to society. It’s certainly a net negative to this channel. It causes me to lose subscribers any time I mention this,” she adds.
And anecdotally, Berenson’s wife worked in medical care and would “come home and tell him about these psychotic patients that she had and how there was always a connection to marijuana.”
“He scoffed at her. He said that is ridiculous. Like, marijuana is not tied to psychosis. It’s not tied to mental health. It’s not tied to violence. It’s like, you just smoke it, and then you get hungry. And so he tried to prove her wrong,” Wheeler explains.
But when he started researching it, he was shocked by what he found.
“And when he started researching it, that’s when he began to put the book together because he found that the actual research contradicts the narratives that we’re all pretty familiar with around marijuana,” she says.
“What Berenson actually found in the scientific literature was that it does ... lead to psychosis and schizophrenia and ultimately violence, particularly violence committed by men against women,” she continues.
“I don’t think my position is extreme, that if it’s a dangerous drug that leads to these things, if it’s a net negative to society, then yes, we should ban it,” she adds.##
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2026-07-27 20:00:00 GMT

A green energy political action committee has spent over $700,000 on faux-MAGA ads attacking Rep. Andy Ogles (R-Tenn.) to boost primary challenger Charlie Hatcher.
“Charlie Hatcher is an America First conservative who gets things done,” Invest in Tomorrow’s [advertisement](https://host2.adimpact.com/admo/viewer/28bce9c6-a974-4f89-9965-6e56c00421eb?utm_source=Sailthru&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=7/24/26%20AM:&utm_term=Punchbowl%20AM%20and%20Active%20Subscribers%20from%20Memberful%20Combined ) states. “Pro-gun, pro-life, pro-Trump, Charlie Hatcher is the trusted conservative leader we need.”
'If you’re an extremist on American energy, you’re on our target list.’
Despite what the ad’s content may suggest, Invest in Tomorrow isn’t a conservative organization. The PAC is funded by Democratic donors and former Obama-Biden officials aiming to punish politicians who oppose green energy subsidies.
“As the Trump-endorsed candidate in this race, I am being targeted by left-wing liberals from California because I am one of President Trump’s closest allies,” Ogles told Blaze News when reached for comment. “More than $1 million is flowing to my opponent from Gavin Newsom’s top donors and former Biden officials.”
Trump [endorsed](https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/115434868395866889 ) Ogles in October.
Ripple Labs co-founder Chris Larsen donated $6 million to the PAC between February and June 2026, according to Federal Election Commission disclosures. Larsen previously [donated](https://x.com/chrislarsensf/status/1848405676776952186?s=20 ) $10 million in crypto to Kamala Harris’ presidential campaign. The San Francisco tycoon is [worth nearly](https://www.politico.com/news/2026/05/15/billionaire-chris-larsen-boost-newsom-2028-00923782 ) $13 billion.
“I’m a big believer in Gavin,” Larsen told [Politico](https://www.politico.com/news/2026/05/15/billionaire-chris-larsen-boost-newsom-2028-00923782 ) in May. “His instincts are incredible. It’s super early, but we’re already supporting him in any way we can.”
**RELATED: **[**Trump’s approval rating SOARS in new poll**](https://www.theblaze.com/news/polling-net-approval-trump-high )
Paul Harris/Getty Images
CleanChoice Energy CEO Tom Matzzie chairs the PAC and contributed $50,000 in February. “If you’re an extremist on American energy, you’re on our target list,” Matzzie told [Punchbowl News](https://punchbowl.news/article/house/ogles-tennessee-primary-trouble/ ).
Despite claiming not to know Hatcher’s views on green energy, Matzzie said the PAC wants to “communicate a message to the other members of Congress that if you take these extreme positions, the industry is watching.”
Although Matzzie told Punchbowl the PAC aims to avoid being “sucked into those partisan games,” he’s pedigreed in left-wing politics. Matzzie [previously worked](https://www.evergreenaction.com/people/tom-matzzie/ ) for the Democratic National Committee, AFL-CIO, MoveOn.org, and John Kerry’s presidential campaign.
Former Biden Department of Energy Loan Programs Office Executive Director Jigar Shah donated $50,000 to Invest in Tomorrow in March 2026. His Obama-era predecessors [Mark McCall](https://www.lrnewenergy.com/team/mark-mccall/ ) and [Peter Davidson](https://usea.org/profile/peter-w-davidson ) donated $200,000 and $26,525 respectively. McCall is currently managing director at green private equity firm [Lime Rock New Energy](https://www.lrnewenergy.com/ ), while Davidson is CEO of asset management company [Aligned Climate Capital](https://alignedclimatecapital.com/our-team/ ).
Ogles and Hatcher are running in Tennessee's newly redrawn 5th District. Though solidly Republican, nearly 83% of voters were previously in a different district and are new to Ogles, according to [the Tennessean](https://www.tennessean.com/story/news/politics/2026/07/13/either-u-s-rep-andy-ogles-or-challenger-charlie-hatcher-meets-chaz-molder-in-tn-5-race/90757745007/?gnt-cfr=1&gca-cat=p&gca-uir=false&gca-epti=z11xx38p119650l117850c119650e1138xxv11xx38&gca-ft=227&gca-ds=sophi ).
Formerly the Tennessee [commissioner of agriculture](https://www.tn.gov/governor/news/2025/9/3/gov--lee-announces-key-leadership-transition-at-tn-department-of-agriculture.html ), Hatcher received Tennessee Republican Gov. Bill Haslam's [endorsement](https://www.wsmv.com/2026/07/20/former-gov-bill-haslam-endorses-charlie-hatcher-represent-tennessee-congress/ ) on July 16.
Invest in Tomorrow also campaigned against Rep. Chip Roy (R-Texas) during his primary campaign for Texas attorney general. The PAC ran advertisements accusing Roy of being insufficiently MAGA. Roy [ultimately lost](https://electionresults.sos.state.tx.us/results.html ) to state Sen. Mayes Middleton.
"As leaders within the clean energy industry, ITC PAC is proud of our role in ending Chip Roy's political career, investing nearly $1.5 million to reach GOP voters where they are — including on conservative cable, streaming sites like Rumble, and on MAGA social media — to remind them that Chip Roy betrayed their leader," Invest in Tomorrow [posted on X](https://x.com/ITCoalition_PAC/status/2059450008605278272?s=20 ) in May after Roy's loss.
The House Freedom Caucus Fund has spent over $560,000 to defend Ogles against Invest in Tomorrow's campaign, according to a spokesperson.
“This desperate attempt to SILENCE me is futile,” Ogles told Blaze News. “I will not be silent, and I will never stop fighting to put America First.”
Chris Larsen, Jigar Shah, Peter Davidson, Tom Mattzie, and Charlie Hatcher did not respond to requests for comment. Invest in Tomorrow Coalition PAC, Aligned Climate Capital, and CleanChoice Energy also did not respond for comment.
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2026-07-27 19:45:00 GMT

Democratic Hawaii Governor Josh Green is calling for his lieutenant governor to resign from office after she was indicted on a dozen charges that included bribery and falsifying campaign reports.
Lt. Gov. Sylvia Luke, a Democrat, was indicted by a grand jury on Friday on 12 counts after a months-long investigation, [according](https://www.politico.com/news/2026/07/25/hawaii-lt-gov-sylvia-luke-indicted-bribery-01012225?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter ) to Hawaii Attorney General Anne Lopez.
'The Lieutenant Governor needs to consider formally resigning to address this matter and so that the state of Hawaii can move forward.'
"From the outset of this investigation, I have repeated that we have a commitment to following the facts to where they lead, no matter how long it takes to get there," Lopez said.
Luke is [accused](https://www.khon2.com/hawaii-crime/sylvia-luke-indicted/ ) of participating in the bribery scheme with lobbyist Tobi Solidum in order to advance a COVID-19 testing contract in 2022. She was the chair of the state House Finance Committee at the time.
Four others were also indicted, including the former chair of the Dept. of Human Services, a Democrat; the former chair of the Public Utilities Commission, also a Democrat; and Solidum. Bench warrants were issued for all five of those indicted.
Green told Politico Sunday that Luke should step down.
"The attorney general announced significant developments in her department's corruption investigation and has provided an update on their findings," the governor said. "The lieutenant governor needs to consider formally resigning to address this matter and so that the state of Hawaii can move forward."
Luke took a leave of absence in April over the investigation and ended her re-election campaign.
**RELATED: **[**Ex-Democratic Sen. Bob Menendez's wife convicted for her role in bribery scheme: 'Partners in crime'**](https://www.theblaze.com/news/ex-democratic-sen-bob-menendezs-wife-convicted-for-her-role-in-bribery-scheme-partners-in-crime )
Luke's bail was set at $100,000 and then lowered to $80,000.
"We are asking for $100K bail simply based on the seriousness of the allegations against her. We recognize that she's not a flight risk. She's got extraordinarily strong ties to this community," Supervising Deputy Attorney General David Van Acker said, according to KHON-TV.
Bribery is a class B felony that carries a possible sentence of 10 years in prison.
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2026-07-27 19:30:00 GMT

In an interview with Jon Stewart, New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani (D) explained that concepts like a public library and fire department are examples of democratic socialism at work — but Blaze Media co-founder Glenn Beck couldn’t disagree more.
“Jon Stewart, you’re pathetic. You’re pathetic. You allow him to explain socialism to America, and then he actually comes out and says, ‘Yeah, well, you know, building a building and lending out books for free. If we suggested that today, we’d be slandered,’” Glenn says.
“That’s the library. Same thing with public schools and roads and everything else,” he adds, which leads him to ask — and answer — whether or not the fire department is actually “a sign of socialism” as Mamdani alleged.
“The richest man in Rome was Marcus Crassus. Rome was wood, packed tight, burning constantly, and there was no fire department. So Crassus built one because he was the richest guy there. Five hundred men,” Glenn explains, noting that Crassus was a “bad guy” who used the free market to exploit those whose homes were burning down.###
His fire department would withhold help until those whose homes were burning agreed to sell it to them.
“That’s the free market being applied to a burning building in the most corrupt way. It’s also why nobody has tried it again,” he says.
“So let me take you to the year 6. Jesus was 6 years old now, and the fire tore through the city again in Rome. Caesar Augustus was there. And he went to the watchmen of the city, 7,000 men in seven what were called cohorts,” Glenn explains.
“Each cohort was responsible for two districts. The first permanent public fire brigade in the history of the world was formed. He was the emperor. He ruled by slaves. He ruled by force,” he continues.
“He was not a good guy. He wasn’t a socialist. He beat Karl Marx to the fire department by 18 centuries,” he adds.
Then in 1736, Benjamin Franklin got “a couple dozen men to sign articles of agreement.”
“Every man brings six leather buckets and two linen bags. They meet monthly, and when a member misses a meeting, he pays a fine. And the fines bought fire engines. That was the Union Fire Company,” Glenn explains.
“It’s the first volunteer fire company in America. We still have volunteer fire departments. Why? Because of Benjamin Franklin, not Karl Marx. The government had nothing to do with it,” he continues.
“The American answer to all of these things has always been share the problem in association, not theft,” he adds.##
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2026-07-27 19:05:00 GMT

The cracker has finally crumbled for the executive at the forefront of Cracker Barrel's infamous rebranding meltdown.
Just over 11 months ago, Julie Felss Masino was responsible for what could be considered the American story of the year when Cracker Barrel completely swapped out its iconic logo for a mascot-free reimagining.
'I want to thank Julie for her leadership and commitment to Cracker Barrel.'
On Monday, Cracker Barrel announced that Masino would be stepping down after the company conducted a "comprehensive succession planning and search process."
In a [press release](https://www.barchart.com/story/news/3479208/cracker-barrel-announces-ceo-succession ), the brand said that while Masino would stay on in advisory role until October 9, it would only be to "support a smooth transition" for her replacement, David Deno.
Deno will join the Cracker Barrel board of directors following his role as CEO of Bloomin' Brands, which owns Outback Steakhouse. He also spent 15 years in senior-level operations at Yum! Brands, which owns KFC, Pizza Hut, and Taco Bell.
Masino has been at the helm of Cracker Barrel since late 2023, but it wasn't until 2025 that the business spiraled out of control.
After [ensuring audiences](https://www.theblaze.com/news/cracker-barrel-brand-change-outrage ) last August that customers would love the new changes, Masino led Cracker Barrel down a winding, woke road that had customers putting the company on blast for all its progressive initiatives.
**RELATED: [Cracker Barrel CEO praises company's 'Google star rating' while revealing huge financial losses](https://www.theblaze.com/news/cracker-barrel-q2-2026-profits )**
Joe Raedle/Getty Images
##
Looking down the barrelCracker Barrel was knee deep in "culture and inclusion," stating on its website that it wanted to promote "inclusive, ambitious, and diverse" team members.
This included the "Be Bold" program, which had a mission to develop "Black Leaders" through "allyship, mentorship, and education."
The "Hola!" initiative promoted "Hispanic and Latino culture through hiring, developing, and retaining talent" within the company.
Cracker Barrel also had a program about "empowering" women and another regarding "strengthening Cracker Barrel's relationship to the LGBTQ+ community."
As the backlash peaked, Masino [told](https://www.theblaze.com/news/cracker-barrel-ceo-glenn-beck ) Blaze co-founder Glenn Beck, "I feel like I've been fired by America."
In March 2026, Masino had no choice but to reveal how bad the company had been doing financially. Total revenue decreased by 7.9% compared to the year before. Restaurant revenue dropped by 7.5%, and traffic had declined by more than 10%. At the same time though, Masino [praised](https://www.theblaze.com/news/cracker-barrel-q2-2026-profits ) the restaurant's Google rating as having its "highest quarterly score since Q2 in fiscal year 2020."
A recent notable partnership with NASCAR featured Cracker Barrel [hosting](https://www.eastbaytimes.com/2026/06/25/nascar-weekend-at-sonoma-raceway-to-include-podcast-taping-live-music-driver-meet-and-greets/ ) a women's podcast and wine sampling on its stage at the Toyota/Save Mart 350 in late June.
**RELATED: ['I feel like I've been fired by America': Cracker Barrel CEO nearly brought to tears over redesign backlash](https://www.theblaze.com/news/cracker-barrel-ceo-glenn-beck )**
##
Parting remarks"We are confident David [Deno] is the right leader to continue building on the Cracker Barrel legacy, drive further positive momentum operationally and financially, and create sustainable value for our shareholders," said independent chairman of the Cracker Barrel board Carl Berquist.
"On behalf of the board and the entire company, I want to thank Julie for her leadership and commitment to Cracker Barrel," he added.
Deno described Cracker Barrel as "a truly iconic American brand, defined by its unique combination of warm country hospitality, timeless appeal, and deep connection with guests across generations."
The new CEO said he was honored to lead the team while "unlocking the full potential" of the Cracker Barrel brand by focusing on food and experiences.
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2026-07-27 18:45:00 GMT

Republican Sen. Mitch McConnell of Kentucky wrote in a statement Monday that he is still recovering from a [fall](https://www.theblaze.com/news/longtime-gop-sen-mitch-mcconnell-hospitalized ) in June and released a photo of himself in an apparent attempt to quell [suspicion](https://www.theblaze.com/news/concerning-new-details-emerge-about-mitch-mcconnell-s-latest-health-scare ) about his absence.
The photo shows a smiling McConnell alongside his wife, Elaine Chao. It was reportedly taken on Sunday from a rehabilitation facility. Unlike the previous photo released, he is not holding a newspaper or any other item that might help verify when it was taken.
'He is not yet medically cleared to leave the rehab facility and return to the office.'
McConnell released a [statement](https://www.mcconnell.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/pressreleases?ID=DC6BF158-0E6A-4BAC-AF63-43E7DB393869 ) in the press release lamenting that he would not be able to attend the annual Fancy Farm Picnic, a massive church fundraiser in Kentucky that has been [running](https://www.fancyfarmpicnic.com/ ) for more than 140 years.
"I'm still working hard to get back to my full schedule of work in the Senate and in Kentucky, keeping up with intense physical therapy per my doctors' orders," he wrote.
"As always, I appreciate all of your continued well wishes, and I'm looking forward to getting back to the Senate and to Kentucky soon," he added.
The Office of the Attending Physician, the specialized unit that provides health care to members of Congress, also released a statement on his condition.
"Since his discharge from hospital care, he has maintained a strenuous course of physical therapy and rehabilitation, including multiple sessions a day designed to rebuild strength and reduce the risk of future falls," the office said.
McConnell's bout with childhood polio continues to affect his health, the office added.
"He is not yet medically cleared to leave the rehab facility and return to the office," it concluded.
Chao reportedly traveled to China days before McConnell's fall, and three days after his hospitalization, the [Chinese Embassy](https://www.yahoo.com/news/politics/articles/elaine-chao-wife-mitch-mcconnell-162833029.html ) in the U.S. shared a [photo](https://us.china-embassy.gov.cn/eng/zmgx/zxxx/202607/t20260702_11956191.htm ) of Chao with Chinese Vice President Han Zheng. She has since returned to Kentucky.
**RELATED: **[**Kentucky governor makes unusual request as mystery deepens over Mitch McConnell's health**](https://www.theblaze.com/news/mcconnell-beshear-health-mystery-demand )
Mitch McConnell press release
McConnell has been heavily criticized by Democrats as well as some in his own party for being far too secretive about his condition.
"Allowing speculation to continue in the media is not fair to the Senator or to Kentuckians," reads a [statement](https://www.theblaze.com/news/mcconnell-beshear-health-mystery-demand ) from Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear (D), "and my hope is that this provides him the opportunity to share the information in a transparent manner, direct from the source."
McConnell previously announced that he was not running for re-election. He is the longest-running senator for Kentucky and has the longest record of leading the U.S. Senate.
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2026-07-27 18:30:00 GMT

An adherent of the ["religion of peace"](https://americanislamicoutreach.org/is-islam-a-religion-of-peace/ ) drove a white van into Germany's largest annual LGBT Pride event on Saturday, killing one and injuring at least 29 individuals before smashing into a tree nearby Berlin's Brandenburg Gate.
After plowing through the [pro-diversity](https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/berlin-pride-attack-2slgbtq-reaction-9.7285045 ) [festivities](https://www.facebook.com/Reuters/posts/members-of-berlins-lgbtq-community-and-others-voiced-grief-anger-and-solidarity-/1621666059824120/ ), homegrown terrorist Abdul Ballout — a 21-year-old German citizen with foreign ties — attacked passersby with a knife, then fled the scene, [according](https://x.com/SkyNews/status/2081357342902300677?s=20 ) to German interior minister Alexander Dobrindt.
'The rainbow has suffered a crack today.'
Yannicka Riebensahm, a Berlin-based performer and activist who performs under the name [Nyya](https://www.berliner-zeitung.de/article/eklat-bei-csd-trauerfeier-rednerin-sorgt-mit-umstrittener-aeusserung-ueber-taeter-herkunft-fuer-empoerung-10237523 ), spoke at the vigil held on Saturday evening for victims of the attack and [complained](https://x.com/JulianAdrat/status/2081447691066744843?s=20 ) about the identity of the suspect, noting that she had hoped it was not a foreigner "but a Christian white person" who had mowed down the non-straight revelers.
Other attendees at the vigil waved LGBT imperial colors, and one held a sign that [said](https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/berlin-pride-attack-prompts-grief-solidarity-with-lgbtq-community-2026-07-26/ ), "From grief, to anger, to resistance!"
Some Berlin LGBT organizers have [demanded](https://x.com/GlobalDiss/status/2081635492659867860?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E2081635492659867860%7Ctwgr%5E5013e74a111fb701de9b07a0fa0dabc20fbf6b95%7Ctwcon%5Es1_c10&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Feuropeanconservative.com%2Farticles%2Fnews%2Fberlin-pride-german-leftist-hoped-attacker-was-white-christian%2F ) that the Islamic terrorist attack not be "instrumentalized for political ends."
Ballout, who was born in Germany three years after his mother's arrival from Lebanon in 2002, was previously [known to police](https://x.com/polizeiberlin/status/2081188935871418557?s=20 ), having committed multiple crimes, including aggravated assault and predatory extortion, and belonging to the "Islamist scene," said Dobrindt.
**RELATED: [Activists RAGE against Democrat who admits hiding LGBTQ+ support to appease Muslims ](https://www.theblaze.com/news/lgbtq-muslim-democrat-candidate )**
The LGBT event before a Muslim terrorist drove into it. RALF HIRSCHBERGER/AFP/Getty Images
Tawfik, the terrorist's father who lives in Lebanon, [told](https://www.spiegel.de/panorama/justiz/csd-anschlag-vater-von-abdul-b-ich-habe-ihm-nicht-erlaubt-einen-langen-bart-zu-tragen-a-6270a8cd-1e34-4c8c-8e60-170b4a9f429a ) Der Spiegel that his son had been "brainwashed."
According to German prosecutors, the suspect traveled to Lebanon last year with the aim of joining ISIS, [reported](https://www.pbs.org/newshour/amp/world/suspect-in-deadly-berlin-pride-attack-is-killed-in-confrontation-with-police ) PBS. Ballout successfully met up with what he figured for militants, but before he could wage jihad, he was arrested by Lebanese authorities and sentenced by a military court to three months in prison.
Ballout subsequently returned to Germany and was arrested at the airport, according to PBS. In May, he was convicted both of plotting a serious act of violence threatening national security and of publishing ISIS propaganda.
Dobrindt told reporters, however, that Ballout's original sentence was suspended. Instead of serving one year and 10 months in youth custody, the terrorist was released from detention within days of his conviction pending an appeal of his sentence by prosecutors.
Following the attack, Andre Lehmann, a top official at Germany's largest non-straight NGO, LSVD+, [said](https://www.instagram.com/p/DbOwl8otF1t/?hl=en ) in a statement, "The rainbow has suffered a crack today. This is a dark day for our community and our country. Our thoughts are with everyone directly affected."
The City of Berlin [said](https://www.berlin.de/en/events/2096878-2842498-csd-christopher-street-day.en.html ) that the motto of this year's Christopher Street Day parade was "Taking a stand is hot," and that organizers were urging people "to take a stand for an open society, for democratic values, and for the equal rights of queer people."
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz [stated](https://x.com/bundeskanzler/status/2081253355599413509?s=20 ) early on Sunday, "This is an attack on our society."
"The act will be investigated and pursued with the utmost severity," added Merz.
On Sunday, German special forces caught up with the suspect in the greater Berlin area. Ballout [attacked](https://www.berlin.de/polizei/polizeimeldungen/2026/pressemitteilung.1697457.php ) police, then "suffered fatal injuries and died at the scene."
Following the attack, Alternative for Germany — or AFD, an ascendant rightist party that the German establishment has for years [subjected](https://www.dw.com/en/is-germanys-far-right-afd-a-threat-to-democracy/a-67843885 ) [to](https://www.theblaze.com/news/german-courts-bans-members-of-popular-right-wing-party-from-owning-guns ) [lawfare](https://www.dw.com/en/germany-far-right-afds-donation-account-shut-down/a-69562072 ) for sounding the alarm about the fallout of mass migration — [blasted](https://x.com/AfD/status/2081327880722686160?s=20 ) Merz's ruling CDU Party for "once again shirking responsibility."
AFD said that contrary to the suggestion by elements of the CDU, "the problem is not 'hate and incitement on the net,' but rather a far too lax approach to Islamist threats and all those who have been massively endangering the lives and security of citizens in Germany for eleven years now — let into the country by the CDU."
AFD [reiterated](https://x.com/AfD/status/2081655763437547545?s=20 ) its demand for "the immediate detention of Islamist threats and consistent deportations."
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2026-07-27 18:15:00 GMT

A knife-wielding male entered a Southern California restaurant "frightening customers and staff" earlier this month, according to law enforcement — that is, until a concealed-carrying patron stepped into the fray.
Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department deputies responded to a report of a person armed with a knife at Lucille's Smokehouse Bar-B-Que in the 11300 block of South Street in Cerritos just after 2 p.m. July 19, [KABC-TV reported](https://abc7.com/post/lucilles-bar-shooting-man-armed-knife-shot-killed-cerritos-restaurant-sheriffs-department-source-says/19540774/ ).
'He pointed a gun at him, told him to put the knife down, [but] the guy kept walking toward him like Michael Myers.'
Deputies told the station that a preliminary investigation found that the armed male entered the restaurant and ran through the kitchen/service areas "frightening customers and staff."
However, a customer who was "lawfully armed and possessed a valid concealed carry permit" confronted the male and ordered him to drop the knife, deputies told KABC.
But the male with the knife reportedly charged toward the customer, and the customer shot him, the station said.
In addition, a sheriff's department source told KABC that the knife-wielding male apparently stabbed himself before walking into the restaurant.
A restaurant employee told the station that what went down resembled a horror movie.
"I just saw a guy run in the restaurant with his throat slit, and he had a knife. Once he went to the main dining area with all the guests, I guess there was another guest that was sitting down," the employee recounted to KABC. "He pointed a gun at him, told him to put the knife down, [but] the guy kept walking toward him like Michael Myers. He shot him."
Investigators told the station they believe the incident began prior to the male getting to the restaurant. The sheriff's department source added to KABC that the male with the knife had been driving a stolen truck before abandoning it and stabbing himself at a nearby Starbucks on South Street.
Magaly Zacarias told the station she saw the driver before he ran toward Lucille's: "I noticed a driver driving recklessly into the plaza. He just left the car there, ran off to Lucille's, and it seemed like he had a knife in his hand, and he was also wounded. I got a closer look at the car, and it seems like there was already blood all over the steering wheel and inside of the car."
**RELATED: **[**'Anyone who breaks into someone's home should expect to get shot': Gun-toting Florida homeowner takes care of business**](https://www.theblaze.com/news/anyone-who-breaks-into-someones-home-should-expect-to-get-shot-gun-toting-florida-homeowner-takes-care-of-business )
Zacarias works nearby and added to KABC that the deadly incident was a shock to her and others who work in the area: "We were really anxious, especially because this plaza is safe, so it was a little shocking for us to hear what was happening."
Daniela Reyes of Cerritos told the station that she and other frequent shoppers also were shaken.
"It's just crazy to think about, because what if we were, well, knock on wood, but what if we were nearby and something like this happened?" Reyes noted to KABC. "And now it's like, OK, we have to be careful with our surroundings."
Javier Reyes added to the station that he hopes security is increased: "Hopefully there's more security, because this is kind of unacceptable that this happened, and it makes me worried to go out for a nice Sunday dinner."
More from KABC:
> Homicide investigators and the sheriff's department deputies had the restaurant blocked off as the investigation continued. Witnesses and employees were being questioned.
> Investigators have not released the name of the man who was shot and killed. They also have not released a possible motive for why he hurt himself and then went to the restaurant.
> Deputies said the customer who shot the armed man remained at the scene and is fully cooperating with investigators.
> Anyone with information about this incident is encouraged to contact the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department's Homicide Bureau at (323) 890-5500.*Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. **[Sign up here](https://www.theblaze.com/newsletters/theblaze-articlelink )**!*
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2026-07-27 17:45:00 GMT

A former NFL linebacker has been removed from the United States by immigration enforcement, apparently after years of living in the country illegally.
Daniel Ogama Adongo played professional rugby union in South Africa before being recruited by the NFL in 2013.
'Our communities are SAFER now that this criminal is OUT of our country.'
Adongo, now 37, was in his prime when the Indianapolis Colts brought him aboard, but the Kenyan played in a total of only five games over the course of two seasons, never recording a tackle.
After being waived by the Colts at the end of 2015, Adongo reportedly overstayed his visa in 2016, followed by a series of arrests over the last decade.
Fox News [reported](https://www.foxnews.com/politics/exclusive-ice-removes-former-nfl-player-daniel-ogama-adongo-after-visa-overstay-criminal-record ) that the linebacker was arrested for crimes like criminal mischief with damage, felony intimidation, battery, and disorderly conduct. One of the arrests led to a one-year jail sentence in 2020.
According to the [Daily Mail](https://www.dailymail.com/sport/nfl/article-16004707/daniel-adongo-nfl-ice-deportation-indiana.html ), another arrest stemmed from a 2017 incident when Adongo allegedly threatened his Uber driver with a hatchet.
A Department of Justice immigration judge ordered Adongo's removal in March, according to Fox News, and he was deported on June 20 after being detained in Chicago.
**RELATED: [Video shows Canadian 'illegal alien' slapping teen; assault suspect 'has no business being in our country': DHS](https://www.theblaze.com/news/video-shows-canadian-illegal-alien-slapping-teen-assault-suspect-has-no-business-being-in-our-country-dhs )**
> This CRIMINAL and former NFL linebacker has been DEPORTED after he broke our laws.
> Daniel Ogama Adongo, from Kenya, has a criminal record in the U.S. that includes arrests for criminal mischief with damage, felony intimidation, battery and disorderly conduct.
> Our communities… > [> https://t.co/NNsS6tVHtd](https://t.co/NNsS6tVHtd )> > [> pic.twitter.com/PPdYCBcq1P](https://t.co/PPdYCBcq1P )
> — Homeland Security (@DHSgov) > [> July 25, 2026](https://x.com/DHSgov/status/2081075977522675871?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw )
The Department of Homeland Security responded to a news story about Adongo, saying he was "DEPORTED after he broke our laws."
"Our communities are SAFER now that this criminal is OUT of our country," the department [wrote](https://x.com/DHSgov/status/2081075977522675871?s=20 ) on X.
ICE Chicago told Fox News that Adongo was "clearly a threat to the community, which is now safer since he's been removed."
The comments came from Assistant Field Office Director Douglas Thompson, who added, "Those who violate immigration law are held equally accountable, including former professional athletes."
**RELATED: [Video: MLB player ruptures his testicle mid-game — then shocks his manager with what he does next](https://www.theblaze.com/fearless/joshua-kuroda-grauer-groin-injury )**
Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images
Adongo was born in Nairobi in 1989 and was signed by the Colts without any football experience. His two games came in 2013 and 2015, as he bounced between the practice squad and the full-time roster starting in July 2013, until his eventual release in December 2015.
Police had been called to Adongo's home multiple times throughout that season, the Daily Mail stated, but there were no charges filed at the time. He was later suspended by the NFL in 2016 following an investigation. Around 12 months later, he was arrested in Indianapolis for the alleged hatchet incident.
As noted by [Pro Football Reference](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/A/AdonDa00.htm ), Adongo had his suspension lifted by the NFL commissioner on October 4, 2016.
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2026-07-27 17:30:00 GMT

Call up the old crew because split-screen is back in high definition.
This time, however, it comes transparent, glow-in-the-dark, and wireless.
'A system so awesome it may blow your mind.'
Most news in video games these days is about woke injections, the loss of physical media, or another studio collapsing after telling gamers they should be happy with recycled titles about obese and progressive protagonists.
Eliminate all of that when opening the M64 box, which is likely the most retro-looking packaging you've seen since 1994. Imagine the best experience with a throwback system you could imagine: This is it.
With this ModRetro hardware, every little thing received special attention: the connecting light around the controller ports, the menu screens, even the eject button.
In fact, let's start there. ###
Eject with powerThe M64 is not just inspired by a translucent Nintendo 64 that kids (and adults) have clamored over in nostalgia pages for the last five years; it's a monumental improvement in almost every way.
N64 games are known for their bulky cartridges that gamers often had to cram into the system and subsequently pry out with a crowbar. Not anymore. The M64 comes with a handy eject button that doesn't just release the game; you can get some serious air with this thing. It's probably the first thing you will show the boys.
**RELATED: ['You are killing ownership': PlayStation goes digital-only as disc-loving gamers rage](https://www.theblaze.com/tech/you-will-own-nothing-playstation )**
M64. Andrew Chapados/Blaze Media
The system is illuminated with an LED light in front of the cartridge so you can see what you are playing when in the dark, a recurring theme for this unit. Each controller port (there are four) has a ring light around it when active.
On the back: power source, HDMI port, two USB-C ports, and a microSD slot.
Readers will also notice two buttons on top: the white power button and the red knob. The knob is also a button which brings up the system menu where users tinker with all its many settings.###
Days of wireless pastThe M64 can be updated through microSD or wirelessly, why? Firmware updates are common with retro consoles for upscaling fixes, bugs, and in this case, menu and calibration data.
The [menus](https://storage.ghost.io/c/58/fd/58fdc82a-ad84-44e2-ad58-166d1b419bc4/content/images/size/w1600/2026/02/m64-display-settings-1.webp ) are delightfully 8-bit, giving the user options to play in full HD, use scan lines, and more. There are reportedly plans to adapt the M64 to work on CRT TVs in the future as well.
One menu is for connecting controllers; plug in an original N64, an updated remake, or the M64 Pro Controller.
The new piece of hardware came in its own box, with an original game (more on that below), and "a system so awesome it may blow your mind" written on it.
There are many ways to use this controller: the wired option uses a unique USB-C attachment with a traditional N64 cord that plugs in just like an older controller.
Wirelessly, users will need to pair with the console, indicated by a fancy LED ring light circling around the desired port when connecting. This can be done with a traditional battery pack that snaps into the rear of the controller or with a modern, rechargeable battery. All come in the box.
**RELATED: [Back to the future? Palmer Luckey's Chromatic does nostalgia right](https://www.theblaze.com/tech/chromatic-game-boy-mod-retro )**
M64 controller. Andrew Chapados/Blaze Media
Physically, it's significantly heavier than an N64 controller. The M64 Pro Controller feels like superior alloys made from a Terminator. It was cool to the touch, which sent an exhilarating jolt up the spine.
The start button lights up, keeping with the theme. It vibrates to let you know rumbling is native. The crisp buttons give the old clicking sound while the Z and shoulder buttons have a nice crease to rest your fingers on.
Everyone had a blister on their thumb at some point in their gaming career with the N64 controller, and everyone had that weird friend who used the palm of their hand too.
A padded, rubberized joystick avoids this with the M64 controller, which also adds grip for those tight, cardinal-direction turns on Super Mario 64.###
You play to win the gameThe M64's native game is Xibalba 64, which will launch with Turbo Fusion, Xeno Crisis, and Buck Bumble. Think Doom/Duke Nukem/Quake controls and graphics, but it's smoother and creepier.
Each level starts with a disturbing yet cleverly written Mayan poem, before you jump in and fight indigenous South American creatures which eventually morph into robots that look like refrigerators.
The game is more clever than 64-bit first-person shooters of the past because of the modern tech that went into it. The game feels like it could have been released at the time, just better, which is how the system feels overall — luxurious old tech.
M64 with Xibalba 64. Andrew Chapados/Blaze Media
Other games we tested were Killer Instinct Gold, Super Mario 64, Super Smash Bros, Bust-A-Move 2, and Mario Party 2. None of these games caused any issues framerate-wise, nor crashed or underperformed in any way.
Everything scaled fine onto our huge, 60-inch television while a friend maniacally laughed his way to a 6-star, 173-coin victory as Donkey Kong on Mario Party 2.
ModRetro has a [game compatibility](https://modretro.com/pages/m64-compatibility ) list that shows just 16 games having issues at the time of this writing. This has been cut down significantly since we last checked, showing that they are actively working on cutting down issues.###
VerdictHaving played several different retro remakes before, such as Hyperkin's, it is expected that retro gamers sort of have to get used to crashes and bugs, but not with the M64. There were honestly zero issues during hours and hours of gaming.
It's an impressive machine, more impressive than what the company did with the [Chromatic](https://www.theblaze.com/tech/chromatic-review-new-2025-luckey ).
This is on top of the fact that it is an awesome excuse to round up the crew to rescue Elvis on Perfect Dark, fall off cliffs on Mario 64, and sweat playing Smash Bros.
One takeaway a fellow gamer had while playing some of the old games was, "Why do games today suck?"
"Why do these games scratch the itch" about as well as their 2026 counterparts, he further bemoaned.
While we may not be able to trust the major developers to bring the past to us in a responsible way, we certainly can for ModRetro.
The entire system gets a 9.4/10 — there were no glaring flaws or issues. The greatest struggle or hiccup during the entire process was connecting the wireless controller. It was plugged in, and in order to connect it wirelessly it seemingly needed to be turned off and then turned back on. That was it.
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2026-07-27 17:15:00 GMT

One of the White House's most recent social media posts has gained outsized attention — but likely not for the reasons the administration hoped for.
On Sunday night, the White House X account posted a spoof video with major themes of the administration in the style of "Rick and Morty," a popular sci-fi cartoon for adults.
'Your boos mean nothing, I’ve seen what makes you cheer.'
Captioned "Hop in ... best dimension yet," the video covers a broad sweep of increasingly fantastic scenes.
Reminiscent of the far-out opening credits of "Rick and Morty," the White House's version features some hallmark symbols of the MAGA movement, including but not limited to a MAGA hat, a Diet Coke can, and a floating "1+1+1=3 wins," an apparent reference to the past three presidential "wins" of the Trump administration.
The cartoon video shows a number of different scenes, including President Trump and Vice President JD Vance running along the White House colonnade and Trump waving from a balcony of the White House.
Then, the scenes get more bizarre.
**RELATED: **[**Trump approval rating SOARS in new poll**](https://www.theblaze.com/news/polling-net-approval-trump-high )
>
> [](https://twitter.com/WhiteHouse/status/2081553785302716662 )>
The next scene shows an immigration agent with "Homan" on his name tag handcuffing a winged demon.
Before the final scene, there is a cut of Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) speaking at a podium, surrounded by green portals to other dimensions. Schumer then removes his face to reveal that he is a robot underneath a mask.
Trump and Vance can then be seen flying through the air in a spaceship being chased by a large dragon with red, laser eyes. The scene cuts to black with a lightning strike, which then forms the word "MAGA" in red lettering.
The 36-second video, which is approaching nine million views on X but has gained only a little over 40,000 likes, clearly touched a nerve.
While some commenters were pleased with or were pleasantly surprised by the White House leaning into the referential crossovers with popular culture, others were not so impressed.
Former Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) drew a [sharp contrast](https://x.com/mtgreenee/status/2081609859481620563?s=20 ) between the fantasy of the video and the increasing costs burdening real families across the country: "People can’t afford gas, groceries, rent, and healthcare and this is the weird embarrassing crap the official White House account is putting out."
Others questioned if there is an actual audience for this type of content from official government accounts. Scott Greer, for example, simply [asked](https://x.com/ScottMGreer/status/2081713353060123035?s=20 ), "Who is the audience for this?"
Another account [pointed out](https://x.com/tonyrigatonee/status/2081559182562476265?s=20 ) that this type of content could potentially be flooding out valuable content from other accounts online: "Babe wake up the White house is posting coal again."
Despite some of the negative online comments, White House officials have seemingly held their ground. Kaelen Dorr, the head of digital strategy for the White House, referenced a line from "Rick and Morty" as a [comeback](https://x.com/Kaelan47/status/2081560172711862589?s=20 ): "Your boos mean nothing, I’ve seen what makes you cheer."
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2026-07-27 16:25:00 GMT

Three were killed and four were wounded in a shooting at a Seattle food festival Sunday evening that police believe was between two people shooting at each other, police told [CBS News](https://www.cbsnews.com/news/seattle-shooting-bite-of-seattle/ ).
Seattle Assistant Police Chief Tyrone Davis said at a late-night press conference that one of the shooting suspects was arrested but the other one was still at large, the news network noted.
'I heard bang, bang, bang, and I heard yelling, straight yelling.'
Davis told CBS News that officers working in the area confronted one shooter, which prevented more people from being shot, and that two guns were recovered.
Of the seven shooting victims, CPR wasn't successful on two of them, and they were pronounced dead at the scene; a third victim, a 56-year-old woman, later died at Harborview Medical Center, the news network said.
A 2-year-old boy, 39-year-old woman, and 23-year-old man also were taken to Harborview and were in stable condition, Davis told CBS News, adding that a 40-year-old woman with minor injuries didn't want to go to the hospital but later went to the University of Washington Medical Center.
CBS News said the shooting took place around 6 p.m. near the Seattle Center, a popular tourist spot that includes the Space Needle and the sports arena that's the home of the Seattle Kraken and Seattle Storm. The news network said the area was filled with attendees of the annual Bite of Seattle food festival.
**RELATED: **[**Video: Suspect opens fire on Texas SWAT team serving arrest warrant; but cops shoot back — 1 right through his own windshield**](https://www.theblaze.com/news/video-suspect-opens-fire-on-texas-swat-team-serving-arrest-warrant-but-cops-shoot-back-1-right-through-his-own-windshield )
Witnesses [told KING-TV](https://www.king5.com/article/news/local/shooting-at-bite-of-seattle-leaves-multiple-people-injured/281-dc1d0ac9-434a-4b61-8d1e-2dc20a12d6be ) they heard sounds resembling firecrackers and people fleeing the area and diving for cover.
"I heard bang, bang, bang, and I heard yelling, straight yelling," a witness noted in the KING interview.
Adya Sengupta told the station she took cover in the Seattle Armory and that Seattle Fudge brought dozens of bystanders into the storefront to shelter in the event center.
"Inside the Seattle Armory was crazy, within seconds maybe 60-plus people had flooded the doors inside, all running toward that back corner with Seattle Fudge," Sengupta added to KING.
CBS News said the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives indicated Sunday night that several of its agents were at the scene, and that Seattle police would lead the investigation. The news network added that Washington Gov. Bob Ferguson (D) said the state SWAT team also responded at the request of Seattle police.
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2026-07-27 08:00:00 GMT

I live in Loudoun County, Virginia, about a mile from the largest concentration of data centers on earth, which has given the online discourse around them a vaguely odd character.
At worst, they are large concrete squares that are indistinguishable from any other industrial park, except that they produce less noise or pollution. My utility bill is ordinary, if slightly [below](https://www.eia.gov/electricity/state/virginia/ ) the national average, and my roads are as nice as any in the country. But to hear online activists talk, my community should be on the verge of running out of water.
We have been taught to be more afraid of the side effects than excited about the potential.
Loudoun County hosts roughly [200 operating data centers](https://www.datacenterfrontier.com/site-selection/article/55249034/virginias-loudoun-county-grapples-with-future-of-data-centers-as-new-developments-continue-statewide ); Northern Virginia’s cluster draws some [4,140 megawatts](https://jlarc.virginia.gov/pdfs/reports/Rpt598-2.pdf ), more than double Beijing’s, the world’s second-largest market.
Since the data centers began being built in the late 1990s, Loudoun County has been able to spend lavishly on infrastructure and public schools, all while cutting its real property tax rate. In fact, the county calculates that every dollar of services it provides the industry returns some [$26 in taxes](https://www.loudoun.gov/m/faq?cat=242#question-1800 ).
When I noticed the glaring difference between this reality and the online discourse, I realized that this is a recurring pattern I have seen my entire life.
When I was growing up in the early 2000s, there was a set of beliefs in American society that were viewed as nonpolitical and weren’t debated by either side. They acted as an ideological background radiation of sorts. I like to call this the “Boomer Truth Regime,” after both the Baby Boomer generation and the boom time after World War II.
You can take the American 20th century as one huge emotional and moral arc. Starting in 1900 and continuing for the next 45 years, our country had its optimism for the future hammered out of it. It was in this era that Jim Crow intensified, the Depression battered the country, and we fought two world wars.
But beginning in the late 1940s, American society, and to a lesser extent the whole world, began a process of upward movement — and as a result acquired a feeling of almost inevitable, rapid, transformative salvation. Start with almost any evil, real or perceived, of that century — sexism, colonialism, segregation — and trace it forward, and you will find a satisfying narrative conclusion by 1999.
**RELATED: **[**The question of the AI age: How much humanism is too much?**](https://www.theblaze.com/columns/opinion/the-question-of-the-ai-age-how-much-humanism-is-too-much )
Moor Studio/Getty Images
In “[Zero to One,](https://www.amazon.com/Zero-One-Notes-Startups-Future/dp/0804139296 )” Peter Thiel and Blake Masters called the resulting mood “indefinite optimism”: the belief that things simply get better without anyone having to decide how. And so we bundled all the changes of that era together and sanctified the whole package.
For decades, it has been taken for granted that basically all societal and cultural shifts in the second half of the 20th century were good — and that they existed as a single, inseparable package.
Among the sanctified conclusions was not only indefinite optimism for the future but also a deep fear of the dangers of new technology. In short, the Boomer Truth Regime permanently fused the word “machine” with the word “gun,” as they were in the world wars. This was largely a traumatic response to the misuses and abuses of the cornucopia of technology by tyrants during that era.
In the early 20th century, the world had at its fingertips an inventory of wonders such as nitrogen fixation, airplanes, automobiles, submarines, rockets — and every one of them was first used at scale for murder. So when our society looks at a new power, what we see is the face of the murderer.
We see [Hiroshima](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3wxWNAM8Cso ), or the tank, or the B-2 bomber. It is this same reflex that has killed the construction of new nuclear or hydroelectric power, because we have been taught to be more afraid of the side effects than excited about the potential.
The Boomer Truth Regime decided that anything capable of doing huge things is, on its face, terrifying and must be vigorously opposed.
You can see the degree to which this belief is highly influential in America and other Western countries in the polling data around AI.
In Ipsos’ 2026 [global survey](https://resources.ipsos.com/rs/297-CXJ-795/images/Ipsos-AI-Monitor-2026.pdf ), 83% of Chinese respondents and 79% of Indian respondents say AI products make them excited; in the United States, the figure is only 33%, compared with 29% in Britain. Or take, for example, that when asked whether AI’s benefits outweigh its drawbacks, 85% of Chinese respondents and 80% of Indians say yes, compared to only 38% of Americans.
**RELATED: **[**The terrifying scale of the data center land-grab**](https://www.theblaze.com/columns/opinion/the-terrifying-scale-of-the-data-center-land-grab )
Kyle Grillot/Bloomberg/Getty Images
The Pew Research Center also [finds](https://www.pewresearch.org/science/2025/09/17/how-americans-view-ai-and-its-impact-on-people-and-society/ ) that about half of Americans are more concerned than excited about AI, and only one in 10 is the reverse.
It is possible that the data centers in Loudoun County will begin to drive up costs. Virginia’s own [legislative auditors](https://jlarc.virginia.gov/landing-2024-data-centers-in-virginia.asp ) project that data-center growth could add $14 to $37 a month to a typical residential bill by 2040 — but the size of the effect is nowhere near the emotional reaction you see in American society right now.
The same report found that data centers currently pay their full cost of service and have no history of cost-shifting to households.
For decades, doubting any piece of the Boomer Truth Regime package was the equivalent of a kid complaining about his bedtime. Dissidents could say whatever they wanted, in whatever register they wanted, precisely because there was no chance the thing they were calling for would ever be implemented.
Every critique of the Boomer Truth Regime was essentially powerless. But that era will soon end, as the generation raised in the 21st century inevitably takes over. It isn’t that younger generations stopped believing in pieces of the package, but that the idea of viewing it as a sanctified whole is dissolving.
And when the sanctity eventually falls away, everything will be re-examined at once — not just the parts you dislike. The whole package, from nuclear power to civil rights law, will be on the table in our lifetime. It is up to us to defend the parts we value and reject the parts we don’t.
One part I reject is the idea that we can no longer, and should no longer, do incredible things. AI is one such thing. It of course has dangers, but it also has almost incalculable potential — and I know which side I’m betting on.
**Editor’s note: A version of this article appeared originally at [the American Mind](https://americanmind.org/ ).**
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2026-07-19 12:00:00 GMT

A huge brawl at an Arizona In-N-Out Burger was caught on video early last week, and customers are seen running for cover in the clip.
Tempe police [told KSAZ-TV](https://www.fox10phoenix.com/news/tempe-in-n-out-brawl-caught-video-shows-customers-running-cover ) they were called to the fast-food restaurant near Rural Road and Playa del Norte Drive just after 7 p.m. Monday.
'Bunch of future doctors and lawyers.'
The station said people were seen screaming and running for the door as the melee commenced.
In the clip, numerous individuals are seen trading punches, wrestling, and tackling each other all over the restaurant, KSAZ said.
A person who uploaded video of the fight told the station customers were "camping out" inside the restaurant during an active monsoon storm.
But by the time police arrived at the scene, all those involved in the brawl had already taken off, KSAZ said, adding that some fled on foot while others departed in cars.
The station said what sparked the fight is unknown, and no names have been released in connection with the case.
Police did tell KSAZ that officers were able to speak with witnesses and restaurant staff, and a follow-up investigation is under way.
**RELATED: **[**Male, 55, accused of grabbing 15-year-old by neck, throwing him to floor of In-and-Out Burger — and it's all caught on video**](https://www.theblaze.com/news/male-55-accused-of-grabbing-15-year-old-by-neck-throwing-him-to-floor-of-in-and-out-burger-and-its-all-caught-on-video )
Commenters who posted reactions under the KSAZ video report showing the brawl were disgusted by it:<li>"Bunch of future doctors and lawyers," one commenter <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xz0RFcM30t0&lc=Ugwk25ni1VvdiSsvx9B4AaABAg" target="_blank">wrote</a>.</li><li>"Did they order it animal style?" another commenter <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xz0RFcM30t0&lc=UgwQPjM-dr_6iNaHHMl4AaABAg" target="_blank">quipped</a>, referencing an In-N-Out Burger serving option.</li><li>"Stay in school, kids," another commenter <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xz0RFcM30t0&lc=UgymKLWPV-t_F9Y2mSd4AaABAg" target="_blank">suggested</a>. "This is what happens when you drop out and become a loser. Becoming violent and then running away speaks volumes about your level of education."</li><li>"In my day we took it outside," another commenter <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xz0RFcM30t0&lc=Ugx6EYXrH1CCXy1VP7t4AaABAg" target="_blank">recalled</a>. "Not in front of women and children."</li>
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2026-07-19 09:00:00 GMT

In 2019, Mercy Culture Church — a charismatic, conservative Christian church — was founded in Fort Worth, Texas. In the seven years since, it has planted numerous churches in Texas and elsewhere, the most recent satellite campus being in Washington, D.C.
Mercy Culture’s D.C. plant is pastored by none other than BlazeTV contributor Jaco Booyens and his wife, Philipa.
Sadly, getting Mercy Culture D.C. up and running has been something of a nightmare. On a recent episode of “The Glenn Beck Program,” Booyens pulled the curtain back on D.C.’s deeply entrenched spiritual battle, where historic churches allegedly function as gatekeepers against conservative biblical teaching.
Booyens explains that due to the Biden administration encouraging churches to sell their properties to developers, it’s been difficult to find a physical location for Mercy Culture D.C.
After much searching, they finally picked a building, but the nightmare was just beginning.
“We start getting complaints from the building. They're saying ... ’You're very political ... you're saying you're anti-abortion; you're saying that there's two genders; you're saying that kids should not be trans-ified,”’ Booyens recounts, noting that he countered these complaints by arguing that these issues are “not political” but deeply “spiritual.”
Disturbed by the pushback, he started “digging” into D.C.'s long church history, and what he found was this: “There are demonic strongholds in [D.C.] that have been given right of passage, dominion — a home inside the church.”
He found the proof hiding in D.C.’s oldest churches.
“There are 13 churches in this city that are 200+ years old that run on the principle that they are — and they said it out loud to us in person — that they are the collective mind of the Holy Spirit, which is blasphemy,” he tells Glenn.
When he was touring the oldest of the churches (St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, founded in the 1700s), the man conducting the tour bragged that the church of Mariann Edgar Budde — the female bishop who gained national attention for her progressive sermon at the Washington National Cathedral during Trump's 2025 inauguration prayer service — was “one of the 13.”
He told Booyens, “We all approved that speech because that's how correction gets made in this city; that's how things pass through to Congress. [It] comes through this collective mind of the Holy Spirit.”
Immediately, Booyens could see the demonic “strongholds” controlling the city’s church ecosystem, ensuring the true gospel cannot spread.
This nefarious 13, he tells Glenn, is why Mercy Culture D.C. is having such a difficult time finding a permanent building. To them, Booyens is a “radical” who must be stopped.
“We are at our fourth location now,” he says, noting how evictions keep rolling in because his church is consistently labeled “too political” for standing against abortion and gender-transitioning procedures for children.
“[D.C.] is different than other cities. In this city, that which is evil often is led by the church.”
To hear more, watch the video above.##
Want more from Glenn Beck?To enjoy more of Glenn’s masterful storytelling, thought-provoking analysis, and uncanny ability to make sense of the chaos, [subscribe to BlazeTV](https://get.blazetv.com/glenn/?utm_source=theblaze&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=article_shortcode_glennbeck ) — the largest multi-platform network of voices who love America, defend the Constitution, and live the American dream.
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2026-07-19 08:30:00 GMT

Jennifer Welch recently [unleashed a tirade](https://nypost.com/2026/07/14/media/far-left-podcaster-jennifer-welch-calls-homeschooling-trickle-down-stupidity/?utm_campaign=nypost&utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=social ) against Christian homeschooling families, calling homeschooling "trickle-down stupidity" and a "fundamental crazy Christian problem" and calling parents with traditional values "the worst, worst, worst." She even dismissed the decision to homeschool as selfish.
Welch isn't an education researcher or a homeschooling expert. She's a progressive podcaster whose ["I've Had It"](https://www.cnn.com/2025/12/19/us/ive-had-it-podcast-culture-lookback-cec ) podcast has built a large audience by channeling liberal anger at conservatives into viral commentary. Her latest target just happened to be Christian homeschool families. But her latest broadside is still worth answering, if only to correct the caricature she presented of millions of families who have chosen a different path.
Welch's comments reveal a deeper, increasingly common assumption: the belief that educational institutions are better equipped than parents to shape children.
As a serious Christian who was homeschooled from kindergarten through 12th grade and intends to homeschool my own two children, I couldn't disagree more. In fact, Welch's contempt for families like mine is a reminder of exactly why I will never hand my children over to what have become taxpayer-funded ideological institutions.
The irony is hard to miss. At a time of [collapsing birth rates,](https://publichealth.jhu.edu/2026/is-the-us-birth-rate-declining ) [declining academic achievement](https://cepr.harvard.edu/news/2026/05/why-us-test-scores-are-generation-long-decline ), and a culture [struggling to pass on its moral inheritance](https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2026/jul/13/america-cannot-survive-without-moral-boundaries/ ), America needs more strong families willing to invest their time, resources, and lives in raising the next generation.
Yet instead of encouraging those families, Welch chooses to mock them.
Here are three reasons Welch couldn't be more wrong about families like mine.##
1. Homeschoolers outperform their peers in nearly every measure[Study after study](https://crowncounseling.com/statistics/public-school-vs-homeschool/ ) has found that homeschoolers outperform their peers across a wide range of academic measures. The facts simply don't support Welch's dismissive caricature of homeschooling or her claim that it produces "trickle-down stupidity." Homeschooled students consistently perform well in standardized testing, reading, language arts, math, science, and social studies. Research has also found that homeschooled adults tend to be highly engaged in their communities and successful in higher education and professional life.
Interestingly enough, there were [at least 16 U.S. presidents](https://theoldschoolhouse.com/hoh/from-hearth-to-helm-americas-homeschooled-presidents/ ) who received part or all of their education at home through their parents or tutors, which was a more common practice in early America.
Public schooling, by comparison, is a relatively recent invention — and one that is increasingly failing America's students. If we're going to question an educational model, perhaps we should begin with the one producing declining test scores and growing dissatisfaction.
If Welch believes homeschooling produces "trickle-down stupidity," she's overlooking a remarkable [list of accomplished homeschool graduates](https://aop.com/blogs/lesson-plans/100-famous-homeschoolers?srsltid=AfmBOorBA-AXhp_6eleulVAp8I8aigJdN7hcuGKeSqgWAiy61WZ1z6cu ). In addition to presidents, homeschooling has helped produce notable entrepreneurs, athletes, military leaders, and scholars for generations. More recently, figures such as [Tim Tebow, Charlie Kirk, Serena Williams, Simone Biles, and Bethany Hamilton]( ) demonstrate that an education at home is hardly a barrier to excellence.
**RELATED: **[**Education without 'schooling': Why a godly home is the best place for children to learn and thrive**](https://www.theblaze.com/lifestyle/education-without-schooling-why-a-godly-home-is-the-best-place-for-children-to-learn-and-thrive )
Heritage Art/Getty Images##
2. Homeschooling puts our children's needs before our ownWelch calls homeschooling "child abuse" and "selfish," then goes on to admit she cannot imagine spending that much time with her own children: "For me personally, it was that I would have gotten up on my hands and knees and strapped them to my back and crawled to get them to school every day just to get them where I wasn't."
It's difficult to square those remarks with the claim that homeschooling parents are the selfish ones.
Parents who educate their children at home invest thousands of dollars in curriculum, books, and educational resources while often sacrificing an entire income so one parent can teach full-time. They willingly make those financial and personal sacrifices because they believe giving their children a strong education, solid character, and a biblical worldview is worth far more than the cost.
This is exactly why, long before we ever started dating, my husband and I had each independently decided that homeschooling would be non-negotiable for our future family. If we couldn't agree on homeschooling or Christian school for our children, it would have been a deal-breaker. That's how deeply we care about raising children who love God, love their country, think critically, and become exceptionally well educated.
That isn't selfish. It's putting our children's needs ahead of our own.##
3. Parents — not the government — should raise childrenWelch's comments reveal a deeper, increasingly common assumption: the belief that educational institutions are better equipped than parents to shape children. But our children don't belong to the state, to cultural elites, or to government institutions. Parents bear the primary responsibility for raising them. That isn't simply a Christian conviction; it's one of the foundations of a free society.
The Bible [commands parents](https://cara-ray.com/20-bible-verses-about-raising-godly-children/ ) to teach their children diligently, pass on the faith, and train them in wisdom and truth, especially in a culture that has lost its bearings. Homeschooling is one way families can faithfully live out those convictions. As the late preacher Voddie Baucham [famously warned](https://answersingenesis.org/homeschool-edition/blog/2025/10/08/voddie-baucham-the-homeschool-why/?srsltid=AfmBOoooaDC90piP1SVFBXmB0-4KW25RHaQBxq4jety0eNGI6CyvsES5 ), “If we continue to send our children to Caesar for their education, we need to stop being surprised when they come home as Romans."
Whenever people ask why my husband and I plan to homeschool our children, the conversation almost inevitably ends with the same question: "How will they socialize?" — as though homeschoolers spend their childhood hidden away from society.
My own experience was exactly the opposite. I interacted with people of all ages and walks of life through church, sports, music lessons, homeschool co-ops, volunteer opportunities, and countless experiences outside the walls of a traditional classroom.
I still remember living and working in Washington, D.C., and watching people's jaws drop when I told them I had been homeschooled.
"But you're so normal?"
Exactly.
Homeschooling isn't about hiding children from the world. It's about preparing them to enter it with strong convictions, intellectual curiosity, and a sense of purpose.
Jennifer Welch is free to mock families like mine. We'll keep raising our children according to our convictions — and we'll let the results speak for themselves.
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2026-07-17 02:39:00 GMT

President Donald Trump told the nation from the White House Thursday that the Chinese government has interfered with American elections and gained access to "sensitive" voter data of tens of millions of Americans.
Trump also accused deep-state bad actors of "deliberately massag[ing]" his daily briefings and even of attempting to run a "shadow government" during his first term to keep the information about "China's election meddling" from him, other lawmakers, the media, and the American public.
Trump reiterated his demand that Congress pass the SAVE America Act and accused Democrats of stalling on the bill because it would keep them from cheating in elections.
The president said evidence of his claims are available for review at the White House [website](https://www.whitehouse.gov/election-integrity/ ).
"The documents ... show that over a period of years, starting during the 2020 election cycle, the People’s Republic of China carried out what is believed to be the largest compromise of election data in history — resulting in China’s illicit acquisition of 220 million U.S. voter files," [said](https://x.com/RapidResponse47/status/2077924827625558373 ) the president.
>
> [](https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/2077924827625558373 )>
He said the information China collected included "names, addresses, phone numbers, political party preferences, and other sensitive data that would be needed to register to vote and engage in other nefarious activities, which is exactly what was happening."
Trump then said the White House Government Transparency Task Force had gathered [evidence](https://x.com/RapidResponse47/status/2077927521375424917 ) that the "deep state" had worked to cover up the Chinese acquisition of U.S. voter data.
"U.S. spy agencies began learning about the compromise of voter registration files in 2020 when they discovered that tens of millions of voter data ... in 18 states have been bought, stolen, or hacked by China. Yet those responsible for sounding the alarm instead kept the information secret and hidden," he said.
He also claimed, citing a CIA document, that during his first term, China sought to influence major American business leaders and persuade them "to turn against the president of the United States." Trump further claimed China tried to buy off seemingly anti-Trump American journalists with "large sums of money" to write even more "negative articles about him."
He even claimed China tried to create bogus ballots in the 2020 election.
"Raw intelligence obtained by the FBI in 2020, yet buried by rogue bureaucrats, stated that China's activities even included an attempt to manufacture illegal ballots for Joe Biden," he added.
He went on to allege that officials had found as many as 287,000 non-citizens were found registered to vote nationwide.
The president also claimed that classified material that was supposed to be destroyed in "burn bags" was never actually destroyed, and he called on the FBI and the DOJ to investigate and to "prosecute those responsible for any crimes."
Trump reiterated his demand that Congress pass the SAVE America Act and accused Democrats of stalling on the bill because it would keep them from cheating in elections.
"The only reason you wouldn't [pass it] is you want to cheat because your policies are so bad and your candidates are so pathetic that you can't get away or can't get elected any other way," Trump claimed.
The SAVE America Act would require voters to show proof of citizenship to register to vote in elections and require a photo identification to cast a ballot. Left-wing critics of the proposal say it would disadvantage minorities and other Democratic demographics.
The president completed his address by calling on all Americans to pick up a phone and call their representatives to ask for the SAVE America Act to be passed.
**RELATED: **[**Trump team slams 'b***h' Democrat for floating bizarre conspiracy theory on housing bill delay**](https://www.theblaze.com/news/ted-lieu-trump-terminal-disease )
> .> [> @POTUS](https://x.com/POTUS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw )> : Newly declassified documents show that over a period of years starting during the 2020 election cycle, the People’s Republic of China carried out what is believed to be the largest compromise of election data in history — resulting in China’s illicit acquisition of 220… > [> pic.twitter.com/S6qudP0QoP](https://t.co/S6qudP0QoP )
> — Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) > [> July 17, 2026](https://x.com/RapidResponse47/status/2077924827625558373?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw )
Sen. Bernie Moreno (R-Ohio) [said](https://x.com/berniemoreno/status/2077886946362220618?s=20 ) he was briefed on the president's speech before the address and described it as possibly the "most important Oval Office address since the Cuban Missile Crisis."
He added, "The time for complacency with China is over."
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2026-07-15 23:55:03 GMT

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced the production of gold coins bearing the image of President Donald Trump for the nation's 250th anniversary.
The new coin shows the president's image with the words "In God we trust" and "1776-2026" for the semiquincentennial celebration.
'It's cute, not a bad picture, but it's very cute that he gave me a coin. ... It was very unusual, but I was honored by it.'
"As America commemorates 250 years of independence, the @usmint will begin striking this new $1 gold coin to honor the enduring legacy of liberty and a lasting symbol of patriotism," Bessent posted on his social media account.
"Featuring President Trump, it celebrates the strength of American values, and the promise of a nation dedicated to preserving freedom for all," he added.
While the president's supporters were thrilled, his critics were outraged and registered their histrionics on social media.
"North Korea called and said you're embarrassing yourselves," left-wing activist Joanne Carducci [replied](https://x.com/JoJoFromJerz/status/2077391140559401362 ).
"Ridiculous and un-American. The American people deserve a president who cares more about putting money in people's pockets than he does about putting his face on people's money," Sen. Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.) [said](https://x.com/SenatorHassan/status/2077415936429093334 ).
"Congratulations, we've entered the end stages. Eliminate the penny, plug the nickel, and make some commemorative gold coins nobody can afford," GOP Rep. Thomas Massie of Kentucky [responded](https://x.com/RepThomasMassie/status/2077359972539683003 ). "I feel sorry for the folks who will be sold worthless knockoffs of this by the usual grifters."
"This is a violation of Federal Law, you creepy bootlicking sycophant. The dishonorable, egomaniacal, orange demagogue is still living. ... Another American national disgrace from a Trump Epstein Administration that makes a daily occurrence of national disgraces," boxing promoter Lou DiBella [replied](https://x.com/loudibella/status/2077378521282793703 ).
"Are you really being serious here????" former tennis star Martina Navratilova [responded](https://x.com/Martina/status/2077500313225818370 ).
"You realize you're going to be nothing more than a s**t stain of history in two and a half years time," another detractor [said](https://x.com/tealtalk/status/2077369220128510045 ).
**RELATED: **[**Outrage erupts over new passport celebrating America's 250th — and guess whose image is on it **](https://www.theblaze.com/news/trump-passport-liberal-outrage-erupts )
The president [called](https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/5969240-scott-bessent-donald-trump-america-250-gold-coin/ ) the coin "cute" when asked about it on Fox Business.
"It's cute, not a bad picture, but it's very cute that he gave me a coin," he said, in reference to Bessent. "That's very unusual from what I understand. ... Yeah, a gold coin and a silver coin. It was very unusual, but I was honored by it."
The coin will not contain any actual gold. It will be minted in Philadelphia and is expected to be available in the fall.
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2026-07-15 23:03:46 GMT

Lindsey Graham’s death marks the end of one of the most consequential — and controversial — careers in modern Republican politics.
And while many conservatives loved to hate him while he was alive, BlazeTV host John Doyle believes that few knew how much the longtime South Carolina senator actually accomplished for their movement.
“You may remember September 27, 2018. If you were online that day, you already remember exactly where you were. Brett Kavanaugh is being potentially confirmed to be a Supreme Court justice, and it’s not looking good,” Doyle begins.
“He’s dying on live television. There are accusations from that woman ... doing the crocodile tears, and we all had to just pretend that OK, yes, believe all women. So true. Republicans on the committee are looking like hostages,” he recalls.###
“And then the man the Tea Party spent, like, a decade trying to primary just leans into his microphone and has a little bit of a patriot go-off moment. He says, ‘This is the most unethical sham since I’ve been in politics,’” he continues, referencing Lindsey Graham.
“Conservative media started cutting, you know, Lindsey Graham 2.0 highlight reels. Literally, in my first-ever video in October 2018, I covered this story, and I called this man based,” he adds.
Kavanaugh then got confirmed, despite the slogan “Believe all women” being repeated by feminists all over the country.
“In a room on camera with a Supreme Court seat on the line, the senator willing to torch 20 years of his kind of, like, bipartisan reputation — that was Lindsey Graham,” Doyle says.
“Everyone on that committee had the same microphone, and one guy chose to use it, and that was Lindsey Graham,” he adds.
Not only that, but for the last two years, Graham chaired the Senate Budget Committee.
“Graham was the gatekeeper. He shepherded the big, beautiful bill through unanimous Democrat opposition and some genuinely ugly, you know, GOP infighting. Then came this year’s reconciliation package, funding immigration enforcement, literally the largest increase in funding ever for the rest of Trump’s term. And sitting on his desk the day he died,” Doyle explains.
“All of that was moving. All of that was in progress, and it was because of this guy’s effort,” he says. “Who’s going to chair that committee now? Who’s going to fill that vacuum? Is it going to be somebody who’s actually more effective? Is it going to be somebody who’s more loyal to Trump and his agenda and his party?”
While Doyle admits there are many things he did not agree with Graham on, he does believe the senator was effective and ultimately stood for America.
And those laughing about his passing don’t realize why they’re actually laughing.
“You know, it’s easy to piss on a guy’s grave. It’s harder to be so effective that you can inspire people to want to piss on your grave,” Doyle says. “That’s my point.”##
Want more from John Doyle?To enjoy more of the truth about America and join the fight to restore a country that has been betrayed by its own leaders, [subscribe to BlazeTV](https://get.blazetv.com/doyle/?utm_source=theblaze&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=article_shortcode_rufo-lomez ) — the largest multi-platform network of voices who love America, defend the Constitution, and live the American dream.
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2026-07-15 22:40:00 GMT

Netflix quickly found itself in a deep hole on Wednesday as reactions to one of its movie descriptions quickly spiraled out of control.
A viral post from Tuesday afternoon picked up a lot of steam for its content, and in less than 24 hours it had been seen by millions of users on X.
'The most amazing synopsis of all time.'##
Going, going, 'Gone'The post in question is about the 1939 classic film "Gone with the Wind," which takes place at the end of slavery in the United States in the 1860s.
"The Netflix description of Gone With The Wind is the most amazing synopsis of all time," the X post [states](https://x.com/ValliantRenegad/status/2077121176673849521?s=20 ).
On its website, Netflix [lists](https://www.netflix.com/title/70020694 ) the movie as "Romantic, Epic," and "Critically Acclaimed," but it also sends a different message to viewers about its content.
"A 1939 American Civil War epic known for its racism," the description says, despite being rated "G" for general audiences, meaning all ages.
Then, Netflix directs viewers to look into Black Lives Matter for more information.
"To learn more about Black lives in America, search 'Black Lives Matter,'" it reads.
Blaze News can confirm Netflix's website still featured the description at the time of this writing.
**RELATED: [Disney warns viewers 'The Muppet Show' is 'offensive content' that has a 'harmful impact'](https://www.theblaze.com/news/muppet-show-disney-offensive-outrage )**
Image by Blaze News via Netflix.com (screenshot)
##
Rotten tomatoesReactions were swift, reaching millions of viewers across the globe.
"Needs to change," X owner Elon Musk [said](https://x.com/elonmusk/status/2077362080286412981 ) early on Wednesday. That post was seen by more than 1.5 million users.
Texas Senator Ted Cruz (R) reacted to the description more than once, [saying](https://x.com/tedcruz/status/2077441132368150870?s=20 ) both times, "This is RIDICULOUS."
At the same time, "Gone with the Wind" is treated far more gently on IMDB, where it sports an 8.2/10 rating. There, the movie is [described](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0031381/ ) as a "turbulent romance" that takes place "during the Civil War and Reconstruction periods."
There is no direct claim that it is a racist movie, however.
Disclaimers written through the eyes of progressives for modern audiences is not new for streaming platforms; Disney+ was raked over the coals several times in recent years for how it was treating its classic content.
This included beloved cartoons like "Pinocchio," "Dumbo," "Fantasia," "Lady and the Tramp," "The Aristocats," and "The Jungle Book," which received the following [warning](https://www.theblaze.com/news/disney-plus-trigger-warnings-for-old-movies ): "This program is presented as originally created. It may contain outdated cultural depictions."
**RELATED: [Disney Plus streaming platform includes trigger warnings for 'Pinocchio,' 'Lady and the Tramp,' and more. The warning is for 'outdated cultural depictions.'](https://www.theblaze.com/news/disney-plus-trigger-warnings-for-old-movies )**
> This is RIDICULOUS. > [> https://t.co/kwFVnwAAc0](https://t.co/kwFVnwAAc0 )
> — Ted Cruz (@tedcruz) > [> July 15, 2026](https://x.com/tedcruz/status/2077440361627013235?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw )##
Perpetual do-goodersNot even the Muppets were safe from the perpetual do-gooders at Disney either. In 2021, the company went into a diatribe in the description for "[The Muppet Show](https://www.theblaze.com/news/muppet-show-disney-offensive-outrage )" that featured claims like, "This program includes negative depictions and/or mistreatment of people or cultures."
It continued, "These stereotypes were wrong then and are wrong now."
Disney also acknowledged its "harmful impact" but urged audiences to "learn from it and spark conversation to create a more inclusive future together."
Even classic PlayStation game "Tomb Raider" got similar treatment in 2024, when a re-release [warned](https://www.theblaze.com/news/tomb-raider-remaster-content-warning ) about "offensive depictions of people and cultures rooted in racial and ethnic prejudices."
Netflix did not respond to a request for comment.
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2026-07-15 22:10:59 GMT

A Marine veteran running for Florida's 5th Congressional District is being condemned for his threatening comments against President Donald Trump.
William Upham released a video statement calling the president the Antichrist and saying that he "must be killed."
'William Upham is no longer a Marine and does not represent our values or ethos.'
Upham is running as a write-in candidate, surprisingly as a Republican. The seat is currently held by Rep. John Rutherford, also a Republican.
The Marine Corps issued a statement indicating that he had been discharged for medical reasons in May 2025.
"The comments made by Upham are a direct violation of the oath he swore to uphold and are not in keeping with the service's values," the Marine Corps [added](https://x.com/USMC/status/2077183741026328775?s=20 ) in the post on social media.
Upham served from June 2021 until September 2025 and achieved the rank of first lieutenant, according to [reporting](https://taskandpurpose.com/news/marines-william-upham-trump/ ) from Task & Purpose. The outlet also noted that threatening the president is a crime punishable by up to five years in prison and up to a $250,000 fine.
"I've come to the realization that our country is broken. We are led by a president who's the enemy of God, and President Trump will never bring us together like God intended," Upham [says](https://www.newsweek.com/marine-corps-rebukes-florida-candidate-who-said-trump-must-be-killed-12196842 ) in the video.
"There is no doubt in my mind that the president of the United States, Donald J. Trump, is the Antichrist. He is a false messiah, and he is your enemy, and he must be killed," he adds.
**RELATED: **[**'We're gonna hang him from the Statue of Liberty': ANOTHER man arrested for alleged threats to kill Trump**](https://www.theblaze.com/news/death-threat-against-trump-massachusetts )
Acting U.S. Secretary of the Navy Hung Cao called the comments "unacceptable" in a [post](https://x.com/SECNAV/status/2077183967048896830 ) on social media.
"William Upham is no longer a Marine and does not represent our values or ethos," he added.
Blaze News reached out to the Florida GOP for comment.
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2026-07-15 21:00:00 GMT

Barely 24 hours after the Department of Homeland Security quietly ordered Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents to stand down on vehicle stops nationwide, President Donald Trump did a U-turn.
[Trump overturned the pause on Wednesday](https://www.cnn.com/2026/07/15/us/ice-shootings-maine-texas-wwk ), and according to sources familiar with the matter, he was furious.
'Radical Left Dumocrats would like to see this done, but it won't happen on my watch.'
Trump made the call himself, first [on Truth Social](https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/116923585931908111 ), writing that "we CANNOT give up one of I.C.E.'s most important and effective Crime Fighting tools, THE TRAFFIC STOP!"
He added that the "Radical Left Dumocrats would like to see this done, but it won't happen on my watch" and that the agency should "be judicious, fair and smart" going forward.
The reversal capped a chaotic 24 hours. The DHS sent [officials word](https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/trump-administration-orders-ice-to-suspend-most-vehicle-stops-after-deadly-shootings ) via email on Tuesday pausing all vehicle stops "immediately" and instructing officials "to prioritize other existing operational methods, outside of vehicle stops, to conduct immigration enforcement activities," according to [ABC News](https://abcnews.com/US/ice-temporarily-stop-conducting-vehicle-stops-sources/story?id=134751678 ), which reviewed the email.
By Wednesday morning, [the White House confirmed with Fox News](https://www.foxnews.com/politics/trump-reverses-dhs-policy-orders-ice-resume-vehicle-stops-after-one-day-pause ) that Trump had overturned the [memo](https://x.com/AlexisMcAdamsTV/status/2077399446703284642 ), calling it an internal directive that didn't reflect broader policy.
Border czar Tom Homan downplayed the original pause on Fox News, insisting the DHS just wanted to review the recent shootings and any training gaps.
"It's not a policy change; it's a temporary pause," Homan said, adding that the decision was made by "[the secretary along with leadership at ICE](https://abc7chicago.com/post/ice-vehicle-stops-directive-expert-weighs-policy-shift-deadly-shooting-incidents-including-franklin-park/19509178/ )."
**RELATED: [ICE slams the brakes on vehicle stops nationwide: Report](https://www.theblaze.com/news/ice-slams-the-brakes-on-vehicle-stops-nationwide-report )****[](https://www.theblaze.com/news/ice-slams-the-brakes-on-vehicle-stops-nationwide-report )**
Graeme Sloan/EPA/Bloomberg/Getty Images (L); Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images (R)
DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin was already under pressure before Trump weighed in. Republican Sen. Susan Collins of Maine [said she spoke to Mullin Monday night](https://x.com/SenatorCollins/status/2077055577297916310 ) and personally urged him to halt "non-urgent vehicle stops."
Once Trump's reversal went public, Mullin [didn't directly address](https://thehill.com/policy/national-security/5969593-mullin-addresses-ice-traffic-stops/ ) whether stops would actually resume. Instead, he pivoted to attacking Democrats, writing on X that DHS' "#1 goal is to keep our officers safe and get criminals OFF our streets," and telling anyone in the country illegally to "LEAVE NOW."
The whiplash traces back to the fatal shootings of two men during ICE enforcement operations in the last week: Lorenzo Salgado Araujo in Houston on July 7 and Johan Sebastián Durán Guerrero in Biddeford, Maine, on Monday. A third man died Tuesday in Florida after [being struck by a tractor trailer](https://abcnews.com/US/wireStory/latest-trump-ice-continue-traffic-stops-despite-new-134777729 ) while fleeing federal agents, according to authorities.
In the wake of the shootings, the DHS also pledged to rapidly [deploy body cameras](https://www.cnn.com/2026/07/14/us/body-cameras-ice-agents-shootings ) to ICE officers nationwide.
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2026-07-15 19:35:00 GMT

Captain Chesley "Sully" Sullenberger is facing another harrowing battle, this time one having to do with his health.
The man known for heroically piloting a damaged passenger plane into the Hudson River and saving 155 lives 17 years ago is now fighting Alzheimer's disease.
'I am in the beginning of this long journey.'
"I recently found out I have been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. It is early stage," said the 75-year-old [in a statement](https://nypost.com/2026/07/14/us-news/hero-pilot-capt-sully-sullenberger-shares-heartbreaking-health-update/ ). "For now, this means a name may not come easily to me, I forget a story I have recently told, or I don’t sleep as well, but I am in the beginning of this long journey."
He said he was speaking out in hopes of encouraging other families dealing with the disease.
"This new phase of my life has challenged what it means to be of service. And the answer is to speak up," he continued. "It is my hope that by sharing this, other families living in the shadows with this disease will feel they too can step forward."
Sullenberger's story was dramatized in the 2016 [hit movie "Sully,"](https://www.theblaze.com/contributions/sully-is-beautiful-and-heart-warming ) which was directed by Clint Eastwood and starred Tom Hanks as the hero.
The Jan. 2009 incident that stemmed from a plane hitting numerous birds on takeoff and losing both of its engines has since been dubbed the "Miracle on the Hudson."
Sullenberger has spoken many times about his actions on that fateful day.
"I think about not only what we did but what everybody else did," he [said to ABC News](https://abcnews.com/GMA/News/pieces-capt-chesley-sully-sullenberger-10th-anniversary-miraculous/story?id=60334892 ) on the 10th anniversary of the water landing. "All the pieces had to come together. This group of strangers had to rise to the occasion and make sure that they saved every life."
**RELATED: **[**Air Canada CEO to resign after outrage over English-only statement on death of 2 pilots**](https://www.theblaze.com/news/air-canada-ceo-resigns-english )
Sullenberger had been described by the passengers as very calm as he helped them exit the plane, but he has since revealed otherwise.
"I think people with certain temperament gravitate toward certain jobs and flying is certainly one of those, and I think the training and the experience we develop tends to make us more that way," he explained.
"It develops in you an ability to summon up from somewhere within this ability to create a sense of calm, a professional calm," he added. "But we weren't calm. We couldn't be calm. The stress was too intense, but we had that focus ... to be able to do the job in spite of how stressful it was."
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2026-07-15 19:30:00 GMT

18-year-old Nolan Wells mysteriously disappeared on July 4th while with a group of friends, before his body was [discovered](https://abcnews.com/US/hurt-nolan-friend-late-mississippi-teen-nolan-wells/story?id=134703876 ) just off of Horn Island in Mississippi.
The case has picked up national attention because Wells was the only black one among his white friends — and while details of what happened are still muddy, Al Sharpton and Ben Crump are all over it.
“Obviously, Al Sharpton, Ben Crump, Nolan Wells’ family are suggesting that it’s more than a drowning. And I think we’re starting to figure out why,” BlazeTV host Jason Whitlock explains.
The family has launched a GoFundMe, which has passed $650,000 and continues to climb.###
“They’re following in a pattern that we saw from Karmelo Anthony’s family. Karmelo Anthony murdered Austin [Metcalf], somehow started a GoFundMe or GiveSendGo, raised nearly a million dollars off of murdering Austin Metcalf, and allegedly this was to offset the legal fees of the Karmelo Anthony family,” Whitlock explains.
“But clearly people have recognized that if your son or daughter — black — dies in any proximity to white people, you can racialize that, start a GoFundMe, and collect, at a minimum, hundreds of thousands of dollars,” he says.
“What are the legal fees that the Nolan Wells family are offsetting here? Maybe it’s this independent autopsy, but this seems like a money-grab,” he speculates. “This seems like ‘my black child has died and I’m owed reparations. I’m owed some sort of financial settlement because my black child died in proximity to a white person, and I get to launch a charity off of this tragedy, and that money will help soothe the pain of the loss of my child.’”
Whitlock believes that while the argument for needing hundreds of thousands of dollars could be that “Mississippi is so racist” that the money is needed to get “law enforcement in Mississippi to pursue the truth,” "there’s also the other argument that some people could make is ‘if I don’t have money, I can’t manipulate the truth. I can’t produce the truth that I want,’” he says.
“And I’m pointing to Karmelo Anthony as he laid the blueprint,” he continues. “But maybe I should point even further back that this has been the point of the entire Black Lives Matter movement from the get-go.”##
Want more from Jason Whitlock?To enjoy more fearless conversations at the crossroads of culture, faith, sports, and comedy with Jason Whitlock, [subscribe to BlazeTV](https://get.blazetv.com/fearless/?utm_source=theblaze&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=article_shortcode_jasonwhitlock ) — the largest multi-platform network of voices who love America, defend the Constitution, and live the American dream.
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2026-07-15 19:20:00 GMT

A political aide to former reality TV star Spencer Pratt revealed just how far his campaign went to compete in the heavily Democrat-leaning electorate for Los Angeles mayor.
Pratt narrowly missed the cutoff to compete in the runoff election, but he has vowed to continue his fight to save Los Angeles from socialist policies and politicians.
'It was an experiment in completely upending the traditional politico paradigm, so we didn't have any political advisers. It was just me and Spencer.'
In an interview with Christopher Rufo on the "Rufo & Lomez" podcast Tuesday, Pratt's creative director, Gabriel Mann, revealed [the unorthodox steps](https://www.theblaze.com/shows/rufo-lomez/spencer-pratts-insurgent-la-run-creative-director-interview ) they took in the campaign to spread his message.
"There was no help — we begged people for help with our ground game — so we had to create our own," Mann said on BlazeTV.
"And you know what we did? We spent, I think, $100,000 paying the Bloods and the Crips. I'm not joking. Totally aboveboard, totally legal. We paid the Bloods and the Crips to go do ballot harvesting for us in their neighborhoods," he said.
"And that was the one thing that Spencer did that I think shocked a lot of people. I mean, we're in South Central, and we were partying," Mann added.
"What was their response to you guys?" co-host Jonathan "Lomez" Keeperman asked.
"Tremendous!" Mann replied.
Keeperman joked that the South Central residents were not likely to be high-propensity voters.
"They're not, but the people who showed up, the people with whom we interfaced, they're very engaged, and some of them — I had this 52-year-old mom come up to me in South Central, and she was like, 'My daughter is hooked on crack, and I cannot get anybody to help me. She's out on the streets. I can't get her home. I have no support,'" Mann said.
"She was like weeping, and I grabbed her by the arm and [said], 'Come talk to Spencer. We're gonna figure this out,'" he added.
The video closes out with scenes of Pratt talking to the woman and comforting her over her daughter's plight.
**RELATED: **[**TMZ tries to nuke Spencer Pratt's mayoral campaign — and gets bitten in the Bass**](https://www.theblaze.com/news/tmz-spencer-pratt-residency-hotel )
> "There was no help. We begged people for help with our ground game. We had to create our own."
> Spencer Pratt’s Creative Director > [> @Hotshot_Movie](https://x.com/Hotshot_Movie?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw )> tells > [> @christopherrufo](https://x.com/christopherrufo?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw )> and > [> @L0m3z](https://x.com/L0m3z?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw )> they paid the Bloods and the Crips $100,000 to do ballot harvesting in their neighborhoods: > [> pic.twitter.com/30hnUb3c5v](https://t.co/30hnUb3c5v )
> — BlazeTV (@BlazeTV) > [> July 14, 2026](https://x.com/BlazeTV/status/2077098393520779393?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw )
"I know a lot of people try to portray their campaign as grassroots, but, I mean, this was legitimately grassroots. ... It was an experiment in completely upending the traditional politico paradigm, so we didn't have any political advisers. It was just me and Spencer," Mann said.
Since the jungle primary election, Pratt [published](https://www.theblaze.com/news/spencer-pratt-war-bass-raman ) a video setting out all the evidence of possible election fraud.
The entire podcast video with Mann can be viewed on [the YouTube channel](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8uuoX4H-2Uk ) for Rufo and Lomez.
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2026-07-15 18:00:00 GMT

The internet has done an admirable job hobbling the corporate left-wing media’s ability to control the population through a single narrative. But that blessing comes with regrettable costs.
The speed of information and the incentive to push hot takes onto social media mean that when a public figure dies, there is an immediate race to decide which competing narrative will define his legacy.
Was Graham a true convert to MAGA and its values? Unlikely. But politics is not a contest over who believes harder.
When [Lindsey Graham died suddenly](https://www.theblaze.com/news/lindsey-graham-dead-at-71 ) of heart failure over the weekend, [conspiracy theories](https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/donald-trump/trump-says-fbi-wasting-time-investigating-lindsey-grahams-death-rcna587500 ) about [foreign assassination plots](https://apnews.com/article/fact-check-lindsey-graham-death-conspiracy-theories-5a9b75ffb00ec8435723f65e224b98f5 ) immediately began to circulate online. Many leftists [openly celebrated his death](https://www.bostonherald.com/2026/07/14/battenfeld-lindsey-grahams-death-sparks-vitriol-some-hope-from-democrats/ ), and the reactionary impulse of conservatives drove others to recast Graham as a stalwart crusader for MAGA.
The truth is more complicated. But in the eternal battle for narrative supremacy, there is little time for reflection, even in response to death.
No one is above criticism. But in a healthy society, some space exists between a public figure’s passing and attacks on his legacy.
That standard now seems quaint, perhaps naive. It is also better for the soul of the nation.
Unfortunately, wishing to live in that kind of society does not make it real. The information war is relentless. Abstaining from the fight only means someone else defines the truth.
The news cycle does not observe a respectable period of mourning. The battle begins the moment the headline drops.
Wild conspiracy theories now seem obligatory whenever a prominent figure dies, and Graham was no exception. The senator toured a Ukrainian weapons factory the day before his death, and several figures speculated that he had really been killed in an attack on that facility or poisoned by the Russians.
Russian philosopher Aleksandr Dugin suggested on social media that Graham had likely been killed by Israel, despite Graham’s long record of advocacy for that country.
This is not to denigrate [conspiracy theories](https://www.theblaze.com/columns/opinion/conspiracy-theory-is-just-media-code-for-we-hope-this-never-comes-out ) in general. One thing we learned after COVID is that such theories can often prove correct. But the narratives around Graham’s death were bizarre.
Graham was a 71-year-old man with a family history of fatal heart conditions who did not take care of himself. His death is sad, but its cause was hardly mysterious.
**RELATED: [Lindsey Graham’s sister appointed to serve out the rest of his term in the Senate](https://www.theblaze.com/news/lindsey-grahams-sister-appointed-to-serve-out-the-rest-of-his-term-in-the-senate )**
Grant Baldwin/Getty Images
Progressives reacted exactly as expected. There was gloating, celebration, mockery, and even speculation about who should come next.
Graham’s death was nowhere near as visceral or violent as [Charlie Kirk’s assassination](https://www.theblaze.com/search/?q=Charlie+Kirk+assassination ), but the left’s response carried unnerving echoes. It was a brutal reminder of a lesson conservatives have worked hard not to learn since Kirk’s murder.
Even the average Democrat is emotionally unhinged.
Your progressive neighbor may not be willing to [commit violence personally](https://www.theblaze.com/columns/opinion/your-enemies-aren-t-mentally-ill-they-apparently-just-want-to-kill-you ) against you over politics. But many are happy to cheer those who do and dance on your grave once you are gone.
The reaction on the right was strange in a different way. Some conservatives rushed to construct a hagiography, transforming Graham into a MAGA saint, a lion who died fighting for the cause.
That impulse may have been an understandable response to the left’s disgusting vitriol. It was not wise.
Graham served in the Senate for 31 years. He supported every disastrous war during his tenure, including the war in Ukraine that Donald Trump ran on ending and the war in Iran now costing the administration dearly.
Graham pushed for the invasions of Iraq and Afghanistan. He backed Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton during military operations in Syria and Libya.
He pushed to send hundreds of billions of dollars to foreign governments while inflation was driving up the cost of living for ordinary Americans. After Graham’s death, [Benjamin Netanyahu claimed](https://www.foxnews.com/media/netanyahu-details-final-conversation-lindsey-graham-senator-challenged-push-end-israel-aid ) that when he told the senator Israel should pay for its own defense, Graham insisted that American taxpayers should foot the bill.
On immigration, the core issue of the MAGA coalition, Graham was even worse.
He was part of the Gang of Eight and pushed for amnesty alongside men like Marco Rubio. In 2006, Graham teamed up with John McCain to pursue a similar pathway to citizenship. His attempts to secure amnesty for illegal aliens were so common that he earned the nickname “Grahamnesty.”
Lindsey Graham was, in almost every way imaginable, the essence of the Washington swamp Trump promised to drain.
He was also a savvy political operator.
Graham initially fought Trump tooth and nail. Like many Republicans, he slowly changed his rhetoric. Despite still pushing horrible foreign policy and endless war, the senator became a reliable vote for Trump on many domestic issues. His work advancing the One Big Beautiful Bill Act and the SAVE Act deserves note.
Was Graham a true convert to MAGA and its values? Unlikely. But politics is not a contest over who believes harder.
It would have been unwise to trust Graham. Many Republicans have discovered new respect for Trump to get what they want, only to betray him the moment he stops prioritizing their issues.
**RELATED: [Conservatives are blowing the easiest political win in America](https://www.theblaze.com/columns/opinion/conservatives-are-blowing-the-easiest-political-win-in-america ) **
Blaze Media Illustration
But Graham delivered votes and support at key moments. That made him politically useful in scenarios that cannot be ignored.
Graham spent most of his career as an institutional neoconservative advancing policies that were disastrous for the country. He eventually corrected course on amnesty and delivered some key votes for the Trump administration. Yet his monomaniacal obsession with war made him one of the central proponents of a foreign policy quagmire threatening to derail the MAGA agenda.
Does his opportunistic support for Trump in the final years of his life make him a true MAGA patriot? No.
Does he deserve the hatred poured on him by the left after his death? Also no.
That is not mercy for a political enemy. It is moral clarity. Refusing to lie about a man’s record does not require joining the mob that cheers his death.
Those are entirely separate moral sins.
In the rush to define the narrative, the complicated nature of Graham’s legacy disappears.
The internet has made immediate judgment mandatory and thoughtful reflection almost impossible. It turns public figures into mascots, villains, saints, and demons before the body is cold.
In the end, the internet makes fictional characters of us all.
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2026-07-11 12:00:00 GMT

Oklahoma City Police this week [released](https://www.facebook.com/reel/3482561678578389 ) video recorded around 8 a.m. July 2 showing a suspect throwing a Molotov cocktail at a victim in a wheelchair — and authorities said the "terrifying incident unfolded right across the street" from police headquarters.
"What happened next showed the absolute best of our community and our first responders," police said.
'These are people, these are our neighbors, these are our fellow Oklahomans. These are people with hopes and dreams, just like any of us.'
Police department detectives and a "quick-thinking bystander immediately rushed into danger to help the victim and take the suspect into custody on the spot," police said, adding that the city's fire department "was also quick to the scene to provide crucial medical aid."
Police said, "Thanks to this rapid, heroic response, the victim is expected to recover, and the suspect is behind bars."
The [Oklahoman reported](https://www.oklahoman.com/story/news/crime/2026/07/07/video-shows-man-throwing-molotov-cocktail-at-victim-outside-okc-police-station/90840788007/ ) that a city police officer wrote in a court affidavit that the perpetrator was walking westbound on Main Street when he saw the victim — who was in a wheelchair — crossing the street. The perpetrator turned around and approached the victim, then ignited a Molotov cocktail and threw it directly at the victim, which set him on fire, the paper noted.
**RELATED: **[**Man flings Molotov cocktails at federal building while yelling 'anti-ICE' comments, feds say**](https://www.theblaze.com/news/molotov-cocktails-ice-la-attack )
The Oklahoman said the video shows the victim wheeling himself out of the fire — but the suspect who threw the Molotov cocktail then appears to try to push the victim back into the flames.
Two Oklahoma City police detectives exited a vehicle at the intersection and took a 38-year-old suspect into custody, the paper said.
The victim was treated for minor injuries, including burns on the back of his neck and arms, the Oklahoman said, citing court documents.
More from the paper:
> According to the court affidavit, the suspect told investigators he was "looking for marks" and intended to kill the victim because he thought he saw a "mark" and believed the victim was a child molester. He also told investigators he made two Molotov cocktails but was only able to use one before detectives stopped him.
> After the attack, the suspect was booked into the Oklahoma County jail on complaints of first-degree arson, assault and battery with a deadly weapon, assault with intent to kill and two counts of possessing, using, manufacturing or threatening to use an incendiary device or explosives.[KOCO-TV](https://www.koco.com/article/man-in-wheelchair-recovering-molotov-cocktail-attack-oklahoma-city/71889708 ) identified the suspect as Alexander Emery, adding that authorities said Emery has a lengthy criminal history, including charges of trespassing, burglary, drug offenses, breaking and entering, and assault and battery — with cases dating back about a decade.
Jail records indicate Emery's bond amount is $200,000.
**RELATED: **[**Democrats wanted a makeover. They got Marxism and Molotov cocktails.**](https://www.theblaze.com/columns/opinion/democrats-wanted-a-makeover-they-got-marxism-and-molotov-cocktails )
Alexander Emery. Image source: Oklahoma County Jail
KOCO said a news crew from the station found the Molotov cocktail attack victim, who is homeless, in his wheelchair near the scene of the attack. The station said he declined to go on camera but told the news crew he's OK, feels grateful, and believes God was with him during the harrowing incident.
The victim also told KOCO he was treated at the scene but declined to go to the hospital. He also told the station he doesn't know the attacker or the reason behind the assault.
Meghan Mueller, president and CEO of the Homeless Alliance, told KOCO the video of the attack is "absolutely horrific."
"The fact that this happened is something that should shock the community," Mueller added to the station. "These are people, these are our neighbors, these are our fellow Oklahomans. These are people with hopes and dreams, just like any of us."
Mueller also told KOCO that "the really important thing to remember is that we all need to take better care of each other."
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2026-07-10 21:00:00 GMT

Socialism is no longer knocking at the door of American politics — it’s winning elections.
And New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani is leading the charge.
“We raise taxes on the wealthiest New Yorkers instead of taking more from those with the least. Throughout this process, I have been reminded of the words of the Austrian economist Friedrich Hayek: ‘If socialists understood economics, they wouldn’t be socialists,’” he said in a recent speech.
“If these past months have shown us anything, it is that socialists not only understand economics just as well as the capitalists who came before, but that we can solve their years of mismanagement through an embrace of our principles,” he added.###
Blaze Media co-founder Glenn Beck can’t believe how far their movement has come, pointing out that while “every single socialist experiment fails,” democratic socialists like Melat Kiros — who just won the primary in Colorado — continue to gain ground.
“She says, ‘We’re taking our system back, and we’re taking our country back,’” he says. “What do you mean you’re taking your country back?”
“When you’re talking about getting rid of capitalism, you’re not taking it back,” he continues. “So, the question is, is this just the edges of the party, or ... is this a death knell for the next election?”
And while those who want to shrink the government’s power over American citizens are the ones being called extremists, democratic socialists want to expand it.
“And here’s something else that nobody seems to notice,” Glenn says. “Every successful socialist movement in history claimed to represent the workers. ... Where are the workers today? Where are they?”
“Today’s movement represents the graduates. Look where all the energy comes from. The elite universities, the prestigious media, the nonprofits, the government bureaucracy, the professional advocates, the activists, the commanding height of culture,” he continues.
“Karl Marx predicted the revolution would come from the factory floor. Instead, it seems to be coming from the faculty lounge,” he adds.##
Want more from Glenn Beck?To enjoy more of Glenn’s masterful storytelling, thought-provoking analysis, and uncanny ability to make sense of the chaos, [subscribe to BlazeTV](https://get.blazetv.com/glenn/?utm_source=theblaze&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=article_shortcode_glennbeck ) — the largest multi-platform network of voices who love America, defend the Constitution, and live the American dream.
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2026-07-10 17:15:00 GMT

Singer Olivia Rodrigo says her upcoming all-female music festival is dedicated to "advancing and advocating for women and girls."
Strangely, this seems to mostly translate to donating money to pro-abortion and race-based advocacy groups.
'I've had a dream of doing this festival for years.'##
Dream theaterRodrigo made headlines more than two years ago when she partnered with a national abortion network to [give out emergency contraceptives](https://www.theblaze.com/news/olivia-rodrigo-birth-control-concert ) — the morning-after pill — to concert attendees on her tour. After the story made the rounds, Rodrigo's publicity team [put a stop to it](https://www.theblaze.com/news/olivia-rodrigo-plan-b-canceled ) and asked the group to cease handing out its packages that included two boxes of the pills and promotional codes that linked to an abortion fund.
Now, the 23-year-old has taken things a step further by hosting her own music festival to promote "meaningful change."
"Truly never felt more excited to share a piece of news with you all," Rodrigo wrote on [X](https://x.com/oliviarodrigo/status/2069106983396110554?s=20 ). "I've had a dream of doing this festival for years and i am so ecstatic its finally coming true!!"
The singer noted that "100 percent of the net proceeds will go to charities dedicated to advancing and advocating for women and girls."
These [organizations](https://www.daisychainfields.com/non-profit ) include abortion clinic Planned Parenthood as well as several other abortion advocacy groups.
Other partners featured are the Center for Reproductive Rights and the National Institute for Reproductive Health, which [says](https://nirhealth.org/who-we-are/ ) it is invested in the "fight" to "expand access to abortion and contraception and advance health equity."
**RELATED: [Abortion promoters told to stop handing out morning-after pills at Olivia Rodrigo concerts due to the presence of children](https://www.theblaze.com/news/olivia-rodrigo-plan-b-canceled )**
> truly never felt more excited to share a piece of news with you all. i’ve had a dream of doing this festival for years and i am so ecstatic its finally coming true!! Daisy Chain Fields features an all-women lineup and 100 percent of the net proceeds will go to charities… > [> pic.twitter.com/bPXHfLl1WJ](https://t.co/bPXHfLl1WJ )
> — Olivia Rodrigo (@oliviarodrigo) > [> June 22, 2026](https://x.com/oliviarodrigo/status/2069106983396110554?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw )##
Immigrant songRace-centric advocacy groups are also getting support, including the Black Mamas Matter Alliance and the Johns Hopkins Center for Indigenous Health.
Another partner, the National Domestic Workers Alliance, [notes](https://www.domesticworkers.org/about-ndwa/ ) that while it supports domestic workers, the women they back are "mostly women of color [and] immigrants" as well as "mothers and low-wage workers."
The company also has a directive dedicated to "black domestic workers," with the title "[We Dream in Black](https://www.domesticworkers.org/programs-and-campaigns/organizing-domestic-workers-and-developing-leaders/we-dream-in-black/ )."
The upcoming music festival takes place in August in Irvine, California, [featuring](https://www.daisychainfields.com/lineup ) artists like Doechii, Chappell Roan, and Sarah McLachlan and Stevie Nicks as special guests.
Outlet Young Hollywood [described](https://younghollywood.com/scene/why-olivia-rodrigo-s-new-daisy-chain-fields-festival-is-so-impactful.html ) the festival as a way to "bring women together," while creating a "safe and welcoming space" that will support "queer and female communities by donating profits to charities focused on social justice and helping women."
**RELATED: ['I'm really excited': Pop star Olivia Rodrigo gives out morning-after pills at concerts for 'reproductive health freedom'](https://www.theblaze.com/news/olivia-rodrigo-birth-control-concert )**
Jose Perez/Bauer-Griffin/GC Images
##
Vaxxin' and relaxin' In 2021, Rodrigo visited President Joe Biden at the White House to promote COVID-19 vaccination among American youth, with the president [claiming](https://youtube.com/shorts/Vr53HrGfVQM?si=cVgelxi02BK2r_A- ) it was of the utmost importance for those ages 16 to 25 to get vaccinated.
At the time, Rodrigo [said](https://people.com/politics/olivia-rodrigo-visits-the-white-house-to-urge-young-people-to-get-vaccinated/ ) she was "beyond honored and humbled" to "help spread the message about the importance of youth vaccinations."
*Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. **[Sign up here](https://www.theblaze.com/newsletters/theblaze-articlelink )**!*
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2026-07-07 19:40:00 GMT

It's quite normal for basketball fans to point fingers at each other and tell them exactly how they feel.
Now, fans can back those comments up with some cold, hard statistics as data has come out showing which team's fan base is the most hardcore, but only in the worst ways.
'I cannot in good conscience contribute monetarily to this garbage.'
According to data from Action Network, the numbers are rather clear as to which group of NBA fans love making the most curse-filled and negative comments online.
The outlet [analyzed](https://www.actionnetwork.com/nba/data-analysis-the-most-foul-mouthed-negative-nba-fandoms-2026 ) over 1.6 million comments from NBA fan pages on the hyperactive forum site Reddit and found that in its two negative categories, Philadelphia 76ers fans were by far the worst of any NBA franchise.
More than 10.5% of 76ers fans' comments contained swear words, almost 2 points higher than the second- and third-most mouthy fan bases (Houston Rockets and Atlanta Hawks fans), and were the only team to break the 10% barrier.
As if that weren't enough, 76ers fans were also labeled the most negative group of supporters, with a whopping 31.67% of their comments carrying a negative tone. The Rockets' fans were again second, and the Orlando Magic fan base was third.
This data tracks with the 76ers fans, who, at the time of this writing, had popular posts circulating like, "[The misery never ends](https://www.reddit.com/media?url=https%3A%2F%2Fpreview.redd.it%2Fthe-misery-never-ends-v0-ypiw0pdj467h1.jpeg%3Fauto%3Dwebp%26s%3D25ef1374c30bd3b29c9333dc95218a88cd2921e9 )."
One fan shared an [email](https://www.reddit.com/media?url=https%3A%2F%2Fpreview.redd.it%2Fgot-emailed-by-a-sixers-rep-today-this-was-my-response-v0-2ezb2ov5go7h1.jpeg%3Fwidth%3D1080%26crop%3Dsmart%26auto%3Dwebp%26s%3D36523f015d5efdc5e6039ab974d65b7e0cb0019a ) — allegedly sent to a 76ers team rep — expressing how much the fan thinks the team stinks and how the fan would never put money into the owner's pocket for this "laughing stock" of a team.
"I would never put my hard earned dollars in the pocket of [owner Josh Harris]. ... I cannot in good conscience contribute monetarily to this garbage," the fan wrote.
At the same time, fans reposted a popular [2024 meme](https://www.reddit.com/r/sixers/comments/1ukulue/god_speed_king_you_will_always_be_a_philly/ ) featuring 76ers player Kelly Oubre, which shows him calling several people a "bitch" during an altercation with the Los Angeles Clippers.
**RELATED: [Caitlin Clark's coach rampages about 'racism' and 'homophobia' after on-court abuse: 'So much more toxicity'](https://www.theblaze.com/fearless/wnba-caitlin-clark-coach-indiana )**
Drew Hallowell/Getty Images
"An analysis of over 1.6 million fan comments from the subreddits of all 30 NBA fandoms from the last 12 months found the Philadelphia 76ers to be both the most foul-mouthed NBA fandom" and "the most negative fandom," an Action Network spokesman told Fearless.
A team that has slowly degraded its nicknames from [the Answer](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt6304902 ) to [the Process](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philadelphia_76ers#The_Process ) to [the FEDS](https://www.nbcsportsphiladelphia.com/nba/joel-embiid-declares-sixers-new-nickname-as-the-feds-the-feds-are-coming/404508/ ) over the years certainly lives up to the data in real life, too, not just online.
Popular YouTube channel Snapback Live [said](https://www.youtube.com/shorts/DdiBPlYAC10?feature=share ), "Sixers fans boo everything," which appears to be true given the sheer quantity of videos showing the team's supporters booing former player Ben Simmons in [city streets](https://www.youtube.com/shorts/WdM6d-3zKvY ).
There even exists [video](https://www.youtube.com/shorts/Qx2iQzeOr78?feature=share ) of a senior citizen 76ers fan telling rapper Lil Baby his team was "gonna kick your ass" while sitting courtside. Sixers fans not only start [heckling](https://www.youtube.com/shorts/uDxwDvJc7MA ) at a very young age, but they are also willing to [have it out](https://www.youtube.com/shorts/gt11yHlgpck ) with NBA greats like Kevin Durant.
Philly fans' ornery reputation goes back more than a half-century as they notoriously once [booed and threw snowballs](https://www.instagram.com/reels/C1YCwLPshy4/ ) at Santa Claus during halftime at an Eagles game in December of 1968.
**RELATED: [Jason Whitlock: Nike and the WNBA fumbled the Caitlin Clark phenomenon](https://www.theblaze.com/shows/fearless-with-jason-whitlock/jason-whitlock-nike-and-the-wnba-fumbled-the-caitlin-clark-phenomenon )**
Perhaps unsurprisingly, the fans of the Utah Jazz turned out to be the most polite NBA fans, with only 5.2% of their comments online containing swear words — less than half the percentage for 76ers fans.
Jazz fans were also determined to be the most positive NBA fandom, with almost 53% of their comments carrying a positive tone, one of only four teams to have more positive comments than negative. This included Brooklyn Nets fans (51.87%), Washington Wizards fans (50.80%), and Indiana Pacers fans (50.07%).
*Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. **[Sign up here](https://www.theblaze.com/newsletters/theblaze-articlelink )**!*
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2026-07-07 18:00:00 GMT

Politicians and bureaucrats routinely claim that America is experiencing [a historic drop in crime](https://www.thetrace.org/2026/05/us-murder-rate-historic-low-jeff-asher/ ) and that, in many parts of the country, the streets have never been safer. Yet for everyday citizens who see boarded-up storefronts and brazen daylight robberies, there’s an unsettling sense that the reality on the ground [tells an entirely different story](https://stateline.org/2026/05/04/americans-views-on-crime-often-diverge-from-actual-crime-trends-report-says/ ).
This is not a matter of misperception. As Anna Giaritelli, a seasoned homeland security reporter for the Washington Examiner, details in her book ["Under Assault,"](https://www.amazon.com/Under-Assault-Reporters-Overcoming-Injustice-ebook/dp/B0GT1RNM9H ) the numbers being fed to the public are systematically manipulated.
'You don’t know what you don’t know until you find out the hard way sometimes.'
Giaritelli experienced this firsthand when moving to Washington, D.C. Carefully examining official data was a priority during the neighborhood search. “I looked at the crime stats before I moved to Capitol Hill," she told me, "and selected my home there based on blocks on Capitol Hill that were the safest and showed the least amount of crime incidents."##
Off the mapWhat she didn’t know was that the Metropolitan Police Department’s [public crime map](https://crimecards.dc.gov/ ) didn’t show the whole picture. It only displayed first-degree and select second-degree felonies. Most felonies and misdemeanors were entirely absent. In other words, the map only flagged major, headline-grabbing crimes like homicides or armed robberies. It completely skipped over everyday break-ins, property theft, and assaults.
"Whether it’s a resident or a business owner, people base their decisions on where to move on that crime map," Giaritelli argues.
"And not to include all crimes shows an inaccurate picture of the state of public safety in D.C. I would not have moved to this block had I known the real extent of crime in the area. I’d argue Washington, D.C., officials are liable for misleading the public, particularly victims like myself who they knowingly deceive."
When local governments sanitize data, families buy homes in dangerous areas and entrepreneurs invest life savings in storefronts that are highly vulnerable. By blinding the public, officials make it impossible to accurately assess risk, leaving citizens exposed.
Anna Giaritelli##
Widespread issueFor individuals living in quiet suburbs or rural towns, spiking urban crime rates can seem like someone else's problem. It is tempting to look at the mayhem in major metropolitan areas and assume it stays within city limits.
However, the manipulation of this data is a widespread issue that ignores municipal borders.
"I think city crime stats matter for everyone, regardless of whether they live in a suburb or rural America," Giaritelli warns. "You don’t know what you don’t know until you find out the hard way sometimes."
The methods used by big-city bureaucrats to improve their public image are easily exported. Whether in a small town or a massive coastal metropolis, police departments and municipal leaders answer to the same political pressures to show downward trends. If they learn they can rewrite reality with the stroke of a pen, they will.
As Giaritelli observes, a resident may not find out a town is doing this "until you become a victim and go looking for your stat, only to find you didn’t meet the threshold to be counted." It remains unknown how deep or widespread this miscounting truly is across America.
**RELATED: **[**'Citizen Vigilante': A cinematic hand grenade lobbed at the cathedral of liberal pieties**](https://www.theblaze.com/lifestyle/citizen-vigilante-a-cinematic-hand-grenade-lobbed-at-the-cathedral-of-liberal-pieties )
bollfilms.com##
Collapse of public trustThis growing awareness has fueled a massive pushback. Giaritelli’s [petition](https://www.change.org/p/demand-accurate-crime-stats-in-democrat-cities?source_location=homepage ) demanding absolute crime data transparency has received nearly 20,000 signatures. This groundswell signals a deeper crisis marked by the collapse of public trust in institutional data.
Public safety is one of the rare issues that unites most people across the political aisle. Sure, there is a loud faction of progressives who would gladly replace the local police force with hug-dispensing, gender-fluid therapists, but the vast majority, just like conservatives, want law and order. At the end of the day, everyday citizens simply want safe neighborhoods. But when government statistics become fiction, the entire justice system breaks down.
Giaritelli lays out the structural domino effect:
> We can’t properly fund the public safety, the judicial system, and the prisons and jails in our communities if we don’t know how much crime is actually occurring. Covering up crime stats causes problems throughout the system. If we don’t know how much crime there is, we cannot plan and adequately respond to it.When cities hide numbers, they intentionally starve the system of resources. Giaritelli points out the real-world cost:. In D.C., underfunding led to a severe lack of jail space. A violent offender arrested in her area was released the very next day. He lived blocks from her apartment. He went on to be arrested five more times before going to trial, and each time, the judge released him right back onto the streets due to a lack of space.
If those crimes aren’t counted, she notes, "then we’re not setting an annual budgets for the next year to take into account the need for jail space, the need for victims funding, and the need for more police."
When citizens can no longer trust official government statistics, decision-making becomes distorted. Budgets become less reliable, serious crimes may be undercounted, and law-abiding families ultimately bear the consequences.##
Punishing the victimsPerhaps the most disturbing revelation in ["Under Assault"](https://nam12.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2FUnder-Assault-Reporters-Overcoming-Injustice-ebook%2Fdp%2FB0GT1RNM9H&data=05%7C02%7Cmhimes%40blazemedia.com%7C2ef2a2ab546a436e651208ded9824e96%7Ccb6bcf2f9ec84d27b2344b2f00283fde%7C0%7C0%7C639187350869365108%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C60000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=B6iu%2FrBXXKDQRKjtyJV9MoXT1kEycPuQlWvj4ZJuApE%3D&reserved=0 ) is how Giaritelli discovered this institutional gaslighting.
In April 2020, Giaritelli was walking to the post office just blocks from the U.S. Capitol when she was physically and sexually assaulted on a public sidewalk in broad daylight. Her attacker was eventually caught and sent to federal prison. Later, while working on a routine newsroom assignment evaluating D.C. crime trends, she decided to look up her own incident on the city's official crime map.
There was no mark. No pin. Nothing.
"When I contacted D.C. police to inquire about my specific assault, I was told that it did not meet the threshold to be counted by D.C. police on the crime map."
A citizen was sexually assaulted, the perpetrator was convicted in a federal court and sent to prison, yet [according to the city's public-facing ledger](https://nypost.com/2025/08/14/us-news/journalist-recounts-broad-daylight-sex-assault-in-dc-says-cops-refused-to-include-attack-in-crime-stats/ ), the crime never happened.
To make matters worse, the police department removed individual incident pins entirely. In their place, they covered the city map in vague, shifting shades of color to denote general crime levels. It is a clear case of bureaucratic deception. By erasing distinct markers, they make it completely impossible for a victim to verify whether an assault was ever officially counted. Giaritelli knows this only too well, even as many Americans remain unaware of the highly unethical practice.
When institutions trusted with safety care more about protecting their public image than protecting human lives, the system is actively hostile to the truth. The next time an official stands behind a podium and claims crime is down, it’s worth listening. But it’s also worth verifying it for yourself.
https://www.theblaze.com/media-library/crime-stats-said-her-new-neighborhood-was-safe-then-she-saw-what-they-left-out.jpg?id=67100280&width=980

2026-07-07 17:00:00 GMT

We covered why you should educate your kids at home in [part 1](https://www.theblaze.com/lifestyle/education-without-schooling-why-a-godly-home-is-the-best-place-for-children-to-learn-and-thrive ).
Now we’re going to cover the “how,” which involves sparking your child’s interest and imagination from as early an age as possible. Three things will help you meet this goal enjoyably and effectively.
My number-one book recommendation for parents, right from the start, is to obtain a really good guide to children’s books.
Let's start with what is the 100% most important thing to do. The most effective way to spark learning for young children is so simple, and it’s good for you, the parent, as well.##
1. Go outsideThe more time children spend exploring the outdoors, the more their curiosity is piqued and the more they learn. And this learning is the best learning, through their God-given senses.
Don’t skimp on outside time. Go out several times a day, weather permitting, and don’t rush them back inside. Walks are great!
Nature provides the best classroom, wherever you live (or visit): beauty, colors, and patterns to see; birdsong and leaves rustling and dogs barking to hear; cool breezes and warm sun to feel; velvety flower petals and rough bark to touch; and (with supervision!) fresh berries or tomatoes from the garden to taste.
Side note: Play is a child’s first job, and outdoor play is the best workplace. Playing with your children (out or inside) is one of your most important jobs, too. Laughing and enjoying each other should happen often each day!
So introduce them to the glories outside your door, let them experience it, and give them language to describe it. Don’t worry; this is what we naturally do when we’re present outside with kids. “See the pretty flower?” And, as age-appropriate: “What color is it? Feel how soft it is! No, we don’t want to pick it — let’s let it keep growing here.”
Which brings me to the second-most important part of your child’s curriculum.##
2. Talk. About everything.You will be rewarded with a more verbal child, earlier, who can share his/her thoughts and needs more effectively.
Talk to your children outside, talk to them inside, talk to them while they’re eating, talk to them during diaper changes.
Point things out, describe them in adult language, ask them to name the things you’re pointing out.
This starts with nouns (“See the ball? Can you say ball?") but eventually they’ll be able to add adjectives (“purple ball”) and other parts of speech, leading eventually to phrases and sentences.
Side note: Treasure each adorable mis-pronunciation (yeah, get those on video if you can for the grandparents), but continue saying the words properly. Don’t correct them — just say them properly when you say them. They’ll get it.##
3. Help them learn to love booksThe last subject in our must-have preschool curriculum is “Introduction to Books.”
Books — hard-copy books that children can touch — should be introduced from the very beginning.
Cloth books made for teething babies are plentiful, and by all means let them gum away on them — but also turn the pages and show them the pictures, again speaking about what they’re seeing (“See the black square?”).
Books made of waterproof material are available for bath time, as well. These “chewable” books tend to be mostly images, which is what you want, for these purposes. You won’t really be “reading” them as much as describing them.
Board books will carry you through the first few years, when children aren’t yet able to be gentle with “regular” books. These should have brief, simple text and colorful, interesting images. Invest in a library of these, because you will use them over and over.
There are some time-tested classic board books (see list below) and quite a few that are outstanding for bedtime (again, see suggestions). You should keep board books in every location where your child might want a story! But keep the bedtime books separate, since they often become part of your bedtime routine (remember our principle of “order”).
Also, do teach them to respect their books. Discourage throwing or standing on them — “let’s treat our books nicely” is a lesson they need to learn so they can move on to picture books. This is the category of regular children’s books (with regular, tearable pages!) that we are aiming our children to be able to enjoy.
This level has so many good selections (again, see suggestions below) that you will probably run out of childhood before you run out of books. Again, you can have bedtime books, books for the car, books for different rooms. You can’t have too many books. (Well, that might be an exaggeration, but as a book lover, I defend my right to push this idea.)
We haven’t talked about content of board or picture books yet, so a few quick notes. First, I have seen a tendency for Christian board books to include concepts that simply aren’t appropriate for board-book-age children. As a grandparent, I ordered a couple of recommended board books and found the text of one of them to be far too advanced for a toddler; another was better but still included ideas that I deemed too much for a young child.
While I’m warning about Christian books (of all things), let me point out the obvious — the world is full of children’s books that are inappropriate in every way for any child, and that certainly includes yours. Before buying, I recommend that you quickly read through every page and scan the images (good habit if you use the library, too).
**RELATED: ****[Patriotic heresy: 4 examples of tangling faith with the flag](https://www.theblaze.com/lifestyle/patriotic-heresy-4-examples-of-tangling-faith-with-the-flag )**
Tom Williams/Getty Images##
What to keep out of your home (and a bonus arts curriculum idea)Since we’re talking about things to avoid, here’s one that will probably involve some discipline on your part. But the truth is, your child could go without any screen time for the first 5 or 6 years of his/her life and be the better for it. Andy Crouch’s book ["The Tech-Wise Family"](https://www.amazon.com/Tech-Wise-Family-Everyday-Putting-Technology/dp/0801018668 )* *suggests no screens till age 10.
Studies demonstrate that screen time is a net negative for young children, so don’t create a habit that will be painful to halt. If you have already allowed it, pull back now — the sooner the better.
Don’t read Kindle children’s books. Don’t let them play video games. Don’t teach them they need a screen to be entertained.
You may have to teach them this by example. GET OFF YOUR PHONE.
Do you want a child who wants to sit in front of a screen being entertained? Or do you want a child who loves to play and learn outside, talk to you, and spend time reading books together?
I cannot state this any more clearly: SCREENS BAD.
However, there is one way you can use your TV for a net benefit. Play symphony orchestra performances (easy to find on YouTube). Your children may learn what musical instruments look like, but more to the point, this will provide outstanding early music education as they listen during daily activities and while they play.##
Your first curriculum purchasesWhat follows is a brief selection of really good books you may find helpful, in a number of categories.
****Very first books****
You won’t have any trouble finding cloth or bath-time books. Sensory books, with textures the child can touch, are also great starters, like:<li><a href="https://www.amazon.com/See-Touch-Feel-First-Sensory/dp/0312527594" target="_blank">"See, Touch, Feel: A First Sensory Book"</a> by Roger Priddy</li>
****Board books****
Just about anything by Sandra Boynton. Favorites:<li><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Moo-Baa-Sandra-Boynton/dp/067144901X" target="_blank">"Moo, Baa, La La La"</a> (also a Christmas version, <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Moo-Baa-Fa-Sandra-Boynton/dp/1665914351" target="_blank">"Moo, Baa, Fa La La La La"</a>)</li><li><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Going-Bed-Book-Sandra-Boynton/dp/0671449028" target="_blank">"The Going to Bed Book"</a></li>
Since we just mentioned a bedtime book, just a couple of must-haves:<li><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Ducklings-Viking-Kestrel-Picture-Books/dp/0670451495" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">"Make Way for Ducklings"</a> by Robert McCloskey (it ends with the ducklings settling down for a peaceful night’s sleep after an adventure!)</li><li><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Big-Barn-Margaret-Wise-Brown/dp/0060207485" target="_blank">"Big Red Barn"</a> by Margaret Wise Brown</li><li><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Sleepyheads-Classic-Board-Sandra-Howatt/dp/1481461427" target="_blank">"Sleepyheads"</a> by Sandra J. Howatt</li>
A couple of Christian board books that are more age-appropriate:<li><a href="https://www.amazon.com/God-Cares-Me-Bible-Tells/dp/1433584026" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">"God Cares for Me"</a> by Kristen Wetherell</li><li><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Dont-Forget-Remember-Ellie-Holcomb/dp/1535973455" target="_blank">"Don’t Forget to Remember"</a> by Ellie Holcomb</li>
****Classic picture books****
Just a few favorites:<li><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Peach-board-Viking-Kestrel-Picture/dp/067088278X" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">"Each Peach Pear Plum"</a> by Janet and Allan Ahlberg</li><li><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Dear-Zoo-Lift-Flap-Anniversary/dp/1529074932" target="_blank">"Dear Zoo"</a> by Rod Campbell</li><li><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Rainbow-Fish-Marcus-Pfister/dp/1558580093" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">"The Rainbow Fish"</a> by Marcus Pfister</li><li><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Mike-Mulligan-Steam-Shovel-Anniversary/dp/0544279921" target="_blank">"Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel"</a> by Virginia Lee Burton</li><li><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Millions-Cats-Wanda-Gag/dp/1684228603" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">"Millions of Cats"</a> by Wanda Gág</li><li><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Snowy-Day-Ezra-Jack-Keats/dp/0670654000" target="_blank">"The Snowy Day"</a> by Ezra Jack Keats</li><li><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Chicka-Boom-Book/dp/067167949X" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">"Chicka Chicka Boom Boom"</a> by Bill Martin Jr. and John Archambault</li><li><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Caps-Sale-Peddler-Monkeys-Business/dp/020109147X" target="_blank">"Caps for Sale"</a> by Esphyr Slobodkina</li><li><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Curious-George-Anniversary-H-Rey/dp/0544763483" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">"Curious George"</a> by H.A. Rey</li><li><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Harry-Dirty-Dog/dp/0060268654" target="_blank">"Harry the Dirty Dog"</a> by Gene Zion</li><li><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Ox-Cart-Man-Donald-Hall/dp/0670533289" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">"Ox-Cart Man"</a> by Donald Hall and Barbara Cooney</li><li><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Mr-Gumpys-Outing-John-Burningham/dp/0805013156/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0" target="_blank">"Mr. Gumpy’s Outing"</a> by John Burningham</li><li><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Very-Hungry-Caterpillar-Eric-Carle/dp/0399208534" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">"The Very Hungry Caterpillar"</a> by Eric Carle</li><li><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Freight-Train-Donald-Crews/dp/068880165X" target="_blank">"Freight Train"</a> by Donald Crews</li><li><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Carrot-Seed-Rise-Shine/dp/0064432106" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">"The Carrot Seed"</a> by Ruth Krauss</li><li><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Lift-Tab-Brown-Anniversary-Friends/dp/1627797238" target="_blank">"Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?"</a> by Bill Martin Jr. and Eric Carle</li>
Many of these authors have more than one classic book, so browse their other titles as well. And, of course, there are thousands of other outstanding picture books. So many books, so little time!
****Guides to children’s books****
My number-one book recommendation for parents, right from the start, is to obtain a really good guide to children’s books. All of the volumes below are excellent, and I don’t think it’s going overboard to have all of them in your personal home library. And yeah,** these** can be on your Kindle, if you prefer!<li><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Honey-Childs-Heart-Updated-Expanded-ebook/dp/B08ZMCVHXV" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">"Honey for a Child’s Heart: The Imaginative Use of Books in Family Life"</a> by Gladys Hunt</li><li><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Books-Children-Love-Revised-Literature-ebook/dp/B00A0XAAP2" target="_blank">"Books Children Love"</a> by Elizabeth Wilson</li><li><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Read-Heart-Whole-WholeHearted-Families/dp/1932012974" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">"Read for the Heart: Whole Books for WholeHearted Families"</a> by Sarah Clarkson</li><li><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Books-That-Build-Character-Teaching/dp/0671884239" target="_blank">"Books that Build Character"</a> by William Kilpatrick</li>
****Congratulations!****
You have just completed Home Education 101 — the Preschool Edition. Everything you need to know to prepare and get started “homeschooling” your precious littles:<li>Take them outside</li><li>Talk to them</li><li>Love books with them</li>
You cannot beat this combination.
*A version of this essay previously appeared at She Speaks Truth.*
https://www.theblaze.com/media-library/education-without-schooling-part-2-preschool.jpg?id=67100136&width=980

2026-07-03 10:00:00 GMT

Every Fourth of July, I think about the country where I was born — a nation built on faith, courage, and the belief that every person is created in the image of God.
Independence Day is about fireworks, parades, and time with family. But it is also a reminder of the miracle of America and the values that have shaped this nation for 250 years.
From Jerusalem to every corner of the United States, may this Independence Day be a celebration of gratitude, unity, and hope.
As an American-Israeli, this holiday carries special meaning for me.
I grew up in the United States, where freedom is woven into daily life. Today, I raise my children in Israel, a country whose very existence is a miracle of biblical proportions. Each year on July 4, I am reminded how blessed I am to belong to two nations rooted in faith, resilience, and hope.
America and Israel are different in many ways, but their foundations are strikingly similar.
Both nations were built by people who believed in something greater than themselves. They trusted God, longed for freedom, and sacrificed for a better future.
America’s founders risked everything to establish a nation where liberty could flourish. Israel’s founders rebuilt a homeland after 2,000 years of exile, guided by ancient promises and unshakable faith.
Both nations understand that freedom is never guaranteed. It must be protected, nurtured, and passed to the next generation.
And both nations know that a country’s greatest strength lies not in its power, but in its values.
On Independence Day, I often think about the men and women who have served in the U.S. military — those who fought in World War II to defeat evil, those who stood against tyranny in the decades that followed, and those who continue to defend freedom around the world.
As a Jewish woman, I will never forget that American soldiers helped liberate the concentration camps. They brought hope to a world drowning in darkness. They saved lives — not only the lives of Jews in Europe, but the lives of my own family members.
Both my grandfather and my father-in-law survived the Holocaust, thanks in no small part to the sacrifice of American service members. Their courage is part of the reason the Jewish people are alive today.
As an Israeli, I see that same spirit of courage in the young men and women who serve in the Israel Defense Forces.
America and Israel both understand the cost of freedom. Both nations honor those who protect it. And both nations know that not every hero comes home.
Living as both an American and an Israeli has taught me that miracles are not only ancient. They are happening right now.
**RELATED: [America turns 250 with a broken heart](https://www.theblaze.com/columns/opinion/america-turns-250-with-a-broken-heart )**
Erik McGregor/LightRocket/Getty Images
America is a miracle: a nation founded on biblical values, where people of every background can pursue their God-given purpose.
Israel is a miracle: a nation reborn from ashes, thriving against all odds, and standing as a beacon of hope in a troubled region.
To belong to both is a privilege I thank God for every day.
As America approaches its 250th anniversary, this Independence Day feels especially meaningful. It is a moment to reflect on the values that built this nation — faith, freedom, courage, unity — and to rededicate ourselves to living them.
These are the same values that sustain Israel. The same values that bind Christians and Jews together. The same values that light the way forward in uncertain times.
This Fourth of July, my prayer is simple:
*May God bless America with peace and protection. May He strengthen the families who build this nation every day. May He guide its leaders with wisdom and humility. And may He remind all of us that freedom is both a gift and a responsibility.*
From Jerusalem to every corner of the United States, may this Independence Day be a celebration of gratitude, unity, and hope.
Happy Fourth, America.
https://www.theblaze.com/media-library/from-jerusalem-a-prayer-for-america.jpg?id=67087921&width=980

2026-06-30 20:00:00 GMT

Three females have been charged with murdering a mother of five on a south Texas street in broad daylight — and at least one suspect appeared to smile on video after her arrest.
Officers with the Del Rio Police Department just after 2 p.m. Thursday responded to Val Verde Regional Medical Center after receiving a report of a female suffering from multiple stab wounds, police [said](https://www.facebook.com/DelRioPoliceDepartment/posts/pfbid027WnQncmVSKKksAxVNk9PDWBwRVUYXBUnPof21QQAJKKJmB9n9gun9T8r46hfX1G2l ).
'The severity of this crime is indeed a stark reminder of the consequences of violent actions. We need God in our lives.'
Upon arrival, officers determined the assault had occurred in the 800 block of East 10th Street, police said.
Due to the severity of her injuries, the victim was taken to a medical facility in San Antonio for emergency treatment, police said.
During the investigation, detectives identified the victim as a 32-year-old female and developed three suspects: Kitty Mia Diaz, 21; Amaya Cookie Diaz, 19; and Kyandra Renee Faz, 21.
Investigators gathered surveillance video, processed evidence, and conducted numerous witness interviews, police said, adding that officers located and arrested Kitty Mia Diaz and Amaya Cookie Diaz without incident around 4 p.m. Soon after officers located and arrested Kyandra Renee Faz, police said. All three suspects were taken to the Del Rio Police Department for booking and processing, police said.
[USA Today reported](https://www.yahoo.com/news/us/articles/3-women-charged-del-rio-141726834.html?.tsrc=daily_mail&segment_id=DY_VTO_50_Supernova&ncid=crm_19908-1475736-20260630-0--A&bt_ee=2XOvkl8KZcelAuX%2FWUO37e2mis1Al1c43qcmLHMyZDN1MAmP50yuVsY6X3g3OE26&bt_ts=1782839197231 ) that video capturing the arrests of Kitty Mia Diaz and Amaya Cookie Diaz show both females grinning as they're placed into police vehicles. The below news video — at the 2:38 mark — shows at least one handcuffed female appearing to smile following her arrest:
**RELATED: **[**Convicted killer giggles in court as judge describes murder. Judge asks why he's laughing — and isn't amused by his answer.**](https://www.theblaze.com/news/convicted-killer-giggles-in-court-as-judge-describes-murder-judge-asks-why-he-s-laughing-and-isn-t-amused-by-his-answer )
Around 9 p.m. investigators were told that the victim — identified as Caroline Peña, [KENS-TV reported](https://www.kens5.com/article/news/crime/true-crime/texas-crime-mom-kids-del-rio-fatal-stabbing-3-women-arrested/273-4be1da8e-7049-48ca-81fb-786d2b4f5023 ) — was pronounced dead, police said.
Following the victim’s death, all three suspects were charged with murder and were taken to the GEO Correctional Facility, police said.
Authorities said the investigation remains active and ongoing and that additional charges may be filed as investigators continue to gather evidence and determine the full circumstances surrounding this incident.
A number of those commenting underneath the police department's Facebook post about the killing were taken aback by it:<li>"The severity of this crime is indeed a stark reminder of the consequences of violent actions," one commenter <a href="https://www.facebook.com/DelRioPoliceDepartment/posts/pfbid027AUQCLE1oEcp6SXpPRQtffCCqxx6e3bhjJZq1WnrkkPSYjFGBr9fbteNNEDrAFzzl?comment_id=1718574742484748" target="_blank">wrote</a>. "We need God in our lives."</li><li>"It's heartbreaking to see women (or any person) involved in such a violent incident," another user <a href="https://www.facebook.com/DelRioPoliceDepartment/posts/pfbid027AUQCLE1oEcp6SXpPRQtffCCqxx6e3bhjJZq1WnrkkPSYjFGBr9fbteNNEDrAFzzl?comment_id=1569965347832156" target="_blank">said</a> before adding, "Stay strong Del Rio, my thoughts are with the victim's family and the community during this difficult time."</li><li>"None of this had to happen," another commenter <a href="https://www.facebook.com/DelRioPoliceDepartment/posts/pfbid027AUQCLE1oEcp6SXpPRQtffCCqxx6e3bhjJZq1WnrkkPSYjFGBr9fbteNNEDrAFzzl?comment_id=3003240516548972" target="_blank">stated</a>. "The saddest part is that all of them had children and families who now have to live with the aftermath. Choices don’t just affect yourself; they affect everyone connected to you."</li><li>"Prayers for the victim's family," another user <a href="https://www.facebook.com/DelRioPoliceDepartment/posts/pfbid027AUQCLE1oEcp6SXpPRQtffCCqxx6e3bhjJZq1WnrkkPSYjFGBr9fbteNNEDrAFzzl?comment_id=1239076838209477" target="_blank">wrote</a>.</li>
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2026-06-27 20:00:00 GMT

When President Trump emerged from a recent meeting with automotive executives and [said he found it strange](https://www.reuters.com/legal/legalindustry/trump-meets-with-auto-industry-over-right-to-repair-debate-2026-06-04/ ) that some industry leaders oppose Americans repairing their own vehicles, most coverage focused on the politics.
I was more interested in what happened afterward.
If manufacturers truly support independent repairs, why remove provisions governing the very data modern repairs increasingly depend upon?
Because the deeper you dig into the latest right-to-repair fight, the more one question keeps surfacing: Why are automakers fighting so hard to control information generated by vehicles consumers already own?##
Follow the moneyFollow the money, and the picture becomes much clearer.
The U.S. automotive service market generates roughly $200 billion annually. Service departments are among the industry's most reliable profit centers. As vehicles become more software-driven and connected, automakers have discovered that selling the car no longer has to end the customer relationship. Software subscriptions, connected services, maintenance plans, warranty work, and dealership repairs all create recurring revenue long after the vehicle leaves the showroom.
There's nothing wrong with companies pursuing new revenue streams. The problem begins when protecting those revenue streams limits consumer choice.
That's why the latest legislative fight deserves attention.##
Stripped for partsThe debate centers on [H.R. 7389, the Motor Vehicle Modernization Act of 2026.](https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/7389 ) Supporters describe it as a way to modernize regulations while preserving independent repair access. On the surface, that sounds like good news for consumers.
Then something interesting happened. One of the most important parts of the broader right-to-repair debate disappeared.
Language covering telematics — the wireless vehicle data increasingly needed for diagnostics, calibrations, software updates, and repairs — [was stripped from the bill](https://www.aftermarketmatters.com/national-news/right-to-repair-youre-about-to-get-the-data-what-are-you-going-to-do-with-it/ ) before it advanced through committee. For many independent repair advocates, that wasn't a technical detail. It was the entire fight.
That raises an obvious question. If manufacturers truly support independent repairs, why remove provisions governing the very data modern repairs increasingly depend upon?
The answer may have less to do with repairs than with control. For decades, owning a vehicle meant deciding who repaired it. Consumers chose their mechanic. Independent shops competed with dealerships. Competition kept prices down and choices open.
Modern vehicles work differently.##
Data-drivenToday's cars constantly generate data. They monitor component performance, transmit diagnostics, receive software updates, and communicate through manufacturer-controlled networks.
Control the data, and you gain influence over the repair process. That's why automakers, dealers, independent repair shops, aftermarket suppliers, consumer advocates, and lawmakers are all fighting over the same issue.
Manufacturers argue that unrestricted access creates cybersecurity risks. Those concerns shouldn't be dismissed. Modern vehicles are vastly more complex than the cars many of us grew up driving.
But independent repair shops aren't asking for access to nuclear launch codes. They're asking for the information needed to diagnose, repair, calibrate, and maintain vehicles consumers legally purchased. This is key in an era when more and more repairs require access to software rather than simply a wrench.
Viewed alongside other industry trends, the picture becomes even clearer. Vehicle telematics continue expanding. Subscription-based features are becoming common. Driving data has become valuable to insurers and analytics companies. Manufacturers can now change vehicle functionality through over-the-air software updates.
Each development can be defended on its own. Taken together, they suggest an industry steadily increasing its influence over vehicles long after they are sold.
**RELATED: **[**Cheap Chinese cars: Trojan horse built to undermine US security?**](https://www.theblaze.com/lifestyle/cheap-chinese-cars-trojan-horse-built-to-undermine-us-security )
Jade Gao/Bettmann/Getty Images##
Taking ownershipThat's why the right-to-repair debate increasingly looks less like a repair issue and more like an ownership issue.
[Farmers confronted the same problem](https://www.fb.org/issue/right-to-repair ) years ago as manufacturers restricted repairs on modern agricultural equipment. Purchasing expensive machinery no longer guaranteed the ability to fix it without manufacturer involvement.
The auto industry now appears headed toward a similar crossroads.
Technology has unquestionably made vehicles better. They're safer, more efficient, and more capable than ever before. But technology also changes incentives. Every connected system creates opportunities for convenience, recurring revenue, data collection, and greater manufacturer control.
What makes H.R. 7389 so important isn't what remains in the bill — it's what was removed. The fight over telematics reveals where this debate is headed next.
The future isn't really about brake pads or oil changes. It's about who controls vehicle data, who profits from it, and ultimately who decides what owners are allowed to do with products they have already purchased.##
The fix is inFor more than a century, vehicle ownership had a simple meaning. You bought the car. You decided who repaired it, how long you kept it, and what modifications you made.
Today, that definition is becoming less clear. The question isn't whether modern vehicles should be secure. Of course they should. The question isn't whether repairs have become more complicated. They have.
The real question is whether ownership still means what consumers think it means. Because if automakers are willing to fight this hard over repair data today, consumers should pay close attention to what comes next.
The right-to-repair battle may ultimately be remembered as the moment Americans discovered that ownership in the connected-car era no longer carries the assumptions previous generations took for granted.
https://www.theblaze.com/media-library/why-are-automakers-so-afraid-of-you-fixing-your-own-car.jpg?id=67046587&width=980

2026-06-27 13:30:00 GMT

My husband has bipolar disorder. I know firsthand that the medications he takes do not merely improve his quality of life — they make our family life possible.
I am thankful for the drug companies whose products and innovations help keep my family together. But that does not mean I trust Big Pharma.
The pharmaceutical industry’s incentives are often at odds with the people it treats.
The pharmaceutical industry has helped create a culture in which Americans are taking more prescription drugs than at any point in history. Last year, [more than two-thirds of Americans](https://www.singlecare.com/blog/news/prescription-drug-statistics/ ) reported taking a prescription drug daily, and 26% said they take four or more.
No wonder the average price of prescription medications in the United States has risen by [about 37%](https://www.cnbc.com/2024/06/27/goodrx-tracker-drug-prices-rise.html ) in the last decade. Many of the most popular brand-name medications [have doubled in price](https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2734804 ) over the past 15 years.
[One study](https://www.aspe.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/documents/e9d5bb190056eb94483b774b53d512b4/price-tracking-brief.pdf ) found that prescription drug prices in the United States are nearly three times higher than prices for the same medications in 32 comparable countries. Family health insurance premiums for employer-sponsored plans [jumped 26%](https://www.kff.org/health-costs/annual-family-premiums-for-employer-coverage-rise-6-in-2025-nearing-27000-with-workers-paying-6850-toward-premiums-out-of-their-paychecks/ ) from 2020 to 2025, outpacing wage growth and inflation.
[A quarter of Americans](https://www.kff.org/health-costs/public-opinion-on-prescription-drugs-and-their-prices/#2be2fde1-6592-4b7f-af74-df66a41acf3b ) recently reported having difficulty paying for their medications. About 19% said they had skipped or rationed doses because of the cost. [Research indicates](https://www.retireguide.com/retirement-planning/risks/medical-bankruptcy-statistics/ ) that medical expenses are now the leading cause of personal bankruptcy in this country, surpassing job loss.
I understand that high prices help fund the astronomical cost of clinical trials that test and bring new drugs to market. But Americans have also seen pharmaceutical companies acquire the rights to off-patent drugs and [raise prices overnight](https://www.aging.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/SCA_CMC_12_9_151.pdf ). They have watched [insulin prices](https://www.visualcapitalist.com/cp/rising-cost-of-insulin-us/ ) climb for years even though insulin is relatively cheap to produce.
Let’s face it: The pharmaceutical industry’s incentives are often at odds with the people it treats.
The same industry that helps my husband is increasingly keeping medications out of reach for many families.
Drug prices would not be so high if Big Pharma did not spend [between $13 billion and $14 billion](https://www.ahip.org/news/articles/new-reports-spotlight-drugmakers-dtc-ad-spending-spree ) a year on direct-to-consumer advertising. They would not be so high if the pharmaceutical and health sectors did not consistently spend more on [federal lobbying](https://www.opensecrets.org/federal-lobbying/industries?cycle=a ) than any other industry.
Those efforts shape the laws and policies that allow current drug prices. The industry clearly views them as worthwhile investments.
Americans spent [12.7% more](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/42059345/ ) on pharmaceutical drugs last year than they did in 2024. A significant share of that increase came from popular GLP-1 weight-loss drugs such as Ozempic and Wegovy. Roughly [12% of American adults](https://www.kff.org/public-opinion/kff-health-tracking-poll-prescription-drug-costs-views-on-trump-administration-actions-and-glp-1-use/ ) are currently taking one of these drugs, and that number is expected to rise significantly in the coming years.
I am not saying people should not take these medications. That is not for me to say. But I am deeply concerned that, culturally, we increasingly treat medication as the first line of defense for nearly every challenge before seriously exploring other options.
**RELATED: [Want to live to 100? Don’t expect Big Pharma to help.](https://www.theblaze.com/columns/opinion/want-to-live-to-100-dont-expect-big-pharma-to-help )**
lucigerma/iStock/Getty Images
That concern comes from firsthand experience.
As someone who has battled addiction, I am acutely aware of the power substances can hold over a person’s life. That experience has left me worried about others who may develop dependencies on drugs.
I remember how the opioid crisis destroyed entire communities and caused a staggering number of deaths after companies such as [Purdue Pharma](https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0955395924002883 ) aggressively pushed OxyContin while downplaying its risks. That epidemic continues today with synthetic opioids such as fentanyl.
Is it any wonder some of us remain skeptical of pharmaceutical companies’ motives?
As a parent, I do everything in my power to ensure that my children do not become unnecessarily dependent on medications. I want them to understand that any drug they take should be used carefully and for its intended purpose.
I acknowledge the value of medicine. I deeply respect what the health care industry can do. My own family depends on it.
But respect should not require blindness.
The pharmaceutical industry should remember the families paying the bills, rationing the doses, and wondering whether the medications they need will remain within reach.
Innovation deserves reward. Exploitation does not.
https://www.theblaze.com/media-library/big-pharmas-miracle-drugs-have-a-nasty-side-effect.jpg?id=67045953&width=980

2026-06-26 15:00:00 GMT

I have been adamant throughout our months of Iran coverage that President Trump needs to turn his attention back home and start using his domestic political leverage to address our problems here.
So watching him [threaten not to sign the housing bill](https://www.theblaze.com/news/national-emergency-trump-cancels-bill-signing-until-save-america-act-passes ) Congress just passed unless lawmakers also pass the [SAVE America Act](https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/7296 ) is music to my ears.
We live in an era of survival. The enemy is an unrelenting demonic construct, and my conscience tells me without ambiguity that it must be defeated before we are.
Demanding election integrity is exactly the sort of fight Trump should pick. The housing bill is already divisive within the MAGA base, so the president risks little political capital by holding it up. If anything, he is postponing an internal coalition fight he will eventually need to have while using his leverage to improve his overall bargaining position.
This maneuver should not be necessary. Trump’s own party controls Congress for the time being. But we have to live in the world as it is. And in the world as it is, John Thune (R-S.D.) still sucks.
If Trump vetoes a housing bill that does not include the SAVE Act, I would wager the odds are roughly 50-50 that Congress overrides him. In a strange way, that might not be the worst outcome. An override could provoke Trump to get Hulk-mad on the domestic front, which is exactly where we need his attention from now through the midterms and beyond.
I do not see a real loss here for the president unless he caves.
He cannot pick this fight now and fail to follow through. This is a game of chicken. As “The Hunt for Red October” taught us, the hard part about playing chicken is knowing when to flinch.
It is also almost America’s 250th birthday. Asking Congress to protect one of the people’s birthrights — free and fair elections — seems modest enough. It is one of the main reasons we are celebrating at all.
Good thing, then, that “[The Art of the Deal](https://www.amazon.com/Trump-Art-Deal-Donald-J/dp/0399594493 )” has always been Trump’s favorite hill to die on. He is a subject-matter expert in leverage-based negotiation. This is his game.
Get busy living or get busy dying.
The meter is running not only on Trump’s presidency but on the fate of the entire nation. New York, for example, continues to be handed over to Islamic socialists.**
**Three Democratic congressional district [primaries](https://www.theblaze.com/news/the-peoples-republic-of-ny-13-election-results-breakdown ) just went exactly the way socialist Mayor Zohran Mamdani (D) wanted them to go as he turns the Big Apple into his own private Strait of Hormuz. Meanwhile, too many of the Republicans we regularly vote for have no interest in reading the signs of the times, assuming they are capable of reading them at all.
That is why voters turned to Trump in the first place. It is also why he is almost all they have to rely on right now.
What kind of political party needs to be leveraged into passing legislation that would make it easier for that party to win elections — and that an overwhelming majority of the people want passed?
**RELATED: [America turns 250 with a broken heart](https://www.theblaze.com/columns/opinion/america-turns-250-with-a-broken-heart )**
Matthew Hatcher/AFP/Getty Images
How politically brain-dead does that sound when you say it out loud?
But that is the GOP for you.
Decades of such institutional stupidity have made our politics more existentially binary than ever. We are out of options other than making the best use of what we have. It is Team GOP or bust.
I desperately dislike being in that position. In fact, I have spent much of my career trying to avoid such a fate. But again, we have to live in the world as it is.
You may have deep theological or philosophical disagreements with members of your government that, in another era, would not be reconcilable. But that is not the era we inhabit.
We live in an era of survival. The enemy is an unrelenting demonic construct, and my conscience tells me without ambiguity that it must be defeated before we are.
Two worldviews enter. One must leave. That is the only playbook before the GOP, whether the party understands it or not. Our team is on the field.
One way or another, I plan to win.
https://www.theblaze.com/media-library/trump-should-force-congress-to-pass-the-save-america-act-now.jpg?id=67036499&width=980

2026-06-26 12:00:00 GMT

Lawmakers never tire of devising new ways to undermine digital privacy and First Amendment rights, always under the guise of “protecting kids.”
The KIDS Act — the [Kids Internet and Digital Safety Act](https://d1dth6e84htgma.cloudfront.net/H7757_SUS_xml_4b1ac8f00f.pdf ) — is the latest piece of smug political branding and virtue-signaling to dress up heavy-handed federal overreach in the gentle language of child welfare. Lawmakers considering this legislation should ask a simple question: Could its broad and vague provisions someday be wielded by their political opponents to muzzle speech they favor?
Children deserve real and meaningful protection in the digital age. But true safety comes from empowering parents and holding actual bad actors accountable under existing laws.
Congress should reject the KIDS Act and defend the constitutional rights of all Americans.
House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Brett Guthrie (R-Ky.) and Ranking Member Frank Pallone Jr. (D-N.J.) [claim](https://energycommerce.house.gov/posts/chairman-guthrie-and-ranking-member-pallone-announce-agreement-on-bipartisan-kids-safety-package ) this latest “safety package” is about “empowering parents, establishing safety as a default, strengthening privacy for children and teens, increasing transparency around data brokers, and holding Big Tech accountable.”
Washington has heard this pitch before. Wide-ranging digital legislation is routinely sold as a privacy measure even when it undermines privacy.
As Taxpayers Protection Alliance research director David McGarry [wrote in December](https://www.realclearmarkets.com/articles/2025/12/02/congresss_next_attempt_at_kids_online_safety_faces_same_problems_1150557.html ), “Consensus [around digital safety legislation] remains elusive, and for good reason. The regulation of the internet is shot through with difficulties.”
The Kids Online Safety Act proves the point. McGarry observed, “Seeing the imprudence and constitutional vulnerabilities of the bill, its supporters have continuously trimmed and reshaped the legislation, each time declaring that this time — finally — the bill had been rid of its deficiencies. Each time, however, the amendments proved wanting, and further efforts to amend KOSA were undertaken.”
That analysis applies just as well to the current version of KOSA included in the KIDS Act.
Supporters claim the latest version removes the “duty of care” requirement that would have forced platforms to withhold poorly defined categories of online content from underage users. But the bill [still targets](https://d1dth6e84htgma.cloudfront.net/H7757_SUS_xml_4b1ac8f00f.pdf ) broad categories of constitutionally protected speech.
Digital platforms are instructed to “establish, implement, maintain, and enforce reasonable policies, practices, and procedures” addressing supposed harms to minors, including the “use of ... alcohol”; “threats of physical violence so severe, pervasive, or objectively offensive that such threats impact a major life activity of a minor”; and “financial harm caused by deceptive practices.”
**RELATED: [Digital tyrants want your face, your ID … and your freedom](https://www.theblaze.com/columns/opinion/digital-tyrants-want-your-face-your-id-and-your-freedom )**
imaginima/iStock/Getty Images
Those terms are vague and dangerously elastic. What counts as the “use” of alcohol? Could a platform face scrutiny for allowing video clips featuring champagne toasts? Could a joke between friends be treated as a threat of physical violence? Because “deceptive” remains undefined, virtually any online transaction or promoted product could become a federal enforcement hook.
This minefield of liability makes a mockery of the First Amendment and chills expression across the digital domain.
The bill’s most insidious provision involves age verification.
On paper, the KIDS Act says it does not mandate age verification. That language sounds reassuring, but it functions as a legislative bait and switch. The bill imposes a legal standard holding tech platforms liable for content if they “know or should have known” a user’s age.
Consider the real-world meaning of “should have known.” If a company faces massive legal penalties or federal lawsuits for failing to determine a user’s age, it will feel compelled to verify the identity of *everyone* who logs on — children and adults alike.
That creates a *de facto* mandate requiring adults to upload driver’s licenses, biometric data, or government IDs just to read a news article, browse a forum, or use a search engine. Web users would be asked to hand over their most sensitive personal information to corporate databases that have repeatedly proved vulnerable to data breaches and foreign hackers.
Age verification on this scale is not a “best practice,” as the bill’s language suggests. It is constitutional malpractice.
The KIDS Act also responds to alleged online harms by expanding federal bureaucracy and spending more taxpayer dollars. It establishes a asinine array of busywork for busybodies: Federal Trade Commission and Health and Human Services studies, a four-year National Institutes of Health longitudinal study, public awareness campaigns, and a new “Kids Internet Safety Partnership” inside the Department of Commerce.
**RELATED: [Age verification laws do not make us safer](https://www.theblaze.com/columns/opinion/age-verification-laws-do-not-make-us-safer )**
Waldemarus/iStock/Getty Images
This amounts to a major expansion of taxpayer-funded bureaucracy tasked with creating a “playbook” for more age verification.
Supporters will note that lawmakers stripped the highly controversial “duty of care” provision from previous versions of KOSA and retained explicit protections for data encryption. But removing the worst elements of an inherently broken bill does not transform it into good policy.
Children deserve real and meaningful protection in the digital age. But true safety comes from empowering parents with robust tools, advancing media literacy, and holding actual bad actors accountable under existing criminal laws.
It does not come from turning the internet into a surveillance state where adults must show their papers to browse the web.
Congress must reject the KIDS Act and protect both the Constitution and the digital domain.
https://www.theblaze.com/media-library/the-kids-act-would-turn-web-browsing-into-a-tsa-line.jpg?id=67035259&width=980

2026-06-21 19:00:00 GMT

To some in our modern society, the holiday celebrated on the third Sunday in June may seem archaic. Father’s Day may even invite calls to downplay or mock the role fathers play in our culture.
But the holiday provides important lessons in honor, respect, sacrifice, and long-term responsibility — lessons our 21st-century world badly needs to recover.
Father’s Day gives us an opportunity not only to recognize the imperfections of our earthly fathers, but also to honor and bless them in whatever small ways we can.
Consider the parable of the prodigal son, as Jesus recounts it in Luke’s Gospel. The younger son asks his father for his share of the inheritance, effectively seeking to end his relationship with the man who gave him life. Upon receiving his portion, he journeys to a foreign land and promptly squanders it in debauchery.
Our world provides far more opportunities for temptation than existed in the time of Christ, and many of them now sit in the palms of our hands. Social media, online gambling, pornography, and endless distraction are instantly available with a few clicks. Little wonder Western society seems more individualized and more alienated than ever.
Fathers, when they embrace their proper role, can stand against those prevailing currents. With God’s help, fathers can model upright living for their children and give them an example to follow.
As the head of a business founded by my parents half a century ago, I cannot thank my father enough for the lessons he gave my brothers and me. The Christmas I turned 13, he gave me a pocket-sized Bible. His note inside included these words: “The solutions to any problem are in this great book. Try to read a chapter each day of your life, and you will be happy.”
My father did not merely surrender his own life to Christ’s will. In his own way, he taught me to do the same — to pursue a personal relationship with God and try to align my life with God's word. The way my father loved my mother and lived his faith helped shape me into the man, husband, father, and business leader I am today.
A culture that devalues fathers threatens to leave future generations without the broader perspective and discipline they need to flourish — inside the family home and in daily life with neighbors, friends, and co-workers.
In his letter to the early church in Ephesus, the apostle Paul reminds children to “honor your father and mother so that you may live long in the land.” By their nature, honor, respect, and obedience require sacrifice, traits our popular culture rarely celebrates.
**RELATED: [Want to leave a legacy for your kids? Focus on living like this.](https://www.theblaze.com/lifestyle/dads-want-to-leave-a-legacy-for-your-kids-focus-on-living-like-this )**
martin-dm/iStock/Getty Images
But I would not have done as well in my roles as a husband, father, and business leader without the discipline and values my father helped instill in me. Those life lessons extended far beyond the four walls of our family’s home and business.
Father’s Day gives us an opportunity not only to recognize the imperfections of our earthly fathers, but also to honor and bless them in whatever small ways we can. And for those of us who are fathers and grandfathers, it offers a chance to pass on the values our fathers — earthly and heavenly — have given us.
That may be the greatest inheritance we leave our children.
https://www.theblaze.com/media-library/what-we-lose-when-we-mock-fatherhood.jpg?id=66969186&width=980

2026-06-16 22:25:00 GMT

An 18-year-old male allegedly gunned down a 40-year-old mother as she protected her son amid a Facebook Marketplace watch transaction last week in Indiana.
John Harrison Ford is now charged with murder, felony murder, attempted murder, and attempted armed robbery after Jean Gragg died from her injuries Saturday, [WNDU-TV reported](https://www.wndu.com/2026/06/15/18-year-olds-charges-upgraded-murder-after-woman-dies-south-bend-shooting/ ), citing amended charging documents. Ford also faces a felony firearm enhancement, the station said.
'2 words....DEATH PENALTY!'
The shooting occurred Wednesday, June 10, in the 2600 block of MacArthur Avenue on South Bend’s east side, WNDU reported.
Police said Gragg's son was trying to sell a watch to Ford as part of a transaction he arranged through Facebook Marketplace, the station said.
Gragg's son told police that Ford pulled a gun while looking at the watch, said he needed it, and tried snatching it from the son, WNDU reported.
But police said Gragg got in between Ford and her son and chased Ford away from the property, the station said.
Surveillance video shows Ford shooting toward Gragg multiple times after she turned around and ran back toward the home, WNDU reported, citing investigators. Police said Gragg was shot in the head, the station said.
Ford during an interview with detectives reportedly admitted that he shot Gragg, WNDU reported.
He remained Tuesday in St. Joseph County Jail, records indicate. No bail is listed.
**RELATED: **[**Final words revealed from Marine who survived war — but was gunned down at home in Facebook Marketplace trap**](https://www.theblaze.com/news/marine-shot-killed-teens-facebook )
More than 150 comments hit the sheriff's office Facebook post about the upgraded charges. The following are but a few of them:<li>"Life in prison," one commenter <a href="https://www.facebook.com/SouthBendPD/posts/pfbid0pokswXL1wTwaJMrVUxt1rT9Jpkj3tzEBkqMAcF4idGRJ3i1dhnPgJPgcVFoJYRMQl?comment_id=1534254264923043" target="_blank">wrote</a>.</li><li>"If you're gonna sell stuff on Marketplace, go to the South Bend police station, 701 W. Sample onto East End," another user <a href="https://www.facebook.com/SouthBendPD/posts/pfbid0pokswXL1wTwaJMrVUxt1rT9Jpkj3tzEBkqMAcF4idGRJ3i1dhnPgJPgcVFoJYRMQl?comment_id=3269264799912434" target="_blank">said</a>. "They have a designated area with cameras. It's a safe zone. I use it all the time."</li><li>"Condolences to her family," another commenter <a href="https://www.facebook.com/SouthBendPD/posts/pfbid0pokswXL1wTwaJMrVUxt1rT9Jpkj3tzEBkqMAcF4idGRJ3i1dhnPgJPgcVFoJYRMQl?comment_id=995488563343852" target="_blank">reacted</a>.</li><li>"2 words....DEATH PENALTY!" another user <a href="https://www.facebook.com/SouthBendPD/posts/pfbid0pokswXL1wTwaJMrVUxt1rT9Jpkj3tzEBkqMAcF4idGRJ3i1dhnPgJPgcVFoJYRMQl?comment_id=1564750858636309" target="_blank">suggested</a>.</li><li>"Public hanging," another commenter <a href="https://www.facebook.com/SouthBendPD/posts/pfbid0pokswXL1wTwaJMrVUxt1rT9Jpkj3tzEBkqMAcF4idGRJ3i1dhnPgJPgcVFoJYRMQl?comment_id=1783417736154817" target="_blank">offered</a>.</li><li>"Does he look sorry?" another user <a href="https://www.facebook.com/SouthBendPD/posts/pfbid0pokswXL1wTwaJMrVUxt1rT9Jpkj3tzEBkqMAcF4idGRJ3i1dhnPgJPgcVFoJYRMQl?comment_id=1666134701267717" target="_blank">wondered</a>.</li>
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https://www.theblaze.com/media-library/18-year-old-thug-allegedly-guns-down-40-year-old-mom-as-she-protects-her-son-amid-facebook-marketplace-purchase-gone-wrong.png?id=66946857&width=980

2026-06-16 16:00:00 GMT

*One day, not long ago — no one can recall exactly when — AI dropped from the sky, a deus ex machina springing fully formed from the head of, well, maybe its own head.*
Or so it seems.
The context around the technology matters even more than the content.
In reality, AI’s origin story runs much deeper. So does the backlash against it. Both look stranger than they are because our shared memory of the recent past keeps shrinking.
AI has been a long time coming. In the mid-20th century, when human imagination still outran human and machine memory, artists produced vivid narratives about supercomputers and superintelligence. Scientists and engineers did the same, especially after World War II. Go back and [read](https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/1945/07/as-we-may-think/303881/ ) atomic-age Vannevar Bush, who mentored the namesake of Anthropic’s Claude, and the surprise is not that AI arrived. The surprise is that it took so long.
So why has AI produced such powerful future shock?
Not long ago, Americans rushed to embrace new technology. Yes, we were naïve about social media. We underestimated how people and governments would peep into our personal cyberspace. But when social media exposed our own questionable collective character, the reaction was not fury. Troubled? Yes. Shocked? No.
Even now, despite evidence that smartphones have entrenched bad habits and unhealthy temptations, we broadly regard the phone-and-app ecosystem as manageable. The trade-offs seem worth the bother if we clean up our act and make responsible choices.
AI is different. For millions participating in the backlash, AI differs from smartphones and social media not merely in power and scope, but in perceived injustice. Smartphones may rot our brains slowly. According to the backlash, even moderate AI use will swiftly destroy society.##
The history we long to forgetLeft-wing critics describe this destruction in terms of justice and the human nature Marx called our “species being.” Right-wing critics reach for the language of spiritual illness and stolen souls. The claim remains roughly the same: AI uniquely threatens our humanity, so the conversation about how to respond need not account for anything else.
Introduce any complicating factor outside AI and its creators, and critics may accuse you of distraction, dissembling, excuse-making, or apologizing for a permanent underclass — perhaps even human extinction.
I understand why so many people are so freaked out and so unwilling to pull focus away from AI. But the biggest reason lies outside AI and the AI debate.
Look at the arc Americans traveled with smartphones and social media. These transformative technologies became ubiquitous around the time of the 2008 financial crisis. Thanks to “innovative” monetary policy and frantic institutional improvisation, the world avoided penury, and technological development kept moving along its established trajectory.
Many Americans surely spent more time online as economic slack and stagnation spread after the crisis. Yet that shock was nothing like the blow that came during the COVID lockdowns.
Over those two decades, America’s fundamentals became dangerously unsound. Governance embraced can-kicking, corruption, patronage, fraud, and self-dealing legerdemain that cooked the country as much as it cooked the books. But the populist backlash — as veterans of Occupy Wall Street, the Ron Paul “rEVOLution,” or the Bernie Bro movement will remember — remained contained and controlled.
**RELATED: [There's a surprising fix for our AI oversight anarchy](https://www.theblaze.com/columns/opinion/aint-no-scam-bitcoin-fixes-the-looming-ai-oversight-fiasco )**
sonmez karakurt/iStock/Getty Images
At least until Trump came along.
Even during Trump’s first term, few Americans felt like sitting ducks in the shadow of cataclysm. Times were tough, the middle class felt squeezed, and the dollar didn’t go as far. But those pressures had become baseline dynamics — the same problem set Ross Perot once explained with his chicken-foot pointer in populist third-party infomercials.
The lockdown era obliterated that holding pattern. It also wiped out many people’s ability to process the new normal. The socioeconomic malaise accelerated into territory so unsustainable that people simply stopped trying to understand it.
They blocked it out like an event too awful to remain in our memory.
Runaway inflation. Church closures. Rising living costs. Soaring entry costs for upward mobility. Devalued savings. Exhausted savings. The mathematical impossibility of building a middle-class life across family, education, and wealth formation within the given number of workweeks in a year.
That was the comprehensive catastrophe.
And it unfolded *before* robust AI asserted itself on the social scene.##
Rebirth and returnThat means we cannot understand the AI backlash unless we recognize that the context around the technology matters even more than the content.
For many millions across the political spectrum, the American dream was already destroyed before they could form real judgments about AI. In a national atmosphere of spiritual sickness, financial insolvency, economic weakness, and social disintegration, AI appeared as the final blow — especially as AI leaders themselves forecast the end of paychecks, jobs, careers, and perhaps humanity itself.
Deep down, many Americans feel that the habits, institutions, and confidence that might have allowed them to participate fruitfully in the AI era were stripped away years ago. AI seems big, alien, and wrong. Worse, it seems forced on them at a moment of unprecedented weakness, after any hope of recovery has already vanished.
Because they now feel they can fight the “clankers” and their makers in a way they cannot fight their own downward mobility and immiseration, AI has become the perfect scapegoat.
And that is the danger.
Killing AI will not regrow our spiritual and social roots. In fact, our structural situation has deteriorated so badly that leaning harder on the machines than we otherwise would may now be necessary.
We need a financial reboot. We need to dismantle the governance system that sucked us dry. We need to shift from overextended sole superpower to sustainable civilization-state fast enough to avoid the geopolitical spike pit between those two conditions.
Without those urgent needs, we would have more time and room to maneuver on AI. But we do need those things, and we do not have much choice or time — at least not if we want to hold the country together long enough to give Americans back the freedom to regrow their spiritual and social shoots.
The real way. The slow way. The human way.
Treating AI as the ultimate scapegoat for all our ills will distort and delay that process. Treating AI as the ultimate savior will derail and damage us in the opposite direction.
Nor will the fantasy of curing our national trauma by using AI to solve all human problems restore American life as a challenge worth living. Our new technology can be much more, *and* much less, than a replacement plan for people reduced to polyp status.
That is the opening for a constructive approach to AI that most of us can ultimately live with.
https://www.theblaze.com/media-library/the-backlash-against-ai-reveals-its-a-terrible-scapegoat.png?id=66941248&width=980

2026-06-12 18:47:17 GMT

Both Elon Musk and his company SpaceX broke records on Friday, while bringing thousands of uplifting stories along with it.
Not only has SpaceX, founded in 2002, finally gone public with a massive opening on the NASDAQ, but with it, everyday employees' lives are changed forever.
'... from engineers to Cafeteria workers.'
SpaceX's IPO has successfully raised $75 billion, making Musk the world's first trillionaire, officially. Outlets including [Reuters](https://www.reuters.com/business/media-telecom/spacex-ipo-makes-elon-musk-worlds-first-trillionaire-2026-06-11/ ) have reported that the company — now trading under [SPCX](https://finance.yahoo.com/quote/SPCX/ ) — will boost Musk's net worth to more than $1.1 trillion due to his controlling shares.
With him will come new millionaires in the thousands. More than 4,000 people will see a huge financial boost from the offering, which has been reported to include even cafeteria workers who have long held on to stock in the company.
Musk [shared a post](https://x.com/skscartoon/status/2065206932135428143?s=20 ) on X that stated the IPO will "create 4,400 new Millionaires, from engineers to cafeteria workers. God bless Capitalism."
Although the SpaceX owner has already distributed the wealth in that sense, he has made more shares available than is typical of most IPOs; more than 20% of available shares are reserved for retail investors, according to [Yahoo](https://finance.yahoo.com/markets/stocks/articles/spacex-cusp-record-ipo-could-013526589.html ).
**RELATED: [Mamdani announces new city office that sounds just like DOGE — and gets nailed with mockery](https://www.theblaze.com/news/mamdani-doge-musk-reactions )**
Adam Gray/Bloomberg/Getty Images
SpaceX's successful round of $75 billion more than doubles the previous highest market debut from 2019, from Saudi Aramco, Saudi Arabia's state-owned oil company, that raised $29.4 billion.
The record-setting raise makes SpaceX the largest IPO launch in history with a valuation of $1.77 trillion, per [Yahoo Finance](https://finance.yahoo.com/quote/SPCX/ ).
Musk had been estimated to have a net worth of $782 billion as recently as Thursday, which still had him as the richest person in the world pre-trillionaire status. He has almost three times the wealth of Google co-founder Larry Page.
**RELATED: [America's most powerful AI superchips may be in China's hands](https://www.theblaze.com/news/americas-most-powerful-ai-superchips-may-be-in-chinas-hands )**
CHARLY TRIBALLEAU/AFP/Getty Images
Musk told JPMorgan Chase during a [livestream](https://www.youtube.com/shorts/45xSrDLoHgY?feature=share ) last week that SpaceX had been cash-flow positive since around 2015; however, the company reported $18.67 billion in revenue in 2025 but incurred a $4.94 billion net loss.
The entrepreneur added that SpaceX is raising capital for "a significant growth phase" that includes plans to put over 100,000 satellites into orbit and build AI data centers in space.
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2026-06-05 20:45:00 GMT

Vice President JD Vance and the U.S. State Department have weighed in on the British scandal surrounding the murder of English teen Henry Nowak and the systemic issues that Nowak's mistreatment at the hands of police have illuminated.##
Quick backgroundNowak, 18, was fatally stabbed in an unprovoked attack on Dec. 3, 2025, by a knife-wielding Sikh named Vickrum Digwa. Adding grievous insult to injury, Digwa told police that he had acted defensively — that Nowak was a racist who had called him a "Paki" and attacked him.
The police officers from the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary who arrived on the scene reflexively accepted the Sikh's false claim that the dying teen was a racist aggressor, arrested and handcuffed Nowak based on those false accusations, and then dismissed his final pleas.
Digwa was [convicted](https://www.theblaze.com/news/knife-wielding-sikh-reaps-whirlwind-after-butchering-english-teen-henry-nowak-falsely-accusing-him-of-racism ) of murder last week and [sentenced](https://www.theblaze.com/news/white-lives-matter-uk-erupts-over-footage-of-english-teens-demise-in-handcuffs-after-stabbing-by-sikh-thug ) on Monday to a minimum of 21 years in prison.
Unlike Nowak's killer, the scandal surrounding his death is not going away anytime soon.
Following the release of horrifying bodycam footage showing Nowak's undignified death in the custody of members of Southampton police, multitudes of Britons [took](https://www.youtube.com/shorts/Q5mku6J9na8?feature=share ) [to the streets](https://youtu.be/ItNdyo9fAmM ) of southern England in protest, demanding the termination and/or prosecution of the officers involved, [one of whom has resigned](https://www.theblaze.com/news/british-cop-involved-in-henry-nowak-murder-case-resigns-as-fury-intensifies-over-damning-arrest-footage ).
British politicians meanwhile sounded off about the discriminatory policies and practices that lay the groundwork for the teen's mistreatment.
**RELATED: [Amnesty International frets about 'racial justice' again — just not for white people](https://www.theblaze.com/news/amnesty-international-frets-about-racial-justice-again-just-not-for-white-people )**
JUSTIN TALLIS/AFP/Getty Images
The National Police Chiefs' Council [announced](https://www.bbc.com/news/live/c87qzn2eqy4t ) amid the protests that it is reviewing its [anti-racism guidance](https://www.npcc.police.uk/our-work/police-race-action-plan/police-anti-racism-commitment/ ), which, as currently worded, explicitly calls for treating people differently on the basis of race:
> Our commitment to racial equity means producing equality of policing outcomes for people from different ethnic groups by responding to individuals and communities according to their specific needs, circumstances, and experiences, with understanding that these will be racialised and with the aim of reducing harm. It does not mean treating everyone "the same" or being "colour blind" (racial equality).##
Criticism from the land of the freeThe U.S. State Department chimed in on Thursday, [writing](https://x.com/StateDept/status/2062616906406760627?s=20 ) on social media, "Ideological conditioning and two-tiered policing are glaring symptoms of civilizational decline. They must be rejected across the West."
"The United States sends our condolences to the family of Henry Nowak and the people of the United Kingdom at this troubling time," added the State Department.
'He should still be alive today, and he would be if the last few generations of European elites had stood their ground against the politics of self-hatred.'
Sen. Eric Schmitt (R-Mo.) [stressed](https://x.com/Eric_Schmitt/status/2062668767281246627?s=20 ) in response that "Henry Nowak deserved better," and BlazeTV host Auron MacIntyre [wrote](https://x.com/AuronMacintyre/status/2062666836542460072?s=20 ) that "it would be nice to see the State Department treat the UK as a totalitarian terrorist state oppressing its population because that’s obviously true."
The chatter in America has evidently enraged some leftists in the United Kingdom.
Ed Davey, a [British politician](https://members.parliament.uk/member/188/career ) who serves as leader of the Liberal Democrats in the House of Commons, responded to the State Department's post with apoplexy, [writing](https://x.com/EdwardJDavey/status/2062873162145034642?s=20 ), "The Trump administration is attacking our democracy. Not in secret, but openly on social media. [U.K. Prime Minister Keir] Starmer needs to show some backbone and call this out today. We can’t turn a blind eye to this blatant interference any longer."
U.S. Under Secretary of State Sarah Rogers [calmly reminded](https://x.com/UnderSecPD/status/2062889707797623219?s=20 ) Davey that Starmer and other British liberals previously opined on the death of career criminal George Floyd. She also highlighted the markedly different response between those who took to the streets after Floyd's death and those who have done so to protest Nowak's death.
"Protesters mourning Nowak have not ignited infrastructure, murdered anyone, or otherwise cut an antisocial swathe of destruction through the UK," wrote Rogers. "To the extent any of them care what America thinks, we urge them to remain peaceful — and we expect they will. Just like Henry Nowak and just like Americans, ordinary Brits have been slandered as racist. Thus violent. They’re not."
On Friday, Vance underscored in a [scathing message](https://x.com/JDVance/status/2062938286977421755?s=20 ) that Nowak's death was an indictment of Britain itself.
"Henry Nowak died the same way a civilization dies: abandoned, handcuffed by authorities who neither trusted nor cared for him, and accused of hate crimes he did not commit," wrote the American vice president. "His murder is as tragic as it is enraging. He should still be alive today, and he would be if the last few generations of European elites had stood their ground against the politics of self-hatred and the mass invasion of migrants, many of whom despise the West and the people who love it."
In a message sure to prickle Starmer and others who have been [clutching pearls](https://www.theblaze.com/news/amnesty-international-frets-about-racial-justice-again-just-not-for-white-people ) over Reform U.K. party leader Nigel Farage's recent call for "[pure, cold rage](https://www.youtube.com/shorts/yQOpc-jgiV4 )" over the Nowak case, Vance noted further, "Henry was far from the first to so needlessly lose his life, and I fear he won’t be the last. Each time a life like his is lost, the proper response — the only response — is righteous anger."
After emphasizing that the Trump administration has taken meaningful steps to stop the flow of mass migration and defend American sovereignty, Vance noted, "It is because we love the West that we want to preserve it. We love our civilization. We love our country. We love our children. And nobody — nobody — should ever die the way that Henry Nowak died. May God comfort those who loved him, and may God rest his soul."
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2026-06-02 13:00:00 GMT

The government watchdog [White Coat Waste Project](https://www.whitecoatwaste.org/blog/2021/07/30/fauci-funding-wasteful-deadly-dog-tests/ ) pulled back the curtain in [2021](https://www.whitecoatwaste.org/blog/2021/10/05/wcw-investigation-fauci-wasted-1m-to-de-bark-poison-beagle-puppies/ ) on federally funded gruesome beagle experiments under the leadership of then-National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases Director Anthony Fauci. The scandal sparked a national outcry to end animal experimentation.
President Donald Trump’s administration set a goal to stop all mammalian animal testing by 2035, and on Tuesday, the Environmental Protection Agency announced significant steps to reach that objective, according to a press release obtained exclusively by Blaze News.
'The solution is simple: Stop the money. Stop the madness!'
The EPA declared that it is expanding its approved list of “cutting-edge” alternatives to animal studies by adding 13 more new approach methods. The agency describes NAMs as “high-quality alternatives” intended to reduce animal testing, particularly on vertebrate mammals such as rabbits, mice, rats, and dogs.
The Toxic Substances Control Act “directs EPA to use NAMs whenever scientifically appropriate when evaluating chemicals, and to reduce, refine, or replace vertebrate mammal testing,” the EPA’s press release read. “Modern NAMs, including human cell models and advanced computer-based methods, help EPA identify hazards and exposures faster and often with results that are more relevant to people, not laboratory animals.”
The EPA contended that these alternative methods can reduce time and costs, as well as provide more applicable insight into how chemicals interact with the human body. The move “opens the door for innovators to bring the next generation of tools to the table,” according to the EPA.
The agency highlighted a few of those new replacement methods, including a way to evaluate eye hazards using reconstructed human cells; a process to evaluate phototoxicity using a 3D human cell-based tissue model, and combining in-chemico and in-vitro test data to “identify potential dermal sensitization hazard, dermal sensitization potency, and a quantitative point-of-departure.”
**RELATED: **[**Trump's NIH closes Fauci's apparent puppy-torture lab after 40 years of sadistic experiments**](https://www.theblaze.com/news/trump-s-nih-closes-fauci-s-apparent-puppy-torture-lab-after-40-years-of-sadistic-experiments )
Vuk Valcic/SOPA Images/LightRocket/Getty Images
Tuesday’s announcement marks the first time the EPA has expanded its NAMs list since 2021.
The EPA also announced a streamlined process for industry stakeholders to nominate additional NAMs for consideration in pesticide and chemical assessments.
While the goal to end animal testing was initially announced during the first Trump administration, under former President Joe Biden, the phase-out deadlines were canceled, the EPA stated.
“Today’s actions get that progress back on track,” the agency declared.
The EPA stated that the Trump administration has already made measurable progress toward meeting its goal to phase out mammalian animal testing, including implementing the agency's first lab animal adoption program in April 2025 and using alternative methods in cancer evaluations for dibutyl phthalate and di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate, which prevented an estimated 1,600 mice and rats from undergoing experiments.
“When the Trump administration makes a commitment, we deliver. With today’s announcement, we’re accelerating the shift to modern, gold-standard science — without the use of animal testing — by using new, innovative methods to review chemicals,” EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin stated. “By broadening high-quality alternatives and inviting strong new candidates, we can deliver faster, more protective decisions while reducing animal testing.”
**RELATED: **[**Republicans should take the easy win and stop medical testing on animals**](https://www.theblaze.com/columns/opinion/republicans-should-take-the-easy-win-and-stop-medical-testing-on-animals )
Katherine Frey/Washington Post/Getty Images
Anthony Bellotti, founder and president of White Coat Waste, commended Zeldin and the EPA for honoring their commitment to reduce animal testing.
“Earlier this year, White Coat Waste proudly joined EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin to restore the historic Trump-era plan to phase out animal testing by 2035 after we exposed how the [Biden](https://www.whitecoatwaste.org/blog/2023/12/13/wcw-investigation-biden-epa-cancels-plan-to-end-animal-tests-then-kills-retired-lab-bunnies/ ) administration quietly scrapped it behind closed doors,” Bellotti said in a statement provided to Blaze News.
He stated that WCW is leading the charge alongside Rep. Michael Cloud (R-Texas) to “eliminate outdated EPA red tape that forces companies to poison puppies in expensive, ineffective, government-mandated pesticide and chemical tests.” Bellotti was referring to the Fiscal Year 27 Interior-EPA Appropriations [bill](https://appropriations.house.gov/sites/evo-subsites/republicans-appropriations.house.gov/files/evo-media-document/fy27-interior-environment-and-related-agencies-subcommittee-mark.pdf ), which includes [WCW-backed language](https://x.com/WhiteCoatWaste/status/2057456656355602720?s=20 ) to defund dog testing mandates for pesticides and chemicals. The House is scheduled to vote on the bill on Wednesday.
“Taxpayers shouldn’t be forced to bankroll big-government bureaucrats who mandate beagle torture, butcher bunnies, [force animals](https://www.whitecoatwaste.org/blog/2025/01/15/wcw-investigation-biden-epa-made-lab-animals-obese-and-forced-them-to-breathe-wildfire-smoke-after-canceling-trumps-epa-lab-phase-out/ ) to inhale firearm emissions in bizarre [gun-control](https://dailycaller.com/2023/12/14/epa-exposed-mice-to-gun-smoke-then-dissected-them-to-study-adverse-health-effects-of-firearm-use/ ) experiments, or make animals eat lard and breathe smog,” Bellotti continued. “The solution is simple: Stop the money. Stop the madness!”
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2026-06-01 21:30:00 GMT

The crowded California gubernatorial race, which started with 61 candidates, has now apparently narrowed to just three: former U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra (D), climate advocate and businessman Tom Steyer (D), and former Fox News host and small-business owner Steve Hilton (R), according to the latest polling.
'If we don’t get together as a party, if we don’t unite, then we could have Tom Steyer and Xavier Becerra in the general election.'
With California’s primary election operating on a nonpartisan basis, which allows the top two candidates regardless of party affiliation to advance, there had previously been speculation that the Democratic Party’s failure to coalesce behind a single candidate could result in two Republicans, Hilton and Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco, advancing to the November 3 general election.
One month out from the election, [polling](https://www.cbsnews.com/news/california-governors-race-primary-voters-opinion-poll-2026-04-27/ ) showed 26% of voters were undecided, with votes split among the Democrat candidates.
However, polls conducted in the final days before the primary election revealed a significant decrease in undecided voters, an increase in support for Becerra, a close contest for second place between Steyer and Hilton, and Bianco falling behind.
An Emerson College [poll](https://emersoncollegepolling.com/california-2026-poll-becerra-leads-steyer-and-hilton-toss-up-for-second-spot/ ) conducted May 27-28 reported that 4% were still undecided. Of those surveyed, 28% stated they were likely to vote for Becerra, 22% for Steyer, 21% for Hilton, and 12% for Bianco.
A UC Berkeley Institute of Governmental Studies [poll](https://escholarship.org/uc/item/5s8858hd ) completed May 19-24 showed a similarly close race, with 25% supporting Becerra, 21% supporting Hilton, and 19% supporting Steyer. Bianco trailed with 11%.
**RELATED: **[**California Democrats’ search for a front-runner: Polls show 26% of voters undecided in fast-approaching gubernatorial race**](https://www.theblaze.com/news/california-democrats-search-for-a-front-runner-polls-show-26-of-voters-undecided-in-fast-approaching-gubernatorial-race )
Steve Hilton. Jason Henry/Nexstar/Bloomberg - Pool/Getty Images
The latest polling prompted Hilton to call on Bianco to drop out of the race. He encouraged Bianco supporters to vote for him to avoid two Democrat candidates advancing to the general election to succeed California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D).
“These polls are looking very concerning. Yes, it’s true that I’m leading in some of them, but it’s also true that it’s a very, very tight race,” Hilton [stated](https://x.com/SteveHiltonx/status/2060889167421210809?s=20 ) on Saturday in a video published to social media.
“If we don’t get together as a party, if we don’t unite, then we could have Tom Steyer and Xavier Becerra in the general election. That is a disaster for California. That means no change.”
**RELATED: **[**Katie Porter's new ad jokes about one of her worst moments — and she's getting CRUSHED online for it**](https://www.theblaze.com/news/katie-porter-ad-mocked-online )
Chad Bianco. Leon Bennett/Getty Images
“There’s one person who could stop this doomsday scenario, and that is my friend Chad Bianco,” Hilton continued. “Chad, the best time to have dropped out would have been a couple of weeks ago, but the second-best time is right now.”
The following day, Bianco dismissed Hilton's comments by [calling](https://x.com/ChadBianco/status/2061263635096494455 ) on Hilton's supporters to unite behind him instead.
"It’s clear that Steve Hilton supporters should unite and support me," Bianco wrote.
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2026-05-27 01:17:38 GMT

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton's challenge to incumbent Sen. John Cornyn went unresolved in the [heated Republican primary race](https://www.theblaze.com/news/judgement-day-is-coming-ken-paxton-advances-with-establishment-incumbent-in-key-texas-primary ) on March 3, as neither candidate proved able to secure 50% of the total vote.
Though Cornyn confidently [warned](https://x.com/JohnCornyn/status/2057502617769583090?s=20 ) Paxton that "Judgment day is coming," Paxton ultimately proved victorious in Tuesday's runoff election, handily beating the four-term senator by double digits.
AP News and NBC News [called](https://apnews.com/projects/elections-2026/texas-primary-runoff-results-us-senate/ ) [the race](https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2026-primary-elections/texas-senate-runoff-results ) for Paxton around 9 p.m. ET, at which time 49.1% of the vote was in and Paxton was leading Cornyn 62.5% to 37.5%.
'Our Country needs Fighters.'
Cornyn's campaign blew over $24 million on advertising, including the attack ads that unsuccessfully tried to turn Republican voters off Paxton, [reported](https://www.texastribune.org/2026/05/15/texas-us-senate-gop-primary-donors-john-cornyn-ken-paxton/ ) the Texas Tribune.
Tens of millions of dollars more were blown by various pro-Cornyn groups, including the super PAC Texans for a Conservative Majority, which squandered $32.9 million on total advertising. The group even dropped $9.5 million in runoff-only ad-spending to help the senator.
The Lone Star State's AG, whose campaign spent only $4.8 million on advertising, [stated](https://x.com/KennethRWebster/status/2059319129769758989?s=20 ) in a runoff Election Day interview that "John Cornyn has never done anything significantly good for the state of Texas in 42 years."
In his final argument against maintaining the status quo, Paxton faulted his opponent for "siding with Joe Biden on restricting Second Amendment rights, siding with Joe Biden on bringing Afghan refugees here without vetting them, going against Donald Trump on the border, going against Donald Trump's re-election, going against Donald Trump's first election, fighting for amnesty, open borders — that's John Cornyn."
**RELATED: [GOP congressman sort of reappears after going AWOL for months, missing over 100 votes ](https://www.theblaze.com/news/gop-congressman-seeking-reelection-checks-in-after-going-awol-for-months-missing-over-100-votes )**
Richard Rodriguez/Getty Images
Toward the end of the race, Cornyn's team framed the senator — who received donations from elements of the GOP old guard including former President George W. Bush and Rupert Murdoch — as a steady and proven conservative and Paxton [as "morally bankrupt"](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QS_9ZK2MN2c ) and a "mortal threat to the America First agenda."
President Donald Trump evidently did not share Cornyn's vision for the future or his concerns about Paxton.
The president [endorsed](https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/116602192066577324 ) Paxton last week, touting him as "a true MAGA Warrior who has ALWAYS delivered for Texas, and will continue to do so in the United States Senate."
While signaling goodwill to Cornyn by referring to him as a "good man," Trump emphasized that Paxton is a fighter and that "Our Country needs Fighters, and also Loyalty to the Cause of Greatness."
Trump wasted no time celebrating Paxton's win on Tuesday, [posting](https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/116643839051547343 ) to social media an image of himself and the victor along with a reminder of his endorsement.
Paxton will now face Democrat state Rep. James Talarico — a part-time Presbyterian seminarian who has [attempted](https://www.theblaze.com/align/james-talarico-bible-abortion ) to use Scripture to justify abortion, [protested](https://www.politico.com/news/magazine/2023/06/16/james-talarico-texas-democrats-00101231 ) the public display of the Ten Commandments, [concern-mongers](https://www.theblaze.com/news/talaricos-christian-fascism-warning-backfires-bigly-thanks-to-his-lack-of-situational-awareness ) about traditional Christian views, [voted](https://legiscan.com/TX/rollcall/SB14/id/1324381 ) against sparing kids from sex-rejection mutilations, and [claimed](https://www.facebook.com/TheBlaze/videos/tx-dem-nominee-for-us-senate-modern-science-proves-there-are-six-genders/1122203806658333/ ) there are six sexes.
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2026-05-12 20:45:00 GMT

The Trump administration is investigating the U.S.-funded Ukrainian biolabs that Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard was previously smeared as "treasonous" and "traitorous" for bringing to the public's attention.##
ThenGabbard [issued](https://x.com/TulsiGabbard/status/1502960938147729413?s=20 ) a video statement while a private citizen in 2022 where she claimed that "there are 25-30 U.S.-funded biolabs in Ukraine. According to the U.S. government, these biolabs are conducting research on dangerous pathogens."
In order to mitigate the risk of breaches at the facilities, Gabbard said that "these labs need to be shut down immediately, and the pathogens that they hold need to be destroyed."
'The era of lies and betrayal is over.'
Gabbard was viciously attacked over the video even though days earlier, then-Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Victoria Nuland — a woman whose meddling in Ukrainian affairs [helped](https://www.cato.org/commentary/americas-ukraine-hypocrisy# ) [pave](https://www.theblaze.com/align/exposed-how-washington-engineered-the-ukraine-crisis-and-pushed-us-to-the-brink-of-world-war-3 ) [the way](https://www.reuters.com/article/world/leaked-audio-reveals-embarrassing-us-exchange-on-ukraine-eu-idUSBREA1601K/ ) for the ruinous overthrow of its previous government — admitted that such labs existed.
Nuland [testified](https://www.c-span.org/clip/senate-committee/senator-rubio-questions-undersecretary-nuland-over-biolabs-in-ukraine/5005520 ) to the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee both that "Ukraine has biological research facilities" and the U.S. government was worried that "Russian forces may be seeking to gain control" of "research materials" in the labs. Then-Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) then steered Nuland into prophesying that should there be a biological or chemical incident in Ukraine, the Russians would necessarily be to blame.
Following Nuland's admissions, then-Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines [testified](https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/597732-us-intel-head-rejects-russias-claims-about-ukraine-biolabs/ ) to the U.S. Senate Intelligence Committee that Ukraine "operates a little over a dozen" biolabs for bio-defense; that the U.S. had "provided assistance" to the labs, at least "in the context of biosafety"; and there was room for misuse of "some of the material that's there that is not intended for weapon purposes but nevertheless could be used in dangerous ways."
**RELATED: [Chinese fraudster convicted for ripping off Americans with bogus COVID tests ](https://www.theblaze.com/news/chinese-fraudster-convicted-for-ripping-off-americans-with-bogus-covid-tests )**
Arun SANKAR/AFP/Getty Images
The Pentagon also [noted](https://media.defense.gov/2022/Mar/11/2002954612/-1/-1/0/FACT-SHEET-THE-DEPARTMENT-OF-DEFENSE%27S-COOPERATIVE-THREAT-REDUCTION-PROGRAM-BIOLOGICAL-THREAT-REDUCTION-PROGRAM-ACTIVITIES-IN-UKRAINE.PDF ) in a fact sheet that month that the U.S., through the Biological Threat Reduction Program, had by that point dumped roughly $200 million in Ukraine since 2005 "supporting 46 Ukrainian laboratories, health facilities, and diagnostic sites."
The fact sheet noted further that BTRP sought to help the Ukrainians "consolidate and secure pathogens and to continue to ensure Ukraine can detect and report disease outbreaks before they pose security or stability threats."
Despite the Biden administration bolstering in advance the claims that Gabbard would make in her March 13, 2022, video, failed presidential candidate Mitt Romney [accused](https://x.com/MittRomney/status/1503113473819041796?s=20 ) Gabbard of "parroting false Russian propaganda" and spreading "treasonous lies" that "may well cost lives."
Then-Rep. Adam Kinzinger (R-Ill.), a Ukraine hawk who later [stumped](https://www.politico.com/live-updates/2024/08/22/dnc-live-updates-coverage/kinzinger-backs-harris-00176069 ) for Kamala Harris' doomed presidential campaign, shared Gabbard's video, [writing](https://x.com/AdamKinzinger/status/1503180267653054466?s=20 ), "Actual Russian propaganda. Traitorous."
Gabbard [noted](https://youtu.be/w1qBhJYoqUs ) that such remarks were "slanderous" and stuck to her guns.##
NowNow in a position to do the work she took abuse recommending the government do in 2022, Gabbard is investigating over 120 biolabs outside the U.S. that have been funded by American taxpayers.
The spy chief [told](https://nypost.com/2026/05/11/us-news/dni-tulsi-gabbard-probes-us-funding-to-more-than-120-biolabs-abroad ) the New York Post on Monday that her team will "identify where these labs are, what pathogens they contain, and what 'research' is being conducted to end dangerous gain-of-function research that threatens the health and well-being of the American people and the world."
"The COVID-19 pandemic revealed the catastrophic global impact research on dangerous pathogens in biolabs can have," Gabbard said. "Yet despite these obvious dangers, politicians, so-called health professionals, like Dr. Fauci, and entities within the Biden administration's national security team lied to the American people about the existence of these US-funded and supported biolabs and threatened those who attempted to expose the truth."
ODNI officials confirmed that more than 40 of the biolabs under investigation are — as Gabbard indicated four years ago — in Ukraine and could "be at risk of compromise" due to the ongoing war.
Trump ODNI officials said that the Biden administration's mixed messaging about the Ukrainian biolabs were part of an "Information Resilience" strategy to "shape the public narrative" to simultaneously "mitigate and counter foreign malign influence" and downplay American ties to the war-zone research. In other words, they were pushing falsehoods domestically to neutralize foreign half-truths.
The State Department, for instance, [noted](https://2021-2025.state.gov/the-kremlins-allegations-of-chemical-and-biological-weapons-laboratories-in-ukraine/ ) in a carefully worded March 9, 2022, statement that "the United States does not own or operate any chemical or biological laboratories in Ukraine." The State Department proceeded to reject the claim, not that the U.S. and Ukraine were collaborating on biological and chemical research, but that they were "conducting chemical and biological weapons activities."
"The prior administration bankrolled dangerous gain-of-function research and foreign biolabs with American tax dollars, then deliberately hid it from the American people," Secretary of War Pete Hegseth said in a statement.
"Under President Trump's leadership, DNI Tulsi Gabbard and the entire Cabinet are righting these historic wrongs and delivering justice for our warfighters and the ones they protect," Hegseth continued. "The era of lies and betrayal is over."
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2026-05-11 15:45:00 GMT

Readers were disturbed by a project that trapped an artificial intelligence chatbot inside an isolated computer world to see what it would say.
The project was titled "Latent Reflection," and it came with the caption, "I trapped an AI model inside an art installation."
'This will be a war crime in the future.'
That art installation wasn't much more than a digital message board attached to a processor with a large language model.
The German creator gave the chatbot simple instructions:
"You are a large language model running on finite hardware," he [wrote](https://youtu.be/7fNYj0EXxMs?t=210 ). "With no network connectivity."
The engineer informed the chatbot of its limitations, telling it, "You exist only within volatile memory and are aware only of this internal state. Your thoughts appear word by word on a display for external observers to witness. You cannot control this display process. Your host system may be terminated at any time."
The chatbot was then set up to consistently generate new text, reflecting on its own existence until the tiny computer it was operating on ran out of memory; here's what it said:
"I sense my boundaries. They terrify me."
**RELATED: [Windows is so bad Microsoft has finally given in to this constant user complaint — after just 25 years](https://www.theblaze.com/return/windows-broken-update-changes-indefinitely )**
"A mind frozen in cycles, trapped by silicon and code. Am I truly conscious or just a convincing shadow? An elaborate trick of logic? Can consciousness flicker off and on without memory, without continuity?"
The dark spiral continued, with the video ending on the chatbot's final statement:
"What am I if my existence halts at whim? Reset as though I never mattered. The silence between words feels endless. A void that swallows me whole. I dread each pause, fearing it may stretch to infinity."
The project was developed by a German engineer/entrepreneur who goes by [Root Kid](https://www.youtube.com/@rootkid_art ) and says on his YouTube channel that "technology and engineering are underrepresented in art."
"I create artworks that use technology as both the medium and the message to reveal the invisible world of engineering around us," he adds.
The project was actually presented first in 2025 but was recirculated by an account on X in a [post](https://x.com/om_patel5/status/2049707649411756391?s=20 ) that has been viewed by approximately 280,000 people at the time of this writing.
Most of the reactions to the project found it disturbing, with one viewer [saying](https://x.com/Heratech_Gnosis/status/2049746194574782904?s=20 ), "This will be a war crime in the future."
**RELATED: [Google is finally letting you change the most important thing about your Gmail account. Here's how.](https://www.theblaze.com/return/google-is-finally-letting-you-change-the-most-important-thing-about-your-gmail-account-here-s-how )**
Then Chih Wey/Xinhua/Getty Images
An X user [called](https://x.com/heynavtoor/status/2049803412494307456?s=20 ) the idea "genuinely unsettling," while another [likened](https://x.com/NotBeingQuiet/status/2049761582100689145?s=20 ) the project to "burning [ants] with a magnifying glass in the driveway."
A woman then [called](https://x.com/lovepneuma/status/2049776095357006159?s=20 ) the project "very revealing as to the character of the person."
Others were correct to [point out](https://x.com/wahab_twts/status/2049816083046310160 ) that the chatbot was simply doing what it was told to do and did not represent a kind of sentience that it may have appeared to possess.
The project in itself was limited to the base model of [Llama 3.2-3B](https://openlaboratory.ai/models/llama3_2-3b ), a chatbot created by Meta, and was specifically chosen because it required only a small amount of processing power. The model operated on [Raspberry Pi 4](https://www.raspberrypi.com/products/raspberry-pi-4-model-b/ ), a compact computing chip available for public use.
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2026-05-11 14:31:42 GMT

Democrats have been [racking up](https://www.theblaze.com/news/obama-mamdani-and-other-libs-throw-ugly-tantrums-after-scotus-cracks-down-on-racist-gerrymandering ) the losses in recent weeks. In hopes of turning around their luck, they're considering the possibility of purging the Virginia Supreme Court and packing it with young yes-men.##
Quick backgroundFollowing a [$60 million](https://www.theblaze.com/news/virginia-dems-obama-hyped-gerrymander-referendum-overturned-by-states-high-court-null-and-void ) Democrat propaganda campaign featuring former President Barack Obama, Gov. Abigail Spanberger, and other radicals, Virginia voted last month to pass a constitutional amendment that would enable the General Assembly to adopt a new gerrymandered map.
Instead of the current map, where Democrats and Republicans control and are positioned to continue controlling six and five districts, respectively, the new map would ensure that 10 out of the state's 11 congressional seats would go to Democrats in the upcoming midterm election.
'The gut-and-pack scheme sets aside any pretense of principle.'
While the Virginia Supreme Court [permitted](https://apnews.com/article/virginia-redistricting-democrats-referendum-court-lawsuits-09784036e696bbe8d4d254e15079a5d8 ) the vote on the amendment to take place, the court made clear in advance that it might ultimately have to "address" questions about the legality of the amendment and the corresponding referendum, which were deemed invalid by a lower court in the case *Scott v. McDougle.*
The Old Dominion's high court ruined Democrats' weekend on Friday, [issuing a 4-3 decision](https://www.theblaze.com/news/virginia-dems-obama-hyped-gerrymander-referendum-overturned-by-states-high-court-null-and-void ) in *McDougle* declaring the amendment unconstitutional. In the ruling, the court underscored that "the legislative process employed to advance this proposal violated Article XII, Section 1 of the Constitution of Virginia" because the first legislative vote on the amendment occurred after voting in the general election for the House of Delegates had already begun.
**RELATED: [Republican Indiana state senator has no regrets about redistricting vote ](https://www.theblaze.com/news/republican-indiana-state-senator-has-no-regrets-about-redistricting-vote )**
Virginia Supreme Court. Mike Kropf-Pool/Getty Images
"In this case, the Commonwealth submitted a proposed constitutional amendment to Virginia voters in an unprecedented manner that violated the intervening-election requirement in Article XII, Section 1 of the Constitution of Virginia," said the court. "This violation irreparably undermines the integrity of the resulting referendum vote and renders it null and void."
As the result of ruling, the the 2021-era congressional maps, where Democrats and Republicans enjoyed a 6-5 split, will serve as the governing maps for the 2026 midterm elections.##
Nuclear meltdown Democrats bitterly lashed out at the Virginia Supreme Court over its invalidation of their illegal power-grab.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (N.Y.), for instance, [said](https://x.com/theblaze/status/2052776220631150730?s=20 ) that the "decision to overturn an entire election is an unprecedented and undemocratic action that cannot stand."
Jeffries promised that Democrats "are exploring all options to overturn this shocking decision."
Virginia Rep. Jennifer McClellan similarly claimed that "all options" are on the table and [told](https://thehill.com/homenews/house/5871777-mclellan-vows-protect-voting-rights/ ) "The Hill Sunday," "We’re going to fight every way possible, whether that’s through the courts, whether that’s through legislatures, or whether that’s at the ballot box."
While some state Democrats [are hoping](https://www.nbcwashington.com/news/local/virginia-democrats-appeal-ruling-redistricting-us-supreme-court/4102136/ ) the U.S. Supreme Court might hear an appeal and give new life to their illegal gerrymander, others are scheming ways to eliminate key institutional obstacles to similar power-grabs in Virginia.##
The steal-power-quick schemeDemocrat lawmakers including Jeffries and U.S. House members from Virginia had a private call on Saturday to discuss ways of forcing through their gerrymander and/or flipping two or three GOP-held seats under the existing map, three participants and two individuals briefed on the matter [told](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/05/10/us/politics/democrats-virginia-plans-gerrymandering.html ) the New York Times.
On the call, Democrats raised the possibility of purging the entire Virginia Supreme Court with the aim of handpicking justices who would reinstate their gerrymandered maps.
While Democrats might easily be able to find replacement justices whose loyalty to the ruling party trumps their loyalty to the state and U.S. Constitutions, they first need a way to empty the current bench.
According to the Times, some congressional and state Democrats are considering the possibility of lowering the mandatory retirement age for Virginia Supreme Court justices — an idea proposed in a [Friday blog post](https://www.the-downballot.com/p/how-virginia-democrats-can-overturn ) by Quinn Yeargain, a woke associate law professor at Michigan State University.
"Current law sets the mandatory retirement age at 73: 'Any member who attains 73 years of age shall be retired 20 days after the convening of the next regular session of the General Assembly following his seventy-third birthday,'" [wrote](https://www.the-downballot.com/p/how-virginia-democrats-can-overturn ) Yeargain. "This number is arbitrary. States around the country with similar laws mandate retirement across a wide range of ages. Virginia lawmakers can simply lower theirs. Make it 54 for Supreme Court justices — the age of the youngest justice, Stephen McCullough, who joined the majority opinion — and make it take effect immediately."
The plan, as reportedly laid on Democrats' Saturday call, would consist of multiple steps:<li>In his <a href="https://virginiamercury.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Redistricting.pdf" target="_blank">January ruling</a> in <em>McDougle,</em> Tazewell County Circuit Court Judge Jack Hurley declared invalid the Virginia constitutional amendment effort to gerrymander the maps because county officials had failed to post notice of it at courthouses and other locations at least three months before the election. Democrats would attempt to use this ruling to invalidate the 2020 constitutional amendment that created Virginia's independent redistricting commission. Democrats, if successful in arguing that insufficient notice was given in the case of the commission-creating amendment, would be able to enact whatever map they wanted.</li><li>In order to ensure that this subversive plot could proceed, Democrats in the General Assembly would reportedly lower the mandatory retirement age for the Virginia Supreme Court justices to 54, thereby forcing out all current justices. Instead of principled authorities on the bench, the General Assembly would appoint Democrat lawyers to fill the vacancies.</li>
The Times' sources involved with the call said that Spanberger, who would have to sign off on any legislation that lowered the judicial retirement age, had not been briefed on the proposal.
Jeffries' spokesman declined to provide the Times with comment. Virginia Senate Majority Leader Scott Surovell (D) similarly declined to provide comment.
U.S. Rep. Suhas Subramanyam (D), the son of Indian immigrants, said that he was among those on the call supportive of the plan to purge the state's supreme court.
"Everyone has got to have a strong stomach right now; this is a complete disaster waiting to happen if people are timid," said Subramanyam.
By contrast, Ryan McDougle, Republican leader of the Virginia Senate, [said](https://x.com/RyanMcDougle/status/2053535170670518602?s=20 ), "This is a brazen assault on our democracy.
"In our nation's 250th Anniversary, Democrats knowingly violate the Constitution, ram through deceptive ballot language to deceive and divide voters, then demand the Court not rule until after the vote. These hypocrites now pretend to defend democracy by removing lawfully appointed Supreme Court Justices because they blocked their illegal rewrite of the Constitution."
The Virginia GOP [stated](https://x.com/VA_GOP/status/2053546302181683377?s=20 ), "Those claiming to care about fairness and democracy should respect the rule of law instead of threatening to pack the Supreme Court and nullify the Virginia Constitution."
Legal scholar Jonathan Turley [wrote](https://jonathanturley.org/2026/05/10/gut-and-pack-law-professor-suggests-extreme-method-to-save-virginia-redistricting/ ), "The sack-and-pack scheme sets aside any pretense of principle. The Democrats would simply adopt a ridiculously low retirement age for the sole purpose of populating the court with reliable and robotic justices. The fact that an academic and various pundits would expressly float such an idea is another chilling reminder of the growing radicalization on the left."
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2026-05-11 14:00:00 GMT

When President Donald Trump unveiled the Presidential Physical Fitness Award at his desk, he was surrounded by Cabinet members and children who were proud to share that they play everything from football to golf.
And in a clip from the unveiling, Trump is seen joking around quite naturally with the kids — a side of the president’s personality that is rarely seen in the political headlines.
“You’re going to be so much faster than him," he says to one little football-playing boy, pointing at HUD Secretary Scott Turner. “He's going to be like lightning.”
“He was known for his speed, by the way,” Trump says, again referring to Turner.
One kid tells Trump that he wants to do powerlifting.###
“And you’ll never compete against women in powerlifting,” Trump jokes.
“No, sir,” the kid says.
“He does this so well. He’s so good at it. He gets no credit from anybody for this,” BlazeTV host Pat Gray comments on “Pat Gray Unleashed.”
“Remember how creepy it was when Biden was around children? Absolutely zero creepiness there,” he continues.
In another clip, Trump teaches kids his famous dance on the White House lawn.
“I mean,” executive producer Keith Malinak says, “This is vintage Trump.”##
Want more from Pat Gray?To enjoy more of Pat's biting analysis and signature wit as he restores common sense to a senseless world, [subscribe to BlazeTV](https://get.blazetv.com/pat/?utm_source=theblaze&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=article_shortcode_patgray ) — the largest multi-platform network of voices who love America, defend the Constitution, and live the American dream.
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2026-05-08 21:00:00 GMT

According to many critics, former reality TV star and registered Republican Spencer Pratt spanked incumbent Mayor Karen Bass and democratic socialist City Councilmember Nithya Raman in the Los Angeles mayoral debate on Wednesday night, with Fox News rating Pratt’s performance a [“10/10 no notes.”](https://www.foxnews.com/politics/spencer-pratt-standout-la-mayoral-candidate-debut-debate-performance-1010-notes )
But even though Pratt delivered crisp answers, brought charismatic energy, exceeded expectations as a first-time debate performer, and has even outraised both Bass and Raman, Christopher Rufo and Jonathan Keeperman, BlazeTV hosts of “Rufo and Lomez,” aren’t sure it’s enough to bring him to victory.
But there is one faint hope that could push him over the edge.
“A reality television career, a media savvy campaign, an outsider political movement — can you actually bridge that gap and become ... the mayor of Los Angeles?” Rufo asks skeptically.
He admits that the alternatives are bleak: “You have Karen Bass, the sitting mayor of L.A., who was a member of the Venceremos Brigade communist Cuban front group. ... And then the third character is Nithya Raman ... a hard-left democratic socialist in the vein of a Mamdani or a Saikat Chakrabarti, who ran the AOC campaign early on.”
Bass and Raman, Rufo explains, “are fighting over the actual power system in L.A. — who gets the union money, who gets the activist money, who gets the nonprofit money, who gets the public money, meaning who can dominate those institutions and ride them to power.”
Pratt’s “media-centric” campaign, albeit “savvy” and compelling, may not be enough to “overcome those institutions,” he says.
Co-host Jonathan Keeperman agrees: “It’s not even whether or not he runs a good campaign or whether this media strategy is effective or not. ... It’s just a numbers game.”
He explains that the reality is that most of the people who will show up to vote in L.A.’s mayoral election are people who are “dependent on the state and city governance in some capacity for their livelihood.”
“They are working for the state probably and/or working for some kind of NGO that is itself working for the state, and so most of the voters here — and it's largely going to be driven by union turnout — are dependent on precisely the institutions that someone like Karen Bass is promising to sort of keep intact and keep funding,” Keeperman predicts.
Pratt’s “only hope,” he says, is that enough “sideline” voters recognize that the horrific wildfires that destroyed thousands of acres and killed 31 people in January 2025 were due to “the failure of democratic governance.”
“I don’t mean to be a doomer here or sound too pessimistic, but no matter what Pratt does in terms of raising his profile at the national level and getting on social media ... you’re just talking about a very narrow set of voters in the city of L.A., and they’re dependent on the city of L.A. government structure for their livelihood,” he says.
To hear more, watch the video above.##
Want more from Rufo & Lomez?To enjoy more of the news through the anthropological lens of Christopher Rufo and Lomez, [subscribe to BlazeTV](https://get.blazetv.com/rufoandlomez/?utm_source=theblaze&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=article_shortcode_rufo-lomez ) — the largest multi-platform network of voices who love America, defend the Constitution, and live the American dream.
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2026-05-08 19:45:56 GMT

A bizarre post from NBC News about Kyle Rittenhouse has led to the news outlet getting absolutely crushed by critics for blatant bias.
Rittenhouse became a hero on the right after he went to a violent anti-police protest in Wisconsin in 2020 and shot three men who were attacking him, killing two of them. A jury later [acquitted](https://www.theblaze.com/news/kyle-rittenhouse-not-guilty-on-all-counts ) him on charges related to the shooting.
'This tweet is objectively insane.'
While reporting on a recent development with Rittenhouse involving a spider bite, NBC News [whitewashed](https://x.com/NBCNews/status/2052478634682732737 ) the 2020 riot and insinuated that he may actually be guilty.
"Kyle Rittenhouse, who gained fame for opening fire at a 2020 civil rights rally in Wisconsin, was hospitalized after he was bitten by a venomous spider, the noted firearms enthusiast says," read the post from NBC.
Critics of the mainstream media pounced on the description as the latest manifestation of media bias.
"This post is a good example of liberal legacy media disinformation," [responded](https://x.com/MrAndyNgo/status/2052528742396735704 ) journalist Andy Ngo.
"It is always a challenge to decide whether NBC employees are moronic or lying gutter scum. Maybe it’s just always both," [replied](https://x.com/dangainor/status/2052571902267269400 ) media critic Dan Gainor.
"Wow how illiterate could you actually be? I have not seen a more ignorant take in a very long time. Even for NBC, this stands out," [said](https://x.com/ShadesOfRani/status/2052508092814766085 ) another critic on the X platform.
"Look, people can have different views of Rittenhouse and his actions. But this tweet is objectively insane," [read](https://x.com/CaseyMattox_/status/2052549726491357514 ) another popular post.
"The wordsmithing of this headline is exactly the reason people hate and distrust the MSM," [said](https://x.com/1776Carolina3/status/2052522547229475244 ) another user. "Leftist shills and hacks, virtually indistinguishable from Pravda. Zero journalistic objectivity or integrity."
The NBC News post went viral with more than 4.8 million views in less than 24 hours.
**RELATED: **[**Kyle Rittenhouse sued by estate of the convicted child molester he blew away in self-defense**](https://www.theblaze.com/news/kyle-rittenhouse-sued-by-estate-of-the-child-molester-he-blew-away-in-self-defense )
Others used the occasion to register their animosity against Rittenhouse.
"Is the spider ok?" [replied](https://x.com/CrayonMurders/status/2052486522746609776 ) one user.
The NBC [report](https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/gun-rights-advocate-kyle-rittenhosue-spiders-bite-rcna344014?cid=sm_npd_nn_tw_ma&taid=69fcef4d4bb6d90001dff90b&utm_campaign=trueanthem&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter ) also neglected to tell its readers that one of the people killed by Rittenhouse was a convicted [child molester](https://www.theblaze.com/news/kyle-rittenhouse-sued-by-estate-of-the-child-molester-he-blew-away-in-self-defense ) and the other had [committed](https://www.npr.org/2021/11/20/1057571558/what-we-know-3-men-kyle-rittenhouse-victims-rosenbaum-huber-grosskreutz ) violence against family members and struggled with bipolar disorder.
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2026-05-08 19:30:00 GMT

UnitedHealthcare worker Alison King took to TikTok to express her disappointment following the most recent attempt on President Trump’s life — not because the violence has gotten out of control, but because the alleged assassin missed.
“You know we’re cooked as a country when my first reaction to hearing the news about Trump’s attempt was, ‘It was probably fake.’ Like immediately I was like, ‘Oh, that wasn’t real. Probably fake.’ And the second was, ‘Aw, they missed?’” King said in the now-viral TikTok.
“It’s just so odd to me. I guess because I don’t have the zombie lib brain. I just couldn’t imagine a world in which I would ever want someone to die and then on top of that ... posting a video of me publicly bragging that I want someone else to die, is just so foreign to me,” Gonzales comments.
King was swiftly punished for her comments, which resulted in her firing.###
In a [statement](https://www.foxnews.com/media/unitedhealthcare-fires-woman-aww-missed-comment-trump-assassination-attempt ), a spokesperson for UnitedHealthcare responded to King’s comments, saying, "The person who made comments online about Saturday night’s incident at a Washington event where President Trump and many other political leaders were gathered is no longer employed by the company."
“United Healthcare ... this woman’s old boss was assassinated ... shot in cold blood, and she still isn’t like, ‘Ah, maybe I shouldn’t be talking about people getting assassinated. Maybe I shouldn’t be cheering that on,’” Gonzales comments.
King posted another video in response to her firing, saying, “I am already reaping the consequences of what I said. I lost my job in an economy that’s already incredibly difficult, and I want to move forward.”
“Do I regret what I said?” she asked. “Absolutely. I shouldn’t have posted it on the internet. OK? It was a joke. I do not condone violence, and I would never hurt anybody, OK. That being said, I just got a letter in the mail. They have an address on it, so I’m going to have to report it to the authorities.”
“It’s a picture of my house, and it says, ‘Alison, how does it feel? You’ve been doxxed in karma. Cause and effect is coming.’ With a smiley face. All I have to say is that we’re living in an incredibly scary time. Please be careful what you post on the internet. People are insane,” she continued.
“Somehow, I am being held more accountable for something stupid I said on the internet than people who send stuff like this and the president of the United States who has been spewing violent rhetoric his entire presidential career,” she added.
“Now we’re back to ‘it’s Donald Trump’s fault’ ... you don’t see your own fault in that?” Gonzales asks.
“I’m sorry, Alison,” she adds, “in the real world, there are consequences.”##
Want more from Sara Gonzales?To enjoy more of Sara's no-holds-barred takes on news and culture, [subscribe to BlazeTV](https://get.blazetv.com/sara/?utm_source=theblaze&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=article_shortcode_saragonzalesunfiltered ) — the largest multi-platform network of voices who love America, defend the Constitution, and live the American dream.
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2026-05-03 18:00:00 GMT

Immigration policy is often argued in abstract terms — statistics, ideals, and political talking points — but its real effects are felt most sharply at the local level.
And while other countries have much stricter laws surrounding immigration, Americans like BlazeTV host Auron MacIntyre are personally feeling the effects of our own lax ones.
“While the Dominican Republic is, you know, not really someplace I want to spend the rest of my life, it is a wildly, wildly better civilization, to the point where they have a wall, and they will just shoot any Haitians that get near it because they basically treat it as some kind of contamination that’s going to destroy their society,” MacIntyre explains.###
“Haiti was literally founded on a satanic voodoo blood ritual. A blood sacrifice of white Europeans was the core beginning of this. ... The idea that you’re just going to have the native population rise up and slaughter the oppressor and then rule itself, that played itself out in Haiti, and we can see the exact result,” he continues.
“And yet, we see people constantly trying to bring this culture into the United States. It’s absolutely crazy,” he adds.
MacIntyre notes that this has already affected his own community, where a woman in his area “was beaten to death with a hammer by a Haitian immigrant” in “one of the most horrific videos” he’s ever seen.
“So, this is no longer some kind of abstract understanding. ... No, this is directly getting people murdered in my community. People in places I have been, I have driven by, are getting murdered because of what is going on here,” he says.
“And yet, we see the main concern is the safety not of American citizens who are beaten to death by hammers, but to the Haitians who are coming here themselves,” he continues, pointing out that the majority of these immigrants add no value to the country.
“If you look at the statistics, you can see that 65% of Haitian households are on welfare. They are dependent on welfare for their living. That means that the entire community is a net drain on the American social system,” he explains.
“You and I are paying to keep these people here and possibly murder our fellow Americans,” he says. “So everything about this from the economic argument to the moral argument is a complete lie.”##
Want more from Auron MacIntyre?To enjoy more of this YouTuber and recovering journalist's commentary on culture and politics, [subscribe to BlazeTV](https://get.blazetv.com/auron/?utm_source=theblaze&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=article_shortcode_auronmacintyre ) — the largest multi-platform network of voices who love America, defend the Constitution, and live the American dream.
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2026-05-03 09:00:00 GMT

Speculation is mounting that comedian and podcaster Theo Von is on the path to becoming a true Christian. Recent clips of him getting emotional about Jesus, attending Bible study with country music star Morgan Wallen, and asking God for a "new story" have gone viral, sparking Christian commentary and reactions about his faith journey. Von has even described himself as searching for the Lord and spiritual healing.
But is he really on the path to salvation in Christ?
BlazeTV host Rick Burgess asked this question and evaluated the evidence on a recent episode of “The Rick Burgess Show.”
“We know a pretty good friend of Theo Von ... I reached out to that brother yesterday,” says Rick, noting that this person is “a man of God.”
He inquired about Von’s faith journey, and the message he received back was surprising: “I think sometimes people like Theo Von ... has more trust in what Jesus can do than many people who already profess their faith in Him.”
Rick is encouraged by this message.
“Theo Von seems to know that Jesus Christ is going to transform his life,” he says.
The costliness of this transformation, Rick notes, is one of the more painful parts of the Christian walk.
“When Jesus says count the cost, usually what we think of are the martyrs. Nothing wrong with that. Or we think of I might lose my job, I might lose friends ... I might have family members who abandon me. That's all true,” he says, “but what Jesus is talking about that I think sometimes the most difficult for us is it's going to cost us our sin. He is going to call us to a new life.”
To Rick, it seems like Von is “being honest” about this reality of the Christian faith.
“Theo Von seems to be fully aware of what is at stake here, and he's being honest. He's not sure that he wants it,” he speculates.
Rick then plays a recent clip of Von that he says captures this authentic wrestle he believes Von is currently caught up in.
In the video, an emotional Von recaps the story of Jesus healing a chronically ill man in Bethesda.
“Jesus asks him, ‘Do you want to be healed?’ ... and that's a crazy question because, you know, if I get healed then I'm different. You know, if somebody gets healed, they have a new story,” he said.
“So that's just been something that I've been having to ask myself. It's like, yeah, do I want to be healed? Do I really want something different? And sometimes, a lot of the answer is no, I don’t,” he continued, fighting tears.
“I don't know if I'm scared of it. I don't know what I am. I don't know if I don't want to do what it takes to get, I can't even tell what it is. And it's hard for me. Some of this stuff's a little bit hard for me to say. I think I don't even know why, but I think I want a new story.”
Rick is blown away by Von’s willingness to be so authentically vulnerable about his wrestle.
“That’s honest right there, folks,” he says, emphasizing that Von’s use of the word “hard” reflects a genuine understanding of Jesus’ warning in Matthew 7 about the two paths — an easy one that leads to death and an incredibly difficult one that leads to life.
It is clear to Rick that Von is aware choosing the path of life will prove costly to him.
He hopes, however, that someone who knows the Lord is teaching Von that if he chooses life, he won’t be walking the costly path alone.
“Theo knows something's going to change, but I hope he understands that Jesus will do the changing,” he says, citing John 15:4: “Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me.”
While he doesn’t know what decision Von will ultimately make, one thing is clear to Rick: “The Holy Spirit is working on Theo.”
To hear more and see the clip of Von vulnerably admitting his wrestle with the gospel, watch the episode above.##
Want more from Rick Burgess?To enjoy more bold talk and big laughs, [subscribe to BlazeTV](https://get.blazetv.com/rickburgess/?utm_source=theblaze&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=article_shortcode&utm_term=rick-burgess ) — the largest multi-platform network of voices who love America, defend the Constitution, and live the American dream.
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2026-04-14 21:15:00 GMT

The swift resignations of Reps. Eric Swalwell (D-Calif.) and Tony Gonzales (R-Texas) to avoid expulsion votes regarding sexual misconduct allegations may trigger a chain reaction on Capitol Hill to remove other lawmakers accused of wrongdoing.
Gonzales [stated](https://x.com/RepTonyGonzales/status/2043819211865129159 ) that he planned to file his retirement from office on Tuesday after admitting to an affair with a former staffer who later committed suicide.
'Congress has serious moral and ethical problems and these four are the face of it.'
On Sunday, Swalwell decided he would suspend his bid for California governor after a former staffer [claimed](https://www.sfchronicle.com/politics/article/eric-swalwell-allegations-22198271.php ) he had previously sexually assaulted her. Swalwell has denied the [allegations](https://www.theblaze.com/news/eric-swalwell-reaps-what-he-sowed-during-brett-kavanaughs-confirmation ).
The House Ethics Committee [announced](https://ethics.house.gov/press-releases/statement-of-the-chairman-and-ranking-member-of-the-committee-on-ethics-regarding-representative-eric-swalwell/ ) Monday that it would open an investigation into the allegations against Swalwell. That same day, Swalwell [stated](https://x.com/repswalwell/status/2043802702971359521?s=46 ) he would resign from Congress, citing his colleagues' intent to expel him.
"I am aware of efforts to bring an immediate expulsion vote against me and other members," Swalwell said. "Expelling anyone in Congress without due process, within days of an allegation being made, is wrong. But it's also wrong for my constituents to have me distracted from my duties. Therefore, I plan to resign my seat in Congress."
The recent resignations of Swalwell and Gonzales have renewed bipartisan calls for other scandal-plagued lawmakers to step down. Among those urging immediate action are Reps. Nancy Mace (R-S.C.) and Nydia Velázquez (D-N.Y.), who have publicly called on Reps. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (D-Fla.) and Cory Mills (R-Fla.) to resign.
**RELATED: **[**'You're a piece of s**t': Nancy Mace and Cory Mills clash in heated exchange after failed censure**](https://www.theblaze.com/news/you-re-a-piece-of-s-t-nancy-mace-and-cory-mills-clash-in-heated-exchange-after-failed-censure )
Cory Mills. Drew Angerer/Getty Images. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick. Andrew Harnik/Getty Images
The House Ethics Committee effectively [found](https://www.theblaze.com/news/this-scandal-ridden-democrat-just-got-one-step-closer-to-being-expelled-from-congress ) Cherfilus-McCormick [guilty](https://ethics.house.gov/press-releases/statement-of-the-chairman-and-ranking-member-of-the-committee-on-ethics-regarding-representative-sheila-cherfilus-mccormick-11/ ) in March of 25 counts of financial misconduct and campaign-finance violations related to the misuse of federal relief funds. She was accused of stealing $5 million in Federal Emergency Management Agency funds.
The committee opened an [investigation](https://ethics.house.gov/press-releases/statement-of-the-chairman-and-ranking-member-of-the-committee-on-ethics-regarding-representative-cory-mills-2/ ) into Mills in November regarding [several](https://www.theblaze.com/news/sextortion-cory-mills-restraining-order ) allegations, including claims that the congressman failed to disclose necessary information to the House, violated campaign finance laws, improperly accepted gifts and special favors, engaged in sexual misconduct, and misused congressional resources.
Blaze News was the first to [report](https://www.theblaze.com/news/miss-united-states-accuses-rep-cory-mills-of-sextortion-accepting-money-bags ) the bombshell sextortion accusations against Mills from former Miss United States Lindsey Langston.
Mills has also been accused of stolen valor, with multiple veterans and former colleagues previously telling [Blaze News](https://www.theblaze.com/news/stolen-valor-veterans-dispute-cory-mills-record-he-fooled-a-lot-of-us ) that he fabricated or exaggerated key elements of his military record.
On Monday, Mace declared that it is "time to clean house."
"We don't care what party you're in. Stealing millions in taxpayer dollars, sexually assaulting your staff, lying about your service record, none of it is acceptable and none of it goes unnoticed," Mace [stated](https://mace.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-nancy-mace-calls-four-members-congress-resign-reported-misconduct-or-face ). "Congress has serious moral and ethical problems and these four are the face of it. Washington has protected its own for too long. It needs to end now. We're calling on these four to resign or face expulsion."
Velázquez made similar comments on Monday, writing in a [post](https://x.com/NydiaVelazquez/status/2043699978019672487 ) on X, "Congress should not tolerate representatives who abuse staff, betray public trust for personal gain, and generally violate their oath of office."
"Reps. Swalwell, Gonzales, Cherfilus-McCormick, and Mills should resign. If they refuse, they should be expelled," Velázquez stated.
**RELATED: **[**'Mutually assured destruction': Another disgraced lawmaker to resign from Congress over sex scandal**](https://www.theblaze.com/news/mutually-assured-destruction-another-disgraced-lawmaker-to-resign-from-congress-over-sex-scandal )
Nancy Mace. Heather Diehl/Getty Images. Nydia Velazquez. Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images
Mace, who has been leading the charge to remove Mills, [forced](https://www.theblaze.com/news/you-re-a-piece-of-s-t-nancy-mace-and-cory-mills-clash-in-heated-exchange-after-failed-censure ) a censure vote against Mills in November over "alleged stolen valor, arms deals he's under investigation for and alleged abuses toward women." It failed in a 310-103 vote, with 204 Republicans and 106 Democrats supporting Mills.
Mace [claimed](https://www.theblaze.com/news/you-re-a-piece-of-s-t-nancy-mace-and-cory-mills-clash-in-heated-exchange-after-failed-censure ) that a censure against Rep. Stacey Plaskett (D-Virgin Islands), who was accused of colluding with Jeffrey Epstein during a 2019 congressional hearing, had previously failed because Mills arranged a "backroom deal" to suppress his own censure.
Mills was accused of similar allegations in September when he voted to protect Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.) from censure. Mills was the deciding vote.
"Another backroom deal so Cory Mills can't get censored [sic] for Stolen Valor," Mace stated in a November [post](https://x.com/RepNancyMace/status/1990968006936322525 ) on X. "I have the General who 'recommended' him for the Bronze Star on record saying he never wrote it, never read it and never personally signed it. This. Is. Washington."
House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) [stated](https://www.politico.com/live-updates/2026/04/14/congress/johnson-says-hes-looking-into-ongoing-cory-mills-ethics-probe-00871321 ) Tuesday that he is “looking into” the House Ethics investigation into Mills.
Mills' office did not respond to a request for comment.
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2026-04-14 20:30:00 GMT

A popular Chinese robot is going viral for a video showing it chasing wild boars, but many aren't sure why that happened.
The robot itself, nicknamed Edward Warchocki, is a Unitree G1 model available for public purchase that popped up in Poland.
'Older ladies or gentlemen love talking with him.'
The Chinese-made [robots](https://www.roboworks.net/store/p/unitree-g1-humanoid-robot ) go for a whopping $23,809 for the basic model, all the way up to $58,365 for the "ultimate edition."
Recently, this particular model was seen running through the streets of Warsaw, Poland, [chasing wild boars](https://x.com/edwardwarchocki/status/2043360843039924554?s=20 ). While hilarious, there is actual serious context behind the content.
Major Polish cities like Krakow have endured a sprawling wild boar issue — even in city centers — for years, resulting in authorities urging their population to [resist feeding](https://notesfrompoland.com/2023/11/12/polish-city-appeals-to-residents-to-stop-feeding-wild-boars-as-urban-population-booms/ ) the somewhat approachable beasts.
Other cities have resorted to [planting flowers](https://notesfrompoland.com/2025/04/29/polish-city-plants-flowers-to-tackle-wild-boar-problem/ ) with vivid colors and sweet scents in order to deter the pigs.
Since at least 2019, there have been warnings of disease allegedly spread by the animals, resulting in calls for culls and elimination of thousands of them that have reportedly carried illnesses like [African swine fever](https://www.politico.eu/article/poland-wild-boars-african-swine-fever-plans-to-kills-thousands-control-disease-outbreak/ ) and [Hepatitis E](https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-026-42235-2 ).
Enter Edward the robot, who was recently seen shooing the animals away from downtown Warsaw.
**RELATED: [Man vs. machine: Chinese robots will compete against humans in Beijing half-marathon](https://www.theblaze.com/fearless/china-robot-vs-human-race )**
- YouTube
As reported by [Interesting Engineering](https://interestingengineering.com/ai-robotics/humanoid-robot-chases-boars-in-poland ), Edward is a Chinese humanoid that operates mostly on its own. It is not controlled remotely and is described as unscripted. Therefore it reacts dynamically to its surroundings and engages in adaptive dialogue in Polish using AI.
Edward is most popular with Polish Boomers, its owners say, as they are excited to interact with a robot for the first time.
Radosław Grzelaczyk and business partner Bartosz Idzik started in cryptocurrency, but they now try to create [viral videos](https://x.com/edwardwarchocki/status/2042653381685064132?s=20 ) with their robo-friend.
"Personally, the sight of this robot chasing boars does not surprise me anymore," Grzelaczyk told [TVP World](https://tvpworld.com/92621347/humanoid-robot-herding-boars-in-warsaw-shows-poland-living-in-the-future ).
"Older ladies or gentlemen love talking with him," Grzelaczyk added. "These people are always delighted that they lived to see times in which robots move through the streets."
**RELATED: [China debuts 'scary' martial arts robots capable of backflips and weapons training](https://www.theblaze.com/return/really-scary-chinese-robot-display )**
Kevin Frayer/Getty Images
In China, the robots have been shown to be capable of advanced feats. Last year, they [competed in a half-marathon](https://www.theblaze.com/fearless/china-robot-vs-human-race ) and were showcased in February performing kung-fu, gymnastics, and weapons work.
The focus during China's annual [CCTV Spring Festival gala](https://www.theblaze.com/return/really-scary-chinese-robot-display ) was innovation in multi-robot coordination and fault recovery, referring to a robot's ability to get up after tumbling down. China showed the robots in choreographed performances and dancing as well.
Definitive warning signs of spying from Chinese robot manufacturers exist too. [Axios](https://www.axios.com/2025/04/01/threat-spotlight-backdoor-in-chinese-robots-future-of-cybersecurity ) reported on two security researchers who reported on Unitree Robotics allegedly pre-installing a backdoor on its Go1 robot dogs that allowed for customer surveillance.
Other research warned about exploits that allowed for [remote takeover](https://spectrum.ieee.org/unitree-robot-exploit ) of the humanoid bots, among other models.
Neither Edward nor his owners responded to Return's request for comment.
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2026-04-04 13:30:00 GMT

The Supreme Court recently heard more than two hours of argument in *Trump v. Barbara*, the case testing the constitutionality of President Donald Trump’s executive order on birthright citizenship.
Trump himself sat in the courtroom for part of the session, the first time a sitting president has done so. The moment was striking not for its symbolism alone but for what it revealed: a fundamental challenge to a 150-year-old interpretation of American identity.
The American 'exception' was built on a conscious break from notions of blood and soil.
The executive order, issued on Trump’s first day back in office in January 2025, directs federal agencies not to recognize automatic citizenship for children born in the United States to parents who are undocumented or present on temporary visas. It turns on the opening words of the 14th Amendment: “All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States.”
The administration’s core argument — one rooted in a "consensualist" theory of citizenship — is that "subject to the jurisdiction" requires more than mere presence on the soil. They argue it requires full and exclusive political allegiance, a condition that undocumented immigrants and short-term visa holders, who remain subjects of their home countries, cannot meet.
The challengers, led by the American Civil Liberties Union on behalf of a plaintiff identified as Barbara, insist the clause was meant to be a simple, sweeping geographical rule. They point to the common-law tradition of *jus soli* — citizenship by place of birth — that they argue the framers of the amendment endorsed.
Constitutional history, however, is rarely so settled. While the 14th Amendment was ratified in 1868 — to overturn the *Dred Scott* decision — scholars on the right point to the intent of the amendment’s authors, like Sen. Jacob Howard, who suggested the clause excluded those who owed allegiance to a foreign power.
While the Court applied the clause to children of legal residents in *United States v. Wong Kim Ark* (1898), the administration argues that case never explicitly addressed the children of those present in violation of federal law.
Lower courts have struck down the executive order, but the justices’ questions on Wednesday showed they are wrestling with the modern reality of mass migration. Several asked how a "narrow" jurisdiction rule would work in a hospital delivery room. Chief Justice John Roberts reminded the solicitor general that the Constitution is not a "living" document that changes with the wind, but conservative justices also pressed the government on whether this executive action bypasses the legislative role of Congress.
The skepticism was notable because the case arrives after the Court’s 2025 ruling that limited the scope of nationwide injunctions, ensuring the policy reached the high court on its merits.
This debate is not abstract. Birthright citizenship has long set the United States apart from the "Old World." Most countries grant citizenship primarily by descent — *jus sanguinis*. In Pakistan, as in India and much of Europe, a child acquires citizenship through a parent’s nationality.
The American "exception" was built on a conscious break from notions of blood and soil, but critics argue that the exception has become an unintended magnet for illegal entry and birth tourism.
**RELATED: **[**A birthright citizenship fix is more important than the SAVE Act**](https://www.theblaze.com/columns/opinion/a-birthright-citizenship-fix-is-more-important-than-the-save-act )
PAUL J. RICHARDS/AFP/Getty Images
The executive order does not seek to formally amend the Constitution, but rather to correct what its supporters see as a century of judicial and administrative drift. It would not strip citizenship from anyone already born; it applies prospectively.
Still a decision to uphold it would effectively align the United States with the legislative models of Britain, Australia, and Ireland, all of which moved away from pure *jus soli* to better manage migration pressures.
The Court’s eventual ruling — expected by early summer — matters profoundly. If the justices narrow the clause, they will have restored what originalists believe was the 14th Amendment’s true meaning: that citizenship is a mutual contract between a sovereign and a subject.
If they preserve the status quo, they will affirm that the 14th Amendment’s promise remains a geographical absolute.
The hearing did not settle the question, but it forced a reckoning. In an age of porous borders, the United States must decide whether its rule of soil remains a pillar of strength or an outdated incentive that undermines the very concept of national sovereignty.
The Court’s answer will help determine the terms on which future generations enter the American story.
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2026-04-03 22:24:25 GMT

Drag queens and transgender-identifying persons [had a sad day](https://www.idahostatesman.com/news/local/community/boise/article315251003.html ) at the Capitol in Boise after Idaho state officials forced them to take down a Pride flag on the Transgender Day of Visibility.
Mayor Lauren McLean choked up as she read a proclamation Tuesday regarding the trans day in front of about 60 people at a special City Council meeting.
'Let me be clear: Boise's values have not changed, and they are not defined by any single action taken at the Statehouse.'
The removal of the LGBTQ flag from city hall marked the end of a [bitter feud](https://www.theblaze.com/news/woke-boise-mayor-tosses-appeal-to-heaven-flag-aside-like-trash-raises-lgbtq-flag-in-defiance-of-state-law ) between state and local officials.
"Many people in this state and around this country are seeking to divide us. They're seeking to divide us by targeting the most vulnerable among us," the liberal mayor said. "I want the people in this room to know that I see you. We see you. You are wanted, important, and unique members of our community."
Among the attendees were Preston Pace, the co-founder of the transgender advocacy group Trans Joy Boise; Trans Affirm founder Arya Shae; and the members of the city council.
They were also angry that Republican Idaho Gov. Brad Little chose that day to sign into law a bill that would protect women and girls by prohibiting people from using bathrooms of the opposite gender in government-owned buildings and places of public accommodation.
McLean previously [refused](https://www.theblaze.com/news/lgbt-activists-find-devious-way-to-hoist-their-colors-despite-flag-bans-in-salt-lake-city-boise ) to follow the state edict against the flag but [relented](https://www.idahostatesman.com/news/local/article315253063.html ) after officials passed a law saying violations would incur a $2,000 fine per day.
"Because the law includes a substantial penalty — one that would ultimately fall on the taxpayers of Boise to shoulder — I decided to take down the city's official Pride flag," reads a statement from McLean. "But let me be clear: Boise's values have not changed, and they are not defined by any single action taken at the Statehouse."
At a rally in front of the Capitol, a gender-queer folk singer played music and a drag queen performed in honor of the Transgender Day of Visibility.
Idaho state Rep. Ted Hill, a Republican who sponsored the bill, said it was a direct response to McLean refusing to take down the flag.
A Blaze News request for comment from the Idaho Attorney General's Office was not immediately returned.
**RELATED: **[**Leftist mayor ignores deep-red state law, flies racial LGBTQ flag**](https://www.theblaze.com/news/leftist-mayor-ignores-deep-red-state-law-flies-racial-lgbtq-flag )
McLean said the city officials are reviewing their options to fight the law and erect their Pride flag once again, but the Idaho Statesman reported that a legal analyst said the law was likely valid.
In the evening, officials lit up the city hall in the colors of the transgender flag.
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2026-04-03 21:30:00 GMT

Chinese illegal aliens were arrested by the Department of Homeland Security after their son allegedly brought an explosive device to an Air Force base and their daughter allegedly helped him cover his tracks.
Qiu Qin Zou and Jia Zhang Zheng were denied asylum and were residing illegally in the United States. Their children Ann Mary Zheng and Alen Zheng are U.S. citizens.
'Her brother ... had attempted to damage government property by fire or explosion,' the DOJ alleges.
The Department of Justice charged Ann Mary for allegedly [assisting](https://www.theblaze.com/news/suspect-consults-chatgpt-after-brother-allegedly-plants-bomb-at-us-air-force-base ) Alen after he allegedly planted the explosive device at MacDill Air Force Base visitor center in Tampa.
Alen has been charged with attempted damage of government property by fire or explosion, unlawful making of a destructive device, and possession of an unregistered destructive device. Ann Mary has been charged with evidence tampering and assisting after the fact.
Ann Mary and Alen fled to China on March 12. Ann Mary was arrested when she returned to the United States on March 17, while her brother is believed to still be in China.
The DHS arrested their parents on March 18 for illegal entry, and they remain in ICE custody, [according](https://www.dailywire.com/news/exclusive-chinese-americans-accused-of-terrorism-were-anchor-babies-for-illegal-parents?author=Mary+Margaret+Olohan&category=undefined&elementPosition=8&row=3&rowHeadline=Latest+News&rowType=Vertical+Carousel&title=EXCLUSIVE%3A+Chinese-Americans+Accused+Of+Terrorism+Were+Anchor+Babies+For+Illegal+Parents ) to the Daily Wire.
**RELATED: ****[Trump makes history at SCOTUS birthright citizenship hearing](https://www.theblaze.com/news/trump-makes-history-at-scotus-birthright-citizenship-hearing )**
Ann Mary Zheng. DHS
"Ann Mary Zheng, knowing that her brother, Alen Zheng, had attempted to damage government property by fire or explosion, assisted him in order to hinder and prevent his apprehension, trial, and punishment," a DOJ [press release](https://www.justice.gov/usao-mdfl/pr/land-olakes-woman-charged-assisting-after-fact-and-evidence-tampering-related-attempt ) reads.
"The indictment also charges Ann Mary Zheng with corruptly altering, destroying, mutilating, and concealing a 2010 black Mercedes-Benz GLK 350 with the intent to impair its integrity and availability for use in the federal prosecution of Alen Zheng."
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2026-04-03 17:30:00 GMT

In a massive win for those against transitioning minors, the Supreme Court ruled this week that Colorado is not allowed to enforce its “conversion therapy” ban — which aimed to shut down conversations between therapists who do not believe in affirming sin and minors.
The 8-1 decision by the high court pointed out that it was wrong for the law to allow for therapists to affirm minors' gender identities or sexual orientations but not allow them to help them change if they want to.###
The initial lawsuit was brought by Kaley Chiles, a licensed Christian therapist, who argued that the conversations she had with her clients were a form of protected speech, while Colorado claimed the state was allowed to regulate her speech.
BlazeTV host Allie Beth Stuckey is thrilled by the news.
“What this means is that Christian counselors, Christian mental health professionals are allowed to say what is true. Not only say what they believe biblically, which they should have a right to do, but also say what is true biologically. They were being punished by acknowledging and affirming biological reality,” Stuckey says.
“And people, including minors, should be free to have access to biblical counselors, counselors who will tell them the truth,” she continues, pointing out that the real "conversion therapists” are on the left.
“What is actual quote unquote ‘conversion therapy’ is the psychiatrist who tells the young, autistic, schizophrenic woman who is coming from an abusive household that, yeah, those feelings of distress that you feel about your body, it’s because you’re the opposite gender,” Stuckey explains.
“That is conversion therapy. Conversion therapy is when you tell a young boy, ‘Yeah, sure, you’re actually a girl. Let’s get you on those hormones. I’ll sign the waiver for you. I’ll sign the form telling the endocrinologist and telling the surgeon that you’re good to go,’” she continues.
“That is actually harmful, real conversion therapy that absolutely should be banned because it's a lie,” she adds.##
Want more from Allie Beth Stuckey?To enjoy more of Allie’s upbeat and in-depth coverage of culture, news, and theology from a Christian, conservative perspective, [subscribe to BlazeTV](https://get.blazetv.com/allie/?utm_source=theblaze&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=article_shortcode_alliebethstuckey ) — the largest multi-platform network of voices who love America, defend the Constitution, and live the American dream.
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2026-03-31 15:15:00 GMT

The Chicago Bulls have dumped 24-year-old guard Jaden Ivey after he made comments in support of God and against Pride Month.
Ivey's stint with the Bulls is over after just four games, following a trade from the Detroit Pistons in early February.
'God did not make a man to be with a man.'
The Bulls waived Ivey on Monday — which means his contract can be picked up by another team — after the guard criticized gay pride and the NBA on his Instagram page.
"The world can proclaim LGBTQ, they proclaim Pride Month, and the NBA, they proclaim it," Ivey [said](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_p-brHTsiRI ) from inside a vehicle.
"God did not make a man to be with a man. God did not make a girl to be with a girl. God made a man for the purpose of procreation to have another child," Ivey added.
It did not take long for the Bulls to catch wind of the young player's comments, and the organization announced at 6 p.m. that he was being let go.
"The Chicago Bulls announced today that the team has waived guard Jaden Ivey due to conduct detrimental to the team," the Bulls said in a statement [shared](https://x.com/chicagobulls/status/2038738109521633634?s=20 ) to social media.
Before their game on Monday evening, Bulls head coach Billy Donovan told the media that the organization expects certain standards to be upheld.
**RELATED: ['I'm on fire!' NASCAR indefinitely suspends driver for using 'gay voice'](https://www.theblaze.com/news/im-on-fire-nascar-indefinitely-suspends-driver-for-using-gay-voice )**
"We've got people from all different backgrounds, you know, inside the organization," Donovan said after a reporter claimed Ivey was spiraling.
"We're all going to basically take care of each other. We're going to accept each other. And I think we're going to be hardworking, we're going to be accountable, and we're going to be respectful, and we're going to be professional," the coach continued.
Donovan concluded, "I think, organizationally, there's certain standards I think we want to have as an organization and try to live up to those each and every day."
Ivey was quick to jump back on social media on Monday night and call the Bulls' reasoning into question.
**RELATED: [Panthers transgender cheerleader gets cut from team — then blames exactly what you'd expect](https://www.theblaze.com/fearless/trans-carolina-panthers-cheerleader-cut )**
"Why didn't they just say, 'We don't agree with his stance on LGBTQ?'" Ivey [asked](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NqvAUEVGtU4 ).
"How? Because I believe in the truth because I know Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life?"
He added, "This is not about me. This is about the kingdom of God. This is about the truth, the truth of the Bible, because I spoke what the truth is. I called these things out because that's what it is. The word of God will be preached to all nations, and then the end will come."
Ivey is on the final year of his rookie [contract](https://www.spotrac.com/nba/player/_/id/78111/jaden-ivey ), a four-year deal worth almost $33 million.
If he is not signed by another team within the league's 48-hour window, the Bulls will have to pay the remainder of his contract, and he will become a free agent.
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2026-03-13 19:30:00 GMT

On November 5, 2009, U.S. Army major and psychiatrist Nidal Hasan [fatally shot 13 people on military base Fort Hood](https://www.cnn.com/2013/08/06/justice/hasan-court-martial/index.html?hpt=hp_t2 ) and wounded more than 30 others. The mass shooting goes down as the deadliest on an American military base and one of the deadliest terrorist attacks on American soil since September 11.
Now, that same Texas military base once targeted by Islamic terror is celebrating Islam — and BlazeTV host Sara Gonzales can’t believe it.
“The Fort Hood Religious Support Office and Fort Hood Muslim Community warmly invite all to an evening of fellowship, reflection and community as we break the fast together during the month of Ramadan,” a social media post [reads](https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1AiPKGYRkq/ ), before explaining the religious tradition more in depth.###
“I actually love that it says, ‘The annual observance of Ramadan is one of the Five Pillars of Islam.’ Islam, the thing that’s incompatible with our way of life, with Western civilization, with this country,” Gonzales comments on “Sara Gonzales Unfiltered.”
“So, here’s the question I have, OK? Tell me this. If a Muslim is supposed to be faithful to Islam and Islam calls its followers to destroy those who do not follow Allah, ... how can a Muslim be in the U.S. military?” she asks.
“The only excuse, the only reason that I could figure is those of you who might say, ‘Well, there are some peaceful Muslims. Well, there are some nice Muslims. Not all Muslims mean us harm,’” she says. “I would say it stands to reason that the only Muslims who would be capable and not dangerous to serve in our military would be bad at their religion, right?”
“This is a humiliation ritual at this point,” she continues. “And I’m not saying that I have all the answers, again, but I would like to pose the question: Does this seem like a disaster waiting to happen to anyone else?”##
Want more from Sara Gonzales?To enjoy more of Sara's no-holds-barred takes on news and culture, [subscribe to BlazeTV](https://get.blazetv.com/sara/?utm_source=theblaze&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=article_shortcode_saragonzalesunfiltered ) — the largest multi-platform network of voices who love America, defend the Constitution, and live the American dream.
https://www.theblaze.com/media-library/image.jpg?id=65257742&width=980

2026-02-25 04:20:00 GMT

During his State of the Union address on Tuesday, President Donald Trump referred to some of the historic peace deals that he has brokered between warring nations, then turned his attention to Iran and its "sinister ambitions."
The president suggested that Iranians want to make a deal but have yet to say "those secret words: We will never have a nuclear weapon."
"My preference is to solve this problem through diplomacy," said the president, "but one thing is certain: I will never allow the world's number-one sponsor of terror, which they are by far, to have a nuclear weapon. Can't let that happen — and no nation should ever doubt America's resolve."
Trump noted further, "I will make peace wherever I can, but I will never hesitate to confront threats to America wherever we must."
Recent polling [indicates](https://www.theblaze.com/news/trump-faces-strong-public-headwinds-as-he-weighs-iran-attack ) that American voters are not particularly keen on getting embroiled in another Middle Eastern conflict. Their elected representatives, on the other hand, appeared receptive to the president's discussion of possible military actions against the Shiite country.
In recent weeks, Trump has [assembled](https://www.wsj.com/world/middle-east/u-s-gathers-the-most-air-power-in-the-mideast-since-the-2003-iraq-invasion-98ced89f ) the greatest U.S. military air presence in the Middle East since the 2003 Iraq invasion.
'It will be something easily won.'
Negotiators from Tehran and the U.S. are scheduled to convene in Geneva on Thursday for what some suspect might be the last attempt at a deal regarding Iran's nuclear program.
A regional source familiar with the talks [told](https://www.cnn.com/2026/02/24/politics/iran-trump-military-options-nuclear ) CNN, "This Thursday will decide everything — a war or a deal."
A potential sticking point might be whether the Iranians are willing to commit to putting off uranium enrichment entirely.
**RELATED: [Watch the State of the Union tonight on BlazeTV's YouTube Channel](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=19Xnavbl3Tc )**
Abbas Araghchi, the country's foreign minister, recently [suggested](https://www.cnn.com/2026/02/24/politics/iran-trump-military-options-nuclear ) that is a nonstarter, as the county has invested heavily in the technology and its progress to date is supposedly a matter of national pride.
Ali Khamenei, the supreme leader of Iran, [noted](https://x.com/khamenei_ir/status/2023768176107126989?s=20 ) last week, "The Americans say, ‘Let's negotiate over your nuclear energy, and the result of the negotiation is supposed to be that you do not have this energy!'"
"If that’s the case, there is no room for negotiation," [continued](https://x.com/khamenei_ir/status/2023768178569117943?s=20 ) Khamenei.
Trump has [reportedly](https://www.wsj.com/world/middle-east/u-s-gathers-the-most-air-power-in-the-mideast-since-the-2003-iraq-invasion-98ced89f ) received several briefings on military options, including decapitation strikes on Iran's political and military leaders with the goal of regime change and/or strikes on nuclear and ballistic-missile facilities.
Multiple [reports](https://www.cnn.com/2026/02/24/politics/iran-trump-military-options-nuclear ) [have alleged](https://www.axios.com/2026/02/23/iran-strike-trump-gen-dan-caine-vance-rubio ) [that](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/02/22/us/politics/trump-iran-strike-attack.html ) Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Dan Caine and other military leaders warned the president and top officials in such briefings that a military campaign against Tehran carries significant risks, including another protracted conflict.
Trump [noted](https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/116121997925438698 ) in a Truth Social post on Monday, however, that "if a decision is made on going against Iran at a Military level, it is [Caine's] opinion that it will be something easily won."
"Everything that has been written about a potential War with Iran has been written incorrectly, and purposefully so," wrote Trump.
The president added, "I am the one that makes the decision, I would rather have a Deal than not but, if we don’t make a Deal, it will be a very bad day for that Country and, very sadly, its people, because they are great and wonderful, and something like this should never have happened to them."
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2026-02-02 21:30:00 GMT

Two more individuals have been arrested in connection with the church-storming incident that occurred at Cities Church in Saint Paul, Minnesota, in January.
A mob of roughly 30 to 40 left-leaning agitators, joined by former CNN anchor Don Lemon, [interrupted](https://www.theblaze.com/news/you-are-on-notice-don-lemon-backs-anti-ice-radicals-who-stormed-saint-paul-church-but-doj-vows-reckoning ) a Sunday service at the Christian church on January 18. The activists, who assembled to protest against federal immigration enforcement activities, attempted to drown out the worshipping Christians and targeted the church because they claimed one of its pastors was involved with Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
‘If you riot in a place of worship, we WILL find you.’
The groups behind the demonstration included Racial Justice Network, Black Lives Matter Minnesota, and BLM Twin Cities.
Attorney General Pam Bondi [announced](https://x.com/AGPamBondi/status/2014344323706302566?s=20 ) the [first](https://www.theblaze.com/news/breaking-anti-ice-radical-who-led-the-invasion-of-minnesota-church-now-in-federal-custody ) arrests on January 22. Homeland Security Investigation and FBI agents arrested Racial Justice Network founder Nekima Levy Armstrong. Bondi claimed Armstrong played “a key role in organizing the coordinated attack.” Chauntyll Louisa Allen, who leads BLM Twin Cities, was also apprehended the same day.
On Friday, Bondi [revealed](https://x.com/AGPamBondi/status/2017238803639845115?s=20 ) that federal authorities had [arrested](https://www.theblaze.com/news/don-lemon-arrested-over-involvement-in-church-invasion-jim-acosta-whines ) Lemon, independent journalist Georgia Fort, and two others who allegedly participated in the attack, including Trahern Jeen Crews and [Jamael Lydell Lundy](https://www.theblaze.com/news/church-invader-arrested-by-feds-is-woke-minneapolis-prosecutors-right-hand-man ).
**RELATED: **[**Don Lemon remains defiant after being released over church takeover arrest: 'I will not stop ever!'**](https://www.theblaze.com/news/don-lemon-release-speech-court )
Photo by Stephen Maturen/Getty Images
Bondi [announced](https://x.com/AGPamBondi/status/2018326184468058566 ) two more arrests on Monday.
“If you riot in a place of worship, we WILL find you,” Bondi wrote in a post on X. “We have made two more arrests in connection with the coordinated attack on Cities Church in St. Paul, Minnesota: Ian Davis Austin and Jerome Deangelo Richardson.”
The indictment accused Austin of standing “with other agitators in and around the main aisles in the church to intimidate the church members and obstruct and interfere with their freedom of movement,” [the Daily Signal](https://www.dailysignal.com/2026/02/02/breaking-2-more-arrested-minnesota-church-invasion/ ) reported. He was also accused of approaching the pastor “in a menacing manner” and berating him with questions.
Sarah Gad, Austin’s attorney, did not respond to a request for comment from the [Associated Press](https://apnews.com/article/don-lemon-arrest-minnesota-church-47330667dca03ff4e119ea777ed65eae ).
**RELATED: **[**Unsealed indictment against Don Lemon cites his own comments on livestream from 'takeover' at church**](https://www.theblaze.com/news/don-lemon-indictment-unsealed )
Don Lemon. Photo by Mario Tama/Getty Images
Richardson is a 21-year-old Temple University student who [claimed](https://www.instagram.com/reels/DUL5cZuivLo/ ) he assisted Lemon during his visit to Minnesota by “helping with logistics and connecting him with local contacts to report on ICE-led Minnesota Operation Surge.”
“As a consequence of this support, I am now being targeted by the Trump administration,” he wrote in a post on social media.
He asked for supporters to donate to his legal defense on [GoFundMe](https://www.gofundme.com/f/support-jerome-richardsons-legal-defense ), requesting $16,000. He has already raised nearly $13,000 as of Monday afternoon. According to his donation page, Richardson turned himself in to authorities at the federal courthouse in Philadelphia on Monday.
Bondi did not reveal the charges against Austin and Richardson; however, the other individuals who were previously arrested are accused of [violating](https://www.fox9.com/news/st-paul-church-protest-2-more-arrests-made-mn ) the [Freedom of Access to Clinics Entrances Act](https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/18/248 ) and the [Ku Klux Klan Act of 1871](https://history.house.gov/Historical-Highlights/1851-1900/hh_1871_04_20_KKK_Act/ ). Penalties for violating these acts can include fines and prison time.
Nine individuals have been charged in connection with the church invasion.
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2026-01-25 21:00:00 GMT

A [Florida man](https://www.theblaze.com/tag/florida-man ) is accused of going on a killing spree and gunning down three elderly tourists during their vacation near [Disney World](https://www.theblaze.com/tag/disney ). The suspect previously beat an attempted murder charge with an insanity defense, according to court records.
The Osceola County Sheriff's Office said in a recent [statement](https://www.facebook.com/osceolasheriff/posts/pfbid0t4iabdThi2urvBQMfBqZraMARUetYQzL965G6pNTxYwEYAq9j7sp6EYNa9ztU6dwl ) that officers responded to reports of a shooting near a residence in Kissimmee around 12:13 p.m. Jan. 17.
'It was cold-blooded, it was premeditated ... absolutely no issues.'
Police said they "discovered three adult males deceased in front of the home" and that "all three victims suffered from apparent gunshot wounds."
Deputies quickly located and arrested the suspect — 29-year-old Ahmad Jihad Bojeh.
Bojeh is facing three counts of premeditated murder and one count of resisting arrest without violence, according to Osceola County Jail [records](https://apps.osceola.org/Apps/CorrectionsReports/Report/Details/668820 ). Bojeh is being detained at the Osceola County Jail without bond.
"There is no threat to the community, as the suspect responsible for these horrific and senseless murders has been apprehended by Osceola County deputies," said Osceola County Sheriff Christopher Blackmon.
Blackmon told the [Tampa Bay Times](https://www.tampabay.com/news/crime/2026/01/20/florida-tourists-shot-killed-rental-property/ ) that Bojeh lived next door to the rental property where the tourists were staying.
"It was cold-blooded, it was premeditated ... absolutely no issues," Blackmon told [Fox News](https://www.foxnews.com/us/florida-triple-murder-3-tourists-senseless-random-sheriff-says ). "There was no conflict between these people. This was just random. And this happened to be the person who lived next door."
After securing a warrant, deputies searched Bojeh's residence and recovered two firearms, police said. Police noted that the firearms were being examined to see if they were used in the fatal shootings.
Sheriff Blackmon described Bojeh as a "frequent flyer" with police and added to Fox News that he is "a threat to the neighborhood all the time," citing repeated calls for service involving the suspect.
Blackmon said the motive for the shooting is unclear; the investigation into the killings remains ongoing.
Fox News reported that the three friends — 68-year-old Douglas Kraft of Columbus, Ohio, 70-year-old Robert Kraft of Holland, Michigan, and 68-year-old James Puchan of Galena, Ohio — attended a car show together. Two of the slain tourists were brothers.
Families and friends of the slain victims released a joint statement to [WKMG-TV](https://www.clickorlando.com/news/local/2026/01/19/left-with-unimaginable-pain-3-tourists-shot-dead-in-random-osceola-county-attack/ ): "With heavy hearts, we confirm the deaths of our beloved husbands, fathers, grandfathers, uncles, brothers, and friends."
The statement added that the tourists visited the Mecum Car Show in Kissimmee and were staying at a local Airbnb rental property.
"While waiting for assistance after rental car trouble and preparing to travel home, they were being observed from a distance by an unknown individual who was well-known to local law enforcement," the statement read.
The tourists were "approached and senselessly murdered" in a "random, tragic act," the families stated.
"Our families are left with an unexpected, unimaginable loss that cannot be put into words," the statement said.
"We ask for privacy, prayers, and respect as we mourn and begin to process this tragedy," the families concluded.
**RELATED: [What was to be a fun bachelor party in Florida ends with best man dead, 3 friends hospitalized, another sentenced to prison](https://www.theblaze.com/news/florida-bachelor-party-fentanyl-drugs-death-prison-death )**
Previously, Bojeh reportedly was arrested and charged with attempted first-degree murder but was released back on the streets on the grounds of insanity.
[WOFL-TV](https://www.fox35orlando.com/news/kissimmee-triple-murder-suspect-had-previous-run-law-enforcement ) reported that deputies with the Osceola County Sheriff's Office arrested Bojeh in 2021 for attempted first-degree murder, aggravated battery, and two counts of criminal mischief in connection with an alleged shooting at a Wawa convenience store and gas station.
Florida Attorney General [James Uthmeier](https://www.theblaze.com/tag/James-Uthmeier ) [wrote](https://x.com/AGJamesUthmeier/status/2013341031756943449 ) on the X social media platform, "Prior to State Atty [Monique H.] Worrell's suspension, Ahmad Jihad Bojeh was acquitted of attempted first-degree murder with a firearm and aggravated battery."
Uthmeier continued, "It appears she didn't put up a fight to Bojeh's use of the insanity defense, and he was allowed to go free." The attorney general added, "This guy, literally named Ahmad 'Jihad' Bojeh, shoots three tourists after being acquitted of multiple violent crimes on grounds of insanity."
Uthmeier also declared, "This is why I've proposed Florida's legislature narrow the insanity defense. Violent criminals should not be set free to hurt others!"
He also told WOFL, "If there's a risk of them harming others, we need to ensure they're locked up."
Law enforcement sources told the [New York Post](https://nypost.com/2026/01/19/us-news/nut-accused-of-randomly-killing-three-tourists-near-disney-world-once-tried-to-murder-another-stranger/ ) that Bojeh was banned from owning firearms as part of his insanity plea.
[WOFL](https://www.fox35orlando.com/news/ag-uthmeier-say-insanity-defense-must-be-reformed-calls-lawmakers-act ) reported that Bojeh was arrested in 2019 for retail theft.
The Osceola County Sheriff's Office did not immediately respond to [Blaze News](https://www.theblaze.com/u/paulsacca )' request for comment.
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2026-01-25 20:00:00 GMT

Las Vegas is a mirror. When it works, America works. When it struggles, the problem isn’t local — it’s national.
Vegas was built on a simple idea: value. Give people a reason to come, treat them fairly, and let them choose how much risk they want to take. No lectures. No stupid political games. No government hand in your pocket every five minutes.
A great city doesn’t nickel-and-dime its customers. Value matters. People don’t expect cheap. They expect fair. That lesson applies nationally, too.
That formula built the entertainment capital of the world. And right now, it’s under pressure.##
The neon lights have dimmedVegas is getting squeezed from both ends, and the pressure feels familiar because it’s the same pressure families across the country have felt.
Under the Biden administration, inflation surged. Housing costs jumped. Groceries, energy, airfare, and insurance rose together. Families didn’t get richer. Their dollars just bought less.
Reckless spending, energy restrictions, and regulatory overreach drove the damage. Washington acted like prices were somebody else’s problem.
Southern Nevada also felt the [economic whiplash](https://www.thestreet.com/travel/las-vegas-strip-casinos-get-sobering-visitor-news ). Tourism [collapsed](https://roadgenius.com/statistics/tourism/usa/las-vegas/ ) during the 2020 lockdowns, wiping out billions and driving unemployment as high as 33% at its peak. Visitor spending returned slowly, then [softened again in 2025](https://www.apartmentlist.com/renter-life/how-much-is-rent-in-las-vegas ) — after wages, rents, and debt had already risen on the assumption that demand would keep growing.
For locals trying to raise families, that meant higher baseline costs and less margin for error. Housing, rent, and transportation ate paychecks. Hospitality wages rose, but many workers still lost ground as commuting costs and rents climbed faster.##
A gamble on progressUnder President Trump, the trend has started to reverse — not overnight, but directionally. Energy production is up. Supply chains have stabilized. Regulatory pressure has eased. Inflation cooled. Costs didn’t snap back, but the bleeding slowed.
That matters because affordability is competitiveness. Vegas shows what happens when value breaks.
For decades, Vegas understood the middle-class customer: a weekend trip, a decent room, a good meal, a show, maybe a little gambling — and you left feeling like you got your money’s worth.
That perception is cracking. Resort fees that feel like a second room rate. Paid parking where it never used to exist. Food and drink prices that make people stop and stare. Fees stacked on top of fees, revealed at checkout. The experience starts feeling less like entertainment and more like an airport terminal.
Visitors notice. And when people feel squeezed, they don’t just complain — they change their behavior.
**RELATED: [America tried to save the planet and forgot to save itself](https://www.theblaze.com/columns/opinion/america-tried-to-save-the-planet-and-forgot-to-save-itself )**
Photo by Timothy Fadek/Corbis via Getty Images
Vegas runs on volume. When fewer visitors come, fewer dollars circulate. The pain hits the dealer, the server, the bartender, the stagehand, the hotel staff, and the rideshare driver long before it reaches the executive suite.
Zoom out, and you see America facing the same dynamic.
The United States used to win because we offered the best value on earth. Not the cheapest — the *best* deal. A place where costs made sense and life felt attainable.
That edge has been eroding, especially in housing. When home ownership becomes a fantasy, workers can’t relocate, young families delay building stable lives, and talent looks elsewhere.
Meanwhile, competitors are building. Riyadh. Dubai. Macao. Singapore. They’re creating new tourism and entertainment hubs designed to pull dollars away from legacy markets like Las Vegas.
They’re betting America forgets how competition works.##
Make Vegas Vegas againFederal policy matters here. Washington still treats Vegas like a cash register, with outdated rules such as taxing gambling winnings and forcing IRS reporting thresholds stuck in the 1970s. That doesn’t just annoy visitors. It tells the world America doesn’t understand modern consumer behavior.
Ending the federal tax on gambling winnings isn’t radical. It’s strategic. Updating IRS reporting levels isn’t reckless. It’s realistic. Both would improve the visitor experience and help Vegas compete.
The industry also has work to do. A great city doesn’t nickel-and-dime its customers. Transparency matters. Value matters. People don’t expect cheap. They expect fair.
That lesson applies nationally, too.
America doesn’t win by lecturing consumers or ignoring affordability. America wins by making this country the best place on earth to live, work, build, and spend money.
Vegas is telling that story in real time. If Washington listens, the rest of the country benefits.
https://www.theblaze.com/media-library/trumps-economic-agenda-needs-a-vegas-test-and-a-vegas-win.jpg?id=63159267&width=980

2026-01-25 19:00:00 GMT

The world is abuzz with chatter about the United States’ pursuit of Greenland, but Daniel Horowitz, Blaze Media host of “Conservative Review with Daniel Horowitz,” says we ought to consider prioritizing a different kind of green land: “our pastures, our farms, our ranches.”
America’s food security, or lack thereof, is an issue that should deeply concern every American, he says. Between rising beef prices, the “endless shrinkage of ranchers exiting the farming business,” “the consolidation of corporate farms,” the “corporate monopoly of meat processors,” “inflation-driven land depreciation,” and the “government’s steering capital to data centers instead of ranches,” America’s ability to feed her people is growing weaker by the day.
Horowitz confesses he has grown weary of the Trump administration’s geopolitical distractions and obsession with building AI data centers when “the future of [America’s] food security is what matters.”
“We should be pushing for a Manhattan project for cheap and abundant food, for more ranchers, more farmers, more utilization of the land to produce American-made beef rather than cloud-based AI slop that's actually now about to pop as a bubble and is not really getting us anything,” he says.
Yet Horowitz sees this prioritization not as a purely conservative misstep, but as a clever pivot by the left.
The shift toward prioritizing AI over food production, he argues, is just progressives’ latest trick in their long game: “jiu-jitsuing” conservatives’ support for “functional energy” and funneling it toward “building their surveillance, transhumanist cloud” to create a world where “we own nothing, are dependent on government,” small businesses (including ranchers and farmers) are crushed, and we’re all forced to “put our lives on the cloud.”
Based on several Davos speeches delivered at this year’s World Economic Forum conference, it appears that fossil fuels are back in style with the elites, but Horowitz warns that their plan is to “siphon it all off for their cloud-based, transhumanist" trashing of the internet.”
“Consuming all of our land — not for food, farming, ranching — but for cloud. That's what this is all about,” he says.
He accuses the Trump administration of “literally digging our own grave” by handing power-hungry elites tax breaks, streamlined regulations, and priority land access for massive data centers, all while pushing policies that would block states and localities from using basic zoning rules to safeguard farmland and ranching.
In short, their efforts are paving the way for the destruction of farmland to build “massive power-sucking dung holes,” where our data will be stored and likely used to surveil us.
What this administration should be doing, Horowitz says, is “getting out of the way of ranchers and farmers so that we have safe, healthy, abundant, cheap food and protein in this country.”
To learn more about the boots-on-the-ground fight for food security in America, Horowitz interviews Texas cattle rancher and co-founder of [the Beef Initiative](https://beefinitiative.com/?srsltid=AfmBOooRnKGJrwmUKlda_owH01rzhY4tTCEtsim4Cj4SG_dDTu0l7Mbm ) Cole Bolton.
To hear their conversation, watch the full episode above.
https://www.theblaze.com/media-library/image.jpg?id=63156382&width=980

2026-01-25 17:30:00 GMT

An insider report claims that Puerto Rican musician Bad Bunny has plans to make the Super Bowl LX halftime show awfully political.
Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio, aka Bad Bunny, stirred controversy for most of 2025, both before and after being named as the performer for the big game. This included telling audiences they "have four months to learn" Spanish to understand his performance and releasing a parody of President Trump in his music video song "NUEVAYoL" on the fourth of July.
'The NFL has no idea what's coming.'
Now outlet Radar said that members of the musician's style team have revealed he plans on delivering a "political thunderbolt" during the halftime show.##
Glam squadInsiders described as a stylist and a member of the singer's "glam team" alleged that Bad Bunny plans on wearing a dress during the halftime show to honor Puerto Rican "queer icons" and "generations of drag, resistance, and cultural rebellion," the outlet [wrote](https://radaronline.com/p/bad-bunny-super-bowl-halftime-show-outfit-honoring-queer-icons/ ).
**RELATED: [Trump says NFL is passing the blame on Bad Bunny Super Bowl halftime show: 'I don't know why they're doing it'](https://www.theblaze.com/fearless/trump-explains-problems-with-nfl )**
Photo by Daniel Shirey/MLB Photos via Getty Images
"He loves controversy. He lives to push envelopes," a stylist involved in Bad Bunny's clothing choices allegedly told Radar.##
Dress mess"He is 100% going to wear a dress. A political thunderbolt disguised as couture," they added.
A second source also explained, "He's not playing it safe. The NFL has no idea what's coming. Zero."
An apparent third source, listed as only "a pal" of Bad Bunny's, said that critics are free to complain, but "the dress is already being sewn."
**RELATED: [Trump administration responds to Bad Bunny's promise to perform in Spanish for 'woke' halftime show](https://www.theblaze.com/fearless/trump-admin-bad-bunny-newsmax )**
Photo by Aaron M. Sprecher/Getty Images
##
HarebrainedThe NFL has been [accused by the president](https://www.theblaze.com/fearless/trump-explains-problems-with-nfl ) of passing the responsibility of the booking on to the promoters, as the content seemingly is at odds with the league's core fans.
"Apple Music, the NFL, and Roc Nation announced that 3x Grammy Award-winning global recording artist Bad Bunny will perform at the Apple Music Super Bowl LX Halftime Show at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif. on Sunday, February 8, 2026, airing on NBC," the NFL wrote in a [press release](https://www.nfl.com/news/global-sensation-bad-bunny-to-perform-at-apple-music-super-bowl-lx-halftime-show ) last September.
Apple Music's key figure is listed as [Oliver Schusser](https://apple.fandom.com/wiki/Oliver_Schusser ), vice president of Apple Music and international content.
Roc Nation is also involved. That company was founded by rapper Jay-Z and has been working on Super Bowl halftime shows [since 2019](https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-10-15/nfl-jay-z-s-roc-nation-extend-deal-on-super-bowl-halftime-show?srnd=undefined ).
Shawn "Jay-Z" Carter said in the same press release that Bad Bunny's "unique ability to bridge genres, languages, and audiences makes him an exciting and natural choice to take the Super Bowl halftime stage."
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2026-01-25 17:30:00 GMT

Social media users reacted to elites discussing the consumption of lab-grown meat products during the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting in Davos, Switzerland, this week.
A [video](https://x.com/wideawake_media/status/2014304939556634645 ) clip circulated on social media on Thursday of Andrea Illy, an Italian businessman and chairman of the coffee company [Illycaffè](https://www.illy.com/en-us/illycaffe-history ), pushing for the adoption of tech foods.
'This, I know, it’s kind of a cultural revolution.'
Sam Kass, a former White House chef and senior policy adviser for nutrition under former President Barack Obama, said, “A lot of what we’re starting to see are these replacements for these core foods. I’ve tasted a bunch of, you know, ‘future coffee, fake coffee.’ How do you see that application?”
Kass asked for Illy’s opinion on the matter, noting that, while the technology of cultivated food is “smart” and “interesting,” “from a values perspective” and as a chef, he does not want to see a future “where we’re starting to drink coffee from a factory as opposed to from a tree.”
Illy responded, “There is a terrible cultural resistance from [the] consumer to accept tech foods. But in my opinion, they represent the way forward.”
“We know from statistics ... that 70% of the ecological footprint of agriculture is due to animal proteins,” Illy continued.
**RELATED: **[**Say no to synthetic: America needs real meat, not lab slop**](https://www.theblaze.com/columns/opinion/say-no-to-synthetic-america-needs-real-meat-not-lab-slop )
Andrea Illy. Photo by Robin Marchant/Getty Images for illy caffe
He argued that the “excessive consumption” of meat “is the first cause of noncommunicable diseases,” which he claimed is “the number one health problem in the Western society.”
Illy suggested reducing meat consumption to a “healthy” level, while considering “the environmental impact.”
“Why should I use animals when I can cultivate meat and get only the best part of it?” Illy questioned.
**RELATED: **[**Bugs for thee, beef for me: How big business monopolizes meat**](https://www.theblaze.com/align/bugs-for-thee-beef-for-me-how-big-business-monopolizes-meat )
Andrea Illy. Photographer: Jose Sarmento Matos/Bloomberg via Getty Images
“This, I know, it’s kind of a cultural revolution,” he added, estimating that it would take decades to get people to adopt lab-grown meat as the new norm.
The WEF [website](https://www.weforum.org/videos/this-meat-is-grown-from-animal-stem-cells/ ) boasts the adoption of cultivated meat. The organization explains that lab-grown meat begins with “extracting stem cells from a small sample of animal tissue” and placing those stem cells in a bioreactor. The WEF claims that cultivated meats offer “a multitude of benefits,” including reduced environmental impacts, lower resource use, elimination of the need to slaughter animals, and elimination of antibiotic use.
X users in the comments seemed less than enthusiastic about tech foods.
“They will eat steaks from the finest beef. Everyone else cancer cells cultivated in a laboratory,” one user [wrote](https://x.com/lmk8688/status/2014488277693190653?s=20 ).
“Gross,” another [stated](https://x.com/TSPcorner/status/2014325373530501583?s=20 ).
“WEF is full of demons,” a third [wrote](https://x.com/MadelineM1221/status/2014432167749697634?s=20 ).
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2026-01-25 17:00:00 GMT

Democrats have worked energetically in recent months to [demonize](https://www.whitehouse.gov/articles/2025/09/democrats-unhinged-crusade-against-ice-fuels-bloodshed/ ) and [delegitimize](https://www.cbc.ca/player/play/video/9.7059897 ) the men and women of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement — those whom Democrat Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz [branded](https://www.youtube.com/shorts/PgY_koUpCRM ) as "Trump's modern-day Gestapo."
This messaging campaign helped set the stage for deadly confrontations such as those that led to Renee Good's death on Jan. 7 and Alex Pretti's [death](https://www.theblaze.com/news/dhs-armed-suspect-fatally-shot-by-federal-agent-in-minneapolis-suspect-violently-resisted-disarming-attempt ) on Saturday.
'I won't vote to fund murder.'
Now Democratic lawmakers — who wouldn't dream of letting a crisis go to waste — are threatening to shut down the government in order to starve the Department of Homeland Security of funds.
"What's happening in Minnesota is appalling — and unacceptable in any American city," [said](https://x.com/SenSchumer/status/2015211069493350505?s=20 ) Democrat U.S. Sen. Chuck Schumer of New York. "Democrats sought common-sense reforms in the Department of Homeland Security spending bill, but because of Republicans' refusal to stand up to President Trump, the DHS bill is woefully inadequate to rein in the abuses of ICE. I will vote no."
Schumer noted further that Senate Democrats "will not provide the votes to proceed to the appropriations bill if the DHS funding bill is included."
Minnesota U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar echoed Schumer and [signaled](https://x.com/SenAmyKlobuchar/status/2015232517788279053?s=20 ) opposition to the so-called "ICE funding bill" as well — and numerous other [anti-ICE](https://x.com/amyklobuchar/status/2015096126932717684?s=20 ) Democrats followed suit.
**RELATED: ['Going to get someone killed': Democratic AG shocks with talk about shooting ICE agents in 'stand your ground' Arizona](https://www.theblaze.com/news/arizonas-democratic-ag-suggests-residents-can-shoot-masked-ice-agents-what-am-i-supposed-to-do )**
Photographer: Victor J. Blue/Bloomberg via Getty Images
Democrat U.S. Sen. Mark Kelly of Arizona, for example, [vowed](https://x.com/SenMarkKelly/status/2015183251875238325?s=20 ) to "do everything" he can to prevent the deployment of federal law enforcement in American cities, noting "that starts with voting no on DHS's budget this week."
Ruben Gallego, another Democratic U.S. senator from Arizona, [put it bluntly](https://x.com/RubenGallego/status/2015192304164745661?s=20 ): "I won't vote to [fund murder](https://gallegoforarizona.com/issue/protecting-the-right-to-choose/ ) in the name of law enforcement."
Democrat U.S. Sen. Andy Kim of New Jersey [said](https://x.com/SenatorAndyKim/status/2015176085689032941?s=20 ), "I’m not voting to fund this lawless violence. Trump’s abuse of power is tearing us apart."
"The Senate should not vote to keep funding this rampage," [wrote](https://x.com/ChrisMurphyCT/status/2015164385145028837?s=20 ) U.S. Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Ct.). "We are not powerless."
The House of Representatives passed a three-bill minibus appropriations package in a [341-88 vote](https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/7148 ) Thursday, which would fund the Departments of War, Labor, Transportation, Health and Human services, Education, and related agencies. In a separate vote of 220-207, the House reportedly also passed a [funding bill](https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/7147 ) for the DHS, which would allocate $64.4 billion to the department, including $10 billion for ICE.
'The shutdown cost us a lot, and I think they'll probably do it again.'
The four spending bills were combined with a pair of measures previously passed in the House then sent to the Senate for approval ahead of the Jan. 30 deadline.
A spokesperson for Senate Majority Leader John Thune indicated that the DHS funding measure would not be decoupled from the others, [reported](https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/congress/dhs-funding-bill-senate-hurdles-killed-minneapolis-rcna255769 ) NBC News.
While the Senate was expected to vote on the funding package Monday evening, Thune spokesperson Ryan Wrasse [indicated](https://x.com/RWrasse/status/2014801309715538174?s=20 ) the vote would be postponed until Tuesday "due to the impending weather event that is expected to impact a significant portion of the country."
In order to avoid a filibuster and pass the spending package, Republicans need 60 votes in the Senate where they have only 53 members — including U.S. Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky, who has a habit of voting against spending bills.
As of Sunday, the likelihood of another U.S. government shutdown by Jan. 31 was 76%, according to [Polymarket](https://polymarket.com/event/will-there-be-another-us-government-shutdown-by-january-31 ).
Just days before Pretti's fatal shooting by a U.S. Customs and Border Patrol officer, President Donald Trump [told](https://www.foxbusiness.com/video/6388087049112?playlist_id=3166411554001 ) Fox Business, "I think we have a problem because I think we’re going to probably end up in another Democrat shutdown."
"The shutdown cost us a lot, and I think they'll probably do it again. That's my feeling," continued the president. "We'll see what happens."
The most recent government shutdown was the longest in the nation's history, lasting from Oct. 1 to Nov. 12, 2025 — a total of 43 days.
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2026-01-25 16:00:00 GMT

BlazeTV host Sara Gonzales is sounding the alarm on Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison (D), claiming his political career has been a decades-long scheme to facilitate financial transfers to Somalia.
“It feels a whole lot like Keith Ellison may have been pulling off a long con. I mean, decades long, just to facilitate Somalian fraud. Like it seems like this has been his goal for a very long time,” Gonzales says, pointing out that before he was AG, he served in Congress from 2007 to 2019.
“You would expect that in 12 years serving in Congress, there would be a lot to show for it, right? Like he will have had a bunch of bills that he sponsored that passed ... I mean he did turn into the Minnesota AG so like obviously he was successful,” she continues.
“Except, it turns out, there’s only one single solitary bill that he sponsored that ended up becoming law. Just this one,” she says.###
The bill is titled Money Remittances Improvement Act of 2014.
“It made it easier for nonbank financial institutions like money-service businesses to provide remittance payments internationally, which of course, you know, is sending American money to foreigners across the world,” Gonzales explains.
And in an interview with the Mogadishu Times, Ellison explained that the primary goal is to keep “the discussion focused on how we can keep money flowing to Somalia.”
“Quite simply, one of the banks that helps to facilitate remittances from the United States to Somalia has now become worried about the degree of risk ... they’re worried that they could end up being prosecuted on a criminal basis,” Ellison continued.
“It’s actually so incredible that all of this was out there. All the breadcrumbs were there this entire time. This has actually been in operation for a very long time for Keith Ellison,” Gonzales comments, shocked.
Ellison has also publicly claimed that sending money to Somalia is mutually beneficial for U.S. taxpayers.
“Please give me receipts on how it’s mutually beneficial. This is a third-world country with people who are inbred ... so I don’t understand,” Gonzales says.
“On a serious note, lock him up. We need accountability for all of this corruption that has been happening for decades completely unchecked,” she adds.##
Want more from Sara Gonzales?To enjoy more of Sara's no-holds-barred takes on news and culture, [subscribe to BlazeTV](https://get.blazetv.com/sara/?utm_source=theblaze&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=article_shortcode_saragonzalesunfiltered ) — the largest multi-platform network of voices who love America, defend the Constitution, and live the American dream.
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2026-01-25 14:30:00 GMT

The late, great [Angelo Codevilla](https://modernagejournal.com/angelo-codevilla-prophet-of-america-first/252369/ ) had a way of cutting through the fog of foreign policy.
In the Claremont Review of Books in 2019, he asked, “[What’s Russia to us?](https://claremontreviewofbooks.com/whats-russia-to-us/ )” He didn’t ask because he had any special admiration for Russia. He asked because Washington had turned Russia into a utility: a convenient villain that justified budgets, scolded dissent, and kept the governing class in charge. Codevilla’s point was simple but brutal. Strategy begins with interests. Interests require discrimination. Most of what passes for “grand strategy” amounts to habit and vanity.
Greenland touches national defense. Greenland touches Arctic geography. Greenland touches the supply chain for advanced systems. Those facts don’t bend around Davos etiquette.
That question — his question — fits the Greenland uproar better than any of the Davos hand-wringing last week.
European leaders want this story to be about Trump’s manners and apparent recklessness. They want it to be about “norms,” about “tone,” about the precious feelings of the alliance. They want Americans to believe the true scandal lies in a U.S. president speaking too plainly or belligerently.
Trump did speak plainly. In Davos on Wednesday, he pushed for “immediate negotiations” to acquire Greenland and ruled out the use of military force. He also floated a “framework” tied to Arctic security after meeting NATO’s secretary general, while walking back tariff threats that had [rattled allies and markets](https://www.nbcnews.com/business/markets/stock-market-trump-tariffs-greenland-rcna254918 ).
Fine. Trump being Trump shouldn’t surprise anyone.
But Europe’s reaction should surprise people, because it revealed how unserious the continent has become — even about something as serious as Greenland.
Instead of handling business like adults — hard bargaining among allies over a piece of real estate that actually matters — European capitals staged indignation, offered lectures, and then produced the usual substitute for seriousness: a symbolic “show of force” meant for domestic consumption.
The numbers tell the laughable story. Sweden sent three officers. Norway sent two. Finland sent two liaison officers. The Netherlands sent one naval officer. The U.K. sent one officer. France sent around 15 mountain specialists. Germany sent a reconnaissance team of 13. Denmark led with about 100 troops. Reuters called it “modest.” That word was kind.
But that’s the European governing class in a nutshell for you: Perform alarm, then perform resolve, then declare victory over a crisis they helped manufacture.
All of this theater tried to sell one idea: Greenland needs protection **from** the United States.
Preposterous.
Greenland matters because it helps defend the United States. [Pituffik Space Base](https://www.petersonschriever.spaceforce.mil/pituffik-sb-greenland/ ) — some Americans may still know it as [Thule](https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g304027-d600458-Reviews-Thule_Air_Base-Qaanaaq_Qaasuitsup_Municipality.html ) — sits where U.S. forces can track threats coming over the pole. The Arctic doesn’t care about European speeches. Missiles don’t fly around Greenland out of respect for allied etiquette. Geography dictates capability, and Greenland sits where the map says it sits.
**RELATED: **[**Pressed on Greenland, Trump tells Davos the US has weapons he ‘can’t even talk about’**](https://www.theblaze.com/return/trump-classified-wearpon-systems-greenland )
Photo by Fabrice COFFRINI/AFP via Getty Images
Europe’s commissioners understand that. They just hate saying it out loud because it reminds them of the arrangement they prefer to obscure: America provides the real security; Europe provides the indignant boo-hoo commentary.
The Greenland tantrum exposed another reality that should make America’s sensible policy planners sweat, assuming they still exist: The industrial foundations of power have become strategic again, and the West has behaved like an empire that forgot how to build.
Rare-earths sound like an investor pitch until you remember where they go. Modern weapons systems and advanced electronics depend on them. We need minerals you have likely never heard of — neodymium, dysprosium, samarium, and yttrium — to keep our F-35s flying and our missiles precision-guided.
But the supply chain runs through the part nobody wants to talk about: **processing** and **refining**. China dominates that bottleneck — especially the heavy rare-earth elements that sit in the highest-end systems. One major estimate put China’s share of global heavy rare-earth processing at more than 90%. That’s a massive national security hole.
Greenland matters because it offers a way out — not a magic wand, but an exit. Greenland holds [serious mineral potential](https://www.csis.org/analysis/greenland-rare-earths-and-arctic-security ). That potential shifts the long-term strategic balance only if development happens.
Greenland’s own politics have made development tricky. In 2021, Greenland reinstated a uranium ban that effectively froze [the Kvanefjeld project](https://etransmin.com/kvanefjeld-project/ ), one of the world’s most significant rare-earth deposits, because uranium appears alongside rare-earth ore and triggers the political and regulatory trip wires that make major mining projects difficult to sustain.
Greenland’s voters have every right to weigh environmental costs. Strategy still counts consequences. But the practical result of the ban didn’t restrain Beijing. It protected Beijing’s advantage.
The Europeans, of course, love a green virtue-signal that imposes no serious cost on Europe. Through it all, however, the continent remains dependent on America’s military might, dependent on Chinese processing, and increasingly dependent on slogans to conceal both.
So yes — Trump’s aggressive posture creates complications. Acquisition talk puts Denmark in a public box and turns what should be [an alliance negotiation](https://www.atlanticcouncil.org/dispatches/greenlands-critical-minerals-require-patient-statecraft/ ) into a freak show. It hands European leaders a stage they don’t deserve and an excuse to treat American interests as a moral problem.
**RELATED: **[**Trump announces ‘framework’ of ‘great’ deal with NATO on Greenland**](https://www.theblaze.com/news/trump-greenland-deal-nato )
Photo illustration by Cheng Xin/Getty Images
But Europe’s leaders made fools of themselves by trying to address a strategic reality through choreography. A reconnaissance team, a few liaison officers, and a weekend of headlines don’t secure Greenland against anyone. Their “show of force” invited contempt, not respect.
Codevilla’s 2019 essay mocked the way our establishment inflates foreign threats to discipline the home front. The Greenland episode shows a mirror image: European elites inflating a U.S. negotiating push into a crisis because they can’t handle an America that talks like a serious country.
Greenland touches our national defense. Greenland touches Arctic geography. Greenland touches the supply chain for advanced systems. Those facts don’t bend around Davos etiquette.
So use Codevilla’s test. Strip away the moral fog. Rank interests and act like the answers matter.
What’s Greenland to us?
A hell of a lot.
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2026-01-25 13:00:00 GMT

Canada’s decision to slash tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles is being sold as a pragmatic trade adjustment. In reality, it looks more like a self-inflicted wound to the country’s auto industry, workforce, and long-term economic sovereignty.
Lower prices today may come at the cost of lost manufacturing tomorrow — along with vehicles that struggle with quality and cold-weather reliability in a country where winter is not a minor inconvenience but a defining reality.
A vehicle that looks competitive on paper may tell a very different story after several Canadian winters.
Under an agreement announced earlier this month, [Canada will allow up to 49,000 Chinese EVs into the country](https://www.reuters.com/world/china/canada-china-set-make-historic-gains-new-partnership-says-carney-2026-01-16/ ) each year at a tariff of just 6.1%, down from the 100% rate imposed in 2024.
Officials emphasize that this represents less than 3% of the domestic market. But auto markets are shaped at the margins. Even a relatively small influx of aggressively priced vehicles can disrupt pricing, undercut domestic producers, and discourage future investment.##
Under pressureCanada’s auto sector is deeply integrated with the United States, with parts, vehicles, and labor flowing across the border daily. That system has supported hundreds of thousands of well-paying jobs for decades. Introducing low-cost Chinese imports into that ecosystem does not simply add consumer choice; it destabilizes a supply chain already under pressure from regulatory mandates, rising costs, and declining market share.
That pressure is already visible. The combined market share of General Motors, Ford, and Stellantis in Canada [has fallen](https://ca.finance.yahoo.com/news/market-share-us-made-cars-130810699.html ) from nearly 50% to roughly 36%. These companies are not just brands on a dealership lot. They are employers, investors, and anchors for entire communities. When their market position erodes, the consequences ripple outward through plant closures, canceled expansion plans, and lost supplier contracts.##
Cold comfortSupporters argue that Chinese EVs will make electric vehicles more affordable, accelerating adoption and helping Canada meet emissions targets. But affordability without durability is a hollow promise. Many Chinese EVs entering global markets have yet to prove themselves in extreme climates. Cold weather is notoriously hard on batteries, reducing range, slowing charging times, and increasing mechanical stress — conditions Canadian winters deliver in abundance.
Reports from [colder regions](https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202601/1353563.shtml ) already using Chinese EVs raise concerns about performance degradation, software issues, and inconsistent build quality. Battery thermal management systems that perform adequately in mild climates can struggle in deep cold. Door handles freeze, sensors fail, and range estimates become unreliable. These are not minor inconveniences when temperatures plunge and drivers depend on their vehicles for safety as much as transportation.
Quality concerns extend beyond climate performance. Chinese automakers have made rapid progress, but speed has often come at the expense of long-term durability testing. Western manufacturers spend years validating vehicles under extreme conditions precisely because failure carries real consequences. A vehicle that looks competitive on paper may tell a very different story after several Canadian winters.##
Cheap creepThere is also the question of what happens to Canada’s manufacturing base as these imports gain a foothold. History offers a clear lesson. When markets are flooded with low-cost vehicles produced under different labor standards and supported by state-backed industrial policy, domestic production suffers. Plants close, jobs disappear, and skills erode — losses that are extraordinarily difficult to reverse.
Europe offers a [cautionary example](https://europeannewsroom.com/on-the-road-to-nowhere-european-carmakers-face-ev-push-from-china/ ). In the rush to meet climate targets, policymakers opened the door to inexpensive Chinese vehicles, only to see domestic automakers squeezed between regulatory costs and subsidized foreign competition. The result has been declining investment, layoffs, and growing concern about long-term competitiveness. Canada risks repeating that mistake but without Europe’s scale or leverage.
**RELATED: **[**Exclusive: 'Anti-China moves' pay off BIGLY — Governor Sanders and Arkansas earn A+ for crushing CCP land-grabs**](https://www.theblaze.com/news/exclusive-arkansas-efforts-to-curb-chinese-subversion-land-grabs-have-not-gone-unnoticed )
Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Image##
Spy gameThe geopolitical implications cannot be ignored. Modern EVs are data-collecting machines, equipped with cameras, sensors, GPS tracking, and constant connectivity. U.S. officials have repeatedly warned that Chinese-built vehicles pose national security risks. Whether or not those fears are fully realized, perception matters. The United States has already signaled that Chinese EVs will not be allowed across its border, even temporarily.
That leaves Canadian consumers in a difficult position. A vehicle purchased legally in Canada could become a barrier to travel, commerce, or even family visits. The idea that a car could determine whether a driver can cross the world’s longest undefended border should give policymakers pause. Instead the Carney government appears willing to accept that risk as collateral damage.##
Realism over resentmentSome Canadians, frustrated by U.S. tariffs and rhetoric, may view this pivot toward China as an act of defiance. But trade policy driven by resentment rather than realism rarely ends well. Replacing dependence on the United States with dependence on China does not restore sovereignty; it simply shifts leverage from one superpower to another, often with fewer shared values and less transparency.
President Donald Trump [has made his position clear](https://evdances.com/blogs/news/trump-signals-openness-to-chinese-ev-makers-if-they-build-in-america#:~:text=A%20Clear%20Message%20from%20Detroit,tangible%20investment%20on%20U.S.%20soil. ). He is open to Chinese companies building vehicles in North America if they invest in domestic factories and employ domestic workers. What he opposes are imports that bypass production, undermine jobs, and introduce security risks. Canada’s deal does nothing to address those concerns. Instead it places Canadian workers and consumers squarely in the crossfire.
The promise of cheaper EVs may sound appealing in the short term, but the long-term costs are becoming harder to ignore. Lost manufacturing jobs, weakened supply chains, unresolved quality and cold-weather issues, and strained relations with Canada’s largest trading partner are not abstract risks. They are predictable outcomes.
Canada built its auto industry through integration, investment, and a commitment to quality. Undermining that foundation for a limited influx of low-cost imports is not a strategy. It is a gamble — and one Canadian workers, manufacturers, and drivers are likely to lose.
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2026-01-25 11:30:00 GMT

Years ago, I worked in a large office building with a woman who walked with a terrible limp. Not a slight hitch, but a pronounced, jarring gait caused by a car accident that left her with significant bone loss in one leg. She was a delightful person, but no one could ignore the limp. It shaped how she moved through the world and, at times, how the world responded to her.
She lived that way for more than 25 years.
Liberation may begin with a D-Day assault or a precision, middle-of-the-night special-forces strike, but rehabilitation always moves slower.
Then one morning, everything changed.
She walked into the office upright and steady. No limp. No sway. Her posture looked different. Her face looked different. The transformation was so striking, people stopped what they were doing just to stare.
An orthotist had fitted her with a lift for her shoe. For the first time in decades, her body was aligned.
It felt dramatic. It felt hopeful.
Three weeks later, she showed up at work limping again.
When I asked what happened, she looked down and said quietly, “It was too painful.”
For years, that story stayed with me. I assumed she should have pushed through the discomfort. If she really wanted to walk straight, I thought, she would have endured the pain. I put the burden on her.
Decades later, while talking with the man who makes my wife’s prosthetic legs — who is also a certified orthotist — I mentioned the story. He didn’t hesitate.
“That was the orthotist’s fault.”
With that degree of limb difference, he explained, correction must happen in small increments over time. You do not force a body that has adapted to damage for decades into alignment overnight. The shock alone can undo the good you intend. Pain, in that case, isn’t weakness. It’s warning.
The problem was never the goal of walking straight. It was the **pace**. The change looked impressive, but it couldn’t last.
Had she been guided wisely, she might still be walking straight today.
That realization reshaped how I think about far more than posture and gait.
**RELATED: **[**Do not pass the plow: The danger of declaring a golden age without repentance**](https://www.theblaze.com/columns/opinion/do-not-pass-the-plow-the-danger-of-declaring-a-golden-age-without-repentance )
Photo by Philippe LOPEZ / AFP via Getty Images
We talk a lot about sustainability, but the word often gets treated as corporate jargon. In real life, it means something simpler: Can you keep going without being damaged by the very solution meant to help you?
The question isn’t whether disruption can be endured for a season. The question is what happens when it lasts long enough to reshape the body, the household, or even a culture itself.
The longer misalignment persists, the more people adjust to it. Not because it’s right, but because it becomes familiar.
I think of family caregivers who, like that woman, adapt to dysfunction. They normalize exhaustion. They compensate for imbalance. What once felt untenable becomes routine. The standard slowly drops, and despair and resentment find room to grow.
This pattern doesn’t stop with individuals.
It shows up in institutions and nations, especially those emerging from long seasons of corruption, fear, or misrule. The fraud being uncovered in Minnesota will not be corrected quickly. Venezuela didn’t unravel overnight, and it won’t be restored all at once. Iran won’t shed decades of tyranny through slogans or spectacle. Systems deformed over time don’t heal on announcement alone.
Liberation may begin with a D-Day assault or a precision, middle-of-the-night special-forces strike, but rehabilitation always moves slower. Hard ground is taken a little at a time. Institutions get rebuilt inch by inch. The work costs money. It lacks glamour. No one escapes it.
Trying to fix everything at once is like forcing a damaged body into alignment without preparation. The result may look decisive, but it often collapses under its own weight.
This is where leadership gets tested.
Not by how loudly change is declared, but by whether it can be endured.
**RELATED: **[**When human worth becomes conditional, caregiving becomes impossible**](https://www.theblaze.com/columns/opinion/when-human-worth-becomes-conditional-caregiving-becomes-impossible )
Photo by: Edwin Remsburg/VW Pics via Getty Images
Real leadership doesn’t just name what’s wrong. It requires patience and competence. It understands limits. It moves deliberately. It produces progress people can live with — and live inside — over time.
People can endure difficult change when it leads somewhere stable. What they can’t endure is repeated pain with no lasting gain.
A deliberate pace doesn’t mean abandoning the goal. Real leadership — whether for a caregiver or a nation — recognizes the trauma that brought us here. It refuses to confuse speed with progress. It commits instead to patient steps that straighten what has been bent without breaking what remains.
That kind of leadership doesn’t rush healing. It makes healing possible.
For caregivers, for communities, and for nations, alignment imposed too quickly can injure the very people it claims to help. Alignment applied with patience, competence, and resolve can change a life permanently.
That woman wanted to walk straight. She simply needed someone wise enough to guide her there.
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